(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 4m That wasn’t just Kemi Badenoch’s worst performance as leader. It was one of the worst performances ever from a leader of the opposition. She had no capacity to readjust after Starmer gave her a clear and direct answer on the Gaza family. It was embarrassing to watch.
I think Dan's wrong. Kemi might not be great, but she was very specific with her questions. Starmer wouldn't confirm whether the government would appeal the decision or not. It seems to me that he wants to say that the judge got it right and it was badly drafted legislation by the Tories. That is obviously bollocks, and there's nothing to stop an activist judge overriding whatever legislation Cooper comes up with.
The days of Dan Hodges being right on anything have long gone, if they ever existed. He has a pick and mix of bad and dreadful takes, this being another. Starmer didn't answer the questions and looked liked an arrogant twat. It's not a good look, but I understand why Hodges likes it.
He's not the only jouno:
Ava-Santina
@AvaSantina · 13m Striking how poorly researched Kemi Badenoch's PMQs are. Best line was about Labour's new borders watchdog that will apparently WFH in Finland, knocked back by Starmer explaining he was hired and worked from home since 2019 under the Tories. Lack of fact-checking extraordinary.
It's PoliticsJoe. Are you trying to tell me that they are some kind of independent journalists, not a group of young left wing metropolitan commentators? Jesus.
Is *anybody* not a metropolitan commentator these days? "CurrentThing is BAD! We discuss the badness of CurrentThing! I have a mike and a neon sign over my shoulder! I AM VERY IMPORTANT!"
(throws things at wall)
It's just freedom of speech + internet in operation. I very rarely look at PoliticsJoe but they are not bad, and why shouldn't younger people try to make careers out of whatever opportunity they can find? It's a free market, and no-one is compelled to watch it. And it is much less clickbaity than the Guardian.
I'm not suggesting they should be banned. I am saying they should be pointed at and mocked for their juvenilia most severely in a Pythonesque manner. Possibly whilst waving a shrubbery
I used to think that Badenoch was safe until the next GE.
I now think Bobby J or Cleverly are going to be leader by the middle of the parliament.
I doubt it matters any more. The Conservatives have lost the ability to appeal to voters aged under 65, so they'll just fade out, in favour of Reform.
Yes, I think so. It's a mixture of poorly balanced and executed policy, and terrible behaviour.
The chatterati will lazily blame it on Brexit, as they seek to do with everything, but this trend stretches back 25-30 years in the Tory party.
I disagree, I think Kemi Badenoch was strong at PMQs today, because it was clear Starmer was not answering the question. The question was legal precedent has been set in court, what exactly are you going to do about it? And no answer came from Starmer. Kemi was right to keep pressing him on it.
Noticeable Bobby J sits beside her every single week. United front!
He said they intended to close the loophole, and were already planning how to do it. An answer she seemed unable to process.
Whether he's telling the truth is open to question. But you can't say he didn't answer.
If there was a better way of asking the question, Badenoch demonstrated she couldn't think of it.
She asked if he was appealing, which if he disagrees with it, you'd think he would. But he didn't answer. He just carried on about a loophole that no-one knows anything about.
"a loophole that no-one knows anything about"
That's the very best of epic fails. The loophole exists - found and exploited by the lawyers and validated by the judge. The loophole is definable as the Home Office are working on a change in the law to close it.
You know who you're talking about when you say "no-one knows anything about"? Its *the Tories*. Inept drafting of the law by *the Tories* and now an inability to understand their own actions by *the Tories*.
Not only did Kemi manage to fall into repeated bear traps of her own laying, she gifted Starmer the ability to detail just how inept the Tories were in government.
Whose law allowed the Palestinian family onto the Ukraine framework? *The Tories* Who hired someone to WFM from Finland? *The Tories*
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 4m That wasn’t just Kemi Badenoch’s worst performance as leader. It was one of the worst performances ever from a leader of the opposition. She had no capacity to readjust after Starmer gave her a clear and direct answer on the Gaza family. It was embarrassing to watch.
I think Dan's wrong. Kemi might not be great, but she was very specific with her questions. Starmer wouldn't confirm whether the government would appeal the decision or not. It seems to me that he wants to say that the judge got it right and it was badly drafted legislation by the Tories. That is obviously bollocks, and there's nothing to stop an activist judge overriding whatever legislation Cooper comes up with.
One of the things I'm, hoping for if/when Farage gets in is a wholesale clearout of the immigration tribunal system. It's clearly not fit for purpose.
I do think that a lot of judges in the Immigration Tribunal system need to be dismissed. They take a kind of wilful delight in frustrating the will of Parliament, whilst pretending to uphold it.
Many think immigration control are vexatious and those who want them rather unseemly people, so they view it as their life's work to frustrate it, for which they are applauded professionally and socially.
I'm sure neutrality descends on them immediately they enter the courtroom.
Unbelievable.
How can you possibly vote for the Tories and “Jeremy hunt” when you read shit like that? We are way beyond sensible centre right governance
We need a hard right revolution that sweeps away the whole rotten edifice. Democratically but very very firmly
Which unelected weirdo oligarch do you want to ‘democratically’ sweep away the whole rotten edifice in the UK?
