This is a good point, to wit why are those individuals and organisations who usually treat the sight of a Palestinian flag as presaging a new Holocaust silent about Farage's antisemitism?
Robert Peston @Peston · 18h JONATHAN FREEDLAND: Why Britain's Jewish leaders are silent on Farage’s schoolyard antisemitism - Jewish News
'A more truthful explanation for the Jewish organisations’ silence comes in private conversations. In those, communal figures will admit that they believe the accusations against Farage are true, but that they have made a pragmatic calculation. “He’s the coming man and right now he’s not hostile to us,” was how one senior official put it to me. They don’t want to make an enemy of a politician who, polls suggest, is heading to Downing Street.'
Amazing that they are more concerned about people who are openly hostile to them than they are about someone they think isn't hostile to them.
Trump isn't that unpopular, he has an approval rating of 36%. Barry Goldwater got 36% of the vote in 1964 against LBJ. So Trump can proudly say he has taken the GOP to Goldwater levels. Only problem is Goldwater led the Republicans to their biggest landslide defeat since WW2
I know this sounds bitter but I hate that film . I was hoping Stewart would jump ! I’m not averse to some feel good films but I found it just nauseating.
I'm a sucker for a feel good film.
My favourite film to watch over Christmas is Singing in the Rain .
Not a Christmas film though. (Mind you, neither is The Sound of Music though it always seemed to be on every Christmas when I was a kid.)
For similar reasons I think of The Great Escape as a Christmas film.
🔥 @repdeliaramirez to @KristiNoem: “Bottom Line: You lie with impunity. You reject checks & balances. You ignore Congress & the courts… you can either resign, Trump will fire you, or you’ll be impeached.
You’re going to be held accountable. I’m going to make sure of that.”
BREAKING: Democrats CAUGHT in massive fake news operation in DHS Sec. Kristi Noem hearing - lying that President Trump deported a Veteran to South Korea
Rep. Magaziner tried a "gotcha": "We are now joined on Zoom by a veteran YOU deported."
HE SELF-DEPORTED.
Sae Joon Park had a removal order over felony drug charges and bail jumping - and was NOT a citizen, but a green card holder.
You don't think that revoking his green card was a way of getting him to self-deport ?
In 2009, by Obama, after felony drugs offences and skipping bail.
It’s rather amusing to see the Democrats line up behind the idea that foreign felons shouldn’t be deported, of course totally forgetting to mention the felony bit.
It’s “Maryland Man” all over again, they think that if they keep omitting and ignoring that he’s a violent gang member, people will eventually believe he’s just a happy family man being deported by Evil Orange.
Trump isn't that unpopular, he has an approval rating of 36%. Barry Goldwater got 36% of the vote in 1964 against LBJ. So Trump can proudly say he has taken the GOP to Goldwater levels. Only problem is Goldwater led the Republicans to their biggest landslide defeat since WW2
Last night’s byes, despite four Reform gains, point to a small shift back from Reform to Conservatives.
The Tories nearly won both seats in Lincolnshire, as well as holding on in Stockton and Lichfield.
Their problem is next year they’ll be defending seats won in 2021, as well as 2022, so they’ll suffer big headline losses to Reform, even if their vote share continues to recover, a bit.
🔥 @repdeliaramirez to @KristiNoem: “Bottom Line: You lie with impunity. You reject checks & balances. You ignore Congress & the courts… you can either resign, Trump will fire you, or you’ll be impeached.
You’re going to be held accountable. I’m going to make sure of that.”
BREAKING: Democrats CAUGHT in massive fake news operation in DHS Sec. Kristi Noem hearing - lying that President Trump deported a Veteran to South Korea
Rep. Magaziner tried a "gotcha": "We are now joined on Zoom by a veteran YOU deported."
HE SELF-DEPORTED.
Sae Joon Park had a removal order over felony drug charges and bail jumping - and was NOT a citizen, but a green card holder.
You don't think that revoking his green card was a way of getting him to self-deport ?
In 2009, by Obama, after felony drugs offences and skipping bail.
It’s rather amusing to see the Democrats line up behind the idea that foreign felons shouldn’t be deported, of course totally forgetting to mention the felony bit.
It’s “Maryland Man” all over again, they think that if they keep omitting and ignoring that he’s a violent gang member, people will eventually believe he’s just a happy family man being deported by Evil Orange.
Felony drugs offences in 2009 doesn’t mean he’s a violent gang member.
In any event, is he a veteran or not, which is the actual issue being discussed.
It appears that Donald Trump's popularity is trending to his base. Which makes perfect sense because in order to think he's anything but a terrible president you need to be gullible and/or see in him a man you like and respect. The first of these qualities is hugely overrepresented in MAGA and the second is pretty much exclusive to it.
I know this sounds bitter but I hate that film . I was hoping Stewart would jump ! I’m not averse to some feel good films but I found it just nauseating.
I'm a sucker for a feel good film.
My favourite film to watch over Christmas is Singing in the Rain .
Not a Christmas film though. (Mind you, neither is The Sound of Music though it always seemed to be on every Christmas when I was a kid.)
For similar reasons I think of The Great Escape as a Christmas film.
Yes, it used to be a highlight of my childhood Xmasses, hoping that just one time McQueen would actually make it over that second fence. When the special Xmas Radio Times arrived I would rush to see when it was going to be on - as I vaguely recall, it dropped back from the Xmas day slot to later over the bank holidays. Then it disappeared from the Christmas TV schedule altogether, but occasionally surfaces over Easter.
Anyhow, here's the dog at the very spot where the motorcycle/fence scene was filmed....actually nowhere near Switzerland!
I know this sounds bitter but I hate that film . I was hoping Stewart would jump ! I’m not averse to some feel good films but I found it just nauseating.
I'm a sucker for a feel good film.
My favourite film to watch over Christmas is Singing in the Rain .
Not a Christmas film though. (Mind you, neither is The Sound of Music though it always seemed to be on every Christmas when I was a kid.)
For similar reasons I think of The Great Escape as a Christmas film.
Yes, it used to be a highlight of my childhood Xmasses, hoping that just one time McQueen would actually make it over that second fence. When the special Xmas Radio Times arrived I would rush to see when it was going to be on - as I vaguely recall, it dropped back from the Xmas day slot to later over the bank holidays. Then it disappeared from the Christmas TV schedule altogether, but occasionally surfaces over Easter.
Anyhow, here's the dog at the very spot where the motorcycle/fence scene was filmed....
Are you sure that's not the meadow that Maria runs across singing "The hills are alive..."?
🔥 @repdeliaramirez to @KristiNoem: “Bottom Line: You lie with impunity. You reject checks & balances. You ignore Congress & the courts… you can either resign, Trump will fire you, or you’ll be impeached.
You’re going to be held accountable. I’m going to make sure of that.”
BREAKING: Democrats CAUGHT in massive fake news operation in DHS Sec. Kristi Noem hearing - lying that President Trump deported a Veteran to South Korea
Rep. Magaziner tried a "gotcha": "We are now joined on Zoom by a veteran YOU deported."
HE SELF-DEPORTED.
Sae Joon Park had a removal order over felony drug charges and bail jumping - and was NOT a citizen, but a green card holder.
You don't think that revoking his green card was a way of getting him to self-deport ?
In 2009, by Obama, after felony drugs offences and skipping bail.
It’s rather amusing to see the Democrats line up behind the idea that foreign felons shouldn’t be deported, of course totally forgetting to mention the felony bit.
It’s “Maryland Man” all over again, they think that if they keep omitting and ignoring that he’s a violent gang member, people will eventually believe he’s just a happy family man being deported by Evil Orange.
Felony drugs offences in 2009 doesn’t mean he’s a violent gang member.
In any event, is he a veteran or not, which is the actual issue being discussed.
You’re confusing two people, the gang member is a different individual the Democrats and media also keep lying about by omission.
This guy is a veteran, but he wasn’t deported, he chose to leave the US of his own volition.
🔥 @repdeliaramirez to @KristiNoem: “Bottom Line: You lie with impunity. You reject checks & balances. You ignore Congress & the courts… you can either resign, Trump will fire you, or you’ll be impeached.
You’re going to be held accountable. I’m going to make sure of that.”
BREAKING: Democrats CAUGHT in massive fake news operation in DHS Sec. Kristi Noem hearing - lying that President Trump deported a Veteran to South Korea
Rep. Magaziner tried a "gotcha": "We are now joined on Zoom by a veteran YOU deported."
HE SELF-DEPORTED.
Sae Joon Park had a removal order over felony drug charges and bail jumping - and was NOT a citizen, but a green card holder.
You don't think that revoking his green card was a way of getting him to self-deport ?
In 2009, by Obama, after felony drugs offences and skipping bail.
It’s rather amusing to see the Democrats line up behind the idea that foreign felons shouldn’t be deported, of course totally forgetting to mention the felony bit.
It’s “Maryland Man” all over again, they think that if they keep omitting and ignoring that he’s a violent gang member, people will eventually believe he’s just a happy family man being deported by Evil Orange.
Felony drugs offences in 2009 doesn’t mean he’s a violent gang member.
In any event, is he a veteran or not, which is the actual issue being discussed.
You’re confusing two people, the gang member is a different individual the Democrats and media also keep lying about by omission.
This guy is a veteran, but he wasn’t deported, he chose to leave the US of his own volition.
Sandpit no offence but that’s total horseshit. Just because someone “self deported” under threat of indefinite detention doesn’t mean they chose to leave the US of their own volition. You really do drink the kool aid sometimes.
Last quarter I rolled out Microsoft Copilot to 4,000 employees. $30 per seat per month. $1.4 million annually. I called it "digital transformation." The board loved that phrase. They approved it in eleven minutes. No one asked what it would actually do. Including me. I told everyone it would "10x productivity." That's not a real number. But it sounds like one. HR asked how we'd measure the 10x. I said we'd "leverage analytics dashboards." They stopped asking. Three months later I checked the usage reports. 47 people had opened it. 12 had used it more than once. One of them was me. I used it to summarize an email I could have read in 30 seconds. It took 45 seconds. Plus the time it took to fix the hallucinations. But I called it a "pilot success." Success means the pilot didn't visibly fail. The CFO asked about ROI. I showed him a graph. The graph went up and to the right. It measured "AI enablement." I made that metric up. He nodded approvingly. We're "AI-enabled" now. I don't know what that means. But it's in our investor deck. A senior developer asked why we didn't use Claude or ChatGPT. I said we needed "enterprise-grade security." He asked what that meant. I said "compliance." He asked which compliance. I said "all of them." He looked skeptical. I scheduled him for a "career development conversation." He stopped asking questions. Microsoft sent a case study team. They wanted to feature us as a success story. I told them we "saved 40,000 hours." I calculated that number by multiplying employees by a number I made up. They didn't verify it. They never do. Now we're on Microsoft's website. "Global enterprise achieves 40,000 hours of productivity gains with Copilot." The CEO shared it on LinkedIn. He got 3,000 likes. He's never used Copilot. None of the executives have. We have an exemption. "Strategic focus requires minimal digital distraction." I wrote that policy. The licenses renew next month. I'm requesting an expansion. 5,000 more seats. We haven't used the first 4,000. But this time we'll "drive adoption." Adoption means mandatory training. Training means a 45-minute webinar no one watches. But completion will be tracked. Completion is a metric. Metrics go in dashboards. Dashboards go in board presentations. Board presentations get me promoted. I'll be SVP by Q3. I still don't know what Copilot does. But I know what it's for. It's for showing we're "investing in AI." Investment means spending. Spending means commitment. Commitment means we're serious about the future. The future is whatever I say it is. As long as the graph goes up and to the right.
I know this sounds bitter but I hate that film . I was hoping Stewart would jump ! I’m not averse to some feel good films but I found it just nauseating.
I'm a sucker for a feel good film.
My favourite film to watch over Christmas is Singing in the Rain .
Not a Christmas film though. (Mind you, neither is The Sound of Music though it always seemed to be on every Christmas when I was a kid.)
For similar reasons I think of The Great Escape as a Christmas film.
Yes, it used to be a highlight of my childhood Xmasses, hoping that just one time McQueen would actually make it over that second fence. When the special Xmas Radio Times arrived I would rush to see when it was going to be on - as I vaguely recall, it dropped back from the Xmas day slot to later over the bank holidays. Then it disappeared from the Christmas TV schedule altogether, but occasionally surfaces over Easter.
Anyhow, here's the dog at the very spot where the motorcycle/fence scene was filmed....
Are you sure that's not the meadow that Maria runs across singing "The hills are alive..."?
🔥 @repdeliaramirez to @KristiNoem: “Bottom Line: You lie with impunity. You reject checks & balances. You ignore Congress & the courts… you can either resign, Trump will fire you, or you’ll be impeached.
You’re going to be held accountable. I’m going to make sure of that.”
BREAKING: Democrats CAUGHT in massive fake news operation in DHS Sec. Kristi Noem hearing - lying that President Trump deported a Veteran to South Korea
Rep. Magaziner tried a "gotcha": "We are now joined on Zoom by a veteran YOU deported."
HE SELF-DEPORTED.
Sae Joon Park had a removal order over felony drug charges and bail jumping - and was NOT a citizen, but a green card holder.
You don't think that revoking his green card was a way of getting him to self-deport ?
In 2009, by Obama, after felony drugs offences and skipping bail.
It’s rather amusing to see the Democrats line up behind the idea that foreign felons shouldn’t be deported, of course totally forgetting to mention the felony bit.
It’s “Maryland Man” all over again, they think that if they keep omitting and ignoring that he’s a violent gang member, people will eventually believe he’s just a happy family man being deported by Evil Orange.
Felony drugs offences in 2009 doesn’t mean he’s a violent gang member.
In any event, is he a veteran or not, which is the actual issue being discussed.
You’re confusing two people, the gang member is a different individual the Democrats and media also keep lying about by omission.
This guy is a veteran, but he wasn’t deported, he chose to leave the US of his own volition.
Sandpit no offence but that’s total horseshit. Just because someone “self deported” under threat of indefinite detention doesn’t mean they chose to leave the US of their own volition. You really do drink the kool aid sometimes.
Except that the Democrats said he was deported by Trump. Which was a lie.
