The government’s adviser on political violence has written to the home secretary asking to investigate the intimidation of candidates during the general election.
Lord Walney is suggesting there could have been a "concerted campaign by extremists".
He is urging Yvette Cooper and Security Minister Dan Jarvis to commission a short inquiry to find out if groups in different constituencies were working together and to document what he calls the "dark underbelly" of abuse.
The history of the 21st century so far is the rise of China (and it's quiet takeover of most of Africa), Russia and probably the forthcoming isolation of the USA..
If we are looking 100 years from now I expect Xi will be the person that is most talked about - and quite possibly Trump - as both those have global implications.
I wonder what the optimum time would have been for Hitler to have died and be remembered as a great leader ?
Late 1938 after gaining the Sudentenland Spring 1939 after gaining Bohemia-Moravia Late 1939 after defeating Poiland Summer 1940 after defeating France Autumn 1941 after the Kyiv or Vyazma encirclements.
Why under the header of who is the greatest leader of the 21st century is there a bust of Jasper Carrott. I know he is up there amongst the greatest, but not the greatest surely.
I'd do not share Max's optimism if either of those two make it through to the run off.
The real question is the make up of the Tory MPs, and will they put two more moderate candidates forward?
I suspect Braverman has soiled herself so publicly post election that she doesn't make the cut. Jenrick on the other hand has been more measured in his critique of the government to which he belonged, although he does seem to have misremembered that he was an immigration minister.
The current historical context is a retreat from globalisation and Putin has been one of the factors in this. However he has created extraordinary fragility in the Russian state. "Call no man happy until he's dead" applies here. Hitler reached a zenith in 1942, 1945, not so much. Admittedly his hybrid war on democracy has brought the US to the brink of political collapse, but as France and the UK, amongst others, shows, there is no inevitability about the victory of Putin backed authoritarian disruptors. We live in exceptionally dangerous times, but so have many before us.
I wonder what the optimum time would have been for Hitler to have died and be remembered as a great leader ?
Late 1938 after gaining the Sudentenland Spring 1939 after gaining Bohemia-Moravia Late 1939 after defeating Poiland Summer 1940 after defeating France Autumn 1941 after the Kyiv or Vyazma encirclements.
Mid-1939. Once the war started there was very little prospect of Hitler emerging with a positive reputation.
Zelensky would be my pick for the greatest leader of the 21st century so far.
Yes, Zelensky is a good call.
His quote, to either Biden or one of his officials, that “I don’t need a ride, I need ammunition”, was something that altered the course of world history.
Why under the header of who is the greatest leader of the 21st century is there a bust of Jasper Carrott. I know he is up there amongst the greatest, but not the greatest surely.
Mr. eek, maybe. But the question is whether Xi inherited at a good moment of general trends or did well. And has he done well?
I think that can only be assessed with some hindsight at least. There are a couple of things to consider, with the Belt and Road Initiative and possible invasion of Taiwan top of the list, perhaps. Also, how the real estate market goes, whether shifting from the 10 year premiership and lack of infighting to prolonged rule and corruption purges proves detrimental, and plenty of other stuff I don't know about.
The government’s adviser on political violence has written to the home secretary asking to investigate the intimidation of candidates during the general election.
Lord Walney is suggesting there could have been a "concerted campaign by extremists".
He is urging Yvette Cooper and Security Minister Dan Jarvis to commission a short inquiry to find out if groups in different constituencies were working together and to document what he calls the "dark underbelly" of abuse.
One lone idiot with an egg or a milkshake is bad enough, but if we start to see groups becoming more organised then the threat level goes up substantially. See the environmental extremists and their escalation of protest in recent years, the more extreme of the ‘Palestine’ supporters, or the number of times far-right and far-left thugs have met each other on the streets.
Zelensky would be my pick for the greatest leader of the 21st century so far.
Yes, Zelensky is a good call.
His quote, to either Biden or one of his officials, that “I don’t need a ride, I need ammunition”, was something that altered the course of world history.
I would also go with Zelensky, but with a number of reservations. In particular, he did not put Ukraine on a war footing before the Russian invasion, completely underrating the danger his country was in, despite urgent warnings from the UK and the US. For some bizarre reason, he has not extended conscription to women. And he has been too slow otherwise to put his country on a war footing.
It's not exactly been a great century for leadership in the democratic world so far.
Mr. Fishing, both Russia and Ukraine have terrible demographics thanks, largely, due to the horrendous death tolls in World War Two. There was, for a long time, a higher than might be expected lower age threshold on male conscription, probably for that reason.
Has there been any indication of when the Tory leadership race will be run?
It will likely conclude at Conference in October, or perhaps they will have hustings at Conference followed by the voting afterwards.