Me
It’s Time. Time for the Leon Parliament
My cabinet shall comprise Lord Byronic as Deputy PM, the right honourable Mystic Rose as Home Secretary, the Lady G as COTE, and Goodwife Heathener as Keeper of the Thermos
Admitting Heathener now are we? Its a great character but the thermos thing was just too weird.
Bombshell speech from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to Nato: - US will no longer be the primary guarantor of security in Europe. - US troops will not be part of any Ukrainian peacekeeping deterrence force - No Nato protection for any forces that do take part in that force.
Who the fck is Greaser Hegseth to say who will and won’t be protected by NATO in a deterrence force if the US is bailing out?
NATO members each have a veto on collective action by NATO. If the US says no, no collective action.
Trump hasn’t announced leaving NATO. Yet.
Everyone in NATO doing what USA wants cos they provide the de facto muscle being swapped for everyone doing what the USA wants despite them withdrawing the muscle doesn’t seem a great deal tbh.
I used to think that Badenoch was safe until the next GE.
I now think Bobby J or Cleverly are going to be leader by the middle of the parliament.
I doubt it matters any more. The Conservatives have lost the ability to appeal to voters aged under 65, so they'll just fade out, in favour of Reform.
Yes, I think so. It's a mixture of poorly balanced and executed policy, and terrible behaviour.
The chatterati will lazily blame it on Brexit, as they seek to do with everything, but this trend stretches back 25-30 years in the Tory party.
I disagree, I think Kemi Badenoch was strong at PMQs today, because it was clear Starmer was not answering the question. The question was legal precedent has been set in court, what exactly are you going to do about it? And no answer came from Starmer. Kemi was right to keep pressing him on it.
Noticeable Bobby J sits beside her every single week. United front!
He said they intended to close the loophole, and were already planning how to do it. An answer she seemed unable to process.
Whether he's telling the truth is open to question. But you can't say he didn't answer.
If there was a better way of asking the question, Badenoch demonstrated she couldn't think of it.
She asked if he was appealing, which if he disagrees with it, you'd think he would. But he didn't answer. He just carried on about a loophole that no-one knows anything about.
"a loophole that no-one knows anything about"
That's the very best of epic fails. The loophole exists - found and exploited by the lawyers and validated by the judge. The loophole is definable as the Home Office are working on a change in the law to close it.
You know who you're talking about when you say "no-one knows anything about"? Its *the Tories*. Inept drafting of the law by *the Tories* and now an inability to understand their own actions by *the Tories*.
Not only did Kemi manage to fall into repeated bear traps of her own laying, she gifted Starmer the ability to detail just how inept the Tories were in government.
Whose law allowed the Palestinian family onto the Ukraine framework? *The Tories* Who hired someone to WFM from Finland? *The Tories*
Please detail the loophole and exactly how the government have confirmed that they are closing it. Where is this detail?
Starmer said he didn't agree with the judgement, so how is it a loophole?
Bombshell speech from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to Nato: - US will no longer be the primary guarantor of security in Europe. - US troops will not be part of any Ukrainian peacekeeping deterrence force - No Nato protection for any forces that do take part in that force.
Who the fck is Greaser Hegseth to say who will and won’t be protected by NATO in a deterrence force if the US is bailing out?
NATO members each have a veto on collective action by NATO. If the US says no, no collective action.
Trump hasn’t announced leaving NATO. Yet.
Everyone in NATO doing what USA wants cos they provide the de facto muscle being swapped for everyone doing what the USA wants despite them withdrawing the muscle doesn’t seem a great deal tbh.
Everyone in NATO has a veto.
Which is why the Orban government was upsetting so many, little while ago.
GB News seem to have it in for Kemi as well. She’s not long for this world.
People are really struggling to understand which media organisations are backing who. The Sun backed Labour. GB News is Reform.
Probably deservedly, I doubt there are many friends of Conservatives in the media. Even the Mail was half-hearted, just in an attempt to stop a Labour landslide. That was then, can only imagine now.
The problem for the Conservatives is that post-Brexit they don't have any critical friends in the media. The Mail, Telegraph, and The Sun became parodies of themselves in terms of becoming uncritical cheerleaders rather than papers with a certain viewpoint on behalf of their readers who were sympathetic to the Tories but capable of unexpected criticism when wrong as they saw it.
It's like what rubbish conspiracy websites like The Canary were to Corbynism in terms of trying to serve a view rather than express it and deluding themselves.
GB News seem to have it in for Kemi as well. She’s not long for this world.
People are really struggling to understand which media organisations are backing who. The Sun backed Labour. GB News is Reform.
Probably deservedly, I doubt there are many friends of Conservatives in the media. Even the Mail was half-hearted, just in an attempt to stop a Labour landslide. That was then, can only imagine now.
So what you're saying is that providing we ignore the majority of people who don't vote Tory, they are definitely on track to win?
They are your words. What I am saying is that people haven't moved on from thinking majority of media backs Conservatives, when they really don't.
Bombshell speech from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to Nato: - US will no longer be the primary guarantor of security in Europe. - US troops will not be part of any Ukrainian peacekeeping deterrence force - No Nato protection for any forces that do take part in that force.
