I hesitate to post this (confirmation bias plus my feeling that one should fight when things get hard, not run away) but if the Telegraph is now posting stuff like this, things are not good.
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
I hesitate to understand the point that is made by this poll. Can we have one where we work out how well Labour would do under Hugh Gaitskell? How about John McDonnell (in my headcanon he would have won in 2017)?
How about Robocop? "We polled 25,153 voters via MRP and the result was Alex Murphy (Lab) 35%, Jon Pertwee (Con) 33%, and Pamela Lillian Isley (Green) 25%".
I hesitate to post this (confirmation bias plus my feeling that one should fight when things get hard, not run away) but if the Telegraph is now posting stuff like this, things are not good.
One would tentatively wonder whether the Telegraph would assess which particular policies they successfully trumpeted over the past 13 years have led to such catastrophe? But no.
No, actually the polling effectively shows that the Conservatives would be 2% ahead now with Corbyn as leader. That's because the headline VI published by More in Common shows a Labour lead of only 15%. The headline VI figure incorporates the results of a forced choice question. The comparable base which the Corbyn polling is being measured against doesn't include a forced choice question and shows a Labour lead of 18%.
The headline More in Common VI with Sunak and Starmer as leaders is: Lab 44% Con 29% LD 11% Ref 6% Grn 6% SNP 3%
Apply the net change found if Corbyn were to replace Starmer and you would get Lab 34% (-10) Con 36% (+7) LD 15% (+4) Ref 6% Grn 6% SNP 3%
Incidentally, More in Common also asked about the impact if Johnson not Sunak were Conservative leader and found that the Labour lead under Starmer would fall by 6%. The gloss really has worn off Sunak.
I hesitate to post this (confirmation bias plus my feeling that one should fight when things get hard, not run away) but if the Telegraph is now posting stuff like this, things are not good.
I hesitate to understand the point that is made by this poll. Can we have one where we work out how well Labour would do under Hugh Gaitskell? How about John McDonnell (in my headcanon he would have won in 2017)?
How about Robocop? "We polled 25,153 voters via MRP and the result was Alex Murphy (Lab) 35%, Jon Pertwee (Con) 33%, and Pamela Lillian Isley (Green) 25%".
The point is obvious. Those on the Labour Left grumbling about the latest triangulation from PM-in-waiting Keir Starmer need to give their head a wobble and ask themselves if they really would prefer eternal Tory government to a Labour government with a centrist PM?
I think this supports my theory that GE17 flattered Jez (because of Brexit) and GE19 did the opposite (because of Brexit), his true 'par' appeal lying midway between the two, ie 'distinctly unappealing but just short of irredeemably toxic'.
NYT - Trump Plans to Skip G.O.P. Debate for Interview With Tucker Carlson
Donald Trump’s apparent decision to skip the first debate is an affront both to the Republican National Committee and to Fox News, which is hosting the event.
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
Tokmak and its railway now within range of tubed artillery, and the Russians not liking those cluster munitions. It's slow and expensive progress in terms of men and material.
"The Population of California Declined, Again In 2022, the state’s population dropped by roughly 138,400 people, to 38.94 million. By Soumya Karlamangla"
I hesitate to understand the point that is made by this poll. Can we have one where we work out how well Labour would do under Hugh Gaitskell? How about John McDonnell (in my headcanon he would have won in 2017)?
How about Robocop? "We polled 25,153 voters via MRP and the result was Alex Murphy (Lab) 35%, Jon Pertwee (Con) 33%, and Pamela Lillian Isley (Green) 25%".
Asking how well the Tory Party would do in next GE under Lord North, might well be useful pointer, as to how well CUP would perform in the following GE under Jacob Rees-Mogg.
I hesitate to post this (confirmation bias plus my feeling that one should fight when things get hard, not run away) but if the Telegraph is now posting stuff like this, things are not good.
From the paper that celebrated the loss of FOM and now is telling people to leave the country . And trying to suggest America with its rampant gun crime and where half the country are nutjob Trump supporters is better than the UK . No thanks !
The UK has its problems but at least you can go out without fear of getting your head blown off !
I hesitate to post this (confirmation bias plus my feeling that one should fight when things get hard, not run away) but if the Telegraph is now posting stuff like this, things are not good.
From the paper that celebrated the loss of FOM and now is telling people to leave the country . And trying to suggest America with its rampant gun crime and where half the country are nutjob Trump supporters is better than the UK . No thanks !
The UK has its problems but at least you can go out without fear of getting your head blown off !
If Corbyn was still Labour leader the Tories as the headline poll shows would have a chance of a fifth consecutive general election victory and their longest period in power since Lord Liverpool in the early 19th century rather than potentially their worst defeat since 1997 on current polls.
Fortunately voters have Corbyn a landslide defeat in 2019 to force Labour to dump him as leader, which they did and replaced him with the more centrist Starmer
FPT someone brought up the potential new Argentine Pres. has he made any pronouncements on the Falklands? Surely if you were Putin you would be chucking money at him to ramp it up to divert UK defence attention/spending/kit there and so reduce what’s coming at him in Ukraine? I’m too lazy to research it myself so if anyone knows it’s much appreciated.
I hesitate to understand the point that is made by this poll. Can we have one where we work out how well Labour would do under Hugh Gaitskell? How about John McDonnell (in my headcanon he would have won in 2017)?
How about Robocop? "We polled 25,153 voters via MRP and the result was Alex Murphy (Lab) 35%, Jon Pertwee (Con) 33%, and Pamela Lillian Isley (Green) 25%".
The point is obvious. Those on the Labour Left grumbling about the latest triangulation from PM-in-waiting Keir Starmer need to give their head a wobble and ask themselves if they really would prefer eternal Tory government to a Labour government with a centrist PM?
Yes. I agree. Starmer is nailing it as regards winning the election and I'm on board with it. We just have to remove the Cons. But on the left we can dream of a Labour leader *of* the left who is brighter and more contemporary than Jeremy Corbyn. I know we can because I do!
FPT someone brought up the potential new Argentine Pres. has he made any pronouncements on the Falklands? Surely if you were Putin you would be chucking money at him to ramp it up to divert UK defence attention/spending/kit there and so reduce what’s coming at him in Ukraine? I’m too lazy to research it myself so if anyone knows it’s much appreciated.
He has said he supports self determination by the Falkland Islanders and diplomacy, he would actually be a better President for the UK than the current one.
The Kirchners and their party have been much more bellicose on the Falklands than Milei is and the Kirchners are also pro Putin
FPT someone brought up the potential new Argentine Pres. has he made any pronouncements on the Falklands? Surely if you were Putin you would be chucking money at him to ramp it up to divert UK defence attention/spending/kit there and so reduce what’s coming at him in Ukraine? I’m too lazy to research it myself so if anyone knows it’s much appreciated.
He has said he supports self determination by the Falkland Islanders and diplomacy, he would actually be a better President for the UK than the current one.
The Kirchners and their party have been much more bellicose on the Falklands than Milei is and the Kirchners are also pro Putin
Sunak could do with a winnable war . He can then turn up on an aircraft carrier with a bomber jacket saying mission accomplished and the right wing press can fawn at his feet calling him the next Winston Churchill !
He then can ride a wave of nationalism and no one messes with Global Britain euphoria to the next election !
I hesitate to understand the point that is made by this poll. Can we have one where we work out how well Labour would do under Hugh Gaitskell? How about John McDonnell (in my headcanon he would have won in 2017)?
How about Robocop? "We polled 25,153 voters via MRP and the result was Alex Murphy (Lab) 35%, Jon Pertwee (Con) 33%, and Pamela Lillian Isley (Green) 25%".
The point is obvious. Those on the Labour Left grumbling about the latest triangulation from PM-in-waiting Keir Starmer need to give their head a wobble and ask themselves if they really would prefer eternal Tory government to a Labour government with a centrist PM?
Yes. I agree. Starmer is nailing it as regards winning the election and I'm on board with it. We just have to remove the Cons. But on the left we can dream of a Labour leader *of* the left who is brighter and more contemporary than Jeremy Corbyn. I know we can because I do!
Even Starmer would be the most leftwing elected PM we have had since Harold Wilson
I hesitate to understand the point that is made by this poll. Can we have one where we work out how well Labour would do under Hugh Gaitskell? How about John McDonnell (in my headcanon he would have won in 2017)?
How about Robocop? "We polled 25,153 voters via MRP and the result was Alex Murphy (Lab) 35%, Jon Pertwee (Con) 33%, and Pamela Lillian Isley (Green) 25%".
The point is obvious. Those on the Labour Left grumbling about the latest triangulation from PM-in-waiting Keir Starmer need to give their head a wobble and ask themselves if they really would prefer eternal Tory government to a Labour government with a centrist PM?
Yes. I agree. Starmer is nailing it as regards winning the election and I'm on board with it. We just have to remove the Cons. But on the left we can dream of a Labour leader *of* the left who is brighter and more contemporary than Jeremy Corbyn. I know we can because I do!
Even Starmer would be the most leftwing elected PM we have had since Harold Wilson
Yep. And respect for insisting on 'would' over 'will'. Very disciplined.
I hesitate to understand the point that is made by this poll. Can we have one where we work out how well Labour would do under Hugh Gaitskell? How about John McDonnell (in my headcanon he would have won in 2017)?
How about Robocop? "We polled 25,153 voters via MRP and the result was Alex Murphy (Lab) 35%, Jon Pertwee (Con) 33%, and Pamela Lillian Isley (Green) 25%".
The point is obvious. Those on the Labour Left grumbling about the latest triangulation from PM-in-waiting Keir Starmer need to give their head a wobble and ask themselves if they really would prefer eternal Tory government to a Labour government with a centrist PM?
Yes. I agree. Starmer is nailing it as regards winning the election and I'm on board with it. We just have to remove the Cons. But on the left we can dream of a Labour leader *of* the left who is brighter and more contemporary than Jeremy Corbyn. I know we can because I do!
Even Starmer would be the most leftwing elected PM we have had since Harold Wilson
You keep repeating this with no substantiation. Anyway, I was a big fan of Harold. I only wish Starmer were as wily.
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
I do not think they have anything to do with each other at all.
1. is quite possibly wrong, since US intelligence's guesses have not proved better than random - except for the prediction of the invasion itself, which was detailed and spot on.
The F16s aren't going to be relevant until halfway through next year, probably.
What would make a difference, immediately and significantly, would be the supply of HIMARS rockets with cluster munition warheads.
