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Oh dear, oh dear – politicalbetting.com

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  • eekeek Posts: 29,138

    It is a horrible shame Ukraine is getting shafted this way. It was also a shame that they got shafted previously as a convenient venue for a desirable proxy war that the previous US administration was taking advantage of to grind down a geopolitical foe. I am glad it looks like the killing and damage to property will stop soon. I am not sure what the peace will look like, but I would say it looks less positive for Ukraine than a peace deal a year ago (or a year before that?) might have looked.

    Russia invaded Ukraine, it really wasn’t a proxy war - more something where Russia seriously overestimated its ability / competency
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 74,117
    In passing, anyone old enough to recall Benghazi ?
    All of a decade ago...

    The Diplomatic Security Service is being targeted for firings. Why that matters
    https://abcnews.go.com/US/diplomatic-security-service-targeted-firings-matters-analysis/story?id=118898577
  • ChrisChris Posts: 11,821

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    I think we now need to stop pretending that this guy has any noble intentions at heart here and it’s all just a clever negotiating ruse.

    The man clearly holds democratic Europe in distain and we should shape our policy accordingly.
    Maybe it's a little unfair to take the statements of someone with dementia at face value.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 74,117
  • Trump fans please explain!
  • nico67 said:

    Where’s Kemi to tell us all how marvellous Trump is ?

    She's busy looking for pronouns to attack.

  • kamskikamski Posts: 5,816
    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    is there any part of this which is even remotely true?
  • Nigelb said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    Yep. He's flipped.
    I don't think he has flipped but this was his intention from the day he became President

    His words could have been said by Putin and there is no prevarication now, but these are dangerous times for Ukraine and Europe and it leaves one in despair not least because what else is he planning to do to undermine Europe

    My question is - US what have you done ?
    Meanwhile, some are still arguing that Europe can happily carry on as before, while letting Ukraine go hang.

    I think that would prove very dangerous for us, within a few years.
    I think that UK and France become enormously important now and need to lead the defence of Europe but this will cost billions now not in 4 years time

    I do not see an European Army as the way forward as you have 27 countries all with their own agenda and priorities and it would not be able to be agile sufficiently in a crisis

    This is not a brexit for - remain opinion but practicality

    Of course NATO is an existing structure for the defence of Europe and maybe that needs to accept the US whilst Trump prevails is not a trusted member

    Certainly lots of grown up conversations are needed and many billions to be paid by cash strapped countries

  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 23,434
    nico67 said:

    Where’s Kemi to tell us all how marvellous Trump is ?

    She did that in her ARC speech yesterday. She considers pronouns and DEI to be the priority challenge facing the West and congratulates Trump on his approach. I'M NOT MAKING THAT UP.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WCQ6-QbTDQ
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 38,066
    kamski said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    is there any part of this which is even remotely true?
    Need you ask?
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 53,587

    Trump fans please explain!

    There's clearly some personal dislike for Zelensky. Maybe as someone who has always steered clear of drink and drugs, Trump doesn't like the rumours about Zelensky's habit.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 74,117
    Nigelb said:
    For those who won't click on X

  • EPGEPG Posts: 6,722
    edited February 19

    I'm not certain how useful these questions are. I think the memory cheats and we often have more positive memories of people who were more divisive at the time.

    More or less every opinion poll says the same, roughly five in six people disagree with the government, nobody has any better idea that more than one in four people will accept, even as a costless vote intention response
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 121,000
    edited February 19

    Trump fans please explain!

    There's clearly some personal dislike for Zelensky. Maybe as someone who has always steered clear of drink and drugs, Trump doesn't like the rumours about Zelensky's habit.
    Wait until you and he hear about the rumours about Musk’s habits.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 36,648
    kamski said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    is there any part of this which is even remotely true?
    modestly successful comedian

    big beautiful ocean
  • Chris said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    I think we now need to stop pretending that this guy has any noble intentions at heart here and it’s all just a clever negotiating ruse.

    The man clearly holds democratic Europe in distain and we should shape our policy accordingly.
    Maybe it's a little unfair to take the statements of someone with dementia at face value.
    I would just say and having had experience of dementia Trump is not suffering dementia but certainly is causing great concern across the west
  • Scott_xP said:

    @DPJHodges

    There are very few black and white moments in politics. But this is one of them. Who is prepared to say they stand with Zelensky and Ukraine. And who is prepared to say they stand with Trump and Putin. It's that simple.

    Spot on.

  • glwglw Posts: 10,169
    edited February 19
    kamski said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    is there any part of this which is even remotely true?
    No, none of it would count as true, a few bits are sort of nearish to facts, so mild exaggeration not complete nonsense. Fundamentally though it's a lie that is indistinguishable from Russian talking points.

    In case anyone hasn't figured it out yet NATO is dead, the Special Relationship is dead, the Transatlantic Alliance is dead. Right now the US under Trump is more closely aligned with Russia than the UK or EU.

    Simply put the US is now unquestionably an adversary.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 25,220
    Winchy said:

    MattW said:

    FPT:

    viewcode said:

    kamski said:

    TDS continues. Latest comment on my channel: "I get it, it's a Tesla fanboy channel, people with no moral qualms about facilitating the the rise of Nazim in the USA and Europe. Have you resigned from the Lib Dems yet?"

    Erm, I'm not a fanboi - I upset those by taking the piss out of Musk and calling out Tesla flaws. And I'm facilitating what? How? And why would I resign from the LibDems?

    Too many self-righteous wazzocks out there, full of themselves and how all right-thinking people must think like them.

    Must be terrible if you actually drive one of those nazimobiles these days.
    The thinking person's term is "Swasticar"

    I do confess to having offered a mild excuse to a party colleague on Saturday when they saw I drove a Tesla. I find Musk's politics to be embarrassingly absurd. And when I say embarrassed I mean for him - he's making an absolute tit of himself.

    But that doesn't impact onto his companies. I love my Tesla. Starlink has transformed my ability to do business. And I'm agog every time SpaceX smash another impossible mission goal. I think the hand-wringer types think that I should sell the Tesla and bin Starlink with the £££ and business costs being a suitable price for their morality. No thanks.

    And as its confessional time I love Michael Jackson music, think Kevin Spacey is a brilliant actor and enjoy Harry Potter. I know, I know...
    Imagine comparing JK Rowling to MJ, Elon Musk and Kevin Spacey. Vile.
    Both JK Rowling and Elon Musk believe that men cannot become women under any circumstances, surgical or otherwise, and agitate continously to that end. They are both billionaires and contribute portions of their wealth to that cause. In what way are they not comparable?
    One of the more callous things that Trump has done, reportedly, in moving transwomen to Mens' Prisons, is that he has included those who have had surgery to give them female genitalia (simulated female genitalia if that is your line).

