From Jan6 pardons to banning antigovernment protests under threat of arrest took only 4 weeks.
I would ask "How long to the Enabling Act?", but I thinkTrump doesn't think he needs to bother.
If I were the Bidens, Clintons, Obamas, Pelosi and Harris amongst several thousand others, I think I might be looking to relocate to Europe, Canada or Australasia.
Phew, just removed the rogue apostrophes applied by autocorrect.
1st amendment of US constitution 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.'
Trump can say what he wants, he can't arrest non violent protestors expressing their views without 2/3 of Congress also voting to repeal the first amendment. He can stop funding universities and can order arrest of violent agitators but that is it
HY, like NATO the Constitution is dead. 1st Amendment rights, they're gone. If repeal of amendments requires 2/3 majority ( I can't exactly remember the figures) a third of Congress can be detained until votes have been cleared. The political Marquis of Queensbury rules are no more.
Like the Enabling Act under Hitler?
2026 is the last chance to turn it around I think.
If the GOP holds Congress, then it could well be the end of US democracy as we've known it during our lifetimes. By 2028 they could have rendered the presidency unwinnable by democratic means.
If that sounds nuts, so did most of the warnings last year, since borne out. In the space of a couple of months.
The Dems will probably take the House, but the Senate will be difficult for them in the '26 cycle.
NEW: Kemi Badenoch slapped down Alicia Kearns at shadow cabinet today, I’m told.
Alicia had called for the Trump state visit to be postponed.
Kemi said you can’t have shadow ministers freelancing on defence in the media, I’m told.
She does have a point. I mean I think her position - and that of Starmer - is wrong. We should not be inviting Trump. But she is also right that all the parties need to hold a line. If you are minister or shadow minister then you stick to the party line or resign and have your say. Otherwise when the situation is reversed you can have no criticism when another minister decides that Trump should be invited and tells everyone so.
It's an unpleasant shock to me that Alicia Kearns is even in the Shadow Cabinet. I mean wtf? Must have been felt wise to have her pissing outwards.
I know he misses more often than he hits but I do like this piece from AEP today. I hope he is right about what will be done as well as about what should be done.
It’s weird to read an AEP piece that I 100% agree with.
This is the perfect time for German and Italian car companies (who aren’t doing well with the move to electric) to move into a new world of defense procurement
I have an Italian electric car, and it's surprisingly good! We got the new Fiat 500e, and it's the best non-Tesla, non-Rivian I've ever driven. (It beats the execrable Ford e-Mustang into a crooked hat.)
The Fiat 500e alongside a lot of the other cars are good it’s just that not that many people are buying them and china and Korea are chipping away at the market. So I suspect no matter what happens VW will be selling less cars going forward than they used to which means there are factories with appropriately skilled staff waiting to be repurposed over the next few years
Fewer cars.
I had to drive a Fiat 500e from Aberdeen to Lincolnshire. God that was a tough trip.
Was that the old one or the new one?
Not sure. Actually it was a Fiat 500 Hybrid. Is that the same thing? I managed the trip without a recharge as it wasn't using the battery all the way. But the acceleration was dire. 0-70 in about 15 minutes.
From Jan6 pardons to banning antigovernment protests under threat of arrest took only 4 weeks.
I would ask "How long to the Enabling Act?", but I thinkTrump doesn't think he needs to bother.
If I were the Bidens, Clintons, Obamas, Pelosi and Harris amongst several thousand others, I think I might be looking to relocate to Europe, Canada or Australasia.
Phew, just removed the rogue apostrophes applied by autocorrect.
1st amendment of US constitution 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.'
Trump can say what he wants, he can't arrest non violent protestors expressing their views without 2/3 of Congress also voting to repeal the first amendment. He can stop funding universities and can order arrest of violent agitators but that is it
HY, like NATO the Constitution is dead. 1st Amendment rights, they're gone. If repeal of amendments requires 2/3 majority ( I can't exactly remember the figures) a third of Congress can be detained until votes have been cleared. The political Marquis of Queensbury rules are no more.
Like the Enabling Act under Hitler?
2026 is the last chance to turn it around I think.
If the GOP holds Congress, then it could well be the end of US democracy as we've known it during our lifetimes. By 2028 they could have rendered the presidency unwinnable by democratic means.
If that sounds nuts, so did most of the warnings last year, since borne out. In the space of a couple of months.
I agree, except that free and fair elections in 2026 seem to me a rather distant prospect. If the New Trumpism is what it seems so far, their doctrine will be that free and fair elections are for losers. Keep a sharp lookout for Reichstag Fire moments. Perhaps we are not only in 1938 (Trump's patience was nearly exhausted only yesterday IIRC) but also in 1933.
