Trump: "To be honest with you, Canada only works as a state. We don't need anything they have. As a state it would be one of the great states. This would be the most incredible country visually. If you look at a map, they drew an artificial line right through it."
The more I see of Trump the more I have him cast as William Hull, the last US General/Politician to try to invade Canada. He used the argument that he was 'freeing Canadian settlers fro British tyranny' and got roundly kicked for it.
The argument that "that country should be part of my country because it would make my country a nice shape on the map" is not one of any would be imperialist's stronger ones. Though in the case of Finland/Sweden it would be one I would accept.
Trump: "To be honest with you, Canada only works as a state. We don't need anything they have. As a state it would be one of the great states. This would be the most incredible country visually. If you look at a map, they drew an artificial line right through it."
The more I see of Trump the more I have him cast as William Hull, the last US General/Politician to try to invade Canada. He used the argument that he was 'freeing Canadian settlers fro British tyranny' and got roundly kicked for it.
The Canadians of course preferring original British tyranny to liberated from Britain British tyranny.
If you are a man born after 5 April 1951 or a woman born after 5 April 1953 You have until 5 April 2025 to pay voluntary contributions to make up for gaps between tax years April 2006 and April 2016 if you’re eligible. The eligibility link is here: https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions
I'm going to accidently miss it and then claim compensation anyway just like the WASPI women. I mean, what could go wrong with that?
Given occasionalranter's note that this affects the next two years as well, perhaps we can start to understand that those Waspi women who are not top lawyers might not have been all over the detail.
How many electoral votes , senators and house reps would Canada get if it became part of the USA?
Or will it be a state with no representation?
The stain on humanity hasn’t thought through his master plan . The more he talks the better for Mark Carney who will portray the creepy looking Poilievre as a mini Trump wannabe.
House Reps is easy because they are allocated by population, so as Canada would have about 8% of the population, it would have about 8% of the Reps. As I doubt they'd want to deprive existing members of their seats, they'd probably add them to the total, rather than reallocate the existing 435, so that makes say 35-40 house seats.
Senators is less certain as it depends how many states Canada was split into. Maybe you'd give the frogs one, Ontario one, west of Ontario one and one for the maritimes+the north. That makes four states so eight senators. Again, about 8% of the total.
And electoral votes would be the sum of the two.
But as most of those votes would be Democrats it would be a hot February day in Yukon before the Republicans allowed it.
Population of Canada isn’t that much higher than that of California. Which I’d guess is how the mango Mussolini is seeing things.
California doesn't border Canada though.
The states that do are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Alaska.
Some of the lowest population US states.
With the exception of the historical anachronism of Prince Edward Island all the Canadian provinces are big enough to be US states.
Keir Starmer's tone towards civil servants has been "nothing short of disastrous" according to a former cabinet secretary - the highest official in the civil service.
Lord Gus O’Donnell served under three prime ministers as cabinet secretary between 2005 and 2011, and he tells BBC’s Radio 4’s PM programme that Starmer’s rhetoric around the “flabby state” has been damaging for his relationship with civil servants.
He explains: “Believe it or not, if you talk to civil servants and say they like managed decline and that you're going to take a chainsaw to them - do you think that's actually going to result in them performing at their best?"
As for the decision to scrap NHS England, O’Donnell suggests this has also been “chaotic”, but may save “a relatively small amount of money”.
“If they can turn this into a way of making better decisions which leads to improvements in our health service then I think it will be justified,” he says, adding that he’s not so sure if this is what will happen.
The scrapping of the NHS ( England) does look like an absolute catastrophe. Kemi Badenoch is supporting the move!
Why? The NHS is the main job of the Department of Health. Why do you need the Department of Health if not to run the NHS?
My reservation, having faced him across the council chamber for eight years, is that I know that Streeting is, like many of his Labour colleagues, deep down a control freak. Whatever he says to the media about wanting to devolve decisions, I’ve seen him in action, and I know that isn’t his instinct, at all. In the council chamber he didn’t even trust his own backbenchers (with good reason, mind).
Meanwhile, in other news, sometimes our NHS does surprise on the upside. Last night I began to get some alarming problems with my eyesight, which it turns out are probably something many ageing people go through, but nevertheless might be a sign of, or lead to, something much more serious.
I went to the local optician this morning, hoping to see their expert, but they were fully booked all day. Instead they gave me the number of something I’ve never heard of - the community urgent eyecare service - and I phoned them when I got home. They’re based in Leeds and all have reassuring Yorkshire accents. The first person I spoke to ran through my symptoms and was able to summon up both my medical and opticians records at her end. She already had my mobile phone number and texted me a link to submit photos of my eyes, and promised that an ophthalmologist would phone within the hour. When she phoned, she gave me lots of info about what the likely problem was - which by then I had already found online, but many wouldn’t - and after all the reassurance, they committed to arrange an urgent appointment for me at an island optician just to make sure I wasn’t at any risk of eyesight loss. Meanwhile I got texted a link to the problem I most likely have (Posterior Vitreous Detachment, for anyone interested).
All this happened this morning - and is an impressive, almost Norwegian, level of service and fast response.
Have they talked about a vitrectomy? Is that what they do for that?
I'm surprised that the EU included alcoholic drinks in their retaliation against Trump.
Shouldn't it have been obvious that they're more likely to lose out from the inevitable escalation ?
Meanwhile UK spirit exports are, so far, going to be unaffected.
Taken in conjucntion with the collapse of US alcohol sales into Canada it might be that it is the perfect response. Two massive markets lost to the US alcohol industry.
WRT the thread header, can I suggest it might be profitable to remember the Beaconsfield by election of 1983? The Tories were very unpopular, and the Liberals – with the enthusiastic support of the SDP – were coasting to a comfortable win. Then, General Galtieri invaded the Falklands. In just one week, the feeling in the constituency changed utterly. Liberal posters came down, and when asked why, the householders told party activists that “We have to support the Government now!” Even the Thatcherite Junta was preferable to the aggression to British interests shown by the Argentinians. It was a straightforward move by voters doing their best to be seen to be “patriotic”. (And, for the avoidance of doubt, I am not being disparaging when I use that word; it’s just that I can’t think of a better one.) On Polling Day, the Conservatives didn’t wear rosettes or any sort of party favours – they just wore simple white-on-blue T-Shirts which read “The Falklands are British”. In Beaconsfield there was a straightforward swing towards incumbency, and I think the same thing is going to happen around the world. If Trump is belittling the Kingdom of Ruritania or the Republic of Stanistan, then the good enfranchised burghers of Ruritania and Stanistan are going to raly behind their governments, no matter how much they despise them. (Oh yes, the Labour candidate was a bright young chap called Anthony Blair – I wonder whatever became of him.)
The Tories were ahead in some polls in prior to the invasion, indeed the last full poll before the invasion the Tories were leading.
Plus the Labour candidate was a right roaster, he was pro CND, pro leaving the European Community, and an enthusiastic support of Michael Foot.
That candidate was a Tony Blair, whatever happened to him?
Well, it was certainly one of the more memorable by election campaigns for me. I can't reacall the details of the pollling, but does your memory agree with mine - that there was an a-political swing behind the Government candidate?