If they had said he was offered the chance to leave himself and took it, that would be truth.
There’s two sides to every story, but too many people think that whatever Trump’s opponents say is absolute truth with nothing added and nothing missing.
🔥 @repdeliaramirez to @KristiNoem: “Bottom Line: You lie with impunity. You reject checks & balances. You ignore Congress & the courts… you can either resign, Trump will fire you, or you’ll be impeached.
You’re going to be held accountable. I’m going to make sure of that.”
BREAKING: Democrats CAUGHT in massive fake news operation in DHS Sec. Kristi Noem hearing - lying that President Trump deported a Veteran to South Korea
Rep. Magaziner tried a "gotcha": "We are now joined on Zoom by a veteran YOU deported."
HE SELF-DEPORTED.
Sae Joon Park had a removal order over felony drug charges and bail jumping - and was NOT a citizen, but a green card holder.
You don't think that revoking his green card was a way of getting him to self-deport ?
In 2009, by Obama, after felony drugs offences and skipping bail.
It’s rather amusing to see the Democrats line up behind the idea that foreign felons shouldn’t be deported, of course totally forgetting to mention the felony bit.
It’s “Maryland Man” all over again, they think that if they keep omitting and ignoring that he’s a violent gang member, people will eventually believe he’s just a happy family man being deported by Evil Orange.
How have they forgotten to mention the felony bit? It's in Hirono's letter, linked to above.
Why the f do you keep defending the Trump administration? What bit of their policymaking do you like so much? Undermining NATO? Pardoning people who buy Trumpcoin? Trying to hand Ukraine over to Putin?
Is this news? Oliver Sacks made up a lot of his patient’s testimonials. I read ‘The Man Who Mistook His Wife for A Hat’ for my A-Levels, but can’t remember a thing about it. The fact it was English Literature makes me think this isn’t a ‘Bombshell’
Bombshell: Oliver Sacks (a humane man & a fine essayist) made up many of the details in his famous case studies, deluding neuroscientists, psychologists, & general readers for decades. The man who mistook his wife for a hat? The autistic twins who generated multi-digit prime numbers? The institutionalized, paralyzed man who tapped out allusions to Rilke? Made up to embellish the stories. Probably also: the aphasic patients who detected lies better than neurologically intact people, including Ronald Reagan's insincerity.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was accused of misleading House Homeland Security Committee members when she said she was departing a Thursday hearing early to attend another meeting that was actually canceled.
It’s an assertion denied by Noem’s office, which said she only found out her meeting was canceled after she left the witness table.
Wrapping Christmas presents should be a competitive sport.
With marks for speed, paper used, neatness.
Points deducted for neatness
Apparently studies have shown that if the wrapping is too neat, the recipients' expectations of the quality of the gift rise, leading to increased disappointment if they are not met
I know this sounds bitter but I hate that film . I was hoping Stewart would jump ! I’m not averse to some feel good films but I found it just nauseating.
I'm a sucker for a feel good film.
My favourite film to watch over Christmas is Singing in the Rain .
Not a Christmas film though. (Mind you, neither is The Sound of Music though it always seemed to be on every Christmas when I was a kid.)
For similar reasons I think of The Great Escape as a Christmas film.
Yes, it used to be a highlight of my childhood Xmasses, hoping that just one time McQueen would actually make it over that second fence. When the special Xmas Radio Times arrived I would rush to see when it was going to be on - as I vaguely recall, it dropped back from the Xmas day slot to later over the bank holidays. Then it disappeared from the Christmas TV schedule altogether, but occasionally surfaces over Easter.
Anyhow, here's the dog at the very spot where the motorcycle/fence scene was filmed....
Are you sure that's not the meadow that Maria runs across singing "The hills are alive..."?
🔥 @repdeliaramirez to @KristiNoem: “Bottom Line: You lie with impunity. You reject checks & balances. You ignore Congress & the courts… you can either resign, Trump will fire you, or you’ll be impeached.
You’re going to be held accountable. I’m going to make sure of that.”
BREAKING: Democrats CAUGHT in massive fake news operation in DHS Sec. Kristi Noem hearing - lying that President Trump deported a Veteran to South Korea
Rep. Magaziner tried a "gotcha": "We are now joined on Zoom by a veteran YOU deported."
HE SELF-DEPORTED.
Sae Joon Park had a removal order over felony drug charges and bail jumping - and was NOT a citizen, but a green card holder.
You don't think that revoking his green card was a way of getting him to self-deport ?
In 2009, by Obama, after felony drugs offences and skipping bail.
It’s rather amusing to see the Democrats line up behind the idea that foreign felons shouldn’t be deported, of course totally forgetting to mention the felony bit.
It’s “Maryland Man” all over again, they think that if they keep omitting and ignoring that he’s a violent gang member, people will eventually believe he’s just a happy family man being deported by Evil Orange.
Felony drugs offences in 2009 doesn’t mean he’s a violent gang member.
In any event, is he a veteran or not, which is the actual issue being discussed.
You’re confusing two people, the gang member is a different individual the Democrats and media also keep lying about by omission.
This guy is a veteran, but he wasn’t deported, he chose to leave the US of his own volition.
Sandpit no offence but that’s total horseshit. Just because someone “self deported” under threat of indefinite detention doesn’t mean they chose to leave the US of their own volition. You really do drink the kool aid sometimes.
Except that the Democrats said he was deported by Trump. Which was a lie.
If they had said he was offered the chance to leave himself and took it, that would be truth.
There’s two sides to every story, but too many people think that whatever Trump’s opponents say is absolute truth with nothing added and nothing missing.
But there aren't two sides to every story. That's one of the problems with intense polarisation. It encourages partisans to say that when defending the indefensible.
I know this sounds bitter but I hate that film . I was hoping Stewart would jump ! I’m not averse to some feel good films but I found it just nauseating.
I'm a sucker for a feel good film.
My favourite film to watch over Christmas is Singing in the Rain .
Not a Christmas film though. (Mind you, neither is The Sound of Music though it always seemed to be on every Christmas when I was a kid.)
For similar reasons I think of The Great Escape as a Christmas film.
Yes, it used to be a highlight of my childhood Xmasses, hoping that just one time McQueen would actually make it over that second fence. When the special Xmas Radio Times arrived I would rush to see when it was going to be on - as I vaguely recall, it dropped back from the Xmas day slot to later over the bank holidays. Then it disappeared from the Christmas TV schedule altogether, but occasionally surfaces over Easter.
Anyhow, here's the dog at the very spot where the motorcycle/fence scene was filmed....
Are you sure that's not the meadow that Maria runs across singing "The hills are alive..."?
Yes, I'm sure. For the Great Escape scene, my photo is taken from where it was filmed, so if you compare the mountains on the horizon with those from the film, you can see it's the same place (I have a screenshot of McQueen there from the film, but have already posted too many photos).
For the Sound of Music, the filming spot was that meadow in the middle ground, from which the ground falls away on all sides. But the fliming angle will have been different, since my photo was taken from the viewpoint on the main road. Looking at the two photos, and the way the land falls away behind your one, I'd guess the film was shot from the high ground looking down towards the right in my photo, with a different backdrop of mountains on the horizon, not in my shot being the horizon off to the right. But it could just as easily have been shot looking left (in which case you just don't see that there's a road there, tucked below the hill).
The incompetence, leaking and complete chaos leading up to the budget had real world effects. Quelle surprise. And since the budget bond rates continue to creep up making our additional borrowing ever more expensive.
I would be interested to know who was responsble for the pre budget chaos. I don't believe it would have been Reeves. A Chancellor has enough on their plate without half baked publicity stunts. It had the devastating effect of making her look unprofessional.
Morning all, I was going to post last night but didn't get round to it.
America stands at a crossroads. We can see that the regime has two choices - fall next year, or embed itself for the long haul.
If they follow the constitution then MAGA loses control, a lot of them go to jail, and perhaps America will once again align itself with democracy instead of with dictators. But that means various people taking the brave pill and doing the right thing.
Or they do the other thing. The naughty list of media becomes the banned list. The opinion polls go the way of the economic measures he's dispensed with. And he provokes violence in cities by sending in blackshirts from out of state to create the excuse to send in more troops, arrest officials and "postpone" elections.
In either case, the World Cup will be symbolic of the state of things. A bloated absurdity of a tournament where officials want 5 years of penis size measurements and a pledge of fealty to the fuhrer before they let you into a country where tickets for the tournament cost $fuckoff.
I remember World Cup Italia 90, where for Egypt games there were a lot of Egyptian Navy personnel filling the seats. This time they will fill the seats with stormtroopers. With normals arrested at the end of the quarter...
Mike Pence was a horrible man who nodded along to many horrible things between 2016 and 2020. But at the vital moment he stood firm and did the right thing.
Is there a Mike Pence in the current Administration? I think Team MAGA learned their lesson, unfortunately.
Pence isn’t a horrible man. He’s a committed evangelical Christian and you probably don’t agree with many of his positions. But he’s not a “horrible man” any more than Sadiq Khan is.
I can cope with the concept that many evangelical "Christians" are horrible because they seem to have a bible that only has bits of Genesis and Leviticus. All that woke Jesus stuff can get right out. We're about to see the same from the Reform "Christians" where Jesus opened the temple to the shirt sellers and told thy neighbour to fuck off from whence they came.
As for Pence, his replacement is a man who called the President a Nazi and then decided that he wanted to be Rudolf Hess. Could Vance oust the regime? Sure - to install himself as leader.
The big question remains Trump. We can say pretty confidently that he has serious health conditions. Will one of these incapacitate him and thus force a change? Or like previous mad dictators does he just step it up?
That makes them wrong, not bad people.
Trump was rightly criticised for describing Khan as “horrible” and “vicious”. Others should be held to the same standard
In fact the direction of the shadows in those two photos indicate that the Sound of Music was probably shot looking to the left in my photo; my photo was middle of the day (12:52, to be precise), the film was clearly shot early morning or evening, looking at the length of her shadow.
Major investigation into GMP officers and staff making 'non-legitimate' contact with sex workers
EXCLUSIVE: Three people have been sacked and another 10 are being investigated amid a probe into 'non-legitimate contact' with sex workers, the Manchester Evening News can reveal
A major investigation into Greater Manchester Police officers and staff allegedly making 'non-legitimate' contact with sex workers has been launched. Three people have been sacked and another 10 are being investigated by the force's Anti-Corruption Unit.
The probe into 'non-legitimate' police contact with sex workers was triggered by the case of Inspector Toby Knight. The disgraced cop scheduled hundreds of meetings with sex workers on his force-issued phone, including some while he was on duty.
After serving nearly 30 years with GMP, Knight retired in May this year, the day before a gross misconduct hearing concluded that had he still been serving he would have been dismissed without notice.
The force said eight police officers - including a Superintendent who has been suspended - and two staff members are under investigation. Knight and two staff members have already been dismissed. The two sacked civilian staff members have not been named.
Four of those under investigation have been served with misconduct papers. Bosses do not believe the alleged actions of the 13 people are linked, other than by the nature of their alleged behaviour.
Last quarter I rolled out Microsoft Copilot to 4,000 employees. $30 per seat per month. $1.4 million annually. I called it "digital transformation." The board loved that phrase. They approved it in eleven minutes. No one asked what it would actually do. Including me. I told everyone it would "10x productivity." That's not a real number. But it sounds like one. HR asked how we'd measure the 10x. I said we'd "leverage analytics dashboards." They stopped asking. Three months later I checked the usage reports. 47 people had opened it. 12 had used it more than once. One of them was me. I used it to summarize an email I could have read in 30 seconds. It took 45 seconds. Plus the time it took to fix the hallucinations. But I called it a "pilot success." Success means the pilot didn't visibly fail. The CFO asked about ROI. I showed him a graph. The graph went up and to the right. It measured "AI enablement." I made that metric up. He nodded approvingly. We're "AI-enabled" now. I don't know what that means. But it's in our investor deck. A senior developer asked why we didn't use Claude or ChatGPT. I said we needed "enterprise-grade security." He asked what that meant. I said "compliance." He asked which compliance. I said "all of them." He looked skeptical. I scheduled him for a "career development conversation." He stopped asking questions. Microsoft sent a case study team. They wanted to feature us as a success story. I told them we "saved 40,000 hours." I calculated that number by multiplying employees by a number I made up. They didn't verify it. They never do. Now we're on Microsoft's website. "Global enterprise achieves 40,000 hours of productivity gains with Copilot." The CEO shared it on LinkedIn. He got 3,000 likes. He's never used Copilot. None of the executives have. We have an exemption. "Strategic focus requires minimal digital distraction." I wrote that policy. The licenses renew next month. I'm requesting an expansion. 5,000 more seats. We haven't used the first 4,000. But this time we'll "drive adoption." Adoption means mandatory training. Training means a 45-minute webinar no one watches. But completion will be tracked. Completion is a metric. Metrics go in dashboards. Dashboards go in board presentations. Board presentations get me promoted. I'll be SVP by Q3. I still don't know what Copilot does. But I know what it's for. It's for showing we're "investing in AI." Investment means spending. Spending means commitment. Commitment means we're serious about the future. The future is whatever I say it is. As long as the graph goes up and to the right.
It's terrifyingly close to our corporate rollout...
Which has a family resemblance to the coming car-crash of AI in my workplace...
Mine is rapidly adopting it, and it’s already speeding a lot of things up substantially.
There may be a market bubble, but gen AI is not a mirage.
I use Copilot every day (as well as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini) and it is brilliant. Scary. But brilliant. However I use it as a sounding board and checking tool, not to summarise bullshit reports, etc. I was chatting to people about it at my Team’s Christmas dinner on Wednesday and people have no idea about it’s power.
Hopefully you don’t put any case specific information into it
Morning all, I was going to post last night but didn't get round to it.
America stands at a crossroads. We can see that the regime has two choices - fall next year, or embed itself for the long haul.
If they follow the constitution then MAGA loses control, a lot of them go to jail, and perhaps America will once again align itself with democracy instead of with dictators. But that means various people taking the brave pill and doing the right thing.
Or they do the other thing. The naughty list of media becomes the banned list. The opinion polls go the way of the economic measures he's dispensed with. And he provokes violence in cities by sending in blackshirts from out of state to create the excuse to send in more troops, arrest officials and "postpone" elections.