    Were it to happen widely, that would generate rapes of post-surgical transwomen by inmates of mens' prisons, or have them in permanent solitary for their own safety.

    My view is that that is the sort of consequence Trump & Co would not give a damn about - just as they are not afaics addressing the consequences for the civilians in a long term Russian-occupied portion of Ukraine, or for children of immigrant families they wrench away from their parents (they already closed the agency which was trying to reunite them from last time round when Trump did it in term 1).

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-transgender-executive-order-prison-lawsuit-b2696415.html

    This is still in play, because it is one area where Temporary Restraining Orders are in place against the relevant Executive Order, on the basis of likely illegality and immediate, serious consequences which would not be adequately addressed by damages later.

    * I'm meaning here individuals who identify as women having previously identified as men. It's a serious point that does not depend on views around language.
    I don't know if there is good reason to believe they are at greater than average risk of being raped in men's prisons. Let's assume there is. But there are probably other categories of blokes too who are at equal or greater risk. Men who have had surgery to give them female-type genitalia have a right to be protected, because everyone does. (Trump may not think so, or he may not care, but many of us are not Trump.) They do not have a right to be sent to women's prisons. Protect them in men's prisons.
    I think the answer to the rape question is fairly obvious. If the option is between a bullied man or someone who is/looks like (choose your word) I think the question answers itself.

    A separated unit or similar would be a better way.

    I think the callousness issue is to do with US culture as well as with Trump, but includes both.

    They were willing to lock up innocent people in Guantanamo for years, after 9/11, and launch a worldwide practice of water boarding in black sites for years. And play games with jurisprudence to deny rights to non-US citizens.

    After all, Obama also failed to close Guantanamo, having declared that he was going to do so.
  • Stark_DawningStark_Dawning Posts: 9,868

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    Yep. He's flipped.
    I don't think he has flipped but this was his intention from the day he became President

    His words could have been said by Putin and there is no prevarication now, but these are dangerous times for Ukraine and Europe and it leaves one in despair not least because what else is he planning to do to undermine Europe

    My question is - US what have you done ?

    If so many prominent Tories had not jumped into bed with Trump, there would be a major dividing line opportunity with Reform opening up.

    Bit of an odd one that. Yes, the Tories always had a pro-US element, but that was originally based around Reaganism and later the NeoCons. It's not obvious why Trump's isolationism (putting his other eccentricities aside) would have appealed to them at all. Surely it was nothing so vacuous as Reps-Good Dems-Bad.
  • kamskikamski Posts: 5,816
    edited February 19

    Trump fans please explain!

    There's clearly some personal dislike for Zelensky. Maybe as someone who has always steered clear of drink and drugs, Trump doesn't like the rumours about Zelensky's habit.
    do fuck off you Trump-loving nazi-loving Putin-loving troll. why do the Saturday ones get banned after a few posts but this lying shithead is here for years?
  • eekeek Posts: 29,138

    Trump fans please explain!

    There's clearly some personal dislike for Zelensky. Maybe as someone who has always steered clear of drink and drugs, Trump doesn't like the rumours about Zelensky's habit.
    What habit - because that post sounds like something a Russian troll would post
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 42,775

    Trump fans please explain!

    There's clearly some personal dislike for Zelensky. Maybe as someone who has always steered clear of drink and drugs, Trump doesn't like the rumours about Zelensky's habit.
    Wait until you and he hear about the rumours about Musk’s habits.
    And the cruelly libellous chat about Hegseth.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 12,732
    kamski said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    is there any part of this which is even remotely true?
    Zelenskyy was a moderately successful comedian. The war is more important to Europe and the Atlantic Ocean does exist. Zelenskyy is refusing to have elections (with good reason). So... about 12%.
  • nico67 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    Yep. He's flipped.
    I don't think he has flipped but this was his intention from the day he became President

    His words could have been said by Putin and there is no prevarication now, but these are dangerous times for Ukraine and Europe and it leaves one in despair not least because what else is he planning to do to undermine Europe

    My question is - US what have you done ?
    Meanwhile, some are still arguing that Europe can happily carry on as before, while letting Ukraine go hang.

    I think that would prove very dangerous for us, within a few years.
    I think that UK and France become enormously important now and need to lead the defence of Europe but this will cost billions now not in 4 years time

    I do not see an European Army as the way forward as you have 27 countries all with their own agenda and priorities and it would not be able to be agile sufficiently in a crisis

    This is not a brexit for - remain opinion but practicality

    Of course NATO is an existing structure for the defence of Europe and maybe that needs to accept the US whilst Trump prevails is not a trusted member

    Certainly lots of grown up conversations are needed and many billions to be paid by cash strapped countries

    NATO is over . The sooner Europe realises this the better . Time now for Europe to accept this is an emergency and the US is no longer an ally .
    NATO is not over and for lots of reasons a unified Europe's army is not going to happen
  • nico67nico67 Posts: 4,599

    nico67 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    Yep. He's flipped.
    I don't think he has flipped but this was his intention from the day he became President

    His words could have been said by Putin and there is no prevarication now, but these are dangerous times for Ukraine and Europe and it leaves one in despair not least because what else is he planning to do to undermine Europe

    My question is - US what have you done ?
    Meanwhile, some are still arguing that Europe can happily carry on as before, while letting Ukraine go hang.

    I think that would prove very dangerous for us, within a few years.
    I think that UK and France become enormously important now and need to lead the defence of Europe but this will cost billions now not in 4 years time

    I do not see an European Army as the way forward as you have 27 countries all with their own agenda and priorities and it would not be able to be agile sufficiently in a crisis

    This is not a brexit for - remain opinion but practicality

    Of course NATO is an existing structure for the defence of Europe and maybe that needs to accept the US whilst Trump prevails is not a trusted member

    Certainly lots of grown up conversations are needed and many billions to be paid by cash strapped countries

    NATO is over . The sooner Europe realises this the better . Time now for Europe to accept this is an emergency and the US is no longer an ally .
    NATO is not over and for lots of reasons a unified Europe's army is not going to happen
    So you trust Trump to defend another nation under Article 5 .

  • eekeek Posts: 29,138

    nico67 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    Yep. He's flipped.
    I don't think he has flipped but this was his intention from the day he became President

    His words could have been said by Putin and there is no prevarication now, but these are dangerous times for Ukraine and Europe and it leaves one in despair not least because what else is he planning to do to undermine Europe

    My question is - US what have you done ?
    Meanwhile, some are still arguing that Europe can happily carry on as before, while letting Ukraine go hang.

