"If a player is banned from international football for this sort of thing, how come he can still play for a club?"
Tricky one, OKC, and I'm not sure what the precedents are.
It would seem unfair for Liverpool to be punished for something he did whilst on International duty. Otoh, should a serial biter be allowed to play any form of football?
I suspect FIFA will wriggle out of it by saying the evidence of biting is inconclusive and just give him a one match ban for an attempted head butt.
EDIT: I should think the bookies would pay out on extended gardening leave, as he would still be contracted to Liverpool.
Another pointer to Coral's 5-4 being value to stay:
Suarez 1-3 to stay at Liverpool, 2-1 to leave Liverpool after transfer window.
The 2-1 / 5-4 looks to be an arb but I'm not 100% sure - I think there is a middle risk with contract termination that both bets could fail. Slim, but present.
What happened to the bribing the police charges? Far more serious, I would have thought.
They are still being considered (the buying of the royal register)
Most of the charges in relation to corrupt payments to police are also in the second trial which was due to start in a fortnight but has now been postponed because the Judge understandably needs a holiday after one of the longest trials in English history. I am told that will involve no less than 8 silks and will involve a series of legal issues some of which arose in the first trial and some of which did not.
Mr Coulson still has one outstanding charge which the jury are considering in relation to alleged payments to police. I personally regard that charge as so much more serious than this "hacking" pap as to be on a different planet.
If he is found guilty of that he should face serious jail time. Otherwise I think the sentence should be pretty token but that depends on the views of the judge. The sentence given to the "rogue reporter" was quite severe as I recall.
It does seem as if Cameron has played it poorly. The Commission is just a giant Euro-quango, full of people appointed for occasionally arbitrary political reasons by various government (Lansley??). It is an important step in the direction of democracy that the newly elected European Parliament gets the say in who takes over as president of the Commission. Personally I would prefer either a direct election for the post or for an MEP to be chosen.
Todays thread demonstrates that in another seat Labour is likely to make gains, and with the Indy ref heading the way of continued union we do look likely to have Ed in power next year. A small working majority in my book.
I think the value on the greens is in Norwich South where Shadsy has 8:1.
Apart from the ongoing cases, surely there are more important issues facing the country for one of the few remaining PMQs before the summer recess.
I also expect some awful owl jokes today. Is Labour still claiming that the owl tweet was from hacking? In which case perhaps they should involve the police in this new hacking scandal.
Looks like Labour will go big on the lack of "developed vetting". I'm struggling to see how this would have made any difference as Coulson would hardly have changed his answer in the face of determined civil service questioning.
Just party politics from Labour, and people wonder why everyone is turned off politics...
Do manuy of you watch "Pointless"; not so much a quiz as a comedy show. It's instructive to see the public's general lack of knowledge about all things political - a fact some on here ignore.
But the "Celebrity Pointless" specials are almost unwatchable. A procession of D-list celebs who often don't even the know the rules of the quiz, although these are usually relaxed to honour the revered status of these, to me, unknowns. Richard Osman is sickly sycophantic; they are marvellous or wonderful, and they are encouraged to reveal their latest outstanding project, often a pantomime season in a suburb of Merthyr.
Breakfast time is a no-view zone for me, as it's full of people I've never heard of pushing their latest two minute walk-on part in a soap.
So let's be honest - with such a media-driven frenzy for "him off the telly", it's hardly likely that they're full of themselves.
A six-month sentence for listening in on their tittle-tattle is hardly equitable when you can get a lesser sentence for much more serious, and real, crimes.
Bah! Humbug! And yes, In would say the same if Ed M was in Cameron's position now.
It does seem as if Cameron has played it poorly. The Commission is just a giant Euro-quango, full of people appointed for occasionally arbitrary political reasons by various government (Lansley??). It is an important step in the direction of democracy that the newly elected European Parliament gets the say in who takes over as president of the Commission. Personally I would prefer either a direct election for the post or for an MEP to be chosen.
Todays thread demonstrates that in another seat Labour is likely to make gains, and with the Indy ref heading the way of continued union we do look likely to have Ed in power next year. A small working majority in my book.
I think the value on the greens is in Norwich South where Shadsy has 8:1.
*cough*
Tipped by me earlier in the year, to widespread derision, at 25/1.
Yes, see your point, but it's effectively an arb. Bookies will often pay out anyway on some strange unforeseen scenario that falls between to obvious alternatives.
Perhaps rather perversely if I had a ballot in Brighton Pavillion I'd vote for Lucas on the basis that a non racist party with their level of national support "deserved" a seat in the Commons despite Lucas being politically a spanner short of a tool box. She adds to the gaiety of the nation.
And after all, what's the point of another lobby fodder Labour MP ?
Well said, Young Jack.
And if you were standing for Parliament, I'd vote for you for exactly the same reason, darling.
I thank you and your feather boa for that vote of confidence .... I think .....
BTW .... was that why you canvassed for Nick Palmer in 2010 ?
Some utterly bizarre comments in this thread today
* Caroline Green is not the "ultimate evil". * Brighton & Hove with its two Tory MPs can hardly be described as "ultra left wing".
* Anyone who calls themselves "Financier", after the banking crash, ought to pause before they label other professions as "insulated from practicality and its effects"
* My favourite though are the Thatcherites condemning another party for pushing an ideology.
Both seats were won on low vote shares. Overall, Conservative support in Brighton & Hove is lower than in 1997, which shows how the city is trending.
