To be fair I'm not sure an election in the Netherlands would typically make the front page (not prominently at any rate). They have been following it at least.
Not sure where this May idea is coming from . Unless the Tories believe that their poll numbers are going to improve dramatically by then .
I guess there's the idea if the budget has some goodies there could be a brief surge to take advantage of, but it sounds improbable to me.
I certainly don't have the data, but has a budget bounce really been a thing? How would it sustain itself for several months during a GE campaign without unravelling? The fundamentals haven't changed.
A play for time is not much of a plan, but provides hope at least.
Hasn’t Hunt used up most of the fiscal room now . The only way they can dish out tax cuts must surely be cuts to public services otherwise they’ll be entering Truss territory .
Not sure where this May idea is coming from . Unless the Tories believe that their poll numbers are going to improve dramatically by then .
I read that comment out of context and thought there were rumours of a Theresa May comeback.
In fairness there seemed a greater chance of her coming back to Cabinet than Cameron, yet look where we find ourselves - at this rate they might end up reappointing as many of the 2010 Cameroon Cabinet as are still hanging about in Parliament in an effort to recapture that level at least.
My favourite JFK conspiracy theory attributed to someone's Dad on Twitter or Bluesky or somewhere: Two shooters, Lee Harvey Oswald and another on the grassy knoll, *acting independently*. It was just the best place to shoot him that day.
Netanyahu: I instructed the Mossad to eliminate the leaders of Hamas wherever they are
Unsurprising. I expect Mossad's extrajudicial overseas assassination squads will be condemned like the Russian tourists in Salisbury. Or do I?
No. Very different targets and circumstances.
This is a very good move in the long term although not sure it will be very helpful when trying to negotiate hostage releases in the short term.
And if they kill a UK resident or national?
Depends on if that person was a Hamas official and also on whether they get caught.
Clearly no matter whther the target was the worst terrorist in the Hamas pantheon, killing him on British soil would be illegal under our laws but that doesn't make it wrong. If they got caught doing it they would expect to end up in jail and Israel would be embarrassed but there is a difference between legality and whther something is morally right.
If they killed an innocent bystander or family member that would be a different matter.
But to be honest if we are stupid enough to be harbouring senior Hamas leaders then we have little cause for complaint if the Israelis decide to take action on our soil.
Not for me, I don't think,
For sure the Russians have been up to no good the last few decades, as our security services seem to be pretty shit at stopping dissidents falling on to railings. But... I don't think a state can accept the murder of a national on its own soil. Isn't that the point of having a state?
I mean imagine they went after someone indirectly related to the killing say Hamas's 'minister for hospitals' or 'minister for education' is that a justifiable killing?
Not sure where this May idea is coming from . Unless the Tories believe that their poll numbers are going to improve dramatically by then .
I guess there's the idea if the budget has some goodies there could be a brief surge to take advantage of, but it sounds improbable to me.
I certainly don't have the data, but has a budget bounce really been a thing? How would it sustain itself for several months during a GE campaign without unravelling? The fundamentals haven't changed.
A play for time is not much of a plan, but provides hope at least.
A giveaway budget while the tax take slowly climbs would wreck what little economic credibility that Hunt has clawed back from the Trussterfuck.
It would be highly likely to backfire, particularly on a background of collapsing welfare state.
POLITICOEurope @POLITICOEurope · 21m 🚨 BREAKING: Far-right leader Geert Wilders has become the shock winner of the Dutch election, according to an exit poll.
Get ready to sedate Leon.
Big week for the populist hard libertarian right with Milei and Wilders topping the polls
If the exit poll is right, there's a majority for a right-to-centre-right government. The question is whether the more centre-right parties would be willing to work with the PVV. Otherwise, it is likely to be VVD-led perhaps pulling in some of the liberal and left parties.
I think if Wilders had only topped the poll narrowly they might have tried to shut him out. But he's won by quite a significant margin, unless the exit poll is wrong.
He toned down his rhetoric just before the election but is a very nasty individual. He won’t be PM as none of the major parties would support him for that . I doubt he would take a smaller role and will just spend the next years bleating about the unfairness and playing the martyr .
