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  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    Ninoinoz said:

    AndyJS said:

    ITV news: two Iraqi divisions in Mosul with 30,000 troops capitulated to 800 ISIS combatants.

    Clearly those two Iraqi Divisions were taught by the French.
    Would those French be the same French who at Waterloo shouted "Merde!" to an offer of quarter from the British and promptly were blasted to death by artillery fire?
    That was the exception rather than the rule for French Military History.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @stackee: Tomorrow's Labour press release: "Ed was right to unveil a policy cutting benefits for the young and he was right to apologise for it."
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189
    Ninoinoz said:

    AndyJS said:

    ITV news: two Iraqi divisions in Mosul with 30,000 troops capitulated to 800 ISIS combatants.

    Clearly those two Iraqi Divisions were taught by the French.
    Would those French be the same French who at Waterloo shouted "Merde!" to an offer of quarter from the British and promptly were blasted to death by artillery fire?
    It wasn't the British but the Prussians under Blucher.
  • I've been away for a couple of days, and am therefore slow to thank Morris Dancer for another winning tennis tip. Girl A beat girl B, but don't worry about the names, if MD marks your card. Thanks very much---tomorrow's opinions?

    The one tip I can pass on---it is surprising how often the best price is on Pinnaclesports.
  • NinoinozNinoinoz Posts: 1,312
    ToryJim said:

    @bpfootball: Excellent from RTE tonight - http://t.co/kZTLemzuY8

    Chortle

    **TRUE STORY ALERT**

    In my workplace sweepstake, Chile were drawn by a Mr. Curry.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,031
    30,000 surrendered? It would be a stretch to call it an 'army', that's for sure.

    10 days to go until the 10th anniversary of the 2004 handover.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    ToryJim said:

    Osborne is on manoeuvres

    He may be, but he's also completely correct.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,031

    ToryJim said:

    Osborne is on manoeuvres

    He may be, but he's also completely correct.
    Doesn't he also have the highest approval rating for any senior politician in the country? *titter*
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189

    ToryJim said:

    Osborne is on manoeuvres

    He may be, but he's also completely correct.
    Absolutely.
  • foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    Brave possibly, but futile. Wars are not won by people who are willing to die for their cause, wars are won by those who are are willing to kill for their cause. ISIS have this advantage.
    Ninoinoz said:

    AndyJS said:

    ITV news: two Iraqi divisions in Mosul with 30,000 troops capitulated to 800 ISIS combatants.

    Clearly those two Iraqi Divisions were taught by the French.
    Would those French be the same French who at Waterloo shouted "Merde!" to an offer of quarter from the British and promptly were blasted to death by artillery fire?
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    Paxman's final Newsnight tonight after 25 years.
  • fitalassfitalass Posts: 4,320
    Twitter
    Nick Sutton ‏@suttonnick 2m
    Updated Times front page - "Miliband is not up to top job, say voters" #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/RmgyrmL89n
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    fitalass said:

    Twitter
    Nick Sutton ‏@suttonnick 2m
    Updated Times front page - "Miliband is not up to top job, say voters" #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/RmgyrmL89n

    Have they only just noticed?
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189
    fitalass said:

    Twitter
    Nick Sutton ‏@suttonnick 2m
    Updated Times front page - "Miliband is not up to top job, say voters" #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/RmgyrmL89n

    Yup, hard to square that with voting intention.
  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523
    edited June 2014
    It's a sectarian civil war. The Sunni part of those Iraqi divisions deserted because they weren't going to fight their own team and the Shia part scooted back to home turf. Both parts will quite happily fight once they're on the right team.

    What Blair et al have done is create the conditions for a much bigger Suni-Shia version of the Iran-Iraq war across the whole middle east.

    edit: and of course not just the middle east as there'll be inevitable blowback here
  • fitalassfitalass Posts: 4,320
    edited June 2014
    Fox, agreed. I think that this Dutch team might just keep getting better as they progress into the next round of the World Cup. Its great to see Holland really playing like a team again, and I wouldn't underestimate them.

    Chile are much better defensively than the Dutch. I see them winning, possibly also the Aussies beating the pisspoor Spanish.

  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,031
    Nice moustache, Mandelson!
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    Cameroon are 6 with Betfair.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    Matt Chorley ‏@MattChorley 1m

    Paxman goes out with a bang, with swipe at Miliband: "Polls show he has not much more appeal than a flatulent dog in a lift." #newsnight
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @alstewitn: .@Ed_Miliband , about as popular as 'a flatulent dog in a lift'. How politics will miss the nuanced subtlety of a clever Paxoism.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,534
    AndyJS said:

    ITV news: two Iraqi divisions in Mosul with 30,000 troops capitulated to 800 ISIS combatants.

