@severincarrell: BREAKING: election court judges rule that @acarmichaelmp "self talking" about his ignorance of #nikkileaks memo does meet legal test 1/2
So @acarmichaelmp complainants win first round victory on Representation of People's act case: now for further hearings 2/2
Is there an English translation of this?
There's evidence that Alastair Carmichael was a very naughty boy but we should have further hearings to find out, if he has been as naughty as his opponents say, we might have a by-election
This self employed nonsense is confirmation, if it were needed, that Corbyn is utterly clueless. Every self employed tradesman would be permanently "on the sick" whilst working. He promised a different approach I guess.
Corbyn will promise in his speech to give the self-employed access to maternity, paternity and sick pay http://bit.ly/1iHcYjG
I wonder how the state will be able to check sick days from the self-employed??
That'll be fun..
same as they do for the employed - self certification
Except for the employed those who are "sick" aren't working on their sick days. For the self-employed they could be "sick" which still working on their business and claim sick pay for the sick period and then process business receipts for once they're 'healthy' again.
Or going on holiday... whats the chances you have plenty of self-employed sick for a couple of weeks during the summer?
Indeed. It is so wide open to abuse that it shows complete naivety at best.
This self employed nonsense is confirmation, if it were needed, that Corbyn is utterly clueless. Every self employed tradesman would be permanently "on the sick" whilst working. He promised a different approach I guess.
Nobody claiming welfare ever commits fraud in the land of Corbyn.
We cannot know how many terrible or how many brilliant budgets there will be between now and 2020. That will affect the popularity of Osborne. The new parliament has not got into its stride yet. We cannot tell how many ministers will make a name for themselves or how many will make a err...pig's ear.
Most likely candidates for Tory leader look comfortable in their own skin which is a good start to be accepted as a leader. No matter how many tory MPs get nominated as a candidate however it remains that only 2 will get put towards the party electorate ('palectorate'?). It seems inconceivable that one of them will not be Osborne - if he wants the job.
Corbyn will promise in his speech to give the self-employed access to maternity, paternity and sick pay http://bit.ly/1iHcYjG
I wonder how the state will be able to check sick days from the self-employed??
That'll be fun..
same as they do for the employed - self certification
Except for the employed those who are "sick" aren't working on their sick days. For the self-employed they could be "sick" which still working on their business and claim sick pay for the sick period and then process business receipts for once they're 'healthy' again.
Or going on holiday... whats the chances you have plenty of self-employed sick for a couple of weeks during the summer?
Indeed. It is so wide open to abuse that it shows complete naivety at best.
It's actually not that radical. Arguably it's a Toryish simplification of ESA.
@severincarrell: BREAKING: election court judges rule that @acarmichaelmp "self talking" about his ignorance of #nikkileaks memo does meet legal test 1/2
So @acarmichaelmp complainants win first round victory on Representation of People's act case: now for further hearings 2/2
Is there an English translation of this?
There's evidence that Alastair Carmichael was a very naughty boy but we should have further hearings to find out, if he has been as naughty as his opponents say, we might have a by-election
These British nationals getting sanctions are really shocking. They were born and bred in this country and they're not brainwashed teenagers, but grown men and women with children of their own. And its not just one or two individuals that have gone out and done this but hundreds and hundreds. What the hell has caused so many psychotic people to grow up here? What is being done about it?
Mr. JEO, it's not just here, and there's an obvious common factor. Islamic extremism is the common link. Some people get drunk on religion. After all, when a god's on your side, you can do anything, right?
Mr. JEO, it's not just here, and there's an obvious common factor. Islamic extremism is the common link. Some people get drunk on religion. After all, when a god's on your side, you can do anything, right?
And no state is going to have the level of insight into the working of the minds of their entire population to completely eradicate such twisted thinking.
It would be utterly scary if they did.
We have to accept that extreme religious mania is something that does happen - stopping that from moving into acts of violence is where the real challenge lies.
Mr. JEO, it's not just here, and there's an obvious common factor. Islamic extremism is the common link. Some people get drunk on religion. After all, when a god's on your side, you can do anything, right?
But we don't see our nationals of a Sri Lankan background going off to fight for the sectarian mobs in Burma, or those of a Jamaican background going off to fight for the Lord's Resistance Army.