To be fair I was three years old at the time of the by-election.
Many years later I became friends with a CCHQ staffer who worked for the great lady and Sir Geoffrey Hower and he bitterly resented the Falklands War as it allowed non Tories to deny the Tories the victory they would have won in 1983 without it.
Remember the long term economic plan was to get the pain in early then enjoy the fruits later.
My first political memory was seeing Michael Foot's wife knocked over by a low branch while standing a moving open-topped bus in Ipswich in 1983. I think.
When I was at uni, my politics course was taught by David Marquand, ex- all the non-Tory parties. His view was very much that the polling shows a Falklands blip which had reverted to the long term trend by the time of the 83 election - i.e. the Tories would have won anyway.
He was an excellent and entertaining lecturer. Sadly he died last year.
How many electoral votes , senators and house reps would Canada get if it became part of the USA?
Or will it be a state with no representation?
The stain on humanity hasn’t thought through his master plan . The more he talks the better for Mark Carney who will portray the creepy looking Poilievre as a mini Trump wannabe.
House Reps is easy because they are allocated by population, so as Canada would have about 8% of the population, it would have about 8% of the Reps. As I doubt they'd want to deprive existing members of their seats, they'd probably add them to the total, rather than reallocate the existing 435, so that makes say 35-40 house seats.
Senators is less certain as it depends how many states Canada was split into. Maybe you'd give the frogs one, Ontario one, west of Ontario one and one for the maritimes+the north. That makes four states so eight senators. Again, about 8% of the total.
And electoral votes would be the sum of the two.
But as most of those votes would be Democrats it would be a hot February day in Yukon before the Republicans allowed it.
Population of Canada isn’t that much higher than that of California. Which I’d guess is how the mango Mussolini is seeing things.
California doesn't border Canada though.
The states that do are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Alaska.
Some of the lowest population US states.
With the exception of the historical anachronism of Prince Edward Island all the Canadian provinces are big enough to be US states.
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
I'm surprised that the EU included alcoholic drinks in their retaliation against Trump.
Shouldn't it have been obvious that they're more likely to lose out from the inevitable escalation ?
Meanwhile UK spirit exports are, so far, going to be unaffected.
Taken in conjucntion with the collapse of US alcohol sales into Canada it might be that it is the perfect response. Two massive markets lost to the US alcohol industry.
But the European countries will be losing an even bigger market.
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
And Trump will pressure Ukraine to accept conditions - like no weapons shipments.
And Ukraine will reluctantly concede.
And then Russia will attack again in six months time.
And then weapons shipments to Ukraine would start again, maybe even from the US if Russia breached the deal
It'll be a bit late by then.
Why? A few months for Europe and Canada to invest in arms and defence via a ceasefire and if Russia breaches could then be deployed
Are we as NATO going to recapture Kyiv after Putin breaks the ceasefire and takes Ukraine.
No we didn't last time, just provide aid as before.
If Putin broke an agreed ceasefire US arms to Ukraine would also likely resume based on Trump's statements but a ceasefire has to be agreed first to break
Then your programme of rearming Ukraine after they have been captured by Moscow means you are too late.
Utter crap, the moment Russian troops broke a ceasefire arms would resume, they couldn't even capture Kyiv last time.
However Zelensky would have to have accepted a ceasefire on such terms anyway
Yeah but last time Ukraine had soldiers and weaponry. This time if they follow your advice they won't have soldiers and weaponry.
Why? They have soldiers and weaponry now which they could put in storage for if and when a ceasefire is broken.
If Putin and Zelensky agree a ceasefire that is for them, you clearly would rather you and your house were evaporated by a Russian nuke!
You are a cheese eating surrender monkey....you make the french look brave besides a nuke on the south east would be civic improvement
Some advice to Chuck Schumer about the funding negotiations:
“The Republicans lost big on Debt Ceiling, got NOTHING, and now are worried that they will be BLAMED for the Budget Shutdown. Wrong!!! Whoever is President will be blamed,” Trump wrote, adding: “UNLESS YOU GET EVERYTHING, SHUT IT DOWN! Close the Border, stop the Weaponization of ‘Justice,’ and End Election Interference.”
Former Tory mayor, 67, died in a crack den after putting a plastic bag over his head and tying himself to a chair while seeking sexual pleasure, inquest hears
A former Tory Mayor suffocated to death in a crack den after putting a plastic bag over his head and tying himself to a chair while seeking sexual pleasure, an inquest heard.
The body of Les Winwood, 67, who was the former mayor of Bridgenorth, Shropshire, was found at a Wolverhampton property on July 17, 2022.
An inquest heard how a post-mortem examination found he had spent hours alone consuming crack cocaine and vodka before he was found dead in a camping chair in the market town of Bilston.
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
Being a working class Northerner, how do you lot pronounce Leominster?
I've pronounced it Lemster my entire life but somebody I heard the other day called it Leo Minster.
As a child did somebody play a cruel trick on me by telling me it was pronounced Lemster?
I think it's Lemster?
Never unless you are mental
It is pronounced Lemster, I have googled it.
I would never use Lemster, an abomination of the English language
Like Kingussie (y instead of g) or Alford (silent l)
Auchtermuchty to that , when did Kingussie get the g replaced by a y , ye are havering man
I lived in aberdeenshire for 10 years. Locals call it Kinyussie
Not true - there is a soft G in there. You get some English people calling it King-Uhssie, but it's more like King-oohsie. It follows the pronunciation of the original Gaelic.
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
Former Tory mayor, 67, died in a crack den after putting a plastic bag over his head and tying himself to a chair while seeking sexual pleasure, inquest hears
A former Tory Mayor suffocated to death in a crack den after putting a plastic bag over his head and tying himself to a chair while seeking sexual pleasure, an inquest heard.
The body of Les Winwood, 67, who was the former mayor of Bridgenorth, Shropshire, was found at a Wolverhampton property on July 17, 2022.
An inquest heard how a post-mortem examination found he had spent hours alone consuming crack cocaine and vodka before he was found dead in a camping chair in the market town of Bilston.
How many electoral votes , senators and house reps would Canada get if it became part of the USA?
Or will it be a state with no representation?
The stain on humanity hasn’t thought through his master plan . The more he talks the better for Mark Carney who will portray the creepy looking Poilievre as a mini Trump wannabe.
House Reps is easy because they are allocated by population, so as Canada would have about 8% of the population, it would have about 8% of the Reps. As I doubt they'd want to deprive existing members of their seats, they'd probably add them to the total, rather than reallocate the existing 435, so that makes say 35-40 house seats.
Senators is less certain as it depends how many states Canada was split into. Maybe you'd give the frogs one, Ontario one, west of Ontario one and one for the maritimes+the north. That makes four states so eight senators. Again, about 8% of the total.
And electoral votes would be the sum of the two.
But as most of those votes would be Democrats it would be a hot February day in Yukon before the Republicans allowed it.
Population of Canada isn’t that much higher than that of California. Which I’d guess is how the mango Mussolini is seeing things.
California doesn't border Canada though.
The states that do are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Alaska.
Some of the lowest population US states.