    It's hard to feel any sympathy for such cowards.
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    Scott_P said:

    @alstewitn: .@Ed_Miliband , about as popular as 'a flatulent dog in a lift'. How politics will miss the nuanced subtlety of a clever Paxoism.

    Paxman was once asked how being Jewish affected his life and work. His answer was that it hadn't because he wasn't Jewish:

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/events/newsnight/257721.stm
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189

    Matt Chorley ‏@MattChorley 1m

    Paxman goes out with a bang, with swipe at Miliband: "Polls show he has not much more appeal than a flatulent dog in a lift." #newsnight

    Ouch.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 28,816
    Really interesting article on who ISIS actually *are* on citizen journalism news service nsnbc.me here: http://nsnbc.me/2014/06/15/isis-unveiled-identity-insurgency-syria-iraq/

    Basically (and rather convincingly) alleges heavy Saudi involvement.
  • fitalassfitalass Posts: 4,320
    edited June 2014
    I am really hopeful that kind of complacency within the Labour party carries on to the GE campaign. Its not just that Ed Miliband is a problem for the Labour party, its the whole Shadow Cabinet who simple don't look or sound like a Government in waiting right now. The Conservatives did back in 2010. I remember years ago, Blair taking to the stage with a group of his strongest performing Cabinet Ministers in one GE campaign, it was quite a powerful message to the voters. This Conservative Government is conveying the same sense of workman like Statesmanship after one term in Office, and its poor that the current Labour Shadow Cabinet do not after only a few years out of power.

    Sean_F said:



    Oh, I agree. 5 years ago, I spent many fruitless hours here rebutting tim's arguments about Latvian homophobes etc.

    FWIW my view is that although many voters are not persuaded by any of the party leaders, they don't really actively dislike them either, so the active dislike which the Conservative Party manages to engender in the swing electorate trumps anything else. I often meet voters who are less pro-Labour but more viscerally anti-Tory than I am: the belief that the Conservatives are simply not interested in ordinary people (except as a source of votes every five years) is quite widespread.

  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    Still time for Ed to recall Mandelson to the team for the next election.

    A bit like Torres...
  • compouter2compouter2 Posts: 2,371
    Those heady days of polling crossover and those three polls turning the PB Hodges into an orgasmic mess. Now, Ed is still crap, but Ed is ahead. Crossover just seems like a distant memory. Squirrelnightmaretastic!

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_United_Kingdom_general_election#mediaviewer/File:UK_opinion_polling_2010-2015.png
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    Mandelson: war in Iraq may have been an honest mistake.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @alstewitn: .@BBCNewsnight Mandy says he never confused good communication with good policies. Worth reflecting upon for a moment or two, in silence.
  • fitalassfitalass Posts: 4,320
    Twitter
    Alastair Stewart ‏@alstewitn 3m
    @BBCNewsnight Mandy says he never confused good communication with good policies. Worth reflecting upon for a moment or two, in silence.
  • JohnLoonyJohnLoony Posts: 1,790

    MrJones said:

    Patrick said:

    Was browsing the Daily Mail online and a thought occurs to me: That Duchess of Cambridge is really quite exceptionally QILFy....just saying...

    yeah, hot and wholesome combined like Felicity Kendal
    Oh dear, now I am going to have to go and bathe my wrists in cold water. Felicity Kendall, oh dear. There was one episode of the GoodLife when she was in her nightie and the light was behind her and, well never mind. That I still remember that scene after what, forty years, is enough. There was a picture of her in the paper a few weeks ago and she still looks drop dead gorgeous.
    Did someone mention Felicity Kendal?
    I saw her outside the stage door at Wyndham's Theatre last summer. We didn't pay any attention to her (apart from merely noticing that she was there) because we were all waiting to see the drop-dead-gorgeous Daniel Radcliffe outside the stage door at Noel Coward Theatre opposite.
  • fitalassfitalass Posts: 4,320
    ScottP, one of these days I will beat you to the tweet on PB. :)
    Scott_P said:

    @alstewitn: .@BBCNewsnight Mandy says he never confused good communication with good policies. Worth reflecting upon for a moment or two, in silence.