    I think that would prove very dangerous for us, within a few years.
    I think that UK and France become enormously important now and need to lead the defence of Europe but this will cost billions now not in 4 years time

    I do not see an European Army as the way forward as you have 27 countries all with their own agenda and priorities and it would not be able to be agile sufficiently in a crisis

    This is not a brexit for - remain opinion but practicality

    Of course NATO is an existing structure for the defence of Europe and maybe that needs to accept the US whilst Trump prevails is not a trusted member

    Certainly lots of grown up conversations are needed and many billions to be paid by cash strapped countries

    NATO is over . The sooner Europe realises this the better . Time now for Europe to accept this is an emergency and the US is no longer an ally .
    NATO is not over and for lots of reasons a unified Europe's army is not going to happen
    Can we trust the US to arrive if Poland was invaded - I think most people on here would answer No to that question.

    Hence yes I think NATO as it was before January is dead
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 12,732

    Trump fans please explain!

    There's clearly some personal dislike for Zelensky. Maybe as someone who has always steered clear of drink and drugs, Trump doesn't like the rumours about Zelensky's habit.
    His personal dislike of Zelenskyy is because Zelenskyy wouldn't manufacture dirt on Biden for him.

    And are we doing -y or -yy? It's Зеленський, wish implies -yy, although the oddity of a double "yy" to English eyes does provide some rationale for just -y.
  • EPGEPG Posts: 6,722
    kamski said:

    Trump fans please explain!

    There's clearly some personal dislike for Zelensky. Maybe as someone who has always steered clear of drink and drugs, Trump doesn't like the rumours about Zelensky's habit.
    do fuck off you Trump-loving nazi-loving Putin-loving troll. why do the Saturday ones get banned after a few posts but this lying shithead is here for years?
    Sneaking regard of extreme right-wing politics is permissible in a democratic society. So is calling it out as Quisling behaviour in the face of these madmen.
  • Pro_RataPro_Rata Posts: 5,449
    edited February 19

    Trump fans please explain!

    There's clearly some personal dislike for Zelensky. Maybe as someone who has always steered clear of drink and drugs, Trump doesn't like the rumours about Zelensky's habit.
    Zelensky is popular. He's liked, he's admired. For someone with Trump's ego, it's just jealousy.
    And he didn't deliver Hunter Biden on a plate.

    Seriously, I think that fact is highly relevant to the politics playing out now.
  • kjhkjh Posts: 12,214
    rcs1000 said:

    FPT
    Here is the 2-minute video of Hannah Fry's medical test paradox that @kjh referred to last Sunday. (Probably YouTube just threw it at me because it tracks me here!)
    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2xw2d46fwYc

    Errr: that question is a pot of piss.
    @DecrepiterJohnL yep that is it.

    @rcs1000 why? It tripped up enough people here and here tends to have a lot brighter people than average and some of those it did trip up are clearly at the brighter end of the contributors to PB.

    I note our poster with the enormous IQ didn't comment on it though. Too simple I guess.
  • nico67nico67 Posts: 4,599

    Having been lambasted on here a while back for suggesting Trump and Musk presented a more egregious threat to UK interests than China, I am currently struggling to see how I was wrong.

    Sad but true .
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 44,607

    Having been lambasted on here a while back for suggesting Trump and Musk presented a more egregious threat to UK interests than China, I am currently struggling to see how I was wrong.

    I don't know which of us expressed the sort of view first, but in the past I've said Musk is a big threat to world peace.

    I then got accused of Musk Derangement Syndrome. And as with Trump Derangement Syndrome, I fear the sufferers of MDS are the ones deluded enough to still support and shill for him.
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 23,434

    nico67 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    Yep. He's flipped.
    I don't think he has flipped but this was his intention from the day he became President

    His words could have been said by Putin and there is no prevarication now, but these are dangerous times for Ukraine and Europe and it leaves one in despair not least because what else is he planning to do to undermine Europe

    My question is - US what have you done ?
    Meanwhile, some are still arguing that Europe can happily carry on as before, while letting Ukraine go hang.

    I think that would prove very dangerous for us, within a few years.
    I think that UK and France become enormously important now and need to lead the defence of Europe but this will cost billions now not in 4 years time

    I do not see an European Army as the way forward as you have 27 countries all with their own agenda and priorities and it would not be able to be agile sufficiently in a crisis

    This is not a brexit for - remain opinion but practicality

    Of course NATO is an existing structure for the defence of Europe and maybe that needs to accept the US whilst Trump prevails is not a trusted member

    Certainly lots of grown up conversations are needed and many billions to be paid by cash strapped countries

    NATO is over . The sooner Europe realises this the better . Time now for Europe to accept this is an emergency and the US is no longer an ally .
    NATO is not over...
    According to VP Vance the US is repositioning to the Pacific and will not engage militarily in Europe. Sounds pretty over to me. The whole point of the alliance is that the Americans come to the rescue. If they don't, it's just a cute headquarters with badges.

  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 9,538
    Should we be sharing intelligence with the Americans?
  • kamskikamski Posts: 5,816
    Scott_xP said:

    kamski said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    is there any part of this which is even remotely true?
    modestly successful comedian

    big beautiful ocean
    Has anyone factchecked it?

    OK according to this:
    https://www.ifw-kiel.de/topics/war-against-ukraine/ukraine-support-tracker/

    Europe has allocated 132.3 billion euros of aid to Ukraine (not including refugee support)
    The US 114.2 billion euros.
    The

    fuck it, I give up, it's all a load of bollocks, the guy should be sectioned.

    The Atlantic Ocean is indeed the world's second biggest ocean.

    Taiwan might be worried by the fact that the Pacific is almost twice as big.
  • nico67 said:

    nico67 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    Yep. He's flipped.
    I don't think he has flipped but this was his intention from the day he became President

    His words could have been said by Putin and there is no prevarication now, but these are dangerous times for Ukraine and Europe and it leaves one in despair not least because what else is he planning to do to undermine Europe

    My question is - US what have you done ?
    Meanwhile, some are still arguing that Europe can happily carry on as before, while letting Ukraine go hang.

    I think that would prove very dangerous for us, within a few years.
    I think that UK and France become enormously important now and need to lead the defence of Europe but this will cost billions now not in 4 years time

    I do not see an European Army as the way forward as you have 27 countries all with their own agenda and priorities and it would not be able to be agile sufficiently in a crisis

    This is not a brexit for - remain opinion but practicality

    Of course NATO is an existing structure for the defence of Europe and maybe that needs to accept the US whilst Trump prevails is not a trusted member

    Certainly lots of grown up conversations are needed and many billions to be paid by cash strapped countries

    NATO is over . The sooner Europe realises this the better . Time now for Europe to accept this is an emergency and the US is no longer an ally .
    NATO is not over and for lots of reasons a unified Europe's army is not going to happen
    So you trust Trump to defend another nation under Article 5 .

    Of course not but NATO without the US is still an organisation that is not only European but also includes Canada and Turkey and was present at the Munich conference

    I haven't heard any NATO member suggest it is abandoned
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,861

    Liz Truss' lowest approval rating was -47. SKS' is -48.

    A straw so tiny that you're clutching onto that driftwood by the fingernail of your pinky.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 53,587

    Trump fans please explain!