So Europe should be determining what happens in Ukraine, then. If you've no skin in the game, then you don't get to write terms of any settlement. Or nick Ukraine's mineral resources.
Did he take Putin's cock out of his mouth before saying that?
I used to think that Badenoch was safe until the next GE.
I now think Bobby J or Cleverly are going to be leader by the middle of the parliament.
I doubt it matters any more. The Conservatives have lost the ability to appeal to voters aged under 65, so they'll just fade out, in favour of Reform.
Yes, I think so. It's a mixture of poorly balanced and executed policy, and terrible behaviour.
The chatterati will lazily blame it on Brexit, as they seek to do with everything, but this trend stretches back 25-30 years in the Tory party.
I disagree, I think Kemi Badenoch was strong at PMQs today, because it was clear Starmer was not answering the question. The question was legal precedent has been set in court, what exactly are you going to do about it? And no answer came from Starmer. Kemi was right to keep pressing him on it.
Noticeable Bobby J sits beside her every single week. United front!
He said they intended to close the loophole, and were already planning how to do it. An answer she seemed unable to process.
Whether he's telling the truth is open to question. But you can't say he didn't answer.
If there was a better way of asking the question, Badenoch demonstrated she couldn't think of it.
She asked if he was appealing, which if he disagrees with it, you'd think he would. But he didn't answer. He just carried on about a loophole that no-one knows anything about.
Already asked and answered. You're as bad as Kemi.
Can you quote me the exact words when he said he was or was not appealing the judgement? It must have passed me by. Closing a loophole for future cases is not appealing this specific judgement.
Interesting version of chain migration. If the court did support his application there would be bulge in the number of w**kers applying for paternity rights.
Paternity Rights in those circs could get quite expensive.
When the UK removed anonymity rights from sperm donors, the numbers reduced significantly.
The Danelaw is coming back - we get a lot of sperm donors from Denmark.
Amazing. Is this the first PB thread ever of genuine political consensus? We all like Jeremy Hunt.
'Like' is too strong. I've always thought him a bit of a hunt. But a fairly competent hunt, unlike most of the previous* Tory front bench. They could do worse (and already have, several times).
*I've not been paying enough attention to comment on the current one - the Tory front bench does seem largely irrelevant at present, probably quite different with a different leader before they are in power
Bombshell speech from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to Nato: - US will no longer be the primary guarantor of security in Europe. - US troops will not be part of any Ukrainian peacekeeping deterrence force - No Nato protection for any forces that do take part in that force.
Who the fck is Greaser Hegseth to say who will and won’t be protected by NATO in a deterrence force if the US is bailing out?
NATO members each have a veto on collective action by NATO. If the US says no, no collective action.
Trump hasn’t announced leaving NATO. Yet.
Everyone in NATO doing what USA wants cos they provide the de facto muscle being swapped for everyone doing what the USA wants despite them withdrawing the muscle doesn’t seem a great deal tbh.
Yes, this can't go on. Complaining about financial contributions is one thing; ordering every other NATO member to appease Vlad as his tanks roll towards the English Channel is a different matter entirely. The US needs to be ejected.
January CPI inflation rose to 3.0%, surpassing expectations (2.9%), with month-over-month inflation hitting its highest level in a year.
Funny how, when Democrats pointed to Trump’s policies as a factor in inflation under Biden, Republicans flat-out rejected the idea. But now that inflation is ticking up under Trump, suddenly it’s the past administration's fault?
My good deed for the day - I sorted out all ConHome, from their “Starmer should gift the Chagos Islands to Trump, and end our grand delusion of ‘Global Britain” Click bait piece, by relaying our agreed PB understanding.
“But for last 60 years US had 100% control with 0% of hassle that comes with ownership. In 60’s USA told us to carve it up so they can have Garcia base, and we did. USA told us to ethnically cleanse Chagos of Chagouns, and as owners we did it. It’s both those things deemed much too naughty that’s dropped us in it, but with UK in the dock of course, not USA. (Though US did quietly compensate us all these years we can assume).
Even if handing all responsibility for Chagos and Garcia USA was possible, it couldn’t happen without USA saying “okay, bubble screen it on to us” - why upon earth would they want to make such a painful plunge from the current arrangement? Do we have a special relationship with them? Are they our friends?
There’s this pretty girl, at highschool, who is in the habit of going out on dates where she can drink vodka, she also has a bit of tempestuous relationship going on with a flatmate she shares Chinese food with. She’s not got lots of money, but she might in the future, as her daddy’s business is on the up. She’s also popular with everyone around her, they look up to her, so she’s a leader of the pack. Now there’s these two other young bucks - I picture OC and Stiggs in all sorts of guises and situations - who want her to come to a party and hang out with them. She plays hard to get. What’s it going to take for them to woo her away from the others?
By the way, the girls name is India - key player why UK Conservative government and Biden White House u-turned from stalling at UN in 2022, and jointly negotiated this deal over last 2 years - deal waiting for UK election out the way, with Washington on our case to finalise asap - so a deal not all about the pressure from UN over our morality misstep 50 years ago - it’s the courting of India.”