In either case, the World Cup will be symbolic of the state of things. A bloated absurdity of a tournament where officials want 5 years of penis size measurements and a pledge of fealty to the fuhrer before they let you into a country where tickets for the tournament cost $fuckoff.
I remember World Cup Italia 90, where for Egypt games there were a lot of Egyptian Navy personnel filling the seats. This time they will fill the seats with stormtroopers. With normals arrested at the end of the quarter...
Mike Pence was a horrible man who nodded along to many horrible things between 2016 and 2020. But at the vital moment he stood firm and did the right thing.
Is there a Mike Pence in the current Administration? I think Team MAGA learned their lesson, unfortunately.
Pence isn’t a horrible man. He’s a committed evangelical Christian and you probably don’t agree with many of his positions. But he’s not a “horrible man” any more than Sadiq Khan is.
I can cope with the concept that many evangelical "Christians" are horrible because they seem to have a bible that only has bits of Genesis and Leviticus. All that woke Jesus stuff can get right out. We're about to see the same from the Reform "Christians" where Jesus opened the temple to the shirt sellers and told thy neighbour to fuck off from whence they came.
As for Pence, his replacement is a man who called the President a Nazi and then decided that he wanted to be Rudolf Hess. Could Vance oust the regime? Sure - to install himself as leader.
The big question remains Trump. We can say pretty confidently that he has serious health conditions. Will one of these incapacitate him and thus force a change? Or like previous mad dictators does he just step it up?
That makes them wrong, not bad people.
Trump was rightly criticised for describing Khan as “horrible” and “vicious”. Others should be held to the same standard
There are a lot of bad ideas, but very few bad people once we get past the Putins of this world.
Yes Trump does sometimes go too far with his language, and American political discourse in general is much more coarse than elsewhere, even before the current incumbent takes it to another level.
🔥 @repdeliaramirez to @KristiNoem: “Bottom Line: You lie with impunity. You reject checks & balances. You ignore Congress & the courts… you can either resign, Trump will fire you, or you’ll be impeached.
You’re going to be held accountable. I’m going to make sure of that.”
BREAKING: Democrats CAUGHT in massive fake news operation in DHS Sec. Kristi Noem hearing - lying that President Trump deported a Veteran to South Korea
Rep. Magaziner tried a "gotcha": "We are now joined on Zoom by a veteran YOU deported."
HE SELF-DEPORTED.
Sae Joon Park had a removal order over felony drug charges and bail jumping - and was NOT a citizen, but a green card holder.
You don't think that revoking his green card was a way of getting him to self-deport ?
In 2009, by Obama, after felony drugs offences and skipping bail.
It’s rather amusing to see the Democrats line up behind the idea that foreign felons shouldn’t be deported, of course totally forgetting to mention the felony bit.
It’s “Maryland Man” all over again, they think that if they keep omitting and ignoring that he’s a violent gang member, people will eventually believe he’s just a happy family man being deported by Evil Orange.
Felony drugs offences in 2009 doesn’t mean he’s a violent gang member.
In any event, is he a veteran or not, which is the actual issue being discussed.
You’re confusing two people, the gang member is a different individual the Democrats and media also keep lying about by omission.
This guy is a veteran, but he wasn’t deported, he chose to leave the US of his own volition.
Sandpit no offence but that’s total horseshit. Just because someone “self deported” under threat of indefinite detention doesn’t mean they chose to leave the US of their own volition. You really do drink the kool aid sometimes.
Except that the Democrats said he was deported by Trump. Which was a lie.
If they had said he was offered the chance to leave himself and took it, that would be truth.
There’s two sides to every story, but too many people think that whatever Trump’s opponents say is absolute truth with nothing added and nothing missing.
Shall we split the difference and say Mr Park was made an offer he couldn't refuse?
Morning all, I was going to post last night but didn't get round to it.
America stands at a crossroads. We can see that the regime has two choices - fall next year, or embed itself for the long haul.
If they follow the constitution then MAGA loses control, a lot of them go to jail, and perhaps America will once again align itself with democracy instead of with dictators. But that means various people taking the brave pill and doing the right thing.
Or they do the other thing. The naughty list of media becomes the banned list. The opinion polls go the way of the economic measures he's dispensed with. And he provokes violence in cities by sending in blackshirts from out of state to create the excuse to send in more troops, arrest officials and "postpone" elections.
In either case, the World Cup will be symbolic of the state of things. A bloated absurdity of a tournament where officials want 5 years of penis size measurements and a pledge of fealty to the fuhrer before they let you into a country where tickets for the tournament cost $fuckoff.
I remember World Cup Italia 90, where for Egypt games there were a lot of Egyptian Navy personnel filling the seats. This time they will fill the seats with stormtroopers. With normals arrested at the end of the quarter...
Mike Pence was a horrible man who nodded along to many horrible things between 2016 and 2020. But at the vital moment he stood firm and did the right thing.
Is there a Mike Pence in the current Administration? I think Team MAGA learned their lesson, unfortunately.
Pence isn’t a horrible man. He’s a committed evangelical Christian and you probably don’t agree with many of his positions. But he’s not a “horrible man” any more than Sadiq Khan is.
I can cope with the concept that many evangelical "Christians" are horrible because they seem to have a bible that only has bits of Genesis and Leviticus. All that woke Jesus stuff can get right out. We're about to see the same from the Reform "Christians" where Jesus opened the temple to the shirt sellers and told thy neighbour to fuck off from whence they came.
As for Pence, his replacement is a man who called the President a Nazi and then decided that he wanted to be Rudolf Hess. Could Vance oust the regime? Sure - to install himself as leader.
The big question remains Trump. We can say pretty confidently that he has serious health conditions. Will one of these incapacitate him and thus force a change? Or like previous mad dictators does he just step it up?
That makes them wrong, not bad people.
Trump was rightly criticised for describing Khan as “horrible” and “vicious”. Others should be held to the same standard
There are a lot of bad ideas, but very few bad people once we get past the Putins of this world.
Yes Trump does sometimes go too far with his language, and American political discourse in general is much more coarse than elsewhere, even before the current incumbent takes it to another level.
Trump is a bad person. He has been judged guilty of sexual assault and been credibly accused of much similar. He is a racist. He is openly corrupt. He is a liar. He is appeasing Russia for reasons unclear. He cheats at golf. Are Trump's supporters bad people? Not most of them. But they have voted for a guy who is ruining many people's lives and they seem to be fine with that so I don't think they are great people.
Morning all, I was going to post last night but didn't get round to it.
America stands at a crossroads. We can see that the regime has two choices - fall next year, or embed itself for the long haul.
If they follow the constitution then MAGA loses control, a lot of them go to jail, and perhaps America will once again align itself with democracy instead of with dictators. But that means various people taking the brave pill and doing the right thing.
Or they do the other thing. The naughty list of media becomes the banned list. The opinion polls go the way of the economic measures he's dispensed with. And he provokes violence in cities by sending in blackshirts from out of state to create the excuse to send in more troops, arrest officials and "postpone" elections.
In either case, the World Cup will be symbolic of the state of things. A bloated absurdity of a tournament where officials want 5 years of penis size measurements and a pledge of fealty to the fuhrer before they let you into a country where tickets for the tournament cost $fuckoff.
I remember World Cup Italia 90, where for Egypt games there were a lot of Egyptian Navy personnel filling the seats. This time they will fill the seats with stormtroopers. With normals arrested at the end of the quarter...
Mike Pence was a horrible man who nodded along to many horrible things between 2016 and 2020. But at the vital moment he stood firm and did the right thing.
Is there a Mike Pence in the current Administration? I think Team MAGA learned their lesson, unfortunately.
Pence isn’t a horrible man. He’s a committed evangelical Christian and you probably don’t agree with many of his positions. But he’s not a “horrible man” any more than Sadiq Khan is.
I can cope with the concept that many evangelical "Christians" are horrible because they seem to have a bible that only has bits of Genesis and Leviticus. All that woke Jesus stuff can get right out. We're about to see the same from the Reform "Christians" where Jesus opened the temple to the shirt sellers and told thy neighbour to fuck off from whence they came.
As for Pence, his replacement is a man who called the President a Nazi and then decided that he wanted to be Rudolf Hess. Could Vance oust the regime? Sure - to install himself as leader.
The big question remains Trump. We can say pretty confidently that he has serious health conditions. Will one of these incapacitate him and thus force a change? Or like previous mad dictators does he just step it up?
That makes them wrong, not bad people.
Trump was rightly criticised for describing Khan as “horrible” and “vicious”. Others should be held to the same standard
There are a lot of bad ideas, but very few bad people once we get past the Putins of this world.
Yes Trump does sometimes go too far with his language, and American political discourse in general is much more coarse than elsewhere, even before the current incumbent takes it to another level.
8 years ago Trump denied calling countries shitholes
Trump is unpopular, but not massively so, unfortunately. His approval rating is still 44%.
As a divisive figure in a polarised country there's a high floor to his unpopularity. It can fall to MAGA levels but MAGA is big.
The Most Intolerant Wins: The Dictatorship of the Small Minority.
The best example I know that gives insights into the functioning of a complex system is with the following situation. It suffices for an intransigent minority –a certain type of intransigent minorities –to reach a minutely small level, say three or four percent of the total population, for the entire population to have to submit to their preferences. Further, an optical illusion comes with the dominance of the minority: a naive observer would be under the impression that the choices and preferences are those of the majority.
CORRECTION - Sound of Music correction - both the opening and closing scenes were filmed in Bavaria, with the rest filmed in Austria - but the location in my photo was used for the last parts of the film, not the opening - which was filmed in the same region but a few miles to the north. You can't visit the site of the opening scene as it's privately owned and they don't want visitors. @benpointer was right; my apologies for any confusion!
🔥 @repdeliaramirez to @KristiNoem: “Bottom Line: You lie with impunity. You reject checks & balances. You ignore Congress & the courts… you can either resign, Trump will fire you, or you’ll be impeached.
You’re going to be held accountable. I’m going to make sure of that.”
BREAKING: Democrats CAUGHT in massive fake news operation in DHS Sec. Kristi Noem hearing - lying that President Trump deported a Veteran to South Korea
Rep. Magaziner tried a "gotcha": "We are now joined on Zoom by a veteran YOU deported."
HE SELF-DEPORTED.
Sae Joon Park had a removal order over felony drug charges and bail jumping - and was NOT a citizen, but a green card holder.
You don't think that revoking his green card was a way of getting him to self-deport ?
In 2009, by Obama, after felony drugs offences and skipping bail.
It’s rather amusing to see the Democrats line up behind the idea that foreign felons shouldn’t be deported, of course totally forgetting to mention the felony bit.
It’s “Maryland Man” all over again, they think that if they keep omitting and ignoring that he’s a violent gang member, people will eventually believe he’s just a happy family man being deported by Evil Orange.
Felony drugs offences in 2009 doesn’t mean he’s a violent gang member.
In any event, is he a veteran or not, which is the actual issue being discussed.
You’re confusing two people, the gang member is a different individual the Democrats and media also keep lying about by omission.
This guy is a veteran, but he wasn’t deported, he chose to leave the US of his own volition.
Sandpit no offence but that’s total horseshit. Just because someone “self deported” under threat of indefinite detention doesn’t mean they chose to leave the US of their own volition. You really do drink the kool aid sometimes.
Except that the Democrats said he was deported by Trump. Which was a lie.
If they had said he was offered the chance to leave himself and took it, that would be truth.
There’s two sides to every story, but too many people think that whatever Trump’s opponents say is absolute truth with nothing added and nothing missing.
Shall we split the difference and say Mr Park was made an offer he couldn't refuse?
That much is definitely true!
You really don’t want the US federal government going after you, especially not when the President sees your specific problem as a national priority.
I recall seeing figures that suggested that an order of magnitude more wanted people have left the country of their own volition for every one who gets deported against their will, which solves a lot of the problems without costing the government too much money.
People who have overstayed or have been ordered deported know they really should leave the US, and prefer to go quietly rather than risk a knock on the door in the middle of the night. We’ve all seen how American police “knock” on doors, they start from the assumption that anyone they’re looking for is heavily armed and go in accordingly.
The doctrines of the populist right do indeed contain much to condemn. Yet talking about them in apocalyptic terms is doomed to fail. For their own sake, and for the good of their countries, mainstream politicians and their supporters urgently need a different approach.
If demonisation is failing, what is the alternative? The answer starts with that impatience for change which the populist right harnesses so successfully—and which this newspaper shares.
For Britain, France and Germany, European economic integration is the most obvious source of growth. Yet the populists are set on a collision course with the European Union, which would lead to growth-destroying degradation of the single market. On other issues, populists latch onto discontent, but propose solutions that are foolish.
If mainstream politicians spend it shrilly demonising populists, they will doubtless make themselves feel better, but they will not help their countries. They would be wiser to subject governments-in-waiting to the democratic scrutiny they deserve.
🔥 @repdeliaramirez to @KristiNoem: “Bottom Line: You lie with impunity. You reject checks & balances. You ignore Congress & the courts… you can either resign, Trump will fire you, or you’ll be impeached.
You’re going to be held accountable. I’m going to make sure of that.”
BREAKING: Democrats CAUGHT in massive fake news operation in DHS Sec. Kristi Noem hearing - lying that President Trump deported a Veteran to South Korea
Rep. Magaziner tried a "gotcha": "We are now joined on Zoom by a veteran YOU deported."
HE SELF-DEPORTED.
Sae Joon Park had a removal order over felony drug charges and bail jumping - and was NOT a citizen, but a green card holder.
Usually the way self-deportation works is you are given a choice between self-deporting with the ability to reapply or being deported with a big red line through your record meaning you can never come back again.
It sounds good on social media posts but reality is usually more complicated (this is not to say the democrats aren’t idiots for highlighting this case)
The doctrines of the populist right do indeed contain much to condemn. Yet talking about them in apocalyptic terms is doomed to fail. For their own sake, and for the good of their countries, mainstream politicians and their supporters urgently need a different approach.
If demonisation is failing, what is the alternative? The answer starts with that impatience for change which the populist right harnesses so successfully—and which this newspaper shares.