Is he still as pro-Putin as he used to be?
Some righties seem to find that distance lends enchantment to pro Putinistas.
On topic (to the header) I urge everyone who hasn’t yet, to read Ellroy’s magnificent American Tabloid.
Second Ellroy recommendation of the evening. I was commending The cold six thousand earlier.
I’m about a big an Ellroy fan as you’ll find, but honestly I found the Cold Six Thousand a bit of a slog - I think maybe not enough ‘magnificent bastard’ in it (Tedrow Sr. maybe), though it is still a fantastic book. Blood’s A Rover is better though.
I’m reading Perfidia at the moment and it’s perhaps as good as anything he’s done.
I found Perfidia a bit of a slog. I loved the Black Dahlia and LA Confidential.
I’ve been reading it slowly, actively making myself do so (I’m so used to skimming and scanning) -it’s necessary for a writer who can pack so much into a sentence - and have found it very immersive and compelling.
Helps that Dudley Smith is in it too.
I think James Cromwell absolutely owns the film of LA Confidential.
I blew away an American friend this evening by pointing out that the family of John Hinckley Jnr (who shot Reagan) had donated to George Bush Snr's campaign in 1980. He of course was also in Dallas on 22 November 1963. And was played by.... James Cromwell in Oliver Stone's film W.
"I wouldn't trade places with Edmund Exley right now for all the whiskey in Ireland!"
Netanyahu: I instructed the Mossad to eliminate the leaders of Hamas wherever they are
Unsurprising. I expect Mossad's extrajudicial overseas assassination squads will be condemned like the Russian tourists in Salisbury. Or do I?
No. Very different targets and circumstances.
This is a very good move in the long term although not sure it will be very helpful when trying to negotiate hostage releases in the short term.
And if they kill a UK resident or national?
Depends on if that person was a Hamas official and also on whether they get caught.
Clearly no matter whther the target was the worst terrorist in the Hamas pantheon, killing him on British soil would be illegal under our laws but that doesn't make it wrong. If they got caught doing it they would expect to end up in jail and Israel would be embarrassed but there is a difference between legality and whther something is morally right.
If they killed an innocent bystander or family member that would be a different matter.
But to be honest if we are stupid enough to be harbouring senior Hamas leaders then we have little cause for complaint if the Israelis decide to take action on our soil.
A friend of Jeremy Corbyn, naturally. Allegedly still working for Hamas from Barnet, home to the UK's largest Jewish community. In a council house he bought at a state-sponsored discount.
I'm sure you'll find it somewhere but prominence seems to be less than Laurence Fox and Girls Aloud.
It's the 4th-most read article on their website.
Isn't that a BBC News-ish vs BBC Tabloid distinction?
By website, I meant News, obvs.
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Off topic: Richard Dawkins might like a Thurber cartoon that I was reminded of by an article* in today's WaPo:
At a party, a large woman is smiling at a small man, and saying: "I love the idea of there being two sexes, don't you?" (I found the cartoon in the Library of America Thurber collection.)
For the record: I love that idea, too.
(*The article began by talking about "pregnant people", and continued use the phrase throughout, I think anyone that confused about basic mammalian biology should not be writing about health issues.)
BRACE BRACE BRACE....Days of Leon, I was right posts incoming....
Reuters reporting that OpenAI employees sent a letter to the board several days before Sam Altman got sacked claiming the latest iteration of their AI was significantly more powerful and they were concerned that insufficient safety precautions was being taken.
Not sure where this May idea is coming from . Unless the Tories believe that their poll numbers are going to improve dramatically by then .
Or maybe it’s only getting worse? The polls have been trending remorselessly downwards. I don’t think another year will render them a better chance of victory.
As I’ve said on here before, being able to call the election is a significant strategic advantage that the government holds, and they don’t have much else going for them - and it’s an advantage that gets increasingly less significant the closer you get to full term. At least they’d be taking the initiative.
Yes, they either take the initiative and call it in Spring, or it’s in autumn by default. Is Sunak really that desperate to cling on to power? He has his tech bros waiting for him in Cali should he lose. Might as well take the initiative and go in May.