    There's clearly some personal dislike for Zelensky. Maybe as someone who has always steered clear of drink and drugs, Trump doesn't like the rumours about Zelensky's habit.
    His personal dislike of Zelenskyy is because Zelenskyy wouldn't manufacture dirt on Biden for him.

    And are we doing -y or -yy? It's Зеленський, wish implies -yy, although the oddity of a double "yy" to English eyes does provide some rationale for just -y.
    The usual convention in English was -y or -ey depending on the preceeding consonant. E.g. Троцкий is Trotsky.

    Some Ukrainians replace -ey with -iy to differentiate with Russian transliteration but -yy seems superfluous.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 14,081

    nico67 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    Yep. He's flipped.
    I don't think he has flipped but this was his intention from the day he became President

    His words could have been said by Putin and there is no prevarication now, but these are dangerous times for Ukraine and Europe and it leaves one in despair not least because what else is he planning to do to undermine Europe

    My question is - US what have you done ?
    Meanwhile, some are still arguing that Europe can happily carry on as before, while letting Ukraine go hang.

    I think that would prove very dangerous for us, within a few years.
    I think that UK and France become enormously important now and need to lead the defence of Europe but this will cost billions now not in 4 years time

    I do not see an European Army as the way forward as you have 27 countries all with their own agenda and priorities and it would not be able to be agile sufficiently in a crisis

    This is not a brexit for - remain opinion but practicality

    Of course NATO is an existing structure for the defence of Europe and maybe that needs to accept the US whilst Trump prevails is not a trusted member

    Certainly lots of grown up conversations are needed and many billions to be paid by cash strapped countries

    NATO is over . The sooner Europe realises this the better . Time now for Europe to accept this is an emergency and the US is no longer an ally .
    NATO is not over and for lots of reasons a unified Europe's army is not going to happen
    NATO is over whilst Trump and his coterie are in power.
    Much as I’d like to see an independent European force come into being I don’t think it’s likely anytime soon. So NATO it is. But perhaps a NATO where members ignore the US and operate somewhat independently of it. That already happens in a lot of situations with Turkey.
  • numbertwelvenumbertwelve Posts: 7,135
    edited February 19
    NATO is dead insofar as the US security guarantee is dead. You can have a European version or Europe+Canada version of the treaty but the security framework has gone.

    The sooner we realise this and we work to create that replacement framework the better.

    Europe and European populations are going to have to start confronting some of the icky things that have been put off for the past 30 years+ on the basis that the US would be the guarantor of security and prosperity and we could focus on lots of well-meaning nice-to-haves.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 44,607
    kjh said:

    rcs1000 said:

    FPT
    Here is the 2-minute video of Hannah Fry's medical test paradox that @kjh referred to last Sunday. (Probably YouTube just threw it at me because it tracks me here!)
    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2xw2d46fwYc

    Errr: that question is a pot of piss.
    @DecrepiterJohnL yep that is it.

    @rcs1000 why? It tripped up enough people here and here tends to have a lot brighter people than average and some of those it did trip up are clearly at the brighter end of the contributors to PB.

    I note our poster with the enormous IQ didn't comment on it though. Too simple I guess.
    I never did stats (mechanics for me!). On the rare occasion something stats-like came up at work I'd ask one of the geniuses in the office. And then sometimes they'd get it wrong. :)

    (I worked with one gent who is a really quiet man. I'd have a tricky coding problem and tell him it across the cubicle. He would not say anything in response. Then, a few minutes later, I'd get a tap on my shoulder and he'd have not just an answer, but the *right* answer. I loved working with people like him. It's one of the things I miss about working.)
  • Having been lambasted on here a while back for suggesting Trump and Musk presented a more egregious threat to UK interests than China, I am currently struggling to see how I was wrong.

    I don't know which of us expressed the sort of view first, but in the past I've said Musk is a big threat to world peace.

    I then got accused of Musk Derangement Syndrome. And as with Trump Derangement Syndrome, I fear the sufferers of MDS are the ones deluded enough to still support and shill for him.

    It wasn't you. Leon - who is never wrong, of course - was one.

    It's funny how the term Trump Derangement Syndrome seems to have disappeared from use over recent weeks.

  • eekeek Posts: 29,138
    kjh said:

    rcs1000 said:

    FPT
    Here is the 2-minute video of Hannah Fry's medical test paradox that @kjh referred to last Sunday. (Probably YouTube just threw it at me because it tracks me here!)
    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2xw2d46fwYc

    Errr: that question is a pot of piss.
    @DecrepiterJohnL yep that is it.

    @rcs1000 why? It tripped up enough people here and here tends to have a lot brighter people than average and some of those it did trip up are clearly at the brighter end of the contributors to PB.

    I note our poster with the enormous IQ didn't comment on it though. Too simple I guess.
    The worrying thing is that this is a betting site and that was a fairly simply probability question.
  • nico67 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    Yep. He's flipped.
    I don't think he has flipped but this was his intention from the day he became President

    His words could have been said by Putin and there is no prevarication now, but these are dangerous times for Ukraine and Europe and it leaves one in despair not least because what else is he planning to do to undermine Europe

    My question is - US what have you done ?
    Meanwhile, some are still arguing that Europe can happily carry on as before, while letting Ukraine go hang.

    I think that would prove very dangerous for us, within a few years.
    I think that UK and France become enormously important now and need to lead the defence of Europe but this will cost billions now not in 4 years time

    I do not see an European Army as the way forward as you have 27 countries all with their own agenda and priorities and it would not be able to be agile sufficiently in a crisis

    This is not a brexit for - remain opinion but practicality

    Of course NATO is an existing structure for the defence of Europe and maybe that needs to accept the US whilst Trump prevails is not a trusted member

    Certainly lots of grown up conversations are needed and many billions to be paid by cash strapped countries

    NATO is over . The sooner Europe realises this the better . Time now for Europe to accept this is an emergency and the US is no longer an ally .
    NATO is not over and for lots of reasons a unified Europe's army is not going to happen
    NATO is over whilst Trump and his coterie are in power.

    It's over. Full stop. In four years, either something European-led will have replaced it or Putin and Trump will have successfully divided our continent up into spheres of influence.

  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 23,434
    glw said:

    I guess this is the point when in the movies the US Army storms the Whitehouse to remove the Russia-brainwashed President.

    The Western Forces Lay Siege to the White House - Civil War
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXxin7hDzuA
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,861
    glw said:

    kamski said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    is there any part of this which is even remotely true?
    No, none of it would count as true, a few bits are sort of nearish to facts, so mild exaggeration not complete nonsense. Fundamentally though it's a lie that is indistinguishable from Russian talking points.

    In case anyone hasn't figured it out yet NATO is dead, the Special Relationship is dead, the Transatlantic Alliance is dead. Right now the US under Trump is more closely aligned with Russia than the UK or EU.