I’m so clever at sussing out politics and coming to the right understanding. Just like my amazeballs election day analysis and July 4th prediction 😇
I noted this was to gain favour with about two months ago.
You claim you posted Chagos is not about UN, but about sorting India problem 2 months before I did?
The case for a European army to replace NATO is now surely indisputable. The Trump factor has rendered the whole NATO concept utterly redundant.
In the case of the Ukraine invasion, which is the overriding threat to Europe for the foreseeable future, it's simply fact now, as Hegseth has made crystal clear.
That doesn't mean NATO should be discarded, but its utility is massively diminished while Trump is in office. Beyond that, who knows, but we ought not hastily dismantle a structure which has served well for so long.
Jeez the bbc is so horrifically and obviously biased against Trump
“Look what he’s done now”
“Musk is an idiot”
“He’s insane isn’t he? - let’s get this Democrat politician on, to agree with us”
You’d think Trump was some tinpot dictator in Central America - not the most powerful politician in the world who holds his position by winning the popular vote in a massive election
They all seem well-evidenced and quite reasonable, to me.
The only thing that I can see is off is the reference to an aspirational tinpot dictator in CENTRAL America !
The reason people think that growth does not benefit them is that it is used for services that they take for granted (since they are "free") such as the NHS.
There is a disconnect between growth and the money government has to spend. This is, in part, because large parts of the media, the third sector and indeed the Labour party, persuaded people that the government was not spending enough on the likes of health because they were mean or uncaring, as opposed to the reality that the tax take from our economy is simply insufficient to meet our aspirations.
That's true but not the only reason. Green propaganda has persuaded a significant part of the population that growth isn't worth it because, well, plastic waste and ugly housing and smokey air and stuff. Old people see there's nothing in it for them because they're on fixed incomes. And many of the young think it's all a capitalist ramp anyway.
Only an idiot denies there are some downsides to economic growth. But it takes a much worse idiot to prefer stagnation or recession.
Not to mention that we're continually told that we need more immigrants to get growth.
With many of the places that then get immigrants not seeing, let alone benefitting, from the promised growth.
Many people believe that the pre-industrial world was The Shire, rather than a place of backbreaking labour, terrible housing, and a tiny elite living it up, at their expense.
Depends how far back you go. The stone age no doubt had terrible housing, but not the rest.
January CPI inflation rose to 3.0%, surpassing expectations (2.9%), with month-over-month inflation hitting its highest level in a year.
Funny how, when Democrats pointed to Trump’s policies as a factor in inflation under Biden, Republicans flat-out rejected the idea. But now that inflation is ticking up under Trump, suddenly it’s the past administration's fault?
January CPI inflation rose to 3.0%, surpassing expectations (2.9%), with month-over-month inflation hitting its highest level in a year.
Funny how, when Democrats pointed to Trump’s policies as a factor in inflation under Biden, Republicans flat-out rejected the idea. But now that inflation is ticking up under Trump, suddenly it’s the past administration's fault?
Jeez the bbc is so horrifically and obviously biased against Trump
“Look what he’s done now”
“Musk is an idiot”
“He’s insane isn’t he? - let’s get this Democrat politician on, to agree with us”
You’d think Trump was some tinpot dictator in Central America - not the most powerful politician in the world who holds his position by winning the popular vote in a massive election
They all seem well-evidenced and quite reasonable, to me.
The only thing that I can see is off is the reference to an aspirational tinpot dictator in CENTRAL America !
GB News seem to have it in for Kemi as well. She’s not long for this world.
People are really struggling to understand which media organisations are backing who. The Sun backed Labour. GB News is Reform.
Probably deservedly, I doubt there are many friends of Conservatives in the media. Even the Mail was half-hearted, just in an attempt to stop a Labour landslide. That was then, can only imagine now.
The problem for the Conservatives is that post-Brexit they don't have any critical friends in the media. The Mail, Telegraph, and The Sun became parodies of themselves in terms of becoming uncritical cheerleaders rather than papers with a certain viewpoint on behalf of their readers who were sympathetic to the Tories but capable of unexpected criticism when wrong as they saw it.
It's like what rubbish conspiracy websites like The Canary were to Corbynism in terms of trying to serve a view rather than express it and deluding themselves.
The Times is now the Kemi Tories house journal, Hague writes for it, Gove used to
Bombshell speech from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to Nato: - US will no longer be the primary guarantor of security in Europe. - US troops will not be part of any Ukrainian peacekeeping deterrence force - No Nato protection for any forces that do take part in that force.
He's overreaching. just as Mr Trump did when he started threatening Jordan and Eqypt to try and make them do things that would result in significant damage to them as safe and secure countries (such as they are). Mt Trump has shredded the peace process, again - such as it is.
Hegseth is behaving like Peppermint Patty with a brainstorm, and undermining any potential Ukrainian negototation.
In the short term he will make it impossible.
In the medium term he will force Europe to work out how to be independent of the USA and self-reliant. It's a recipe for self-marginalisation for the USA; they are less predominant than he thinks they are.
Just as with USAID, they are washing away the foundations of their international influence - collection of fucking clowns.