  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,534
    fitalass said:

    I am really hopeful that kind of complacency within the Labour party carries on to the GE campaign. Its not just that Ed Miliband is a problem for the Labour party, its the whole Shadow Cabinet who simple don't look or sound like a Government in waiting right now. The Conservatives did back in 2010. I remember years ago, Blair taking to the stage with a group of his strongest performing Cabinet Ministers in one GE campaign, it was quite a powerful message to the voters. This Conservative Government is conveying the same sense of workman like Statesmanship after one term in Office, and its poor that the current Labour Shadow Cabinet do not after only a few years out of power.

    Sean_F said:



    Oh, I agree. 5 years ago, I spent many fruitless hours here rebutting tim's arguments about Latvian homophobes etc.

    FWIW my view is that although many voters are not persuaded by any of the party leaders, they don't really actively dislike them either, so the active dislike which the Conservative Party manages to engender in the swing electorate trumps anything else. I often meet voters who are less pro-Labour but more viscerally anti-Tory than I am: the belief that the Conservatives are simply not interested in ordinary people (except as a source of votes every five years) is quite widespread.

    38% was supposed to be Labour's firewall. It's now breached regularly.

    Barring a Black Swan event, the Conservatives will win more seats than Labour in 2015
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189
    JohnLoony said:

    MrJones said:

    Patrick said:

    Was browsing the Daily Mail online and a thought occurs to me: That Duchess of Cambridge is really quite exceptionally QILFy....just saying...

    yeah, hot and wholesome combined like Felicity Kendal
    Oh dear, now I am going to have to go and bathe my wrists in cold water. Felicity Kendall, oh dear. There was one episode of the GoodLife when she was in her nightie and the light was behind her and, well never mind. That I still remember that scene after what, forty years, is enough. There was a picture of her in the paper a few weeks ago and she still looks drop dead gorgeous.
    Did someone mention Felicity Kendal?
    I saw her outside the stage door at Wyndham's Theatre last summer. We didn't pay any attention to her (apart from merely noticing that she was there) because we were all waiting to see the drop-dead-gorgeous Daniel Radcliffe outside the stage door at Noel Coward Theatre opposite.
    The best theatre I've been to recently was Mojo, lots of nice boys topless.
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189
    Sean_F said:

    fitalass said:

    I am really hopeful that kind of complacency within the Labour party carries on to the GE campaign. Its not just that Ed Miliband is a problem for the Labour party, its the whole Shadow Cabinet who simple don't look or sound like a Government in waiting right now. The Conservatives did back in 2010. I remember years ago, Blair taking to the stage with a group of his strongest performing Cabinet Ministers in one GE campaign, it was quite a powerful message to the voters. This Conservative Government is conveying the same sense of workman like Statesmanship after one term in Office, and its poor that the current Labour Shadow Cabinet do not after only a few years out of power.

    Sean_F said:



    Oh, I agree. 5 years ago, I spent many fruitless hours here rebutting tim's arguments about Latvian homophobes etc.

    FWIW my view is that although many voters are not persuaded by any of the party leaders, they don't really actively dislike them either, so the active dislike which the Conservative Party manages to engender in the swing electorate trumps anything else. I often meet voters who are less pro-Labour but more viscerally anti-Tory than I am: the belief that the Conservatives are simply not interested in ordinary people (except as a source of votes every five years) is quite widespread.

    38% was supposed to be Labour's firewall. It's now breached regularly.

    Barring a Black Swan event, the Conservatives will win more seats than Labour in 2015
    Of course there could be a black swan event that benefits the Tories ;)
  • valleyboyvalleyboy Posts: 606
    Just two words;
    GARY MEDEL
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 21,704
    The victors of 2010 dumped. Something to get used to?
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    Michael Howard making a cameo appearance on Newsnight.
  • fitalassfitalass Posts: 4,320
    There is no doubt that UKIP have done much to lance the toxicity of the Conservative party in recent months, something that shouldn't be underestimated when it comes to tactical voting among voters of various political persuasions at the next GE.
    fitalass said:

    I am really hopeful that kind of complacency within the Labour party carries on to the GE campaign. Its not just that Ed Miliband is a problem for the Labour party, its the whole Shadow Cabinet who simple don't look or sound like a Government in waiting right now. The Conservatives did back in 2010. I remember years ago, Blair taking to the stage with a group of his strongest performing Cabinet Ministers in one GE campaign, it was quite a powerful message to the voters. This Conservative Government is conveying the same sense of workman like Statesmanship after one term in Office, and its poor that the current Labour Shadow Cabinet do not after only a few years out of power.

    Sean_F said:



    Oh, I agree. 5 years ago, I spent many fruitless hours here rebutting tim's arguments about Latvian homophobes etc.