I hesitate to understand the point that is made by this poll. Can we have one where we work out how well Labour would do under Hugh Gaitskell? How about John McDonnell (in my headcanon he would have won in 2017)?
How about Robocop? "We polled 25,153 voters via MRP and the result was Alex Murphy (Lab) 35%, Jon Pertwee (Con) 33%, and Pamela Lillian Isley (Green) 25%".
The point is obvious. Those on the Labour Left grumbling about the latest triangulation from PM-in-waiting Keir Starmer need to give their head a wobble and ask themselves if they really would prefer eternal Tory government to a Labour government with a centrist PM?
Yes. I agree. Starmer is nailing it as regards winning the election and I'm on board with it. We just have to remove the Cons. But on the left we can dream of a Labour leader *of* the left who is brighter and more contemporary than Jeremy Corbyn. I know we can because I do!
Even Starmer would be the most leftwing elected PM we have had since Harold Wilson
Well considering this present government is the most leftwing since Harold Wilson (even if the PM wasn't elected) that's not exactly a challenge.
FPT someone brought up the potential new Argentine Pres. has he made any pronouncements on the Falklands? Surely if you were Putin you would be chucking money at him to ramp it up to divert UK defence attention/spending/kit there and so reduce what’s coming at him in Ukraine? I’m too lazy to research it myself so if anyone knows it’s much appreciated.
He has said he supports self determination by the Falkland Islanders and diplomacy, he would actually be a better President for the UK than the current one.
The Kirchners and their party have been much more bellicose on the Falklands than Milei is and the Kirchners are also pro Putin
I hesitate to understand the point that is made by this poll. Can we have one where we work out how well Labour would do under Hugh Gaitskell? How about John McDonnell (in my headcanon he would have won in 2017)?
How about Robocop? "We polled 25,153 voters via MRP and the result was Alex Murphy (Lab) 35%, Jon Pertwee (Con) 33%, and Pamela Lillian Isley (Green) 25%".
The point is obvious. Those on the Labour Left grumbling about the latest triangulation from PM-in-waiting Keir Starmer need to give their head a wobble and ask themselves if they really would prefer eternal Tory government to a Labour government with a centrist PM?
Yes. I agree. Starmer is nailing it as regards winning the election and I'm on board with it. We just have to remove the Cons. But on the left we can dream of a Labour leader *of* the left who is brighter and more contemporary than Jeremy Corbyn. I know we can because I do!
Even Starmer would be the most leftwing elected PM we have had since Harold Wilson
Given we've only had Blair in between, it's not a very useful comparison.
Who would you consider the most right-wing Conservative elected - the list is Heath, Thatcher, Major, Cameron and Johnson? I discount May because she never won a majority - all the others did at least once.
I hesitate to post this (confirmation bias plus my feeling that one should fight when things get hard, not run away) but if the Telegraph is now posting stuff like this, things are not good.
From the paper that celebrated the loss of FOM and now is telling people to leave the country . And trying to suggest America with its rampant gun crime and where half the country are nutjob Trump supporters is better than the UK . No thanks !
The UK has its problems but at least you can go out without fear of getting your head blown off !
FPT someone brought up the potential new Argentine Pres. has he made any pronouncements on the Falklands? Surely if you were Putin you would be chucking money at him to ramp it up to divert UK defence attention/spending/kit there and so reduce what’s coming at him in Ukraine? I’m too lazy to research it myself so if anyone knows it’s much appreciated.
He has said he supports self determination by the Falkland Islanders and diplomacy, he would actually be a better President for the UK than the current one.
The Kirchners and their party have been much more bellicose on the Falklands than Milei is and the Kirchners are also pro Putin
Thanks for the answer, although the Hong Kong model doesn’t bode well…
Milei is interesting. Described as “far right” but that moniker has been thrown around a bit loosely recently. He seems to be a bit of a Bolsonaro, combined with a smattering of Redwood and Dan Hannan. Not an ultra-nationalist. To me far right implies ethnic supremacism, which doesn’t seem to feature.
Argentina is one of those democracies with outsized political importance considering its diminutive economy and population. Like Greece, Serbia or New Zealand.
I hesitate to understand the point that is made by this poll. Can we have one where we work out how well Labour would do under Hugh Gaitskell? How about John McDonnell (in my headcanon he would have won in 2017)?
How about Robocop? "We polled 25,153 voters via MRP and the result was Alex Murphy (Lab) 35%, Jon Pertwee (Con) 33%, and Pamela Lillian Isley (Green) 25%".
The point is obvious. Those on the Labour Left grumbling about the latest triangulation from PM-in-waiting Keir Starmer need to give their head a wobble and ask themselves if they really would prefer eternal Tory government to a Labour government with a centrist PM?
Yes. I agree. Starmer is nailing it as regards winning the election and I'm on board with it. We just have to remove the Cons. But on the left we can dream of a Labour leader *of* the left who is brighter and more contemporary than Jeremy Corbyn. I know we can because I do!
Even Starmer would be the most leftwing elected PM we have had since Harold Wilson
You keep repeating this with no substantiation. Anyway, I was a big fan of Harold. I only wish Starmer were as wily.
He plods, sure. What was that fairly friendly profile that described Starmer as a tortoise?
I hesitate to understand the point that is made by this poll. Can we have one where we work out how well Labour would do under Hugh Gaitskell? How about John McDonnell (in my headcanon he would have won in 2017)?
How about Robocop? "We polled 25,153 voters via MRP and the result was Alex Murphy (Lab) 35%, Jon Pertwee (Con) 33%, and Pamela Lillian Isley (Green) 25%".
The point is obvious. Those on the Labour Left grumbling about the latest triangulation from PM-in-waiting Keir Starmer need to give their head a wobble and ask themselves if they really would prefer eternal Tory government to a Labour government with a centrist PM?
Yes. I agree. Starmer is nailing it as regards winning the election and I'm on board with it. We just have to remove the Cons. But on the left we can dream of a Labour leader *of* the left who is brighter and more contemporary than Jeremy Corbyn. I know we can because I do!
Even Starmer would be the most leftwing elected PM we have had since Harold Wilson
Given we've only had Blair in between, it's not a very useful comparison.
Who would you consider the most right-wing Conservative elected - the list is Heath, Thatcher, Major, Cameron and Johnson? I discount May because she never won a majority - all the others did at least once.
You think Blair is the most left wing PM since Wilson? Bold statement.
How do we define left? Tax? Spend? Redistribution?
Is the share of taxation overall higher or lower now than when Blair left office? Or when Brown did?
Is spending on redistribution/"social protection" higher or lower now than when Blair left office? Or when Brown did?
Don’t cha just love BBC radio 4 comedy. Just tuned in as saw a new show and was treated by the host and Spanish comedian mocking Brits in hackneyed terms, the best was the Spanish chap ranting about us not being able to pronounce Paella and Mallorca as he pronounces at the same time as not speaking with a perfect English accent whilst using English words. We are a truly evil nation.
Yay, now the Malawian comedian having a go, followed by an Aussie making the audience roar mocking King Charles. What an enormous pile of wank. Just turning off at the point that “white men” have been blamed for everything.
NYT - Trump Plans to Skip G.O.P. Debate for Interview With Tucker Carlson
Donald Trump’s apparent decision to skip the first debate is an affront both to the Republican National Committee and to Fox News, which is hosting the event.
Interestingly, Tucker's Twitter (sorry "X") show has been a bit of a failure. Even his most popular videos have only been watched a few hundred thousand times, while others have failed to break the 100k barrier.
And when you're only producing one video every four days, that isn't a great performance.
NYT - Trump Plans to Skip G.O.P. Debate for Interview With Tucker Carlson
Donald Trump’s apparent decision to skip the first debate is an affront both to the Republican National Committee and to Fox News, which is hosting the event.
What a shocking decision.
Really it makes a lot of sense though, there's no upside for him. What's the RNC going to do about it?
I hesitate to understand the point that is made by this poll. Can we have one where we work out how well Labour would do under Hugh Gaitskell? How about John McDonnell (in my headcanon he would have won in 2017)?
How about Robocop? "We polled 25,153 voters via MRP and the result was Alex Murphy (Lab) 35%, Jon Pertwee (Con) 33%, and Pamela Lillian Isley (Green) 25%".
The point is obvious. Those on the Labour Left grumbling about the latest triangulation from PM-in-waiting Keir Starmer need to give their head a wobble and ask themselves if they really would prefer eternal Tory government to a Labour government with a centrist PM?
Yes. I agree. Starmer is nailing it as regards winning the election and I'm on board with it. We just have to remove the Cons. But on the left we can dream of a Labour leader *of* the left who is brighter and more contemporary than Jeremy Corbyn. I know we can because I do!
Even Starmer would be the most leftwing elected PM we have had since Harold Wilson
Given we've only had Blair in between, it's not a very useful comparison.
Who would you consider the most right-wing Conservative elected - the list is Heath, Thatcher, Major, Cameron and Johnson? I discount May because she never won a majority - all the others did at least once.
You think Blair is the most left wing PM since Wilson? Bold statement.
How do we define left? Tax? Spend? Redistribution?
Is the share of taxation overall higher or lower now than when Blair left office? Or when Brown did?
Is spending on redistribution/"social protection" higher or lower now than when Blair left office? Or when Brown did?
@HYUFD chose his words very carefully: he said elected Prime Minister.
In other words, no Callaghan, no Brown, no Sunak, and no Truss.
NYT - Trump Plans to Skip G.O.P. Debate for Interview With Tucker Carlson
Donald Trump’s apparent decision to skip the first debate is an affront both to the Republican National Committee and to Fox News, which is hosting the event.
Interestingly, Tucker's Twitter (sorry "X") show has been a bit of a failure. Even his most popular videos have only been watched a few hundred thousand times, while others have failed to break the 100k barrier.
And when you're only producing one video every four days, that isn't a great performance.
Musk must be very disappointed, what a shame.
I assume it's because people can already get their fill of conspiracist ranting on youtube and other platforms already - for all the moaning about the 'mainstream' media, people like seeing pandering of that nature from a 'proper' show on Fox or whatever, it gives it more gravitas.
NYT - Trump Plans to Skip G.O.P. Debate for Interview With Tucker Carlson
Donald Trump’s apparent decision to skip the first debate is an affront both to the Republican National Committee and to Fox News, which is hosting the event.
Wonder if his campaign is worried about him being savaged by Christie in the debates. My impression is that Christie is in this mainly to do as much damage to Trump as possible not because he thinks he has any chance of actually winning.