I used to think that Badenoch was safe until the next GE.
I now think Bobby J or Cleverly are going to be leader by the middle of the parliament.
I doubt it matters any more. The Conservatives have lost the ability to appeal to voters aged under 65, so they'll just fade out, in favour of Reform.
Yes, I think so. It's a mixture of poorly balanced and executed policy, and terrible behaviour.
The chatterati will lazily blame it on Brexit, as they seek to do with everything, but this trend stretches back 25-30 years in the Tory party.
I disagree, I think Kemi Badenoch was strong at PMQs today, because it was clear Starmer was not answering the question. The question was legal precedent has been set in court, what exactly are you going to do about it? And no answer came from Starmer. Kemi was right to keep pressing him on it.
Noticeable Bobby J sits beside her every single week. United front!
He said they intended to close the loophole, and were already planning how to do it. An answer she seemed unable to process.
Whether he's telling the truth is open to question. But you can't say he didn't answer.
If there was a better way of asking the question, Badenoch demonstrated she couldn't think of it.
She asked if he was appealing, which if he disagrees with it, you'd think he would. But he didn't answer. He just carried on about a loophole that no-one knows anything about.
"a loophole that no-one knows anything about"
That's the very best of epic fails. The loophole exists - found and exploited by the lawyers and validated by the judge. The loophole is definable as the Home Office are working on a change in the law to close it.
You know who you're talking about when you say "no-one knows anything about"? Its *the Tories*. Inept drafting of the law by *the Tories* and now an inability to understand their own actions by *the Tories*.
Not only did Kemi manage to fall into repeated bear traps of her own laying, she gifted Starmer the ability to detail just how inept the Tories were in government.
Whose law allowed the Palestinian family onto the Ukraine framework? *The Tories* Who hired someone to WFM from Finland? *The Tories*
Please detail the loophole and exactly how the government have confirmed that they are closing it. Where is this detail?
Starmer said he didn't agree with the judgement, so how is it a loophole?
You need to work on your reading comprehension.
"But he also said he thought the judge had made the wrong decision. That's incompatible with closing a loophole."
"No it isn't. As I pointed out above, laws conflict and produce uncertainties, which is what seems to have happened here. You can think a judgment got the balance wrong, and at the same time recognise that the only way to rectify that might be legislation. No doubt they're trying to work out whether it's worth the time an appeal might take, along with the uncertain outcome, or whether it's simply more efficient to produce yet more legislation..."
January CPI inflation rose to 3.0%, surpassing expectations (2.9%), with month-over-month inflation hitting its highest level in a year.
Funny how, when Democrats pointed to Trump’s policies as a factor in inflation under Biden, Republicans flat-out rejected the idea. But now that inflation is ticking up under Trump, suddenly it’s the past administration's fault?
Jeez the bbc is so horrifically and obviously biased against Trump
“Look what he’s done now”
“Musk is an idiot”
“He’s insane isn’t he? - let’s get this Democrat politician on, to agree with us”
You’d think Trump was some tinpot dictator in Central America - not the most powerful politician in the world who holds his position by winning the popular vote in a massive election
They all seem well-evidenced and quite reasonable, to me.
The only thing that I can see is off is the reference to an aspirational tinpot dictator in CENTRAL America !
Jeez the bbc is so horrifically and obviously biased against Trump
“Look what he’s done now”
“Musk is an idiot”
“He’s insane isn’t he? - let’s get this Democrat politician on, to agree with us”
You’d think Trump was some tinpot dictator in Central America - not the most powerful politician in the world who holds his position by winning the popular vote in a massive election
They all seem well-evidenced and quite reasonable, to me.
The only thing that I can see is off is the reference to an aspirational tinpot dictator in CENTRAL America !
You mean Abbie Hoffman was wrong to write "Amerika is just another Latin dictatorship"?
Trump is a fucking nutter. Greenland, drinking straws, and sharks FFS. And a death march "someplace else" solution to Palestine where Palestinians will live "happily and very safely".
What I'd like to know is how he feels about "Number Five" in Guatemala, who died on 14 June 1946.
Musk is not an idiot (obviously). Neither is Trump. Musk is a nutter, though. Someone worth half a trillion USD can't not be a nutter. Cf. all dictators have been nutters without exception.
Boeing might be about to lose another significant revenue stream.
https://m.koreatimes.co.kr/pages/article.asp?newsIdx=392105 ...Korea has been seeking to buy 36 more AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, as well as logistics and program support, at an estimated cost of $3.5 billion. The government-to-government Foreign Military Sale was approved by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency in August.
However, in recent months, there has been speculation that the Korean military is reconsidering the purchase amid rising skepticism about attack helicopters in modern warfare. In light of the Russia-Ukraine war, where helicopters have suffered a high number of losses, lighter and more cost-effective unmanned aerial vehicles have gained prominence...
A new Apache order means operating them for decades; drone capability is evolving every year. And $3.5bn is a lot of cash.
As someone who seems to have been fairly early in the Elon-is-a-shit stakes, I do wonder at why some people still seem to worship the nasty lying POS.