Sadiq Khan has posted this message with a picture of Geert Wilders.
"@SadiqKhan A reminder to progressives everywhere - the continued threat of the far-right is real and on our doorstep. The next year is going to be pivotal for standing up for and defending our values - in London, in Europe and across the world."
BRACE BRACE BRACE....Days of Leon, I was right posts incoming....
Reuters reporting that OpenAI employees sent a letter to the board several days before Sam Altman got sacked claiming the latest iteration of their AI was significantly more powerful and they were concerned that insufficient safety precautions was being taken.
PVV (Wilders) 37 Green/Labour 25 VVD (former largest party) 24 New Social Contract (new party) 20 D66 9 Farmer's Party 7 Christian Democrats 5 Socialist Party 5
PVV (Wilders) 37 Green/Labour 25 VVD (former largest party) 24 New Social Contract (new party) 20 D66 9 Farmer's Party 7 Christian Democrats 5 Socialist Party 5
One major takeaway from this is that it points to a Marine Le Pen victory in France. That will be Italy, France and the Netherlands with hard/far right governments
PVV (Wilders) 37 Green/Labour 25 VVD (former largest party) 24 New Social Contract (new party) 20 D66 9 Farmer's Party 7 Christian Democrats 5 Socialist Party 5
Europe told to brace for market crisis over fears of a bond sell-off ... Europe’s insurance companies and pension funds are at risk of a market crisis similar to Britain’s [Truss/Kwarteng] mini-budget meltdown, the eurozone’s central bank has warned.
PVV (Wilders) 37 Green/Labour 25 VVD (former largest party) 24 New Social Contract (new party) 20 D66 9 Farmer's Party 7 Christian Democrats 5 Socialist Party 5
PVV (Wilders) 37 Green/Labour 25 VVD (former largest party) 24 New Social Contract (new party) 20 D66 9 Farmer's Party 7 Christian Democrats 5 Socialist Party 5
One major takeaway from this is that it points to a Marine Le Pen victory in France. That will be Italy, France and the Netherlands with hard/far right governments
Eventually, it will happen in the UK
I think we'll still have a fairly liberal government if the rest of Europe goes for people like Wilders.
If you want to know at a high level all the Q* search stuff in the Reuters report about OpenAI is concerned with.
Clip is very informative of what the idea is,
"I don't think we'll see systems that truly step beyond their training data until we have powerful search in the process." @ShaneLegg, Founder and Chief AGI Scientist, Google DeepMind
PVV (Wilders) 37 Green/Labour 25 VVD (former largest party) 24 New Social Contract (new party) 20 D66 9 Farmer's Party 7 Christian Democrats 5 Socialist Party 5
PVV (Wilders) 37 Green/Labour 25 VVD (former largest party) 24 New Social Contract (new party) 20 D66 9 Farmer's Party 7 Christian Democrats 5 Socialist Party 5
One major takeaway from this is that it points to a Marine Le Pen victory in France. That will be Italy, France and the Netherlands with hard/far right governments
Eventually, it will happen in the UK
I think we'll still have a fairly liberal government if the rest of Europe goes for people like Wilders.
If the EU swings to the hard right, does Brexit get a second wind of popularity?
Siri: tell me how much this Government has spent on Covid measures and easing the cost of living crisis - and how smug twats making Siri points think it was ever going to be paid back if not by taxes?
Netanyahu: I instructed the Mossad to eliminate the leaders of Hamas wherever they are
Unsurprising. I expect Mossad's extrajudicial overseas assassination squads will be condemned like the Russian tourists in Salisbury. Or do I?
No. Very different targets and circumstances.
This is a very good move in the long term although not sure it will be very helpful when trying to negotiate hostage releases in the short term.
And if they kill a UK resident or national?
Depends on if that person was a Hamas official and also on whether they get caught.
Clearly no matter whther the target was the worst terrorist in the Hamas pantheon, killing him on British soil would be illegal under our laws but that doesn't make it wrong. If they got caught doing it they would expect to end up in jail and Israel would be embarrassed but there is a difference between legality and whther something is morally right.