With the exception of the historical anachronism of Prince Edward Island all the Canadian provinces are big enough to be US states.
And Nunavut.
And Yukon, and NW Territories.
Pedantically, those two are not provinces but territories.
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
I'm surprised that the EU included alcoholic drinks in their retaliation against Trump.
Shouldn't it have been obvious that they're more likely to lose out from the inevitable escalation ?
Meanwhile UK spirit exports are, so far, going to be unaffected.
Yeah it's an odd one because EU countries are huge producers of wine and spirits that US consumers like buying. I'd have stuck to industrial imports or maybe announce special tax rates for US tech companies, which is something Trump is very sensitive to and would struggle to fight because the EU doesn't really compete.
Being a working class Northerner, how do you lot pronounce Leominster?
I've pronounced it Lemster my entire life but somebody I heard the other day called it Leo Minster.
As a child did somebody play a cruel trick on me by telling me it was pronounced Lemster?
I think it's Lemster?
Never unless you are mental
It is pronounced Lemster, I have googled it.
I would never use Lemster, an abomination of the English language
Like Kingussie (y instead of g) or Alford (silent l)
Auchtermuchty to that , when did Kingussie get the g replaced by a y , ye are havering man
I lived in aberdeenshire for 10 years. Locals call it Kinyussie
I think Malc's refusal to call it Lemster is admirable, but a lone battle. But on Kingussie I'm with him: when I was in Aviemore last Autumn the locals called it Kin-goosey. And on the subject of Auchtermuchty, that is my favourite place to say in the British Isles.
How many electoral votes , senators and house reps would Canada get if it became part of the USA?
Or will it be a state with no representation?
The stain on humanity hasn’t thought through his master plan . The more he talks the better for Mark Carney who will portray the creepy looking Poilievre as a mini Trump wannabe.
House Reps is easy because they are allocated by population, so as Canada would have about 8% of the population, it would have about 8% of the Reps. As I doubt they'd want to deprive existing members of their seats, they'd probably add them to the total, rather than reallocate the existing 435, so that makes say 35-40 house seats.
Senators is less certain as it depends how many states Canada was split into. Maybe you'd give the frogs one, Ontario one, west of Ontario one and one for the maritimes+the north. That makes four states so eight senators. Again, about 8% of the total.
And electoral votes would be the sum of the two.
But as most of those votes would be Democrats it would be a hot February day in Yukon before the Republicans allowed it.
Population of Canada isn’t that much higher than that of California. Which I’d guess is how the mango Mussolini is seeing things.
California doesn't border Canada though.
The states that do are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Alaska.
Some of the lowest population US states.
With the exception of the historical anachronism of Prince Edward Island all the Canadian provinces are big enough to be US states.
And Nunavut.
And Yukon, and NW Territories.
Pedantically, those two are not provinces but territories.
Neither is Nunavut.
In my hypothetical Anglosphere Federation, purely for "Presidential" Elections, I've got Prince Edward Island voting with New Brunswick, Nunavut voting with Manitoba, NW Territories with Alberta, and Yukon with "Northern" Columbia.
And Trump will pressure Ukraine to accept conditions - like no weapons shipments.
And Ukraine will reluctantly concede.
And then Russia will attack again in six months time.
And then weapons shipments to Ukraine would start again, maybe even from the US if Russia breached the deal
It'll be a bit late by then.
Why? A few months for Europe and Canada to invest in arms and defence via a ceasefire and if Russia breaches could then be deployed
Are we as NATO going to recapture Kyiv after Putin breaks the ceasefire and takes Ukraine.
No we didn't last time, just provide aid as before.
If Putin broke an agreed ceasefire US arms to Ukraine would also likely resume based on Trump's statements but a ceasefire has to be agreed first to break
Then your programme of rearming Ukraine after they have been captured by Moscow means you are too late.
Utter crap, the moment Russian troops broke a ceasefire arms would resume, they couldn't even capture Kyiv last time.
However Zelensky would have to have accepted a ceasefire on such terms anyway
Yeah but last time Ukraine had soldiers and weaponry. This time if they follow your advice they won't have soldiers and weaponry.
Why? They have soldiers and weaponry now which they could put in storage for if and when a ceasefire is broken.
If Putin and Zelensky agree a ceasefire that is for them, you clearly would rather you and your house were evaporated by a Russian nuke!
Are you just being argumentative, or do you truly not understand how unbalanced Russia’s proposal is?
Well if it is that unbalanced Zelensky won't agree those terms anyway
Which is designed to make the US swing back towards Russia.
This whole thing is a game between the UK and Russia on who can swing Trump.
If Zelensky was sensible he would agree a ceasefire on current lines but have it written in the agreement by Trump US aid and arms to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia would resume if Russian troops moved an inch beyond current Russian lines and refuse to sign without that in writing
A) sweet that you trust Trump So Russia rearms and Ukraine doesn’t. And then Russia invades again. Doesn’t seem… fair
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
The tit for tat war on booze might mean the UK gets flooded with piss weak American beer though so I hope it ends before then. The last thing we need in pubs is Bud Lite on tap 🤢
And Trump will pressure Ukraine to accept conditions - like no weapons shipments.
And Ukraine will reluctantly concede.
And then Russia will attack again in six months time.
And then weapons shipments to Ukraine would start again, maybe even from the US if Russia breached the deal
It'll be a bit late by then.
Why? A few months for Europe and Canada to invest in arms and defence via a ceasefire and if Russia breaches could then be deployed
Are we as NATO going to recapture Kyiv after Putin breaks the ceasefire and takes Ukraine.
No we didn't last time, just provide aid as before.
If Putin broke an agreed ceasefire US arms to Ukraine would also likely resume based on Trump's statements but a ceasefire has to be agreed first to break
Then your programme of rearming Ukraine after they have been captured by Moscow means you are too late.
Utter crap, the moment Russian troops broke a ceasefire arms would resume, they couldn't even capture Kyiv last time.
However Zelensky would have to have accepted a ceasefire on such terms anyway
Yeah but last time Ukraine had soldiers and weaponry. This time if they follow your advice they won't have soldiers and weaponry.
Why? They have soldiers and weaponry now which they could put in storage for if and when a ceasefire is broken.
If Putin and Zelensky agree a ceasefire that is for them, you clearly would rather you and your house were evaporated by a Russian nuke!
Are you just being argumentative, or do you truly not understand how unbalanced Russia’s proposal is?
Well if it is that unbalanced Zelensky won't agree those terms anyway
Which is designed to make the US swing back towards Russia.
This whole thing is a game between the UK and Russia on who can swing Trump.
If Zelensky was sensible he would agree a ceasefire on current lines but have it written in the agreement by Trump US aid and arms to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia would resume if Russian troops moved an inch beyond current Russian lines and refuse to sign without that in writing
A) sweet that you trust Trump B ) So Russia rearms and Ukraine doesn’t. And then Russia invades again. Doesn’t seem… fair
I'm sure there are people out there who think it's fair.
How many electoral votes , senators and house reps would Canada get if it became part of the USA?
Or will it be a state with no representation?