Is it financial? Do they think they'll benefit financially from Musk's words and actions? Or is it a stupid "rockets are cool!!!" view (*)? Or do they agree with what appears to be his worldview?
One thing seems clear: increasing numbers are on my trajectory, than the opposite.
(*) In which case, they would have seen Hitler as cool...
Not sure that's true. Model Y and Model 3 were 1st and 2nd in EV sales in December. A lot of focus on January sales, but Tesla always sell sell at the start of the quarter.
Usaid inspector General responsible for looking into waste and fraud has been fired just a day after flagging USAID now has much less ability to ensure money doesn't go to terrorists.
I wonder why Musk and Trump don't want govt to be able to investigate fraud and corruption?
As someone who seems to have been fairly early in the Elon-is-a-shit stakes, I do wonder at why some people still seem to worship the nasty lying POS.
Is it financial? Do they think they'll benefit financially from Musk's words and actions? Or is it a stupid "rockets are cool!!!" view (*)? Or do they agree with what appears to be his worldview?
One thing seems clear: increasing numbers are on my trajectory, than the opposite.
(*) In which case, they would have seen Hitler as cool...
I tend to settle on "people are as bad as they are allowed to be and as good as they are made to be"
Jeez the bbc is so horrifically and obviously biased against Trump
“Look what he’s done now”
“Musk is an idiot”
“He’s insane isn’t he? - let’s get this Democrat politician on, to agree with us”
You’d think Trump was some tinpot dictator in Central America - not the most powerful politician in the world who holds his position by winning the popular vote in a massive election
They all seem well-evidenced and quite reasonable, to me.
The only thing that I can see is off is the reference to an aspirational tinpot dictator in CENTRAL America !
I used to think that Badenoch was safe until the next GE.
I now think Bobby J or Cleverly are going to be leader by the middle of the parliament.
I doubt it matters any more. The Conservatives have lost the ability to appeal to voters aged under 65, so they'll just fade out, in favour of Reform.
Yes, I think so. It's a mixture of poorly balanced and executed policy, and terrible behaviour.
The chatterati will lazily blame it on Brexit, as they seek to do with everything, but this trend stretches back 25-30 years in the Tory party.
I disagree, I think Kemi Badenoch was strong at PMQs today, because it was clear Starmer was not answering the question. The question was legal precedent has been set in court, what exactly are you going to do about it? And no answer came from Starmer. Kemi was right to keep pressing him on it.
Noticeable Bobby J sits beside her every single week. United front!
He said they intended to close the loophole, and were already planning how to do it. An answer she seemed unable to process.
Whether he's telling the truth is open to question. But you can't say he didn't answer.
If there was a better way of asking the question, Badenoch demonstrated she couldn't think of it.
She asked if he was appealing, which if he disagrees with it, you'd think he would. But he didn't answer. He just carried on about a loophole that no-one knows anything about.
"a loophole that no-one knows anything about"
That's the very best of epic fails. The loophole exists - found and exploited by the lawyers and validated by the judge. The loophole is definable as the Home Office are working on a change in the law to close it.
You know who you're talking about when you say "no-one knows anything about"? Its *the Tories*. Inept drafting of the law by *the Tories* and now an inability to understand their own actions by *the Tories*.
Not only did Kemi manage to fall into repeated bear traps of her own laying, she gifted Starmer the ability to detail just how inept the Tories were in government.
Whose law allowed the Palestinian family onto the Ukraine framework? *The Tories* Who hired someone to WFM from Finland? *The Tories*
Please detail the loophole and exactly how the government have confirmed that they are closing it. Where is this detail?
Starmer said he didn't agree with the judgement, so how is it a loophole?
You need to work on your reading comprehension.
"But he also said he thought the judge had made the wrong decision. That's incompatible with closing a loophole."
"No it isn't. As I pointed out above, laws conflict and produce uncertainties, which is what seems to have happened here. You can think a judgment got the balance wrong, and at the same time recognise that the only way to rectify that might be legislation. No doubt they're trying to work out whether it's worth the time an appeal might take, along with the uncertain outcome, or whether it's simply more efficient to produce yet more legislation..."
Are you Kemi ?
That comment was not from me and your returning comment was not to me.
It's also doesn't mean you are right, just have a different opinion. You can do both - appeal, saying there is no loophole, the judgement is wrong, or produce new legislation to cover this loophole.
So...what is the loophole, where is the legislation?
Also, note you are still avoiding answering the question, did he say he was appealing or not? Are you Keir?
Bombshell speech from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to Nato: - US will no longer be the primary guarantor of security in Europe. - US troops will not be part of any Ukrainian peacekeeping deterrence force - No Nato protection for any forces that do take part in that force.
He's overreaching. just as Mr Trump did when he started threatening Jordan and Eqypt to try and make them do things that would result in significant damage to them as safe and secure countries (such as they are). Mt Trump has shredded the peace process, again - such as it is.
Hegseth is behaving like Peppermint Patty with a brainstorm, and undermining any potential Ukrainian negototation.
In the short term he will make it impossible.
In the medium term he will force Europe to work out how to be independent of the USA and self-reliant. It's a recipe for self-marginalisation for the USA; they are less predominant than he thinks they are.