Mr. JEO, it's not just here, and there's an obvious common factor. Islamic extremism is the common link. Some people get drunk on religion. After all, when a god's on your side, you can do anything, right?
But we don't see our nationals of a Sri Lankan background going off to fight for the sectarian mobs in Burma, or those of a Jamaican background going off to fight for the Lord's Resistance Army.
Although wasn't it the Tamil Tigers who invented the suicide bomb?
These British nationals getting sanctions are really shocking. They were born and bred in this country and they're not brainwashed teenagers, but grown men and women with children of their own. And its not just one or two individuals that have gone out and done this but hundreds and hundreds. What the hell has caused so many psychotic people to grow up here? What is being done about it?
We have not challenged their bad ideas by giving them better ones. That is the way you drive out bad ideas - by providing and arguing for better ones.
Instead we do nothing and then seek to impose ludicrously authoritarian laws like the one identified by Sean F below.
And here we go, excluding the additional party member columns
Cameron - average = 53
Conservative - 39 Potential Conservative - 38
Labour - 69 Potential Labour - 52
Corbyn - average = -80
Conservative - -85 Potential Conservative - -79
Labour - -75 Potential Labour - -76
Floating voters don't see Cameron as remotely as right wing as his opponents do. Dear Labour, continue trying to paint him in this light, please, k thnx
We badly need a constitutional protection on free speech. It is amazing to me that the right to a family life means we can't deport terrorists but the police can charge someone for quoting Bible verses.
Mr. JEO, well, quite, but those are Buddhists and Christians. There are extremists in such camps, but it seems to lack the international allure of Islamic extremism.
Edited extra bit: agree entirely on free speech. It's under threat from the politically correct/hyper-sensitive, religious zealots who want blasphemy laws, and authoritarian governments.
Corbyn will promise in his speech to give the self-employed access to maternity, paternity and sick pay http://bit.ly/1iHcYjG
I wonder how the state will be able to check sick days from the self-employed??
That'll be fun..
same as they do for the employed - self certification
But in that case at least the employer knows they are absent from work. In any even as someone else said it will be just a tax/NI rise on the self employed.
Mr. JEO, it's not just here, and there's an obvious common factor. Islamic extremism is the common link. Some people get drunk on religion. After all, when a god's on your side, you can do anything, right?
But we don't see our nationals of a Sri Lankan background going off to fight for the sectarian mobs in Burma, or those of a Jamaican background going off to fight for the Lord's Resistance Army.
Although wasn't it the Tamil Tigers who invented the suicide bomb?
Yes but that's not Britons doing it. It is to be expected there are extremists in other parts of the world but how are people growing up in this country ending up preferring the evil of ISIS to Western democracy?
''We badly need a constitutional protection on free speech.''
There are consequences, however. There was a documentary last night on the Ku Klux Klan. Free speech in the States means they can say whatever they like.
We badly need a constitutional protection on free speech. It is amazing to me that the right to a family life means we can't deport terrorists but the police can charge someone for quoting Bible verses.
''We badly need a constitutional protection on free speech.''
There are consequences, however. There was a documentary last night on the Ku Klux Klan. Free speech in the States means they can say whatever they like.
That is one of the consequences.
Surely people should be able to say whatever they like?
We badly need a constitutional protection on free speech. It is amazing to me that the right to a family life means we can't deport terrorists but the police can charge someone for quoting Bible verses.
Bang on cue. East Anglia Students' Union bans .......sombreros.
''We badly need a constitutional protection on free speech.''
There are consequences, however. There was a documentary last night on the Ku Klux Klan. Free speech in the States means they can say whatever they like.
That is one of the consequences.
I've always wanted to join the Ku Klux Klan, just to see what washing powder they use.
Their sheets are so brilliantly white all the time
We badly need a constitutional protection on free speech. It is amazing to me that the right to a family life means we can't deport terrorists but the police can charge someone for quoting Bible verses.
Bang on cue. East Anglia Students' Union bans .......sombreros.
Osborne isn't liked because Chancellors are never liked (They take away my money). IF (and it is a big if) he balances the books by 2020 then he'll walk it due to his perceived competence. (And don't forget other demographics/ constituency changes/ SNP trashing Scotland over the next 4 years)
I'm not sure that's right, or not the whole story. Gordon Brown and John Major were popular, weren't they? Ed Balls, on the other hand, was not, despite being only shadow Chancellor.