The stain on humanity hasn’t thought through his master plan . The more he talks the better for Mark Carney who will portray the creepy looking Poilievre as a mini Trump wannabe.
House Reps is easy because they are allocated by population, so as Canada would have about 8% of the population, it would have about 8% of the Reps. As I doubt they'd want to deprive existing members of their seats, they'd probably add them to the total, rather than reallocate the existing 435, so that makes say 35-40 house seats.
Senators is less certain as it depends how many states Canada was split into. Maybe you'd give the frogs one, Ontario one, west of Ontario one and one for the maritimes+the north. That makes four states so eight senators. Again, about 8% of the total.
And electoral votes would be the sum of the two.
But as most of those votes would be Democrats it would be a hot February day in Yukon before the Republicans allowed it.
Population of Canada isn’t that much higher than that of California. Which I’d guess is how the mango Mussolini is seeing things.
California doesn't border Canada though.
The states that do are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Alaska.
Some of the lowest population US states.
With the exception of the historical anachronism of Prince Edward Island all the Canadian provinces are big enough to be US states.
And Nunavut.
And Yukon, and NW Territories.
Pedantically, those two are not provinces but territories.
Neither is Nunavut.
In my hypothetical Anglosphere Federation, purely for "Presidential" Elections, I've got Prince Edward Island voting with New Brunswick, Nunavut voting with Manitoba, NW Territories with Alberta, and Yukon with "Northern" Columbia.
I thought Nunavut was a province. But looking it up, I see I'm wrong. Good. Not only have I learned something, I always thought it was daft to make it a province but not Yukon ir NWT.
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
And Trump will pressure Ukraine to accept conditions - like no weapons shipments.
And Ukraine will reluctantly concede.
And then Russia will attack again in six months time.
And then weapons shipments to Ukraine would start again, maybe even from the US if Russia breached the deal
It'll be a bit late by then.
Why? A few months for Europe and Canada to invest in arms and defence via a ceasefire and if Russia breaches could then be deployed
Are we as NATO going to recapture Kyiv after Putin breaks the ceasefire and takes Ukraine.
No we didn't last time, just provide aid as before.
If Putin broke an agreed ceasefire US arms to Ukraine would also likely resume based on Trump's statements but a ceasefire has to be agreed first to break
Then your programme of rearming Ukraine after they have been captured by Moscow means you are too late.
Utter crap, the moment Russian troops broke a ceasefire arms would resume, they couldn't even capture Kyiv last time.
However Zelensky would have to have accepted a ceasefire on such terms anyway
Yeah but last time Ukraine had soldiers and weaponry. This time if they follow your advice they won't have soldiers and weaponry.
Why? They have soldiers and weaponry now which they could put in storage for if and when a ceasefire is broken.
If Putin and Zelensky agree a ceasefire that is for them, you clearly would rather you and your house were evaporated by a Russian nuke!
Are you just being argumentative, or do you truly not understand how unbalanced Russia’s proposal is?
Well if it is that unbalanced Zelensky won't agree those terms anyway
Which is designed to make the US swing back towards Russia.
This whole thing is a game between the UK and Russia on who can swing Trump.
If Zelensky was sensible he would agree a ceasefire on current lines but have it written in the agreement by Trump US aid and arms to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia would resume if Russian troops moved an inch beyond current Russian lines and refuse to sign without that in writing
A) sweet that you trust Trump B ) So Russia rearms and Ukraine doesn’t. And then Russia invades again. Doesn’t seem… fair
I'm sure there are people out there who think it's fair.
Mad Vlad and Little Sergey for starters.
There are people here it seems that think we should let putin have whatever he wants because he might nuke us
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
I'm surprised that the EU included alcoholic drinks in their retaliation against Trump.
Shouldn't it have been obvious that they're more likely to lose out from the inevitable escalation ?
Meanwhile UK spirit exports are, so far, going to be unaffected.
Yeah it's an odd one because EU countries are huge producers of wine and spirits that US consumers like buying. I'd have stuck to industrial imports or maybe announce special tax rates for US tech companies, which is something Trump is very sensitive to and would struggle to fight because the EU doesn't really compete.
I'm stocking up on Puligny Montrachet and really good Red Bordeaux ahead of the inevitable tariffs. (Just to be safe, I've also bought some Scotch, which will please @Luckyguy1983.)
Being a working class Northerner, how do you lot pronounce Leominster?
I've pronounced it Lemster my entire life but somebody I heard the other day called it Leo Minster.
As a child did somebody play a cruel trick on me by telling me it was pronounced Lemster?
I think it's Lemster?
Never unless you are mental
It is pronounced Lemster, I have googled it.
I would never use Lemster, an abomination of the English language
Like Kingussie (y instead of g) or Alford (silent l)
Auchtermuchty to that , when did Kingussie get the g replaced by a y , ye are havering man
I lived in aberdeenshire for 10 years. Locals call it Kinyussie
I think Malc's refusal to call it Lemster is admirable, but a lone battle. But on Kingussie I'm with him: when I was in Aviemore last Autumn the locals called it Kin-goosey. And on the subject of Auchtermuchty, that is my favourite place to say in the British Isles.
I'm surprised that the EU included alcoholic drinks in their retaliation against Trump.
Shouldn't it have been obvious that they're more likely to lose out from the inevitable escalation ?
Meanwhile UK spirit exports are, so far, going to be unaffected.
Yeah it's an odd one because EU countries are huge producers of wine and spirits that US consumers like buying. I'd have stuck to industrial imports or maybe announce special tax rates for US tech companies, which is something Trump is very sensitive to and would struggle to fight because the EU doesn't really compete.
I do wonder if the EU just repeated its tariffs from the last time thinking that tariffs on Kentucky Bourbon would be counted with tariffs on Scotch whisky.
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
And Trump will pressure Ukraine to accept conditions - like no weapons shipments.
And Ukraine will reluctantly concede.
And then Russia will attack again in six months time.
And then weapons shipments to Ukraine would start again, maybe even from the US if Russia breached the deal
It'll be a bit late by then.
Why? A few months for Europe and Canada to invest in arms and defence via a ceasefire and if Russia breaches could then be deployed
Are we as NATO going to recapture Kyiv after Putin breaks the ceasefire and takes Ukraine.
No we didn't last time, just provide aid as before.
If Putin broke an agreed ceasefire US arms to Ukraine would also likely resume based on Trump's statements but a ceasefire has to be agreed first to break
Then your programme of rearming Ukraine after they have been captured by Moscow means you are too late.
Utter crap, the moment Russian troops broke a ceasefire arms would resume, they couldn't even capture Kyiv last time.
However Zelensky would have to have accepted a ceasefire on such terms anyway
Yeah but last time Ukraine had soldiers and weaponry. This time if they follow your advice they won't have soldiers and weaponry.
Why? They have soldiers and weaponry now which they could put in storage for if and when a ceasefire is broken.
If Putin and Zelensky agree a ceasefire that is for them, you clearly would rather you and your house were evaporated by a Russian nuke!
Are you just being argumentative, or do you truly not understand how unbalanced Russia’s proposal is?
Well if it is that unbalanced Zelensky won't agree those terms anyway
Which is designed to make the US swing back towards Russia.
