I think it was @viewcode who asked the other day about Regulations for Belisha Beacons being optional on cycle / mobility track Zebra Crossings.
I asked a Bluesky / Twitter friend who posts as the @Rantyhighwayman and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation & several others. He said:
@rantyhighwayman.bsky.social It's in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, Schedule 14, Part 1, Paragraph 25 "General provision about crossings placed over cycle tracks" this covers not needing globes or zigzags. I hope a technical person is asking you for a citation! https://bsky.app/profile/rantyhighwayman.bsky.social/post/3l7kq532g3d2y
General provision about crossings placed across cycle tracks 25.—(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies where, but for this paragraph, these Regulations impose a requirement for there to be a controlled area.
(2) Where the crossing is placed across a cycle track, no controlled area in that part of the carriageway that is a cycle track is required.
(3) In relation to a Zebra or Parallel crossing which only crosses a cycle track, a yellow globe (provided for at item 27 of the Part 2 sign table) is not required.
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
Such, warm attractive politicians, both extraordinary well placed to recreate the Conservative big tent.
The only thing more impressive than their broad appeal is the coherence and depth of their political argument and the great minds behind them. Makes Thatcher and Keith Joseph look superficial.
And then you look across and see… Keir Starmer, busily becoming the most hated man in British history - and the Tories don’t look so bad at all
Bingo, I win £5. .
This is a hard nuanced argument to attempt on PB, but some of you right wingers have gone a bit funny over Starmer.
Of course he’s made some political mistakes (taking freebies), deliberately made some unpopular decisions (WFP) and done things right wingers don’t like (pay workers well or not waste energy unpicking the Tory Chiagos deal), but the vitriol here and internet right wing bubbles is off the scale.
I genuinely worry about you guys. You’ve not left yourself anywhere to go and if things settle down it couldbe a long 5/10 years for you. You remind me of left wingers raging about Fatcha. Not good for the soul. Whatever the rights and wrongs of Starmer, no politician is worth getting that riled up about.
Well, we can listen to your witless mithering, or we can look at the polls
“Keir Starmer has a worse PM job rating than all of his recent predecessors by this point in their tenure (*except for Liz Truss, who didn't last this long)
Starmer: 26% well vs 58% badly Sunak: 29% vs 53% Truss*: 11% vs 71% Johnson: 40% vs 49% May: 46% vs 22% Cameron: 59% vs 32% Brown: 59% vs 29%
Here’s the full 12 minute set by Tony Hinchcliffe. It started off slow, including the joke that’s going viral, but he was alright by the end. He admitted he’s not used to following the national anthem in front of an afternoon crowd that isn’t yet drunk.
You do see the difference between roasting a celebrity who has sort-of volunteered for this (and at some level, is loving the attention), and roasting a community who haven't asked for the abuse...
... and who you want to vote for you later this week?
If you are at a party and the set list is all the least likeable people in the nation, it really out to set off warning bells.
It underlines the weird uniqueness of Trump. For some reason he can get away with this sort of stuff, but no one else can.
The GOP have a real problem when Trump eventually leaves the stage.
That's very true. Trump has been spending years describing Latino immigrants as racists and murderers and has recently turned to promising mass deportation, but you're right, he gets away with it because it's "priced in". In that context a joke about PR being a garbage patch is on the gentle side.
But American politics really does seem to be about convincing voters you hate the same people they hate. So even if you hate the voter themselves, that's OK so long as you share some other mutual hatreds.
Yes. That’s it.
People will vote for face-eating leopards, believing they’ll eat other peoples’ faces.
The other point too is that people take a personal pride in place and while quite happy to mock it themselves, generally don't like outsiders going "yeah your home/parents' home is awful" even when know it's a joke. Because it's quite often taken as patronising and looking down on you.
E.g. Numerous Scouse comics will happily mock Liverpool and its eccentricities but woe betide a southerner doing it.
There's something that just gets people's backs up more than say generalised nasty rhetoric - which one can always pretend isn't referring to you.
"Society will develop a new kind of servitude which covers the surface of society with a network of complicated rules, through which the most original minds and the most energetic characters cannot penetrate. It does not tyrannise but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefies a people, till each nation is reduced to nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd." ― Alexis de Tocqueville
This could be Nietzsche talking about the "Herd" and promoting the idea of an Übermensch with his own values and morality. Dangerous stuff.
But there is a grain of truth in it. Societal coercion has a stultifying effect. The far right and the far left both favour coercion, either through laws or promotion of society norms.
That's why I am a liberal, valuing individual freedom, and rejecting coercion. And definitely rejecting the notion of a "Great Leader"!
Which is simple until you try to work out what 'individual freedom' means. In particular one sort of freedom is that of 'unfettered by anything, doing whatever I like as long as my freedom ends where your nose begins'. Freedom to do....
The other sort is the freedom of 15 year old young women to travel wherever they like at whatever time they like, wearing whatever they like, either alone or with others, without any fear of harrassment or worse. Freedom from fear etc....
These individual freedoms are not entirely compatible. Much else is governed by where you prioritise.
I was summarising. Lots to debate on freedom to.... and freedom from... and impact on others. There is also great benefit in societal cohesion. Much debate on where to prioritise cooperation versus competition.
But my new Oura ring is telling me to take a walk so I must be off.
"Society will develop a new kind of servitude which covers the surface of society with a network of complicated rules, through which the most original minds and the most energetic characters cannot penetrate. It does not tyrannise but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefies a people, till each nation is reduced to nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd." ― Alexis de Tocqueville
"Society will develop a new kind of servitude which covers the surface of society with a network of complicated rules, through which the most original minds and the most energetic characters cannot penetrate. It does not tyrannise but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefies a people, till each nation is reduced to nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd." ― Alexis de Tocqueville
This could be Nietzsche talking about the "Herd" and promoting the idea of an Übermensch with his own values and morality. Dangerous stuff.
But there is a grain of truth in it. Societal coercion has a stultifying effect. The far right and the far left both favour coercion, either through laws or promotion of society norms.
That's why I am a liberal, valuing individual freedom, and rejecting coercion. And definitely rejecting the notion of a "Great Leader"!
I occasionally do the 'Nietzsche Walk' which is about 3 kms up hill from Eze bord de la mer to Eze Village. Half way up is a plaque with the line 'That which does not kill us makes us stronger' ......and they say he's not a fascist!
Hinchcliffe is basically the American Jimmy Carr. He’s spent years insulting everyone and everything, and sell out arenas doing so.
Probably not the top choice for a political rally, where his opponents can find a clip to take well out of context and with no humour.
The GOP organisers should have had staffers who know nothing about comedy read through his script first, he won’t be the first comedian to bomb in front of the wrong audience, and definitely won’t be the last.
Hinchcliffe is nowhere near as well known as Jimmy Carr (in their respective countries). Yesterday was the first time most Americans will have heard of the guy.
A problem for him (and the GOP) is also that the "c'mon, it was a JOKE" line works better if the alleged joke is funny.
It doesnt't really matter if the jokes are funny or not. Ask yourself this, if the Tories were neck and neck in a general election would it make sense to close their campaign with Jimmy Carr at a rally slagging off say Scotland? It would not. GOP/MAGA screwed up. The people trying to spin it are simpy making themselves look stupid.
If Harris wins Pennsylvania and the election yes this will look like Kinnock's infamous 1992 Sheffield rally
Kinnock lost in 1992 and resigned. If Trump loses in 2024 he'll demand that his supporters Take Back Control
There is a difference
Imagine a gracious concession speech from Trump. It would truly shock the world.
It would mean he's made a deal for a presidential pardon.
That only solves a few of Trump's problems - he would still have issues at various State levels that no President can pardon..
If President Biden and President-Elect Harris ask Governor Hochul of New York to give Trump official pardons do you think she's going to say no ?
Likewise Georgia, although that case hasn't even reached court yet.
Don't think Kemi will be offering Jenrick a shadow cabinet position anytime soon... 😂
If she wins but Jenrick gets 45%+ of the vote she won't have any choice. She would have to give him a job for the sake of party unity
What’s the worst cabinet post she could offer him? Northern Ireland? Health?
All opposition posts are equally simple. You have no power except to point out government errors and paint a simplistic picture of the sunlit uplands if only you were in charge.. There will never be a shortage of errors and imperfections, and of wishful thinking. As the new government is busy discovering.
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
What first attracted you to the fascist Donald J. Trump?
I think that Trump is more like Boulanger or Peron than Mussolini.
I know that "Boulanger" and "Peron" aren't things you find in a French patisserie shop, but I can't get the image out of my head.
Something made entirely of sugar, large, but incredibly thin. So when anything happens, the collapse into a pile of tiny, sharp, fragments that make a really annoying mess
Don't think Kemi will be offering Jenrick a shadow cabinet position anytime soon... 😂
If she wins but Jenrick gets 45%+ of the vote she won't have any choice. She would have to give him a job for the sake of party unity
What’s the worst cabinet post she could offer him? Northern Ireland? Health?
I no opposition they are all crap if there’s 20 of you. Churchill has it right in the 60s: pick six key opposition spokesmen, mostly piss off on holiday, and then intervene on key events.
Churchill was PM for the second time in the 50's, but resigned in 1955. He stood down as an MP in 1964 and died in 1965.
On 30 November 1964 crowds gathered outside Churchill's London home at 1 Park Lane to celebrate his 90th birthday and he appeared at a window, attired as if for the siege of Sydney Street, to give them a jolly wave. He died less than two months later.
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Don't think Kemi will be offering Jenrick a shadow cabinet position anytime soon... 😂
If she wins but Jenrick gets 45%+ of the vote she won't have any choice. She would have to give him a job for the sake of party unity
What’s the worst cabinet post she could offer him? Northern Ireland? Health?
Home Office.
Shadow home office is fine. Jenrick would love it - he could just sound off about getting tough on migrants and leaving the ECHR. It's the real job that's tricky.