    FWIW my view is that although many voters are not persuaded by any of the party leaders, they don't really actively dislike them either, so the active dislike which the Conservative Party manages to engender in the swing electorate trumps anything else. I often meet voters who are less pro-Labour but more viscerally anti-Tory than I am: the belief that the Conservatives are simply not interested in ordinary people (except as a source of votes every five years) is quite widespread.

  • fitalassfitalass Posts: 4,320
    In the run up to the GE, I have a feeling that we will see more of a Holyrood 2011 campaign set back for the Labour party in the polling rather than a 1992 surprise Conservative victory on election night.
    Sean_F said:

    fitalass said:

    I am really hopeful that kind of complacency within the Labour party carries on to the GE campaign. Its not just that Ed Miliband is a problem for the Labour party, its the whole Shadow Cabinet who simple don't look or sound like a Government in waiting right now. The Conservatives did back in 2010. I remember years ago, Blair taking to the stage with a group of his strongest performing Cabinet Ministers in one GE campaign, it was quite a powerful message to the voters. This Conservative Government is conveying the same sense of workman like Statesmanship after one term in Office, and its poor that the current Labour Shadow Cabinet do not after only a few years out of power.

    Sean_F said:



    Oh, I agree. 5 years ago, I spent many fruitless hours here rebutting tim's arguments about Latvian homophobes etc.

    FWIW my view is that although many voters are not persuaded by any of the party leaders, they don't really actively dislike them either, so the active dislike which the Conservative Party manages to engender in the swing electorate trumps anything else. I often meet voters who are less pro-Labour but more viscerally anti-Tory than I am: the belief that the Conservatives are simply not interested in ordinary people (except as a source of votes every five years) is quite widespread.

    38% was supposed to be Labour's firewall. It's now breached regularly.

    Barring a Black Swan event, the Conservatives will win more seats than Labour in 2015
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,564


    Come off it, Nick. You cannot possibly be serious - Merkel and other senior politicians were fussed about the Latvian homophobes?

    Get real - as you well know, there were, and still are, lots of, how shall I put it, 'colourful' parties in all of the European Parliament groupings. It is inconceivable that grown-ups like Angela Merkel would be fussed by it.

    Yes, Merkel and her CDU-CSU were seriously fussed about the Tory withdrawal from the EPP, as I reported at the time. You don't (I guess) read the German press?One gets the impression that Downing Street doesn't either. The link with the Latvians wasn't the issue (though it added to the impression that the Tories were a bit bonkers) but the perceived betrayal of the centre-right. The recent embrace by the ECR of the AfD (who are a direct threat to the CDU) added a bit of insult to injury - rather as though the CDU had formed an alliance with UKIP - though the Tory members tried to stop it and were overruled by their new friends in the Danish People's Party - and the Latvians.

  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,031
    Bye Paxo!
  • BobaFettBobaFett Posts: 2,789
    News flash:

    I have turned.

    Based on the conversations I have had tonight, and the dire leadership polling, I think Tories largest party.

    Unless Ed can play the Comeback Kid role at Conference.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,031
    ToryJim said:

    JohnLoony said:

    MrJones said:

    Patrick said:

    Was browsing the Daily Mail online and a thought occurs to me: That Duchess of Cambridge is really quite exceptionally QILFy....just saying...

    yeah, hot and wholesome combined like Felicity Kendal
    Oh dear, now I am going to have to go and bathe my wrists in cold water. Felicity Kendall, oh dear. There was one episode of the GoodLife when she was in her nightie and the light was behind her and, well never mind. That I still remember that scene after what, forty years, is enough. There was a picture of her in the paper a few weeks ago and she still looks drop dead gorgeous.
    Did someone mention Felicity Kendal?
    I saw her outside the stage door at Wyndham's Theatre last summer. We didn't pay any attention to her (apart from merely noticing that she was there) because we were all waiting to see the drop-dead-gorgeous Daniel Radcliffe outside the stage door at Noel Coward Theatre opposite.
    The best theatre I've been to recently was Mojo, lots of nice boys topless.
    I hope it was classily done ;-)
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,031
    BobaFett said:

    News flash:

    I have turned.

    Based on the conversations I have had tonight, and the dire leadership polling, I think Tories largest party.

    Unless Ed can play the Comeback Kid role at Conference.

    He has form on good conferences, politically speaking. Perhaps this will be like last year where he has a terrible summer, and then rebounds at conference.
  • Tissue_PriceTissue_Price Posts: 9,039
    BobaFett said:

    News flash:

    I have turned.