This whole thing is a game between the UK and Russia on who can swing Trump.
If Zelensky was sensible he would agree a ceasefire on current lines but have it written in the agreement by Trump US aid and arms to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia would resume if Russian troops moved an inch beyond current Russian lines and refuse to sign without that in writing
A) sweet that you trust Trump
B ) So Russia rearms and Ukraine doesn’t. And then Russia invades again. Doesn’t seem… fair
I'm sure there are people out there who think it's fair.
Being a working class Northerner, how do you lot pronounce Leominster?
I've pronounced it Lemster my entire life but somebody I heard the other day called it Leo Minster.
As a child did somebody play a cruel trick on me by telling me it was pronounced Lemster?
I think it's Lemster?
Never unless you are mental
It is pronounced Lemster, I have googled it.
I would never use Lemster, an abomination of the English language
Like Kingussie (y instead of g) or Alford (silent l)
Auchtermuchty to that , when did Kingussie get the g replaced by a y , ye are havering man
I lived in aberdeenshire for 10 years. Locals call it Kinyussie
I think Malc's refusal to call it Lemster is admirable, but a lone battle. But on Kingussie I'm with him: when I was in Aviemore last Autumn the locals called it Kin-goosey. And on the subject of Auchtermuchty, that is my favourite place to say in the British Isles.
We do not appreciate the Secr. Gen. of NATO joking with Trump about Greenland like this. It would mean war between two NATO countries. Greenland has just voted against immediate independence from Denmark and does not want to be American ever.
I'm surprised that the EU included alcoholic drinks in their retaliation against Trump.
Shouldn't it have been obvious that they're more likely to lose out from the inevitable escalation ?
Meanwhile UK spirit exports are, so far, going to be unaffected.
Yeah it's an odd one because EU countries are huge producers of wine and spirits that US consumers like buying. I'd have stuck to industrial imports or maybe announce special tax rates for US tech companies, which is something Trump is very sensitive to and would struggle to fight because the EU doesn't really compete.
I do wonder if the EU just repeated its tariffs from the last time thinking that tariffs on Kentucky Bourbon would be counted with tariffs on Scotch whisky.
Anyone on Facebook I would recommend the Alt National Park Service page. It has lots of info on DOGE idiocy and how it is being overturned by judges and other authorities.
One fun example:
"Musk staffers briefly published a list of 440 properties it planned to sell, deeming them “not core to government operations.” However, the list was removed after officials were alerted that it included a complex housing a CIA facility"
Being a working class Northerner, how do you lot pronounce Leominster?
I've pronounced it Lemster my entire life but somebody I heard the other day called it Leo Minster.
As a child did somebody play a cruel trick on me by telling me it was pronounced Lemster?
I think it's Lemster?
Never unless you are mental
It is pronounced Lemster, I have googled it.
I would never use Lemster, an abomination of the English language
You'd have endless fun asking for directions in Herefordshire then.
How would Malky do in Fife when it's Ainster for Anstruther? Or maybe the locals are bilingual.
Fife is my weak spot. Navigating the coastal path was a series of embarrassments, the worst of which was "Burnt-is-land", for which I have no explanation or excuse.
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
Anyone on Facebook I would recommend the Alt National Park Service page. It has lots of info on DOGE idiocy and how it is being overturned by judges and other authorities.
One fun example:
"Musk staffers briefly published a list of 440 properties it planned to sell, deeming them “not core to government operations.” However, the list was removed after officials were alerted that it included a complex housing a CIA facility"
I'm surprised that the EU included alcoholic drinks in their retaliation against Trump.
Shouldn't it have been obvious that they're more likely to lose out from the inevitable escalation ?
Meanwhile UK spirit exports are, so far, going to be unaffected.
Yeah it's an odd one because EU countries are huge producers of wine and spirits that US consumers like buying. I'd have stuck to industrial imports or maybe announce special tax rates for US tech companies, which is something Trump is very sensitive to and would struggle to fight because the EU doesn't really compete.
I'm stocking up on Puligny Montrachet and really good Red Bordeaux ahead of the inevitable tariffs. (Just to be safe, I've also bought some Scotch, which will please @Luckyguy1983.)
I have to say I'm quite glad the UK government has opted out of this nonsense. Our steel and aluminium industries are extremely resilient after years of being fucked over by high energy prices. I'd be shocked if the types of steel we export to the US could be easily replaced, especially now that the tariff on EU steel will double so we still have a relative advantage there.
We do not appreciate the Secr. Gen. of NATO joking with Trump about Greenland like this. It would mean war between two NATO countries. Greenland has just voted against immediate independence from Denmark and does not want to be American ever.
I feel sorry for Rutte. What a horrible situation to find yourself in. I guess one European politician is going to snap soon - Trudeau and Carney have already got stuck in.
Being a working class Northerner, how do you lot pronounce Leominster?
I've pronounced it Lemster my entire life but somebody I heard the other day called it Leo Minster.
As a child did somebody play a cruel trick on me by telling me it was pronounced Lemster?
I think it's Lemster?
I've always pronounced it Lemster. But perhaps its one of those places where people from close to the place contract and people who live in the place do not - like Southwell (called Suth'll in Notts, but SouthWell by those who actually live there - though there are multiple views on this).
The people who live there call it Suthell (I was born and brought up there in the 50s and 60s - it's newer incomers who insist it's call South Well). And Norwell is pronounced Norell, by the way.
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
And Trump will pressure Ukraine to accept conditions - like no weapons shipments.
And Ukraine will reluctantly concede.
And then Russia will attack again in six months time.
And then weapons shipments to Ukraine would start again, maybe even from the US if Russia breached the deal
It'll be a bit late by then.
Why? A few months for Europe and Canada to invest in arms and defence via a ceasefire and if Russia breaches could then be deployed
Are we as NATO going to recapture Kyiv after Putin breaks the ceasefire and takes Ukraine.
No we didn't last time, just provide aid as before.
If Putin broke an agreed ceasefire US arms to Ukraine would also likely resume based on Trump's statements but a ceasefire has to be agreed first to break
Then your programme of rearming Ukraine after they have been captured by Moscow means you are too late.
Utter crap, the moment Russian troops broke a ceasefire arms would resume, they couldn't even capture Kyiv last time.
However Zelensky would have to have accepted a ceasefire on such terms anyway
Yeah but last time Ukraine had soldiers and weaponry. This time if they follow your advice they won't have soldiers and weaponry.
Why? They have soldiers and weaponry now which they could put in storage for if and when a ceasefire is broken.
If Putin and Zelensky agree a ceasefire that is for them, you clearly would rather you and your house were evaporated by a Russian nuke!
Are you just being argumentative, or do you truly not understand how unbalanced Russia’s proposal is?
Well if it is that unbalanced Zelensky won't agree those terms anyway
Which is designed to make the US swing back towards Russia.
This whole thing is a game between the UK and Russia on who can swing Trump.