"Society will develop a new kind of servitude which covers the surface of society with a network of complicated rules, through which the most original minds and the most energetic characters cannot penetrate. It does not tyrannise but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefies a people, till each nation is reduced to nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd." ― Alexis de Tocqueville
This could be Nietzsche talking about the "Herd" and promoting the idea of an Übermensch with his own values and morality. Dangerous stuff.
But there is a grain of truth in it. Societal coercion has a stultifying effect. The far right and the far left both favour coercion, either through laws or promotion of society norms.
That's why I am a liberal, valuing individual freedom, and rejecting coercion. And definitely rejecting the notion of a "Great Leader"!
I occasionally do the 'Nietzsche Walk' which is about 3 kms up hill from Eze bord de la mer to Eze Village. Half way up is a plaque with the line 'That which does not kill us makes us stronger' ......and they say he's not a fascist!
There are many, many, non fascist uses of that saying.
Nietzsche’s original meaning was that if you take surviving bad events in your life as positive learning, ultimately you will triumph.
As opposed to collapsing in a heap and crying “woe is me”
The Harsh reality.. that Keir Starmer says we face ... is the harsh reality of a high tax high spend Labour Govt. It's always ended in tearsbefore and it will do so again.
I am beginning to.realise there is no party I would consider voting for atm.
Meanwhile in the past ten years, Britain’s foreign policy has been dismantled by events, competition and bad decisions.
NATO - one hanging chad from disaster EU - thanks Nigel and Boris, what an own goal! UN, largely impotent. Commonwealth - obviously no longer a thing. Was held together by QE2 and warped by Chinese and Russian money and influence. G7, now less GDP than the BRICS
Never have we been more isolated. Our economic and military weakness leaves us vulnerable. Even our cultural influence is on the wane. Alarm bells should be ringing.
Do you think the idiot Lammy is going to fix everything.... Labour are completely clueless putting idiots in senior positions.
Reducing a systemic crisis to one single ad hominem attack. Kind of sums up why the UK faces so many problems.
This isn´t about Lammy or even about Labour, its about the system that allowed the crisis to grow over successive governments (not just successive *Tory* governments, although Brexit is a clear and present f*ck up).
We need to pull our socks up collectively. Listening to the siren songs of idiot populism would make things worse. We need to accept that mistakes have been made and resolve not to repeat them. We need to accept that some of our political opponents are not malevolent or stupid, and reserve our fire for those who are.
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is it's the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Is it ? Are we really describing "anyone right wing" as a fascist ?
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Apparently holding a (checks notes) an election rally is a sign of fascism. Isnt this something all presidential candidates do? The derangement stuff is way off the scale.
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
We don't know how fragile it is, but I'd prefer for everyone's sakes that there's not an administration dead set on testing its fragility for 4 years having learned from its errors first time round.
MAGA has evolved in the last 4 years too. It's radicalised, especially in its embrace of demagogues and dictators around the world. The danger for us in Europe, especially our neighbours in the East, is pretty obvious - for the first time in a decades the US may not be on the same side of global geopolitics.
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
Don't think Kemi will be offering Jenrick a shadow cabinet position anytime soon... 😂
If she wins but Jenrick gets 45%+ of the vote she won't have any choice. She would have to give him a job for the sake of party unity
What’s the worst cabinet post she could offer him? Northern Ireland? Health?
Home Office.
Isn't the basic problem Jenrick's ECHR policy. He's gone out of his way to say it's an existential issue that's the only way to significantly cut undocumented migration. If Badenoch's policy as leader is that we shouldn't leave the ECHR then it's very difficult to see how Jenrick can plausibly serve in a senior post, especially the Home Office.
Unless of course they do a deal whereby he gets his way on it or some form of compromise whereby they explore it - but that would create problems too given lots of Badenoch's most senior backers do so on the grounds that although she might be a bit right-wing for their taste, she's not opening up that particular can of worms.
I think it was @viewcode who asked the other day about Regulations for Belisha Beacons being optional on cycle / mobility track Zebra Crossings.
I asked a Bluesky / Twitter friend who posts as the @Rantyhighwayman and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation & several others. He said:
@rantyhighwayman.bsky.social It's in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, Schedule 14, Part 1, Paragraph 25 "General provision about crossings placed over cycle tracks" this covers not needing globes or zigzags. I hope a technical person is asking you for a citation! https://bsky.app/profile/rantyhighwayman.bsky.social/post/3l7kq532g3d2y
General provision about crossings placed across cycle tracks 25.—(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies where, but for this paragraph, these Regulations impose a requirement for there to be a controlled area.
(2) Where the crossing is placed across a cycle track, no controlled area in that part of the carriageway that is a cycle track is required.
(3) In relation to a Zebra or Parallel crossing which only crosses a cycle track, a yellow globe (provided for at item 27 of the Part 2 sign table) is not required.
Don't think Kemi will be offering Jenrick a shadow cabinet position anytime soon... 😂
If she wins but Jenrick gets 45%+ of the vote she won't have any choice. She would have to give him a job for the sake of party unity
What’s the worst cabinet post she could offer him? Northern Ireland? Health?
Home Office.
Shadow home office is fine. Jenrick would love it - he could just sound off about getting tough on migrants and leaving the ECHR. It's the real job that's tricky.
Yep shadow home office would be the worst place to put him in because every problem could be fixed by leaving the ECHR.
"Society will develop a new kind of servitude which covers the surface of society with a network of complicated rules, through which the most original minds and the most energetic characters cannot penetrate. It does not tyrannise but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefies a people, till each nation is reduced to nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd." ― Alexis de Tocqueville
This could be Nietzsche talking about the "Herd" and promoting the idea of an Übermensch with his own values and morality. Dangerous stuff.
But there is a grain of truth in it. Societal coercion has a stultifying effect. The far right and the far left both favour coercion, either through laws or promotion of society norms.
That's why I am a liberal, valuing individual freedom, and rejecting coercion. And definitely rejecting the notion of a "Great Leader"!
I occasionally do the 'Nietzsche Walk' which is about 3 kms up hill from Eze bord de la mer to Eze Village. Half way up is a plaque with the line 'That which does not kill us makes us stronger' ......and they say he's not a fascist!
Wow, you are serious arent you? I hear people say that all the time, it is a commonly used saying. People are losing their minds.
I think it was @viewcode who asked the other day about Regulations for Belisha Beacons being optional on cycle / mobility track Zebra Crossings.
I asked a Bluesky / Twitter friend who posts as the @Rantyhighwayman and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation & several others. He said:
@rantyhighwayman.bsky.social It's in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, Schedule 14, Part 1, Paragraph 25 "General provision about crossings placed over cycle tracks" this covers not needing globes or zigzags. I hope a technical person is asking you for a citation! https://bsky.app/profile/rantyhighwayman.bsky.social/post/3l7kq532g3d2y
General provision about crossings placed across cycle tracks 25.—(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies where, but for this paragraph, these Regulations impose a requirement for there to be a controlled area.
(2) Where the crossing is placed across a cycle track, no controlled area in that part of the carriageway that is a cycle track is required.
(3) In relation to a Zebra or Parallel crossing which only crosses a cycle track, a yellow globe (provided for at item 27 of the Part 2 sign table) is not required.
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
Probably not very much.
You mean the armed mob with people waving nooses, shouting “hang them”?
Such, warm attractive politicians, both extraordinary well placed to recreate the Conservative big tent.
The only thing more impressive than their broad appeal is the coherence and depth of their political argument and the great minds behind them. Makes Thatcher and Keith Joseph look superficial.
And then you look across and see… Keir Starmer, busily becoming the most hated man in British history - and the Tories don’t look so bad at all
Bingo, I win £5. .
This is a hard nuanced argument to attempt on PB, but some of you right wingers have gone a bit funny over Starmer.
Of course he’s made some political mistakes (taking freebies), deliberately made some unpopular decisions (WFP) and done things right wingers don’t like (pay workers well or not waste energy unpicking the Tory Chiagos deal), but the vitriol here and internet right wing bubbles is off the scale.
I genuinely worry about you guys. You’ve not left yourself anywhere to go and if things settle down it couldbe a long 5/10 years for you. You remind me of left wingers raging about Fatcha. Not good for the soul. Whatever the rights and wrongs of Starmer, no politician is worth getting that riled up about.
Well, we can listen to your witless mithering, or we can look at the polls
“Keir Starmer has a worse PM job rating than all of his recent predecessors by this point in their tenure (*except for Liz Truss, who didn't last this long)
Starmer: 26% well vs 58% badly Sunak: 29% vs 53% Truss*: 11% vs 71% Johnson: 40% vs 49% May: 46% vs 22% Cameron: 59% vs 32% Brown: 59% vs 29%
Sure the polls are poor. But then again, he hasn’t exactly set out to be popular.
You miss my point, you (and a few others) seem to have let things really get under your skin. And that’s not good for you.
Take this as advice from someone who had to maintain a level head for 14 years that included mistakes such as Brexit. It’s a marathon not a sprint. Impotent rage is not good for your mental health.
Starmer is useless, surrounded by a useless bunch of losers in the cabinet. It will not end well that is for sure.
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
Perhaps Trump's MSG rally will be like the Sheffield rally?
Hopefully more of the Paris-Dakar rally where he gets lost in the desert.
The Paris-Dakar (now just called the Dakar rally) is these days held in South America due to the danger of violence and kidnapping in Mauritania. Apparently it's a much more interesting route now, but somehow it does rather lose part of its raison d'etre in the process.
I'm going to be in Dakar in December (but won't be driving there from Paris). My friend is visiting Mauritania first before joining me and hopefully won't be kidnapped en-route.
"Society will develop a new kind of servitude which covers the surface of society with a network of complicated rules, through which the most original minds and the most energetic characters cannot penetrate. It does not tyrannise but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefies a people, till each nation is reduced to nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd." ― Alexis de Tocqueville
This could be Nietzsche talking about the "Herd" and promoting the idea of an Übermensch with his own values and morality. Dangerous stuff.