FPT someone brought up the potential new Argentine Pres. has he made any pronouncements on the Falklands? Surely if you were Putin you would be chucking money at him to ramp it up to divert UK defence attention/spending/kit there and so reduce what’s coming at him in Ukraine? I’m too lazy to research it myself so if anyone knows it’s much appreciated.
He has said he supports self determination by the Falkland Islanders and diplomacy, he would actually be a better President for the UK than the current one.
The Kirchners and their party have been much more bellicose on the Falklands than Milei is and the Kirchners are also pro Putin
"The Population of California Declined, Again In 2022, the state’s population dropped by roughly 138,400 people, to 38.94 million. By Soumya Karlamangla"
I think this supports my theory that GE17 flattered Jez (because of Brexit) and GE19 did the opposite (because of Brexit), his true 'par' appeal lying midway between the two, ie 'distinctly unappealing but just short of irredeemably toxic'.
FPT someone brought up the potential new Argentine Pres. has he made any pronouncements on the Falklands? Surely if you were Putin you would be chucking money at him to ramp it up to divert UK defence attention/spending/kit there and so reduce what’s coming at him in Ukraine? I’m too lazy to research it myself so if anyone knows it’s much appreciated.
He has said he supports self determination by the Falkland Islanders and diplomacy, he would actually be a better President for the UK than the current one.
The Kirchners and their party have been much more bellicose on the Falklands than Milei is and the Kirchners are also pro Putin
Thanks for the answer, although the Hong Kong model doesn’t bode well…
Milei is interesting. Described as “far right” but that moniker has been thrown around a bit loosely recently. He seems to be a bit of a Bolsonaro, combined with a smattering of Redwood and Dan Hannan. Not an ultra-nationalist. To me far right implies ethnic supremacism, which doesn’t seem to feature.
Argentina is one of those democracies with outsized political importance considering its diminutive economy and population. Like Greece, Serbia or New Zealand.
He’s the modern version of far right, all vaccine conspiracies and the like.
I hesitate to understand the point that is made by this poll. Can we have one where we work out how well Labour would do under Hugh Gaitskell? How about John McDonnell (in my headcanon he would have won in 2017)?
How about Robocop? "We polled 25,153 voters via MRP and the result was Alex Murphy (Lab) 35%, Jon Pertwee (Con) 33%, and Pamela Lillian Isley (Green) 25%".
The point is obvious. Those on the Labour Left grumbling about the latest triangulation from PM-in-waiting Keir Starmer need to give their head a wobble and ask themselves if they really would prefer eternal Tory government to a Labour government with a centrist PM?
Yes. I agree. Starmer is nailing it as regards winning the election and I'm on board with it. We just have to remove the Cons. But on the left we can dream of a Labour leader *of* the left who is brighter and more contemporary than Jeremy Corbyn. I know we can because I do!
Even Starmer would be the most leftwing elected PM we have had since Harold Wilson
Given we've only had Blair in between, it's not a very useful comparison.
Who would you consider the most right-wing Conservative elected - the list is Heath, Thatcher, Major, Cameron and Johnson? I discount May because she never won a majority - all the others did at least once.
You think Blair is the most left wing PM since Wilson? Bold statement.
How do we define left? Tax? Spend? Redistribution?
Is the share of taxation overall higher or lower now than when Blair left office? Or when Brown did?
Is spending on redistribution/"social protection" higher or lower now than when Blair left office? Or when Brown did?
@HYUFD chose his words very carefully: he said elected Prime Minister.
In other words, no Callaghan, no Brown, no Sunak, and no Truss.
Yes. And I see no evidence that Blair is to the right of Johnson.
As a share of GDP ... Who left taxes higher: Blair or Johnson? Who left social protection expenditure higher: Blair or Johnson?
Or same question for their Chancellor's if you like, Brown v Sunak.
FPT someone brought up the potential new Argentine Pres. has he made any pronouncements on the Falklands? Surely if you were Putin you would be chucking money at him to ramp it up to divert UK defence attention/spending/kit there and so reduce what’s coming at him in Ukraine? I’m too lazy to research it myself so if anyone knows it’s much appreciated.
He has said he supports self determination by the Falkland Islanders and diplomacy, he would actually be a better President for the UK than the current one.
The Kirchners and their party have been much more bellicose on the Falklands than Milei is and the Kirchners are also pro Putin
NYT - Trump Plans to Skip G.O.P. Debate for Interview With Tucker Carlson
Donald Trump’s apparent decision to skip the first debate is an affront both to the Republican National Committee and to Fox News, which is hosting the event.
What a shocking decision.
Really it makes a lot of sense though, there's no upside for him. What's the RNC going to do about it?
While it's been likely for some time, it is not without its risks.
Firstly, no one is going to watch Tucker's show.
Secondly, what if someone really shines in the debate?
(Not only that, but the NYTimes polling has shown what the most effective line for Republicans is: "yes, I like former President Trump too. But with inditement after inditement, making him the nominee is asking to but Biden back in the White House." With Trump not there, pretty much everyone can hammer than point home. Alongside, maybe, him being frit.)
I hesitate to understand the point that is made by this poll. Can we have one where we work out how well Labour would do under Hugh Gaitskell? How about John McDonnell (in my headcanon he would have won in 2017)?
How about Robocop? "We polled 25,153 voters via MRP and the result was Alex Murphy (Lab) 35%, Jon Pertwee (Con) 33%, and Pamela Lillian Isley (Green) 25%".
The point is obvious. Those on the Labour Left grumbling about the latest triangulation from PM-in-waiting Keir Starmer need to give their head a wobble and ask themselves if they really would prefer eternal Tory government to a Labour government with a centrist PM?
Yes. I agree. Starmer is nailing it as regards winning the election and I'm on board with it. We just have to remove the Cons. But on the left we can dream of a Labour leader *of* the left who is brighter and more contemporary than Jeremy Corbyn. I know we can because I do!
Even Starmer would be the most leftwing elected PM we have had since Harold Wilson
Given we've only had Blair in between, it's not a very useful comparison.
Who would you consider the most right-wing Conservative elected - the list is Heath, Thatcher, Major, Cameron and Johnson? I discount May because she never won a majority - all the others did at least once.
You think Blair is the most left wing PM since Wilson? Bold statement.
How do we define left? Tax? Spend? Redistribution?
Is the share of taxation overall higher or lower now than when Blair left office? Or when Brown did?
Is spending on redistribution/"social protection" higher or lower now than when Blair left office? Or when Brown did?
@HYUFD chose his words very carefully: he said elected Prime Minister.
In other words, no Callaghan, no Brown, no Sunak, and no Truss.
Er. No such thing as an elected PM (unless you reckon the PCP or the Party as an electorate within the constitutional meaning of the word).
It's only elected MPs.
And all PMs are 'elected' in the other sense by their party or party members.
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
After 2-3 months of impasse and fairly brutal infantry actions by Ukraine with their armour out of play because of the minefields, there has been some evidence that things are finally starting to move in the last week. There are 2 scenarios, as I see it. The first is that having forced them to bludgeon their way through those minefields the Russians can now fall back and use those trenches and defensive positions to good effect. The second is that Russia has thrown its reserves into making a real fight of the minefields but now has little to cover any breakthroughs that occur.
Which one is right? I am genuinely not sure. I obviously hope for the latter but this has been a seriously hard summer for Ukraine and Russia have proven to be far more resilient than we hoped.
NYT - Trump Plans to Skip G.O.P. Debate for Interview With Tucker Carlson
Donald Trump’s apparent decision to skip the first debate is an affront both to the Republican National Committee and to Fox News, which is hosting the event.
What a shocking decision.
Really it makes a lot of sense though, there's no upside for him. What's the RNC going to do about it?
While it's been likely for some time, it is not without its risks.
Firstly, no one is going to watch Tucker's show.
Secondly, what if someone really shines in the debate?
(Not only that, but the NYTimes polling has shown what the most effective line for Republicans is: "yes, I like former President Trump too. But with inditement after inditement, making him the nominee is asking to but Biden back in the White House." With Trump not there, pretty much everyone can hammer than point home. Alongside, maybe, him being frit.)
Maybe, although will really no one watch Tucker's show for this one at least? Trump is box office, and so batsh*t he somehow still managed to surprise.
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
After 2-3 months of impasse and fairly brutal infantry actions by Ukraine with their armour out of play because of the minefields, there has been some evidence that things are finally starting to move in the last week. There are 2 scenarios, as I see it. The first is that having forced them to bludgeon their way through those minefields the Russians can now fall back and use those trenches and defensive positions to good effect. The second is that Russia has thrown its reserves into making a real fight of the minefields but now has little to cover any breakthroughs that occur.
Which one is right? I am genuinely not sure. I obviously hope for the latter but this has been a seriously hard summer for Ukraine and Russia have proven to be far more resilient than we hoped.
That's true, but this time last year would you have been ok with the thought that in a years time the question would be how or when Ukraine would liberate the territory that it hasn't liberated yet?
Rather than whether Russia is going to be able to still push on to take even more land.
The fact that Russia is being purely defensive and stretched at that is a good sign.
Russia is depleting it's forces and has fewer and fewer stockpiled Cold War machines to add to the mix.
Ukraine hasn't even got it's F16s yet. It's forces are strengthening not weakening.
This war is currently ratcheting one way. Long may that continue.
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
After 2-3 months of impasse and fairly brutal infantry actions by Ukraine with their armour out of play because of the minefields, there has been some evidence that things are finally starting to move in the last week. There are 2 scenarios, as I see it. The first is that having forced them to bludgeon their way through those minefields the Russians can now fall back and use those trenches and defensive positions to good effect. The second is that Russia has thrown its reserves into making a real fight of the minefields but now has little to cover any breakthroughs that occur.
Which one is right? I am genuinely not sure. I obviously hope for the latter but this has been a seriously hard summer for Ukraine and Russia have proven to be far more resilient than we hoped.
Throwing masses of men at the problem definitely seems to have had some effect. And they have generally withdrawn in better order than would be helpful unfortunately. Fingers crossed.
I hesitate to understand the point that is made by this poll. Can we have one where we work out how well Labour would do under Hugh Gaitskell? How about John McDonnell (in my headcanon he would have won in 2017)?
How about Robocop? "We polled 25,153 voters via MRP and the result was Alex Murphy (Lab) 35%, Jon Pertwee (Con) 33%, and Pamela Lillian Isley (Green) 25%".
The point is obvious. Those on the Labour Left grumbling about the latest triangulation from PM-in-waiting Keir Starmer need to give their head a wobble and ask themselves if they really would prefer eternal Tory government to a Labour government with a centrist PM?