My quasi-antique lacquered Mandalay box from Bogyoke Market in Rangoon turns out, as hoped, to be the perfect receptacle for my spare slow-release Tramadol, and fits, aesthetically, with my handwoven mochilla bag made by the mystical Kogi tribe of the Tairona mountains of north Colombia, which I use to store my sachets of Japanese Dashi stock powder
I know PB-ers were worried, they can rest easy
Thank goodness. With the world descending though the seven layers of hell it is a huge comfort. I am so glad I dropped by.
Meanwhile Trudeau opening remarks were bravely refreshing. I wonder if all this is revenge for the meeting when leaders laughed at Trump in 2019. It would explain why Starmer gets a pass.
From Jan6 pardons to banning antigovernment protests under threat of arrest took only 4 weeks.
I would ask "How long to the Enabling Act?", but I thinkTrump doesn't think he needs to bother.
If I were the Bidens, Clintons, Obamas, Pelosi and Harris amongst several thousand others, I think I might be looking to relocate to Europe, Canada or Australasia.
Phew, just removed the rogue apostrophes applied by autocorrect.
1st amendment of US constitution 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.'
Trump can say what he wants, he can't arrest non violent protestors expressing their views without 2/3 of Congress also voting to repeal the first amendment. He can stop funding universities and can order arrest of violent agitators but that is it
HY, like NATO the Constitution is dead. 1st Amendment rights, they're gone. If repeal of amendments requires 2/3 majority ( I can't exactly remember the figures) a third of Congress can be detained until votes have been cleared. The political Marquis of Queensbury rules are no more.
It isn't, the US armed forces take a vow to uphold the Constitution as well as the President's orders and the 4th amendment prohibits unlawful detention without warrant
'The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects,[a] against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.'
The Washington DC police also take their orders from the Mayor, a Democrat, not the President
And how did that work out on Jan 6?
No-one in America should trust the constitution to protect them against anything where Trump's personal interests are involved. Just because some 18th century text says something isn't supposed to happen, it doesn't mean it won't.
Anyway, it wouldn't be the military or police detaining Democrat legislators; it'd be a MAGA mob.
The DC police and National Guard arrested the protestors and Jan 6th MAGA mob
Not on the day, they didn't.
Worth noting that the DC National guard is under the president's command.
They did otherwise all dissenting Senators and Representatives would have been killed.
The DC National Guard also take an oath to the constitution
My quasi-antique lacquered Mandalay box from Bogyoke Market in Rangoon turns out, as hoped, to be the perfect receptacle for my spare slow-release Tramadol, and fits, aesthetically, with my handwoven mochilla bag made by the mystical Kogi tribe of the Tairona mountains of north Colombia, which I use to store my sachets of Japanese Dashi stock powder
I know PB-ers were worried, they can rest easy
Thank goodness. With the world descending though the seven layers of hell it is a huge comfort. I am so glad I dropped by.
Meanwhile Trudeau opening remarks were bravely refreshing. I wonder if all this is revenge for the meeting when leaders laughed at Trump in 2019. It would explain why Starmer gets a pass.
From Jan6 pardons to banning antigovernment protests under threat of arrest took only 4 weeks.
I would ask "How long to the Enabling Act?", but I thinkTrump doesn't think he needs to bother.
If I were the Bidens, Clintons, Obamas, Pelosi and Harris amongst several thousand others, I think I might be looking to relocate to Europe, Canada or Australasia.
Phew, just removed the rogue apostrophes applied by autocorrect.
1st amendment of US constitution 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.'
Trump can say what he wants, he can't arrest non violent protestors expressing their views without 2/3 of Congress also voting to repeal the first amendment. He can stop funding universities and can order arrest of violent agitators but that is it
HY, like NATO the Constitution is dead. 1st Amendment rights, they're gone. If repeal of amendments requires 2/3 majority ( I can't exactly remember the figures) a third of Congress can be detained until votes have been cleared. The political Marquis of Queensbury rules are no more.
Like the Enabling Act under Hitler?
2026 is the last chance to turn it around I think.
If the GOP holds Congress, then it could well be the end of US democracy as we've known it during our lifetimes. By 2028 they could have rendered the presidency unwinnable by democratic means.
If that sounds nuts, so did most of the warnings last year, since borne out. In the space of a couple of months.
The Dems will probably take the House, but the Senate will be difficult for them in the '26 cycle.
If Trumps tariffs lead to a depression rather than resurgance of US industry even the Senate could go Dem
NEW: Kemi Badenoch slapped down Alicia Kearns at shadow cabinet today, I’m told.
Alicia had called for the Trump state visit to be postponed.
Kemi said you can’t have shadow ministers freelancing on defence in the media, I’m told.