I am not as anti- Green party as some on here it seems as I share some of their old anarchic principles on social and green issues at least. However lately they seem to have become very illogical and mixed up in my eyes.
Why do they campaign so much against government austerity when to fully implement a green and social agenda (ie no fossil fuels ,no nuclear power etc) you need a lot of austerity?
This is why I don't take them seriously anymore. They seem to be a left version of UKIP in promising everything and criticising everything.
It does seem as if Cameron has played it poorly. The Commission is just a giant Euro-quango, full of people appointed for occasionally arbitrary political reasons by various government (Lansley??). It is an important step in the direction of democracy that the newly elected European Parliament gets the say in who takes over as president of the Commission. Personally I would prefer either a direct election for the post or for an MEP to be chosen.
Todays thread demonstrates that in another seat Labour is likely to make gains, and with the Indy ref heading the way of continued union we do look likely to have Ed in power next year. A small working majority in my book.
I think the value on the greens is in Norwich South where Shadsy has 8:1.
Antifrank tipped the Greens up in Norwich South @25-1 - thought that was great value.
The Coulson thing reminds me of the Jack Ryan thing where a friend of the President was on drug laundering charges. He advised that he should not deny the friendship but say he was indeed a good friend. In Hollywood that worked pretty well.
I think Cameron will make clear that he liked Coulson, that he was competent at his job, that no one criticised the job that he did in No 10 but that he misled him on his appointment and that the appointment was therefore a mistake. I don't think Cameron will be minded to just throw him overboard. Firstly, he is a lot more loyal than that and secondly I suspect he will get more kudos for not doing so.
If I was Ed I would be more focussed on the tactics used in opposing Juncker. It is more important and an opportunity to split off the Lib Dems given Vince's comments. R4 spent the last 5 minutes of the Today programme this morning debating whether Cameron was incompetent or completely incompetent in his positioning in their usual impartial way. That really should be Ed's cue.
'I see after all his bluster that Darling and No Scotland campaign have chickened out of the debate with Alex Salmond.'
It was Salmond that chickened out,but why let facts get in the way.
'A Better Together insider said: “This is astonishing stuff. STV told us that they would not negotiate on the date of this debate. They were emphatic that the date would not change.
“That hard line stance lasted until Salmond decided that, even although he was free on that date, he didn’t fancy debating Alistair. STV have simply rolled over. It is not on.”
Mr Darling has accepted another invitation for a debate on the BBC on August 12 but it was not known whether the First Minister would participate.'
Some utterly bizarre comments in this thread today
* Caroline Green is not the "ultimate evil". * Brighton & Hove with its two Tory MPs can hardly be described as "ultra left wing".
* Anyone who calls themselves "Financier", after the banking crash, ought to pause before they label other professions as "insulated from practicality and its effects"
* My favourite though are the Thatcherites condemning another party for pushing an ideology.
Both seats were won on low vote shares. Overall, Conservative support in Brighton & Hove is lower than in 1997, which shows how the city is trending.
The facts that Brighton's Tory support is lower than 97 and not as strong as Witney isn't quite enough to make it "ultra left wing".
O/T Betting Iran 3.85 to beat Bosnia today - seems generous based on form so far - certainly laying BH at evens is tempting.
Not sure, Bosnia's form has been quite good. Their luck has been out. Got a goal against Nigeria chalked out for no reason and were unlucky against Argentina
Apart from the ongoing cases, surely there are more important issues facing the country for one of the few remaining PMQs before the summer recess.
I also expect some awful owl jokes today. Is Labour still claiming that the owl tweet was from hacking? In which case perhaps they should involve the police in this new hacking scandal.
Looks like Labour will go big on the lack of "developed vetting". I'm struggling to see how this would have made any difference as Coulson would hardly have changed his answer in the face of determined civil service questioning.
Just party politics from Labour, and people wonder why everyone is turned off politics...
I see England's football team and manager are in the same league of delusion as the last Labour Government - If we keep spouting we played /governed well then we have played/governed well!
The Coulson thing reminds me of the Jack Ryan thing where a friend of the President was on drug laundering charges. He advised that he should not deny the friendship but say he was indeed a good friend. In Hollywood that worked pretty well.
I think Cameron will make clear that he liked Coulson, that he was competent at his job, that no one criticised the job that he did in No 10 but that he misled him on his appointment and that the appointment was therefore a mistake. I don't think Cameron will be minded to just throw him overboard. Firstly, he is a lot more loyal than that and secondly I suspect he will get more kudos for not doing so.
If I was Ed I would be more focussed on the tactics used in opposing Juncker. It is more important and an opportunity to split off the Lib Dems given Vince's comments. R4 spent the last 5 minutes of the Today programme this morning debating whether Cameron was incompetent or completely incompetent in his positioning in their usual impartial way. That really should be Ed's cue.
Didn’t Truman once turn up to a disgraced friends funeral on the basis that he he’d been a friend to him when he, Truman, was down and he was going to honour his memory. Or something like that?
'I see after all his bluster that Darling and No Scotland campaign have chickened out of the debate with Alex Salmond.'
It was Salmond that chickened out,but why let facts get in the way.
'A Better Together insider said: “This is astonishing stuff. STV told us that they would not negotiate on the date of this debate. They were emphatic that the date would not change.
“That hard line stance lasted until Salmond decided that, even although he was free on that date, he didn’t fancy debating Alistair. STV have simply rolled over. It is not on.”
Mr Darling has accepted another invitation for a debate on the BBC on August 12 but it was not known whether the First Minister would participate.'