There’s much less hurry when in opposition, which should be good for the party.
I would have thought the new leader would like to be in place by conference but if they are going to have a members' vote (as they surely must) they need to get their skates on.
Dreadful news re the Trump assassination attempt. Sadly it has to improve his chances of being next POTUS. And it moves the discussion away from Biden’s infirmity so helps Biden’s chances and weakens those of Kamala. I’ve reversed most of my bets on Kamala and backed Biden at 7.6. So I’m now more GREEN Biden than Harris, RED on Trump but I might be able to get out near quits once it’s a two horse race, depending on how the market settles.
I wonder what the optimum time would have been for Hitler to have died and be remembered as a great leader ?
Late 1938 after gaining the Sudentenland Spring 1939 after gaining Bohemia-Moravia Late 1939 after defeating Poiland Summer 1940 after defeating France Autumn 1941 after the Kyiv or Vyazma encirclements.
A bit like Mao.
If he had died in 1946 few would remember him.
In 1956 he would be remembered as the man who reunified China and brought peace.
In 1966 he would be remembered as the architect and inspiration of Revolution both domestically and internationally.
In 1976 as a man who caused millions of deaths through economic failure and did irreparable damage to Chinese culture.
Good morning everyone. I think we need a bit of OT today.
So my question: who is your most 'differently interesting' famous local? For cities I'll give you within one mile, for everyone else within 5 miles.
I'll have two:
- Percy Toplis the Monocled Mutineer, from South Normanton / Blackwell. - Harold Lloyd, the cricketer, from Nuncargate, Kirkby-in-Ashfield. It has a very good working class not-at-all-poncy butcher, which I appreciate.
My photo for the day is Larwood bowling to a full "Leg Theory" field.
Mr. Fishing, both Russia and Ukraine have terrible demographics thanks, largely, due to the horrendous death tolls in World War Two. There was, for a long time, a higher than might be expected lower age threshold on male conscription, probably for that reason.
Russia also has a rather big problem with falling birth rates, increasing alcohol induced early deaths, poor healthcare all round and emigration...
Watching the video of the shooting, one thing that struck me is that if the shooter had aimed for Trump's chest rather than presumably Trump's head then Trump would likely be dead. There did not appear to be any screens around the podium.
Good morning everyone. I think we need a bit of OT today.
So my question: who is your most 'differently interesting' famous local? For cities I'll give you within one mile, for everyone else within 5 miles.
I'll have two:
- Percy Toplis the Monocled Mutineer, from South Normanton / Blackwell. - Harold Lloyd, the cricketer, from Nuncargate, Kirkby-in-Ashfield. It has a very good working class not-at-all-poncy butcher, which I appreciate.
My photo for the day is Larwood bowling to a full "Leg Theory" field.
"Within 5 miles"? As I am in rural Dorset, are cows allowed?
What a bizarre threader as America unravels. Really?
Because the rest of us are normal. Our lives aren't one constant round of hysteria. We get on with stuff, we do things. As I hinted at the other day, have you thought about getting involved in stuff like most people here rather than over reacting to it all.
Yes it is a big story and the main topic of discussion, but only you are getting hysterical.
The government’s adviser on political violence has written to the home secretary asking to investigate the intimidation of candidates during the general election.
Lord Walney is suggesting there could have been a "concerted campaign by extremists".
He is urging Yvette Cooper and Security Minister Dan Jarvis to commission a short inquiry to find out if groups in different constituencies were working together and to document what he calls the "dark underbelly" of abuse.
One lone idiot with an egg or a milkshake is bad enough, but if we start to see groups becoming more organised then the threat level goes up substantially. See the environmental extremists and their escalation of protest in recent years, the more extreme of the ‘Palestine’ supporters, or the number of times far-right and far-left thugs have met each other on the streets.
Scottish Labour supporters have for years complained about harassment of their election workers. As for coordination, perhaps, but have their been any complaints from the outer North-East London suburbs where IDS and Wes Streeting were narrowly returned? I've only seen reports from the Midlands.
Good morning everyone. I think we need a bit of OT today.
So my question: who is your most 'differently interesting' famous local? For cities I'll give you within one mile, for everyone else within 5 miles.
I'll have two:
- Percy Toplis the Monocled Mutineer, from South Normanton / Blackwell. - Harold Lloyd, the cricketer, from Nuncargate, Kirkby-in-Ashfield. It has a very good working class not-at-all-poncy butcher, which I appreciate.
My photo for the day is Larwood bowling to a full "Leg Theory" field.
Gazza is from less than a mile away from where I was brought up.
Has there been any indication of when the Tory leadership race will be run?
It will likely conclude at Conference in October, or perhaps they will have hustings at Conference followed by the voting afterwards.