For Britain, France and Germany, European economic integration is the most obvious source of growth. Yet the populists are set on a collision course with the European Union, which would lead to growth-destroying degradation of the single market. On other issues, populists latch onto discontent, but propose solutions that are foolish.
If mainstream politicians spend it shrilly demonising populists, they will doubtless make themselves feel better, but they will not help their countries. They would be wiser to subject governments-in-waiting to the democratic scrutiny they deserve.
Actually you can do both.
"Shrilly demonising" is a pretty loaded term from on the Economist editorialist, who themselves say "doctrines of the populist right do indeed contain much to condemn.." Are they suggesting that just be ignored ?
Major investigation into GMP officers and staff making 'non-legitimate' contact with sex workers
EXCLUSIVE: Three people have been sacked and another 10 are being investigated amid a probe into 'non-legitimate contact' with sex workers, the Manchester Evening News can reveal
A major investigation into Greater Manchester Police officers and staff allegedly making 'non-legitimate' contact with sex workers has been launched. Three people have been sacked and another 10 are being investigated by the force's Anti-Corruption Unit.
The probe into 'non-legitimate' police contact with sex workers was triggered by the case of Inspector Toby Knight. The disgraced cop scheduled hundreds of meetings with sex workers on his force-issued phone, including some while he was on duty.
After serving nearly 30 years with GMP, Knight retired in May this year, the day before a gross misconduct hearing concluded that had he still been serving he would have been dismissed without notice.
The force said eight police officers - including a Superintendent who has been suspended - and two staff members are under investigation. Knight and two staff members have already been dismissed. The two sacked civilian staff members have not been named.
Four of those under investigation have been served with misconduct papers. Bosses do not believe the alleged actions of the 13 people are linked, other than by the nature of their alleged behaviour.
Can't these people be prosecuted for Misconduct in Public Office?
The State does not eat its own.
The state does eat its own. But reluctantly and starting with the most junior (and innocent) first.
The Post Office investigation will taking 8 years. At the end, they will report that some are dead, others retired or moved on to new jobs. So it wouldn’t be in the public interest to prosecute.
But the lady who cleans on Thursdays will face a prison sentence.
🔥 @repdeliaramirez to @KristiNoem: “Bottom Line: You lie with impunity. You reject checks & balances. You ignore Congress & the courts… you can either resign, Trump will fire you, or you’ll be impeached.
You’re going to be held accountable. I’m going to make sure of that.”
BREAKING: Democrats CAUGHT in massive fake news operation in DHS Sec. Kristi Noem hearing - lying that President Trump deported a Veteran to South Korea
Rep. Magaziner tried a "gotcha": "We are now joined on Zoom by a veteran YOU deported."
HE SELF-DEPORTED.
Sae Joon Park had a removal order over felony drug charges and bail jumping - and was NOT a citizen, but a green card holder.
Usually the way self-deportation works is you are given a choice between self-deporting with the ability to reapply or being deported with a big red line through your record meaning you can never come back again.
It sounds good on social media posts but reality is usually more complicated (this is not to say the democrats aren’t idiots for highlighting this case)
Oh absolutely.
What I don’t understand is the Dems highlighting cases that, when the full facts are known, most people think probably should be deported. They hope that only half the story makes their case appear better, and trust their friendly media to keep reinforcing half the story.
Having lost to Trump, of all people, by consistently being on the wrong side of a whole bunch of 80-20 social issues, they appear not to have learned their lesson and keep doing it.
Major investigation into GMP officers and staff making 'non-legitimate' contact with sex workers
EXCLUSIVE: Three people have been sacked and another 10 are being investigated amid a probe into 'non-legitimate contact' with sex workers, the Manchester Evening News can reveal
A major investigation into Greater Manchester Police officers and staff allegedly making 'non-legitimate' contact with sex workers has been launched. Three people have been sacked and another 10 are being investigated by the force's Anti-Corruption Unit.
The probe into 'non-legitimate' police contact with sex workers was triggered by the case of Inspector Toby Knight. The disgraced cop scheduled hundreds of meetings with sex workers on his force-issued phone, including some while he was on duty.
After serving nearly 30 years with GMP, Knight retired in May this year, the day before a gross misconduct hearing concluded that had he still been serving he would have been dismissed without notice.
The force said eight police officers - including a Superintendent who has been suspended - and two staff members are under investigation. Knight and two staff members have already been dismissed. The two sacked civilian staff members have not been named.
Four of those under investigation have been served with misconduct papers. Bosses do not believe the alleged actions of the 13 people are linked, other than by the nature of their alleged behaviour.
Can't these people be prosecuted for Misconduct in Public Office?
The State does not eat its own.
The state does eat its own. But reluctantly and starting with the most junior (and innocent) first.
The Post Office investigation will taking 8 years. At the end, they will report that some are dead, others retired or moved on to new jobs. So it wouldn’t be in the public interest to prosecute.
But the lady who cleans on Thursdays will face a prison sentence.
Of the 191 people convicted of MIPO [misconduct in public office] since January 2014 where information is in the public domain from case law, law pages and news reports:
○ 92%of MIPO offenders were police and prison staff (57%police, 35%prison staff). ○ 98%of offenders were junior to mid-level officers. ○ Only four offenders occupied ‘senior executive’ office at the time of their offending. They are:
■ Peter Ball, the Bishop of Lewes (for indecent assault, and the misuse of his office and authority to manipulate young men for sexual gratification). ■ Jeffrey Cook, Business Manager at the Ministry of Defence (receiving commission payments while an employee of the MoD, at the expense of the public purse). ■ Janice McAleese, CEO of a Northern Ireland public body (making unauthorised payments to a company and receiving payments for that company). ■ James Stewart, a secondary school Headteacher (defrauding his school out of £100,000)
@Foxy , @MattW , @rcs1000 etc - just caught up on your comments from last night: fair enough, I hold my hand up: the figure I had for 1995 was clearly erroneous. On which basis I am wrong.
🔥 @repdeliaramirez to @KristiNoem: “Bottom Line: You lie with impunity. You reject checks & balances. You ignore Congress & the courts… you can either resign, Trump will fire you, or you’ll be impeached.
You’re going to be held accountable. I’m going to make sure of that.”
BREAKING: Democrats CAUGHT in massive fake news operation in DHS Sec. Kristi Noem hearing - lying that President Trump deported a Veteran to South Korea
Rep. Magaziner tried a "gotcha": "We are now joined on Zoom by a veteran YOU deported."
HE SELF-DEPORTED.
Sae Joon Park had a removal order over felony drug charges and bail jumping - and was NOT a citizen, but a green card holder.
You don't think that revoking his green card was a way of getting him to self-deport ?
In 2009, by Obama, after felony drugs offences and skipping bail.
It’s rather amusing to see the Democrats line up behind the idea that foreign felons shouldn’t be deported, of course totally forgetting to mention the felony bit.
It’s “Maryland Man” all over again, they think that if they keep omitting and ignoring that he’s a violent gang member, people will eventually believe he’s just a happy family man being deported by Evil Orange.
Felony drugs offences in 2009 doesn’t mean he’s a violent gang member.
In any event, is he a veteran or not, which is the actual issue being discussed.
You’re confusing two people, the gang member is a different individual the Democrats and media also keep lying about by omission.
This guy is a veteran, but he wasn’t deported, he chose to leave the US of his own volition.
Sandpit no offence but that’s total horseshit. Just because someone “self deported” under threat of indefinite detention doesn’t mean they chose to leave the US of their own volition. You really do drink the kool aid sometimes.
Except that the Democrats said he was deported by Trump. Which was a lie.
If they had said he was offered the chance to leave himself and took it, that would be truth.
There’s two sides to every story, but too many people think that whatever Trump’s opponents say is absolute truth with nothing added and nothing missing.
Shall we split the difference and say Mr Park was made an offer he couldn't refuse?
That much is definitely true!
You really don’t want the US federal government going after you, especially not when the President sees your specific problem as a national priority.
I recall seeing figures that suggested that an order of magnitude more wanted people have left the country of their own volition for every one who gets deported against their will, which solves a lot of the problems without costing the government too much money.
People who have overstayed or have been ordered deported know they really should leave the US, and prefer to go quietly rather than risk a knock on the door in the middle of the night. We’ve all seen how American police “knock” on doors, they start from the assumption that anyone they’re looking for is heavily armed and go in accordingly.
ICE are not a police force. They're a bunch of paramilitary thugs who routinely violate the law.
This is a good point, to wit why are those individuals and organisations who usually treat the sight of a Palestinian flag as presaging a new Holocaust silent about Farage's antisemitism?
Robert Peston @Peston · 18h JONATHAN FREEDLAND: Why Britain's Jewish leaders are silent on Farage’s schoolyard antisemitism - Jewish News
'A more truthful explanation for the Jewish organisations’ silence comes in private conversations. In those, communal figures will admit that they believe the accusations against Farage are true, but that they have made a pragmatic calculation. “He’s the coming man and right now he’s not hostile to us,” was how one senior official put it to me. They don’t want to make an enemy of a politician who, polls suggest, is heading to Downing Street.'
Eeeesht.
It might be time for polling. 37% of Republicans have some form of Holocaust denial - you'd hope that wasn't the case among Reform voters, but if they're swimming in the same social media...
The other concern is that overt support for Israel on the far-right is ultimately a function of Netanyahu's ethnic cleansing of Gaza (and the Muslims that live there), not an indicator for a particular tolerance of Jews.
🔥 @repdeliaramirez to @KristiNoem: “Bottom Line: You lie with impunity. You reject checks & balances. You ignore Congress & the courts… you can either resign, Trump will fire you, or you’ll be impeached.
You’re going to be held accountable. I’m going to make sure of that.”
BREAKING: Democrats CAUGHT in massive fake news operation in DHS Sec. Kristi Noem hearing - lying that President Trump deported a Veteran to South Korea
Rep. Magaziner tried a "gotcha": "We are now joined on Zoom by a veteran YOU deported."
HE SELF-DEPORTED.
Sae Joon Park had a removal order over felony drug charges and bail jumping - and was NOT a citizen, but a green card holder.
Usually the way self-deportation works is you are given a choice between self-deporting with the ability to reapply or being deported with a big red line through your record meaning you can never come back again.
It sounds good on social media posts but reality is usually more complicated (this is not to say the democrats aren’t idiots for highlighting this case)
Oh absolutely.
What I don’t understand is the Dems highlighting cases that, when the full facts are known, most people think probably should be deported. They hope that only half the story makes their case appear better, and trust their friendly media to keep reinforcing half the story.
Having lost to Trump, of all people, by consistently being on the wrong side of a whole bunch of 80-20 social issues, they appear not to have learned their lesson and keep doing it.
From the header on Trump's approval ratings:
🟤 Crime: -12 (was +8 in Aug) 🟤 Immigration: -22 (new low)
It seems to me that the Dems are getting their message across very effectively.
@Foxy , @MattW , @rcs1000 etc - just caught up on your comments from last night: fair enough, I hold my hand up: the figure I had for 1995 was clearly erroneous. On which basis I am wrong.
Good for you, Cookie. I've occasionally admitted the same, and perhaps should do so more often.
Major investigation into GMP officers and staff making 'non-legitimate' contact with sex workers
EXCLUSIVE: Three people have been sacked and another 10 are being investigated amid a probe into 'non-legitimate contact' with sex workers, the Manchester Evening News can reveal
A major investigation into Greater Manchester Police officers and staff allegedly making 'non-legitimate' contact with sex workers has been launched. Three people have been sacked and another 10 are being investigated by the force's Anti-Corruption Unit.
The probe into 'non-legitimate' police contact with sex workers was triggered by the case of Inspector Toby Knight. The disgraced cop scheduled hundreds of meetings with sex workers on his force-issued phone, including some while he was on duty.
After serving nearly 30 years with GMP, Knight retired in May this year, the day before a gross misconduct hearing concluded that had he still been serving he would have been dismissed without notice.
The force said eight police officers - including a Superintendent who has been suspended - and two staff members are under investigation. Knight and two staff members have already been dismissed. The two sacked civilian staff members have not been named.
Four of those under investigation have been served with misconduct papers. Bosses do not believe the alleged actions of the 13 people are linked, other than by the nature of their alleged behaviour.
Can't these people be prosecuted for Misconduct in Public Office?
The State does not eat its own.
The state does eat its own. But reluctantly and starting with the most junior (and innocent) first.
The Post Office investigation will taking 8 years. At the end, they will report that some are dead, others retired or moved on to new jobs. So it wouldn’t be in the public interest to prosecute.
But the lady who cleans on Thursdays will face a prison sentence.
Of the 191 people convicted of MIPO [misconduct in public office] since January 2014 where information is in the public domain from case law, law pages and news reports:
○ 92%of MIPO offenders were police and prison staff (57%police, 35%prison staff). ○ 98%of offenders were junior to mid-level officers. ○ Only four offenders occupied ‘senior executive’ office at the time of their offending. They are:
■ Peter Ball, the Bishop of Lewes (for indecent assault, and the misuse of his office and authority to manipulate young men for sexual gratification). ■ Jeffrey Cook, Business Manager at the Ministry of Defence (receiving commission payments while an employee of the MoD, at the expense of the public purse). ■ Janice McAleese, CEO of a Northern Ireland public body (making unauthorised payments to a company and receiving payments for that company). ■ James Stewart, a secondary school Headteacher (defrauding his school out of £100,000)
The pro-Brexit majority from 2016 has disappeared, thanks in large part to millions of Leave voters having died, according to a polling expert.
YouGov founder Peter Kellner has carried out research concluding that there is likely a pro-EU majority of around 8 million.
Using voter turnout and demographic statistics from the referendum, Kellner said it could be assumed that 5 million of those who have died voted in the referendum.
Of this 5 million, some 3.2 million will have voted Leave.
He wrote: “This means that among people who are alive today and who voted in the 2016 referendum, remainers exceed leavers by 14.3-14.2 million.”
Major investigation into GMP officers and staff making 'non-legitimate' contact with sex workers
EXCLUSIVE: Three people have been sacked and another 10 are being investigated amid a probe into 'non-legitimate contact' with sex workers, the Manchester Evening News can reveal
A major investigation into Greater Manchester Police officers and staff allegedly making 'non-legitimate' contact with sex workers has been launched. Three people have been sacked and another 10 are being investigated by the force's Anti-Corruption Unit.