My own prejudices lead me to blame the rise of the SpAdocracy and more particularly, centrally imposed candidates. We now have a generation of politicians who have never had to do grassroots politics in order to be selected for safe seats and as a result often show no particular talent for basic political tradecraft, like making speeches or just getting on with people.
I think you may have something of a point there in that I've always thought the 'never had a proper job' line of grumble was rubbish, but when it comes to hard grafting politics then yes, that is the way to see what makes the public tick.
''We badly need a constitutional protection on free speech.''
There are consequences, however. There was a documentary last night on the Ku Klux Klan. Free speech in the States means they can say whatever they like.
That is one of the consequences.
Surely people should be able to say whatever they like?
Keep up Mr JEO, you can get in trouble for thinking things.
@severincarrell: BREAKING: election court judges rule that @acarmichaelmp "self talking" about his ignorance of #nikkileaks memo does meet legal test 1/2
So @acarmichaelmp complainants win first round victory on Representation of People's act case: now for further hearings 2/2
Is there an English translation of this?
There's evidence that Alastair Carmichael was a very naughty boy but we should have further hearings to find out, if he has been as naughty as his opponents say, we might have a by-election
He may feel it is in his best interest to resign no rather than face the humiliation of trying to defend his lying in court (on national television).
A lot of this seems to stem from Corbyn's yes, but no, but yes, oh let's talk about it. And then someone else makes a decision anyway.
Various spokesbods are saying all sorts of uncoordinated things and we don't know what th policy is on anything. DT has counted 7 or 8 reversals already.
''We badly need a constitutional protection on free speech.''
There are consequences, however. There was a documentary last night on the Ku Klux Klan. Free speech in the States means they can say whatever they like.
That is one of the consequences.
I've always wanted to join the Ku Klux Klan, just to see what washing powder they use.
Their sheets are so brilliantly white all the time
They have different coloured sheets. Grand Dragons and Exalted Cyclops' will often be seen in crimson or blue. And, at springtime, the coneheads prefer to wear green robes.
''We badly need a constitutional protection on free speech.''
There are consequences, however. There was a documentary last night on the Ku Klux Klan. Free speech in the States means they can say whatever they like.
That is one of the consequences.
I've always wanted to join the Ku Klux Klan, just to see what washing powder they use.
Their sheets are so brilliantly white all the time
Where do they get their pointy hats from. How do those fiery crosses not burn away to nothing?
Mr. JEO, it's not just here, and there's an obvious common factor. Islamic extremism is the common link. Some people get drunk on religion. After all, when a god's on your side, you can do anything, right?
But we don't see our nationals of a Sri Lankan background going off to fight for the sectarian mobs in Burma, or those of a Jamaican background going off to fight for the Lord's Resistance Army.
Although wasn't it the Tamil Tigers who invented the suicide bomb?
Yes but that's not Britons doing it. It is to be expected there are extremists in other parts of the world but how are people growing up in this country ending up preferring the evil of ISIS to Western democracy?
There were people in the 1920's and 1930's and later - even up to this day (*glances briefly at the Labour party conference in Brighton*) who preferred the evil of Communism or Fascism to Western freedoms. People now choosing Islamic extremism is more of the same.
What's changed I think has been that we have been - though I hope that is changing - much more willing to accommodate it and much more reluctant to challenge it, out of a misplaced fear of racism and a misplaced respect for religion, even when it has been used to justify and/or encourage violence.
Mr. JEO, it's not just here, and there's an obvious common factor. Islamic extremism is the common link. Some people get drunk on religion. After all, when a god's on your side, you can do anything, right?
But we don't see our nationals of a Sri Lankan background going off to fight for the sectarian mobs in Burma, or those of a Jamaican background going off to fight for the Lord's Resistance Army.
Although wasn't it the Tamil Tigers who invented the suicide bomb?
Yes but that's not Britons doing it. It is to be expected there are extremists in other parts of the world but how are people growing up in this country ending up preferring the evil of ISIS to Western democracy?
There were people in the 1920's and 1930's and later - even up to this day (*glances briefly at the Labour party conference in Brighton*) who preferred the evil of Communism or Fascism to Western freedoms. People now choosing Islamic extremism is more of the same.