Yes. I agree. Starmer is nailing it as regards winning the election and I'm on board with it. We just have to remove the Cons. But on the left we can dream of a Labour leader *of* the left who is brighter and more contemporary than Jeremy Corbyn. I know we can because I do!
Even Starmer would be the most leftwing elected PM we have had since Harold Wilson
You think? I don't see him being more left wing than Brown or Callaghan to be honest. I accept he is playing his cards pretty close to his chest.
FPT someone brought up the potential new Argentine Pres. has he made any pronouncements on the Falklands? Surely if you were Putin you would be chucking money at him to ramp it up to divert UK defence attention/spending/kit there and so reduce what’s coming at him in Ukraine? I’m too lazy to research it myself so if anyone knows it’s much appreciated.
He has said he supports self determination by the Falkland Islanders and diplomacy, he would actually be a better President for the UK than the current one.
The Kirchners and their party have been much more bellicose on the Falklands than Milei is and the Kirchners are also pro Putin
Thanks for the answer, although the Hong Kong model doesn’t bode well…
Milei is interesting. Described as “far right” but that moniker has been thrown around a bit loosely recently. He seems to be a bit of a Bolsonaro, combined with a smattering of Redwood and Dan Hannan. Not an ultra-nationalist. To me far right implies ethnic supremacism, which doesn’t seem to feature.
Argentina is one of those democracies with outsized political importance considering its diminutive economy and population. Like Greece, Serbia or New Zealand.
He’s the modern version of far right, all vaccine conspiracies and the like.
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
After 2-3 months of impasse and fairly brutal infantry actions by Ukraine with their armour out of play because of the minefields, there has been some evidence that things are finally starting to move in the last week. There are 2 scenarios, as I see it. The first is that having forced them to bludgeon their way through those minefields the Russians can now fall back and use those trenches and defensive positions to good effect. The second is that Russia has thrown its reserves into making a real fight of the minefields but now has little to cover any breakthroughs that occur.
Which one is right? I am genuinely not sure. I obviously hope for the latter but this has been a seriously hard summer for Ukraine and Russia have proven to be far more resilient than we hoped.
That's true, but this time last year would you have been ok with the thought that in a years time the question would be how or when Ukraine would liberate the territory that it hasn't liberated yet?
Rather than whether Russia is going to be able to still push on to take even more land.
The fact that Russia is being purely defensive and stretched at that is a good sign.
Russia is depleting it's forces and has fewer and fewer stockpiled Cold War machines to add to the mix.
Ukraine hasn't even got it's F16s yet. It's forces are strengthening not weakening.
This war is currently ratcheting one way. Long may that continue.
My fear is that the last few months have seriously hurt Ukraine with a lot of very good men lost for not much return. I am not sure how long they can sustain this.
Pro-Trump Pro-gun Anti-abortion Anti-workers’ rights Pro-Al Capone Anti-sex education Vaccine sceptical Pro-selling human organs Pro-tantric sex Pro-Israel Anti-tax Doesn’t believe in climate change Mixed views on trans rights Sang in a Rolling Stones cover band Pro-free love Pro-group sex Catholic Pro-dog Anti-government funding of science Pro-Bitcoin
FPT someone brought up the potential new Argentine Pres. has he made any pronouncements on the Falklands? Surely if you were Putin you would be chucking money at him to ramp it up to divert UK defence attention/spending/kit there and so reduce what’s coming at him in Ukraine? I’m too lazy to research it myself so if anyone knows it’s much appreciated.
He has said he supports self determination by the Falkland Islanders and diplomacy, he would actually be a better President for the UK than the current one.
The Kirchners and their party have been much more bellicose on the Falklands than Milei is and the Kirchners are also pro Putin
Thanks for the answer, although the Hong Kong model doesn’t bode well…
Milei is interesting. Described as “far right” but that moniker has been thrown around a bit loosely recently. He seems to be a bit of a Bolsonaro, combined with a smattering of Redwood and Dan Hannan. Not an ultra-nationalist. To me far right implies ethnic supremacism, which doesn’t seem to feature.
Argentina is one of those democracies with outsized political importance considering its diminutive economy and population. Like Greece, Serbia or New Zealand.
He’s the modern version of far right, all vaccine conspiracies and the like.
There are two countries I wish/ wonder what would have happened if they had been colonised and been part of the British Empire, Argentina and Mexico. I know that Britain had big influence on Argentina but never formative control and Mexico might have been another Australia - what a stunning messed up country.
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
After 2-3 months of impasse and fairly brutal infantry actions by Ukraine with their armour out of play because of the minefields, there has been some evidence that things are finally starting to move in the last week. There are 2 scenarios, as I see it. The first is that having forced them to bludgeon their way through those minefields the Russians can now fall back and use those trenches and defensive positions to good effect. The second is that Russia has thrown its reserves into making a real fight of the minefields but now has little to cover any breakthroughs that occur.
Which one is right? I am genuinely not sure. I obviously hope for the latter but this has been a seriously hard summer for Ukraine and Russia have proven to be far more resilient than we hoped.
That's true, but this time last year would you have been ok with the thought that in a years time the question would be how or when Ukraine would liberate the territory that it hasn't liberated yet?
Rather than whether Russia is going to be able to still push on to take even more land.
The fact that Russia is being purely defensive and stretched at that is a good sign.
Russia is depleting it's forces and has fewer and fewer stockpiled Cold War machines to add to the mix.
Ukraine hasn't even got it's F16s yet. It's forces are strengthening not weakening.
This war is currently ratcheting one way. Long may that continue.
The F16s thing is really odd. I really don’t get why there’s reluctance on supplying them. First flown in 1974, just about the most prevalent fighter jet worldwide, it’s hardly some cutting edge new generation super-weapon.
Pro-Trump Pro-gun Anti-abortion Anti-workers’ rights Pro-Al Capone Anti-sex education Vaccine sceptical Pro-selling human organs Pro-tantric sex Pro-Israel Anti-tax Doesn’t believe in climate change Mixed views on trans rights Sang in a Rolling Stones cover band Pro-free love Pro-group sex Catholic Pro-dog Anti-government funding of science Pro-Bitcoin
Basically some typical crypto-bro off Twitter then.
I hesitate to understand the point that is made by this poll. Can we have one where we work out how well Labour would do under Hugh Gaitskell? How about John McDonnell (in my headcanon he would have won in 2017)?
How about Robocop? "We polled 25,153 voters via MRP and the result was Alex Murphy (Lab) 35%, Jon Pertwee (Con) 33%, and Pamela Lillian Isley (Green) 25%".
The point is obvious. Those on the Labour Left grumbling about the latest triangulation from PM-in-waiting Keir Starmer need to give their head a wobble and ask themselves if they really would prefer eternal Tory government to a Labour government with a centrist PM?
Yes. I agree. Starmer is nailing it as regards winning the election and I'm on board with it. We just have to remove the Cons. But on the left we can dream of a Labour leader *of* the left who is brighter and more contemporary than Jeremy Corbyn. I know we can because I do!
Even Starmer would be the most leftwing elected PM we have had since Harold Wilson
You think? I don't see him being more left wing than Brown or Callaghan to be honest. I accept he is playing his cards pretty close to his chest.
Well, there's Callaghan as he would have wanted to be in an ideal world, and Callaghan as the IMF forced him to be...
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
After 2-3 months of impasse and fairly brutal infantry actions by Ukraine with their armour out of play because of the minefields, there has been some evidence that things are finally starting to move in the last week. There are 2 scenarios, as I see it. The first is that having forced them to bludgeon their way through those minefields the Russians can now fall back and use those trenches and defensive positions to good effect. The second is that Russia has thrown its reserves into making a real fight of the minefields but now has little to cover any breakthroughs that occur.
Which one is right? I am genuinely not sure. I obviously hope for the latter but this has been a seriously hard summer for Ukraine and Russia have proven to be far more resilient than we hoped.
That's true, but this time last year would you have been ok with the thought that in a years time the question would be how or when Ukraine would liberate the territory that it hasn't liberated yet?
Rather than whether Russia is going to be able to still push on to take even more land.
The fact that Russia is being purely defensive and stretched at that is a good sign.
Russia is depleting it's forces and has fewer and fewer stockpiled Cold War machines to add to the mix.
Ukraine hasn't even got it's F16s yet. It's forces are strengthening not weakening.
This war is currently ratcheting one way. Long may that continue.
My fear is that the last few months have seriously hurt Ukraine with a lot of very good men lost for not much return. I am not sure how long they can sustain this.
Well wars often last years like this.
If they don't make a major breakthrough this year, and I hope they do, then hopefully they can regroup, be reinforced and go again next year with better armaments and F16s to support them.
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
After 2-3 months of impasse and fairly brutal infantry actions by Ukraine with their armour out of play because of the minefields, there has been some evidence that things are finally starting to move in the last week. There are 2 scenarios, as I see it. The first is that having forced them to bludgeon their way through those minefields the Russians can now fall back and use those trenches and defensive positions to good effect. The second is that Russia has thrown its reserves into making a real fight of the minefields but now has little to cover any breakthroughs that occur.
Which one is right? I am genuinely not sure. I obviously hope for the latter but this has been a seriously hard summer for Ukraine and Russia have proven to be far more resilient than we hoped.
That's true, but this time last year would you have been ok with the thought that in a years time the question would be how or when Ukraine would liberate the territory that it hasn't liberated yet?
Rather than whether Russia is going to be able to still push on to take even more land.
The fact that Russia is being purely defensive and stretched at that is a good sign.
Russia is depleting it's forces and has fewer and fewer stockpiled Cold War machines to add to the mix.
Ukraine hasn't even got it's F16s yet. It's forces are strengthening not weakening.
This war is currently ratcheting one way. Long may that continue.
The F16s thing is really odd. I really don’t get why there’s reluctance on supplying them. First flown in 1974, just about the most prevalent fighter jet worldwide, it’s hardly some cutting edge new generation super-weapon.
It looks incredibly like a NATO fighter raiding into Russian soil. The room for serious misunderstandings is multiplied scarily. And there is an argument about how useful they will be when both sides seem to have seriously effective anti aircraft tech.
I hesitate to post this (confirmation bias plus my feeling that one should fight when things get hard, not run away) but if the Telegraph is now posting stuff like this, things are not good.
FPT someone brought up the potential new Argentine Pres. has he made any pronouncements on the Falklands? Surely if you were Putin you would be chucking money at him to ramp it up to divert UK defence attention/spending/kit there and so reduce what’s coming at him in Ukraine? I’m too lazy to research it myself so if anyone knows it’s much appreciated.