The probe into 'non-legitimate' police contact with sex workers was triggered by the case of Inspector Toby Knight. The disgraced cop scheduled hundreds of meetings with sex workers on his force-issued phone, including some while he was on duty.
After serving nearly 30 years with GMP, Knight retired in May this year, the day before a gross misconduct hearing concluded that had he still been serving he would have been dismissed without notice.
The force said eight police officers - including a Superintendent who has been suspended - and two staff members are under investigation. Knight and two staff members have already been dismissed. The two sacked civilian staff members have not been named.
Four of those under investigation have been served with misconduct papers. Bosses do not believe the alleged actions of the 13 people are linked, other than by the nature of their alleged behaviour.
Can't these people be prosecuted for Misconduct in Public Office?
The State does not eat its own.
The state does eat its own. But reluctantly and starting with the most junior (and innocent) first.
The Post Office investigation will taking 8 years. At the end, they will report that some are dead, others retired or moved on to new jobs. So it wouldn’t be in the public interest to prosecute.
But the lady who cleans on Thursdays will face a prison sentence.
The separate police enquiry have spent £7m so far. For which they have conducted 7 interviews across 4 people in 6 years. No arrests. £1m per (pointless) interview, average one per year. 102 officers working on it.
Major investigation into GMP officers and staff making 'non-legitimate' contact with sex workers
EXCLUSIVE: Three people have been sacked and another 10 are being investigated amid a probe into 'non-legitimate contact' with sex workers, the Manchester Evening News can reveal
A major investigation into Greater Manchester Police officers and staff allegedly making 'non-legitimate' contact with sex workers has been launched. Three people have been sacked and another 10 are being investigated by the force's Anti-Corruption Unit.
The probe into 'non-legitimate' police contact with sex workers was triggered by the case of Inspector Toby Knight. The disgraced cop scheduled hundreds of meetings with sex workers on his force-issued phone, including some while he was on duty.
After serving nearly 30 years with GMP, Knight retired in May this year, the day before a gross misconduct hearing concluded that had he still been serving he would have been dismissed without notice.
The force said eight police officers - including a Superintendent who has been suspended - and two staff members are under investigation. Knight and two staff members have already been dismissed. The two sacked civilian staff members have not been named.
Four of those under investigation have been served with misconduct papers. Bosses do not believe the alleged actions of the 13 people are linked, other than by the nature of their alleged behaviour.
Can't these people be prosecuted for Misconduct in Public Office?
The State does not eat its own.
The state does eat its own. But reluctantly and starting with the most junior (and innocent) first.
The Post Office investigation will taking 8 years. At the end, they will report that some are dead, others retired or moved on to new jobs. So it wouldn’t be in the public interest to prosecute.
But the lady who cleans on Thursdays will face a prison sentence.
Of the 191 people convicted of MIPO [misconduct in public office] since January 2014 where information is in the public domain from case law, law pages and news reports:
○ 92%of MIPO offenders were police and prison staff (57%police, 35%prison staff). ○ 98%of offenders were junior to mid-level officers. ○ Only four offenders occupied ‘senior executive’ office at the time of their offending. They are:
■ Peter Ball, the Bishop of Lewes (for indecent assault, and the misuse of his office and authority to manipulate young men for sexual gratification). ■ Jeffrey Cook, Business Manager at the Ministry of Defence (receiving commission payments while an employee of the MoD, at the expense of the public purse). ■ Janice McAleese, CEO of a Northern Ireland public body (making unauthorised payments to a company and receiving payments for that company). ■ James Stewart, a secondary school Headteacher (defrauding his school out of £100,000)
“98% were junior to mid-level”
Indeed, but they also weren't "the lady who cleans on Thursdays".
36% means Vance probably isn't getting the fabled VP going onto a presidential victory that Van Buren, Tyler, Fillmore, Johnson, Arthur, Teddy R, Coolidge, Truman, LBJ & Bush managed.
🔥 @repdeliaramirez to @KristiNoem: “Bottom Line: You lie with impunity. You reject checks & balances. You ignore Congress & the courts… you can either resign, Trump will fire you, or you’ll be impeached.
You’re going to be held accountable. I’m going to make sure of that.”
BREAKING: Democrats CAUGHT in massive fake news operation in DHS Sec. Kristi Noem hearing - lying that President Trump deported a Veteran to South Korea
Rep. Magaziner tried a "gotcha": "We are now joined on Zoom by a veteran YOU deported."
HE SELF-DEPORTED.
Sae Joon Park had a removal order over felony drug charges and bail jumping - and was NOT a citizen, but a green card holder.
Usually the way self-deportation works is you are given a choice between self-deporting with the ability to reapply or being deported with a big red line through your record meaning you can never come back again.
It sounds good on social media posts but reality is usually more complicated (this is not to say the democrats aren’t idiots for highlighting this case)
Oh absolutely.
What I don’t understand is the Dems highlighting cases that, when the full facts are known, most people think probably should be deported. They hope that only half the story makes their case appear better, and trust their friendly media to keep reinforcing half the story.
Having lost to Trump, of all people, by consistently being on the wrong side of a whole bunch of 80-20 social issues, they appear not to have learned their lesson and keep doing it.
From the header on Trump's approval ratings:
🟤 Crime: -12 (was +8 in Aug) 🟤 Immigration: -22 (new low)
It seems to me that the Dems are getting their message across very effectively.
Trump being unpopular is different to the Dems being popular. It is probably enough for the Dems to win the next set of fair elections, if they are held. But as soon as the Dems take power, they will be unpopular again and the next MAGA will be next in line.
Just a word of warning for anyone wanting to travel to the World Cup next year: think twice before posting on this thread.
Just for the record, I shitpost as much as many about Trump on here, but didn't have the slightest difficulty getting into the US last month.
So though we can blame him for undermining the rule of law, murdering random people on the high seas, undermining the economy, trashing the constitution and destroying America's standing in the free world, we can absolve him of the ultimate crime against humanity of banning PBers from the US.
This is a good point, to wit why are those individuals and organisations who usually treat the sight of a Palestinian flag as presaging a new Holocaust silent about Farage's antisemitism?
Robert Peston @Peston · 18h JONATHAN FREEDLAND: Why Britain's Jewish leaders are silent on Farage’s schoolyard antisemitism - Jewish News
'A more truthful explanation for the Jewish organisations’ silence comes in private conversations. In those, communal figures will admit that they believe the accusations against Farage are true, but that they have made a pragmatic calculation. “He’s the coming man and right now he’s not hostile to us,” was how one senior official put it to me. They don’t want to make an enemy of a politician who, polls suggest, is heading to Downing Street.'
Eeeesht.
It might be time for polling. 37% of Republicans have some form of Holocaust denial - you'd hope that wasn't the case among Reform voters, but if they're swimming in the same social media...
The other concern is that overt support for Israel on the far-right is ultimately a function of Netanyahu's ethnic cleansing of Gaza (and the Muslims that live there), not an indicator for a particular tolerance of Jews.
In the USA support from Evangelicals on the Right for Israel is also because the return of Jews to Israel is a precursor of the Second Coming and the Apocalypse. It isn't because they like them.
36% means Vance probably isn't getting the fabled VP going onto a presidential victory that Van Buren, Tyler, Fillmore, Johnson, Arthur, Teddy R, Coolidge, Truman, LBJ & Bush managed.
Teddy R, Coolidge, Truman and LBJ were already President when they ran for the office. Tyler, Fillmore and Arthur didn't win at all; they simply inherited the office.
Given what appears to be the state of Trump's health, Vance has a fair chance of being a Fillmore.
Just a word of warning for anyone wanting to travel to the World Cup next year: think twice before posting on this thread.
Just for the record, I shitpost as much as many about Trump on here, but didn't have the slightest difficulty getting into the US last month.
So though we can blame him for undermining the rule of law, murdering random people on the high seas, undermining the economy, trashing the constitution and destroying America's standing in the free world, we can absolve him of the ultimate crime against humanity of banning PBers from the US.
He's not a monster after all.
I'm about to cancel my long-booked crossing to the US for next autumn, and am planning to take the dog to Crete instead.
Just a word of warning for anyone wanting to travel to the World Cup next year: think twice before posting on this thread.
Just for the record, I shitpost as much as many about Trump on here, but didn't have the slightest difficulty getting into the US last month.
So though we can blame him for undermining the rule of law, murdering random people on the high seas, undermining the economy, trashing the constitution and destroying America's standing in the free world, we can absolve him of the ultimate crime against humanity of banning PBers from the US.
He's not a monster after all.
I'm about to cancel my long-booked crossing to the US for next autumn, and am planning to take the dog to Crete instead.
The doctrines of the populist right do indeed contain much to condemn. Yet talking about them in apocalyptic terms is doomed to fail. For their own sake, and for the good of their countries, mainstream politicians and their supporters urgently need a different approach.
If demonisation is failing, what is the alternative? The answer starts with that impatience for change which the populist right harnesses so successfully—and which this newspaper shares.
For Britain, France and Germany, European economic integration is the most obvious source of growth. Yet the populists are set on a collision course with the European Union, which would lead to growth-destroying degradation of the single market. On other issues, populists latch onto discontent, but propose solutions that are foolish.
If mainstream politicians spend it shrilly demonising populists, they will doubtless make themselves feel better, but they will not help their countries. They would be wiser to subject governments-in-waiting to the democratic scrutiny they deserve.
The Economist is completely wrong - European economic integration might do a tiny bit to boost economic growth, but it be lost in the noise, especially for this country. It would inevitably focus on manufactured goods, which are not where we have a comparative advantage, because liberalising services is much more difficult, both practically and politically, and services are less likely to be traded. Trade with the EU is a relatively small part of our economy - exports to the EU are only about 13% of GDP. And liberalising trade with the EU comes with all sorts of constraints on sovereignty, which are exactly what made Brexit more than a fringe movement in the first place, and was perhaps the second biggest factor, after immigration, in the rise of UKIP/Reform.
The most obvious way to boost growth is to focus on competitiveness throughout the economy - deregulating product and labour markets, getting malingerers off welfare and reducing the size of the public sector. Just cutting size of the state by 3% of GDP, reversing the planned increases since Labour took power, should increase GDP by 2-3% over the long run, more if it's done in a pro-growth way, and much more than any realistic boost from closer ties with the EU, whatever the more absurd studies say.
36% means Vance probably isn't getting the fabled VP going onto a presidential victory that Van Buren, Tyler, Fillmore, Johnson, Arthur, Teddy R, Coolidge, Truman, LBJ & Bush managed.
Teddy R, Coolidge, Truman and LBJ were already President when they ran for the office. Tyler, Fillmore and Arthur didn't win at all; they simply inherited the office.
Given what appears to be the state of Trump's health, Vance has a fair chance of being a Fillmore.
I inadvertently missed out Johnson, another in the second category.
Bush senior's achievement was singular, and it's extremely unlikely to be equalled by sofa guy.
Just a word of warning for anyone wanting to travel to the World Cup next year: think twice before posting on this thread.
Just for the record, I shitpost as much as many about Trump on here, but didn't have the slightest difficulty getting into the US last month.
So though we can blame him for undermining the rule of law, murdering random people on the high seas, undermining the economy, trashing the constitution and destroying America's standing in the free world, we can absolve him of the ultimate crime against humanity of banning PBers from the US.
He's not a monster after all.
I'm about to cancel my long-booked crossing to the US for next autumn, and am planning to take the dog to Crete instead.
🔥 @repdeliaramirez to @KristiNoem: “Bottom Line: You lie with impunity. You reject checks & balances. You ignore Congress & the courts… you can either resign, Trump will fire you, or you’ll be impeached.
You’re going to be held accountable. I’m going to make sure of that.”
BREAKING: Democrats CAUGHT in massive fake news operation in DHS Sec. Kristi Noem hearing - lying that President Trump deported a Veteran to South Korea
Rep. Magaziner tried a "gotcha": "We are now joined on Zoom by a veteran YOU deported."
HE SELF-DEPORTED.
Sae Joon Park had a removal order over felony drug charges and bail jumping - and was NOT a citizen, but a green card holder.
Usually the way self-deportation works is you are given a choice between self-deporting with the ability to reapply or being deported with a big red line through your record meaning you can never come back again.
It sounds good on social media posts but reality is usually more complicated (this is not to say the democrats aren’t idiots for highlighting this case)
Oh absolutely.
What I don’t understand is the Dems highlighting cases that, when the full facts are known, most people think probably should be deported. They hope that only half the story makes their case appear better, and trust their friendly media to keep reinforcing half the story.
Having lost to Trump, of all people, by consistently being on the wrong side of a whole bunch of 80-20 social issues, they appear not to have learned their lesson and keep doing it.
From the header on Trump's approval ratings:
🟤 Crime: -12 (was +8 in Aug) 🟤 Immigration: -22 (new low)
It seems to me that the Dems are getting their message across very effectively.
Trump being unpopular is different to the Dems being popular. It is probably enough for the Dems to win the next set of fair elections, if they are held. But as soon as the Dems take power, they will be unpopular again and the next MAGA will be next in line.
There's some analysis out that contrary to common belief, the Harris campaign was actually quite effective. Where they went head-to-head with Trump in marginal states they were able to pull back. The problem was they weren't able to pull back enough with an electorate that was disinclined to give the Democrats time of day.
Major investigation into GMP officers and staff making 'non-legitimate' contact with sex workers
EXCLUSIVE: Three people have been sacked and another 10 are being investigated amid a probe into 'non-legitimate contact' with sex workers, the Manchester Evening News can reveal
A major investigation into Greater Manchester Police officers and staff allegedly making 'non-legitimate' contact with sex workers has been launched. Three people have been sacked and another 10 are being investigated by the force's Anti-Corruption Unit.
The probe into 'non-legitimate' police contact with sex workers was triggered by the case of Inspector Toby Knight. The disgraced cop scheduled hundreds of meetings with sex workers on his force-issued phone, including some while he was on duty.