But there is a grain of truth in it. Societal coercion has a stultifying effect. The far right and the far left both favour coercion, either through laws or promotion of society norms.
That's why I am a liberal, valuing individual freedom, and rejecting coercion. And definitely rejecting the notion of a "Great Leader"!
I occasionally do the 'Nietzsche Walk' which is about 3 kms up hill from Eze bord de la mer to Eze Village. Half way up is a plaque with the line 'That which does not kill us makes us stronger' ......and they say he's not a fascist!
There are many, many, non fascist uses of that saying.
Nietzsche’s original meaning was that if you take surviving bad events in your life as positive learning, ultimately you will triumph.
As opposed to collapsing in a heap and crying “woe is me”
This country is full of the latter nowadays and the tossers are running the show to boot
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
Probably not very much.
You mean the armed mob with people waving nooses, shouting “hang them”?
armed? the only person shot was an unarmed woman by a police officer pointing his gun through a hole and randomly shooting into the crowd.
There is no specific legislation against cuckooing in the UK, and officers rely on other areas of the law to tackle it. In May, the Criminal Justice Bill was amended to include cuckooing, but days later Rishi Sunak called an election and the bill was dropped. ... Camden officers have shut down 368 premises used for cuckooing and have 31 live investigations ongoing. Islington officers have closed 290 premises, with 48 premises being investigated. https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-justice/cuckooing-criminal-gangs-crime-drugs/
Like most viewers of television drama, I know of cuckooing but did not realise it is on this scale implied by so many cases in just two London boroughs. One for the Home Secretary.
I think it was @viewcode who asked the other day about Regulations for Belisha Beacons being optional on cycle / mobility track Zebra Crossings.
I asked a Bluesky / Twitter friend who posts as the @Rantyhighwayman and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation & several others. He said:
@rantyhighwayman.bsky.social It's in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, Schedule 14, Part 1, Paragraph 25 "General provision about crossings placed over cycle tracks" this covers not needing globes or zigzags. I hope a technical person is asking you for a citation! https://bsky.app/profile/rantyhighwayman.bsky.social/post/3l7kq532g3d2y
General provision about crossings placed across cycle tracks 25.—(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies where, but for this paragraph, these Regulations impose a requirement for there to be a controlled area.
(2) Where the crossing is placed across a cycle track, no controlled area in that part of the carriageway that is a cycle track is required.
(3) In relation to a Zebra or Parallel crossing which only crosses a cycle track, a yellow globe (provided for at item 27 of the Part 2 sign table) is not required.
Good morning @MattW. Whilst i am oddly complimented you thought it was me who asked, I think it was somebody else : (
Not me either
I'm not Spartacus.
Well, someone is Spartacus !
It was @Malmesbury , who wanted to stir up (or placate) his local forum. It's all @Leon 's fault (obviously ), for posting a piccie of a Zebra crossing in Japan on the 23rd. Excerpt:
Me: Zebra crossings on mobility tracks have the same status as one on the carriageway, except that AFAIK the only difference is that on a mobility track the use of belisha beacons is an optional feature (saves the need to run a power supply with no indication it causes a problem). It is defined in Statutory Regulations or possibly TSRGD 2016.
Malmesbury: I've spent some time trying to find this.
Anyone care to have a go? Would really like to find it and put a link on the local chat boards.
(Thank-you for the kind replies from StillWaters and Viewcode, who I ... er ... fingered inappropriately, so to speak.) ---------------- Full post
Oh I see, we are still doing this...it seems clear some in the media really want(ed) this to be the UK George Floyd.
Chris Kaba verdict leaves community traumatised
Black communities in south London are "really traumatised" and feel they have been "denied justice" after a police officer was cleared of murdering Chris Kaba, community leaders have said.
How much worse would Kaba's record have to be to make you think it was the correct decision? I mean he was only the prime suspect (in that car) of 3 shootings in the months leading up to the stop alone.
Few will shed tears for Chris Kaba. Most will be sympathetic to a police officer who had to decide in an instant whether to shoot.
The point is that Kaba's record should be irrelevant. The police shot dead an unarmed Black man. That Kaba was armed the day and week before, and would have been armed the week afterwards, is not justification for killing him. And aiui the police did not know it was Kaba in the car anyway.
He was not unarmed. He was armed with a car. Furthermore, the reason armed police had been deployed is that the car had been involved in a firearms incident the day before.
They did not know who was driving. They did not know if they were armed or not.
Millions of armed folk roaming the streets every day! Scary stuff..
Some irony that a tightening up of the law in regard to vehicular violence might come about because a police officer shot someone.
We cyclists have been trying to tell you lot for ages! Indeed, a recent alleged murder in Paris involved a SUV driver running over a cyclist.
Funnily enough, British drivers kill fewer cyclists than in the Netherlands, often taken as the pinnacle of cycle-friendly design. And of the British cyclists who are killed, most die on country roads, not in the towns where people campaign for cycle lanes and LTNs.
But that’s presumably because there are more Dutch cyclists.
You would need to check that. They've only around a third of our population.
"According to figures from the Dutch Central Office of Statistics (the CBS), the number of cyclists killed in the Netherlands has remained pretty stable over the last few years (2004: 180 / 2005: 181 / 2006: 216 / 2007: 189 / 2008: 181 / 2009: 185). Department for Transport figures show that in the UK it has fallen steadily (2004: 134 / 2005: 148 / 2006: 146 / 2007: 136 / 2008: 115 / 2009: 104), although the wider group of cyclists killed and seriously injured has risen slightly.
"Of course, these statistics don't tell the whole story, as cycling is much more prevalent in the Netherlands than in the UK. The Dutch cycled 14.9 billion kilometres in 2009 against the UK’s 5bn, from a population about a quarter the size, living in a country one sixth the size. With so many more cyclists on the road, more accidents are inevitable."
Typically the average mileage cycled by a person in Holland is around 800% of that cycled in the UK.
That's why per pop figures are misleading.
I have watched the Minister a decade ago using stats like this to dodge questions from a Commons committee during the coalition.
Wider than that the "but our total road deaths are relatively low" means little. It does not address sub-populations, nor does it work when put forward to defend behaviour where the consequences are suffered by others.
But we still can't really compare until we have as much cycling as the Netherlands as the mix is very likely quite different.
Also worth noting that is an article by a notorious anti-cycling lobbyist who must have been taking a break from astroturfing as a blind lobbyist to prevent cycle lanes running behind built-out bus boarding points (the global best practice standard that's somehow become a culture war issue in the UK).
A remarkable statistic is that over half of Dutch cycling fatalities are pensioners, whereas in the UK it's received wisdom that "older people can't cycling" and any attempt to deprioritise the private motor car is ageist discrimination (one of the factors in people continuing to drive long after they should have stopped doing so for everyone's safety).
The last big ITF study attempting to estimate the denominator was I think 2021 so data for the first half of the 2010s, and concluded that deaths per 100m km cycled were 2.1 in the UK and 0.8 in the Netherlands. If the recent increase is genuine and sustained it might take them to around 1.3 - cause unclear, one hypothesis is that they're going faster because of high take-up of ebikes.
As a matter of interest - on bus islands, has anyone actually worked out the status of the crossings from the pavement to the island? Round here, they have been painted with stripes, like a zebra crossing. But they have no lights, and no formal status, I believe.
So the polite cyclists stop and the thug eBikers (generally delivery people) zoom through, often yelling at anyone who impeded their progress.
It's worth noting that all Zebra crossings are actually legally meaningless, a total fiction if you read the highway code correctly. Vehicles are only required to stop if the people on them are already crossing, but the highway code hierarchy means that vehicles should do that anyway even if the people are, in American terms, "jaywalking". Pedestrians are above cyclists so if pedestrians are crossing the cyclists (and electric moped riders posing as cyclists) should stop, paint or no paint.
(Oh I see the TansportXtra piece is by Vincent Stops. Quite. When I asked him for data to support his case he just blocked me. He has a weird downer on separating modes of travel to reduce conflict.
He says that improvement in the UK, and he argues the opposite in NL is to do with us 'not going Dutch' and their 'going Dutch' failing. He leaves out that increases in cycle mileage in the UK (so reducing per mile casualties) are exactly where we *are* going Dutch such as in Central London or Manchester, and the in recent years trend (eg in traffic island design) in NL has been *away* from safer designs.)
Zebra crossings on mobility tracks have the same status as one on the carriageway, except that AFAIK the only difference is that on a mobility track the use of belisha beacons is an optional feature (saves the need to run a power supply with no indication it causes a problem). It is defined in Statutory Regulations or possibly TSRGD 2016.
We've had motor vehicles driving up and down bus stop bypasses all over London for nearly a century, but apparently this has never been a problem. It's mainly about local Councils (eg outer boroughs) not having followed design guidance, and adaptation taking time, with a small side helping of failure to control some poor behaviour. I think this Govt may fix all of those over time.
Zebra crossings on mobility tracks have the same status as one on the carriageway, except that AFAIK the only difference is that on a mobility track the use of belisha beacons is an optional feature (saves the need to run a power supply with no indication it causes a problem). It is defined in Statutory Regulations or possibly TSRGD 2016.
I've spent some time trying to find this.
Anyone care to have a go? Would really like to find it and put a link on the local chat boards.
"Society will develop a new kind of servitude which covers the surface of society with a network of complicated rules, through which the most original minds and the most energetic characters cannot penetrate. It does not tyrannise but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefies a people, till each nation is reduced to nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd." ― Alexis de Tocqueville
This could be Nietzsche talking about the "Herd" and promoting the idea of an Übermensch with his own values and morality. Dangerous stuff.
But there is a grain of truth in it. Societal coercion has a stultifying effect. The far right and the far left both favour coercion, either through laws or promotion of society norms.