He has said he supports self determination by the Falkland Islanders and diplomacy, he would actually be a better President for the UK than the current one.
The Kirchners and their party have been much more bellicose on the Falklands than Milei is and the Kirchners are also pro Putin
Thanks for the answer, although the Hong Kong model doesn’t bode well…
Milei is interesting. Described as “far right” but that moniker has been thrown around a bit loosely recently. He seems to be a bit of a Bolsonaro, combined with a smattering of Redwood and Dan Hannan. Not an ultra-nationalist. To me far right implies ethnic supremacism, which doesn’t seem to feature.
Argentina is one of those democracies with outsized political importance considering its diminutive economy and population. Like Greece, Serbia or New Zealand.
He’s the modern version of far right, all vaccine conspiracies and the like.
FPT someone brought up the potential new Argentine Pres. has he made any pronouncements on the Falklands? Surely if you were Putin you would be chucking money at him to ramp it up to divert UK defence attention/spending/kit there and so reduce what’s coming at him in Ukraine? I’m too lazy to research it myself so if anyone knows it’s much appreciated.
He has said he supports self determination by the Falkland Islanders and diplomacy, he would actually be a better President for the UK than the current one.
The Kirchners and their party have been much more bellicose on the Falklands than Milei is and the Kirchners are also pro Putin
Thanks for the answer, although the Hong Kong model doesn’t bode well…
Milei is interesting. Described as “far right” but that moniker has been thrown around a bit loosely recently. He seems to be a bit of a Bolsonaro, combined with a smattering of Redwood and Dan Hannan. Not an ultra-nationalist. To me far right implies ethnic supremacism, which doesn’t seem to feature.
Argentina is one of those democracies with outsized political importance considering its diminutive economy and population. Like Greece, Serbia or New Zealand.
He’s the modern version of far right, all vaccine conspiracies and the like.
Don’t cha just love BBC radio 4 comedy. Just tuned in as saw a new show and was treated by the host and Spanish comedian mocking Brits in hackneyed terms, the best was the Spanish chap ranting about us not being able to pronounce Paella and Mallorca as he pronounces at the same time as not speaking with a perfect English accent whilst using English words. We are a truly evil nation.
Yay, now the Malawian comedian having a go, followed by an Aussie making the audience roar mocking King Charles. What an enormous pile of wank. Just turning off at the point that “white men” have been blamed for everything.
Sounds like a mirror image of 1970s TV. That was shit, too.
I hesitate to understand the point that is made by this poll. Can we have one where we work out how well Labour would do under Hugh Gaitskell? How about John McDonnell (in my headcanon he would have won in 2017)?
How about Robocop? "We polled 25,153 voters via MRP and the result was Alex Murphy (Lab) 35%, Jon Pertwee (Con) 33%, and Pamela Lillian Isley (Green) 25%".
The point is obvious. Those on the Labour Left grumbling about the latest triangulation from PM-in-waiting Keir Starmer need to give their head a wobble and ask themselves if they really would prefer eternal Tory government to a Labour government with a centrist PM?
Yes. I agree. Starmer is nailing it as regards winning the election and I'm on board with it. We just have to remove the Cons. But on the left we can dream of a Labour leader *of* the left who is brighter and more contemporary than Jeremy Corbyn. I know we can because I do!
Even Starmer would be the most leftwing elected PM we have had since Harold Wilson
You think? I don't see him being more left wing than Brown or Callaghan to be honest. I accept he is playing his cards pretty close to his chest.
Well, there's Callaghan as he would have wanted to be in an ideal world, and Callaghan as the IMF forced him to be...
Very fair, but if SKS thinks he will have any more room for manoeuvre he is delusional. Truss showed that even Tory PMs have fine margins to play with.
I hesitate to understand the point that is made by this poll. Can we have one where we work out how well Labour would do under Hugh Gaitskell? How about John McDonnell (in my headcanon he would have won in 2017)?
How about Robocop? "We polled 25,153 voters via MRP and the result was Alex Murphy (Lab) 35%, Jon Pertwee (Con) 33%, and Pamela Lillian Isley (Green) 25%".
The point is obvious. Those on the Labour Left grumbling about the latest triangulation from PM-in-waiting Keir Starmer need to give their head a wobble and ask themselves if they really would prefer eternal Tory government to a Labour government with a centrist PM?
Yes. I agree. Starmer is nailing it as regards winning the election and I'm on board with it. We just have to remove the Cons. But on the left we can dream of a Labour leader *of* the left who is brighter and more contemporary than Jeremy Corbyn. I know we can because I do!
Even Starmer would be the most leftwing elected PM we have had since Harold Wilson
Given we've only had Blair in between, it's not a very useful comparison.
Who would you consider the most right-wing Conservative elected - the list is Heath, Thatcher, Major, Cameron and Johnson? I discount May because she never won a majority - all the others did at least once.
You think Blair is the most left wing PM since Wilson? Bold statement.
How do we define left? Tax? Spend? Redistribution?
Is the share of taxation overall higher or lower now than when Blair left office? Or when Brown did?
Is spending on redistribution/"social protection" higher or lower now than when Blair left office? Or when Brown did?
No, we've had only two Labour leaders elected into office since Attlee - Wilson and Blair. I don't think it's much of an argument to suggest Wilson was to the left of Blair.
It isn't easy to define "Left" and "Right" as you say. Blair in the 2000s would have been quite happy in Owen's SDP in the mid-80s.
As for the Conservatives, Heath was elected on a much more radical manifesto than Thatcher's in 1979. I'm no Tory so it's not easy for me to say but I'd put Cameron, Major and to an extent Johnson more on the one nation side of the fence.
The truth is radical manifestos rarely win - 1945 was exceptional so we're looking at "Selsdon Man" in 1970 as the last radical manifesto to win office - the 1983 Conservative manifesto was also radical but this was about re-election not winning power in the first place.
You could again argue only Heath, Thatcher and Cameron have won power from opposition since 1970 on the Conservative side while Major and Johnson won re-election as Conservative governments.
NYT - Trump Plans to Skip G.O.P. Debate for Interview With Tucker Carlson
Donald Trump’s apparent decision to skip the first debate is an affront both to the Republican National Committee and to Fox News, which is hosting the event.
Interestingly, Tucker's Twitter (sorry "X") show has been a bit of a failure. Even his most popular videos have only been watched a few hundred thousand times, while others have failed to break the 100k barrier.
And when you're only producing one video every four days, that isn't a great performance.
I recall someone getting quite excited about the prospect of Tucker on Twitter. Name escapes me.
FPT someone brought up the potential new Argentine Pres. has he made any pronouncements on the Falklands? Surely if you were Putin you would be chucking money at him to ramp it up to divert UK defence attention/spending/kit there and so reduce what’s coming at him in Ukraine? I’m too lazy to research it myself so if anyone knows it’s much appreciated.
He has said he supports self determination by the Falkland Islanders and diplomacy, he would actually be a better President for the UK than the current one.
The Kirchners and their party have been much more bellicose on the Falklands than Milei is and the Kirchners are also pro Putin
Thanks for the answer, although the Hong Kong model doesn’t bode well…
Milei is interesting. Described as “far right” but that moniker has been thrown around a bit loosely recently. He seems to be a bit of a Bolsonaro, combined with a smattering of Redwood and Dan Hannan. Not an ultra-nationalist. To me far right implies ethnic supremacism, which doesn’t seem to feature.
Argentina is one of those democracies with outsized political importance considering its diminutive economy and population. Like Greece, Serbia or New Zealand.
He’s the modern version of far right, all vaccine conspiracies and the like.
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
After 2-3 months of impasse and fairly brutal infantry actions by Ukraine with their armour out of play because of the minefields, there has been some evidence that things are finally starting to move in the last week. There are 2 scenarios, as I see it. The first is that having forced them to bludgeon their way through those minefields the Russians can now fall back and use those trenches and defensive positions to good effect. The second is that Russia has thrown its reserves into making a real fight of the minefields but now has little to cover any breakthroughs that occur.
Which one is right? I am genuinely not sure. I obviously hope for the latter but this has been a seriously hard summer for Ukraine and Russia have proven to be far more resilient than we hoped.
That's true, but this time last year would you have been ok with the thought that in a years time the question would be how or when Ukraine would liberate the territory that it hasn't liberated yet?
Rather than whether Russia is going to be able to still push on to take even more land.
The fact that Russia is being purely defensive and stretched at that is a good sign.
Russia is depleting it's forces and has fewer and fewer stockpiled Cold War machines to add to the mix.
Ukraine hasn't even got it's F16s yet. It's forces are strengthening not weakening.
This war is currently ratcheting one way. Long may that continue.
The F16s thing is really odd. I really don’t get why there’s reluctance on supplying them. First flown in 1974, just about the most prevalent fighter jet worldwide, it’s hardly some cutting edge new generation super-weapon.
It looks incredibly like a NATO fighter raiding into Russian soil. The room for serious misunderstandings is multiplied scarily. And there is an argument about how useful they will be when both sides seem to have seriously effective anti aircraft tech.
I don’t see why that’s anymore the case than MiGs and SUs raiding Ukrainian soil daily, when they’re not trying to spray jet fuel in American drones in the Black Sea or buzz Swedish jets in their airspace. And for that matter several NATO members themselves using former Soviet aircraft.
It’s this weird asymmetric fear of provocation that is frankly baffling. Let Russia act like a complete c*nt, but pussyfoot around just in case we make them a bit cross.
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
After 2-3 months of impasse and fairly brutal infantry actions by Ukraine with their armour out of play because of the minefields, there has been some evidence that things are finally starting to move in the last week. There are 2 scenarios, as I see it. The first is that having forced them to bludgeon their way through those minefields the Russians can now fall back and use those trenches and defensive positions to good effect. The second is that Russia has thrown its reserves into making a real fight of the minefields but now has little to cover any breakthroughs that occur.
Which one is right? I am genuinely not sure. I obviously hope for the latter but this has been a seriously hard summer for Ukraine and Russia have proven to be far more resilient than we hoped.
That's true, but this time last year would you have been ok with the thought that in a years time the question would be how or when Ukraine would liberate the territory that it hasn't liberated yet?
Rather than whether Russia is going to be able to still push on to take even more land.
The fact that Russia is being purely defensive and stretched at that is a good sign.
Russia is depleting it's forces and has fewer and fewer stockpiled Cold War machines to add to the mix.
Ukraine hasn't even got it's F16s yet. It's forces are strengthening not weakening.