She does have a point. I mean I think her position - and that of Starmer - is wrong. We should not be inviting Trump. But she is also right that all the parties need to hold a line. If you are minister or shadow minister then you stick to the party line or resign and have your say. Otherwise when the situation is reversed you can have no criticism when another minister decides that Trump should be invited and tells everyone so.
It's an unpleasant shock to me that Alicia Kearns is even in the Shadow Cabinet. I mean wtf? Must have been felt wise to have her pissing outwards.
It just shows the lack of talent in the Tory Party that she’s in such an elevated position.
From Jan6 pardons to banning antigovernment protests under threat of arrest took only 4 weeks.
I would ask "How long to the Enabling Act?", but I thinkTrump doesn't think he needs to bother.
If I were the Bidens, Clintons, Obamas, Pelosi and Harris amongst several thousand others, I think I might be looking to relocate to Europe, Canada or Australasia.
Phew, just removed the rogue apostrophes applied by autocorrect.
1st amendment of US constitution 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.'
Trump can say what he wants, he can't arrest non violent protestors expressing their views without 2/3 of Congress also voting to repeal the first amendment. He can stop funding universities and can order arrest of violent agitators but that is it
HY, like NATO the Constitution is dead. 1st Amendment rights, they're gone. If repeal of amendments requires 2/3 majority ( I can't exactly remember the figures) a third of Congress can be detained until votes have been cleared. The political Marquis of Queensbury rules are no more.
Like the Enabling Act under Hitler?
2026 is the last chance to turn it around I think.
If the GOP holds Congress, then it could well be the end of US democracy as we've known it during our lifetimes. By 2028 they could have rendered the presidency unwinnable by democratic means.
If that sounds nuts, so did most of the warnings last year, since borne out. In the space of a couple of months.
Even then it would just be effectively the elected Congress confirming the President and only approving EC results they approve of
My quasi-antique lacquered Mandalay box from Bogyoke Market in Rangoon turns out, as hoped, to be the perfect receptacle for my spare slow-release Tramadol, and fits, aesthetically, with my handwoven mochilla bag made by the mystical Kogi tribe of the Tairona mountains of north Colombia, which I use to store my sachets of Japanese Dashi stock powder
I know PB-ers were worried, they can rest easy
You can get a bread bin from Dunelm for £15. They come in a variety of colours and are most pleasant. I think I should have told you before you went: it would have saved you the trouble.
From Jan6 pardons to banning antigovernment protests under threat of arrest took only 4 weeks.
I would ask "How long to the Enabling Act?", but I thinkTrump doesn't think he needs to bother.
If I were the Bidens, Clintons, Obamas, Pelosi and Harris amongst several thousand others, I think I might be looking to relocate to Europe, Canada or Australasia.
Phew, just removed the rogue apostrophes applied by autocorrect.
1st amendment of US constitution 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.'
Trump can say what he wants, he can't arrest non violent protestors expressing their views without 2/3 of Congress also voting to repeal the first amendment. He can stop funding universities and can order arrest of violent agitators but that is it
HY, like NATO the Constitution is dead. 1st Amendment rights, they're gone. If repeal of amendments requires 2/3 majority ( I can't exactly remember the figures) a third of Congress can be detained until votes have been cleared. The political Marquis of Queensbury rules are no more.
Like the Enabling Act under Hitler?
2026 is the last chance to turn it around I think.
If the GOP holds Congress, then it could well be the end of US democracy as we've known it during our lifetimes. By 2028 they could have rendered the presidency unwinnable by democratic means.
If that sounds nuts, so did most of the warnings last year, since borne out. In the space of a couple of months.
I agree, except that free and fair elections in 2026 seem to me a rather distant prospect. If the New Trumpism is what it seems so far, their doctrine will be that free and fair elections are for losers. Keep a sharp lookout for Reichstag Fire moments. Perhaps we are not only in 1938 (Trump's patience was nearly exhausted only yesterday IIRC) but also in 1933.
Yes, but margins in the midterms can be sufficiently large to overcome even fairly serious shenanigans. And there's only 20 months until the vote.
NEW: Kemi Badenoch slapped down Alicia Kearns at shadow cabinet today, I’m told.
Alicia had called for the Trump state visit to be postponed.
Kemi said you can’t have shadow ministers freelancing on defence in the media, I’m told.
She does have a point. I mean I think her position - and that of Starmer - is wrong. We should not be inviting Trump. But she is also right that all the parties need to hold a line. If you are minister or shadow minister then you stick to the party line or resign and have your say. Otherwise when the situation is reversed you can have no criticism when another minister decides that Trump should be invited and tells everyone so.
It's an unpleasant shock to me that Alicia Kearns is even in the Shadow Cabinet. I mean wtf? Must have been felt wise to have her pissing outwards.
Alicia Kearns is not in the Shadow Cabinet, not officially anyway. She's a shadow junior minister for foreign affairs. Priti is Shadow Foreign Secretary. Maybe Kearns attends Shadow Cabinet meetings or maybe the Twix is misleading.