That's why I am a liberal, valuing individual freedom, and rejecting coercion. And definitely rejecting the notion of a "Great Leader"!
I occasionally do the 'Nietzsche Walk' which is about 3 kms up hill from Eze bord de la mer to Eze Village. Half way up is a plaque with the line 'That which does not kill us makes us stronger' ......and they say he's not a fascist!
There are many, many, non fascist uses of that saying.
Nietzsche’s original meaning was that if you take surviving bad events in your life as positive learning, ultimately you will triumph.
As opposed to collapsing in a heap and crying “woe is me”
Old Freddy sure told that tertiary syphillis where to go.
"Society will develop a new kind of servitude which covers the surface of society with a network of complicated rules, through which the most original minds and the most energetic characters cannot penetrate. It does not tyrannise but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefies a people, till each nation is reduced to nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd." ― Alexis de Tocqueville
This could be Nietzsche talking about the "Herd" and promoting the idea of an Übermensch with his own values and morality. Dangerous stuff.
But there is a grain of truth in it. Societal coercion has a stultifying effect. The far right and the far left both favour coercion, either through laws or promotion of society norms.
That's why I am a liberal, valuing individual freedom, and rejecting coercion. And definitely rejecting the notion of a "Great Leader"!
I agree. There's also a problem with a hypertrophic form of liberalism, as John Gray says in this video at about 30 secs.
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
I don't know. I do suspect that if they had murdered them then the full weight of the law and justice would have come down on them, as indeed it did anyway. USA is not some third worldbanana replublic Global Majority country where you can overthrow democracy with a few crazies with guns. Do people honestly believe that the Trump inspired attempted coup had a scintilla of a chance of success? Really?
If Badenoch or Jenrick gets the gig and it goes as badly as many expect...
Are the career interests of Jenrick or Badenoch better served by being inside the tent as that happens or outside? Does the shortage of warm bodies in the PCP affect the calculation? (It would be a really dickish move to freelance in an 'all hands on deck' situation like this.)
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
Probably not very much.
You mean the armed mob with people waving nooses, shouting “hang them”?
armed? the only person shot was an unarmed woman by a police officer pointing his gun through a hole and randomly shooting into the crowd.
Mark Mazza was convicted of carrying two loaded guns on Capitol grounds and assaulting law enforcement officers. Mazza brought a Taurus revolver, loaded with three shotgun shells and two hollow point bullets to the Capitol. He admitted to law enforcement that he was also armed with a second firearm, a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.
Guy Wesley Reffitt was found guilty by a jury in 2022 of five charges including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a firearm.
Christopher Michael Alberts was convicted of nine charges, including six felonies. He was found in possession of a firearm. Alberts arrived at the Capitol with a pocketknife and carried with him, in a holster, a 9-millimeter pistol loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition and an additional bullet in the chamber. Alberts also wore a separate holster containing an additional 12 rounds of ammunition.
Jerod Thomas Bargar pleaded guilty to one felony count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon. Bargar entered onto the restricted Capitol grounds while illegally carrying a loaded, 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol.
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
I don't know. I do suspect that if they had murdered them then the full weight of the law and justice would have come down on them, as indeed it did anyway. USA is not some third worldbanana replublic Global Majority country where you can overthrow democracy with a few crazies with guns. Do people honestly believe that the Trump inspired attempted coup had a scintilla of a chance of success? Really?
It drives people mad on here. It was not a coup. It was an opportunist show of something or other and no one really expected to end up wandering around the Capitol. Did Trump "incite" it? Perhaps, but as you note, it was all conducted in the context of a "muscular" laura norder environment and the ones who were defending the Capitol/pushing the demonstrators back were heavily-armed agents of the state. With more to come as they got their act together.
Let us say if the next general election is Starmer v Badenoch neither will be exactly straight A students (albeit they studied STEM subjects). Would also be the first time neither main party leader went to Oxbridge as an undergraduate since 1992 and Major v Kinnock, albeit Starmer did a postgrad course at Oxford after Leeds and Kemi's husband Hamish is a Cambridge educated banker.
'She got a B in Biology, a B in Chemistry and a D in Maths. She consequently missed out on her place at Warwick University and settled for her second choice of Sussex University, on a computer systems engineering course. She took a year off before starting and quit her McDonald’s job to take a new job at New Look in Wimbledon.'
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
I don't know. I do suspect that if they had murdered them then the full weight of the law and justice would have come down on them, as indeed it did anyway. USA is not some third worldbanana replublic Global Majority country where you can overthrow democracy with a few crazies with guns. Do people honestly believe that the Trump inspired attempted coup had a scintilla of a chance of success? Really?
It drives people mad on here. It was not a coup. It was an opportunist show of something or other and no one really expected to end up wandering around the Capitol. Did Trump "incite" it? Perhaps, but as you note, it was all conducted in the context of a "muscular" laura norder environment and the ones who were defending the Capitol/pushing the demonstrators back were heavily-armed agents of the state. With more to come as they got their act together.
It was an attempted coup, and Trump should be languishing in federal jail for his part.
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
I don't know. I do suspect that if they had murdered them then the full weight of the law and justice would have come down on them, as indeed it did anyway. USA is not some third worldbanana replublic Global Majority country where you can overthrow democracy with a few crazies with guns. Do people honestly believe that the Trump inspired attempted coup had a scintilla of a chance of success? Really?
It drives people mad on here. It was not a coup. It was an opportunist show of something or other and no one really expected to end up wandering around the Capitol. Did Trump "incite" it? Perhaps, but as you note, it was all conducted in the context of a "muscular" laura norder environment and the ones who were defending the Capitol/pushing the demonstrators back were heavily-armed agents of the state. With more to come as they got their act together.
It was an attempted coup, and Trump should be languishing in federal jail for his part.
Yeah this kind of rhetoric doesn't really help anything. Apart from being misguided. Oh and presumably making lefties feel better about themselves.
"Society will develop a new kind of servitude which covers the surface of society with a network of complicated rules, through which the most original minds and the most energetic characters cannot penetrate. It does not tyrannise but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefies a people, till each nation is reduced to nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd." ― Alexis de Tocqueville
This could be Nietzsche talking about the "Herd" and promoting the idea of an Übermensch with his own values and morality. Dangerous stuff.
But there is a grain of truth in it. Societal coercion has a stultifying effect. The far right and the far left both favour coercion, either through laws or promotion of society norms.
That's why I am a liberal, valuing individual freedom, and rejecting coercion. And definitely rejecting the notion of a "Great Leader"!
That last sentence explains the Lib Dem's recent leadership choices
(Mind you, it appears that in that area there's something of a liberal consensus across all the main UK parties)
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
I don't know. I do suspect that if they had murdered them then the full weight of the law and justice would have come down on them, as indeed it did anyway. USA is not some third worldbanana replublic Global Majority country where you can overthrow democracy with a few crazies with guns. Do people honestly believe that the Trump inspired attempted coup had a scintilla of a chance of success? Really?
It drives people mad on here. It was not a coup. It was an opportunist show of something or other and no one really expected to end up wandering around the Capitol. Did Trump "incite" it? Perhaps, but as you note, it was all conducted in the context of a "muscular" laura norder environment and the ones who were defending the Capitol/pushing the demonstrators back were heavily-armed agents of the state. With more to come as they got their act together.
Thank goodness we non USonian PBers driven mad enough to comment ignorantly on US politics from a great distance have wise non USonian PBers to makes sense of it all from a great distance.
If Badenoch or Jenrick gets the gig and it goes as badly as many expect...
Are the career interests of Jenrick or Badenoch better served by being inside the tent as that happens or outside? Does the shortage of warm bodies in the PCP affect the calculation? (It would be a really dickish move to freelance in an 'all hands on deck' situation like this.)
Never say never but I don't think that Badenoch can credibly run for leader again if she loses. If she recognises this, then presumably she'd be up for shadow cabinet.
Jenrick would definitely take it as his entire life has been about short term personal advancement. I'm not so sure it would be offered though. Or a snub offering may be undertaken.
Perhaps Trump's MSG rally will be like the Sheffield rally?
Hopefully more of the Paris-Dakar rally where he gets lost in the desert.
The Paris-Dakar (now just called the Dakar rally) is these days held in South America due to the danger of violence and kidnapping in Mauritania. Apparently it's a much more interesting route now, but somehow it does rather lose part of its raison d'etre in the process.
I'm going to be in Dakar in December (but won't be driving there from Paris). My friend is visiting Mauritania first before joining me and hopefully won't be kidnapped en-route.
Would love to do the old-fashioned Paris-Dakar Rally route, but yes it got too dangerous. Two decades ago there were factory car teams up for going through the Sahara Desert. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakar_Rally
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
I don't know. I do suspect that if they had murdered them then the full weight of the law and justice would have come down on them, as indeed it did anyway. USA is not some third worldbanana replublic Global Majority country where you can overthrow democracy with a few crazies with guns. Do people honestly believe that the Trump inspired attempted coup had a scintilla of a chance of success? Really?
It drives people mad on here. It was not a coup. It was an opportunist show of something or other and no one really expected to end up wandering around the Capitol. Did Trump "incite" it? Perhaps, but as you note, it was all conducted in the context of a "muscular" laura norder environment and the ones who were defending the Capitol/pushing the demonstrators back were heavily-armed agents of the state. With more to come as they got their act together.
It was an attempted coup, and Trump should be languishing in federal jail for his part.
It was a pretty poor effort. Where were the attempts to take control of the army, navy, air force, police, national guard? What was the plan? Hitlers attempt in 1923 was better organised (and still shit).
Yes Trump should be in jail for what he has done (multiple counts). He is a thoroughly unpleasant human being. Quite why so many Americans can bring themselves to vote for him baffles the mind. But I think there is a tendency to go too far on PB about the threat posed to democracy by him. Its not that long ago that the we were full of memes about the USA becoming like the weird dystopian state of a work of fantasy fiction.