This war is currently ratcheting one way. Long may that continue.
The F16s thing is really odd. I really don’t get why there’s reluctance on supplying them. First flown in 1974, just about the most prevalent fighter jet worldwide, it’s hardly some cutting edge new generation super-weapon.
It takes a lot of time to learn to fly such a plane, and even longer to learn how to maintain them.
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
After 2-3 months of impasse and fairly brutal infantry actions by Ukraine with their armour out of play because of the minefields, there has been some evidence that things are finally starting to move in the last week. There are 2 scenarios, as I see it. The first is that having forced them to bludgeon their way through those minefields the Russians can now fall back and use those trenches and defensive positions to good effect. The second is that Russia has thrown its reserves into making a real fight of the minefields but now has little to cover any breakthroughs that occur.
Which one is right? I am genuinely not sure. I obviously hope for the latter but this has been a seriously hard summer for Ukraine and Russia have proven to be far more resilient than we hoped.
That's true, but this time last year would you have been ok with the thought that in a years time the question would be how or when Ukraine would liberate the territory that it hasn't liberated yet?
Rather than whether Russia is going to be able to still push on to take even more land.
The fact that Russia is being purely defensive and stretched at that is a good sign.
Russia is depleting it's forces and has fewer and fewer stockpiled Cold War machines to add to the mix.
Ukraine hasn't even got it's F16s yet. It's forces are strengthening not weakening.
This war is currently ratcheting one way. Long may that continue.
The F16s thing is really odd. I really don’t get why there’s reluctance on supplying them. First flown in 1974, just about the most prevalent fighter jet worldwide, it’s hardly some cutting edge new generation super-weapon.
It takes a lot of time to learn to fly such a plane, and even longer to learn how to maintain them.
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
After 2-3 months of impasse and fairly brutal infantry actions by Ukraine with their armour out of play because of the minefields, there has been some evidence that things are finally starting to move in the last week. There are 2 scenarios, as I see it. The first is that having forced them to bludgeon their way through those minefields the Russians can now fall back and use those trenches and defensive positions to good effect. The second is that Russia has thrown its reserves into making a real fight of the minefields but now has little to cover any breakthroughs that occur.
Which one is right? I am genuinely not sure. I obviously hope for the latter but this has been a seriously hard summer for Ukraine and Russia have proven to be far more resilient than we hoped.
That's true, but this time last year would you have been ok with the thought that in a years time the question would be how or when Ukraine would liberate the territory that it hasn't liberated yet?
Rather than whether Russia is going to be able to still push on to take even more land.
The fact that Russia is being purely defensive and stretched at that is a good sign.
Russia is depleting it's forces and has fewer and fewer stockpiled Cold War machines to add to the mix.
Ukraine hasn't even got it's F16s yet. It's forces are strengthening not weakening.
This war is currently ratcheting one way. Long may that continue.
The F16s thing is really odd. I really don’t get why there’s reluctance on supplying them. First flown in 1974, just about the most prevalent fighter jet worldwide, it’s hardly some cutting edge new generation super-weapon.
It takes a lot of time to learn to fly such a plane, and even longer to learn how to maintain them.
Then they need to get on and actually start training them.
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
After 2-3 months of impasse and fairly brutal infantry actions by Ukraine with their armour out of play because of the minefields, there has been some evidence that things are finally starting to move in the last week. There are 2 scenarios, as I see it. The first is that having forced them to bludgeon their way through those minefields the Russians can now fall back and use those trenches and defensive positions to good effect. The second is that Russia has thrown its reserves into making a real fight of the minefields but now has little to cover any breakthroughs that occur.
Which one is right? I am genuinely not sure. I obviously hope for the latter but this has been a seriously hard summer for Ukraine and Russia have proven to be far more resilient than we hoped.
That's true, but this time last year would you have been ok with the thought that in a years time the question would be how or when Ukraine would liberate the territory that it hasn't liberated yet?
Rather than whether Russia is going to be able to still push on to take even more land.
The fact that Russia is being purely defensive and stretched at that is a good sign.
Russia is depleting it's forces and has fewer and fewer stockpiled Cold War machines to add to the mix.
Ukraine hasn't even got it's F16s yet. It's forces are strengthening not weakening.
This war is currently ratcheting one way. Long may that continue.
The F16s thing is really odd. I really don’t get why there’s reluctance on supplying them. First flown in 1974, just about the most prevalent fighter jet worldwide, it’s hardly some cutting edge new generation super-weapon.
It looks incredibly like a NATO fighter raiding into Russian soil. The room for serious misunderstandings is multiplied scarily. And there is an argument about how useful they will be when both sides seem to have seriously effective anti aircraft tech.
I don’t see why that’s anymore the case than MiGs and SUs raiding Ukrainian soil daily, when they’re not trying to spray jet fuel in American drones in the Black Sea or buzz Swedish jets in their airspace. And for that matter several NATO members themselves using former Soviet aircraft.
It’s this weird asymmetric fear of provocation that is frankly baffling. Let Russia act like a complete c*nt, but pussyfoot around just in case we make them a bit cross.
Remember that a NATO country directly shot down a Russian fighter jet not so long ago and there were no repercussions.
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
After 2-3 months of impasse and fairly brutal infantry actions by Ukraine with their armour out of play because of the minefields, there has been some evidence that things are finally starting to move in the last week. There are 2 scenarios, as I see it. The first is that having forced them to bludgeon their way through those minefields the Russians can now fall back and use those trenches and defensive positions to good effect. The second is that Russia has thrown its reserves into making a real fight of the minefields but now has little to cover any breakthroughs that occur.
Which one is right? I am genuinely not sure. I obviously hope for the latter but this has been a seriously hard summer for Ukraine and Russia have proven to be far more resilient than we hoped.
That's true, but this time last year would you have been ok with the thought that in a years time the question would be how or when Ukraine would liberate the territory that it hasn't liberated yet?
Rather than whether Russia is going to be able to still push on to take even more land.
The fact that Russia is being purely defensive and stretched at that is a good sign.
Russia is depleting it's forces and has fewer and fewer stockpiled Cold War machines to add to the mix.
Ukraine hasn't even got it's F16s yet. It's forces are strengthening not weakening.
This war is currently ratcheting one way. Long may that continue.
My fear is that the last few months have seriously hurt Ukraine with a lot of very good men lost for not much return. I am not sure how long they can sustain this.
This is 1917, with the Ukranians equivalent of Kitchener's New Armies learning how to fight, and with Russian army mutinies. It takes a while to learn the hard way how to break down defensive entrenchments.
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
After 2-3 months of impasse and fairly brutal infantry actions by Ukraine with their armour out of play because of the minefields, there has been some evidence that things are finally starting to move in the last week. There are 2 scenarios, as I see it. The first is that having forced them to bludgeon their way through those minefields the Russians can now fall back and use those trenches and defensive positions to good effect. The second is that Russia has thrown its reserves into making a real fight of the minefields but now has little to cover any breakthroughs that occur.
Which one is right? I am genuinely not sure. I obviously hope for the latter but this has been a seriously hard summer for Ukraine and Russia have proven to be far more resilient than we hoped.
That's true, but this time last year would you have been ok with the thought that in a years time the question would be how or when Ukraine would liberate the territory that it hasn't liberated yet?
Rather than whether Russia is going to be able to still push on to take even more land.
The fact that Russia is being purely defensive and stretched at that is a good sign.
Russia is depleting it's forces and has fewer and fewer stockpiled Cold War machines to add to the mix.
Ukraine hasn't even got it's F16s yet. It's forces are strengthening not weakening.
This war is currently ratcheting one way. Long may that continue.
The F16s thing is really odd. I really don’t get why there’s reluctance on supplying them. First flown in 1974, just about the most prevalent fighter jet worldwide, it’s hardly some cutting edge new generation super-weapon.
It looks incredibly like a NATO fighter raiding into Russian soil. The room for serious misunderstandings is multiplied scarily. And there is an argument about how useful they will be when both sides seem to have seriously effective anti aircraft tech.
I don’t see why that’s anymore the case than MiGs and SUs raiding Ukrainian soil daily, when they’re not trying to spray jet fuel in American drones in the Black Sea or buzz Swedish jets in their airspace. And for that matter several NATO members themselves using former Soviet aircraft.
It’s this weird asymmetric fear of provocation that is frankly baffling. Let Russia act like a complete c*nt, but pussyfoot around just in case we make them a bit cross.
The US are providing hundreds of thousands of rounds of cluster bombs which are ripping Russian soldiers to pieces. We supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles and anti tank weaponry which has proven deadly. I don't think anyone is concerned about the Russians being cross. But there is a difference between that and having Russia believe NATO is directly attacking them.
I hesitate to understand the point that is made by this poll. Can we have one where we work out how well Labour would do under Hugh Gaitskell? How about John McDonnell (in my headcanon he would have won in 2017)?
How about Robocop? "We polled 25,153 voters via MRP and the result was Alex Murphy (Lab) 35%, Jon Pertwee (Con) 33%, and Pamela Lillian Isley (Green) 25%".
The point is obvious. Those on the Labour Left grumbling about the latest triangulation from PM-in-waiting Keir Starmer need to give their head a wobble and ask themselves if they really would prefer eternal Tory government to a Labour government with a centrist PM?
Yes. I agree. Starmer is nailing it as regards winning the election and I'm on board with it. We just have to remove the Cons. But on the left we can dream of a Labour leader *of* the left who is brighter and more contemporary than Jeremy Corbyn. I know we can because I do!
Even Starmer would be the most leftwing elected PM we have had since Harold Wilson
Given we've only had Blair in between, it's not a very useful comparison.
Who would you consider the most right-wing Conservative elected - the list is Heath, Thatcher, Major, Cameron and Johnson? I discount May because she never won a majority - all the others did at least once.
You think Blair is the most left wing PM since Wilson? Bold statement.
How do we define left? Tax? Spend? Redistribution?
Is the share of taxation overall higher or lower now than when Blair left office? Or when Brown did?
Is spending on redistribution/"social protection" higher or lower now than when Blair left office? Or when Brown did?
No, we've had only two Labour leaders elected into office since Attlee - Wilson and Blair. I don't think it's much of an argument to suggest Wilson was to the left of Blair.
It isn't easy to define "Left" and "Right" as you say. Blair in the 2000s would have been quite happy in Owen's SDP in the mid-80s.
As for the Conservatives, Heath was elected on a much more radical manifesto than Thatcher's in 1979. I'm no Tory so it's not easy for me to say but I'd put Cameron, Major and to an extent Johnson more on the one nation side of the fence.