There’s much less hurry when in opposition, which should be good for the party.
I would have thought the new leader would like to be in place by conference but if they are going to have a members' vote (as they surely must) they need to get their skates on.
George Osborne speculated that if the party does go long, then if Rishi does not want to be responding to the October budget, James Cleverly might be interim leader (do not bet on this, interim leaders do not count for betting purposes). I do not know how close Osborne is to the action or if he is just hopecasting the best timetable for a centrist to emerge.
Good morning everyone. I think we need a bit of OT today.
So my question: who is your most 'differently interesting' famous local? For cities I'll give you within one mile, for everyone else within 5 miles.
I'll have two:
- Percy Toplis the Monocled Mutineer, from South Normanton / Blackwell. - Harold Lloyd, the cricketer, from Nuncargate, Kirkby-in-Ashfield. It has a very good working class not-at-all-poncy butcher, which I appreciate.
My photo for the day is Larwood bowling to a full "Leg Theory" field.
Gazza is from less than a mile away from where I was brought up.
Is he sufficiently 'differently interesting'?
We’re spoilt for choice of differently interesting people who lived in Brockley. My top 3 would be Lily Langtry, mistress of Edward VII; Kate Bush, the archetype of differently interesting; and Spike Milligan.
With an honourable mention for death metal band Pagan Altar, who penned the track The Devil Came Down to Brockley.
Tories fear Labour-Lib Dem Parliament pact could leave them ‘irrelevant’
Concerns that two parties will informally agree to elect a Liberal Democrat deputy speaker, leaving Conservatives with little influence
Senior Conservatives fear being locked out of democracy if Labour and the Liberal Democrats work together to stitch up key positions that control the workings of Parliament.
The Tories believe that, as the biggest party on the opposition benches, they should have two deputy speakers to maintain the traditional 50/50 split between Labour and Conservatives in the Speaker’s Office, which has one speaker and three deputies.
But there are concerns within the Tory party that Labour and the Lib Dems will agree an informal pact to elect a Lib Dem deputy speaker, which would leave the Tories with little influence over parliamentary business.
The speaker and his deputies have control over choosing which amendments to legislation are debated and put to a vote.
The Tories fear that, if they only have one deputy speaker – and possibly the most junior of the three – it will affect their ability to provide a robust opposition to Labour and leave them effectively locked out of democracy for the next five years.
The Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, was a Labour MP before he was elected to the post in 2019 and resigned from the party.
Convention dictates that the most senior deputy comes from the opposition, the second most senior from the speaker’s former party and the most junior from the opposition.
But the rules define the opposition as anyone who is not on the government benches, meaning a Lib Dem – or even in theory an independent MP – could be chosen.
Dreadful news re the Trump assassination attempt. Sadly it has to improve his chances of being next POTUS. And it moves the discussion away from Biden’s infirmity so helps Biden’s chances and weakens those of Kamala. I’ve reversed most of my bets on Kamala and backed Biden at 7.6. So I’m now more GREEN Biden than Harris, RED on Trump but I might be able to get out near quits once it’s a two horse race, depending on how the market settles.
Why?
My guess is it makes no difference and by November this won't seem significant at all.
I've laid Trump a bit this morning. 1.5 is just too short.
What a bizarre threader as America unravels. Really?
Stay off the tw@tter machine, repeat stay off the tw@tter machine...
TwiX just needs to be used with intelligence, and it’s a wonderful source
SO ABOUT THOSE CONSPIRACY THEORIES
I see at least six. It’s delicious
1. The Dems actually did it, hiring some incel shooter and using the secret service
2. The secret service, with the tacit encouragement of the Dems, kinda allowed it with lax security
3. It’s a lone lucky gunman that missed, fired up by anti Trump Dem rhetoric
4. It’s an anti-Trump REPUBLICAN or patriot, but fired up by same Dem rhetoric
5. It was all staged by Trump to make him a martyr
6. Just a complete loony and random, might easily have shot at Biden or Taylor Swift
Right now I’d say a mix of 3 or 4. But could be 2 or 6
Has Trump recently been very vocal in his defence of these semi-automatic guns? If he has, that's going to make 1/2 (they are not really divisable) look more likely - as if someone couldn't resist hoisting Trump with his own petard.
Dreadful news re the Trump assassination attempt. Sadly it has to improve his chances of being next POTUS. And it moves the discussion away from Biden’s infirmity so helps Biden’s chances and weakens those of Kamala. I’ve reversed most of my bets on Kamala and backed Biden at 7.6. So I’m now more GREEN Biden than Harris, RED on Trump but I might be able to get out near quits once it’s a two horse race, depending on how the market settles.
Why?
My guess is it makes no difference and by November this won't seem significant at all.