    Based on the conversations I have had tonight, and the dire leadership polling, I think Tories largest party.

    Unless Ed can play the Comeback Kid role at Conference.

    Congratulations! You're now welcome to start over-posting ;-)
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189
    RobD said:

    ToryJim said:

    JohnLoony said:

    MrJones said:

    Patrick said:

    Was browsing the Daily Mail online and a thought occurs to me: That Duchess of Cambridge is really quite exceptionally QILFy....just saying...

    yeah, hot and wholesome combined like Felicity Kendal
    Oh dear, now I am going to have to go and bathe my wrists in cold water. Felicity Kendall, oh dear. There was one episode of the GoodLife when she was in her nightie and the light was behind her and, well never mind. That I still remember that scene after what, forty years, is enough. There was a picture of her in the paper a few weeks ago and she still looks drop dead gorgeous.
    Did someone mention Felicity Kendal?
    I saw her outside the stage door at Wyndham's Theatre last summer. We didn't pay any attention to her (apart from merely noticing that she was there) because we were all waiting to see the drop-dead-gorgeous Daniel Radcliffe outside the stage door at Noel Coward Theatre opposite.
    The best theatre I've been to recently was Mojo, lots of nice boys topless.
    I hope it was classily done ;-)
    Very, I was mainly there for Ben Whishaw who looks stunning. Colin Morgan looks amazing too.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,031
    ToryJim said:

    RobD said:

    ToryJim said:

    JohnLoony said:

    MrJones said:

    Patrick said:

    Was browsing the Daily Mail online and a thought occurs to me: That Duchess of Cambridge is really quite exceptionally QILFy....just saying...

    yeah, hot and wholesome combined like Felicity Kendal
    Oh dear, now I am going to have to go and bathe my wrists in cold water. Felicity Kendall, oh dear. There was one episode of the GoodLife when she was in her nightie and the light was behind her and, well never mind. That I still remember that scene after what, forty years, is enough. There was a picture of her in the paper a few weeks ago and she still looks drop dead gorgeous.
    Did someone mention Felicity Kendal?
    I saw her outside the stage door at Wyndham's Theatre last summer. We didn't pay any attention to her (apart from merely noticing that she was there) because we were all waiting to see the drop-dead-gorgeous Daniel Radcliffe outside the stage door at Noel Coward Theatre opposite.
    The best theatre I've been to recently was Mojo, lots of nice boys topless.
    I hope it was classily done ;-)
    Very, I was mainly there for Ben Whishaw who looks stunning. Colin Morgan looks amazing too.
    Ah Q! My second favourite Q. :')
  • JohnLoonyJohnLoony Posts: 1,790
    Spain managing to lose the World Cup and lose a King 75 minutes later might be seen by some unkind cynical people as somewhat careless
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 52,121
    LibDems = Spain :)
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189
    @RobD‌
    He didn't really get to do that much Q-ing so I'm waiting to really assess him. He did play Richard II exquisitely though.
  • BobaFettBobaFett Posts: 2,789
    RobD said:

    BobaFett said:

    News flash:

    I have turned.

    Based on the conversations I have had tonight, and the dire leadership polling, I think Tories largest party.

    Unless Ed can play the Comeback Kid role at Conference.

    He has form on good conferences, politically speaking. Perhaps this will be like last year where he has a terrible summer, and then rebounds at conference.
    Possibly. That is the hope. I'm guessing Alexrod's advice is : "run into Conference with a weak lead. Laugh off the bacon/Sun crap. Kick on from there."

    To be fair to Ed, he's a good speaker, without notes. But the pressure is on!
  • fitalassfitalass Posts: 4,320
    edited June 2014
    BBC Newsnight on a bit later now in Scotland, and I have just been watching the very revealing Mandelson vs Paxman interview segment on Ed Miliband, Labour policy and Tony Blair..... OUCH! The Labour party are being far too complacent, and Mandelson knows it.
    PS. As a swansong interview by Paxman in his career with Newsnight, they don't come much better than this excellent one with Peter Mandelson. And then to follow it by jumping on a tandem bike ride around London with Boris Johnson, absolutely priceless!
  • TheWatcherTheWatcher Posts: 5,262
    edited June 2014
    AndyJS said:

    Mandelson: war in Iraq may have been an honest mistake.

    F*ckwit. How many died, and will die for an 'honest mistake'?

    Besides, no one of sane mind makes a decision to go to war on terms so loose that it could be construed to be an error.