Looks like six vs two threes, according to the Telegraph.
Some utterly bizarre comments in this thread today
* Caroline Green is not the "ultimate evil". * Brighton & Hove with its two Tory MPs can hardly be described as "ultra left wing".
* Anyone who calls themselves "Financier", after the banking crash, ought to pause before they label other professions as "insulated from practicality and its effects"
* My favourite though are the Thatcherites condemning another party for pushing an ideology.
Both seats were won on low vote shares. Overall, Conservative support in Brighton & Hove is lower than in 1997, which shows how the city is trending.
The facts that Brighton's Tory support is lower than 97 and not as strong as Witney isn't quite enough to make it "ultra left wing".
Jonathan
Nowadays it is impossible to define "left wing", whether ultra or mild, by reference to policy.
It's meaning has now shifted to "weird, wonkish, gauche, kinky, odd and outré".
Seems to be a perfect fit for both Brighton and the Labour party under Ed.
The problem is the tosspots who get within a couple of inches of you on a bike also do the same if you are riding a horse on the road. I speak from the viewpoint of a cyclist, horse-rider and car driver !
King Felipe VI's sister Princess Cristina, accused of complicity in her husband's business dealings, to face unprecedented criminal trial
A Spanish judge has ruled that King Felipe VI's sister, Princess Cristina, and her husband must face fraud charges, opening the way to an unprecedented criminal trial that could further damage the royal family.
The Coulson thing reminds me of the Jack Ryan thing where a friend of the President was on drug laundering charges. He advised that he should not deny the friendship but say he was indeed a good friend. In Hollywood that worked pretty well.
I think Cameron will make clear that he liked Coulson, that he was competent at his job, that no one criticised the job that he did in No 10 but that he misled him on his appointment and that the appointment was therefore a mistake. I don't think Cameron will be minded to just throw him overboard. Firstly, he is a lot more loyal than that and secondly I suspect he will get more kudos for not doing so.
If I was Ed I would be more focussed on the tactics used in opposing Juncker. It is more important and an opportunity to split off the Lib Dems given Vince's comments. R4 spent the last 5 minutes of the Today programme this morning debating whether Cameron was incompetent or completely incompetent in his positioning in their usual impartial way. That really should be Ed's cue.
Didn’t Truman once turn up to a disgraced friends funeral on the basis that he he’d been a friend to him when he, Truman, was down and he was going to honour his memory. Or something like that?
Yes, I remember reading that in a biography by Barbara Tuchman I think. Truman himself was involved in some, well interesting, manoeuvres as a judge before he made it on to the national stage. Politics in Missouri in the early 30s was not for the faint hearted.
I think most people respect that sort of loyalty but maybe that is just my own view being generalised.
The filthy Italian clearly shoved his shoulder into Luis' teeth.
The cheating Italian then rolled around on the floor like he had been shot.
Well the last line is true. A bite is disgusting but does not hurt that much that you cannot stand up and lamp the guy who did it
Yes bit of an odd one - if somone bit you surely the natural reaction is to thump them or hold the bit area ? Tbh If I was the Italian I'd head straight over to the linesman to show him the teeth marks.
A. " Coulson, ... is a man "who, at best, was responsible for a newspaper that was out of control and, at worst, was personally implicated in criminal activity . . . The exact parallel is surely with Damian McBride."
- Chris Huhne. Leaving aside the obvious, you can't expect Cameron's political opponents to give disinterested advice. And the parallel is not with Damien McBride - McBride's style of politics is far more toxic to the public interest (Coulson has been found guilty of criminal offence, but not something related to politics)
B. The Select Committee quote: Coulson took the same line with them as with the PM. I haven't read their final report - does it say that they didn't believe him?
C. "The tribunal singled out the Prime Minister's chief propagandist: "The original source of the hostility towards the claimant [Driscoll] was Mr Coulson, the editor." "
Don't really want to comment because I don't know the details of this case. But there are plenty of bullies in politics - clearly it is a behaviour that needs to be controlled but is not a reason not to hire someone.
Where's the damning evidence that you are pointing to?
Looking at the EU election results would suggest Caroline Lucas has a chance. Brighton and Hove is ultra left-wing. There can't be many places where the Greens came second and UKIP fourth.
Lambeth. Green's 2nd and UKIP 5th. Suspect some other London boroughs (Lewisham, Southwark?) might show similar results.
The filthy Italian clearly shoved his shoulder into Luis' teeth.
The cheating Italian then rolled around on the floor like he had been shot.
Well the last line is true. A bite is disgusting but does not hurt that much that you cannot stand up and lamp the guy who did it
And get sent off yourself. Saw something like that happen in a game I was watching once. The aggrieved fellow who was sent off then thumped the referee!
The filthy Italian clearly shoved his shoulder into Luis' teeth.
The cheating Italian then rolled around on the floor like he had been shot.
Well the last line is true. A bite is disgusting but does not hurt that much that you cannot stand up and lamp the guy who did it
And get sent off yourself. Saw something like that happen in a game I was watching once. The aggrieved fellow who was sent off then thumped the referee!
Life ban for that from all levels of football for that isn't it ?
The Coulson thing reminds me of the Jack Ryan thing where a friend of the President was on drug laundering charges. He advised that he should not deny the friendship but say he was indeed a good friend. In Hollywood that worked pretty well.
I think Cameron will make clear that he liked Coulson, that he was competent at his job, that no one criticised the job that he did in No 10 but that he misled him on his appointment and that the appointment was therefore a mistake. I don't think Cameron will be minded to just throw him overboard. Firstly, he is a lot more loyal than that and secondly I suspect he will get more kudos for not doing so.