After serving nearly 30 years with GMP, Knight retired in May this year, the day before a gross misconduct hearing concluded that had he still been serving he would have been dismissed without notice.
The force said eight police officers - including a Superintendent who has been suspended - and two staff members are under investigation. Knight and two staff members have already been dismissed. The two sacked civilian staff members have not been named.
Four of those under investigation have been served with misconduct papers. Bosses do not believe the alleged actions of the 13 people are linked, other than by the nature of their alleged behaviour.
Can't these people be prosecuted for Misconduct in Public Office?
The State does not eat its own.
The state does eat its own. But reluctantly and starting with the most junior (and innocent) first.
The Post Office investigation will taking 8 years. At the end, they will report that some are dead, others retired or moved on to new jobs. So it wouldn’t be in the public interest to prosecute.
But the lady who cleans on Thursdays will face a prison sentence.
Of the 191 people convicted of MIPO [misconduct in public office] since January 2014 where information is in the public domain from case law, law pages and news reports:
○ 92%of MIPO offenders were police and prison staff (57%police, 35%prison staff). ○ 98%of offenders were junior to mid-level officers. ○ Only four offenders occupied ‘senior executive’ office at the time of their offending. They are:
■ Peter Ball, the Bishop of Lewes (for indecent assault, and the misuse of his office and authority to manipulate young men for sexual gratification). ■ Jeffrey Cook, Business Manager at the Ministry of Defence (receiving commission payments while an employee of the MoD, at the expense of the public purse). ■ Janice McAleese, CEO of a Northern Ireland public body (making unauthorised payments to a company and receiving payments for that company). ■ James Stewart, a secondary school Headteacher (defrauding his school out of £100,000)
“98% were junior to mid-level”
Indeed, but they also weren't "the lady who cleans on Thursdays".
The doctrines of the populist right do indeed contain much to condemn. Yet talking about them in apocalyptic terms is doomed to fail. For their own sake, and for the good of their countries, mainstream politicians and their supporters urgently need a different approach.
If demonisation is failing, what is the alternative? The answer starts with that impatience for change which the populist right harnesses so successfully—and which this newspaper shares.
For Britain, France and Germany, European economic integration is the most obvious source of growth. Yet the populists are set on a collision course with the European Union, which would lead to growth-destroying degradation of the single market. On other issues, populists latch onto discontent, but propose solutions that are foolish.
If mainstream politicians spend it shrilly demonising populists, they will doubtless make themselves feel better, but they will not help their countries. They would be wiser to subject governments-in-waiting to the democratic scrutiny they deserve.
The Economist is completely wrong - European economic integration might do a tiny bit to boost economic growth, but it be lost in the noise, especially for this country. It would inevitably focus on manufactured goods, which are not where we have a comparative advantage, because liberalising services is much more difficult, both practically and politically, and services are less likely to be traded. Trade with the EU is a relatively small part of our economy - exports to the EU are only about 13% of GDP. And liberalising trade with the EU comes with all sorts of constraints on sovereignty, which are exactly what made Brexit more than a fringe movement in the first place, and was perhaps the second biggest factor, after immigration, in the rise of UKIP/Reform.
The most obvious way to boost growth is to focus on competitiveness throughout the economy - deregulating product and labour markets, getting malingerers off welfare and reducing the size of the public sector. Just cutting size of the state by 3% of GDP, reversing the planned increases since Labour took power, should increase GDP by 2-3% over the long run, more if it's done in a pro-growth way, and much more than any realistic boost from closer ties with the EU, whatever the more absurd studies say.
By "completely wrong" I think you mean "doesn't agree with my priors".
🔥 @repdeliaramirez to @KristiNoem: “Bottom Line: You lie with impunity. You reject checks & balances. You ignore Congress & the courts… you can either resign, Trump will fire you, or you’ll be impeached.
You’re going to be held accountable. I’m going to make sure of that.”
BREAKING: Democrats CAUGHT in massive fake news operation in DHS Sec. Kristi Noem hearing - lying that President Trump deported a Veteran to South Korea
Rep. Magaziner tried a "gotcha": "We are now joined on Zoom by a veteran YOU deported."
HE SELF-DEPORTED.
Sae Joon Park had a removal order over felony drug charges and bail jumping - and was NOT a citizen, but a green card holder.
Usually the way self-deportation works is you are given a choice between self-deporting with the ability to reapply or being deported with a big red line through your record meaning you can never come back again.
It sounds good on social media posts but reality is usually more complicated (this is not to say the democrats aren’t idiots for highlighting this case)
Oh absolutely.
What I don’t understand is the Dems highlighting cases that, when the full facts are known, most people think probably should be deported. They hope that only half the story makes their case appear better, and trust their friendly media to keep reinforcing half the story.
Having lost to Trump, of all people, by consistently being on the wrong side of a whole bunch of 80-20 social issues, they appear not to have learned their lesson and keep doing it.
From the header on Trump's approval ratings:
🟤 Crime: -12 (was +8 in Aug) 🟤 Immigration: -22 (new low)
It seems to me that the Dems are getting their message across very effectively.
Trump being unpopular is different to the Dems being popular. It is probably enough for the Dems to win the next set of fair elections, if they are held. But as soon as the Dems take power, they will be unpopular again and the next MAGA will be next in line.
There's some analysis out that contrary to common belief, the Harris campaign was actually quite effective. Where they went head-to-head with Trump in marginal states they were able to pull back. The problem was they weren't able to pull back enough with an electorate that was disinclined to give the Democrats time of day.
Also virtually every incumbent in every liberal democracy was either being replaced or at least losing ground. The unpopularity of our governments cannot be solely down to them being crap, the economic conditions have a bigger influence than candidate quality and capability.
🔥 @repdeliaramirez to @KristiNoem: “Bottom Line: You lie with impunity. You reject checks & balances. You ignore Congress & the courts… you can either resign, Trump will fire you, or you’ll be impeached.
You’re going to be held accountable. I’m going to make sure of that.”
BREAKING: Democrats CAUGHT in massive fake news operation in DHS Sec. Kristi Noem hearing - lying that President Trump deported a Veteran to South Korea
Rep. Magaziner tried a "gotcha": "We are now joined on Zoom by a veteran YOU deported."
HE SELF-DEPORTED.
Sae Joon Park had a removal order over felony drug charges and bail jumping - and was NOT a citizen, but a green card holder.
Usually the way self-deportation works is you are given a choice between self-deporting with the ability to reapply or being deported with a big red line through your record meaning you can never come back again.
It sounds good on social media posts but reality is usually more complicated (this is not to say the democrats aren’t idiots for highlighting this case)
Thing is, people are complaining that a decorated veteran gets deported. The Administration nonsensically asserts this man wasn't actually deported.
The question is whether he should be deported. The Administration aren't justifying their action but are pretending they didn't do it.
Of the thirteen local by-elections in Devon this year, the LibDems have won....all thirteen!
Piss Diamonds on the march. Unlike some, I am quite bullish about the PDs at the next GE. They are the only overtly pro-EU/anti-MAGA faction available and that might prove of increasingly salience. Mind you, we've all had enough of that fat c-nt being the nation's funcle so they probably need a leadership change at some point.
The doctrines of the populist right do indeed contain much to condemn. Yet talking about them in apocalyptic terms is doomed to fail. For their own sake, and for the good of their countries, mainstream politicians and their supporters urgently need a different approach.
If demonisation is failing, what is the alternative? The answer starts with that impatience for change which the populist right harnesses so successfully—and which this newspaper shares.
For Britain, France and Germany, European economic integration is the most obvious source of growth. Yet the populists are set on a collision course with the European Union, which would lead to growth-destroying degradation of the single market. On other issues, populists latch onto discontent, but propose solutions that are foolish.
If mainstream politicians spend it shrilly demonising populists, they will doubtless make themselves feel better, but they will not help their countries. They would be wiser to subject governments-in-waiting to the democratic scrutiny they deserve.
The Economist is completely wrong - European economic integration might do a tiny bit to boost economic growth, but it be lost in the noise, especially for this country. It would inevitably focus on manufactured goods, which are not where we have a comparative advantage, because liberalising services is much more difficult, both practically and politically, and services are less likely to be traded. Trade with the EU is a relatively small part of our economy - exports to the EU are only about 13% of GDP. And liberalising trade with the EU comes with all sorts of constraints on sovereignty, which are exactly what made Brexit more than a fringe movement in the first place, and was perhaps the second biggest factor, after immigration, in the rise of UKIP/Reform.
The most obvious way to boost growth is to focus on competitiveness throughout the economy - deregulating product and labour markets, getting malingerers off welfare and reducing the size of the public sector. Just cutting size of the state by 3% of GDP, reversing the planned increases since Labour took power, should increase GDP by 2-3% over the long run, more if it's done in a pro-growth way, and much more than any realistic boost from closer ties with the EU, whatever the more absurd studies say.
By "completely wrong" I think you mean "doesn't agree with my priors".
Mind you, we are all guilty of that.
If trade within the EU is so awesome, how come their growth is not rocketing?
It might help, but it’s not a panacea for the U.K.
The doctrines of the populist right do indeed contain much to condemn. Yet talking about them in apocalyptic terms is doomed to fail. For their own sake, and for the good of their countries, mainstream politicians and their supporters urgently need a different approach.
If demonisation is failing, what is the alternative? The answer starts with that impatience for change which the populist right harnesses so successfully—and which this newspaper shares.
For Britain, France and Germany, European economic integration is the most obvious source of growth. Yet the populists are set on a collision course with the European Union, which would lead to growth-destroying degradation of the single market. On other issues, populists latch onto discontent, but propose solutions that are foolish.
If mainstream politicians spend it shrilly demonising populists, they will doubtless make themselves feel better, but they will not help their countries. They would be wiser to subject governments-in-waiting to the democratic scrutiny they deserve.
The Economist is completely wrong - European economic integration might do a tiny bit to boost economic growth, but it be lost in the noise, especially for this country. It would inevitably focus on manufactured goods, which are not where we have a comparative advantage, because liberalising services is much more difficult, both practically and politically, and services are less likely to be traded. Trade with the EU is a relatively small part of our economy - exports to the EU are only about 13% of GDP. And liberalising trade with the EU comes with all sorts of constraints on sovereignty, which are exactly what made Brexit more than a fringe movement in the first place, and was perhaps the second biggest factor, after immigration, in the rise of UKIP/Reform.
The most obvious way to boost growth is to focus on competitiveness throughout the economy - deregulating product and labour markets, getting malingerers off welfare and reducing the size of the public sector. Just cutting size of the state by 3% of GDP, reversing the planned increases since Labour took power, should increase GDP by 2-3% over the long run, more if it's done in a pro-growth way, and much more than any realistic boost from closer ties with the EU, whatever the more absurd studies say.
It's not at all clear that cutting the size of the public sector would increase GDP at all. Internationally, there seems to be little correlation between government spending as share of GDP and GDP per capita. The Nordic states, for example, have both large public sectors and high GDP per capita, while there are plenty of countries with little public spending and low GDP per capita. And then, of course, there is the question of the extent to which GDP per capita is actually a good reflection of quality of life.
The doctrines of the populist right do indeed contain much to condemn. Yet talking about them in apocalyptic terms is doomed to fail. For their own sake, and for the good of their countries, mainstream politicians and their supporters urgently need a different approach.
If demonisation is failing, what is the alternative? The answer starts with that impatience for change which the populist right harnesses so successfully—and which this newspaper shares.
For Britain, France and Germany, European economic integration is the most obvious source of growth. Yet the populists are set on a collision course with the European Union, which would lead to growth-destroying degradation of the single market. On other issues, populists latch onto discontent, but propose solutions that are foolish.
If mainstream politicians spend it shrilly demonising populists, they will doubtless make themselves feel better, but they will not help their countries. They would be wiser to subject governments-in-waiting to the democratic scrutiny they deserve.
The Economist is completely wrong - European economic integration might do a tiny bit to boost economic growth, but it be lost in the noise, especially for this country. It would inevitably focus on manufactured goods, which are not where we have a comparative advantage, because liberalising services is much more difficult, both practically and politically, and services are less likely to be traded. Trade with the EU is a relatively small part of our economy - exports to the EU are only about 13% of GDP. And liberalising trade with the EU comes with all sorts of constraints on sovereignty, which are exactly what made Brexit more than a fringe movement in the first place, and was perhaps the second biggest factor, after immigration, in the rise of UKIP/Reform.
The most obvious way to boost growth is to focus on competitiveness throughout the economy - deregulating product and labour markets, getting malingerers off welfare and reducing the size of the public sector. Just cutting size of the state by 3% of GDP, reversing the planned increases since Labour took power, should increase GDP by 2-3% over the long run, more if it's done in a pro-growth way, and much more than any realistic boost from closer ties with the EU, whatever the more absurd studies say.
I have been a subscriber since school and I am on the brink of cancelling my subscription to The Economist. The New "Insider" video interviews are pathetic- the interview with Bannon might as well have been done by Russell Harty it was so weak. The analysis of UK politics used to be a High Table discussion of principles, but is now the same kind of shallow tactical analysis that you can find anywhere- including here- and is increasingly an insult to the intelligence of the reader. Whereas overseas reporting was once detailed and informed, increasingly it is generic and phoned in by stringers. The Economist now follows the herd and lacks the intellectual grip and independence that once made it worth the subscription.
For example: last week's UK op-ed managed to be a complete survey of UK politics that was useful only in that it was both trite and completely wrong and while dwelling on the Greens- 5 MPs- and Reform -5 MPs, managed to avoid discussing the Lib Dems -72 MPs- at all, without any kind of explanation. This was the second time in the past few weeks that the Zanny Minton Beddoes made this call, and now she wishes to offer a softly softly approach to fascism. I will be watching, but one more bullshit story will be the final straw.
It is essential to government policy to have both high (because debt) and low (because votes) inflation at the same time. My guess is they will resolve the dilemma by talking low and acting for high. The BoE seems to me to be abandoning its 2% remit, which is a highly political act.
Just a word of warning for anyone wanting to travel to the World Cup next year: think twice before posting on this thread.
Just for the record, I shitpost as much as many about Trump on here, but didn't have the slightest difficulty getting into the US last month.