Let us say if the next general election is Starmer v Badenoch neither will be exactly straight A students (albeit they studied STEM subjects). Would also be the first time neither main party leader went to Oxbridge as an undergraduate since 1992 and Major v Kinnock, albeit Starmer did a postgrad course at Oxford after Leeds and Kemi's husband Hamish is a Cambridge educated banker.
'She got a B in Biology, a B in Chemistry and a D in Maths. She consequently missed out on her place at Warwick University and settled for her second choice of Sussex University, on a computer systems engineering course. She took a year off before starting and quit her McDonald’s job to take a new job at New Look in Wimbledon.'
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
I don't know. I do suspect that if they had murdered them then the full weight of the law and justice would have come down on them, as indeed it did anyway. USA is not some third worldbanana replublic Global Majority country where you can overthrow democracy with a few crazies with guns. Do people honestly believe that the Trump inspired attempted coup had a scintilla of a chance of success? Really?
It drives people mad on here. It was not a coup. It was an opportunist show of something or other and no one really expected to end up wandering around the Capitol. Did Trump "incite" it? Perhaps, but as you note, it was all conducted in the context of a "muscular" laura norder environment and the ones who were defending the Capitol/pushing the demonstrators back were heavily-armed agents of the state. With more to come as they got their act together.
Thank goodness we non USonian PBers driven mad enough to comment ignorantly on US politics from a great distance have wise non USonian PBers to makes sense of it all from a great distance.
Everyone is entitled to their view. I see a lot as overblown hysteria. Quite likely I am wrong and Trump's America will shortly be the facist state of much of PB's imagination. Or maybe it won't.
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
I don't know. I do suspect that if they had murdered them then the full weight of the law and justice would have come down on them, as indeed it did anyway. USA is not some third worldbanana replublic Global Majority country where you can overthrow democracy with a few crazies with guns. Do people honestly believe that the Trump inspired attempted coup had a scintilla of a chance of success? Really?
It drives people mad on here. It was not a coup. It was an opportunist show of something or other and no one really expected to end up wandering around the Capitol. Did Trump "incite" it? Perhaps, but as you note, it was all conducted in the context of a "muscular" laura norder environment and the ones who were defending the Capitol/pushing the demonstrators back were heavily-armed agents of the state. With more to come as they got their act together.
It was an attempted coup, and Trump should be languishing in federal jail for his part.
Yeah this kind of rhetoric doesn't really help anything. Apart from being misguided. Oh and presumably making lefties feel better about themselves.
Don't you have a letter to write.
Is it rhetoric? We all saw it happen, and in some countries in the world Trump would have faced a firing squad.
Don't think Kemi will be offering Jenrick a shadow cabinet position anytime soon... 😂
If she wins but Jenrick gets 45%+ of the vote she won't have any choice. She would have to give him a job for the sake of party unity
What’s the worst cabinet post she could offer him? Northern Ireland? Health?
Home Office.
I wonder whether more damage could be done to him by getting him to shadow a popular portfolio or an up and coming minister. However, I can’t think of one on the current Labour front bench. Any ideas?
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
I don't know. I do suspect that if they had murdered them then the full weight of the law and justice would have come down on them, as indeed it did anyway. USA is not some third worldbanana replublic Global Majority country where you can overthrow democracy with a few crazies with guns. Do people honestly believe that the Trump inspired attempted coup had a scintilla of a chance of success? Really?
It drives people mad on here. It was not a coup. It was an opportunist show of something or other and no one really expected to end up wandering around the Capitol. Did Trump "incite" it? Perhaps, but as you note, it was all conducted in the context of a "muscular" laura norder environment and the ones who were defending the Capitol/pushing the demonstrators back were heavily-armed agents of the state. With more to come as they got their act together.
It was an attempted coup, and Trump should be languishing in federal jail for his part.
Yeah this kind of rhetoric doesn't really help anything. Apart from being misguided. Oh and presumably making lefties feel better about themselves.
Don't you have a letter to write.
Is it rhetoric? We all saw it happen, and in some countries in the world Trump would have faced a firing squad.
In some countries what happened might have had a sniff of succeeding, but not in the US. How did the riot end? With the forces of law and order and democracy arresting people and clearing them out. Was any other outcome really on the cards?
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
Probably not very much.
You mean the armed mob with people waving nooses, shouting “hang them”?
armed? the only person shot was an unarmed woman by a police officer pointing his gun through a hole and randomly shooting into the crowd.
Mark Mazza was convicted of carrying two loaded guns on Capitol grounds and assaulting law enforcement officers. Mazza brought a Taurus revolver, loaded with three shotgun shells and two hollow point bullets to the Capitol. He admitted to law enforcement that he was also armed with a second firearm, a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol.
Guy Wesley Reffitt was found guilty by a jury in 2022 of five charges including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a firearm.
Christopher Michael Alberts was convicted of nine charges, including six felonies. He was found in possession of a firearm. Alberts arrived at the Capitol with a pocketknife and carried with him, in a holster, a 9-millimeter pistol loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition and an additional bullet in the chamber. Alberts also wore a separate holster containing an additional 12 rounds of ammunition.
Jerod Thomas Bargar pleaded guilty to one felony count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon. Bargar entered onto the restricted Capitol grounds while illegally carrying a loaded, 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol.
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
I don't know. I do suspect that if they had murdered them then the full weight of the law and justice would have come down on them, as indeed it did anyway. USA is not some third worldbanana replublic Global Majority country where you can overthrow democracy with a few crazies with guns. Do people honestly believe that the Trump inspired attempted coup had a scintilla of a chance of success? Really?
But Trump calls the convicts "hostages" at every opportunity, features a choir of January 6th convicts singing the national anthem at all (afaik) rallies, and he has promised to pardon every them.
Don't think Kemi will be offering Jenrick a shadow cabinet position anytime soon... 😂
If she wins but Jenrick gets 45%+ of the vote she won't have any choice. She would have to give him a job for the sake of party unity
What’s the worst cabinet post she could offer him? Northern Ireland? Health?
Home Office.
I wonder whether more damage could be done to him by getting him to shadow a popular portfolio or an up and coming minister. However, I can’t think of one on the current Labour front bench. Any ideas?
Insofar as it's a political role, shadow regional envoy?
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
I don't know. I do suspect that if they had murdered them then the full weight of the law and justice would have come down on them, as indeed it did anyway. USA is not some third worldbanana replublic Global Majority country where you can overthrow democracy with a few crazies with guns. Do people honestly believe that the Trump inspired attempted coup had a scintilla of a chance of success? Really?
It drives people mad on here. It was not a coup. It was an opportunist show of something or other and no one really expected to end up wandering around the Capitol. Did Trump "incite" it? Perhaps, but as you note, it was all conducted in the context of a "muscular" laura norder environment and the ones who were defending the Capitol/pushing the demonstrators back were heavily-armed agents of the state. With more to come as they got their act together.
Thank goodness we non USonian PBers driven mad enough to comment ignorantly on US politics from a great distance have wise non USonian PBers to makes sense of it all from a great distance.
I guess, rather than 'Scotch Experts', in this case we should refer to 'Us experts'?
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
I don't know. I do suspect that if they had murdered them then the full weight of the law and justice would have come down on them, as indeed it did anyway. USA is not some third worldbanana replublic Global Majority country where you can overthrow democracy with a few crazies with guns. Do people honestly believe that the Trump inspired attempted coup had a scintilla of a chance of success? Really?
It drives people mad on here. It was not a coup. It was an opportunist show of something or other and no one really expected to end up wandering around the Capitol. Did Trump "incite" it? Perhaps, but as you note, it was all conducted in the context of a "muscular" laura norder environment and the ones who were defending the Capitol/pushing the demonstrators back were heavily-armed agents of the state. With more to come as they got their act together.
Thank goodness we non USonian PBers driven mad enough to comment ignorantly on US politics from a great distance have wise non USonian PBers to makes sense of it all from a great distance.
Everyone is entitled to their view. I see a lot as overblown hysteria. Quite likely I am wrong and Trump's America will shortly be the facist state of much of PB's imagination. Or maybe it won't.
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
I don't know. I do suspect that if they had murdered them then the full weight of the law and justice would have come down on them, as indeed it did anyway. USA is not some third worldbanana replublic Global Majority country where you can overthrow democracy with a few crazies with guns. Do people honestly believe that the Trump inspired attempted coup had a scintilla of a chance of success? Really?
It drives people mad on here. It was not a coup. It was an opportunist show of something or other and no one really expected to end up wandering around the Capitol. Did Trump "incite" it? Perhaps, but as you note, it was all conducted in the context of a "muscular" laura norder environment and the ones who were defending the Capitol/pushing the demonstrators back were heavily-armed agents of the state. With more to come as they got their act together.
It was an attempted coup, and Trump should be languishing in federal jail for his part.
Yeah this kind of rhetoric doesn't really help anything. Apart from being misguided. Oh and presumably making lefties feel better about themselves.
Don't you have a letter to write.
Is it rhetoric? We all saw it happen, and in some countries in the world Trump would have faced a firing squad.
In some countries what happened might have had a sniff of succeeding, but not in the US. How did the riot end? With the forces of law and order and democracy arresting people and clearing them out. Was any other outcome really on the cards?
Hence the word "attempted". It doesn't mean it didn't happen and we can shake hands afterwards. If you attempt to murder someone he doesn't buy you a drink afterwards
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
I don't know. I do suspect that if they had murdered them then the full weight of the law and justice would have come down on them, as indeed it did anyway. USA is not some third worldbanana replublic Global Majority country where you can overthrow democracy with a few crazies with guns. Do people honestly believe that the Trump inspired attempted coup had a scintilla of a chance of success? Really?
It drives people mad on here. It was not a coup. It was an opportunist show of something or other and no one really expected to end up wandering around the Capitol. Did Trump "incite" it? Perhaps, but as you note, it was all conducted in the context of a "muscular" laura norder environment and the ones who were defending the Capitol/pushing the demonstrators back were heavily-armed agents of the state. With more to come as they got their act together.