    Simply put the US is now unquestionably an adversary.
    Steady on. Let's not compete for hyperbole and go as far as to say it's an adversary. It isn't.

    It's quitting on Ukraine with all the force and rage a crazed megalomaniac of a leader can muster, whilst firing off threats and aggressive rhetoric all over the place, but it isn't our enemy.

    Yes, we need to react. But we shouldn't overreact.
  • glwglw Posts: 10,169

    Trump fans please explain!

    There's clearly some personal dislike for Zelensky. Maybe as someone who has always steered clear of drink and drugs, Trump doesn't like the rumours about Zelensky's habit.
    Zelensky has moral courage, and Trump has none.

    That's why he hates him.
    He wouldn't fabricate an investigation* into Biden, because 1. that would be bloody stupid diplomatically if Biden was to become the next President, and 2. there was really nothing to investigate. So Trump has a grudge against Zelensky.

    Trump is entirely willing to let Russia eliminate Ukraine as payback.

    * Not a prosecution, or charges, just a false investigation.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 29,793

    It is a horrible shame Ukraine is getting shafted this way. It was also a shame that they got shafted previously as a convenient venue for a desirable proxy war that the previous US administration was taking advantage of to grind down a geopolitical foe. I am glad it looks like the killing and damage to property will stop soon. I am not sure what the peace will look like, but I would say it looks less positive for Ukraine than a peace deal a year ago (or a year before that?) might have looked.

    I don't accept the argument that the previous US administration (or European allies) were deliberately titrating aid so as "to grind down a geopolitical foe". If Ukraine had been able to see off Russia and reclaim all their territory quickly, I think Washington, London, Paris etc. would have been overjoyed.
    London's view doesn't exist - we were simply a cipher for the American view. That is confusing now, because the Trumpian US view and the traditional US military-industrial complex view are in opposition, so we don't know who to be supine to. When we do, we will resume the position. Paris and Berlin had their own view but in the end they also had to be subservient.

    So it's really just America's view, and I think their actions (as opposed to their rhetoric) support my view.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,861

    nico67 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    Yep. He's flipped.
    I don't think he has flipped but this was his intention from the day he became President

    His words could have been said by Putin and there is no prevarication now, but these are dangerous times for Ukraine and Europe and it leaves one in despair not least because what else is he planning to do to undermine Europe

    My question is - US what have you done ?
    Meanwhile, some are still arguing that Europe can happily carry on as before, while letting Ukraine go hang.

    I think that would prove very dangerous for us, within a few years.
    I think that UK and France become enormously important now and need to lead the defence of Europe but this will cost billions now not in 4 years time

    I do not see an European Army as the way forward as you have 27 countries all with their own agenda and priorities and it would not be able to be agile sufficiently in a crisis

    This is not a brexit for - remain opinion but practicality

    Of course NATO is an existing structure for the defence of Europe and maybe that needs to accept the US whilst Trump prevails is not a trusted member

    Certainly lots of grown up conversations are needed and many billions to be paid by cash strapped countries

    NATO is over . The sooner Europe realises this the better . Time now for Europe to accept this is an emergency and the US is no longer an ally .
    NATO is not over and for lots of reasons a unified Europe's army is not going to happen
    NATO is over whilst Trump and his coterie are in power.

    It's over. Full stop. In four years, either something European-led will have replaced it or Putin and Trump will have successfully divided our continent up into spheres of influence.

    Don't overreact.
  • nico67 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    Yep. He's flipped.
    I don't think he has flipped but this was his intention from the day he became President

    His words could have been said by Putin and there is no prevarication now, but these are dangerous times for Ukraine and Europe and it leaves one in despair not least because what else is he planning to do to undermine Europe

    My question is - US what have you done ?
    Meanwhile, some are still arguing that Europe can happily carry on as before, while letting Ukraine go hang.

    I think that would prove very dangerous for us, within a few years.
    I think that UK and France become enormously important now and need to lead the defence of Europe but this will cost billions now not in 4 years time

    I do not see an European Army as the way forward as you have 27 countries all with their own agenda and priorities and it would not be able to be agile sufficiently in a crisis

    This is not a brexit for - remain opinion but practicality

    Of course NATO is an existing structure for the defence of Europe and maybe that needs to accept the US whilst Trump prevails is not a trusted member

    Certainly lots of grown up conversations are needed and many billions to be paid by cash strapped countries

    NATO is over . The sooner Europe realises this the better . Time now for Europe to accept this is an emergency and the US is no longer an ally .
    NATO is not over and for lots of reasons a unified Europe's army is not going to happen
    NATO is over whilst Trump and his coterie are in power.
    At least the problem over where to site the New Towns is solved, use the empty US airbases.
  • ChrisChris Posts: 11,821

    Chris said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    I think we now need to stop pretending that this guy has any noble intentions at heart here and it’s all just a clever negotiating ruse.

    The man clearly holds democratic Europe in distain and we should shape our policy accordingly.
    Maybe it's a little unfair to take the statements of someone with dementia at face value.
    I would just say and having had experience of dementia Trump is not suffering dementia but certainly is causing great concern across the west
    Maybe all those of us here with experience of dementia should take a vote on it.
  • numbertwelvenumbertwelve Posts: 7,135

    glw said:

    kamski said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    is there any part of this which is even remotely true?
    No, none of it would count as true, a few bits are sort of nearish to facts, so mild exaggeration not complete nonsense. Fundamentally though it's a lie that is indistinguishable from Russian talking points.

    In case anyone hasn't figured it out yet NATO is dead, the Special Relationship is dead, the Transatlantic Alliance is dead. Right now the US under Trump is more closely aligned with Russia than the UK or EU.

    Simply put the US is now unquestionably an adversary.
    Steady on. Let's not compete for hyperbole and go as far as to say it's an adversary. It isn't.

    It's quitting on Ukraine with all the force and rage a crazed megalomaniac of a leader can muster, whilst firing off threats and aggressive rhetoric all over the place, but it isn't our enemy.

    Yes, we need to react. But we shouldn't overreact.
    I’m starting to be convinced that the US is moving to be actively adverse to our interests. To that end, it very much feels like it is becoming an adversary.

    I don’t think we should act rashly, but at the same time I think it’s very clear we need a strategy. And that strategy will need to be formulated with European partners.
  • Mildenhall, Lakenheath, Croughton, Fairford etc...there's a lot of housing there, could help to solve our housing crisis.

    Even some runways, who needs another one at Heathrow or Gatwick when you have a ready made one.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 29,793

    Liz Truss' lowest approval rating was -47. SKS' is -48.