Here’s a challenge for all of you: Let’s suppose that you could wave a magic wand and impose a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine. What would the elements of that be?
Force Majeure analogy: West and East Germany The logical border is one that can be defended by force. That depends on the warfighters (sorry) and materiel in theatre. If a Euroforce can be placed in Ukraine in the same way as NATO tanks were in West Germany during WW2, I can see the Dneiper becoming the defacto border, creating a West Ukraine and East Ukraine. It would split Ukraine roughly 50/50 and would increase the Russian occupied Ukraine from around 25% to about 50%.
My preference analogy: North and South Korea If we can get the Americans onside, I can see giving eastern Kherson , southern Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Donetsk and Crimea to Russia and keeping Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk in Western Ukraine. The border can be a neutral zone about 20 miles deep and mined to fuck and back. The split is around 70/30 in favour of the Ukrainians.
I suppose those analogies are for the type of split rather than the relative size of the states, since for size/ratio the analogy would be the opposite way round. West Germany was 70% of today's Germany, while North Korea is bigger than South.
I know he misses more often than he hits but I do like this piece from AEP today. I hope he is right about what will be done as well as about what should be done.
It’s weird to read an AEP piece that I 100% agree with.
This is the perfect time for German and Italian car companies (who aren’t doing well with the move to electric) to move into a new world of defense procurement
I have an Italian electric car, and it's surprisingly good! We got the new Fiat 500e, and it's the best non-Tesla, non-Rivian I've ever driven. (It beats the execrable Ford e-Mustang into a crooked hat.)
The Fiat 500e alongside a lot of the other cars are good it’s just that not that many people are buying them and china and Korea are chipping away at the market. So I suspect no matter what happens VW will be selling less cars going forward than they used to which means there are factories with appropriately skilled staff waiting to be repurposed over the next few years
Fewer cars.
I had to drive a Fiat 500e from Aberdeen to Lincolnshire. God that was a tough trip.
Was that the old one or the new one?
Not sure. Actually it was a Fiat 500 Hybrid. Is that the same thing? I managed the trip without a recharge as it wasn't using the battery all the way. But the acceleration was dire. 0-70 in about 15 minutes.
Ah, that's very different.
I have the new, all electric one, and it's surprisingly nippy. (Albeit I still wouldn't choose it for a long ride; that's what the rivian is for.)
If we can no longer trust the USA to be a reliable ally, should we still be allowing them to have US air bases in our country?
And what makes you think we'll have a say in that?
This is just two of the infinity of things that change as and when the new reality becomes undeniable. (Two things being: (1) we may not want US airbases and (2) USA may not ask us whether we want them or not.)
Let's hope USA comes to its senses in time. There are so many changes, so complex and so related that it's almost impossible to contemplate.
From Jan6 pardons to banning antigovernment protests under threat of arrest took only 4 weeks.
I would ask "How long to the Enabling Act?", but I thinkTrump doesn't think he needs to bother.
If I were the Bidens, Clintons, Obamas, Pelosi and Harris amongst several thousand others, I think I might be looking to relocate to Europe, Canada or Australasia.
Phew, just removed the rogue apostrophes applied by autocorrect.
1st amendment of US constitution 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.'
Trump can say what he wants, he can't arrest non violent protestors expressing their views without 2/3 of Congress also voting to repeal the first amendment. He can stop funding universities and can order arrest of violent agitators but that is it
HY, like NATO the Constitution is dead. 1st Amendment rights, they're gone. If repeal of amendments requires 2/3 majority ( I can't exactly remember the figures) a third of Congress can be detained until votes have been cleared. The political Marquis of Queensbury rules are no more.
Like the Enabling Act under Hitler?
2026 is the last chance to turn it around I think.
If the GOP holds Congress, then it could well be the end of US democracy as we've known it during our lifetimes. By 2028 they could have rendered the presidency unwinnable by democratic means.
If that sounds nuts, so did most of the warnings last year, since borne out. In the space of a couple of months.
I agree, except that free and fair elections in 2026 seem to me a rather distant prospect. If the New Trumpism is what it seems so far, their doctrine will be that free and fair elections are for losers. Keep a sharp lookout for Reichstag Fire moments. Perhaps we are not only in 1938 (Trump's patience was nearly exhausted only yesterday IIRC) but also in 1933.
The elections are organized by the states, mind, so it is by no means simple for Trump to simply cancel them.
From Jan6 pardons to banning antigovernment protests under threat of arrest took only 4 weeks.
I would ask "How long to the Enabling Act?", but I thinkTrump doesn't think he needs to bother.
If I were the Bidens, Clintons, Obamas, Pelosi and Harris amongst several thousand others, I think I might be looking to relocate to Europe, Canada or Australasia.