So though we can blame him for undermining the rule of law, murdering random people on the high seas, undermining the economy, trashing the constitution and destroying America's standing in the free world, we can absolve him of the ultimate crime against humanity of banning PBers from the US.
He's not a monster after all.
Ah but that's only because of your posts praising billionaire-friendly trickledown economics. That's what saved you.
The doctrines of the populist right do indeed contain much to condemn. Yet talking about them in apocalyptic terms is doomed to fail. For their own sake, and for the good of their countries, mainstream politicians and their supporters urgently need a different approach.
If demonisation is failing, what is the alternative? The answer starts with that impatience for change which the populist right harnesses so successfully—and which this newspaper shares.
For Britain, France and Germany, European economic integration is the most obvious source of growth. Yet the populists are set on a collision course with the European Union, which would lead to growth-destroying degradation of the single market. On other issues, populists latch onto discontent, but propose solutions that are foolish.
If mainstream politicians spend it shrilly demonising populists, they will doubtless make themselves feel better, but they will not help their countries. They would be wiser to subject governments-in-waiting to the democratic scrutiny they deserve.
The Economist is completely wrong - European economic integration might do a tiny bit to boost economic growth, but it be lost in the noise, especially for this country. It would inevitably focus on manufactured goods, which are not where we have a comparative advantage, because liberalising services is much more difficult, both practically and politically, and services are less likely to be traded. Trade with the EU is a relatively small part of our economy - exports to the EU are only about 13% of GDP. And liberalising trade with the EU comes with all sorts of constraints on sovereignty, which are exactly what made Brexit more than a fringe movement in the first place, and was perhaps the second biggest factor, after immigration, in the rise of UKIP/Reform.
The most obvious way to boost growth is to focus on competitiveness throughout the economy - deregulating product and labour markets, getting malingerers off welfare and reducing the size of the public sector. Just cutting size of the state by 3% of GDP, reversing the planned increases since Labour took power, should increase GDP by 2-3% over the long run, more if it's done in a pro-growth way, and much more than any realistic boost from closer ties with the EU, whatever the more absurd studies say.
By "completely wrong" I think you mean "doesn't agree with my priors".
Mind you, we are all guilty of that.
If trade within the EU is so awesome, how come their growth is not rocketing?
It might help, but it’s not a panacea for the U.K.
I should have answered @Fishing on their points. Fishing reckons a possible 3% improvement in GDP through efficiency savings. This compares with the consensus by economists that leaving the EU has had a 6% to 8% hit to GDP so far due to loss of trade, investment and productivity. They aren't either/or. You can reduce welfare and stay in your most important market.
The doctrines of the populist right do indeed contain much to condemn. Yet talking about them in apocalyptic terms is doomed to fail. For their own sake, and for the good of their countries, mainstream politicians and their supporters urgently need a different approach.
If demonisation is failing, what is the alternative? The answer starts with that impatience for change which the populist right harnesses so successfully—and which this newspaper shares.
For Britain, France and Germany, European economic integration is the most obvious source of growth. Yet the populists are set on a collision course with the European Union, which would lead to growth-destroying degradation of the single market. On other issues, populists latch onto discontent, but propose solutions that are foolish.
If mainstream politicians spend it shrilly demonising populists, they will doubtless make themselves feel better, but they will not help their countries. They would be wiser to subject governments-in-waiting to the democratic scrutiny they deserve.
The Economist is completely wrong - European economic integration might do a tiny bit to boost economic growth, but it be lost in the noise, especially for this country. It would inevitably focus on manufactured goods, which are not where we have a comparative advantage, because liberalising services is much more difficult, both practically and politically, and services are less likely to be traded. Trade with the EU is a relatively small part of our economy - exports to the EU are only about 13% of GDP. And liberalising trade with the EU comes with all sorts of constraints on sovereignty, which are exactly what made Brexit more than a fringe movement in the first place, and was perhaps the second biggest factor, after immigration, in the rise of UKIP/Reform.
The most obvious way to boost growth is to focus on competitiveness throughout the economy - deregulating product and labour markets, getting malingerers off welfare and reducing the size of the public sector. Just cutting size of the state by 3% of GDP, reversing the planned increases since Labour took power, should increase GDP by 2-3% over the long run, more if it's done in a pro-growth way, and much more than any realistic boost from closer ties with the EU, whatever the more absurd studies say.
I have been a subscriber since school and I am on the brink of cancelling my subscription to The Economist. The New "Insider" video interviews are pathetic- the interview with Bannon might as well have been done by Russell Harty it was so weak. The analysis of UK politics used to be a High Table discussion of principles, but is now the same kind of shallow tactical analysis that you can find anywhere- including here- and is increasingly an insult to the intelligence of the reader. Whereas overseas reporting was once detailed and informed, increasingly it is generic and phoned in by stringers. The Economist now follows the herd and lacks the intellectual grip and independence that once made it worth the subscription.
For example: last week's UK op-ed managed to be a complete survey of UK politics that was useful only in that it was both trite and completely wrong and while dwelling on the Greens- 5 MPs- and Reform -5 MPs, managed to avoid discussing the Lib Dems -72 MPs- at all, without any kind of explanation. This was the second time in the past few weeks that the Zanny Minton Beddoes made this call, and now she wishes to offer a softly softly approach to fascism. I will be watching, but one more bullshit story will be the final straw.
I see the LibDem conversion to belief in FPTP continues apace.
Reform got more votes, Greens more than half as many.
The incompetence, leaking and complete chaos leading up to the budget had real world effects. Quelle surprise. And since the budget bond rates continue to creep up making our additional borrowing ever more expensive.
I would be interested to know who was responsble for the pre budget chaos. I don't believe it would have been Reeves. A Chancellor has enough on their plate without half baked publicity stunts. It had the devastating effect of making her look unprofessional.
Well there is a leak inquiry but anyone who watched Yes Minister knows how useful they are.
I think she needed to persuade her colleagues that she needed to increase taxes by a substantial amount again, contrary to what she said in her previous budget. I think she told them that if they did not do this there would have to be serious cuts to ensure her fiscal rules were complied with and I suspect some of the mood music prior to the budget was intended to create that atmosphere. That would fit with her slightly bizarre speech before the budget and the persistence of the stories that there was an immediate short term overspend which did not in fact exist. It is a different question as to whether or not any particular "leak" was authorised or not. And it more than somewhat backfired. How much of this Starmer even understood heaven only knows.
The doctrines of the populist right do indeed contain much to condemn. Yet talking about them in apocalyptic terms is doomed to fail. For their own sake, and for the good of their countries, mainstream politicians and their supporters urgently need a different approach.
If demonisation is failing, what is the alternative? The answer starts with that impatience for change which the populist right harnesses so successfully—and which this newspaper shares.
For Britain, France and Germany, European economic integration is the most obvious source of growth. Yet the populists are set on a collision course with the European Union, which would lead to growth-destroying degradation of the single market. On other issues, populists latch onto discontent, but propose solutions that are foolish.
If mainstream politicians spend it shrilly demonising populists, they will doubtless make themselves feel better, but they will not help their countries. They would be wiser to subject governments-in-waiting to the democratic scrutiny they deserve.
The Economist is completely wrong - European economic integration might do a tiny bit to boost economic growth, but it be lost in the noise, especially for this country. It would inevitably focus on manufactured goods, which are not where we have a comparative advantage, because liberalising services is much more difficult, both practically and politically, and services are less likely to be traded. Trade with the EU is a relatively small part of our economy - exports to the EU are only about 13% of GDP. And liberalising trade with the EU comes with all sorts of constraints on sovereignty, which are exactly what made Brexit more than a fringe movement in the first place, and was perhaps the second biggest factor, after immigration, in the rise of UKIP/Reform.
The most obvious way to boost growth is to focus on competitiveness throughout the economy - deregulating product and labour markets, getting malingerers off welfare and reducing the size of the public sector. Just cutting size of the state by 3% of GDP, reversing the planned increases since Labour took power, should increase GDP by 2-3% over the long run, more if it's done in a pro-growth way, and much more than any realistic boost from closer ties with the EU, whatever the more absurd studies say.
I have been a subscriber since school and I am on the brink of cancelling my subscription to The Economist. The New "Insider" video interviews are pathetic- the interview with Bannon might as well have been done by Russell Harty it was so weak. The analysis of UK politics used to be a High Table discussion of principles, but is now the same kind of shallow tactical analysis that you can find anywhere- including here- and is increasingly an insult to the intelligence of the reader. Whereas overseas reporting was once detailed and informed, increasingly it is generic and phoned in by stringers. The Economist now follows the herd and lacks the intellectual grip and independence that once made it worth the subscription.
For example: last week's UK op-ed managed to be a complete survey of UK politics that was useful only in that it was both trite and completely wrong and while dwelling on the Greens- 5 MPs- and Reform -5 MPs, managed to avoid discussing the Lib Dems -72 MPs- at all, without any kind of explanation. This was the second time in the past few weeks that the Zanny Minton Beddoes made this call, and now she wishes to offer a softly softly approach to fascism. I will be watching, but one more bullshit story will be the final straw.
I see the LibDem conversion to belief in FPTP continues apace.
Reform got more votes, Greens more than half as many.
I think most Lib Dems are still very much in favour of replacing FPTP with a more proportional system, even though they have managed to achieve some success under the current system. I imagine the biggest change of opinion has been among Reform supporters, the majority of whom probably voted against the alternative vote system in 2011.
The doctrines of the populist right do indeed contain much to condemn. Yet talking about them in apocalyptic terms is doomed to fail. For their own sake, and for the good of their countries, mainstream politicians and their supporters urgently need a different approach.
If demonisation is failing, what is the alternative? The answer starts with that impatience for change which the populist right harnesses so successfully—and which this newspaper shares.
For Britain, France and Germany, European economic integration is the most obvious source of growth. Yet the populists are set on a collision course with the European Union, which would lead to growth-destroying degradation of the single market. On other issues, populists latch onto discontent, but propose solutions that are foolish.
If mainstream politicians spend it shrilly demonising populists, they will doubtless make themselves feel better, but they will not help their countries. They would be wiser to subject governments-in-waiting to the democratic scrutiny they deserve.
The Economist is completely wrong - European economic integration might do a tiny bit to boost economic growth, but it be lost in the noise, especially for this country. It would inevitably focus on manufactured goods, which are not where we have a comparative advantage, because liberalising services is much more difficult, both practically and politically, and services are less likely to be traded. Trade with the EU is a relatively small part of our economy - exports to the EU are only about 13% of GDP. And liberalising trade with the EU comes with all sorts of constraints on sovereignty, which are exactly what made Brexit more than a fringe movement in the first place, and was perhaps the second biggest factor, after immigration, in the rise of UKIP/Reform.
The most obvious way to boost growth is to focus on competitiveness throughout the economy - deregulating product and labour markets, getting malingerers off welfare and reducing the size of the public sector. Just cutting size of the state by 3% of GDP, reversing the planned increases since Labour took power, should increase GDP by 2-3% over the long run, more if it's done in a pro-growth way, and much more than any realistic boost from closer ties with the EU, whatever the more absurd studies say.
By "completely wrong" I think you mean "doesn't agree with my priors".
Mind you, we are all guilty of that.
If trade within the EU is so awesome, how come their growth is not rocketing?
It might help, but it’s not a panacea for the U.K.
Prior to the Brexit vote the UK consistently grew faster than the EU27. Since the Brexit vote the UK has consistently grown more slowly than the EU27. We made extremely good use of the EU single market when we were members, and we are struggling outside of the single market. Anyone with an ounce of economic literacy knows this to be the case. Right now I would take "might help". When it comes to economic growth there are no panaceas.
A rare case of agreement between the USA government and right thinking people.
A law imposing the death penalty for use of Comic Sans would be even better. Especially in primary schools.
As the Romans allegedly once said Straight is great, curvy is pervy. All right thinking people use TNR for all official documents. It is clear, it is clean, it is less smudgy and it is right.
The doctrines of the populist right do indeed contain much to condemn. Yet talking about them in apocalyptic terms is doomed to fail. For their own sake, and for the good of their countries, mainstream politicians and their supporters urgently need a different approach.
If demonisation is failing, what is the alternative? The answer starts with that impatience for change which the populist right harnesses so successfully—and which this newspaper shares.
For Britain, France and Germany, European economic integration is the most obvious source of growth. Yet the populists are set on a collision course with the European Union, which would lead to growth-destroying degradation of the single market. On other issues, populists latch onto discontent, but propose solutions that are foolish.
If mainstream politicians spend it shrilly demonising populists, they will doubtless make themselves feel better, but they will not help their countries. They would be wiser to subject governments-in-waiting to the democratic scrutiny they deserve.
The Economist is completely wrong - European economic integration might do a tiny bit to boost economic growth, but it be lost in the noise, especially for this country. It would inevitably focus on manufactured goods, which are not where we have a comparative advantage, because liberalising services is much more difficult, both practically and politically, and services are less likely to be traded. Trade with the EU is a relatively small part of our economy - exports to the EU are only about 13% of GDP. And liberalising trade with the EU comes with all sorts of constraints on sovereignty, which are exactly what made Brexit more than a fringe movement in the first place, and was perhaps the second biggest factor, after immigration, in the rise of UKIP/Reform.
The most obvious way to boost growth is to focus on competitiveness throughout the economy - deregulating product and labour markets, getting malingerers off welfare and reducing the size of the public sector. Just cutting size of the state by 3% of GDP, reversing the planned increases since Labour took power, should increase GDP by 2-3% over the long run, more if it's done in a pro-growth way, and much more than any realistic boost from closer ties with the EU, whatever the more absurd studies say.
I have been a subscriber since school and I am on the brink of cancelling my subscription to The Economist. The New "Insider" video interviews are pathetic- the interview with Bannon might as well have been done by Russell Harty it was so weak. The analysis of UK politics used to be a High Table discussion of principles, but is now the same kind of shallow tactical analysis that you can find anywhere- including here- and is increasingly an insult to the intelligence of the reader. Whereas overseas reporting was once detailed and informed, increasingly it is generic and phoned in by stringers. The Economist now follows the herd and lacks the intellectual grip and independence that once made it worth the subscription.