    Looks as if he's trying to further distance himself from the whole sorry mess.


  • Danny565Danny565 Posts: 8,091
    This benefits crap is yet another sign of complete cowardice and lack of principle from the Labour leadership. Ugh.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,031
    ToryJim said:

    @RobD‌
    ...so I'm waiting to really assess him.

    *titter*

    I'll get my coat...

  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    Where is the Ashcroft marginal poll ?
  • MaxUMaxU Posts: 87

    Ninoinoz said:

    AndyJS said:

    ITV news: two Iraqi divisions in Mosul with 30,000 troops capitulated to 800 ISIS combatants.

    Clearly those two Iraqi Divisions were taught by the French.
    Would those French be the same French who at Waterloo shouted "Merde!" to an offer of quarter from the British and promptly were blasted to death by artillery fire?
    That was the exception rather than the rule for French Military History.
    I have to say I think that is grossly unfair. During the Franco-Prussian War the population of Paris resorted to eating rats before they surrendered. In the First World War they were 'bled white' at Verdun and overall lost far more men than we did (often forgotten).

    It is sometimes forgotten that we surrendered Singapore and Tobruk within 3 months of each other in 1942. In 1940 we were only saved from having to capitulate on a far greater scale at Dunkirk due to the inexplicable pause that Hitler ordered in the Panzer advance.
  • BobaFettBobaFett Posts: 2,789
    @TissuePrice

    LOL. I suspect all posts are welcome on the Ed is Crap meme, no matter how many there are...
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189
    BobaFett said:

    RobD said:

    BobaFett said:

    News flash:

    I have turned.

    Based on the conversations I have had tonight, and the dire leadership polling, I think Tories largest party.

    Unless Ed can play the Comeback Kid role at Conference.

    He has form on good conferences, politically speaking. Perhaps this will be like last year where he has a terrible summer, and then rebounds at conference.
    Possibly. That is the hope. I'm guessing Alexrod's advice is : "run into Conference with a weak lead. Laugh off the bacon/Sun crap. Kick on from there."

    To be fair to Ed, he's a good speaker, without notes. But the pressure is on!
    Doesn't help that the Conservatives go last so get last reply etc
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    Cameroon madness.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 52,121

    AndyJS said:

    ITV news: two Iraqi divisions in Mosul with 30,000 troops capitulated to 800 ISIS combatants.

    Clearly those two Iraqi Divisions were taught by the French.
    Or the Pakistani army of 1971?

    :)
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    Pulpstar said:

    Where is the Ashcroft marginal poll ?

    11am tomorrow.
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189
    AndyJS said:

    Cameroon madness.

    Yup imploding
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 52,121

    Ninoinoz said:

    AndyJS said:

    ITV news: two Iraqi divisions in Mosul with 30,000 troops capitulated to 800 ISIS combatants.

    Clearly those two Iraqi Divisions were taught by the French.
    Would those French be the same French who at Waterloo shouted "Merde!" to an offer of quarter from the British and promptly were blasted to death by artillery fire?
    That was the exception rather than the rule for French Military History.
    Yorktown 1781?
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    MaxU said:

    Ninoinoz said:

    AndyJS said:

    ITV news: two Iraqi divisions in Mosul with 30,000 troops capitulated to 800 ISIS combatants.

    Clearly those two Iraqi Divisions were taught by the French.
    Would those French be the same French who at Waterloo shouted "Merde!" to an offer of quarter from the British and promptly were blasted to death by artillery fire?
    That was the exception rather than the rule for French Military History.
    I have to say I think that is grossly unfair. During the Franco-Prussian War the population of Paris resorted to eating rats before they surrendered. In the First World War they were 'bled white' at Verdun and overall lost far more men than we did (often forgotten).

    It is sometimes forgotten that we surrendered Singapore and Tobruk within 3 months of each other in 1942. In 1940 we were only saved from having to capitulate on a far greater scale at Dunkirk due to the inexplicable pause that Hitler ordered in the Panzer advance.
    The French always get up my nose.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959

    AndyJS said:

    ITV news: two Iraqi divisions in Mosul with 30,000 troops capitulated to 800 ISIS combatants.

    Clearly those two Iraqi Divisions were taught by the French.
    Or the Pakistani army of 1971?

    :)
    Naughty.
  • QuincelQuincel Posts: 4,042
    Pulpstar said:

    Where is the Ashcroft marginal poll ?

    Isn't that 11am tomorrow?
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    All of yous.