If Zelensky was sensible he would agree a ceasefire on current lines but have it written in the agreement by Trump US aid and arms to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia would resume if Russian troops moved an inch beyond current Russian lines and refuse to sign without that in writing
A) sweet that you trust Trump So Russia rearms and Ukraine doesn’t. And then Russia invades again. Doesn’t seem… fair
Ukraine can rearm via its own factories even under Putin’s terms, just not via imported arms.
And if Russia invaded then the US would also resume arms to Ukraine under the terms I proposed Zelensky signs
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
And this is the reply that Twitter chooses to show me:
Hopefully a contender for the 2025 Darwin Awards.... the he probably thinks Darwin is the spawn of Satan as well.
You're making the (incorrect IMO) assumption that it's a post by a real person, I'd guess that it's a Russian AI bot.
Which is the other reason why Russia has to lose in Ukraine.
Putin would start a nuclear war rather than outright lose in Ukraine
So in your view we have to let him have anything he wants...he wants ukraine...we give it to him because nukes...then he wants estonia so we give it to him because he has nukes....then he wants germany.....where do you call a halt?
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
And this is the reply that Twitter chooses to show me:
Hopefully a contender for the 2025 Darwin Awards.... the he probably thinks Darwin is the spawn of Satan as well.
You're making the (incorrect IMO) assumption that it's a post by a real person, I'd guess that it's a Russian AI bot.
Which is the other reason why Russia has to lose in Ukraine.
Putin would start a nuclear war rather than outright lose in Ukraine
How would starting a nuclear war turn a loss into a win?
Russia has more nukes than any other nation and if he thought he would lose even the territory the Russians have gained in Ukraine Putin would certainly use a tactical nuclear weapon at least
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
And this is the reply that Twitter chooses to show me:
Hopefully a contender for the 2025 Darwin Awards.... the he probably thinks Darwin is the spawn of Satan as well.
You're making the (incorrect IMO) assumption that it's a post by a real person, I'd guess that it's a Russian AI bot.
Which is the other reason why Russia has to lose in Ukraine.
Putin would start a nuclear war rather than outright lose in Ukraine
How would starting a nuclear war turn a loss into a win?
Russia has more nukes than any other nation and if he thought he would lose even the territory the Russians have gained in Ukraine Putin would certainly use a tactical nuclear weapon at least
It is people like you that show the conservatives cannot be trusted on defence
Being a working class Northerner, how do you lot pronounce Leominster?
I've pronounced it Lemster my entire life but somebody I heard the other day called it Leo Minster.
As a child did somebody play a cruel trick on me by telling me it was pronounced Lemster?
I think it's Lemster?
Never unless you are mental
It is pronounced Lemster, I have googled it.
I would never use Lemster, an abomination of the English language
You'd have endless fun asking for directions in Herefordshire then.
How would Malky do in Fife when it's Ainster for Anstruther? Or maybe the locals are bilingual.
I’m more intrigued about whether he takes the same approach to pronouncing his name, does he pronounce it Mal-colm or Mal-come. I'm guessing based on his insistence on pronouncing all letters in a word it’s the former but seems a bit odd.
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
And this is the reply that Twitter chooses to show me:
Hopefully a contender for the 2025 Darwin Awards.... the he probably thinks Darwin is the spawn of Satan as well.
You're making the (incorrect IMO) assumption that it's a post by a real person, I'd guess that it's a Russian AI bot.
Which is the other reason why Russia has to lose in Ukraine.
Putin would start a nuclear war rather than outright lose in Ukraine
So in your view we have to let him have anything he wants...he wants ukraine...we give it to him because nukes...then he wants estonia so we give it to him because he has nukes....then he wants germany.....where do you call a halt?
And Trump will pressure Ukraine to accept conditions - like no weapons shipments.
And Ukraine will reluctantly concede.
And then Russia will attack again in six months time.
And then weapons shipments to Ukraine would start again, maybe even from the US if Russia breached the deal
It'll be a bit late by then.
Why? A few months for Europe and Canada to invest in arms and defence via a ceasefire and if Russia breaches could then be deployed
Are we as NATO going to recapture Kyiv after Putin breaks the ceasefire and takes Ukraine.
No we didn't last time, just provide aid as before.
If Putin broke an agreed ceasefire US arms to Ukraine would also likely resume based on Trump's statements but a ceasefire has to be agreed first to break
Then your programme of rearming Ukraine after they have been captured by Moscow means you are too late.
Utter crap, the moment Russian troops broke a ceasefire arms would resume, they couldn't even capture Kyiv last time.
However Zelensky would have to have accepted a ceasefire on such terms anyway
Yeah but last time Ukraine had soldiers and weaponry. This time if they follow your advice they won't have soldiers and weaponry.
Why? They have soldiers and weaponry now which they could put in storage for if and when a ceasefire is broken.
If Putin and Zelensky agree a ceasefire that is for them, you clearly would rather you and your house were evaporated by a Russian nuke!
Are you just being argumentative, or do you truly not understand how unbalanced Russia’s proposal is?
Well if it is that unbalanced Zelensky won't agree those terms anyway
Which is designed to make the US swing back towards Russia.
This whole thing is a game between the UK and Russia on who can swing Trump.
If Zelensky was sensible he would agree a ceasefire on current lines but have it written in the agreement by Trump US aid and arms to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia would resume if Russian troops moved an inch beyond current Russian lines and refuse to sign without that in writing
A) sweet that you trust Trump So Russia rearms and Ukraine doesn’t. And then Russia invades again. Doesn’t seem… fair
Ukraine can rearm via its own factories even under Putin’s terms, just not via imported arms.
And if Russia invaded then the US would also resume arms to Ukraine under the terms I proposed Zelensky signs
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
And this is the reply that Twitter chooses to show me:
Hopefully a contender for the 2025 Darwin Awards.... the he probably thinks Darwin is the spawn of Satan as well.
You're making the (incorrect IMO) assumption that it's a post by a real person, I'd guess that it's a Russian AI bot.
Which is the other reason why Russia has to lose in Ukraine.
Putin would start a nuclear war rather than outright lose in Ukraine
So in your view we have to let him have anything he wants...he wants ukraine...we give it to him because nukes...then he wants estonia so we give it to him because he has nukes....then he wants germany.....where do you call a halt?
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
And this is the reply that Twitter chooses to show me:
Hopefully a contender for the 2025 Darwin Awards.... the he probably thinks Darwin is the spawn of Satan as well.
You're making the (incorrect IMO) assumption that it's a post by a real person, I'd guess that it's a Russian AI bot.
Which is the other reason why Russia has to lose in Ukraine.
Putin would start a nuclear war rather than outright lose in Ukraine
So in your view we have to let him have anything he wants...he wants ukraine...we give it to him because nukes...then he wants estonia so we give it to him because he has nukes....then he wants germany.....where do you call a halt?
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
And this is the reply that Twitter chooses to show me:
Hopefully a contender for the 2025 Darwin Awards.... the he probably thinks Darwin is the spawn of Satan as well.
You're making the (incorrect IMO) assumption that it's a post by a real person, I'd guess that it's a Russian AI bot.
Which is the other reason why Russia has to lose in Ukraine.
Putin would start a nuclear war rather than outright lose in Ukraine
So in your view we have to let him have anything he wants...he wants ukraine...we give it to him because nukes...then he wants estonia so we give it to him because he has nukes....then he wants germany.....where do you call a halt?