For example: last week's UK op-ed managed to be a complete survey of UK politics that was useful only in that it was both trite and completely wrong and while dwelling on the Greens- 5 MPs- and Reform -5 MPs, managed to avoid discussing the Lib Dems -72 MPs- at all, without any kind of explanation. This was the second time in the past few weeks that the Zanny Minton Beddoes made this call, and now she wishes to offer a softly softly approach to fascism. I will be watching, but one more bullshit story will be the final straw.
I see the LibDem conversion to belief in FPTP continues apace.
Reform got more votes, Greens more than half as many.
I think most Lib Dems are still very much in favour of replacing FPTP with a more proportional system, even though they have managed to achieve some success under the current system. I imagine the biggest change of opinion has been among Reform supporters, the majority of whom probably voted against the alternative vote system in 2011.
Some might observe that FPTP stopping a flood of Reform/Green MPs is more of a feature than a bug
The doctrines of the populist right do indeed contain much to condemn. Yet talking about them in apocalyptic terms is doomed to fail. For their own sake, and for the good of their countries, mainstream politicians and their supporters urgently need a different approach.
If demonisation is failing, what is the alternative? The answer starts with that impatience for change which the populist right harnesses so successfully—and which this newspaper shares.
For Britain, France and Germany, European economic integration is the most obvious source of growth. Yet the populists are set on a collision course with the European Union, which would lead to growth-destroying degradation of the single market. On other issues, populists latch onto discontent, but propose solutions that are foolish.
If mainstream politicians spend it shrilly demonising populists, they will doubtless make themselves feel better, but they will not help their countries. They would be wiser to subject governments-in-waiting to the democratic scrutiny they deserve.
The Economist is completely wrong - European economic integration might do a tiny bit to boost economic growth, but it be lost in the noise, especially for this country. It would inevitably focus on manufactured goods, which are not where we have a comparative advantage, because liberalising services is much more difficult, both practically and politically, and services are less likely to be traded. Trade with the EU is a relatively small part of our economy - exports to the EU are only about 13% of GDP. And liberalising trade with the EU comes with all sorts of constraints on sovereignty, which are exactly what made Brexit more than a fringe movement in the first place, and was perhaps the second biggest factor, after immigration, in the rise of UKIP/Reform.
The most obvious way to boost growth is to focus on competitiveness throughout the economy - deregulating product and labour markets, getting malingerers off welfare and reducing the size of the public sector. Just cutting size of the state by 3% of GDP, reversing the planned increases since Labour took power, should increase GDP by 2-3% over the long run, more if it's done in a pro-growth way, and much more than any realistic boost from closer ties with the EU, whatever the more absurd studies say.
I have been a subscriber since school and I am on the brink of cancelling my subscription to The Economist. The New "Insider" video interviews are pathetic- the interview with Bannon might as well have been done by Russell Harty it was so weak. The analysis of UK politics used to be a High Table discussion of principles, but is now the same kind of shallow tactical analysis that you can find anywhere- including here- and is increasingly an insult to the intelligence of the reader. Whereas overseas reporting was once detailed and informed, increasingly it is generic and phoned in by stringers. The Economist now follows the herd and lacks the intellectual grip and independence that once made it worth the subscription.
For example: last week's UK op-ed managed to be a complete survey of UK politics that was useful only in that it was both trite and completely wrong and while dwelling on the Greens- 5 MPs- and Reform -5 MPs, managed to avoid discussing the Lib Dems -72 MPs- at all, without any kind of explanation. This was the second time in the past few weeks that the Zanny Minton Beddoes made this call, and now she wishes to offer a softly softly approach to fascism. I will be watching, but one more bullshit story will be the final straw.
I see the LibDem conversion to belief in FPTP continues apace.
Reform got more votes, Greens more than half as many.
You can support the rules being changed, but you still have to play by the current rules. The next general election is probably going to be fought on FPTP, and the last one definitely was! Current predictions all point to a big LibDem block of MPs after the next election, and many predictions are for a hung Parliament. So, whether FPTP is sensible or not (it’s not), a good analysis of UK politics and what happens next should remember the LibDems exist!
Comments
(Is Summer Holiday a Christmas film?)
It’s rather amusing to see the Democrats line up behind the idea that foreign felons shouldn’t be deported, of course totally forgetting to mention the felony bit.
It’s “Maryland Man” all over again, they think that if they keep omitting and ignoring that he’s a violent gang member, people will eventually believe he’s just a happy family man being deported by Evil Orange.
The Tories nearly won both seats in Lincolnshire, as well as holding on in Stockton and Lichfield.
Their problem is next year they’ll be defending seats won in 2021, as well as 2022, so they’ll suffer big headline losses to Reform, even if their vote share continues to recover, a bit.
In any event, is he a veteran or not, which is the actual issue being discussed.
Anyhow, here's the dog at the very spot where the motorcycle/fence scene was filmed....actually nowhere near Switzerland!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-H_DyZaRJV0
This guy is a veteran, but he wasn’t deported, he chose to leave the US of his own volition.
With marks for speed, paper used, neatness.
If they had said he was offered the chance to leave himself and took it, that would be truth.
There’s two sides to every story, but too many people think that whatever Trump’s opponents say is absolute truth with nothing added and nothing missing.
Why the f do you keep defending the Trump administration? What bit of their policymaking do you like so much? Undermining NATO? Pardoning people who buy Trumpcoin? Trying to hand Ukraine over to Putin?
Compelling narrative and theme first, truth very distant second.
I suppose at least you can't be breaking patient confidentiality if you're making it up...
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was accused of misleading House Homeland Security Committee members when she said she was departing a Thursday hearing early to attend another meeting that was actually canceled.
It’s an assertion denied by Noem’s office, which said she only found out her meeting was canceled after she left the witness table.
Apparently studies have shown that if the wrapping is too neat, the recipients' expectations of the quality of the gift rise, leading to increased disappointment if they are not met
For the Sound of Music, the filming spot was that meadow in the middle ground, from which the ground falls away on all sides. But the fliming angle will have been different, since my photo was taken from the viewpoint on the main road. Looking at the two photos, and the way the land falls away behind your one, I'd guess the film was shot from the high ground looking down towards the right in my photo, with a different backdrop of mountains on the horizon, not in my shot being the horizon off to the right. But it could just as easily have been shot looking left (in which case you just don't see that there's a road there, tucked below the hill).
Trump was rightly criticised for describing Khan as “horrible” and “vicious”. Others should be held to the same standard
Yes Trump does sometimes go too far with his language, and American political discourse in general is much more coarse than elsewhere, even before the current incumbent takes it to another level.
Are Trump's supporters bad people? Not most of them. But they have voted for a guy who is ruining many people's lives and they seem to be fine with that so I don't think they are great people.
Now he boasts about it
https://medium.com/incerto/the-most-intolerant-wins-the-dictatorship-of-the-small-minority-3f1f83ce4e15
You really don’t want the US federal government going after you, especially not when the President sees your specific problem as a national priority.
I recall seeing figures that suggested that an order of magnitude more wanted people have left the country of their own volition for every one who gets deported against their will, which solves a lot of the problems without costing the government too much money.
People who have overstayed or have been ordered deported know they really should leave the US, and prefer to go quietly rather than risk a knock on the door in the middle of the night. We’ve all seen how American police “knock” on doors, they start from the assumption that anyone they’re looking for is heavily armed and go in accordingly.
https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/12/11/can-anyone-stop-europes-populist-right
The doctrines of the populist right do indeed contain much to condemn. Yet talking about them in apocalyptic terms is doomed to fail. For their own sake, and for the good of their countries, mainstream politicians and their supporters urgently need a different approach.
If demonisation is failing, what is the alternative? The answer starts with that impatience for change which the populist right harnesses so successfully—and which this newspaper shares.
For Britain, France and Germany, European economic integration is the most obvious source of growth. Yet the populists are set on a collision course with the European Union, which would lead to growth-destroying degradation of the single market. On other issues, populists latch onto discontent, but propose solutions that are foolish.
If mainstream politicians spend it shrilly demonising populists, they will doubtless make themselves feel better, but they will not help their countries. They would be wiser to subject governments-in-waiting to the democratic scrutiny they deserve.
It sounds good on social media posts but reality is usually more complicated (this is not to say the democrats aren’t idiots for highlighting this case)
"Shrilly demonising" is a pretty loaded term from on the Economist editorialist, who themselves say "doctrines of the populist right do indeed contain much to condemn.."
Are they suggesting that just be ignored ?
The Post Office investigation will taking 8 years. At the end, they will report that some are dead, others retired or moved on to new jobs. So it wouldn’t be in the public interest to prosecute.
But the lady who cleans on Thursdays will face a prison sentence.
What I don’t understand is the Dems highlighting cases that, when the full facts are known, most people think probably should be deported. They hope that only half the story makes their case appear better, and trust their friendly media to keep reinforcing half the story.
Having lost to Trump, of all people, by consistently being on the wrong side of a whole bunch of 80-20 social issues, they appear not to have learned their lesson and keep doing it.
Of the 191 people convicted of MIPO [misconduct in public office] since January 2014 where information is in the
public domain from case law, law pages and news reports:
○ 92%of MIPO offenders were police and prison staff (57%police, 35%prison staff).
○ 98%of offenders were junior to mid-level officers.
○ Only four offenders occupied ‘senior executive’ office at the time of their
offending. They are:
■ Peter Ball, the Bishop of Lewes (for indecent assault, and the misuse of his office and
authority to manipulate young men for sexual gratification).
■ Jeffrey Cook, Business Manager at the Ministry of Defence (receiving commission payments
while an employee of the MoD, at the expense of the public purse).
■ Janice McAleese, CEO of a Northern Ireland public body (making unauthorised payments to a
company and receiving payments for that company).
■ James Stewart, a secondary school Headteacher (defrauding his school out of £100,000)
They're a bunch of paramilitary thugs who routinely violate the law.
And they are increasingly unpopular.
https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/53394-majorities-of-americans-disapprove-of-ice
It might be time for polling. 37% of Republicans have some form of Holocaust denial - you'd hope that wasn't the case among Reform voters, but if they're swimming in the same social media...
The other concern is that overt support for Israel on the far-right is ultimately a function of Netanyahu's ethnic cleansing of Gaza (and the Muslims that live there), not an indicator for a particular tolerance of Jews.
🟤 Crime: -12 (was +8 in Aug)
🟤 Immigration: -22 (new low)
It seems to me that the Dems are getting their message across very effectively.
I've occasionally admitted the same, and perhaps should do so more often.
The pro-Brexit majority from 2016 has disappeared, thanks in large part to millions of Leave voters having died, according to a polling expert.
YouGov founder Peter Kellner has carried out research concluding that there is likely a pro-EU majority of around 8 million.
Using voter turnout and demographic statistics from the referendum, Kellner said it could be assumed that 5 million of those who have died voted in the referendum.
Of this 5 million, some 3.2 million will have voted Leave.
He wrote: “This means that among people who are alive today and who voted in the 2016 referendum, remainers exceed leavers by 14.3-14.2 million.”
So though we can blame him for undermining the rule of law, murdering random people on the high seas, undermining the economy, trashing the constitution and destroying America's standing in the free world, we can absolve him of the ultimate crime against humanity of banning PBers from the US.
He's not a monster after all.
Tyler, Fillmore and Arthur didn't win at all; they simply inherited the office.
Given what appears to be the state of Trump's health, Vance has a fair chance of being a Fillmore.
https://vote-2012.proboards.com/thread/19796/local-council-elections-11th-december?page=3
Andrew Sentance
@asentance
A cut in interest rates is not a “silver lining” when inflation is running persistently above target and unlikely to fall significantly next year.
https://x.com/asentance/status/1999404212501762380
The most obvious way to boost growth is to focus on competitiveness throughout the economy - deregulating product and labour markets, getting malingerers off welfare and reducing the size of the public sector. Just cutting size of the state by 3% of GDP, reversing the planned increases since Labour took power, should increase GDP by 2-3% over the long run, more if it's done in a pro-growth way, and much more than any realistic boost from closer ties with the EU, whatever the more absurd studies say.
Bush senior's achievement was singular, and it's extremely unlikely to be equalled by sofa guy.
https://x.com/crowleyonair/status/1999435592313323664?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q
Mind you, we are all guilty of that.
Ref UK 1177
SNP 1028
Lab 627
Ind Lynch 484
Con 129
LD 102
Green 101
Ind Millar 27
Clearly they are at the very least a threat to Lab and Con in the working class central belt
The question is whether he should be deported. The Administration aren't justifying their action but are pretending they didn't do it.
It might help, but it’s not a panacea for the U.K.
For example: last week's UK op-ed managed to be a complete survey of UK politics that was useful only in that it was both trite and completely wrong and while dwelling on the Greens- 5 MPs- and Reform -5 MPs, managed to avoid discussing the Lib Dems -72 MPs- at all, without any kind of explanation. This was the second time in the past few weeks that the Zanny Minton Beddoes made this call, and now she wishes to offer a softly softly approach to fascism. I will be watching, but one more bullshit story will be the final straw.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgkez3367xmo
I should have answered @Fishing on their points. Fishing reckons a possible 3% improvement in GDP through efficiency savings. This compares with the consensus by economists that leaving the EU has had a 6% to 8% hit to GDP so far due to loss of trade, investment and productivity. They aren't either/or. You can reduce welfare and stay in your most important market.
https://www.itv.com/news/london/2025-12-11/tfl-fares-to-rise-by-58-thats-more-than-the-rate-of-inflation
Reform got more votes, Greens more than half as many.
A law imposing the death penalty for use of Comic Sans would be even better. Especially in primary schools.
I think she needed to persuade her colleagues that she needed to increase taxes by a substantial amount again, contrary to what she said in her previous budget. I think she told them that if they did not do this there would have to be serious cuts to ensure her fiscal rules were complied with and I suspect some of the mood music prior to the budget was intended to create that atmosphere. That would fit with her slightly bizarre speech before the budget and the persistence of the stories that there was an immediate short term overspend which did not in fact exist. It is a different question as to whether or not any particular "leak" was authorised or not. And it more than somewhat backfired. How much of this Starmer even understood heaven only knows.
Right now I would take "might help". When it comes to economic growth there are no panaceas.