What's changed I think has been that we have been - though I hope that is changing - much more willing to accommodate it and much more reluctant to challenge it, out of a misplaced fear of racism and a misplaced respect for religion, even when it has been used to justify and/or encourage violence.
That was almost a century ago. Right now all the people doing this are almost entirely from one community. Why is that?
''We badly need a constitutional protection on free speech.''
There are consequences, however. There was a documentary last night on the Ku Klux Klan. Free speech in the States means they can say whatever they like.
That is one of the consequences.
I've always wanted to join the Ku Klux Klan, just to see what washing powder they use.
Their sheets are so brilliantly white all the time
Where do they get their pointy hats from. How do those fiery crosses not burn away to nothing?
Ultimately, the robes and hats are based on the garments worn in Spanish religious processions.
If he didn't stand, prob a SNP hold over the Tories in 2nd?
Yep, assuming the SNP would be extra careful on candidate selection.
The SNP have Michael Stewart who was second in the selection for Edinburgh West. He should be a relatively safe candidate and very popular with Hearts fans in the constituency.
Edit - forgot he is popular with plague carriers too.
''We badly need a constitutional protection on free speech.''
There are consequences, however. There was a documentary last night on the Ku Klux Klan. Free speech in the States means they can say whatever they like.
That is one of the consequences.
I've always wanted to join the Ku Klux Klan, just to see what washing powder they use.
Their sheets are so brilliantly white all the time
They have different coloured sheets. Grand Dragons and Exalted Cyclops' will often be seen in crimson or blue. And, at springtime, the coneheads prefer to wear green robes.
Ooh, red/Crimson is my colour of choice for clothing.
There were people in the 1920's and 1930's and later - even up to this day (*glances briefly at the Labour party conference in Brighton*) who preferred the evil of Communism or Fascism to Western freedoms.
In the 1920s & 30s, it was much more unclear what the 'evil' of Communism or Fascism was. I'm also not even sure if Western freedom existed as a concept.
If Corbyn really is going to pledge a kinder type of politics, that may be an important hostage to fortune given the reported activities of some of his supporters.
@severincarrell: BREAKING: election court judges rule that @acarmichaelmp "self talking" about his ignorance of #nikkileaks memo does meet legal test 1/2
So @acarmichaelmp complainants win first round victory on Representation of People's act case: now for further hearings 2/2
Is there an English translation of this?
There's evidence that Alastair Carmichael was a very naughty boy but we should have further hearings to find out, if he has been as naughty as his opponents say, we might have a by-election
Of course, all the above assumes that the referendum is won by the In side. If not, all bets are off ...
Although I am a moderate BOO-er, I had always assumed that "In" would win by a reasonable margin. These days I am beginning to think that "Out" has the edge. If a coherent fiscal and business case can be put today for "Out" then "In" is toast thanks to the mishandling of the migration situation.
I think the great uncertainty relates to how the migrant crisis evolves. Take out Schengen and, with a bit of spinning, the EU will look less unattractive to loads of people
The ability to move around the EU is about the only thing I like. Of course I realise that migrants are using exactly the same facility to cause all the upset but the real issue is to make it possible for them to stay in their own countries in safety.
If Corbyn really is going to pledge a kinder type of politics, that may be an important hostage to fortune given the reported activities of some of his supporters.
There were people in the 1920's and 1930's and later - even up to this day (*glances briefly at the Labour party conference in Brighton*) who preferred the evil of Communism or Fascism to Western freedoms.
In the 1920s & 30s, it was much more unclear what the 'evil' of Communism or Fascism was. I'm also not even sure if Western freedom existed as a concept.
It was not at all unclear to the likes of Orwell or Koestler or to those who knew of the famine in the Ukraine and the gulags and the show trials. There were plenty of people, though, who chose not to see or understand what was in front of their eyes. And there were some who deliberately lied because they did not want to spoil the story. And from the 1940s onwards there really were no excuses for anyone not to know exactly what Communism was about.
Similarly re Fascism and Nazism: there was plenty of evidence, not least in what the leaders of those movements were actually saying. As well as what they and their followers did.
The idea of Enlightenment freedoms: the rule of law, Parliamentary democracy, not using violence for political ends etc did exist - if not widely - in some Western countries, principally Britain, of course.
Slightly off the current topic - see that Peston (in the Times) is claiming he does not lose any 'gravitas' by not wearing a tie. Well of course he never had any gravitas to lose in the first place but pictures of him slouching around as he asks his questions hardly help his case.