Barking.
If putin nuked barking nothing of value would be lost its a pit
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
And this is the reply that Twitter chooses to show me:
Hopefully a contender for the 2025 Darwin Awards.... the he probably thinks Darwin is the spawn of Satan as well.
You're making the (incorrect IMO) assumption that it's a post by a real person, I'd guess that it's a Russian AI bot.
Which is the other reason why Russia has to lose in Ukraine.
Putin would start a nuclear war rather than outright lose in Ukraine
How would starting a nuclear war turn a loss into a win?
Russia has more nukes than any other nation and if he thought he would lose even the territory the Russians have gained in Ukraine Putin would certainly use a tactical nuclear weapon at least
Ok, suppose he used tactical nuclear weapon. Then what? Everyone would apologise to him and give him what he wants?
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
And this is the reply that Twitter chooses to show me:
Hopefully a contender for the 2025 Darwin Awards.... the he probably thinks Darwin is the spawn of Satan as well.
You're making the (incorrect IMO) assumption that it's a post by a real person, I'd guess that it's a Russian AI bot.
Which is the other reason why Russia has to lose in Ukraine.
Putin would start a nuclear war rather than outright lose in Ukraine
How would starting a nuclear war turn a loss into a win?
Russia has more nukes than any other nation and if he thought he would lose even the territory the Russians have gained in Ukraine Putin would certainly use a tactical nuclear weapon at least
It is people like you that show the conservatives cannot be trusted on defence
Even Biden didn’t give Ukraine enough arms to force the Russians completely out of Ukraine as he knew the end result could be nuclear war. There is a difference between defence and destuction of humanity
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
And this is the reply that Twitter chooses to show me:
Hopefully a contender for the 2025 Darwin Awards.... the he probably thinks Darwin is the spawn of Satan as well.
You're making the (incorrect IMO) assumption that it's a post by a real person, I'd guess that it's a Russian AI bot.
Which is the other reason why Russia has to lose in Ukraine.
Putin would start a nuclear war rather than outright lose in Ukraine
So in your view we have to let him have anything he wants...he wants ukraine...we give it to him because nukes...then he wants estonia so we give it to him because he has nukes....then he wants germany.....where do you call a halt?
Barking.
If putin nuked barking nothing of value would be lost its a pit
If you are a man born after 5 April 1951 or a woman born after 5 April 1953 You have until 5 April 2025 to pay voluntary contributions to make up for gaps between tax years April 2006 and April 2016 if you’re eligible. The eligibility link is here: https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions
I'm going to accidently miss it and then claim compensation anyway just like the WASPI women. I mean, what could go wrong with that?
Given occasionalranter's note that this affects the next two years as well, perhaps we can start to understand that those Waspi women who are not top lawyers might not have been all over the detail.
Talking of which can anyone from the PB brains trust help with this? My wife has, on the face of it, 38 qualifying years but in some of those years she was contracted out Do they count?
Being a working class Northerner, how do you lot pronounce Leominster?
I've pronounced it Lemster my entire life but somebody I heard the other day called it Leo Minster.
As a child did somebody play a cruel trick on me by telling me it was pronounced Lemster?
I think it's Lemster?
Never unless you are mental
It is pronounced Lemster, I have googled it.
I would never use Lemster, an abomination of the English language
You'd have endless fun asking for directions in Herefordshire then.
How would Malky do in Fife when it's Ainster for Anstruther? Or maybe the locals are bilingual.
I’m more intrigued about whether he takes the same approach to pronouncing his name, does he pronounce it Mal-colm or Mal-come. I'm guessing based on his insistence on pronouncing all letters in a word it’s the former but seems a bit odd.
Boulay , you have failed miserably, latter every time when not Malky.
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
And this is the reply that Twitter chooses to show me:
Hopefully a contender for the 2025 Darwin Awards.... the he probably thinks Darwin is the spawn of Satan as well.
You're making the (incorrect IMO) assumption that it's a post by a real person, I'd guess that it's a Russian AI bot.
Which is the other reason why Russia has to lose in Ukraine.
Putin would start a nuclear war rather than outright lose in Ukraine
So in your view we have to let him have anything he wants...he wants ukraine...we give it to him because nukes...then he wants estonia so we give it to him because he has nukes....then he wants germany.....where do you call a halt?
No just you do enough to keep Ukraine largely free but not so far as to lead to nuclear war. Of course Germany and other European nations could have developed their own nukes like the French and British have
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
And this is the reply that Twitter chooses to show me:
Hopefully a contender for the 2025 Darwin Awards.... the he probably thinks Darwin is the spawn of Satan as well.
You're making the (incorrect IMO) assumption that it's a post by a real person, I'd guess that it's a Russian AI bot.
Which is the other reason why Russia has to lose in Ukraine.
Putin would start a nuclear war rather than outright lose in Ukraine
How would starting a nuclear war turn a loss into a win?
Russia has more nukes than any other nation and if he thought he would lose even the territory the Russians have gained in Ukraine Putin would certainly use a tactical nuclear weapon at least
It is people like you that show the conservatives cannot be trusted on defence
Even Biden didn’t give Ukraine enough arms to force the Russians completely out of Ukraine as he knew the end result could be nuclear war. There is a difference between defence and destuction of humanity
There is nothing to say biden was correct.....we have crossed plenty of redlines that surrender monkeys like yourself assured us would result in the use of nukes.....not seeing the mushroom clouds yet....maybe you are just someone that would prefer to appease a bully out of fear than do the sensible thing and stand up to him
Keir Starmer's tone towards civil servants has been "nothing short of disastrous" according to a former cabinet secretary - the highest official in the civil service.
Lord Gus O’Donnell served under three prime ministers as cabinet secretary between 2005 and 2011, and he tells BBC’s Radio 4’s PM programme that Starmer’s rhetoric around the “flabby state” has been damaging for his relationship with civil servants.
He explains: “Believe it or not, if you talk to civil servants and say they like managed decline and that you're going to take a chainsaw to them - do you think that's actually going to result in them performing at their best?"
As for the decision to scrap NHS England, O’Donnell suggests this has also been “chaotic”, but may save “a relatively small amount of money”.
“If they can turn this into a way of making better decisions which leads to improvements in our health service then I think it will be justified,” he says, adding that he’s not so sure if this is what will happen.
The scrapping of the NHS ( England) does look like an absolute catastrophe. Kemi Badenoch is supporting the move!
Kemi hasn't said anything about it, Davey backs Starmer's decision despite the fact it was the Coalition government he was in that created NHS England in the first place so day to day running of the NHS was overseen by an independent body not the Department of Health.
In fact 'Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart cast doubts over the decision, saying Sir Keir Starmer has yet to set out "how this is going to make life better for patients" or "how much money he is going to save by doing it".
I just heard it on the BBC R4 6 o clock news. Kemi is on board. She said the Government will now be measured on NHS progress as they are now directly in the driving seat They can't blame anyone else.