The truth is radical manifestos rarely win - 1945 was exceptional so we're looking at "Selsdon Man" in 1970 as the last radical manifesto to win office - the 1983 Conservative manifesto was also radical but this was about re-election not winning power in the first place.
You could again argue only Heath, Thatcher and Cameron have won power from opposition since 1970 on the Conservative side while Major and Johnson won re-election as Conservative governments.
Yes I get that only Blair has won election for Labour in decades, but that doesn't make Blair automatically the most left wing PM in that time.
The problem is that the Tories have ceased to be the pro market economy party. They're just another tax and spend party now.
In the past the Tories were the party of aspiration, enterprise and business. Today the Tories are a party primarily for people who aren't in the workforce and who get substantial welfare instead.
So under the Tories taxes and welfare have both risen now since Labour left office. Only welfare isn't aimed at the poor or needy anymore, but it's redistribution just the same!
Higher taxes and higher redistribution today than under Blair. What else to call that other than left wing?
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
After 2-3 months of impasse and fairly brutal infantry actions by Ukraine with their armour out of play because of the minefields, there has been some evidence that things are finally starting to move in the last week. There are 2 scenarios, as I see it. The first is that having forced them to bludgeon their way through those minefields the Russians can now fall back and use those trenches and defensive positions to good effect. The second is that Russia has thrown its reserves into making a real fight of the minefields but now has little to cover any breakthroughs that occur.
Which one is right? I am genuinely not sure. I obviously hope for the latter but this has been a seriously hard summer for Ukraine and Russia have proven to be far more resilient than we hoped.
That's true, but this time last year would you have been ok with the thought that in a years time the question would be how or when Ukraine would liberate the territory that it hasn't liberated yet?
Rather than whether Russia is going to be able to still push on to take even more land.
The fact that Russia is being purely defensive and stretched at that is a good sign.
Russia is depleting it's forces and has fewer and fewer stockpiled Cold War machines to add to the mix.
Ukraine hasn't even got it's F16s yet. It's forces are strengthening not weakening.
This war is currently ratcheting one way. Long may that continue.
The F16s thing is really odd. I really don’t get why there’s reluctance on supplying them. First flown in 1974, just about the most prevalent fighter jet worldwide, it’s hardly some cutting edge new generation super-weapon.
It looks incredibly like a NATO fighter raiding into Russian soil. The room for serious misunderstandings is multiplied scarily. And there is an argument about how useful they will be when both sides seem to have seriously effective anti aircraft tech.
I don’t see why that’s anymore the case than MiGs and SUs raiding Ukrainian soil daily, when they’re not trying to spray jet fuel in American drones in the Black Sea or buzz Swedish jets in their airspace. And for that matter several NATO members themselves using former Soviet aircraft.
It’s this weird asymmetric fear of provocation that is frankly baffling. Let Russia act like a complete c*nt, but pussyfoot around just in case we make them a bit cross.
The US are providing hundreds of thousands of rounds of cluster bombs which are ripping Russian soldiers to pieces. We supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles and anti tank weaponry which has proven deadly. I don't think anyone is concerned about the Russians being cross. But there is a difference between that and having Russia believe NATO is directly attacking them.
Don’t cha just love BBC radio 4 comedy. Just tuned in as saw a new show and was treated by the host and Spanish comedian mocking Brits in hackneyed terms, the best was the Spanish chap ranting about us not being able to pronounce Paella and Mallorca as he pronounces at the same time as not speaking with a perfect English accent whilst using English words. We are a truly evil nation.
Yay, now the Malawian comedian having a go, followed by an Aussie making the audience roar mocking King Charles. What an enormous pile of wank. Just turning off at the point that “white men” have been blamed for everything.
Sounds like a mirror image of 1970s TV. That was shit, too.
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
After 2-3 months of impasse and fairly brutal infantry actions by Ukraine with their armour out of play because of the minefields, there has been some evidence that things are finally starting to move in the last week. There are 2 scenarios, as I see it. The first is that having forced them to bludgeon their way through those minefields the Russians can now fall back and use those trenches and defensive positions to good effect. The second is that Russia has thrown its reserves into making a real fight of the minefields but now has little to cover any breakthroughs that occur.
Which one is right? I am genuinely not sure. I obviously hope for the latter but this has been a seriously hard summer for Ukraine and Russia have proven to be far more resilient than we hoped.
That's true, but this time last year would you have been ok with the thought that in a years time the question would be how or when Ukraine would liberate the territory that it hasn't liberated yet?
Rather than whether Russia is going to be able to still push on to take even more land.
The fact that Russia is being purely defensive and stretched at that is a good sign.
Russia is depleting it's forces and has fewer and fewer stockpiled Cold War machines to add to the mix.
Ukraine hasn't even got it's F16s yet. It's forces are strengthening not weakening.
This war is currently ratcheting one way. Long may that continue.
The F16s thing is really odd. I really don’t get why there’s reluctance on supplying them. First flown in 1974, just about the most prevalent fighter jet worldwide, it’s hardly some cutting edge new generation super-weapon.
It looks incredibly like a NATO fighter raiding into Russian soil. The room for serious misunderstandings is multiplied scarily. And there is an argument about how useful they will be when both sides seem to have seriously effective anti aircraft tech.
I don’t see why that’s anymore the case than MiGs and SUs raiding Ukrainian soil daily, when they’re not trying to spray jet fuel in American drones in the Black Sea or buzz Swedish jets in their airspace. And for that matter several NATO members themselves using former Soviet aircraft.
It’s this weird asymmetric fear of provocation that is frankly baffling. Let Russia act like a complete c*nt, but pussyfoot around just in case we make them a bit cross.
The US are providing hundreds of thousands of rounds of cluster bombs which are ripping Russian soldiers to pieces. We supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles and anti tank weaponry which has proven deadly. I don't think anyone is concerned about the Russians being cross. But there is a difference between that and having Russia believe NATO is directly attacking them.
Are they really that stupid?
Oh f*** yes. And they have a leader who thinks he has very, very little to lose.
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
After 2-3 months of impasse and fairly brutal infantry actions by Ukraine with their armour out of play because of the minefields, there has been some evidence that things are finally starting to move in the last week. There are 2 scenarios, as I see it. The first is that having forced them to bludgeon their way through those minefields the Russians can now fall back and use those trenches and defensive positions to good effect. The second is that Russia has thrown its reserves into making a real fight of the minefields but now has little to cover any breakthroughs that occur.
Which one is right? I am genuinely not sure. I obviously hope for the latter but this has been a seriously hard summer for Ukraine and Russia have proven to be far more resilient than we hoped.
That's true, but this time last year would you have been ok with the thought that in a years time the question would be how or when Ukraine would liberate the territory that it hasn't liberated yet?
Rather than whether Russia is going to be able to still push on to take even more land.
The fact that Russia is being purely defensive and stretched at that is a good sign.
Russia is depleting it's forces and has fewer and fewer stockpiled Cold War machines to add to the mix.
Ukraine hasn't even got it's F16s yet. It's forces are strengthening not weakening.
This war is currently ratcheting one way. Long may that continue.
The F16s thing is really odd. I really don’t get why there’s reluctance on supplying them. First flown in 1974, just about the most prevalent fighter jet worldwide, it’s hardly some cutting edge new generation super-weapon.
It looks incredibly like a NATO fighter raiding into Russian soil. The room for serious misunderstandings is multiplied scarily. And there is an argument about how useful they will be when both sides seem to have seriously effective anti aircraft tech.
I don’t see why that’s anymore the case than MiGs and SUs raiding Ukrainian soil daily, when they’re not trying to spray jet fuel in American drones in the Black Sea or buzz Swedish jets in their airspace. And for that matter several NATO members themselves using former Soviet aircraft.
It’s this weird asymmetric fear of provocation that is frankly baffling. Let Russia act like a complete c*nt, but pussyfoot around just in case we make them a bit cross.
The US are providing hundreds of thousands of rounds of cluster bombs which are ripping Russian soldiers to pieces. We supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles and anti tank weaponry which has proven deadly. I don't think anyone is concerned about the Russians being cross. But there is a difference between that and having Russia believe NATO is directly attacking them.
Are they really that stupid?
Even if NATO countries did get directly involved in Ukraine, it's not obvious what Russia would gain by escalating outside that theatre.
Don’t cha just love BBC radio 4 comedy. Just tuned in as saw a new show and was treated by the host and Spanish comedian mocking Brits in hackneyed terms, the best was the Spanish chap ranting about us not being able to pronounce Paella and Mallorca as he pronounces at the same time as not speaking with a perfect English accent whilst using English words. We are a truly evil nation.
Yay, now the Malawian comedian having a go, followed by an Aussie making the audience roar mocking King Charles. What an enormous pile of wank. Just turning off at the point that “white men” have been blamed for everything.
Sounds like a mirror image of 1970s TV. That was shit, too.
Don’t cha just love BBC radio 4 comedy. Just tuned in as saw a new show and was treated by the host and Spanish comedian mocking Brits in hackneyed terms, the best was the Spanish chap ranting about us not being able to pronounce Paella and Mallorca as he pronounces at the same time as not speaking with a perfect English accent whilst using English words. We are a truly evil nation.
Yay, now the Malawian comedian having a go, followed by an Aussie making the audience roar mocking King Charles. What an enormous pile of wank. Just turning off at the point that “white men” have been blamed for everything.
Sounds like a mirror image of 1970s TV. That was shit, too.
Could be a critical moment for the Ukraine offensive. Get past this and there may well not be much stopping Ukraine reaching the Sea of Azov.
Staromlynivka ‼️
It seems that the battle for Staromlynivka has started. This is a very key point for the Russians and the Ukrainians. Please refer to previous tweets for more context. The Russians have understood it and they are calling on Shoigu to send reserves that he does not have... They cast the battle as decisive on the southern front.
It is possible that some Ukrainian units have completely bypassed Zavitne Bazhannya. ZB is very vulnerable because surrounded by the Mokri river north and east with the main road leading to Staromlynivka. Ukrainian artillery is reported already in the suburbs. https://twitter.com/PStyle0ne1/status/1692569512602693779?s=20
Would seem that the US has concluded that if they want Ukraine to push Russia further back they will actually have to make the transfer of F-16 jets happen.
It's entirely possible - indeed probable - that Ukraine will fail to cut the Russian forces in half and reach the coast.