I've laid Trump a bit this morning. 1.5 is just too short.
It’s a fair question. How does this help Trump?
Perhaps
1. It makes trump-maybe voters more determined to vote?
2. It means Biden probably stays as the focus moves away from his infirmity = good for trump
Tories fear Labour-Lib Dem Parliament pact could leave them ‘irrelevant’
Concerns that two parties will informally agree to elect a Liberal Democrat deputy speaker, leaving Conservatives with little influence
Senior Conservatives fear being locked out of democracy if Labour and the Liberal Democrats work together to stitch up key positions that control the workings of Parliament.
The Tories believe that, as the biggest party on the opposition benches, they should have two deputy speakers to maintain the traditional 50/50 split between Labour and Conservatives in the Speaker’s Office, which has one speaker and three deputies.
But there are concerns within the Tory party that Labour and the Lib Dems will agree an informal pact to elect a Lib Dem deputy speaker, which would leave the Tories with little influence over parliamentary business.
The speaker and his deputies have control over choosing which amendments to legislation are debated and put to a vote.
The Tories fear that, if they only have one deputy speaker – and possibly the most junior of the three – it will affect their ability to provide a robust opposition to Labour and leave them effectively locked out of democracy for the next five years.
The Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, was a Labour MP before he was elected to the post in 2019 and resigned from the party.
Convention dictates that the most senior deputy comes from the opposition, the second most senior from the speaker’s former party and the most junior from the opposition.
But the rules define the opposition as anyone who is not on the government benches, meaning a Lib Dem – or even in theory an independent MP – could be chosen.
Whom do they envisage be promoted as deputy speaker from the LD bench? Should be a senior MP with experience and the only one is Tim Farron. Can’t see it.
This video is somewhat unfortunate....we are under fire, under fire, we are taking cover...in the background people wandering about slowly without a care in the world, cars drive by at normal speeds, etc.
Tories fear Labour-Lib Dem Parliament pact could leave them ‘irrelevant’
Concerns that two parties will informally agree to elect a Liberal Democrat deputy speaker, leaving Conservatives with little influence
Senior Conservatives fear being locked out of democracy if Labour and the Liberal Democrats work together to stitch up key positions that control the workings of Parliament.
The Tories believe that, as the biggest party on the opposition benches, they should have two deputy speakers to maintain the traditional 50/50 split between Labour and Conservatives in the Speaker’s Office, which has one speaker and three deputies.
But there are concerns within the Tory party that Labour and the Lib Dems will agree an informal pact to elect a Lib Dem deputy speaker, which would leave the Tories with little influence over parliamentary business.
The speaker and his deputies have control over choosing which amendments to legislation are debated and put to a vote.
The Tories fear that, if they only have one deputy speaker – and possibly the most junior of the three – it will affect their ability to provide a robust opposition to Labour and leave them effectively locked out of democracy for the next five years.
The Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, was a Labour MP before he was elected to the post in 2019 and resigned from the party.
Convention dictates that the most senior deputy comes from the opposition, the second most senior from the speaker’s former party and the most junior from the opposition.
But the rules define the opposition as anyone who is not on the government benches, meaning a Lib Dem – or even in theory an independent MP – could be chosen.
Whom do they envisage be promoted as deputy speaker from the LD bench? Should be a senior MP with experience and the only one is Tim Farron. Can’t see it.
Tories fear Labour-Lib Dem Parliament pact could leave them ‘irrelevant’
Concerns that two parties will informally agree to elect a Liberal Democrat deputy speaker, leaving Conservatives with little influence
Senior Conservatives fear being locked out of democracy if Labour and the Liberal Democrats work together to stitch up key positions that control the workings of Parliament.
The Tories believe that, as the biggest party on the opposition benches, they should have two deputy speakers to maintain the traditional 50/50 split between Labour and Conservatives in the Speaker’s Office, which has one speaker and three deputies.
But there are concerns within the Tory party that Labour and the Lib Dems will agree an informal pact to elect a Lib Dem deputy speaker, which would leave the Tories with little influence over parliamentary business.
The speaker and his deputies have control over choosing which amendments to legislation are debated and put to a vote.
The Tories fear that, if they only have one deputy speaker – and possibly the most junior of the three – it will affect their ability to provide a robust opposition to Labour and leave them effectively locked out of democracy for the next five years.
The Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, was a Labour MP before he was elected to the post in 2019 and resigned from the party.
Convention dictates that the most senior deputy comes from the opposition, the second most senior from the speaker’s former party and the most junior from the opposition.
But the rules define the opposition as anyone who is not on the government benches, meaning a Lib Dem – or even in theory an independent MP – could be chosen.
Erm - isn't the answer to that to reform parliamentary procedure rather than preclude other parties from having deputy speakers?