Phew, just removed the rogue apostrophes applied by autocorrect.
1st amendment of US constitution 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.'
Trump can say what he wants, he can't arrest non violent protestors expressing their views without 2/3 of Congress also voting to repeal the first amendment. He can stop funding universities and can order arrest of violent agitators but that is it
HY, like NATO the Constitution is dead. 1st Amendment rights, they're gone. If repeal of amendments requires 2/3 majority ( I can't exactly remember the figures) a third of Congress can be detained until votes have been cleared. The political Marquis of Queensbury rules are no more.
Like the Enabling Act under Hitler?
2026 is the last chance to turn it around I think.
If the GOP holds Congress, then it could well be the end of US democracy as we've known it during our lifetimes. By 2028 they could have rendered the presidency unwinnable by democratic means.
If that sounds nuts, so did most of the warnings last year, since borne out. In the space of a couple of months.
I agree, except that free and fair elections in 2026 seem to me a rather distant prospect. If the New Trumpism is what it seems so far, their doctrine will be that free and fair elections are for losers. Keep a sharp lookout for Reichstag Fire moments. Perhaps we are not only in 1938 (Trump's patience was nearly exhausted only yesterday IIRC) but also in 1933.
Yes, but margins in the midterms can be sufficiently large to overcome even fairly serious shenanigans. And there's only 20 months until the vote.
If you have a Reichstag Fire moment you don't have elections at all. What on earth is the point of holding elections you might lose?
From Jan6 pardons to banning antigovernment protests under threat of arrest took only 4 weeks.
I would ask "How long to the Enabling Act?", but I thinkTrump doesn't think he needs to bother.
If I were the Bidens, Clintons, Obamas, Pelosi and Harris amongst several thousand others, I think I might be looking to relocate to Europe, Canada or Australasia.
Phew, just removed the rogue apostrophes applied by autocorrect.
1st amendment of US constitution 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.'
Trump can say what he wants, he can't arrest non violent protestors expressing their views without 2/3 of Congress also voting to repeal the first amendment. He can stop funding universities and can order arrest of violent agitators but that is it
HY, like NATO the Constitution is dead. 1st Amendment rights, they're gone. If repeal of amendments requires 2/3 majority ( I can't exactly remember the figures) a third of Congress can be detained until votes have been cleared. The political Marquis of Queensbury rules are no more.
Like the Enabling Act under Hitler?
2026 is the last chance to turn it around I think.
If the GOP holds Congress, then it could well be the end of US democracy as we've known it during our lifetimes. By 2028 they could have rendered the presidency unwinnable by democratic means.
If that sounds nuts, so did most of the warnings last year, since borne out. In the space of a couple of months.
The Dems will probably take the House, but the Senate will be difficult for them in the '26 cycle.
If Trumps tariffs lead to a depression rather than resurgance of US industry even the Senate could go Dem
Surely if it starts to get that bad he will have to remove them pronto.
This is all a self inflicted wound if it comes to that.
From Jan6 pardons to banning antigovernment protests under threat of arrest took only 4 weeks.
I would ask "How long to the Enabling Act?", but I thinkTrump doesn't think he needs to bother.
If I were the Bidens, Clintons, Obamas, Pelosi and Harris amongst several thousand others, I think I might be looking to relocate to Europe, Canada or Australasia.
Phew, just removed the rogue apostrophes applied by autocorrect.
1st amendment of US constitution 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.'
Trump can say what he wants, he can't arrest non violent protestors expressing their views without 2/3 of Congress also voting to repeal the first amendment. He can stop funding universities and can order arrest of violent agitators but that is it
HY, like NATO the Constitution is dead. 1st Amendment rights, they're gone. If repeal of amendments requires 2/3 majority ( I can't exactly remember the figures) a third of Congress can be detained until votes have been cleared. The political Marquis of Queensbury rules are no more.
Like the Enabling Act under Hitler?
2026 is the last chance to turn it around I think.
If the GOP holds Congress, then it could well be the end of US democracy as we've known it during our lifetimes. By 2028 they could have rendered the presidency unwinnable by democratic means.
If that sounds nuts, so did most of the warnings last year, since borne out. In the space of a couple of months.
I agree, except that free and fair elections in 2026 seem to me a rather distant prospect. If the New Trumpism is what it seems so far, their doctrine will be that free and fair elections are for losers. Keep a sharp lookout for Reichstag Fire moments. Perhaps we are not only in 1938 (Trump's patience was nearly exhausted only yesterday IIRC) but also in 1933.
The elections are organized by the states, mind, so it is by no means simple for Trump to simply cancel them.
Perhaps simpler to cancel the states than the elections. Form an 'ever closer union' by centralising power.