If I was Ed I would be more focussed on the tactics used in opposing Juncker. It is more important and an opportunity to split off the Lib Dems given Vince's comments. R4 spent the last 5 minutes of the Today programme this morning debating whether Cameron was incompetent or completely incompetent in his positioning in their usual impartial way. That really should be Ed's cue.
Didn’t Truman once turn up to a disgraced friends funeral on the basis that he he’d been a friend to him when he, Truman, was down and he was going to honour his memory. Or something like that?
Yes, I remember reading that in a biography by Barbara Tuchman I think. Truman himself was involved in some, well interesting, manoeuvres as a judge before he made it on to the national stage. Politics in Missouri in the early 30s was not for the faint hearted.
I think most people respect that sort of loyalty but maybe that is just my own view being generalised.
Whatever else we disagree on, DL, we agree there. Such loyalty is admirable.
The filthy Italian clearly shoved his shoulder into Luis' teeth.
The cheating Italian then rolled around on the floor like he had been shot.
Well the last line is true. A bite is disgusting but does not hurt that much that you cannot stand up and lamp the guy who did it
And get sent off yourself. Saw something like that happen in a game I was watching once. The aggrieved fellow who was sent off then thumped the referee!
Life ban for that from all levels of football for that isn't it ?
It was in Thailand, so maybe money was later exchanged.
The Coulson thing reminds me of the Jack Ryan thing where a friend of the President was on drug laundering charges. He advised that he should not deny the friendship but say he was indeed a good friend. In Hollywood that worked pretty well.
I think Cameron will make clear that he liked Coulson, that he was competent at his job, that no one criticised the job that he did in No 10 but that he misled him on his appointment and that the appointment was therefore a mistake. I don't think Cameron will be minded to just throw him overboard. Firstly, he is a lot more loyal than that and secondly I suspect he will get more kudos for not doing so.
If I was Ed I would be more focussed on the tactics used in opposing Juncker. It is more important and an opportunity to split off the Lib Dems given Vince's comments. R4 spent the last 5 minutes of the Today programme this morning debating whether Cameron was incompetent or completely incompetent in his positioning in their usual impartial way. That really should be Ed's cue.
Didn’t Truman once turn up to a disgraced friends funeral on the basis that he he’d been a friend to him when he, Truman, was down and he was going to honour his memory. Or something like that?
Yes, I remember reading that in a biography by Barbara Tuchman I think. Truman himself was involved in some, well interesting, manoeuvres as a judge before he made it on to the national stage. Politics in Missouri in the early 30s was not for the faint hearted.
I think most people respect that sort of loyalty but maybe that is just my own view being generalised.
Whatever else we disagree on, DL, we agree there. Such loyalty is admirable.
I've always liked Truman. One of my favourite US Presidents alongside FDR, LBJ and Reagan
Some utterly bizarre comments in this thread today
* Caroline Green is not the "ultimate evil". * Brighton & Hove with its two Tory MPs can hardly be described as "ultra left wing".
* Anyone who calls themselves "Financier", after the banking crash, ought to pause before they label other professions as "insulated from practicality and its effects"
* My favourite though are the Thatcherites condemning another party for pushing an ideology.
Allow me to correct you. The financing with which I have always been associated is that of financing overseas infrastructure projects, especially in developing countries, using overseas money, or World Bank money.
Regarding the banking crash, it was obvious by early 2000 that it would happen - any fool could look at the mortgage markets - except a certain Gordon Brown who chose to ignore and had split the responsibilities of such regulation - perhaps he had his eye on politics more than the welfare of the UK!
Regarding academia, I spend quite a lot of time assessing grant applications for technical and scientific research projects and assessing their viability - this includes the Cavendish Laboratory.
"Tbh If I was the Italian I'd head straight over to the linesman to show him the teeth marks. "
He tried to show them to the referee, who wasn't interested. (Incredibly, one of the other Uruguyans tried to prevent him by pulling the guy's shirt back up!) I've some sympathy with the officials here. As a ref, you often have players coming up to you and showing the injury marks caused by foul play. The trouble is that if you did not actually see the cause of the injury you cannot take any action. You can only give what you see, and for all the ref knew the bite marks may have been put there by his lover just before the game.
I'm sticking by my guess that FIFA will duck it and hand out a one-match ban for a head butt. FIFA is not noted for its courage in such matters.
"Ed Miliband’s problem, to put it bluntly, is that he doesn’t project strength. So even though people broadly agree with and think his heart is in the right place, they aren’t convinced he will carry out what he promises, yet.
Where does the perception of strength come from? The usual script requires a leader to pick a fight against a group the press dislike and show strength by defeating them. Blair, who was earlier derided as Bambi, did that with Clause 4, while Cameron styled himself as a moderniser who would fight the old guard on equal marriage. Perceptions of strength matter, because voters want to know a leader is even willing to fight his own side to get things done. They want to know he or she stands for something."
I wonder how hard it will be to dig out quotes about Rebekah Brooks by Ed Miliband if he tries the judgment tack. He got pretty carried away with himself when the Dowler thing blew up in 2011.
Plus all the usual suspects from the Labour party who were appointed by Ed and have ended up with convictions etc.
I may be wrong but I doubt we will see much political traction on this.
"Ed Miliband’s problem, to put it bluntly, is that he doesn’t project strength. So even though people broadly agree with and think his heart is in the right place, they aren’t convinced he will carry out what he promises, yet.