I don't really see why the third largest party shouldn't have a deputy speaker. In fact why not just expand the roster? I think in the Bundestag they have one deputy for each party represented.
Tories fear Labour-Lib Dem Parliament pact could leave them ‘irrelevant’
Concerns that two parties will informally agree to elect a Liberal Democrat deputy speaker, leaving Conservatives with little influence
Senior Conservatives fear being locked out of democracy if Labour and the Liberal Democrats work together to stitch up key positions that control the workings of Parliament.
The Tories believe that, as the biggest party on the opposition benches, they should have two deputy speakers to maintain the traditional 50/50 split between Labour and Conservatives in the Speaker’s Office, which has one speaker and three deputies.
But there are concerns within the Tory party that Labour and the Lib Dems will agree an informal pact to elect a Lib Dem deputy speaker, which would leave the Tories with little influence over parliamentary business.
The speaker and his deputies have control over choosing which amendments to legislation are debated and put to a vote.
The Tories fear that, if they only have one deputy speaker – and possibly the most junior of the three – it will affect their ability to provide a robust opposition to Labour and leave them effectively locked out of democracy for the next five years.
The Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, was a Labour MP before he was elected to the post in 2019 and resigned from the party.
Convention dictates that the most senior deputy comes from the opposition, the second most senior from the speaker’s former party and the most junior from the opposition.
But the rules define the opposition as anyone who is not on the government benches, meaning a Lib Dem – or even in theory an independent MP – could be chosen.
What a bizarre threader as America unravels. Really?
Stay off the tw@tter machine, repeat stay off the tw@tter machine...
TwiX just needs to be used with intelligence, and it’s a wonderful source
SO ABOUT THOSE CONSPIRACY THEORIES
I see at least six. It’s delicious
1. The Dems actually did it, hiring some incel shooter and using the secret service
2. The secret service, with the tacit encouragement of the Dems, kinda allowed it with lax security
3. It’s a lone lucky gunman that missed, fired up by anti Trump Dem rhetoric
4. It’s an anti-Trump REPUBLICAN or patriot, but fired up by same Dem rhetoric
5. It was all staged by Trump to make him a martyr
6. Just a complete loony and random, might easily have shot at Biden or Taylor Swift
Right now I’d say a mix of 3 or 4. But could be 2 or 6
Of those options it's 3, 4 or an outside chance of 6.
As for the "it was a Ukrainian" theory it's not, the gunman has been identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a local from Pennsylvania.
I think this helps Trump in the short term but it also takes the focus off Biden's deteriorating mental faculties and any momentum there was to get rid of him has now stalled which I think is what gets Trump over the line.
The Trump near miss - violence is never the answer in politics. No matter who you think should be targeted.
Had Trump been killed yesterday would we now be seeing a MAGA reign of violent retribution? Their saviour shot dead so let’s go after the liberals?
Now that Trump has been wounded by an egregious fuckup by the Secret Service, are we now to see MAGA security teams accompanying him at all times? Gold old boys with assault rifles protecting The Man from the evil government who almost got him killed?
I don’t see a winner from this other than Trump. The entire election now will be on his terms and his agenda. Biden being incapable won’t matter any more because Trump is everything and everywhere. So Biden stays on the ticket, is utterly incapable of finding a political response, and gets absolutely swept away by Trump in November’s final presidential election.
Tories fear Labour-Lib Dem Parliament pact could leave them ‘irrelevant’
Concerns that two parties will informally agree to elect a Liberal Democrat deputy speaker, leaving Conservatives with little influence
Senior Conservatives fear being locked out of democracy if Labour and the Liberal Democrats work together to stitch up key positions that control the workings of Parliament.
The Tories believe that, as the biggest party on the opposition benches, they should have two deputy speakers to maintain the traditional 50/50 split between Labour and Conservatives in the Speaker’s Office, which has one speaker and three deputies.
But there are concerns within the Tory party that Labour and the Lib Dems will agree an informal pact to elect a Lib Dem deputy speaker, which would leave the Tories with little influence over parliamentary business.
The speaker and his deputies have control over choosing which amendments to legislation are debated and put to a vote.
The Tories fear that, if they only have one deputy speaker – and possibly the most junior of the three – it will affect their ability to provide a robust opposition to Labour and leave them effectively locked out of democracy for the next five years.
The Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, was a Labour MP before he was elected to the post in 2019 and resigned from the party.
Convention dictates that the most senior deputy comes from the opposition, the second most senior from the speaker’s former party and the most junior from the opposition.
But the rules define the opposition as anyone who is not on the government benches, meaning a Lib Dem – or even in theory an independent MP – could be chosen.
Whom do they envisage be promoted as deputy speaker from the LD bench? Should be a senior MP with experience and the only one is Tim Farron. Can’t see it.