If they killed an innocent bystander or family member that would be a different matter.
But to be honest if we are stupid enough to be harbouring senior Hamas leaders then we have little cause for complaint if the Israelis decide to take action on our soil.
Not for me, I don't think,
For sure the Russians have been up to no good the last few decades, as our security services seem to be pretty shit at stopping dissidents falling on to railings. But... I don't think a state can accept the murder of a national on its own soil. Isn't that the point of having a state?
I mean imagine they went after someone indirectly related to the killing say Hamas's 'minister for hospitals' or 'minister for education' is that a justifiable killing?
India murdered somebody on Canadian soil recently. Famously the Russians did it in Salisbury (the Indians didn't condemn that IIUC, which makes you think)
Imagine being in an organisation that has Wilders, Meloni, Duda, Orban, and possibly Le Pen next year as members. Next few EU Council meetings are going to be fun.
PVV (Wilders) 37 Green/Labour 25 VVD (former largest party) 24 New Social Contract (new party) 20 D66 9 Farmer's Party 7 Christian Democrats 5 Socialist Party 5
One major takeaway from this is that it points to a Marine Le Pen victory in France. That will be Italy, France and the Netherlands with hard/far right governments
Eventually, it will happen in the UK
I think we'll still have a fairly liberal government if the rest of Europe goes for people like Wilders.
If the EU swings to the hard right, does Brexit get a second wind of popularity?
Among the centre-left that were in 2016 some of the biggest remain supporters, quite possibly.
Imagine being in an organisation that has Wilders, Meloni, Duda, Orban, and possibly Le Pen next year as members. Next few EU Council meetings are going to be fun.
There are massive ideological differences between those politicians
Nah, Kinnock was a poor speaker overall. Passionate yes, but too wordy and not able to construct speeches that resonate down the years.
Contrast with JFK:
“Let the word go forth from this time and place to friend and foe alike that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”
The JFK one is pure marketing emotion; that para is entirely devoid of content.
He is stroking an audience of kittens.
I respectfully disagree. It was that sentiment and confidence that resulted in the USA being in Vietnam amongst other things. Kennedy had some of the best speech writers of all time...
It expresses a (then genuine) strain of US idealism, which Vietnam had a large part in destroying. But you're correct that the message was a consequential rather than empty one - though the US had taken steps to embroil itself in Vietnam a good decade earlier.
I don't think Geert Wilders or Giorgia Meloni are far-right.
That just seems to be a word that commentators use to describe anyone who talks tough on migration and culture.
Wilders isn't even particularly right wing on "culture", only really on immigration and the impact of Islam on the (liberal) culture of the Netherlands.
And I don't think the label of far-right is true or Marine Le Pen either: I'd describe her as a nationalist version of Jeremy Corbyn.
I don't think Geert Wilders or Giorgia Meloni are far-right.
That just seems to be a word that commentators use to describe anyone who talks tough on migration and culture.
Wilders isn't even particularly right wing on "culture", only really on immigration and the impact of Islam on the (liberal) culture of the Netherlands.
And I don't think the label of far-right is true or Marine Le Pen either: I'd describe her as a nationalist version of Jeremy Corbyn.
Nah, Kinnock was a poor speaker overall. Passionate yes, but too wordy and not able to construct speeches that resonate down the years.
Contrast with JFK:
“Let the word go forth from this time and place to friend and foe alike that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”
The JFK one is pure marketing emotion; that para is entirely devoid of content.
He is stroking an audience of kittens.
I respectfully disagree. It was that sentiment and confidence that resulted in the USA being in Vietnam amongst other things. Kennedy had some of the best speech writers of all time...
It expresses a (then genuine) strain of US idealism, which Vietnam had a large part in destroying. But you're correct that the message was a consequential rather than empty one - though the US had taken steps to embroil itself in Vietnam a good decade earlier.
Kinnock wasn't called the Welsh windbag for nothing.
Nah, Kinnock was a poor speaker overall. Passionate yes, but too wordy and not able to construct speeches that resonate down the years.