We are going to see if modern techniques of propaganda can convince a significant amount of the public that a recession is simultaneously not happening and actually desirable. https://x.com/lionel_trolling/status/1896904815080518069
I know he misses more often than he hits but I do like this piece from AEP today. I hope he is right about what will be done as well as about what should be done.
It’s weird to read an AEP piece that I 100% agree with.
This is the perfect time for German and Italian car companies (who aren’t doing well with the move to electric) to move into a new world of defense procurement
I have an Italian electric car, and it's surprisingly good! We got the new Fiat 500e, and it's the best non-Tesla, non-Rivian I've ever driven. (It beats the execrable Ford e-Mustang into a crooked hat.)
The Fiat 500e alongside a lot of the other cars are good it’s just that not that many people are buying them and china and Korea are chipping away at the market. So I suspect no matter what happens VW will be selling less cars going forward than they used to which means there are factories with appropriately skilled staff waiting to be repurposed over the next few years
Fewer cars.
I had to drive a Fiat 500e from Aberdeen to Lincolnshire. God that was a tough trip.
Was that the old one or the new one?
Not sure. Actually it was a Fiat 500 Hybrid. Is that the same thing? I managed the trip without a recharge as it wasn't using the battery all the way. But the acceleration was dire. 0-70 in about 15 minutes.
Ah, that's very different.
I have the new, all electric one, and it's surprisingly nippy. (Albeit I still wouldn't choose it for a long ride; that's what the rivian is for.)
The hybrid is built on the original New Fiat 500 body that was virtually unchanged from its launch in 2007 - the 500e is a completely different car.
Now twin A had a Fiat 500 for a while and it's great as a first car for getting around town - I wouldn't want to drive it more than 60 miles or so.
My quasi-antique lacquered Mandalay box from Bogyoke Market in Rangoon turns out, as hoped, to be the perfect receptacle for my spare slow-release Tramadol, and fits, aesthetically, with my handwoven mochilla bag made by the mystical Kogi tribe of the Tairona mountains of north Colombia, which I use to store my sachets of Japanese Dashi stock powder
I know PB-ers were worried, they can rest easy
You can get a bread bin from Dunelm for £15. They come in a variety of colours and are most pleasant. I think I should have told you before you went: it would have saved you the trouble.
I love random souvenirs that have some kind of souvenir-noom. It is almost nothing to do with value, and not that much to do with rarity
One of my favourite souvenirs from my travels comes from the time I lived in Japan. It's an old tin of dog food, now emptied, and turned into a pen and pencil holder
Why a tin of dog food? Because I fled to Japan (via the Trans Siberian and the Sea of Okhotsk, an epic journey I've alluded to elsewhere on PB) to escape a tremendously dangerous heroin habit. I was *doing a geographical* to quit the smack
And this dog food - like many products in Japan - has a peculiar English name, It is "smack". The can has a picture of a lovely dog with the word SMACK imposed on its doggy face, and thus the emptied tin reminds me, even now, thirty years later, of that amazing time I lived in Japan, when I came off the SMACK. The can probably cost £2, but the souvenir is priceless - to me
We are going to see if modern techniques of propaganda can convince a significant amount of the public that a recession is simultaneously not happening and actually desirable. https://x.com/lionel_trolling/status/1896904815080518069
Trudeau: I want to speak first directly to the American people… your government has chosen to do this to you. Your government has chosen to put American jobs at risk. They have chosen to raise costs for American consumers on everyday essential items…
NEW: Kemi Badenoch slapped down Alicia Kearns at shadow cabinet today, I’m told.
Alicia had called for the Trump state visit to be postponed.
Kemi said you can’t have shadow ministers freelancing on defence in the media, I’m told.
She does have a point. I mean I think her position - and that of Starmer - is wrong. We should not be inviting Trump. But she is also right that all the parties need to hold a line. If you are minister or shadow minister then you stick to the party line or resign and have your say. Otherwise when the situation is reversed you can have no criticism when another minister decides that Trump should be invited and tells everyone so.
It's an unpleasant shock to me that Alicia Kearns is even in the Shadow Cabinet. I mean wtf? Must have been felt wise to have her pissing outwards.
Alicia Kearns is not in the Shadow Cabinet, not officially anyway. She's a shadow junior minister for foreign affairs. Priti is Shadow Foreign Secretary. Maybe Kearns attends Shadow Cabinet meetings or maybe the Twix is misleading.
Politicians deliberately or otherwise confuse the two a lot. I remember Donelan talking about joining the Cabinet and giving a date well before she actually was a Cabinet Member, based on an 'attends' Cabinet role.
We are going to see if modern techniques of propaganda can convince a significant amount of the public that a recession is simultaneously not happening and actually desirable. https://x.com/lionel_trolling/status/1896904815080518069
My bet is that it can.