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
After 2-3 months of impasse and fairly brutal infantry actions by Ukraine with their armour out of play because of the minefields, there has been some evidence that things are finally starting to move in the last week. There are 2 scenarios, as I see it. The first is that having forced them to bludgeon their way through those minefields the Russians can now fall back and use those trenches and defensive positions to good effect. The second is that Russia has thrown its reserves into making a real fight of the minefields but now has little to cover any breakthroughs that occur.
Which one is right? I am genuinely not sure. I obviously hope for the latter but this has been a seriously hard summer for Ukraine and Russia have proven to be far more resilient than we hoped.
That's true, but this time last year would you have been ok with the thought that in a years time the question would be how or when Ukraine would liberate the territory that it hasn't liberated yet?
Rather than whether Russia is going to be able to still push on to take even more land.
The fact that Russia is being purely defensive and stretched at that is a good sign.
Russia is depleting it's forces and has fewer and fewer stockpiled Cold War machines to add to the mix.
Ukraine hasn't even got it's F16s yet. It's forces are strengthening not weakening.
This war is currently ratcheting one way. Long may that continue.
The F16s thing is really odd. I really don’t get why there’s reluctance on supplying them. First flown in 1974, just about the most prevalent fighter jet worldwide, it’s hardly some cutting edge new generation super-weapon.
It looks incredibly like a NATO fighter raiding into Russian soil. The room for serious misunderstandings is multiplied scarily. And there is an argument about how useful they will be when both sides seem to have seriously effective anti aircraft tech.
I don’t see why that’s anymore the case than MiGs and SUs raiding Ukrainian soil daily, when they’re not trying to spray jet fuel in American drones in the Black Sea or buzz Swedish jets in their airspace. And for that matter several NATO members themselves using former Soviet aircraft.
It’s this weird asymmetric fear of provocation that is frankly baffling. Let Russia act like a complete c*nt, but pussyfoot around just in case we make them a bit cross.
The US are providing hundreds of thousands of rounds of cluster bombs which are ripping Russian soldiers to pieces. We supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles and anti tank weaponry which has proven deadly. I don't think anyone is concerned about the Russians being cross. But there is a difference between that and having Russia believe NATO is directly attacking them.
Are they really that stupid?
Oh f*** yes. And they have a leader who thinks he has very, very little to lose.
Seriously, they’re not going to confuse an old f16 (which they know Ukraine has been supplied) with a NATO attack,
Comments
Lab 20 short of a majority, not that Jezza was very coalitionable!
https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/usercode.py?scotcontrol=Y&CON=35&LAB=36&LIB=15&Reform=6&Green=5&UKIP=&TVCON=&TVLAB=&TVLIB=&TVReform=&TVGreen=&TVUKIP=&SCOTCON=18.3&SCOTLAB=33.3&SCOTLIB=8.3&SCOTReform=0&SCOTGreen=0.7&SCOTUKIP=&SCOTNAT=36.3&display=AllChanged&regorseat=(none)&boundary=2019base
https://12ft.io/proxy?&q=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/08/17/under-50-time-jump-ship-leave-britain
Or did part of RS's remarks get ett by the tech?
But that doesn't mean the stories are in any way connected. The F16 decision has been a long time coming, and would have happened whether Ukraine was being knocked back on all fronts towards Kiev, or was already besieging Melitopol.
How about Robocop? "We polled 25,153 voters via MRP and the result was Alex Murphy (Lab) 35%, Jon Pertwee (Con) 33%, and Pamela Lillian Isley (Green) 25%".
But no.
The headline More in Common VI with Sunak and Starmer as leaders is:
Lab 44%
Con 29%
LD 11%
Ref 6%
Grn 6%
SNP 3%
Apply the net change found if Corbyn were to replace Starmer and you would get
Lab 34% (-10)
Con 36% (+7)
LD 15% (+4)
Ref 6%
Grn 6%
SNP 3%
Incidentally, More in Common also asked about the impact if Johnson not Sunak were Conservative leader and found that the Labour lead under Starmer would fall by 6%. The gloss really has worn off Sunak.
The link to the More in Common August 2023 research and the data tables with the Corbyn and Johnson figures is here:
https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/our-work/research/voting-intention-august-2023/
Donald Trump’s apparent decision to skip the first debate is an affront both to the Republican National Committee and to Fox News, which is hosting the event.
In 2022, the state’s population dropped by roughly 138,400 people, to 38.94 million.
By Soumya Karlamangla"
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/03/us/california-population-decline.html
The UK has its problems but at least you can go out without fear of getting your head blown off !
Have a good evening, everyone.
Fortunately voters have Corbyn a landslide defeat in 2019 to force Labour to dump him as leader, which they did and replaced him with the more centrist Starmer
The Kirchners and their party have been much more bellicose on the Falklands than Milei is and the Kirchners are also pro Putin
"Falklands: Milei favors diplomacy and the Hong Kong model, respecting people's wishes — MercoPress" https://en.mercopress.com/2023/08/14/falklands-milei-favors-diplomacy-and-the-hong-kong-model-respecting-people-s-wishes
He then can ride a wave of nationalism and no one messes with Global Britain euphoria to the next election !
1. is quite possibly wrong, since US intelligence's guesses have not proved better than random - except for the prediction of the invasion itself, which was detailed and spot on.
The F16s aren't going to be relevant until halfway through next year, probably.
What would make a difference, immediately and significantly, would be the supply of HIMARS rockets with cluster munition warheads.
The HK treaty model would therefore be fine.
Who would you consider the most right-wing Conservative elected - the list is Heath, Thatcher, Major, Cameron and Johnson? I discount May because she never won a majority - all the others did at least once.
Argentina is one of those democracies with outsized political importance considering its diminutive economy and population. Like Greece, Serbia or New Zealand.
But he does the habit of getting what he wants.
How do we define left? Tax? Spend? Redistribution?
Is the share of taxation overall higher or lower now than when Blair left office? Or when Brown did?
Is spending on redistribution/"social protection" higher or lower now than when Blair left office? Or when Brown did?
Yay, now the Malawian comedian having a go, followed by an Aussie making the audience roar mocking King Charles. What an enormous pile of wank. Just turning off at the point that “white men” have been blamed for everything.
And when you're only producing one video every four days, that isn't a great performance.
Really it makes a lot of sense though, there's no upside for him. What's the RNC going to do about it?
In other words, no Callaghan, no Brown, no Sunak, and no Truss.
I assume it's because people can already get their fill of conspiracist ranting on youtube and other platforms already - for all the moaning about the 'mainstream' media, people like seeing pandering of that nature from a 'proper' show on Fox or whatever, it gives it more gravitas.
As a share of GDP ...
Who left taxes higher: Blair or Johnson?
Who left social protection expenditure higher: Blair or Johnson?
Or same question for their Chancellor's if you like, Brown v Sunak.
Firstly, no one is going to watch Tucker's show.
Secondly, what if someone really shines in the debate?
(Not only that, but the NYTimes polling has shown what the most effective line for Republicans is: "yes, I like former President Trump too. But with inditement after inditement, making him the nominee is asking to but Biden back in the White House." With Trump not there, pretty much everyone can hammer than point home. Alongside, maybe, him being frit.)
It's only elected MPs.
And all PMs are 'elected' in the other sense by their party or party members.
Which one is right? I am genuinely not sure. I obviously hope for the latter but this has been a seriously hard summer for Ukraine and Russia have proven to be far more resilient than we hoped.
https://news.sky.com/story/tenerife-wildfire-thousands-evacuated-as-firefighters-battle-out-of-control-blaze-12941891
Rather than whether Russia is going to be able to still push on to take even more land.
The fact that Russia is being purely defensive and stretched at that is a good sign.
Russia is depleting it's forces and has fewer and fewer stockpiled Cold War machines to add to the mix.
Ukraine hasn't even got it's F16s yet. It's forces are strengthening not weakening.
This war is currently ratcheting one way. Long may that continue.
Question: which country in north-west Europe (and indeed also northern Europe as a whole) has the lowest suicide rate?
https://twitter.com/C5N/status/1462897053856641027
Pro-Trump
Pro-gun
Anti-abortion
Anti-workers’ rights
Pro-Al Capone
Anti-sex education
Vaccine sceptical
Pro-selling human organs
Pro-tantric sex
Pro-Israel
Anti-tax
Doesn’t believe in climate change
Mixed views on trans rights
Sang in a Rolling Stones cover band
Pro-free love
Pro-group sex
Catholic
Pro-dog
Anti-government funding of science
Pro-Bitcoin
If they don't make a major breakthrough this year, and I hope they do, then hopefully they can regroup, be reinforced and go again next year with better armaments and F16s to support them.
Unknowable because of different reporting standards; one country's topped himself is another's unfortunate accident cleaning his gun.
https://country.eiu.com/article.aspx?articleid=462085029&subtopic_1 The Economist: “[He] has expressed scepticism about the efficacy of covid-19 vaccines.”
People who have to say their pro-vaccines and usually anti-vax.
That was shit, too.
It isn't easy to define "Left" and "Right" as you say. Blair in the 2000s would have been quite happy in Owen's SDP in the mid-80s.
As for the Conservatives, Heath was elected on a much more radical manifesto than Thatcher's in 1979. I'm no Tory so it's not easy for me to say but I'd put Cameron, Major and to an extent Johnson more on the one nation side of the fence.
The truth is radical manifestos rarely win - 1945 was exceptional so we're looking at "Selsdon Man" in 1970 as the last radical manifesto to win office - the 1983 Conservative manifesto was also radical but this was about re-election not winning power in the first place.
You could again argue only Heath, Thatcher and Cameron have won power from opposition since 1970 on the Conservative side while Major and Johnson won re-election as Conservative governments.
Name escapes me.
It’s this weird asymmetric fear of provocation that is frankly baffling. Let Russia act like a complete c*nt, but pussyfoot around just in case we make them a bit cross.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/michel-roux-to-close-le-gavroche-after-34-years-as-head-chef-wdc2vppl8 (£££)
The problem is that the Tories have ceased to be the pro market economy party. They're just another tax and spend party now.
In the past the Tories were the party of aspiration, enterprise and business. Today the Tories are a party primarily for people who aren't in the workforce and who get substantial welfare instead.
So under the Tories taxes and welfare have both risen now since Labour left office. Only welfare isn't aimed at the poor or needy anymore, but it's redistribution just the same!
Higher taxes and higher redistribution today than under Blair. What else to call that other than left wing?
There was also this thing with a box and a scarf, but it slips my mind.
[EDIT: if you want proof of the injustice of the world, the 1972 Anne of Green Gables has been wiped and is now lost. Fuck.]