Contrast with JFK:
“Let the word go forth from this time and place to friend and foe alike that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”
The JFK one is pure marketing emotion; that para is entirely devoid of content.
He is stroking an audience of kittens.
I respectfully disagree. It was that sentiment and confidence that resulted in the USA being in Vietnam amongst other things. Kennedy had some of the best speech writers of all time...
It expresses a (then genuine) strain of US idealism, which Vietnam had a large part in destroying. But you're correct that the message was a consequential rather than empty one - though the US had taken steps to embroil itself in Vietnam a good decade earlier.
Kinnock wasn't called the Welsh windbag for nothing.
Nah, Kinnock was a poor speaker overall. Passionate yes, but too wordy and not able to construct speeches that resonate down the years.
Contrast with JFK:
“Let the word go forth from this time and place to friend and foe alike that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”
The JFK one is pure marketing emotion; that para is entirely devoid of content.
He is stroking an audience of kittens.
I respectfully disagree. It was that sentiment and confidence that resulted in the USA being in Vietnam amongst other things. Kennedy had some of the best speech writers of all time...
It expresses a (then genuine) strain of US idealism, which Vietnam had a large part in destroying. But you're correct that the message was a consequential rather than empty one - though the US had taken steps to embroil itself in Vietnam a good decade earlier.
Kinnock wasn't called the Welsh windbag for nothing.
That's true. But if verbiage is the only problem a politician has, I'll take it.
I don't think Geert Wilders or Giorgia Meloni are far-right.
That just seems to be a word that commentators use to describe anyone who talks tough on migration and culture.
Wilders isn't even particularly right wing on "culture", only really on immigration and the impact of Islam on the (liberal) culture of the Netherlands.
And I don't think the label of far-right is true or Marine Le Pen either: I'd describe her as a nationalist version of Jeremy Corbyn.
As bad as that ?
Oh, anyone who thinks France's economic woes come from a lack of central planning is in for a nasty shock.
I don't think Geert Wilders or Giorgia Meloni are far-right.
That just seems to be a word that commentators use to describe anyone who talks tough on migration and culture.
Wilders isn't even particularly right wing on "culture", only really on immigration and the impact of Islam on the (liberal) culture of the Netherlands.
And I don't think the label of far-right is true or Marine Le Pen either: I'd describe her as a nationalist version of Jeremy Corbyn.
As bad as that ?
Oh, anyone who thinks France's economic woes come from a lack of central planning is in for a nasty shock.
Whether Meloni or Wilders or whoever are hard right or far right or just Fash adjacent or merely a bit tough on migrants, the contortions of the Remoaners as the EU - inevitably - swings further and further right, are going to be hilarious
Imagine being in an organisation that has Wilders, Meloni, Duda, Orban, and possibly Le Pen next year as members. Next few EU Council meetings are going to be fun.
There are massive ideological differences between those politicians
Oh indeed, but to most of the media they’re all “far right”.
Was even Hitler far right? OK he was tough - many would say far too tough - on crime and immigration, but on so many other issues - the environment, transport, smoking, health care, dogs, marching around, industry, culture, mountains - he was more of a traditional “centrist dad” and sometimes quite socialist
These labels are far too simplistic and dated. You can’t simply pop Hitler in the “far right” category. Ditto Mao on the left. In many ways Mao was more like an early Ed Davey
Was even Hitler far right? OK he was tough - many would say far too tough - on crime and immigration, but on so many other issues - the environment, transport, smoking, health care, dogs, marching around, industry, culture, mountains - he was more of a traditional “centrist dad” and sometimes quite socialist
These labels are far too simplistic and dated. You can’t simply pop Hitler in the “far right” category. Ditto Mao on the left. In many ways Mao was more like an early Ed Davey
Was even Hitler far right? OK he was tough - many would say far too tough - on crime and immigration, but on so many other issues - the environment, transport, smoking, health care, dogs, marching around, industry, culture, mountains - he was more of a traditional “centrist dad” and sometimes quite socialist
These labels are far too simplistic and dated. You can’t simply pop Hitler in the “far right” category. Ditto Mao on the left. In many ways Mao was more like an early Ed Davey
Bloody hell.