"Whilst in many cases eminent, the committee members are left radicals somewhat removed from wider public opinion. Their views are well known so whilst no doubt helpful sources of advice, co-opting them is unlikely help shift opinion."
If Corbyn really is going to pledge a kinder type of politics, that may be an important hostage to fortune given the reported activities of some of his supporters.
I fear we will see more of this sort of rent-a-mob violence over the coming years. Corbyn will be judged by how his friends behave.
It was not at all unclear to the likes of Orwell or Koestler or to those who knew of the famine in the Ukraine and the gulags and the show trials. There were plenty of people, though, who chose not see or understand what was in front of their eyes. And there were some who deliberately lied because they did not want to spoil the story. And from the 1940s onwards there really were no excuses for anyone not to know exactly what Communism was about.
Similarly re Fascism and Nazism: there was plenty of evidence, not least in what the leaders of those movements were actually saying. As well as what they and their followers did.
You can just about make a case that neither the horrors of Stalin or Hitler were obvious in the West until the mid-1930s, but not after that.
''One has a doctorate and works at the LSE. She got 53 votes as a Class War Party candidate.''
On top of McDonnell's call for 'peaceful' intimidation of conservative MPs by direct action. Corbyn's call for 'kinder' politics is one of the greatest falsehoods ever perpetrated in politics and it will come back to haunt this apparently honest and straight talking man.
TBH, I think he's suffering a massive mid-life crisis made worse by the death of his wife. He looks totally different - all he needs is a hipster beard and a waistcoat/shirt hanging out.
Slightly off the current topic - see that Peston (in the Times) is claiming he does not lose any 'gravitas' by not wearing a tie. Well of course he never had any gravitas to lose in the first place but pictures of him slouching around as he asks his questions hardly help his case.
There were people in the 1920's and 1930's and later - even up to this day (*glances briefly at the Labour party conference in Brighton*) who preferred the evil of Communism or Fascism to Western freedoms.
In the 1920s & 30s, it was much more unclear what the 'evil' of Communism or Fascism was. I'm also not even sure if Western freedom existed as a concept.
It was not at all unclear to the likes of Orwell or Koestler or to those who knew of the famine in the Ukraine and the gulags and the show trials.
There were people in the 1920's and 1930's and later - even up to this day (*glances briefly at the Labour party conference in Brighton*) who preferred the evil of Communism or Fascism to Western freedoms.
In the 1920s & 30s, it was much more unclear what the 'evil' of Communism or Fascism was. I'm also not even sure if Western freedom existed as a concept.
It was not at all unclear to the likes of Orwell or Koestler or to those who knew of the famine in the Ukraine and the gulags and the show trials.
In the 1920s?
Fascism came to Italy in 1923 and there were people who were horrified by it even then. There was a brutal civil war in the Soviet Union in the 1920s and there were reports coming out of the Soviet Union of what was going on. It may have been less bad than the later horrors of Stalinism at its worse but the idea that it was a land of milk and honey and that no-one had any inkling of the horrors is nonsense. Some of those were Communists themselves or other Socialists but who got on the wrong side of whichever faction was in charge.
Slightly off the current topic - see that Peston (in the Times) is claiming he does not lose any 'gravitas' by not wearing a tie. Well of course he never had any gravitas to lose in the first place but pictures of him slouching around as he asks his questions hardly help his case.
ITN must be off their heads, if the rumours are true.
@Morris_Dancer The best result for the brothers is a massive show of local support and tons of media appearances. That the pair wear full sleeve tattoos and speak with broad Belfast accents just made me smile. They weren't going to be intimidated by some weekend anarchists.
It may have been less bad than the later horrors of Stalinism at its worse but the idea that it was a land of milk and honey and that no-one had any inkling of the horrors is nonsense.
Very much fiction (but the hero is very English, a sort of competent Arthur Dent).
"Gregory Benford (born January 30, 1941) is an American science fiction author and astrophysicist who is on the faculty of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Irvine. He is also a contributing editor of Reason magazine.[1]
As a science fiction author, Benford is perhaps best known for the Galactic Center Saga novels, beginning with In the Ocean of Night (1977).[2] This series postulates a galaxy in which sentient organic life is in constant warfare with sentient electromechanical life."