It was an attempted coup, and Trump should be languishing in federal jail for his part.
Yeah this kind of rhetoric doesn't really help anything. Apart from being misguided. Oh and presumably making lefties feel better about themselves.
Not a fascist. Well the behaviours on show can be directly mapped to fascist behaviours by people who know about them from working directly for the man for 2 years.
Not a coup. Well it was according to testimony from the people on the inside who were planning it. And they detail with evidence that Trump was at the heart of it.
But hey, we can discount facts and logic and reason because they are all politically biased or something. These witnesses can all be discounted as untrustworthy. Except that they were appointed by Trump and served him for extended periods. But you can trust Trump because he always appoints great people...
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
I don't know. I do suspect that if they had murdered them then the full weight of the law and justice would have come down on them, as indeed it did anyway. USA is not some third worldbanana replublic Global Majority country where you can overthrow democracy with a few crazies with guns. Do people honestly believe that the Trump inspired attempted coup had a scintilla of a chance of success? Really?
It drives people mad on here. It was not a coup. It was an opportunist show of something or other and no one really expected to end up wandering around the Capitol. Did Trump "incite" it? Perhaps, but as you note, it was all conducted in the context of a "muscular" laura norder environment and the ones who were defending the Capitol/pushing the demonstrators back were heavily-armed agents of the state. With more to come as they got their act together.
Thank goodness we non USonian PBers driven mad enough to comment ignorantly on US politics from a great distance have wise non USonian PBers to makes sense of it all from a great distance.
Everyone is entitled to their view. I see a lot as overblown hysteria. Quite likely I am wrong and Trump's America will shortly be the facist state of much of PB's imagination. Or maybe it won't.
Trump lost the 2020 election. Yes or No?
Obviously yes? What kind of question is that? FFS I hate the guy, am desperate for Harris to win. I just see things a bit different to some on here.
It was a pretty poor effort. Where were the attempts to take control of the army, navy, air force, police, national guard? What was the plan? Hitlers attempt in 1923 was better organised (and still shit).
Does a plan have to be viable to be real? If someone attempts murder but fails due to incompetence is that still not attempted murder?
As to the plan, the thinking seems to be that preventing the certification of the election would have resulted in Trump claiming emergency powers and making spurious claims of election interference, to kick the decision up to the courts. Would it have worked? Probably not. That wouldn't have made it any less real.
Is there any particular reason the government are making such a big deal of the budget?
It's all we've heard about for weeks if not months and now Starmer's doing a "pre budget speech"
I can't remember such a big build up to a budget before. Odd.
Two reasons, I suspect. One is that the Press, especially the right-wing Press are making an enormous fuss. Secondly it's such a long time since the election. New Governments usually appear after elections with a Budget ready to roll. Of course, a large part of the delay is down to Sunak calling the election at such a dam'fool time, just before a recess.
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
I don't know. I do suspect that if they had murdered them then the full weight of the law and justice would have come down on them, as indeed it did anyway. USA is not some third worldbanana replublic Global Majority country where you can overthrow democracy with a few crazies with guns. Do people honestly believe that the Trump inspired attempted coup had a scintilla of a chance of success? Really?
It drives people mad on here. It was not a coup. It was an opportunist show of something or other and no one really expected to end up wandering around the Capitol. Did Trump "incite" it? Perhaps, but as you note, it was all conducted in the context of a "muscular" laura norder environment and the ones who were defending the Capitol/pushing the demonstrators back were heavily-armed agents of the state. With more to come as they got their act together.
It was an attempted coup, and Trump should be languishing in federal jail for his part.
Yeah this kind of rhetoric doesn't really help anything. Apart from being misguided. Oh and presumably making lefties feel better about themselves.
Don't you have a letter to write.
Is it rhetoric? We all saw it happen, and in some countries in the world Trump would have faced a firing squad.
In some countries what happened might have had a sniff of succeeding, but not in the US. How did the riot end? With the forces of law and order and democracy arresting people and clearing them out. Was any other outcome really on the cards?
I assume you didn't see the recent documentary where they interviewed Pence's staff and the Republican election officials in Georgia and Arizona. Overthrowing the result was a hairs breath away from succeeding. In Arizona the chair of the committee who decided Arizona's EVs said he had no idea what the committee was going to decide the threats were so severe. The decision was filmed. The relief on his face was palpable. Pence's staff were equally traumatised by the pressure and threats applied. The Republican speaker of the Arizona house commented 'these are my people, not democrats' as he referred to the mob carrying AR15s outside his house.
It was a pretty poor effort. Where were the attempts to take control of the army, navy, air force, police, national guard? What was the plan? Hitlers attempt in 1923 was better organised (and still shit).
Does a plan have to be viable to be real? If someone attempts murder but fails due to incompetence is that still not attempted murder?
As to the plan, the thinking seems to be that preventing the certification of the election would have resulted in Trump claiming emergency powers and making spurious claims of election interference, to kick the decision up to the courts. Would it have worked? Probably not. That wouldn't have made it any less real.
Surely there would have been some kind of trail of this. Utter fantasist nonsense, just as it was to describe what happened then as an insurrection. It was a crowd that got out of control without any real aim to achieve anything, it is clear there was no organisation or premeditation. Absolutely zero anticipation of being able to get into the building.
It was a pretty poor effort. Where were the attempts to take control of the army, navy, air force, police, national guard? What was the plan? Hitlers attempt in 1923 was better organised (and still shit).
Does a plan have to be viable to be real? If someone attempts murder but fails due to incompetence is that still not attempted murder?
As to the plan, the thinking seems to be that preventing the certification of the election would have resulted in Trump claiming emergency powers and making spurious claims of election interference, to kick the decision up to the courts. Would it have worked? Probably not. That wouldn't have made it any less real.
Surely there would have been some kind of trail of this. Utter fantasist nonsense, just as it was to describe what happened then as an insurrection. It was a crowd that got out of control without any real aim to achieve anything, it is clear there was no organisation or premeditation. Absolutely zero anticipation of being able to get into the building.
Is there any particular reason the government are making such a big deal of the budget?
It's all we've heard about for weeks if not months and now Starmer's doing a "pre budget speech"
I can't remember such a big build up to a budget before. Odd.
Really bad management of the calendar. They wanted to have the OBR run over the budget in full before the event, which meant holding it in October. They had the investment summit in the calendar which they had to hold before the budget announcements. The comprehensive spending review isn't until next year, which complicated things further. But they wanted to set the direction for the budget early. The result of all this is omnishambles.
There's been a bit of leaking but less than in some recent Tory budgets. Instead there's been huge speculation with everyone trying to dream up areas where tax could rise, and then challenging Reeves to deny it.
Is there any particular reason the government are making such a big deal of the budget?
It's all we've heard about for weeks if not months and now Starmer's doing a "pre budget speech"
I can't remember such a big build up to a budget before. Odd.
Starmer doubling down on this “service of working people” stuff despite nobody in government really being that clear on what a working person is. Most odd messaging.
It was a pretty poor effort. Where were the attempts to take control of the army, navy, air force, police, national guard? What was the plan? Hitlers attempt in 1923 was better organised (and still shit).
Does a plan have to be viable to be real? If someone attempts murder but fails due to incompetence is that still not attempted murder?
As to the plan, the thinking seems to be that preventing the certification of the election would have resulted in Trump claiming emergency powers and making spurious claims of election interference, to kick the decision up to the courts. Would it have worked? Probably not. That wouldn't have made it any less real.
Surely there would have been some kind of trail of this. Utter fantasist nonsense, just as it was to describe what happened then as an insurrection. It was a crowd that got out of control without any real aim to achieve anything, it is clear there was no organisation or premeditation. Absolutely zero anticipation of being able to get into the building.
Trump's biggest crime was been a sore loser.
No, his biggest crime was the fake set of electors which helped fuel the violence and grievance.
One thing I would observe about the Jan 6 events is that the liberals view it as a 'threat to civilisation'. However the two assassination attempts on Trump are always played down as the actions of two mad individuals. As the Trump campaign itself keep pointing out there are many examples of democrats joking about 'getting Trump'. So, fairly or otherwise, there is a sort of equivalence that may be emerging in voters minds.
I would agree however that, based on the Jan 6 events and other things that have been said, there is a risk that Trump fundamentally changes American democracy and seeks to debase the electoral system in order to consolidate his power which would be an existential disaster for Western civilisation. I would put this at about 1 in 3. With Harris, there is a near total certainty that the current decline of America in relation to its adversaries will continue and the rooting of progressive ideology in the institutions of the state will become more embedded. Domestically there is a risk also of secession and civil unrest. Against this is the hope that America could survive for 4 more years anyway under a Harris presidency, and the democrats are generally more respectful of democratic norms, at least until this point.
On balance I would conclude the best hope is still that Harris wins and America somehow survives 4 more years, and a figure emerges to succeed Trump on the right who doesn't have the Jan 6th baggage. But it would be equally reasonable to conclude that the risks of continuing with the current establishment is too high and drastic action is needed, even accepting the significant risk to democracy itself.
Is there any particular reason the government are making such a big deal of the budget?
It's all we've heard about for weeks if not months and now Starmer's doing a "pre budget speech"
I can't remember such a big build up to a budget before. Odd.
Starmer doubling down on this “service of working people” stuff despite nobody in government really being that clear on what a working person is. Most odd messaging.
Yeah, it's really odd. It's like they've deliberately gone out of their way to build up this budget with the the absolute worst messaging they possibly could.
All they've achieved for weeks now is to make people increasingly worried and anxious. 🙄
"Apple iPhone 16 sales blocked in Indonesia due to local parts rule
Apple will not be allowed to sell its iPhone 16 smartphones in Indonesia because they have not met the country’s rules on the use of locally made components"
Record low fertility rate in England and Wales in 2023 - down to 1.44. Fewest births in absolute terms since 1977, which itself was the lowest since 1849.