    A straw so tiny that you're clutching onto that driftwood by the fingernail of your pinky.
    I like accuracy, and I find that the as it happened approval ratings don't lie.
  • EPGEPG Posts: 6,722

    nico67 said:

    Nigelb said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    Yep. He's flipped.
    I don't think he has flipped but this was his intention from the day he became President

    His words could have been said by Putin and there is no prevarication now, but these are dangerous times for Ukraine and Europe and it leaves one in despair not least because what else is he planning to do to undermine Europe

    My question is - US what have you done ?
    Meanwhile, some are still arguing that Europe can happily carry on as before, while letting Ukraine go hang.

    I think that would prove very dangerous for us, within a few years.
    I think that UK and France become enormously important now and need to lead the defence of Europe but this will cost billions now not in 4 years time

    I do not see an European Army as the way forward as you have 27 countries all with their own agenda and priorities and it would not be able to be agile sufficiently in a crisis

    This is not a brexit for - remain opinion but practicality

    Of course NATO is an existing structure for the defence of Europe and maybe that needs to accept the US whilst Trump prevails is not a trusted member

    Certainly lots of grown up conversations are needed and many billions to be paid by cash strapped countries

    NATO is over . The sooner Europe realises this the better . Time now for Europe to accept this is an emergency and the US is no longer an ally .
    NATO is not over and for lots of reasons a unified Europe's army is not going to happen
    NATO is over whilst Trump and his coterie are in power.

    It's over. Full stop. In four years, either something European-led will have replaced it or Putin and Trump will have successfully divided our continent up into spheres of influence.

    Don't overreact.
    Said the guilty men.
  • kamskikamski Posts: 5,816
    glw said:

    kamski said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    is there any part of this which is even remotely true?
    No, none of it would count as true, a few bits are sort of nearish to facts, so mild exaggeration not complete nonsense. Fundamentally though it's a lie that is indistinguishable from Russian talking points.

    In case anyone hasn't figured it out yet NATO is dead, the Special Relationship is dead, the Transatlantic Alliance is dead. Right now the US under Trump is more closely aligned with Russia than the UK or EU.

    Simply put the US is now unquestionably an adversary.
    And where are Republican Senators in this? Are they really all such a bunch of dishonest cowards? Well they almost all voted for a bunch of fucking gangsters to be in Trump's cabinet so I guess yes. Fucking Mitch McConnell is the best of them! Fucking Mitch McConnell! How low have they sunk?
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 38,066

    Trump fans please explain!

    There's clearly some personal dislike for Zelensky. Maybe as someone who has always steered clear of drink and drugs, Trump doesn't like the rumours about Zelensky's habit.
    Zelensky has moral courage, and Trump has none.

    That's why he hates him.
    Remember, Trump thinks of soldiers as "suckers and losers."
  • glwglw Posts: 10,169

    glw said:

    kamski said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    is there any part of this which is even remotely true?
    No, none of it would count as true, a few bits are sort of nearish to facts, so mild exaggeration not complete nonsense. Fundamentally though it's a lie that is indistinguishable from Russian talking points.

    In case anyone hasn't figured it out yet NATO is dead, the Special Relationship is dead, the Transatlantic Alliance is dead. Right now the US under Trump is more closely aligned with Russia than the UK or EU.

    Simply put the US is now unquestionably an adversary.
    Steady on. Let's not compete for hyperbole and go as far as to say it's an adversary. It isn't.

    It's quitting on Ukraine with all the force and rage a crazed megalomaniac of a leader can muster, whilst firing off threats and aggressive rhetoric all over the place, but it isn't our enemy.

    Yes, we need to react. But we shouldn't overreact.
    When should we overreact?

    Selling out Ukraine?

    Abandoning NATO?

    Ethnic cleansing Gaza?

    Invading Canada, or Greenland?

    It's not one thing, it's the totality of crazy and dangerous things coming out of the US. I think if anything most people are still head in the sand and pretending this isn't as bad as it looks.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,861
    edited February 19

    Having been lambasted on here a while back for suggesting Trump and Musk presented a more egregious threat to UK interests than China, I am currently struggling to see how I was wrong.

    China attempts to launch cyberattacks on our defence and security infrastructure almost daily, looks to survey and cut our communications, subverts and abduct citizens and dissidents of Han origin, buys loyalty of satellite states, demands political compliance, commits genocide against the Uighurs, is slowly eliminating Tibetan culture and executing possible future DLs, executes thousands of its own citizens each year, is conducting aggressive military sweeps across the far-east and off Australia. It is committed to an undermining of the liberal democratic order in favour of a Maoist CCP based one - where there are no elections. Ever.

    So, yes, I think it is more egregious than Trump and Musk. That doesn't mean I don't think they are dangerous or conspiring to undermine our security either. But they're not attacking us.
  • DopermeanDopermean Posts: 795
    What does the public know?
    Cameron is quite comfortably the worst recent PM, being 100% responsible for holding the EU referendum and hence everything that has followed.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 43,911

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    Yep. He's flipped.
    I don't think he has flipped but this was his intention from the day he became President

    His words could have been said by Putin and there is no prevarication now, but these are dangerous times for Ukraine and Europe and it leaves one in despair not least because what else is he planning to do to undermine Europe

    My question is - US what have you done ?

    If so many prominent Tories had not jumped into bed with Trump, there would be a major dividing line opportunity with Reform opening up.

    Bit of an odd one that. Yes, the Tories always had a pro-US element, but that was originally based around Reaganism and later the NeoCons. It's not obvious why Trump's isolationism (putting his other eccentricities aside) would have appealed to them at all. Surely it was nothing so vacuous as Reps-Good Dems-Bad.
    The "antiwoke" mind virus.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 43,911

    Trump fans please explain!

    There's clearly some personal dislike for Zelensky. Maybe as someone who has always steered clear of drink and drugs, Trump doesn't like the rumours about Zelensky's habit.
    Zelensky has moral courage, and Trump has none.

    That's why he hates him.
    It's because he dared to criticise him.
  • pigeonpigeon Posts: 5,173

    Having been lambasted on here a while back for suggesting Trump and Musk presented a more egregious threat to UK interests than China, I am currently struggling to see how I was wrong.

    China attempts to launch cyberattacks on our defence and security infrastructure almost daily, looks to survey and cut our communications, subverts and abduct citizens and dissidents of Han origin, buys loyalty of satellite states, demands political compliance, commits genocide against the Uighurs, is slowly eliminating Tibetan culture and executing possible future DLs, executes thousands of its own citizens each year, is conducting aggressive military sweeps across the far-east and off Australia. It is committed to an undermining of the liberal democratic order in favour of a Maoist CCP based one - where there are no elections. Ever.

    So, yes, I think it is more egregious than Trump and Musk. That doesn't mean I don't think they are dangerous or conspiring to undermine our security either. But they're not attacking us.
    Yet.
  • eekeek Posts: 29,138
    Dopermean said:

    What does the public know?
    Cameron is quite comfortably the worst recent PM, being 100% responsible for holding the EU referendum and hence everything that has followed.