An independent? Corbyn? Don’t be silly.
Alistair Carmichael?
Perhaps. Possibly. Dunno. Forgot he’d been around longer than Farron TBH.
Please, not the barest of all margins. I'd settle for England 3-0 up at half time and a 2nd half borefest.
The time for “barest of margins” is the 100m final at the Olympics, not the football!
Except in Beijing 2008 when Usain Bolt had time to slow down, wave at the crowd and complete the Times crossword. The trouble with England 3-0 is it ignores that we invariably concede the first goal.
The Trump near miss - violence is never the answer in politics. No matter who you think should be targeted.
Had Trump been killed yesterday would we now be seeing a MAGA reign of violent retribution? Their saviour shot dead so let’s go after the liberals?
Now that Trump has been wounded by an egregious fuckup by the Secret Service, are we now to see MAGA security teams accompanying him at all times? Gold old boys with assault rifles protecting The Man from the evil government who almost got him killed?
I don’t see a winner from this other than Trump. The entire election now will be on his terms and his agenda. Biden being incapable won’t matter any more because Trump is everything and everywhere. So Biden stays on the ticket, is utterly incapable of finding a political response, and gets absolutely swept away by Trump in November’s final presidential election.
Dreadful news re the Trump assassination attempt. Sadly it has to improve his chances of being next POTUS. And it moves the discussion away from Biden’s infirmity so helps Biden’s chances and weakens those of Kamala. I’ve reversed most of my bets on Kamala and backed Biden at 7.6. So I’m now more GREEN Biden than Harris, RED on Trump but I might be able to get out near quits once it’s a two horse race, depending on how the market settles.
Yes that's how the market has moved. Trump and Biden shorter, Harris out. Seems a reasonable reaction but wtf knows really. Everything about WH24 is outside usual parameters and only getting more so.
No more violence please - and I hope his ear gets better - but I don't have time for the dark side today when we have the sun out and the Wimbledon final (Alcaraz in 4?) and the Euros (I think we can do it).
Watching Sky news for first time in about 15 years (thought this story needed pictures rather than radio). It’s an absolute shitshow. Trevor Phillips is wooden as hell, they are interviewing Farage in what looks like a Clacton HMO and they are playing the video of the shooting on the split screen on loop with the volume on it so, whilst not a bad thing, it’s not particularly easy to hear Farage.
Is Sky news really always this bad?
Anyway, thoughts and prayers with Melania, hang in there girl.
The US election is 4 months away . If you hated Trump yesterday you’re not suddenly going to like him today and vote for him.
No it won't but there's a lot of people who will be motivated by rebellion against whatever agenda drove the gunman to do this, moderates who may have previously stayed home might not sit on their hands now. In a marginal race this could make a difference.
One unfortunate effect, I understand, of the assassination attempt is that it gives Farage a bit more airtime, as a ‘friend of Trump’.
For myself, I’m very glad we have a family festivity today. Means we’ll have the TV off until later, although as Younger Son is visiting we’ll have to have the football on this evening.
This video is somewhat unfortunate....we are under fire, under fire, we are taking cover...in the background people wandering about slowly without a care in the world, cars drive by at normal speeds, etc.
The odd thing about the shooting is that Trump is stood up and walked to a car by the Secret Service, presenting a larger target than if they'd kept him on stage, on the ground.
(And that he asked for his shoes. Does he take his shoes off to speak?)
Dreadful news re the Trump assassination attempt. Sadly it has to improve his chances of being next POTUS. And it moves the discussion away from Biden’s infirmity so helps Biden’s chances and weakens those of Kamala. I’ve reversed most of my bets on Kamala and backed Biden at 7.6. So I’m now more GREEN Biden than Harris, RED on Trump but I might be able to get out near quits once it’s a two horse race, depending on how the market settles.
Why?
My guess is it makes no difference and by November this won't seem significant at all.
I've laid Trump a bit this morning. 1.5 is just too short.
One of the main reasons I quit gambling on politics was a general discomfort at betting on the probability of violence affecting political outcomes.
There's no way around it. If you're taking it seriously, you need to account for this stuff in your betting and shift your positions in response.
It is not optional.
Anyway, now as a non-punter, I can opine in good conscience;
Please, not the barest of all margins. I'd settle for England 3-0 up at half time and a 2nd half borefest.
The time for “barest of margins” is the 100m final at the Olympics, not the football!
Except in Beijing 2008 when Usain Bolt had time to slow down, wave at the crowd and complete the Times crossword. The trouble with England 3-0 is it ignores that we invariably concede the first goal.
But Bolt got a world record in that final, even after completing the Times crossword and pointing at the clock. A close final is the favourite result, but a stonking WR is definitely a close second.