Where does the perception of strength come from? The usual script requires a leader to pick a fight against a group the press dislike and show strength by defeating them. Blair, who was earlier derided as Bambi, did that with Clause 4, while Cameron styled himself as a moderniser who would fight the old guard on equal marriage. Perceptions of strength matter, because voters want to know a leader is even willing to fight his own side to get things done. They want to know he or she stands for something."
I think perceptions of strength is almost more visceral and subconscious than that. It's demeanour and body language. I've seen guys at work start hitting the gym, giving them better posture, and suddenly just being taken more seriously by senior guys. Perhaps it shouldn't matter, but Miliband usually has a stooped neck and crouched posture. Wearing badly fitting shirts doesn't help.
"Tbh If I was the Italian I'd head straight over to the linesman to show him the teeth marks. "
He tried to show them to the referee, who wasn't interested. (Incredibly, one of the other Uruguyans tried to prevent him by pulling the guy's shirt back up!) I've some sympathy with the officials here. As a ref, you often have players coming up to you and showing the injury marks caused by foul play. The trouble is that if you did not actually see the cause of the injury you cannot take any action. You can only give what you see, and for all the ref knew the bite marks may have been put there by his lover just before the game.
I'm sticking by my guess that FIFA will duck it and hand out a one-match ban for a head butt. FIFA is not noted for its courage in such matters.
Oh I wish it was a 1 match ban, I'm writing my Suarez Golden boot bet off though.
Regarding academia, I spend quite a lot of time assessing grant applications for technical and scientific research projects and assessing their viability - this includes the Cavendish Laboratory.
The research at the Cavendish is about as fundamental study into nature, its practicality and effects as it is possible to get. Certainly more so than the illogical and self-referential world of finance.
The only information I have got is that which is reported above. I've no info on other party shares or whether Caroline Lucas's name was in the VI question.
The Coulson thing reminds me of the Jack Ryan thing where a friend of the President was on drug laundering charges. He advised that he should not deny the friendship but say he was indeed a good friend. In Hollywood that worked pretty well.
I think Cameron will make clear that he liked Coulson, that he was competent at his job, that no one criticised the job that he did in No 10 but that he misled him on his appointment and that the appointment was therefore a mistake. I don't think Cameron will be minded to just throw him overboard. Firstly, he is a lot more loyal than that and secondly I suspect he will get more kudos for not doing so.
If I was Ed I would be more focussed on the tactics used in opposing Juncker. It is more important and an opportunity to split off the Lib Dems given Vince's comments. R4 spent the last 5 minutes of the Today programme this morning debating whether Cameron was incompetent or completely incompetent in his positioning in their usual impartial way. That really should be Ed's cue.
Didn’t Truman once turn up to a disgraced friends funeral on the basis that he he’d been a friend to him when he, Truman, was down and he was going to honour his memory. Or something like that?
Yes, I remember reading that in a biography by Barbara Tuchman I think. Truman himself was involved in some, well interesting, manoeuvres as a judge before he made it on to the national stage. Politics in Missouri in the early 30s was not for the faint hearted.
I think most people respect that sort of loyalty but maybe that is just my own view being generalised.
Whatever else we disagree on, DL, we agree there. Such loyalty is admirable.
I've always liked Truman. One of my favourite US Presidents alongside FDR, LBJ and Reagan
Abraham Lincoln seems to be the glaring omission. Head and shoulders above every other US President in my opinion. FDR's legacy is overshadowed by his internship of Japanese Americans. I also think Reagan was more hit and miss than is widely accepted.
"Tbh If I was the Italian I'd head straight over to the linesman to show him the teeth marks. "
He tried to show them to the referee, who wasn't interested. (Incredibly, one of the other Uruguyans tried to prevent him by pulling the guy's shirt back up!) I've some sympathy with the officials here. As a ref, you often have players coming up to you and showing the injury marks caused by foul play. The trouble is that if you did not actually see the cause of the injury you cannot take any action. You can only give what you see, and for all the ref knew the bite marks may have been put there by his lover just before the game.
I'm sticking by my guess that FIFA will duck it and hand out a one-match ban for a head butt. FIFA is not noted for its courage in such matters.
Oh I wish it was a 1 match ban, I'm writing my Suarez Golden boot bet off though.
You should have been on FIFA winning the "Golden Boot" out of the tournament bet.
The Coulson thing reminds me of the Jack Ryan thing where a friend of the President was on drug laundering charges. He advised that he should not deny the friendship but say he was indeed a good friend. In Hollywood that worked pretty well.
I think Cameron will make clear that he liked Coulson, that he was competent at his job, that no one criticised the job that he did in No 10 but that he misled him on his appointment and that the appointment was therefore a mistake. I don't think Cameron will be minded to just throw him overboard. Firstly, he is a lot more loyal than that and secondly I suspect he will get more kudos for not doing so.
If I was Ed I would be more focussed on the tactics used in opposing Juncker. It is more important and an opportunity to split off the Lib Dems given Vince's comments. R4 spent the last 5 minutes of the Today programme this morning debating whether Cameron was incompetent or completely incompetent in his positioning in their usual impartial way. That really should be Ed's cue.
Didn’t Truman once turn up to a disgraced friends funeral on the basis that he he’d been a friend to him when he, Truman, was down and he was going to honour his memory. Or something like that?