Just as with USAID, they are washing away the foundations of their international influence - collection of fucking clowns.
To compare part of the gangster oligarchy to Peppermint Patty is not acceptable. PP is one of the giants of cartoon comic strip world. A bit dim but someone whose heart is full of well meaning and love. Anyone who wonders how different she is from Hegseth, and why her father, as I would be, is proud of his 'rare gem' could start here:
I used to think that Badenoch was safe until the next GE.
I now think Bobby J or Cleverly are going to be leader by the middle of the parliament.
I doubt it matters any more. The Conservatives have lost the ability to appeal to voters aged under 65, so they'll just fade out, in favour of Reform.
Yes, I think so. It's a mixture of poorly balanced and executed policy, and terrible behaviour.
The chatterati will lazily blame it on Brexit, as they seek to do with everything, but this trend stretches back 25-30 years in the Tory party.
I disagree, I think Kemi Badenoch was strong at PMQs today, because it was clear Starmer was not answering the question. The question was legal precedent has been set in court, what exactly are you going to do about it? And no answer came from Starmer. Kemi was right to keep pressing him on it.
Noticeable Bobby J sits beside her every single week. United front!
He said they intended to close the loophole, and were already planning how to do it. An answer she seemed unable to process.
Whether he's telling the truth is open to question. But you can't say he didn't answer.
If there was a better way of asking the question, Badenoch demonstrated she couldn't think of it.
She asked if he was appealing, which if he disagrees with it, you'd think he would. But he didn't answer. He just carried on about a loophole that no-one knows anything about.
"a loophole that no-one knows anything about"
That's the very best of epic fails. The loophole exists - found and exploited by the lawyers and validated by the judge. The loophole is definable as the Home Office are working on a change in the law to close it.
You know who you're talking about when you say "no-one knows anything about"? Its *the Tories*. Inept drafting of the law by *the Tories* and now an inability to understand their own actions by *the Tories*.
Not only did Kemi manage to fall into repeated bear traps of her own laying, she gifted Starmer the ability to detail just how inept the Tories were in government.
Whose law allowed the Palestinian family onto the Ukraine framework? *The Tories* Who hired someone to WFM from Finland? *The Tories*
Please detail the loophole and exactly how the government have confirmed that they are closing it. Where is this detail?
Starmer said he didn't agree with the judgement, so how is it a loophole?
You need to work on your reading comprehension.
"But he also said he thought the judge had made the wrong decision. That's incompatible with closing a loophole."
"No it isn't. As I pointed out above, laws conflict and produce uncertainties, which is what seems to have happened here. You can think a judgment got the balance wrong, and at the same time recognise that the only way to rectify that might be legislation. No doubt they're trying to work out whether it's worth the time an appeal might take, along with the uncertain outcome, or whether it's simply more efficient to produce yet more legislation..."
Are you Kemi ?
He's somebody. Perhaps arguing with me on here will change the reality of this: Tories ineptly draft legislation Lawyers use that legislation in a way not intended Tories whine and moan at Starmer Starmer says he will tighten the law to prevent a repeat.
Problem for the Tories that this starts and finishes with them. A shit law and a shit leader. But nom, can I detail the loophole please? Erm, no. I'm irrelevant to this.
Jeez the bbc is so horrifically and obviously biased against Trump
“Look what he’s done now”
“Musk is an idiot”
“He’s insane isn’t he? - let’s get this Democrat politician on, to agree with us”
You’d think Trump was some tinpot dictator in Central America - not the most powerful politician in the world who holds his position by winning the popular vote in a massive election
They all seem well-evidenced and quite reasonable, to me.
The only thing that I can see is off is the reference to an aspirational tinpot dictator in CENTRAL America !
You mean Abbie Hoffman was wrong to write "Amerika is just another Latin dictatorship"?
Trump is a fucking nutter. Greenland, drinking straws, and sharks FFS. And a death march "someplace else" solution to Palestine where Palestinians will live "happily and very safely".
What I'd like to know is how he feels about "Number Five" in Guatemala, who died on 14 June 1946.
Musk is not an idiot (obviously). Neither is Trump. Musk is a nutter, though. Someone worth half a trillion USD can't not be a nutter. Cf. all dictators have been nutters without exception.
If I had to choose a comparator, I'm currently quite favourable to Amin's Uganda.
Bombshell speech from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to Nato: - US will no longer be the primary guarantor of security in Europe. - US troops will not be part of any Ukrainian peacekeeping deterrence force - No Nato protection for any forces that do take part in that force.
He's overreaching. just as Mr Trump did when he started threatening Jordan and Eqypt to try and make them do things that would result in significant damage to them as safe and secure countries (such as they are). Mt Trump has shredded the peace process, again - such as it is.
Hegseth is behaving like Peppermint Patty with a brainstorm, and undermining any potential Ukrainian negototation.
In the short term he will make it impossible.
In the medium term he will force Europe to work out how to be independent of the USA and self-reliant. It's a recipe for self-marginalisation for the USA; they are less predominant than he thinks they are.
Just as with USAID, they are washing away the foundations of their international influence - collection of fucking clowns.