So no she is NOT on board as such she said it was Starmer and Streeting's decision not hers and if it fails to make life better for patients or significant savings then the Opposition will blame the government
She ( and Hunt) seemed less hostile than you do to overturning Lansley's reforms.
Not their decision, though Kemi was notably less enthusiastic than Hunt anyway it is LABOUR who scrapped it and LABOUR who will be responsible for ALL the job losses and LABOUR who will be responsible for lack of NHS improvement
As a Conservative, shouldn't you be supporting getting rid of as many quango's as possible?
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
And this is the reply that Twitter chooses to show me:
Hopefully a contender for the 2025 Darwin Awards.... the he probably thinks Darwin is the spawn of Satan as well.
You're making the (incorrect IMO) assumption that it's a post by a real person, I'd guess that it's a Russian AI bot.
Which is the other reason why Russia has to lose in Ukraine.
Putin would start a nuclear war rather than outright lose in Ukraine
So in your view we have to let him have anything he wants...he wants ukraine...we give it to him because nukes...then he wants estonia so we give it to him because he has nukes....then he wants germany.....where do you call a halt?
No just you do enough to keep Ukraine largely free but not so far as to lead to nuclear war. Of course Germany and other European nations could have developed their own nukes like the French and British have
People like you told us...using western weapons on targets inside russia would trigger a nuclear response they didnt and still arent
People like you told us ukraine invading russia would trigger the nuclear response....they invaded kursk still no nukes
People like you are wrong for the simple reason Putin doesn't want to die either and if he started nuking it would not end well for anyone including him
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
And this is the reply that Twitter chooses to show me:
Hopefully a contender for the 2025 Darwin Awards.... the he probably thinks Darwin is the spawn of Satan as well.
You're making the (incorrect IMO) assumption that it's a post by a real person, I'd guess that it's a Russian AI bot.
Which is the other reason why Russia has to lose in Ukraine.
Putin would start a nuclear war rather than outright lose in Ukraine
How would starting a nuclear war turn a loss into a win?
Russia has more nukes than any other nation and if he thought he would lose even the territory the Russians have gained in Ukraine Putin would certainly use a tactical nuclear weapon at least
It is people like you that show the conservatives cannot be trusted on defence
Even Biden didn’t give Ukraine enough arms to force the Russians completely out of Ukraine as he knew the end result could be nuclear war. There is a difference between defence and destuction of humanity
He failed to ratchet up supplies quickly enough, when they did start sending Stormshadows into Russia surprise surprise nuclear war didn't happen. The whole point with boiling the frog is you are actually supposed to boil it. Also failures like allowing Russia to retreat across the Dnipro at Kherson without destroying them in detail.
If you are a man born after 5 April 1951 or a woman born after 5 April 1953 You have until 5 April 2025 to pay voluntary contributions to make up for gaps between tax years April 2006 and April 2016 if you’re eligible. The eligibility link is here: https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions
I'm going to accidently miss it and then claim compensation anyway just like the WASPI women. I mean, what could go wrong with that?
Given occasionalranter's note that this affects the next two years as well, perhaps we can start to understand that those Waspi women who are not top lawyers might not have been all over the detail.
Talking of which can anyone from the PB brains trust help with this? My wife has, on the face of it, 38 qualifying years but in some of those years she was contracted out Do they count?
I believe they count as part years. I have 37 years but many were contracted out and I still have to buy a few more back. Easy for your wife to check her contribution situation online.
If you are a man born after 5 April 1951 or a woman born after 5 April 1953 You have until 5 April 2025 to pay voluntary contributions to make up for gaps between tax years April 2006 and April 2016 if you’re eligible. The eligibility link is here: https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions
I'm going to accidently miss it and then claim compensation anyway just like the WASPI women. I mean, what could go wrong with that?
Given occasionalranter's note that this affects the next two years as well, perhaps we can start to understand that those Waspi women who are not top lawyers might not have been all over the detail.
Talking of which can anyone from the PB brains trust help with this? My wife has, on the face of it, 38 qualifying years but in some of those years she was contracted out Do they count?
As far as I know it means you were contracted out of SERPS, not the basic state pension.
Can I suggest, before we finish this thread, that there are few more things in life more satisfying than a 2 of Trumps on an Ace from your opponents in bridge. Its a brilliant feeling.
I’m hearing from many local doctors that the continued cuts in Medicare payments to doctors are unsustainable. Doctors are going out of business. We must fix this so that we can provide the quality of care to our seniors.
And this is the reply that Twitter chooses to show me:
Hopefully a contender for the 2025 Darwin Awards.... the he probably thinks Darwin is the spawn of Satan as well.
You're making the (incorrect IMO) assumption that it's a post by a real person, I'd guess that it's a Russian AI bot.
Which is the other reason why Russia has to lose in Ukraine.
Putin would start a nuclear war rather than outright lose in Ukraine
So in your view we have to let him have anything he wants...he wants ukraine...we give it to him because nukes...then he wants estonia so we give it to him because he has nukes....then he wants germany.....where do you call a halt?
He can have Germany, but I'm quite fond of Estonia.
Comments
Shouldn't it have been obvious that they're more likely to lose out from the inevitable escalation ?
Meanwhile UK spirit exports are, so far, going to be unaffected.
Though in the case of Finland/Sweden it would be one I would accept.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khrpy4V0-U4
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leominster
https://x.com/RepDonBacon/status/1900221985071772068?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^tweet
“The Republicans lost big on Debt Ceiling, got NOTHING, and now are worried that they will be BLAMED for the Budget Shutdown. Wrong!!! Whoever is President will be blamed,” Trump wrote, adding: “UNLESS YOU GET EVERYTHING, SHUT IT DOWN! Close the Border, stop the Weaponization of ‘Justice,’ and End Election Interference.”
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/trump-breaks-mccarthy-republicans-government-shutdown-rcna117192
Imagine a world without lawyers.
https://on.ft.com/4iLJPSB
And on the subject of Auchtermuchty, that is my favourite place to say in the British Isles.
In my hypothetical Anglosphere Federation, purely for "Presidential" Elections, I've got Prince Edward Island voting with New Brunswick, Nunavut voting with Manitoba, NW Territories with Alberta, and Yukon with "Northern" Columbia.
Mad Vlad and Little Sergey for starters.
But looking it up, I see I'm wrong. Good. Not only have I learned something, I always thought it was daft to make it a province but not Yukon ir NWT.
https://x.com/rasmusjarlov/status/1900261442781405455
We do not appreciate the Secr. Gen. of NATO joking with Trump about Greenland like this. It would mean war between two NATO countries. Greenland has just voted against immediate independence from Denmark and does not want to be American ever.
One fun example:
"Musk staffers briefly published a list of 440 properties it planned to sell, deeming them “not core to government operations.” However, the list was removed after officials were alerted that it included a complex housing a CIA facility"
And if Russia invaded then the US would also resume arms to Ukraine under the terms I proposed Zelensky signs
Trump (the genius) is about to place a 200% tax on Guinness the week of St Patrick's Day...
People like you told us ukraine invading russia would trigger the nuclear response....they invaded kursk still no nukes
People like you are wrong for the simple reason Putin doesn't want to die either and if he started nuking it would not end well for anyone including him