Yes, I remember reading that in a biography by Barbara Tuchman I think. Truman himself was involved in some, well interesting, manoeuvres as a judge before he made it on to the national stage. Politics in Missouri in the early 30s was not for the faint hearted.
I think most people respect that sort of loyalty but maybe that is just my own view being generalised.
Whatever else we disagree on, DL, we agree there. Such loyalty is admirable.
I've always liked Truman. One of my favourite US Presidents alongside FDR, LBJ and Reagan
Abraham Lincoln seems to be the glaring omission. Head and shoulders above every other US President in my opinion. FDR's legacy is overshadowed by his internship of Japanese Americans. I also think Reagan was more hit and miss than is widely accepted.
I can't believe a civil libertarian like you could like Lincoln.
It is about time the government started to look into the payday loan industry, as many that advertise on TV are not even based in the UK. Wonga are based here, but there are others who just have a registered address in a broom cupboard in London, with the post/emails etc being dealt with in an office in the USA. Why have Labour and coalition governments allowed foreign payday loan companies to target struggling British people with very expensive short term loans ?
As for this Wonga issue, what has happened here is not unique to Wonga. Many banks and debt collection agencies use fake legal letters to send to their customers who are in default on loans. The OFT had thousands of complaints about this, but little action was ever taken.
Let's hope they go for TV Licensing (i.e. the BBC), who use much the same tactics.
I'd abolish the idiot box license, save the admin costs and fund a more streamlined Beeb from general taxation.
Sorted.
General taxation should fund the purely "public interest" programs, like news, documentaries etc. All the entertainment stuff the BBC should be able to raise its own revenue for, either via ads or subscriptions.
Plus all the usual suspects from the Labour party who were appointed by Ed and have ended up with convictions etc.
What usual suspects Ed appointed have been convicted ?
David is usually very sound on all matters, but the idea that Ed's Shadow Cabinet appointees would end up with any convictions at all is quite absurd.
When people make statements like David L, they should provide names, so others can check whether it is correct or not. All political parties have had their problems with MPs and SPADS.
Let's hope they go for TV Licensing (i.e. the BBC), who use much the same tactics.
I'd abolish the idiot box license, save the admin costs and fund a more streamlined Beeb from general taxation.
Sorted.
General taxation should fund the purely "public interest" programs, like news, documentaries etc. All the entertainment stuff the BBC should be able to raise its own revenue for, either via ads or subscriptions.
Playing devil's advocate, if 80% of taxpayers would prefer to watch Strictly than a documentary about the gothic revival, why is paying for the latter in the "public interest"?
Plus all the usual suspects from the Labour party who were appointed by Ed and have ended up with convictions etc.
What usual suspects Ed appointed have been convicted ?
David is usually very sound on all matters, but the idea that Ed's Shadow Cabinet appointees would end up with any convictions at all is quite absurd.
When people make statements like David L, they should provide names, so others can check whether it is correct or not. All political parties have had their problems with MPs and SPADS.
Woolas was the one I had immediately in mind. I would accept that the others such as McShane and Moran had their appointments before Ed became leader and the spin doctors who resigned were not actually prosecuted.
I can't believe a civil libertarian like you could like Lincoln.
He suspended things like Habeas Corpus.
Only in two specific cases, which were time limited, and were directly related to a war effort for national survival. I am not an absolutist on these matters, and I am prepared to listen to the case for limited exceptions in response to specific threats in times of existential crisis. What I am against is sweeping measures for vague and general threats when the preservation of the nation is not in danger.
Regarding academia, I spend quite a lot of time assessing grant applications for technical and scientific research projects and assessing their viability - this includes the Cavendish Laboratory.
The research at the Cavendish is about as fundamental study into nature, its practicality and effects as it is possible to get. Certainly more so than the illogical and self-referential world of finance.
Recently some projects have been quite commercial. Also I am a recognised scientist with patents to my name.
Let's hope they go for TV Licensing (i.e. the BBC), who use much the same tactics.
I'd abolish the idiot box license, save the admin costs and fund a more streamlined Beeb from general taxation.
Sorted.
General taxation should fund the purely "public interest" programs, like news, documentaries etc. All the entertainment stuff the BBC should be able to raise its own revenue for, either via ads or subscriptions.
Playing devil's advocate, if 80% of taxpayers would prefer to watch Strictly than a documentary about the gothic revival, why is paying for the latter in the "public interest"?
Because individual enjoyment should be a matter for individuals and the private market. Public interest programs are those which have externalities that benefit broader society, such as improving the education of the nation.
Let's hope they go for TV Licensing (i.e. the BBC), who use much the same tactics.
I heartily endorse that. Having a property empty for over a year as it was rebuilt at the leisurely pace of Devon builders, it was a real eye-opener to see the stream of letters from TV Licensing. If they had actually undertaken any of their umpteen threatened visits to the property, they would have known how fatuous all their stream of (presumably) computer-generated, threatening, see-you-in-court correspondence looked.
Let's hope they go for TV Licensing (i.e. the BBC), who use much the same tactics.
I heartily endorse that. Having a property empty for over a year as it was rebuilt at the leisurely pace of Devon builders, it was a real eye-opener to see the stream of letters from TV Licensing. If they had actually undertaken any of their umpteen threatened visits to the property, they would have known how fatuous all their stream of (presumably) computer-generated, threatening, see-you-in-court correspondence looked.
Let's hope they go for TV Licensing (i.e. the BBC), who use much the same tactics.
I'd abolish the idiot box license, save the admin costs and fund a more streamlined Beeb from general taxation.
Sorted.