To compare part of the gangster oligarchy to Peppermint Patty is not acceptable. PP is one of the giants of cartoon comic strip world. A bit dim but someone whose heart is full of well meaning and love. Anyone who wonders how different she is from Hegseth, and why her father, as I would be, is proud of his 'rare gem' could start here:
Comments
Starmer said he didn't agree with the judgement, so how is it a loophole?
Which is why the Orban government was upsetting so many, little while ago.
It's like what rubbish conspiracy websites like The Canary were to Corbynism in terms of trying to serve a view rather than express it and deluding themselves.
Conservatives are not on track to win anything.
When the UK removed anonymity rights from sperm donors, the numbers reduced significantly.
The Danelaw is coming back - we get a lot of sperm donors from Denmark.
*I've not been paying enough attention to comment on the current one - the Tory front bench does seem largely irrelevant at present, probably quite different with a different leader before they are in power
🚨 TRUMPFLATION has arrived! 🚨
January CPI inflation rose to 3.0%, surpassing expectations (2.9%), with month-over-month inflation hitting its highest level in a year.
Funny how, when Democrats pointed to Trump’s policies as a factor in inflation under Biden, Republicans flat-out rejected the idea. But now that inflation is ticking up under Trump, suddenly it’s the past administration's fault?
You can’t have your cake and eat it too, GOP.
https://x.com/EdKrassen/status/1889670873004855392
That doesn't mean NATO should be discarded, but its utility is massively diminished while Trump is in office. Beyond that, who knows, but we ought not hastily dismantle a structure which has served well for so long.
The only thing that I can see is off is the reference to an aspirational tinpot dictator in CENTRAL America !
Hegseth is behaving like Peppermint Patty with a brainstorm, and undermining any potential Ukrainian negototation.
In the short term he will make it impossible.
In the medium term he will force Europe to work out how to be independent of the USA and self-reliant. It's a recipe for self-marginalisation for the USA; they are less predominant than he thinks they are.
Just as with USAID, they are washing away the foundations of their international influence - collection of fucking clowns.
"But he also said he thought the judge had made the wrong decision. That's incompatible with closing a loophole."
"No it isn't.
As I pointed out above, laws conflict and produce uncertainties, which is what seems to have happened here. You can think a judgment got the balance wrong, and at the same time recognise that the only way to rectify that might be legislation.
No doubt they're trying to work out whether it's worth the time an appeal might take, along with the uncertain outcome, or whether it's simply more efficient to produce yet more legislation..."
Are you Kemi ?
$ strengthened half a cent against £ at that point and all debt yield went up.
There are some complications such as the possibility of Mr Trump threatening to turn off all the F35s.
Trump is a fucking nutter. Greenland, drinking straws, and sharks FFS. And a death march "someplace else" solution to Palestine where Palestinians will live "happily and very safely".
What I'd like to know is how he feels about "Number Five" in Guatemala, who died on 14 June 1946.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Palace_(Guatemala)
Musk is not an idiot (obviously). Neither is Trump.
Musk is a nutter, though. Someone worth half a trillion USD can't not be a nutter. Cf. all dictators have been nutters without exception.
https://m.koreatimes.co.kr/pages/article.asp?newsIdx=392105
...Korea has been seeking to buy 36 more AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, as well as logistics and program support, at an estimated cost of $3.5 billion. The government-to-government Foreign Military Sale was approved by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency in August.
However, in recent months, there has been speculation that the Korean military is reconsidering the purchase amid rising skepticism about attack helicopters in modern warfare. In light of the Russia-Ukraine war, where helicopters have suffered a high number of losses, lighter and more cost-effective unmanned aerial vehicles have gained prominence...
A new Apache order means operating them for decades; drone capability is evolving every year.
And $3.5bn is a lot of cash.
Is it financial? Do they think they'll benefit financially from Musk's words and actions? Or is it a stupid "rockets are cool!!!" view (*)? Or do they agree with what appears to be his worldview?
One thing seems clear: increasing numbers are on my trajectory, than the opposite.
(*) In which case, they would have seen Hitler as cool...
I wonder why Musk and Trump don't want govt to be able to investigate fraud and corruption?
NEW THREAD
It's also doesn't mean you are right, just have a different opinion. You can do both - appeal, saying there is no loophole, the judgement is wrong, or produce new legislation to cover this loophole.
So...what is the loophole, where is the legislation?
Also, note you are still avoiding answering the question, did he say he was appealing or not? Are you Keir?
https://schulzmuseum.org/peppermint-patty-rare-gem/
Tories ineptly draft legislation
Lawyers use that legislation in a way not intended
Tories whine and moan at Starmer
Starmer says he will tighten the law to prevent a repeat.
Problem for the Tories that this starts and finishes with them. A shit law and a shit leader. But nom, can I detail the loophole please? Erm, no. I'm irrelevant to this.
Now.......
I need a cartoon comparator.
I wonder about Mr Magoo or the Wollllfff, or one of the Whacky Racers or Pigeon Catchers.
Or is there a suitable South Park Psychopath?
Fred Flintstone has already been bagsied by Lee Anderson.
Odd tournament ahead.
I didn't know there was a war in Munich...