    That level of information is far beyond most people being polled.

    And I don’t blame him for the referendum, that was Osborne’s fault. Cameron lost it by negotiating a deal he then couldn’t explain the benefits of the general public
  • CookieCookie Posts: 14,474
    Dopermean said:

    What does the public know?
    Cameron is quite comfortably the worst recent PM, being 100% responsible for holding the EU referendum and hence everything that has followed.

    The last six words of the above are nonsense. Almost everything bad that has happened since Cameron - Covid, the Ukraine war, Donald Trump, the culture wars - have 0% connection to our membership of the EU or otherwise.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 58,436
    kamski said:

    Trump fans please explain!

    There's clearly some personal dislike for Zelensky. Maybe as someone who has always steered clear of drink and drugs, Trump doesn't like the rumours about Zelensky's habit.
    do fuck off you Trump-loving nazi-loving Putin-loving troll. why do the Saturday ones get banned after a few posts but this lying shithead is here for years?
    Jesus Christ calm the fuck down
  • JohnO said:

    Why has the Conservative Party remained mute on this unfolding nightmare?

    Why has it not expressed 100% support for Zelenskyy and Ukraine?

    (My email is bombarded daily with CCHQ crap, but nothing so far on something so existential. But maybe I’ve missed it).

    For some of us, it’s now make or break time with the party.

    I totally agree

    Now is the time to demonstrate the dividing line with Farage and Reform
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,502
    Turning on the news nowadays is just "what's he gone and done now?", isn't it?
  • JohnO said:

    Why has the Conservative Party remained mute on this unfolding nightmare?

    Why has it not expressed 100% support for Zelenskyy and Ukraine?

    (My email is bombarded daily with CCHQ crap, but nothing so far on something so existential. But maybe I’ve missed it).

    For some of us, it’s now make or break time with the party.

    We shall have to set out a joint declaration on Saturday.

    Obviously this requires some champagne for you.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 36,648
    Plane crash in Arizona. One dead so far.
  • eekeek Posts: 29,138

    JohnO said:

    Why has the Conservative Party remained mute on this unfolding nightmare?

    Why has it not expressed 100% support for Zelenskyy and Ukraine?

    (My email is bombarded daily with CCHQ crap, but nothing so far on something so existential. But maybe I’ve missed it).

    For some of us, it’s now make or break time with the party.

    We shall have to set out a joint declaration on Saturday.

    Obviously this requires some champagne for you.
    How will JohnO manage - I hope it’s a decent vintage
  • LeonLeon Posts: 58,436

    Having been lambasted on here a while back for suggesting Trump and Musk presented a more egregious threat to UK interests than China, I am currently struggling to see how I was wrong.

    I don't know which of us expressed the sort of view first, but in the past I've said Musk is a big threat to world peace.

    I then got accused of Musk Derangement Syndrome. And as with Trump Derangement Syndrome, I fear the sufferers of MDS are the ones deluded enough to still support and shill for him.

    It wasn't you. Leon - who is never wrong, of course - was one.

    It's funny how the term Trump Derangement Syndrome seems to have disappeared from use over recent weeks.

    I don’t even know what the fuck you’re on about
  • glw said:

    glw said:

    kamski said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    is there any part of this which is even remotely true?
    No, none of it would count as true, a few bits are sort of nearish to facts, so mild exaggeration not complete nonsense. Fundamentally though it's a lie that is indistinguishable from Russian talking points.

    In case anyone hasn't figured it out yet NATO is dead, the Special Relationship is dead, the Transatlantic Alliance is dead. Right now the US under Trump is more closely aligned with Russia than the UK or EU.

    Simply put the US is now unquestionably an adversary.
    Steady on. Let's not compete for hyperbole and go as far as to say it's an adversary. It isn't.

    It's quitting on Ukraine with all the force and rage a crazed megalomaniac of a leader can muster, whilst firing off threats and aggressive rhetoric all over the place, but it isn't our enemy.

    Yes, we need to react. But we shouldn't overreact.
    When should we overreact?

    Selling out Ukraine?

    Abandoning NATO?

    Ethnic cleansing Gaza?

    Invading Canada, or Greenland?

    It's not one thing, it's the totality of crazy and dangerous things coming out of the US. I think if anything most people are still head in the sand and pretending this isn't as bad as it looks.
    If so then today's comments by Trump should clarify that he is a very real danger to all of us

    We may discuss the rights and wrongs of NATO v UK and France led defence force v an European Army but the world order changed this afternoon Wednesday 19th February 2025
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,861
    Dopermean said:

    What does the public know?
    Cameron is quite comfortably the worst recent PM, being 100% responsible for holding the EU referendum and hence everything that has followed.

    Sigh.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 97,446
    Am i misremembering or were there comments during the presidential election that Trump wouldnt really just turn on Ukraine, it was just talk?

    When will we learn he means what he says? Even the contradictory stuff.

    Deeply depressing times seeing diplomatic language abandoned to admit the USA basically agrees with Russia. Abd that given they knew this would probably happen the american public support Russia (even if they might dispute that).
  • kamski said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    is there any part of this which is even remotely true?
    Yes. "And so it continues..."
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,861
    JohnO said:

    Why has the Conservative Party remained mute on this unfolding nightmare?

    Why has it not expressed 100% support for Zelenskyy and Ukraine?

    (My email is bombarded daily with CCHQ crap, but nothing so far on something so existential. But maybe I’ve missed it).

    For some of us, it’s now make or break time with the party.

    Yes, quite.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 25,220
    edited February 19
    Taz said:

    rcs1000 said:

    I see the Argentinian President has got himself into a spot of bother with his memecoin.

    He should have seen what happened to the Hawk Tuah girl !!!!

    Has anyone, apart from the rugpullers, ever made money from a memecoin ?
    Mr Chump, I think. and he and his lackeys kept 80% of it.

    Though it was a little poleaxed to be a suboptimal scam when Mrs Chump issued her own as well.

    I'm sure there's something in the US Constitution about profiteering *, but SCOTUS gave him immunity.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crlkjejpwr8o

    * The Emoluments Clauses
  • MightyAlexMightyAlex Posts: 1,741

    Having been lambasted on here a while back for suggesting Trump and Musk presented a more egregious threat to UK interests than China, I am currently struggling to see how I was wrong.

    China attempts to launch cyberattacks on our defence and security infrastructure almost daily, looks to survey and cut our communications, subverts and abduct citizens and dissidents of Han origin, buys loyalty of satellite states, demands political compliance, commits genocide against the Uighurs, is slowly eliminating Tibetan culture and executing possible future DLs, executes thousands of its own citizens each year, is conducting aggressive military sweeps across the far-east and off Australia. It is committed to an undermining of the liberal democratic order in favour of a Maoist CCP based one - where there are no elections. Ever.