General taxation should fund the purely "public interest" programs, like news, documentaries etc. All the entertainment stuff the BBC should be able to raise its own revenue for, either via ads or subscriptions.
Playing devil's advocate, if 80% of taxpayers would prefer to watch Strictly than a documentary about the gothic revival, why is paying for the latter in the "public interest"?
Because individual enjoyment should be a matter for individuals and the private market. Public interest programs are those which have externalities that benefit broader society, such as improving the education of the nation.
Rather statist to decide which programs "benefit broader society".
I had no idea of the difference between a salsa and a rumba prior to watching strictly, and have been educated as a result. I kid, of course, but you get my point that defining what is beneficial/educational, and what is not, can be a very fuzzy area.
Comments
http://www.oddschecker.com/football/football-specials/luis-suarez/still-there-after-summer-transfer-window
Suarez 1-3 to stay at Liverpool, 2-1 to leave Liverpool after transfer window.
The 2-1 / 5-4 looks to be an arb but I'm not 100% sure - I think there is a middle risk with contract termination that both bets could fail. Slim, but present.
Mr Coulson still has one outstanding charge which the jury are considering in relation to alleged payments to police. I personally regard that charge as so much more serious than this "hacking" pap as to be on a different planet.
If he is found guilty of that he should face serious jail time. Otherwise I think the sentence should be pretty token but that depends on the views of the judge. The sentence given to the "rogue reporter" was quite severe as I recall.
It does seem as if Cameron has played it poorly. The Commission is just a giant Euro-quango, full of people appointed for occasionally arbitrary political reasons by various government (Lansley??). It is an important step in the direction of democracy that the newly elected European Parliament gets the say in who takes over as president of the Commission. Personally I would prefer either a direct election for the post or for an MEP to be chosen.
Todays thread demonstrates that in another seat Labour is likely to make gains, and with the Indy ref heading the way of continued union we do look likely to have Ed in power next year. A small working majority in my book.
I think the value on the greens is in Norwich South where Shadsy has 8:1.
A good owl joke would be a real hoot.
But the "Celebrity Pointless" specials are almost unwatchable. A procession of D-list celebs who often don't even the know the rules of the quiz, although these are usually relaxed to honour the revered status of these, to me, unknowns. Richard Osman is sickly sycophantic; they are marvellous or wonderful, and they are encouraged to reveal their latest outstanding project, often a pantomime season in a suburb of Merthyr.
Breakfast time is a no-view zone for me, as it's full of people I've never heard of pushing their latest two minute walk-on part in a soap.
So let's be honest - with such a media-driven frenzy for "him off the telly", it's hardly likely that they're full of themselves.
A six-month sentence for listening in on their tittle-tattle is hardly equitable when you can get a lesser sentence for much more serious, and real, crimes.
Bah! Humbug! And yes, In would say the same if Ed M was in Cameron's position now.
Tipped by me earlier in the year, to widespread derision, at 25/1.
Yes, see your point, but it's effectively an arb. Bookies will often pay out anyway on some strange unforeseen scenario that falls between to obvious alternatives.
BTW .... was that why you canvassed for Nick Palmer in 2010 ?
Why do they campaign so much against government austerity when to fully implement a green and social agenda (ie no fossil fuels ,no nuclear power etc) you need a lot of austerity?
This is why I don't take them seriously anymore. They seem to be a left version of UKIP in promising everything and criticising everything.
I think Cameron will make clear that he liked Coulson, that he was competent at his job, that no one criticised the job that he did in No 10 but that he misled him on his appointment and that the appointment was therefore a mistake. I don't think Cameron will be minded to just throw him overboard. Firstly, he is a lot more loyal than that and secondly I suspect he will get more kudos for not doing so.
If I was Ed I would be more focussed on the tactics used in opposing Juncker. It is more important and an opportunity to split off the Lib Dems given Vince's comments. R4 spent the last 5 minutes of the Today programme this morning debating whether Cameron was incompetent or completely incompetent in his positioning in their usual impartial way. That really should be Ed's cue.
'I see after all his bluster that Darling and No Scotland campaign have chickened out of the debate with Alex Salmond.'
It was Salmond that chickened out,but why let facts get in the way.
'A Better Together insider said: “This is astonishing stuff. STV told us that they would not negotiate on the date of this debate. They were emphatic that the date would not change.
“That hard line stance lasted until Salmond decided that, even although he was free on that date, he didn’t fancy debating Alistair. STV have simply rolled over. It is not on.”
Mr Darling has accepted another invitation for a debate on the BBC on August 12 but it was not known whether the First Minister would participate.'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-28007965
I imagine Miliband will be watching closely to see how it goes down.
Isn't it more the council that will end up costing Ms Green her her seat rather than the Greens neo-fascist and hypocritical policies ?
BBC impartiality :
"Right to buy has driven-up home ownership in Scotland. But it has also contributed to an acute shortage of social housing."
Evidence ?
The filthy Italian clearly shoved his shoulder into Luis' teeth.
The cheating Italian then rolled around on the floor like he had been shot.
Nowadays it is impossible to define "left wing", whether ultra or mild, by reference to policy.
It's meaning has now shifted to "weird, wonkish, gauche, kinky, odd and outré".
Seems to be a perfect fit for both Brighton and the Labour party under Ed.
The problem is the tosspots who get within a couple of inches of you on a bike also do the same if you are riding a horse on the road. I speak from the viewpoint of a cyclist, horse-rider and car driver !
No, Jack. Just my way of contributing to Help The Aged.