Are we trending towards ultra-low fertility rates other places have? We had previously been bouncing around between 1.6 and 1.9 since the mid-70s (average 1.8). It is only the last 5 years we've dived to new lows.
The long-term political dynamics arising are huge, even if the figures are abstract. Let's say over two generations and assuming 2.1 as the replacement rate and ignoring migration:
- 1.8 fertility rate. Population falls by c.25% - 1.4 fertility rate. Population falls by c.55% - 1.0 fertility rate. Population falls by c.75%.
One thing I would observe about the Jan 6 events is that the liberals view it as a 'threat to civilisation'. However the two assassination attempts on Trump are always played down as the actions of two mad individuals. As the Trump campaign itself keep pointing out there are many examples of democrats joking about 'getting Trump'. So, fairly or otherwise, there is a sort of equivalence that may be emerging in voters minds.
I would agree however that, based on the Jan 6 events and other things that have been said, there is a risk that Trump fundamentally changes American democracy and seeks to debase the electoral system in order to consolidate his power which would be an existential disaster for Western civilisation. I would put this at about 1 in 3. With Harris, there is a near total certainty that the current decline of America in relation to its adversaries will continue and the rooting of progressive ideology in the institutions of the state will become more embedded. Domestically there is a risk also of secession and civil unrest. Against this is the hope that America could survive for 4 more years anyway under a Harris presidency, and the democrats are generally more respectful of democratic norms, at least until this point.
On balance I would conclude the best hope is still that Harris wins and America somehow survives 4 more years, and a figure emerges to succeed Trump on the right who doesn't have the Jan 6th baggage. But it would be equally reasonable to conclude that the risks of continuing with the current establishment is too high and drastic action is needed, even accepting the significant risk to democracy itself.
I think one question in relation to your last paragraph is how does a Republican Party suborned, ransacked, pithed, and looted by Trump, find a way back?
That question, at least, has some parallels with the UK Conservative Party.
Record low fertility rate in England and Wales in 2023 - down to 1.44. Fewest births in absolute terms since 1977, which itself was the lowest since 1849.
Are we trending towards ultra-low fertility rates other places have? We had previously been bouncing around between 1.6 and 1.9 since the mid-70s (average 1.8). It is only the last 5 years we've dived to new lows.
The political dynamic of it are huge, even if the figures are abstract. Let's say over two generations and assuming 2.1 as the replacement rate and ignoring migration:
- 1.8 fertility rate. Population falls by c.25% - 1.4 fertility rate. Population falls by c.55% - 1.0 fertility rate. Population falls by x.75%.
Younger generations worse off, renting not homeowners, no security. Is it any surprise that in those circumstances they aren't starting families?
The Trump rally - why is anyone surprised? Trump has shifted himself firmly into the fascist arena and like any good demagogue is doing a fine job of fanning the flames.
What surprises me are the people insisting that 4-star General Kelly et al are wrong in their detailed and experience-based description of Trump as fascist.
So of course the rally, the abuse, the insults, the othering. That is literally the campaign - fight for the American People against this existential threat from within.
I remain convinced that Harris will win: because the shift in voting intent to elect Trump after the 2020 election in this circumstance doesn't feel tangible, and because polls suggest a very determined deep dive for voters for Harris and a self-hyping "landslide, because everyone I know thinks like me" for Trump.
He's not a fascist and every time* someone calls him a fascist it hardens and motivates his support.
*perhaps less so someone posting on a UK politics website.
If it walks like a fascist, quacks like a fascist...
The issue with this is its the same as right wing people describing anyone left wing as communists. Might make you feel good, but is it an accurate representation? Is Meloni a fascist in Italy (the true home of fascists)?
Meloni seems to be committed to parliamentary democracy. Has she or her party done anything to undermine democracy in Italy? Genuine question.
As opposed to a long running campaign by the MAGA types to take control of the federal vote count and massively distort the process. See Nov 6, where literally setting aside the election result was attempted?
Re Meloni I am thinking back to the hysteria around her coming to power.
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
[/arch one-liner rhetorical question] The last that started with the president withholding military aid from Ukraine unless it dug up dirt on a political opponent and ended with the president refusing to accept defeat in the election and inciting an attempted coup? That one? [/arch one-liner rhetorical question]
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I think there was a fair bit, but it might just have been a certain flint knapper with the hots for her.
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Small margins etc. What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
I don't know. I do suspect that if they had murdered them then the full weight of the law and justice would have come down on them, as indeed it did anyway. USA is not some third worldbanana replublic Global Majority country where you can overthrow democracy with a few crazies with guns. Do people honestly believe that the Trump inspired attempted coup had a scintilla of a chance of success? Really?
It drives people mad on here. It was not a coup. It was an opportunist show of something or other and no one really expected to end up wandering around the Capitol. Did Trump "incite" it? Perhaps, but as you note, it was all conducted in the context of a "muscular" laura norder environment and the ones who were defending the Capitol/pushing the demonstrators back were heavily-armed agents of the state. With more to come as they got their act together.
Thank goodness we non USonian PBers driven mad enough to comment ignorantly on US politics from a great distance have wise non USonian PBers to makes sense of it all from a great distance.
Record low fertility rate in England and Wales in 2023 - down to 1.44. Fewest births in absolute terms since 1977, which itself was the lowest since 1849.
1977 was the year I was born so at least my mum and dad did their bit for humanity lol!
I'm now getting quite pissed off by the way he says stabullity
I wonder, when the history of these times s written, whether we'll discover that Starmer didn't go into politics wanting to be PM, but something like a reforming Home Secretary (Roy Jenkins redux) or Attorney General. He only went for the leadership when he got 'inside' and discovered what a mess had developed under Corbyn's leadership.
Here's a thought experiment for you: Revive the Paris-Dakar race -- but require the contestants to free at least one slave in the trip, and bring him or her out with them. That would, I think, make for more exciting races.
Perhaps points for freeing more than one? No doubt those familiar with the racing world can think of other suggestions.
It was a pretty poor effort. Where were the attempts to take control of the army, navy, air force, police, national guard? What was the plan? Hitlers attempt in 1923 was better organised (and still shit).
Does a plan have to be viable to be real? If someone attempts murder but fails due to incompetence is that still not attempted murder?
As to the plan, the thinking seems to be that preventing the certification of the election would have resulted in Trump claiming emergency powers and making spurious claims of election interference, to kick the decision up to the courts. Would it have worked? Probably not. That wouldn't have made it any less real.
Surely there would have been some kind of trail of this. Utter fantasist nonsense, just as it was to describe what happened then as an insurrection. It was a crowd that got out of control without any real aim to achieve anything, it is clear there was no organisation or premeditation. Absolutely zero anticipation of being able to get into the building.
Trump's biggest crime was been a sore loser.
They did get into the building.
It was a close-run thing. The outgoing administration had refused to deploy the National Guard days before. After four years' hindsight I'm fairly sure this was correct, if probably for the wrong reasons. A civilian event in a mature democracy should not be surrounded by an armed militia and if it had there would have been mass fatalities and an inextinguishable cause célèbre for the extreme, and not so extreme, Right. You have to win the peace as well as the war and there are always casualties.
One thing I would observe about the Jan 6 events is that the liberals view it as a 'threat to civilisation'. However the two assassination attempts on Trump are always played down as the actions of two mad individuals. As the Trump campaign itself keep pointing out there are many examples of democrats joking about 'getting Trump'. So, fairly or otherwise, there is a sort of equivalence that may be emerging in voters minds.
I would agree however that, based on the Jan 6 events and other things that have been said, there is a risk that Trump fundamentally changes American democracy and seeks to debase the electoral system in order to consolidate his power which would be an existential disaster for Western civilisation. I would put this at about 1 in 3. With Harris, there is a near total certainty that the current decline of America in relation to its adversaries will continue and the rooting of progressive ideology in the institutions of the state will become more embedded. Domestically there is a risk also of secession and civil unrest. Against this is the hope that America could survive for 4 more years anyway under a Harris presidency, and the democrats are generally more respectful of democratic norms, at least until this point.
On balance I would conclude the best hope is still that Harris wins and America somehow survives 4 more years, and a figure emerges to succeed Trump on the right who doesn't have the Jan 6th baggage. But it would be equally reasonable to conclude that the risks of continuing with the current establishment is too high and drastic action is needed, even accepting the significant risk to democracy itself.
I think one question in relation to your last paragraph is how does a Republican Party suborned, ransacked, pithed, and looted by Trump, find a way back?
That question, at least, has some parallels with the UK Conservative Party.
That is a very difficult question but you have to just hope for the best. The Labour party found a way back after Corbyn.
The problem of capture by radical elements may also be true of the democrats.
It was a pretty poor effort. Where were the attempts to take control of the army, navy, air force, police, national guard? What was the plan? Hitlers attempt in 1923 was better organised (and still shit).
Does a plan have to be viable to be real? If someone attempts murder but fails due to incompetence is that still not attempted murder?
As to the plan, the thinking seems to be that preventing the certification of the election would have resulted in Trump claiming emergency powers and making spurious claims of election interference, to kick the decision up to the courts. Would it have worked? Probably not. That wouldn't have made it any less real.
Surely there would have been some kind of trail of this. Utter fantasist nonsense, just as it was to describe what happened then as an insurrection. It was a crowd that got out of control without any real aim to achieve anything, it is clear there was no organisation or premeditation. Absolutely zero anticipation of being able to get into the building.
Trump's biggest crime was been a sore loser.
No, his biggest crime was the fake set of electors which helped fuel the violence and grievance.
Yep. Jan 6th was just the culmination of a determined multi-pronged attempt to subvert the constitution, overturn the election, and stay in power after being voted out. Yet here he is again. Amazing. Anybody saying they understand it is usually trying to justify it.
Also unnecessary - she’s surely winning? Unless she has private info that she’s not and she needs to do this
She's winning. She was probably just goaded into an indiscreet answer.