Miss Plato, that mob was a disgrace. A few more steps and it's in the political sphere of Milo and Clodius.
If the Great Filter still lies ahead of us, this quote from HP Lovecraft seems very apt:-
"The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far. The sciences, each straining in its own direction, have hitherto harmed us little; but some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the light into the peace and safety of a new dark age.”
Mrs C, the excellent first three Mass Effect games dealt with a comparable premise, whereby super-advanced machines wiped out civilisation in the galaxy every hundred thousand years or so.
My reading list is pretty long, and I perhaps made the mistake of concurrently reading two books with a combined page count exceeding 3,500, so it'll be a while before I'm on anything else. (Words of Radiance and Three Kingdoms, for those interested).
Edited extra bit: Mr. F, only read the one book [Mountains of Madness, I think] by Lovecraft, but he's a very influential chap. That's a rather nice quote, as you say.
TBH, I think he's suffering a massive mid-life crisis made worse by the death of his wife. He looks totally different - all he needs is a hipster beard and a waistcoat/shirt hanging out.
Slightly off the current topic - see that Peston (in the Times) is claiming he does not lose any 'gravitas' by not wearing a tie. Well of course he never had any gravitas to lose in the first place but pictures of him slouching around as he asks his questions hardly help his case.
His bereavement is very sad and tragic of course, but as a public figure he still needs to take responsibility for his words. My own view is he has never had any gravitas and that is because he has at no point done or achieved anything of any quality to warrant it.
pop corn time at Labour conference where the underwhelming Jon Ashworth zzzz is being quizzed by A. Neill BBC2 on all the nazi allusions that speakers have made about the baby eating party of Govt.
Slightly off the current topic - see that Peston (in the Times) is claiming he does not lose any 'gravitas' by not wearing a tie. Well of course he never had any gravitas to lose in the first place but pictures of him slouching around as he asks his questions hardly help his case.
ITN must be off their heads, if the rumours are true.
Agreed. Peston is a Labourite who has been trying to get the BBC political slot for years.
Miss Plato, that mob was a disgrace. A few more steps and it's in the political sphere of Milo and Clodius.
If the Great Filter still lies ahead of us, this quote from HP Lovecraft seems very apt:-
"The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far. The sciences, each straining in its own direction, have hitherto harmed us little; but some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the light into the peace and safety of a new dark age.”
''I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.'' (Isaac Newton)
“Now, my own suspicion is that the universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose. I have read and heard many attempts at a systematic account of it, from materialism and theosophy to the Christian system or that of Kant, and I have always felt that they were much too simple. I suspect that there are more things in heaven and earth that are dreamed of, or can be dreamed of, in any philosophy. That is the reason why I have no philosophy myself, and must be my excuse for dreaming.” (JBS Haldane)
If Corbyn really is going to pledge a kinder type of politics, that may be an important hostage to fortune given the reported activities of some of his supporters.
I fear we will see more of this sort of rent-a-mob violence over the coming years. Corbyn will be judged by how his friends behave.
and these soap dodgers are funded through public sector jobs or welfare.
Comments
This is a bill that should go into the dustbin.
Most likely candidates for Tory leader look comfortable in their own skin which is a good start to be accepted as a leader. No matter how many tory MPs get nominated as a candidate however it remains that only 2 will get put towards the party electorate ('palectorate'?). It seems inconceivable that one of them will not be Osborne - if he wants the job.
Mind you, his LD website page still thinks he's an MP!
http://www.libdems.org.uk/mike_crockart#
Very x-wing = +/- 100
Fairly x-wing = +/- 67
Slightly x of centre = + / - 33
Centre = 0
So there should be no leading question bias there.
Lib Dems vs Labour will be interesting one there.
I'd be interested in how different groups see each leader.
It would be utterly scary if they did.
We have to accept that extreme religious mania is something that does happen - stopping that from moving into acts of violence is where the real challenge lies.
Instead we do nothing and then seek to impose ludicrously authoritarian laws like the one identified by Sean F below.
Cameron - average = 53
Conservative - 39
Potential Conservative - 38
Labour - 69
Potential Labour - 52
Corbyn - average = -80
Conservative - -85
Potential Conservative - -79
Labour - -75
Potential Labour - -76
Floating voters don't see Cameron as remotely as right wing as his opponents do. Dear Labour, continue trying to paint him in this light, please, k thnx
We badly need a constitutional protection on free speech. It is amazing to me that the right to a family life means we can't deport terrorists but the police can charge someone for quoting Bible verses.