Comments
Lord Walney is suggesting there could have been a "concerted campaign by extremists".
He is urging Yvette Cooper and Security Minister Dan Jarvis to commission a short inquiry to find out if groups in different constituencies were working together and to document what he calls the "dark underbelly" of abuse.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn05edkr97vo
If we are looking 100 years from now I expect Xi will be the person that is most talked about - and quite possibly Trump - as both those have global implications.
Putin is very much a regional story..
The real question is the make up of the Tory MPs, and will they put two more moderate candidates forward?
(Puts on coat and red hat, and walks away slowly).
Zelensky would be my pick for the greatest leader of the 21st century so far.
Late 1938 after gaining the Sudentenland
Spring 1939 after gaining Bohemia-Moravia
Late 1939 after defeating Poiland
Summer 1940 after defeating France
Autumn 1941 after the Kyiv or Vyazma encirclements.
Admittedly his hybrid war on democracy has brought the US to the brink of political collapse, but as France and the UK, amongst others, shows, there is no inevitability about the victory of Putin backed authoritarian disruptors.
We live in exceptionally dangerous times, but so have many before us.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2024/07/14/history-of-us-assassination-attempts-from-lincoln-to-trump/
There are cases from past few years on this list I wasn't aware of.
His quote, to either Biden or one of his officials, that “I don’t need a ride, I need ammunition”, was something that altered the course of world history.
It was a flat roof relatively close to the speaker's platform. I would expect at least a law enforcement person to be there not a shooter.
How did he miss.
When he started shooting on his belly from a distance in an elevated position he was killed pretty quickly.
After the shots everyone stayed where they were but crouched down a teeny bit. An active shooter and people just hanging around.
The protection officers jumped on him but didn't crash him out, letting the principal dictate timings.
Two state troopers (?) meandered onto the stage without much purpose.
When they did eventually crash him out it was slowly and they exposed him to the public.
But I suppose this is Trump and this is the USA.
I think that can only be assessed with some hindsight at least. There are a couple of things to consider, with the Belt and Road Initiative and possible invasion of Taiwan top of the list, perhaps. Also, how the real estate market goes, whether shifting from the 10 year premiership and lack of infighting to prolonged rule and corruption purges proves detrimental, and plenty of other stuff I don't know about.
https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/1812337444672725443
The greatest are not those who sought power, but rather those that power sought to destroy but failed to do so.
One lone idiot with an egg or a milkshake is bad enough, but if we start to see groups becoming more organised then the threat level goes up substantially. See the environmental extremists and their escalation of protest in recent years, the more extreme of the ‘Palestine’ supporters, or the number of times far-right and far-left thugs have met each other on the streets.
BY THE BAREST OF ALL MARGINS'
It's been five years since that epic World Cup final
(via @ICC) #OnThisDay
https://x.com/ESPNcricinfo/status/1812366197435842960
It's not exactly been a great century for leadership in the democratic world so far.
There’s much less hurry when in opposition, which should be good for the party.
Is that the time?
If he had died in 1946 few would remember him.
In 1956 he would be remembered as the man who reunified China and brought peace.
In 1966 he would be remembered as the architect and inspiration of Revolution both domestically and internationally.
In 1976 as a man who caused millions of deaths through economic failure and did irreparable damage to Chinese culture.
Reputation is largely a matter of timing.
So my question: who is your most 'differently interesting' famous local? For cities I'll give you within one mile, for everyone else within 5 miles.
I'll have two:
- Percy Toplis the Monocled Mutineer, from South Normanton / Blackwell.
- Harold Lloyd, the cricketer, from Nuncargate, Kirkby-in-Ashfield. It has a very good working class not-at-all-poncy butcher, which I appreciate.
My photo for the day is Larwood bowling to a full "Leg Theory" field.
Russia is Running Out of People
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXfNGcMSwzU
Nobody?
The US conservative conference circuit is much more fun, as are the private speeches with six-figure payouts.
'Why do so many UK right wingers love the pussy grabbing fascist? Is it because they hate woman and democracy?'
That’s Britain-Anchorage, right there.
"One last push to finish the job"
Yes it is a big story and the main topic of discussion, but only you are getting hysterical.
Is he sufficiently 'differently interesting'?
SO ABOUT THOSE CONSPIRACY THEORIES
I see at least six. It’s delicious
1. The Dems actually did it, hiring some incel shooter and using the secret service
2. The secret service, with the tacit encouragement of the Dems, kinda allowed it with lax security
3. It’s a lone lucky gunman that missed, fired up by anti Trump Dem rhetoric
4. It’s an anti-Trump REPUBLICAN or patriot, but fired up by same Dem rhetoric
5. It was all staged by Trump to make him a martyr
6. Just a complete loony and random, might easily have shot at Biden or Taylor Swift
Right now I’d say a mix of 3 or 4. But could be 2 or 6
"James Cleverly leads race to replace Rishi Sunak, poll suggests" https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/james-cleverly-conservative-leadership-race-replace-rishi-sunak-poll-s79rdh583
It's going to be a long week, there's going to be quite a few threads that tone it down.