She's right though.
I'm not sure she is. Jenrick was a very successful housing Minister in terms of his record of getting houses built, and it is notable that Tower Hamlets council have now approved this scheme, several years and several millions of wasted pounds later. Jenrick didn't benefit personally, so I don’t hugely see the issue. As for Desmond's jazz mags, if anyone has never looked at such imagery, feel free to cast the first stone.
Comments
When Trump was elected last time one of my colleagues (admittedly someone who is rather Eeyorish about a lot of things) was convinced we were heading for all our war and the use of nukes. Didn't happen of course.
In the UK we see just how much of what is said and written in manifestos and campaign speeches comes to pass.
I suspect that for all the talk, a new Trump presidency will be much like the last.
E.g. Numerous Scouse comics will happily mock Liverpool and its eccentricities but woe betide a southerner doing it.
There's something that just gets people's backs up more than say generalised nasty rhetoric - which one can always pretend isn't referring to you.
But my new Oura ring is telling me to take a walk so I must be off.
Likewise Georgia, although that case hasn't even reached court yet.
ETA: I also don't remember much hysteria when Meloni came to power.
I know this because it was on the BBC news!
Rre Trump - accept that, but the system worked, Biden took over as president. Why do people believe that the US system is so fragile?
Nietzsche’s original meaning was that if you take surviving bad events in your life as positive learning, ultimately you will triumph.
As opposed to collapsing in a heap and crying “woe is me”
This isn´t about Lammy or even about Labour, its about the system that allowed the crisis to grow over successive governments (not just successive *Tory* governments, although Brexit is a clear and present f*ck up).
We need to pull our socks up collectively. Listening to the siren songs of idiot populism would make things worse. We need to accept that mistakes have been made and resolve not to repeat them. We need to accept that some of our political opponents are not malevolent or stupid, and reserve our fire for those who are.
Are we really describing "anyone right wing" as a fascist ?
What do you think the Trump-encouraged mob, sorry, peaceful sightseers, would have done if they'd caught Pence or Pelosi?
The derangement stuff is way off the scale.
MAGA has evolved in the last 4 years too. It's radicalised, especially in its embrace of demagogues and dictators around the world. The danger for us in Europe, especially our neighbours in the East, is pretty obvious - for the first time in a decades the US may not be on the same side of global geopolitics.
Unless of course they do a deal whereby he gets his way on it or some form of compromise whereby they explore it - but that would create problems too given lots of Badenoch's most senior backers do so on the grounds that although she might be a bit right-wing for their taste, she's not opening up that particular can of worms.
I would give him transport or local government...
I'm going to be in Dakar in December (but won't be driving there from Paris). My friend is visiting Mauritania first before joining me and hopefully won't be kidnapped en-route.
...
Camden officers have shut down 368 premises used for cuckooing and have 31 live investigations ongoing. Islington officers have closed 290 premises, with 48 premises being investigated.
https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-justice/cuckooing-criminal-gangs-crime-drugs/
Like most viewers of television drama, I know of cuckooing but did not realise it is on this scale implied by so many cases in just two London boroughs. One for the Home Secretary.
Me: Zebra crossings on mobility tracks have the same status as one on the carriageway, except that AFAIK the only difference is that on a mobility track the use of belisha beacons is an optional feature (saves the need to run a power supply with no indication it causes a problem). It is defined in Statutory Regulations or possibly TSRGD 2016.
Malmesbury: I've spent some time trying to find this.
Anyone care to have a go? Would really like to find it and put a link on the local chat boards.
(Thank-you for the kind replies from StillWaters and Viewcode, who I ... er ... fingered inappropriately, so to speak.)
----------------
Full post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hC5nXXJrV8
third worldbanana replublicGlobal Majority country where you can overthrow democracy with a few crazies with guns. Do people honestly believe that the Trump inspired attempted coup had a scintilla of a chance of success? Really?If Badenoch or Jenrick gets the gig and it goes as badly as many expect...
Are the career interests of Jenrick or Badenoch better served by being inside the tent as that happens or outside? Does the shortage of warm bodies in the PCP affect the calculation? (It would be a really dickish move to freelance in an 'all hands on deck' situation like this.)
Guy Wesley Reffitt was found guilty by a jury in 2022 of five charges including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a firearm.
Christopher Michael Alberts was convicted of nine charges, including six felonies. He was found in possession of a firearm. Alberts arrived at the Capitol with a pocketknife and carried with him, in a holster, a 9-millimeter pistol loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition and an additional bullet in the chamber. Alberts also wore a separate holster containing an additional 12 rounds of ammunition.
Jerod Thomas Bargar pleaded guilty to one felony count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon. Bargar entered onto the restricted Capitol grounds while illegally carrying a loaded, 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol.
Etc etc
'She got a B in Biology, a B in Chemistry and a D in Maths. She consequently missed out on her place at Warwick University and settled for her second choice of Sussex University, on a computer systems engineering course. She took a year off before starting and quit her McDonald’s job to take a new job at New Look in Wimbledon.'
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/who-is-kemi-badenoch-blue-ambition-lord-ashcroft-b1173637.html
'The subjects he chose to study in the sixth form during his last two years at school were mathematics, music and physics, in which he achieved A level grades of B, B and C.'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keir_Starmer#:~:text=The subjects he chose to,Andrew Cooper, who later became
Don't you have a letter to write.
(Mind you, it appears that in that area there's something of a liberal consensus across all the main UK parties)
Jenrick would definitely take it as his entire life has been about short term personal advancement. I'm not so sure it would be offered though. Or a snub offering may be undertaken.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakar_Rally
Yes Trump should be in jail for what he has done (multiple counts). He is a thoroughly unpleasant human being. Quite why so many Americans can bring themselves to vote for him baffles the mind. But I think there is a tendency to go too far on PB about the threat posed to democracy by him. Its not that long ago that the we were full of memes about the USA becoming like the weird dystopian state of a work of fantasy fiction.
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2023/03/07/january-6-inmates-prisoner-choir-song-featuring-trump-sot-ac360-vpx.cnn
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/donald-trump-says-absolutely-pardon-jan-6-rioters-rcna164565
HMRC is alleging Mr Venables evaded nine years’ tax in his personal tax returns.
https://taxpolicy.org.uk/2024/10/28/robert-venables-senior-tax-kc-is-being-prosecuted-by-hmrc-for-tax-evasion/
Lawyers aren't afraid to walk the walk.
It's all we've heard about for weeks if not months and now Starmer's doing a "pre budget speech"
I can't remember such a big build up to a budget before. Odd.
Not a fascist. Well the behaviours on show can be directly mapped to fascist behaviours by people who know about them from working directly for the man for 2 years.
Not a coup. Well it was according to testimony from the people on the inside who were planning it. And they detail with evidence that Trump was at the heart of it.
But hey, we can discount facts and logic and reason because they are all politically biased or something. These witnesses can all be discounted as untrustworthy. Except that they were appointed by Trump and served him for extended periods. But you can trust Trump because he always appoints great people...
As to the plan, the thinking seems to be that preventing the certification of the election would have resulted in Trump claiming emergency powers and making spurious claims of election interference, to kick the decision up to the courts. Would it have worked? Probably not. That wouldn't have made it any less real.
Of course, a large part of the delay is down to Sunak calling the election at such a dam'fool time, just before a recess.
Yes it nearly happened.
Trump's biggest crime was been a sore loser.
There's been a bit of leaking but less than in some recent Tory budgets. Instead there's been huge speculation with everyone trying to dream up areas where tax could rise, and then challenging Reeves to deny it.
I would agree however that, based on the Jan 6 events and other things that have been said, there is a risk that Trump fundamentally changes American democracy and seeks to debase the electoral system in order to consolidate his power which would be an existential disaster for Western civilisation. I would put this at about 1 in 3. With Harris, there is a near total certainty that the current decline of America in relation to its adversaries will continue and the rooting of progressive ideology in the institutions of the state will become more embedded. Domestically there is a risk also of secession and civil unrest. Against this is the hope that America could survive for 4 more years anyway under a Harris presidency, and the democrats are generally more respectful of democratic norms, at least until this point.
On balance I would conclude the best hope is still that Harris wins and America somehow survives 4 more years, and a figure emerges to succeed Trump on the right who doesn't have the Jan 6th baggage. But it would be equally reasonable to conclude that the risks of continuing with the current establishment is too high and drastic action is needed, even accepting the significant risk to democracy itself.
All they've achieved for weeks now is to make people increasingly worried and anxious. 🙄
Apple will not be allowed to sell its iPhone 16 smartphones in Indonesia because they have not met the country’s rules on the use of locally made components"
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/apple-iphone-16-sales-blocked-in-indonesia-due-to-local-parts-rule/article68806322.ece#
He torments and tortures them before release
I've mentioned commoonity before
I'm now getting quite pissed off by the way he says stabullity
Are we trending towards ultra-low fertility rates other places have? We had previously been bouncing around between 1.6 and 1.9 since the mid-70s (average 1.8). It is only the last 5 years we've dived to new lows.
The long-term political dynamics arising are huge, even if the figures are abstract. Let's say over two generations and assuming 2.1 as the replacement rate and ignoring migration:
- 1.8 fertility rate. Population falls by c.25%
- 1.4 fertility rate. Population falls by c.55%
- 1.0 fertility rate. Population falls by c.75%.
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/bulletins/birthsummarytablesenglandandwales/2023
That question, at least, has some parallels with the UK Conservative Party.
Is it any surprise that in those circumstances they aren't starting families?
Perhaps points for freeing more than one? No doubt those familiar with the racing world can think of other suggestions.
(I assume everyone knows that there is no shortage of slaves in Mauritania.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauritania )
The problem of capture by radical elements may also be true of the democrats.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/pat-mcfadden-cheshire-police-victoria-atkins-amesbury-labour-party-b2636724.html