"It's not happening" and "it's good that it's happening" have happily coexisted for a long time when it comes to other issues facing the West.
From Jan6 pardons to banning antigovernment protests under threat of arrest took only 4 weeks.
I would ask "How long to the Enabling Act?", but I thinkTrump doesn't think he needs to bother.
If I were the Bidens, Clintons, Obamas, Pelosi and Harris amongst several thousand others, I think I might be looking to relocate to Europe, Canada or Australasia.
Phew, just removed the rogue apostrophes applied by autocorrect.
1st amendment of US constitution 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.'
Trump can say what he wants, he can't arrest non violent protestors expressing their views without 2/3 of Congress also voting to repeal the first amendment. He can stop funding universities and can order arrest of violent agitators but that is it
HY, like NATO the Constitution is dead. 1st Amendment rights, they're gone. If repeal of amendments requires 2/3 majority ( I can't exactly remember the figures) a third of Congress can be detained until votes have been cleared. The political Marquis of Queensbury rules are no more.
Like the Enabling Act under Hitler?
2026 is the last chance to turn it around I think.
If the GOP holds Congress, then it could well be the end of US democracy as we've known it during our lifetimes. By 2028 they could have rendered the presidency unwinnable by democratic means.
If that sounds nuts, so did most of the warnings last year, since borne out. In the space of a couple of months.
I agree, except that free and fair elections in 2026 seem to me a rather distant prospect. If the New Trumpism is what it seems so far, their doctrine will be that free and fair elections are for losers. Keep a sharp lookout for Reichstag Fire moments. Perhaps we are not only in 1938 (Trump's patience was nearly exhausted only yesterday IIRC) but also in 1933.
The elections are organized by the states, mind, so it is by no means simple for Trump to simply cancel them.
Perhaps simpler to cancel the states than the elections. Form an 'ever closer union' by centralising power.
That is quite plausible. The states could still manage local government but under a Ferderal flag. HY's arguiment that these arrangements breach the Constitution no longer apply.
Trudeau: I want to speak first directly to the American people… your government has chosen to do this to you. Your government has chosen to put American jobs at risk. They have chosen to raise costs for American consumers on everyday essential items…
America is stirring Canada up so much maybe not only will they restore Liberal fortunes so they win re-election, but they can restore love for Trudeau and he cancels his resignation!
Not really, but they couldn't have worked harder to rehabilitate Trudeau and the Liberals.
From Jan6 pardons to banning antigovernment protests under threat of arrest took only 4 weeks.
I would ask "How long to the Enabling Act?", but I thinkTrump doesn't think he needs to bother.
If I were the Bidens, Clintons, Obamas, Pelosi and Harris amongst several thousand others, I think I might be looking to relocate to Europe, Canada or Australasia.
Phew, just removed the rogue apostrophes applied by autocorrect.
1st amendment of US constitution 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.'
Trump can say what he wants, he can't arrest non violent protestors expressing their views without 2/3 of Congress also voting to repeal the first amendment. He can stop funding universities and can order arrest of violent agitators but that is it
HY, like NATO the Constitution is dead. 1st Amendment rights, they're gone. If repeal of amendments requires 2/3 majority ( I can't exactly remember the figures) a third of Congress can be detained until votes have been cleared. The political Marquis of Queensbury rules are no more.
Like the Enabling Act under Hitler?
2026 is the last chance to turn it around I think.
If the GOP holds Congress, then it could well be the end of US democracy as we've known it during our lifetimes. By 2028 they could have rendered the presidency unwinnable by democratic means.
If that sounds nuts, so did most of the warnings last year, since borne out. In the space of a couple of months.
I agree, except that free and fair elections in 2026 seem to me a rather distant prospect. If the New Trumpism is what it seems so far, their doctrine will be that free and fair elections are for losers. Keep a sharp lookout for Reichstag Fire moments. Perhaps we are not only in 1938 (Trump's patience was nearly exhausted only yesterday IIRC) but also in 1933.
Yes, but margins in the midterms can be sufficiently large to overcome even fairly serious shenanigans. And there's only 20 months until the vote.
If you have a Reichstag Fire moment you don't have elections at all. What on earth is the point of holding elections you might lose?
I wonder if Jan 6th could have gone that way if some Senators or a VP had been killed. Martial Law.
NEW: Kemi Badenoch slapped down Alicia Kearns at shadow cabinet today, I’m told.
Alicia had called for the Trump state visit to be postponed.
Kemi said you can’t have shadow ministers freelancing on defence in the media, I’m told.
She does have a point. I mean I think her position - and that of Starmer - is wrong. We should not be inviting Trump. But she is also right that all the parties need to hold a line. If you are minister or shadow minister then you stick to the party line or resign and have your say. Otherwise when the situation is reversed you can have no criticism when another minister decides that Trump should be invited and tells everyone so.