Those 18 people must be really going some.
I’m trying to calm down with a swim in my 33rd floor hotel pool. Trouble is, it’s frankly quite squalid - and crowded
PVV (Wilders) 37 Green/Labour 25 VVD (former largest party) 24 New Social Contract (new party) 20 D66 9 Farmer's Party 7 Christian Democrats 5 Socialist Party 5
One major takeaway from this is that it points to a Marine Le Pen victory in France. That will be Italy, France and the Netherlands with hard/far right governments
Eventually, it will happen in the UK
I think we'll still have a fairly liberal government if the rest of Europe goes for people like Wilders.
If the EU swings to the hard right, does Brexit get a second wind of popularity?
No,
Though it might make Rejoin more appealing to some of PBs Islamophobes.
Imagine being in an organisation that has Wilders, Meloni, Duda, Orban, and possibly Le Pen next year as members. Next few EU Council meetings are going to be fun.
There are massive ideological differences between those politicians
Oh indeed, but to most of the media they’re all “far right”.
Was even Hitler far right? OK he was tough - many would say far too tough - on crime and immigration, but on so many other issues - the environment, transport, smoking, health care, dogs, marching around, industry, culture, mountains - he was more of a traditional “centrist dad” and sometimes quite socialist
These labels are far too simplistic and dated. You can’t simply pop Hitler in the “far right” category. Ditto Mao on the left. In many ways Mao was more like an early Ed Davey
Hitler's Party was called National Socialist German Worker's Party. Many NSDAP policies were not right wing with a lot of investment in the country's innfrastucture etc. The idea of "small goverment" was also not on the NSDAP radar. (not only because radar hadn't been invented then!). The Nationalist part came from Hitler's opinion on what "German" meant. Anyone who didn't fit into his model was shut out from the social benefits. The "Workers Party" only refered to those who fitted into Hitler's idea of what "German" meant.
This twisted logic is a problem present with many modern nationalists. What they consider as "belonging to their country" is based on nothing more than personal opinion.
Whatever is striking down Chinese children, our Covid inquiry needs to get a wiggle on and finish before these new germs reach Blighty. Maybe concentrate a bit more on patching up the models and less on who had the best insult for the prime minister.
Europe told to brace for market crisis over fears of a bond sell-off ... Europe’s insurance companies and pension funds are at risk of a market crisis similar to Britain’s [Truss/Kwarteng] mini-budget meltdown, the eurozone’s central bank has warned.
Another sharp fall in people's pension pots will outweigh the triple lock and NI cut for government supporters. There have been press reports of people losing a third under Truss, and I dare say Labour will be encouraging voters to check theirs during the campaign.
ETA just checked and mine was down £171.82 yesterday.
Whatever is striking down Chinese children, our Covid inquiry needs to get a wiggle on and finish before these new germs reach Blighty. Maybe concentrate a bit more on patching up the models and less on who had the best insult for the prime minister.
Just about the only conclusion from the enquiry so far, is that in the next emergency everyone in government and the senior CS will communicate only by speaking on the phone, therefore making the whole process of responding to the emergency much less efficient.
Whatever is striking down Chinese children, our Covid inquiry needs to get a wiggle on and finish before these new germs reach Blighty. Maybe concentrate a bit more on patching up the models and less on who had the best insult for the prime minister.
The suggestion in the article is that children's immunity has been reduced by the extensive Covid restrictions. Sounds plausible but you are right that the Covid inquiry should be looking closely at how we are going to deal with such a new infection in the future, what works and what doesn't, what we can do better etc. At the moment it is lacking focus.
Was even Hitler far right? OK he was tough - many would say far too tough - on crime and immigration, but on so many other issues - the environment, transport, smoking, health care, dogs, marching around, industry, culture, mountains - he was more of a traditional “centrist dad” and sometimes quite socialist
These labels are far too simplistic and dated. You can’t simply pop Hitler in the “far right” category. Ditto Mao on the left. In many ways Mao was more like an early Ed Davey
Was even Hitler far right? OK he was tough - many would say far too tough - on crime and immigration, but on so many other issues - the environment, transport, smoking, health care, dogs, marching around, industry, culture, mountains - he was more of a traditional “centrist dad” and sometimes quite socialist
These labels are far too simplistic and dated. You can’t simply pop Hitler in the “far right” category. Ditto Mao on the left. In many ways Mao was more like an early Ed Davey
Err, yes. He was.