Edited extra bit: agree entirely on free speech. It's under threat from the politically correct/hyper-sensitive, religious zealots who want blasphemy laws, and authoritarian governments.
Ahem.
There are consequences, however. There was a documentary last night on the Ku Klux Klan. Free speech in the States means they can say whatever they like.
That is one of the consequences.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/11895590/University-student-union-bans-free-Tex-Mex-sombreros-for-being-racist.html
There seems to be no limit to the fatuities that Student Unions are capable of.
Their sheets are so brilliantly white all the time
@TimReidBBC: Labour spokeswoman: " The whole document was approved at conference yesterday and so it is party policy." #Lab15
Do they really not know their arse from their elbow?
Well, that is a debate we can have, I guess. It sure would change the terms of political engagement in Britain, however.
Various spokesbods are saying all sorts of uncoordinated things and we don't know what th policy is on anything. DT has counted 7 or 8 reversals already.
What's changed I think has been that we have been - though I hope that is changing - much more willing to accommodate it and much more reluctant to challenge it, out of a misplaced fear of racism and a misplaced respect for religion, even when it has been used to justify and/or encourage violence.
Edit - forgot he is popular with plague carriers too.
Where do I sign up ?
Corbyn's left flank is going to be horribly exposed when this inevitable event happens.
[Spell-checker wants me to capitalise, but I refuse!].
One has a doctorate and works at the LSE. She got 53 votes as a Class War Party candidate.
Similarly re Fascism and Nazism: there was plenty of evidence, not least in what the leaders of those movements were actually saying. As well as what they and their followers did.
The idea of Enlightenment freedoms: the rule of law, Parliamentary democracy, not using violence for political ends etc did exist - if not widely - in some Western countries, principally Britain, of course.
I just thought I would ask because it seems that everyone has forgotten about it
Well of course he never had any gravitas to lose in the first place but pictures of him slouching around as he asks his questions hardly help his case.
On top of McDonnell's call for 'peaceful' intimidation of conservative MPs by direct action. Corbyn's call for 'kinder' politics is one of the greatest falsehoods ever perpetrated in politics and it will come back to haunt this apparently honest and straight talking man.
Not exactly a kinder type of politics, you may well conclude. In fact, the opposite.
[There is a cyclops in Sir Edric's Treasure, hopefully out early 2016].
Speaking of my rambling, did a short piece on the impending destruction of the human race [well, maybe]: http://thaddeusthesixth.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/the-fermi-paradox-and-great-filter.html
Miss Plato, that mob was a disgrace. A few more steps and it's in the political sphere of Milo and Clodius.
Labour WILL debate and vote on taking action in Syria tomorrow ....
"Gregory Benford (born January 30, 1941) is an American science fiction author and astrophysicist who is on the faculty of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Irvine. He is also a contributing editor of Reason magazine.[1]
As a science fiction author, Benford is perhaps best known for the Galactic Center Saga novels, beginning with In the Ocean of Night (1977).[2] This series postulates a galaxy in which sentient organic life is in constant warfare with sentient electromechanical life."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Benford
"The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far. The sciences, each straining in its own direction, have hitherto harmed us little; but some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the light into the peace and safety of a new dark age.”
My reading list is pretty long, and I perhaps made the mistake of concurrently reading two books with a combined page count exceeding 3,500, so it'll be a while before I'm on anything else. (Words of Radiance and Three Kingdoms, for those interested).
Edited extra bit: Mr. F, only read the one book [Mountains of Madness, I think] by Lovecraft, but he's a very influential chap. That's a rather nice quote, as you say.
Here is his "about me" page .... "Update coming shortly"
http://www.jonashworth.org/jon_ashworth_MP.html
(Isaac Newton)
“Now, my own suspicion is that the universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose. I have read and heard many attempts at a systematic account of it, from materialism and theosophy to the Christian system or that of Kant, and I have always felt that they were much too simple. I suspect that there are more things in heaven and earth that are dreamed of, or can be dreamed of, in any philosophy. That is the reason why I have no philosophy myself, and must be my excuse for dreaming.”
(JBS Haldane)