    Read this, explains French Military History, they are worse than the Italians.

    http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/jokes/bljokefrenchmilitaryhistory.htm
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    Quincel said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Where is the Ashcroft marginal poll ?

    Isn't that 11am tomorrow?
    It is.
  • fitalassfitalass Posts: 4,320
    Jim, Osborne is always on manoeuvres, and the Conservative party has always been the main beneficiary. :)
    ToryJim said:
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    Quincel said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Where is the Ashcroft marginal poll ?

    Isn't that 11am tomorrow?
    I can't wait. I'm far more excited than I should be about a Lib-Con marginal poll...
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    edited June 2014
    Come to think of it, the Ashcroft poll could be a serious problem for Nick Clegg if the results point to big losses for the LDs.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821


    Come off it, Nick. You cannot possibly be serious - Merkel and other senior politicians were fussed about the Latvian homophobes?

    Get real - as you well know, there were, and still are, lots of, how shall I put it, 'colourful' parties in all of the European Parliament groupings. It is inconceivable that grown-ups like Angela Merkel would be fussed by it.

    Yes, Merkel and her CDU-CSU were seriously fussed about the Tory withdrawal from the EPP, as I reported at the time. You don't (I guess) read the German press?One gets the impression that Downing Street doesn't either. The link with the Latvians wasn't the issue (though it added to the impression that the Tories were a bit bonkers) but the perceived betrayal of the centre-right. The recent embrace by the ECR of the AfD (who are a direct threat to the CDU) added a bit of insult to injury - rather as though the CDU had formed an alliance with UKIP - though the Tory members tried to stop it and were overruled by their new friends in the Danish People's Party - and the Latvians.

    Correct. Nothing whatsoever to do with tim's, Labour's (and Chris Huhne's, to his eternal disgrace, admittedly one of many such disgraces) smears about the homophobes - which, if you remember, was the criticism at the time.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    Pulpstar said:

    Quincel said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Where is the Ashcroft marginal poll ?

    Isn't that 11am tomorrow?
    I can't wait. I'm far more excited than I should be about a Lib-Con marginal poll...
    You need to get out more, especially as England play Uruguay tomorrow.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,031
    edited June 2014
    Do we know if the same marginals are being monitored by Ashcroft, or is it a different set each time?
  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523
    AndyJS said:

    Mandelson: war in Iraq may have been an honest mistake.

    Straw said something the other day as well. Just Campbell to go and that would be three of the gang of four all dobbing Blair in it.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,031

    Pulpstar said:

    Quincel said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Where is the Ashcroft marginal poll ?

    Isn't that 11am tomorrow?
    I can't wait. I'm far more excited than I should be about a Lib-Con marginal poll...
    You need to get out more, especially as England play Uruguay tomorrow.
    Says the moderator of a political betting forum ;-)
  • BobaFettBobaFett Posts: 2,789
    @ToryJim

    Very true sir. My view is that the three should shuffle places each year, in the interests of a fair fight.

    That all said, Labourites famously don't like cool weather and rain.

    No wonder they opt to go first - Tories are tougher ;-)
  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523
    watching isis youtube vids and thinking the US might want to bomb them just to get rid of the embarrassing amount of US kit they've got
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    MrJones said:

    watching isis youtube vids and thinking the US might want to bomb them just to get rid of the embarrassing amount of US kit they've got

    The Americans were very naive to leave so much treasure in the Mosul area.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    AndyJS said:

    Mandelson: war in Iraq may have been an honest mistake.

    Well, we should be very pleased at that admission, on the Prodigal Son basis, especially from Mandy, who is by a country mile the most talented Labour figure of his generation.

    He doesn't disappoint even now; in authentic New Labour style, his use of the word 'honest' in that comment stretches the English language well beyond breaking point.

  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189

    All of yous.

    Read this, explains French Military History, they are worse than the Italians.

    http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/jokes/bljokefrenchmilitaryhistory.htm

    That is slightly unfair, though funny, the French victory at Rocroi was stunning and broke essentially the Spanish power in continental Europe. The Duc d'Enghian was only 21 at the time too. Admittedly you can always pick out odd examples etc but the French were capable of some military prowess
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    RobD said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Quincel said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Where is the Ashcroft marginal poll ?

    Isn't that 11am tomorrow?
    I can't wait. I'm far more excited than I should be about a Lib-Con marginal poll...
    You need to get out more, especially as England play Uruguay tomorrow.
    Says the moderator of a political betting forum ;-)
    I'm merely the occasional guest editor of PB these days.
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    RobD said:

    Do we know if the same marginals are being monitored by Ashcroft, or is it a different set each time?