It was a joke
“ok Hitler was tough on crime and immigration”
“In many ways Mao was more like an early Ed Davey”
Still somewhat of a mixed response on the Telegraph’s front page.
Some saying great economics, some saying great politics, and some saying it’s all a trick.
Meanwhile, just below, is the really big news that domestic fuel prices are going up this winter - which will almost certainly wipe out the NI cut rise for most people. It’s the economy, stupid.
Was even Hitler far right? OK he was tough - many would say far too tough - on crime and immigration, but on so many other issues - the environment, transport, smoking, health care, dogs, marching around, industry, culture, mountains - he was more of a traditional “centrist dad” and sometimes quite socialist
These labels are far too simplistic and dated. You can’t simply pop Hitler in the “far right” category. Ditto Mao on the left. In many ways Mao was more like an early Ed Davey
Hitler's Party was called National Socialist German Worker's Party. Many NSDAP policies were not right wing with a lot of investment in the country's innfrastucture etc. The idea of "small goverment" was also not on the NSDAP radar. (not only because radar hadn't been invented then!). The Nationalist part came from Hitler's opinion on what "German" meant. Anyone who didn't fit into his model was shut out from the social benefits. The "Workers Party" only refered to those who fitted into Hitler's idea of what "German" meant.
This twisted logic is a problem present with many modern nationalists. What they consider as "belonging to their country" is based on nothing more than personal opinion.
It's only in relatively recent years that the right has come partly to define itself by a belief in a small state. And in any event that doesn't in any consistent sense include curbing the powers of the state in relation to individuals.
Whatever is striking down Chinese children, our Covid inquiry needs to get a wiggle on and finish before these new germs reach Blighty. Maybe concentrate a bit more on patching up the models and less on who had the best insult for the prime minister.
Don't worry. We already know the main finding - if you're in government make sure your WhatsApp messages auto delete after 24h.
Comments
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-67504272
Less skin in the game though, I doubt the reporting will be as openly upset as Yes losing that recent Australian referendum.
For sure the Russians have been up to no good the last few decades, as our security services seem to be pretty shit at stopping dissidents falling on to railings. But... I don't think a state can accept the murder of a national on its own soil. Isn't that the point of having a state?
Could you even trust that the Israeli's have such overwhelming need to kill the person? They've been pretty liberal in the past:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Israeli_assassinations
I mean imagine they went after someone indirectly related to the killing say Hamas's 'minister for hospitals' or 'minister for education' is that a justifiable killing?
It would be highly likely to backfire, particularly on a background of collapsing welfare state.
I reckon a October election.
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/hamas-chief-plotted-group-lives-144458226.html
A friend of Jeremy Corbyn, naturally. Allegedly still working for Hamas from Barnet, home to the UK's largest Jewish community. In a council house he bought at a state-sponsored discount.
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Girls Aloud reveal 'magical' reunion tour
2
WhatsApps show teachers mocking vulnerable pupils
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Hunt cuts National Insurance as tax burden rises
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Anti-Islam populist leads in Dutch vote - exit poll
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Laurence Fox in libel battle over Twitter row
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What the Autumn Statement means for you
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National Insurance, benefits, alcohol: Autumn Statement key points
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Cleverly denies calling Stockton North offensive term
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A town in mourning for boys 'so full of promise'
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Van-Tam family received 'unexpected' death threats
At a party, a large woman is smiling at a small man, and saying: "I love the idea of there being two sexes, don't you?" (I found the cartoon in the Library of America Thurber collection.)
For the record: I love that idea, too.
(*The article began by talking about "pregnant people", and continued use the phrase throughout, I think anyone that confused about basic mammalian biology should not be writing about health issues.)