It's an unpleasant shock to me that Alicia Kearns is even in the Shadow Cabinet. I mean wtf? Must have been felt wise to have her pissing outwards.
Alicia Kearns is not in the Shadow Cabinet, not officially anyway. She's a shadow junior minister for foreign affairs. Priti is Shadow Foreign Secretary. Maybe Kearns attends Shadow Cabinet meetings or maybe the Twix is misleading.
Politicians deliberately or otherwise confuse the two a lot. I remember Donelan talking about joining the Cabinet and given a date well before she actually was a Cabinet Member, based on an 'attends' Cabinet role.
To be fair to politicians, sometimes the lesser roles are effectively Cabinet members but there is a statutory limit on the number of Cabinet-level salaries, aiui.
NEW: Kemi Badenoch slapped down Alicia Kearns at shadow cabinet today, I’m told.
Alicia had called for the Trump state visit to be postponed.
Kemi said you can’t have shadow ministers freelancing on defence in the media, I’m told.
She does have a point. I mean I think her position - and that of Starmer - is wrong. We should not be inviting Trump. But she is also right that all the parties need to hold a line. If you are minister or shadow minister then you stick to the party line or resign and have your say. Otherwise when the situation is reversed you can have no criticism when another minister decides that Trump should be invited and tells everyone so.
It's an unpleasant shock to me that Alicia Kearns is even in the Shadow Cabinet. I mean wtf? Must have been felt wise to have her pissing outwards.
Alicia Kearns is not in the Shadow Cabinet, not officially anyway. She's a shadow junior minister for foreign affairs. Priti is Shadow Foreign Secretary. Maybe Kearns attends Shadow Cabinet meetings or maybe the Twix is misleading.
Politicians deliberately or otherwise confuse the two a lot. I remember Donelan talking about joining the Cabinet and giving a date well before she actually was a Cabinet Member, based on an 'attends' Cabinet role.
Kearns isn't shadow junior minister at Foreign any more. She's currently, as of November, a shadow junior minister at the Home Office (according to Wikipedia, or Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary (Home Office) according to Parliament https://members.parliament.uk/opposition/cabinet )
Comments
Meanwhile Trudeau opening remarks were bravely refreshing. I wonder if all this is revenge for the meeting when leaders laughed at Trump in 2019. It would explain why Starmer gets a pass.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/04/footage-appears-to-show-world-leaders-joking-about-trump-at-nato-summit
- at location 'targeted by Russian drones
https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/uk/us-set-nuclear-weapons-in-britain-for-first-time-in-two-decades/
Russian spies first with the news!
The DC National Guard also take an oath to the constitution
https://www.dunelm.com/product/retro-bread-bin-cream-1000198311
I have the new, all electric one, and it's surprisingly nippy. (Albeit I still wouldn't choose it for a long ride; that's what the rivian is for.)
Let's hope USA comes to its senses in time. There are so many changes, so complex and so related that it's almost impossible to contemplate.
This is all a self inflicted wound if it comes to that.
https://x.com/lionel_trolling/status/1896904815080518069
Now twin A had a Fiat 500 for a while and it's great as a first car for getting around town - I wouldn't want to drive it more than 60 miles or so.
I love random souvenirs that have some kind of souvenir-noom. It is almost nothing to do with value, and not that much to do with rarity
One of my favourite souvenirs from my travels comes from the time I lived in Japan. It's an old tin of dog food, now emptied, and turned into a pen and pencil holder
Why a tin of dog food? Because I fled to Japan (via the Trans Siberian and the Sea of Okhotsk, an epic journey I've alluded to elsewhere on PB) to escape a tremendously dangerous heroin habit. I was *doing a geographical* to quit the smack
And this dog food - like many products in Japan - has a peculiar English name, It is "smack". The can has a picture of a lovely dog with the word SMACK imposed on its doggy face, and thus the emptied tin reminds me, even now, thirty years later, of that amazing time I lived in Japan, when I came off the SMACK. The can probably cost £2, but the souvenir is priceless - to me
I'd post a photo but I've used my quota
Trudeau: I want to speak first directly to the American people… your government has chosen to do this to you. Your government has chosen to put American jobs at risk. They have chosen to raise costs for American consumers on everyday essential items…
https://x.com/Acyn/status/1896960222138364062
The stock market is tanking so badly it almost feels like we are being governed by someone who went bankrupt six tim—
Oh.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy7xn5lyxemo
One for @OldKingCole
Labelled paracetamol on the outside – labelled aspirin on the inside. Let's call the whole thing off.
Not really, but they couldn't have worked harder to rehabilitate Trudeau and the Liberals.
NEW THREAD
Mandy is an extremely experienced fixer, and now he be playing a global role. Starmer is, for a while, at the centre of events