    So, yes, I think it is more egregious than Trump and Musk. That doesn't mean I don't think they are dangerous or conspiring to undermine our security either. But they're not attacking us.
    The US has active listening posts on our territory, military bases all over, a hugely entwined tech/data sector, active influence in UK political and legal decisions, huge cultural and media capital, oligarchic influence on UK 'think tanks' and idea generation institutes AND they own so much of the UK now its not even funny, look at the premier league a majority of clubs are now owned by US capital.
  • kamskikamski Posts: 5,816
    eek said:

    kjh said:

    rcs1000 said:

    FPT
    Here is the 2-minute video of Hannah Fry's medical test paradox that @kjh referred to last Sunday. (Probably YouTube just threw it at me because it tracks me here!)
    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2xw2d46fwYc

    Errr: that question is a pot of piss.
    @DecrepiterJohnL yep that is it.

    @rcs1000 why? It tripped up enough people here and here tends to have a lot brighter people than average and some of those it did trip up are clearly at the brighter end of the contributors to PB.

    I note our poster with the enormous IQ didn't comment on it though. Too simple I guess.
    The worrying thing is that this is a betting site and that was a fairly simply probability question.
    it only tripped up one person, I think?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 58,436
    This is like wandering into a Convention of Professional Hysterics
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 61,861
    glw said:

    glw said:

    kamski said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    is there any part of this which is even remotely true?
    No, none of it would count as true, a few bits are sort of nearish to facts, so mild exaggeration not complete nonsense. Fundamentally though it's a lie that is indistinguishable from Russian talking points.

    In case anyone hasn't figured it out yet NATO is dead, the Special Relationship is dead, the Transatlantic Alliance is dead. Right now the US under Trump is more closely aligned with Russia than the UK or EU.

    Simply put the US is now unquestionably an adversary.
    Steady on. Let's not compete for hyperbole and go as far as to say it's an adversary. It isn't.

    It's quitting on Ukraine with all the force and rage a crazed megalomaniac of a leader can muster, whilst firing off threats and aggressive rhetoric all over the place, but it isn't our enemy.

    Yes, we need to react. But we shouldn't overreact.
    When should we overreact?

    Selling out Ukraine?

    Abandoning NATO?

    Ethnic cleansing Gaza?

    Invading Canada, or Greenland?

    It's not one thing, it's the totality of crazy and dangerous things coming out of the US. I think if anything most people are still head in the sand and pretending this isn't as bad as it looks.
    He hasn't invaded Canada or done ethnic cleansing of Gaza. And noone is in any denial but the histrionics don't help anyone.

    Calm down.
  • kamskikamski Posts: 5,816
    kle4 said:

    Am i misremembering or were there comments during the presidential election that Trump wouldnt really just turn on Ukraine, it was just talk?

    When will we learn he means what he says? Even the contradictory stuff.

    Deeply depressing times seeing diplomatic language abandoned to admit the USA basically agrees with Russia. Abd that given they knew this would probably happen the american public support Russia (even if they might dispute that).

    polling shows the american public don't (as yet) support Russia. but given the cult of personality over there, and the efforts of the oligarchs, that might change quickly.
  • I watched a fascinating piece of alt-history the other day. Point of Departure was Oswald Mosley gets elected in 1924 (lost by 100 in reality) and goes on to lead the Labour Party. Labour's response to the financial crisis keeps them in power. In turn that keeps Eddie baby on the throne which makes the UK very pro-Fascist.

    What happens then? Yep - the UK joins the Axis. Western Europe is spared and WWII ends up being fought in the Soviet Union and the land of their main ally - the US.

    A Russian-American pact? Why not. Then Trump and Putin can have a literal pissing contest.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 43,911
    glw said:

    glw said:

    kamski said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    is there any part of this which is even remotely true?
    No, none of it would count as true, a few bits are sort of nearish to facts, so mild exaggeration not complete nonsense. Fundamentally though it's a lie that is indistinguishable from Russian talking points.

    In case anyone hasn't figured it out yet NATO is dead, the Special Relationship is dead, the Transatlantic Alliance is dead. Right now the US under Trump is more closely aligned with Russia than the UK or EU.

    Simply put the US is now unquestionably an adversary.
    Steady on. Let's not compete for hyperbole and go as far as to say it's an adversary. It isn't.

    It's quitting on Ukraine with all the force and rage a crazed megalomaniac of a leader can muster, whilst firing off threats and aggressive rhetoric all over the place, but it isn't our enemy.

    Yes, we need to react. But we shouldn't overreact.
    When should we overreact?

    Selling out Ukraine?

    Abandoning NATO?

    Ethnic cleansing Gaza?

    Invading Canada, or Greenland?

    It's not one thing, it's the totality of crazy and dangerous things coming out of the US. I think if anything most people are still head in the sand and pretending this isn't as bad as it looks.
    All this because circa 500k dumb as apes voters in the rust belt thought he'd reduce the price of eggs. Grrrr.

    And let me save anybody the trouble ...

    "That's exactly the sort of sneering attitude that handed him the election. When will the libs ever learn?"
  • Eabhal said:

    Should we be sharing intelligence with the Americans?

    The Trump-led government doesn't have any intelligence :lol:
  • EPGEPG Posts: 6,722
    kinabalu said:

    glw said:

    glw said:

    kamski said:

    Scott_xP said:

    ...

    is there any part of this which is even remotely true?
    No, none of it would count as true, a few bits are sort of nearish to facts, so mild exaggeration not complete nonsense. Fundamentally though it's a lie that is indistinguishable from Russian talking points.

    In case anyone hasn't figured it out yet NATO is dead, the Special Relationship is dead, the Transatlantic Alliance is dead. Right now the US under Trump is more closely aligned with Russia than the UK or EU.

    Simply put the US is now unquestionably an adversary.
    Steady on. Let's not compete for hyperbole and go as far as to say it's an adversary. It isn't.

    It's quitting on Ukraine with all the force and rage a crazed megalomaniac of a leader can muster, whilst firing off threats and aggressive rhetoric all over the place, but it isn't our enemy.

    Yes, we need to react. But we shouldn't overreact.
    When should we overreact?

    Selling out Ukraine?

    Abandoning NATO?

    Ethnic cleansing Gaza?

    Invading Canada, or Greenland?

    It's not one thing, it's the totality of crazy and dangerous things coming out of the US. I think if anything most people are still head in the sand and pretending this isn't as bad as it looks.
    All this because circa 500k dumb as apes voters in the rust belt thought he'd reduce the price of eggs. Grrrr.

    And let me save anybody the trouble ...

    "That's exactly the sort of sneering attitude that handed him the election. When will the libs ever learn?"
    "Your pronouns made me support the guy who does Nazi salutes"
  • Scott_xP said:

    Plane crash in Arizona. One dead so far.

    Brenda from Bristol time.
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