You of course, need no help.....
King Felipe VI's sister Princess Cristina, accused of complicity in her husband's business dealings, to face unprecedented criminal trial
A Spanish judge has ruled that King Felipe VI's sister, Princess Cristina, and her husband must face fraud charges, opening the way to an unprecedented criminal trial that could further damage the royal family.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/10924539/Spains-Princess-Cristina-must-face-fraud-charges-judge-rules.html
Yes, I remember reading that in a biography by Barbara Tuchman I think. Truman himself was involved in some, well interesting, manoeuvres as a judge before he made it on to the national stage. Politics in Missouri in the early 30s was not for the faint hearted.
I think most people respect that sort of loyalty but maybe that is just my own view being generalised.
- Chris Huhne. Leaving aside the obvious, you can't expect Cameron's political opponents to give disinterested advice. And the parallel is not with Damien McBride - McBride's style of politics is far more toxic to the public interest (Coulson has been found guilty of criminal offence, but not something related to politics)
B. The Select Committee quote: Coulson took the same line with them as with the PM. I haven't read their final report - does it say that they didn't believe him?
C. "The tribunal singled out the Prime Minister's chief propagandist: "The original source of the hostility towards the claimant [Driscoll] was Mr Coulson, the editor." "
Don't really want to comment because I don't know the details of this case. But there are plenty of bullies in politics - clearly it is a behaviour that needs to be controlled but is not a reason not to hire someone.
Where's the damning evidence that you are pointing to?
When is their next Huhne column ?
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/disabled-and-elderly-campaigners-protesting-removal-of-travel-concessions-kettled-by-the-police-at-sheffield-railway-station-9560606.html.
(you had referred to the No, Thanks side as "losers" and "chicken" - fairly playground stuff to be quite honest)
And I thought you were proud of your acerbic turn of phrase...
dyor.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/matt/
"Life ban for that from all levels of football for that isn't it ?"
The Referees Association will support any official who takes legal action for assault in these circumstances.
Not sure its remit extends as far as Thailand though.
Allow me to correct you. The financing with which I have always been associated is that of financing overseas infrastructure projects, especially in developing countries, using overseas money, or World Bank money.
Regarding the banking crash, it was obvious by early 2000 that it would happen - any fool could look at the mortgage markets - except a certain Gordon Brown who chose to ignore and had split the responsibilities of such regulation - perhaps he had his eye on politics more than the welfare of the UK!
Regarding academia, I spend quite a lot of time assessing grant applications for technical and scientific research projects and assessing their viability - this includes the Cavendish Laboratory.
Meanwhile will Ed The Younger still be acting as though he is in the middle of Watergate at PMQ's later?
Who's "deep throat" that's what I'd like to know.
"Coulson" at Evens
"Suarez" at 100/1
http://politicalbookie.wordpress.com/2014/06/25/what-are-the-odds-that-ed-goes-for-coulson-in-pmqs/
No bet for me !
"Tbh If I was the Italian I'd head straight over to the linesman to show him the teeth marks. "
He tried to show them to the referee, who wasn't interested. (Incredibly, one of the other Uruguyans tried to prevent him by pulling the guy's shirt back up!) I've some sympathy with the officials here. As a ref, you often have players coming up to you and showing the injury marks caused by foul play. The trouble is that if you did not actually see the cause of the injury you cannot take any action. You can only give what you see, and for all the ref knew the bite marks may have been put there by his lover just before the game.
I'm sticking by my guess that FIFA will duck it and hand out a one-match ban for a head butt. FIFA is not noted for its courage in such matters.
by Sunny Hundal
"Ed Miliband’s problem, to put it bluntly, is that he doesn’t project strength. So even though people broadly agree with and think his heart is in the right place, they aren’t convinced he will carry out what he promises, yet.
Where does the perception of strength come from? The usual script requires a leader to pick a fight against a group the press dislike and show strength by defeating them. Blair, who was earlier derided as Bambi, did that with Clause 4, while Cameron styled himself as a moderniser who would fight the old guard on equal marriage. Perceptions of strength matter, because voters want to know a leader is even willing to fight his own side to get things done. They want to know he or she stands for something."
Plus all the usual suspects from the Labour party who were appointed by Ed and have ended up with convictions etc.
I may be wrong but I doubt we will see much political traction on this.
FRANCE--Invincible in Peace,--Invisible in War. http://bit.ly/1wiA2qH via @BreitbartNews
Hopefully the government will charge 2090% pa on the debt.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28015456
The only information I have got is that which is reported above. I've no info on other party shares or whether Caroline Lucas's name was in the VI question.
Did you notice News Corporation (NWS) was up 1% on the day yesterday?
A NI employee causing a high electricity bill would be Ed's dream subject.
He suspended things like Habeas Corpus.
As for this Wonga issue, what has happened here is not unique to Wonga. Many banks and debt collection agencies use fake legal letters to send to their customers who are in default on loans. The OFT had thousands of complaints about this, but little action was ever taken.
Sorted.
If not, Alex Salmond should be worried.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/06/25/brace_yourselves_brazil_dill_in_world_cup_wifi_spill/
For 20 Years the Nuclear Launch Code at US Minuteman Silos Was 00000000
http://gizmodo.com/for-20-years-the-nuclear-launch-code-at-us-minuteman-si-1473483587
I had no idea of the difference between a salsa and a rumba prior to watching strictly, and have been educated as a result. I kid, of course, but you get my point that defining what is beneficial/educational, and what is not, can be a very fuzzy area.