    Good question.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,031


    I'm merely the occasional guest editor of PB these days.

    My apologies!
  • MrJonesMrJones Posts: 3,523
    AndyJS said:

    MrJones said:

    watching isis youtube vids and thinking the US might want to bomb them just to get rid of the embarrassing amount of US kit they've got

    The Americans were very naive to leave so much treasure in the Mosul area.
    i wonder if they have 3rd party insurance
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 52,121

    All of yous.

    Read this, explains French Military History, they are worse than the Italians.

    http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/jokes/bljokefrenchmilitaryhistory.htm

    Yorktown?
    Austerlitz?
  • BobaFettBobaFett Posts: 2,789
    Betting post for all PBers

    BetBright

    Pile the f--k in.

    Free no risk bet up to £30 on tomorrow's game, with an additional £10 free bet on ENG v CRC if your bet loses.

    I cannot see how this is not free money. I have shovelled the lot on Uruguay at 3.5 as insurance.

    As a very patriotic, sport-loving social democrat, I hope to lose my 'money'.

    DYOR etc etc
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    ""The shocking statistic is that Cameroon have only had one shot on target in 135 minutes of World Cup football.
    "This side looks a pale imitation of the Cameroon side that thrilled the world with their attacking flair in 1990."

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/27443399
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    BobaFett said:

    Betting post for all PBers

    BetBright

    Pile the f--k in.

    Free no risk bet up to £30 on tomorrow's game, with an additional £10 free bet on ENG v CRC if your bet loses.

    I cannot see how this is not free money. I have shovelled the lot on Uruguay at 3.5 as insurance.

    As a very patriotic, sport-loving social democrat, I hope to lose my 'money'.

    DYOR etc etc

    Is this a new account offer or for all ?
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    Wow, it feels weird and odd to have a non profitable bet at this world cup.
  • BobaFettBobaFett Posts: 2,789
    Pulpstar said:

    BobaFett said:

    Betting post for all PBers

    BetBright

    Pile the f--k in.

    Free no risk bet up to £30 on tomorrow's game, with an additional £10 free bet on ENG v CRC if your bet loses.

    I cannot see how this is not free money. I have shovelled the lot on Uruguay at 3.5 as insurance.

    As a very patriotic, sport-loving social democrat, I hope to lose my 'money'.

    DYOR etc etc

    Is this a new account offer or for all ?
    New accounts only :(
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189

    All of yous.

    Read this, explains French Military History, they are worse than the Italians.

    http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/jokes/bljokefrenchmilitaryhistory.htm

    Yorktown?
    Austerlitz?
    Plus you need to look at the fact that Charles Martel stopped the Moorish conquest at Tours, that Charlemagne was a pretty nifty warrior. Both should be considered French.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    What would be hilarious is if Cameroon beat Brazil.

    @Bobafett I already have a Betbright account. Bet365 are the best bookies for regular offers I reckon, along with Paddys. The 365 offer on the Grand National was immense.



  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,959
    From the Times

    A YouGov survey for Prospect magazine published today found that 60 per cent of voters believe he is “not up to the job” of being prime minister.

    It also revealed that more people believe Mr Miliband’s brother David, the former foreign secretary whom he defeated to become Labour leader, would be a better prime minister.

    ....The YouGov polling found that 23 per cent of voters thought Ed Miliband would make the best prime minister, with 33 per cent opting for David Cameron. His rating is down two points on a similar poll taken soon after he was elected Labour leader in 2010.

    It also suggested that voters did not believe Mr Miliband would deliver on his main election pledges of holding down energy prices and tackling the cost of living.

    When voters were asked whether David Miliband would have made the best prime minister, 35 per cent opted for the former foreign secretary, with Mr Cameron’s ratings tumbling to 23 per cent.

    Mr Miliband was described as weak by 59 per cent and strong by 13 per cent. He was seen as “in touch with my concerns” by only a quarter of voters.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    I honestly can't fathom why people think David Miliband would be a decent PM - yet I've heard it from quite a few fairly apolitical people. Is it just that he looks slightly more normal than Ed ?
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    Croatia - Mexico should be a belter.
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    "Dwindling oil reserves in Baghdad lead to soaring prices worldwide
    Iraq's crude exports had helped to keep global petrol prices from rising, but the Isis advance has driven prices past $114 a barrel"

    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/18/dwindling-iraq-oil-reserves-cause-price-spike
This discussion has been closed.