Reuters reporting that OpenAI employees sent a letter to the board several days before Sam Altman got sacked claiming the latest iteration of their AI was significantly more powerful and they were concerned that insufficient safety precautions was being taken.
"@SadiqKhan
A reminder to progressives everywhere - the continued threat of the far-right is real and on our doorstep.
The next year is going to be pivotal for standing up for and defending our values - in London, in Europe and across the world."
https://twitter.com/SadiqKhan/status/1727436959256326500
PVV (Wilders) 37
Green/Labour 25
VVD (former largest party) 24
New Social Contract (new party) 20
D66 9
Farmer's Party 7
Christian Democrats 5
Socialist Party 5
https://www.trouw.nl/verkiezingen/tweede-kamerverkiezingen-2023-volg-hier-de-uitslagen~be91966c
Eventually, it will happen in the UK
...
The new rules were pushed through via a Statutory Instrument on Monday and mean the national election spending cap on political parties will rise by 80%, to about £35m.
https://news.sky.com/story/tories-accused-of-sneaking-out-plan-to-increase-election-spending-cap-13013774
Alert issued to global scientists as infection tears through schools in Beijing and Liaoning province
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/mysterious-pneumonia-outbreak-china-hospitals-sick-children-b1122117.html
...
Europe’s insurance companies and pension funds are at risk of a market crisis similar to Britain’s [Truss/Kwarteng] mini-budget meltdown, the eurozone’s central bank has warned.
In a sign of growing concerns about the shadow banking sector, the European Central Bank yesterday urged insurers and retirement funds to bolster their buffers to ensure they can withstand the impact of a bond market sell-off.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/europe-told-to-brace-for-market-crisis-over-fears-of-a-bond-sell-off-j7gvzb69p (£££)
PR is great, isn't it?
Clip is very informative of what the idea is,
"I don't think we'll see systems that truly step beyond their training data until we have powerful search in the process." @ShaneLegg, Founder and Chief AGI Scientist, Google DeepMind
https://x.com/dwarkesh_sp/status/1717224459739058342?s=20
That parliament is better hung than a prize stallion.
New elections in twelve months would be my guess.
Imagine being in an organisation that has Wilders, Meloni, Duda, Orban, and possibly Le Pen next year as members. Next few EU Council meetings are going to be fun.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/11/22/fa-lighting-wembley-arch-politics-tragedy-israel-war/
Because they used to do it for everyone except Israel, and now realise that’s a really bad look.
But it's still a much smaller share of the Dutch parliament than Labour got at the last election in the UK.
But you're correct that the message was a consequential rather than empty one - though the US had taken steps to embroil itself in Vietnam a good decade earlier.
That just seems to be a word that commentators use to describe anyone who talks tough on migration and culture.
And I don't think the label of far-right is true or Marine Le Pen either: I'd describe her as a nationalist version of Jeremy Corbyn.
I blame the voting system. PR now!
Unless you think destroying mosques is a good policy.
I am officially the 19th highest person in Phnom Penh
These labels are far too simplistic and dated. You can’t simply pop Hitler in the “far right” category. Ditto Mao on the left. In many ways Mao was more like an early Ed Davey
Those 18 people must be really going some.
Though it might make Rejoin more appealing to some of PBs Islamophobes.
He was, after all, literally Hitler.
This twisted logic is a problem present with many modern nationalists. What they consider as "belonging to their country" is based on nothing more than personal opinion.
ETA just checked and mine was down £171.82 yesterday.
https://twitter.com/Anna_AnninaEl/status/1727087884539490746
But, I doubt he'll do anything of the sort. Switzerland have banned minarets since 2009, and they aren't goose-stepping just yet.
“ok Hitler was tough on crime and immigration”
“In many ways Mao was more like an early Ed Davey”
Some saying great economics, some saying great politics, and some saying it’s all a trick.
Meanwhile, just below, is the really big news that domestic fuel prices are going up this winter - which will almost certainly wipe out the NI cut rise for most people. It’s the economy, stupid.
NEW THREAD
And in any event that doesn't in any consistent sense include curbing the powers of the state in relation to individuals.
25 whores in the room next door
25 floors and I need more....