7. A foreign agent. Most likely Ukrainian (with most to lose)
Good to hear that you're sufficiently recovered to return to work.
With an honourable mention for death metal band Pagan Altar, who penned the track The Devil Came Down to Brockley.
Concerns that two parties will informally agree to elect a Liberal Democrat deputy speaker, leaving Conservatives with little influence
Senior Conservatives fear being locked out of democracy if Labour and the Liberal Democrats work together to stitch up key positions that control the workings of Parliament.
The Tories believe that, as the biggest party on the opposition benches, they should have two deputy speakers to maintain the traditional 50/50 split between Labour and Conservatives in the Speaker’s Office, which has one speaker and three deputies.
But there are concerns within the Tory party that Labour and the Lib Dems will agree an informal pact to elect a Lib Dem deputy speaker, which would leave the Tories with little influence over parliamentary business.
The speaker and his deputies have control over choosing which amendments to legislation are debated and put to a vote.
The Tories fear that, if they only have one deputy speaker – and possibly the most junior of the three – it will affect their ability to provide a robust opposition to Labour and leave them effectively locked out of democracy for the next five years.
The Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, was a Labour MP before he was elected to the post in 2019 and resigned from the party.
Convention dictates that the most senior deputy comes from the opposition, the second most senior from the speaker’s former party and the most junior from the opposition.
But the rules define the opposition as anyone who is not on the government benches, meaning a Lib Dem – or even in theory an independent MP – could be chosen.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/12/tories-fear-labour-lib-dem-parliament-pact-speaker/
My guess is it makes no difference and by November this won't seem significant at all.
I've laid Trump a bit this morning. 1.5 is just too short.
I was so unlucky my recuperation period covered the general election campaign and Euro 2024.
Perhaps
1. It makes trump-maybe voters more determined to vote?
2. It means Biden probably stays as the focus moves away from his infirmity = good for trump
An independent? Corbyn? Don’t be silly.
Martin Johnson
There’s a few respectable sources Tweeting screenshots of this, but also saying that Biden deleted it today as it’s not on his feed any more.
https://x.com/joshuasteinman/status/1812336975095214555?s=12
https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cyx0vl4j1wko
This video is somewhat unfortunate....we are under fire, under fire, we are taking cover...in the background people wandering about slowly without a care in the world, cars drive by at normal speeds, etc.
I don't really see why the third largest party shouldn't have a deputy speaker. In fact why not just expand the roster? I think in the Bundestag they have one deputy for each party represented.
As for the "it was a Ukrainian" theory it's not, the gunman has been identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a local from Pennsylvania.
I think this helps Trump in the short term but it also takes the focus off Biden's deteriorating mental faculties and any momentum there was to get rid of him has now stalled which I think is what gets Trump over the line.
Had Trump been killed yesterday would we now be seeing a MAGA reign of violent retribution? Their saviour shot dead so let’s go after the liberals?
Now that Trump has been wounded by an egregious fuckup by the Secret Service, are we now to see MAGA security teams accompanying him at all times? Gold old boys with assault rifles protecting The Man from the evil government who almost got him killed?
I don’t see a winner from this other than Trump. The entire election now will be on his terms and his agenda. Biden being incapable won’t matter any more because Trump is everything and everywhere. So Biden stays on the ticket, is utterly incapable of finding a political response, and gets absolutely swept away by Trump in November’s final presidential election.
No more violence please - and I hope his ear gets better - but I don't have time for the dark side today when we have the sun out and the Wimbledon final (Alcaraz in 4?) and the Euros (I think we can do it).
Nice header Max.
Is Sky news really always this bad?
Anyway, thoughts and prayers with Melania, hang in there girl.
One unfortunate effect, I understand, of the assassination attempt is that it gives Farage a bit more airtime, as a ‘friend of Trump’.
For myself, I’m very glad we have a family festivity today. Means we’ll have the TV off until later, although as Younger Son is visiting we’ll have to have the football on this evening.
(And that he asked for his shoes. Does he take his shoes off to speak?)
There's no way around it. If you're taking it seriously, you need to account for this stuff in your betting and shift your positions in response.
It is not optional.
Anyway, now as a non-punter, I can opine in good conscience;
Laying Trump for Potus @ 1.5 is an excellent bet.
Good luck to all you sick bastards.
May your riches eat away at your soul.