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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The repeated Heathrow delays don’t square with Cameon’s ima

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  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @IainMcGill: Well, it's only your @ScotTories Lothian's List rankings https://t.co/LWSA9y8fsO
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 52,641
    edited 2015 11

    Thirst?

    Not waiting in a queue, unlike people at Heathrow ...

    Terminal 5 is a triumph on that front. Very few queue ever. And now they have the electronic entry points installed it is much quicker getting back in.

    Living in the West Midlands, Heathrow is by far the best option for expansion. It is much easier to get to and from than any of the other current airports. Local residents will just have to take one for the team.

    I think it's a strong point that for most people in Britain, Heathrow is significantly easier to get to than Gatwick
    Even from Nottingham? Change at Luton or Bedford for direct trains to Gatwick
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 97,052

    I'm fascinated by the section of the electorate that likes Cameron but doesn't care for Osborne. How can people like one and dislike the other? Like Ant and Dec or Laurel and Hardy.

    To me, at least, Cameron always comes across as likeable even if he's doing things I disagree with - and always Osborne comes across as a boo/hiss panto villain even when he's doing things I approve of.

    It may not be fair on either of them, and Cameron is not amazing, but in terms of public perception he just has the right kind of charisma in sufficient amounts to get by against what he has faced. Osborne may be more intelligent and driven, and so with their goals pretty much intertwined perhaps should be more liked than Cameron, but them's the breaks.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,624
    edited 2015 11
    The whole airport thing is just bollocks. It will be Heathrow, we all know it. The think big Boris Island isn't affordable and would be politically dangerous because of so many unknowns.

    After loads more pissing about, they will announce it as Heathrow, unpopular with locals. I understand the politics of putting it off until after the GE (even though we still been waiting 5 years more than we should), but the period after GE and Labour in a complete mess, was the time to just get on and do it.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,624
    edited 2015 11
    kle4 said:

    I'm fascinated by the section of the electorate that likes Cameron but doesn't care for Osborne. How can people like one and dislike the other? Like Ant and Dec or Laurel and Hardy.

    To me, at least, Cameron always comes across as likeable even if he's doing things I disagree with - and always Osborne comes across as a boo/hiss panto villain even when he's doing things I approve of.

    It may not be fair on either of them, and Cameron is not amazing, but in terms of public perception he just has the right kind of charisma in sufficient amounts to get by against what he has faced. Osborne may be more intelligent and driven, and so with their goals pretty much intertwined perhaps should be more liked than Cameron, but them's the breaks.
    Mary Riddell summed Cameron up rather well a few years ago (not something I normally say about Mary), but basically very few people really hate him personally, ala Thatcher, across the political spectrum, he is nice enough bloke, but at the same time nobody has any real love for him. He is just the best of the piss poor bunch.

    You see it in the polling, he has for past x years had personal approval of "meh", and no amount of Bullington Tory Toff Flashman Bully s##t throwing ever really sticks against his character.
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 10,015

    Thirst?

    Not waiting in a queue, unlike people at Heathrow ...

    Terminal 5 is a triumph on that front. Very few queue ever. And now they have the electronic entry points installed it is much quicker getting back in.

    Living in the West Midlands, Heathrow is by far the best option for expansion. It is much easier to get to and from than any of the other current airports. Local residents will just have to take one for the team.

    But there is no team any more. Ed's one nation call to arms got nowhere.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 52,641
    edited 2015 11
    UK and Ireland airport passenger numbers (from Wiki):
    Airport        code	Passengers(2014)

    Heathrow LHR 73.4 million
    Gatwick LGW 38.1 million
    Manchester MAN 22.0 million
    Dublin DUB 21.7 million
    Stansted STN 19.9 million
    Luton LTN 10.5 million
    Edinburgh EDI 10.2 million
    Birmingham BHX 9.7 million
    Glasgow GLA 7.7 million
    Bristol BRS 6.3 million
    Newcastle NCL 4.5 million
    East Midlands EMA 4.5 million
    Belfast Int'n'l BFS 4.0 million
    Liverpool LPL 4.0 million
    Aberdeen ABZ 3.7 million
    London City LCY 3.6 million
    Leeds-Bradford LBA 3.3 million
    Belfast City BHD 2.6 million
    Cork ORK 2.1 million
    Southampton SOU 1.8 million
    Shannon SNN 1.6 million
    Jersey JER 1.5 million
    Southend SEN 1.1 million
    Cardiff CWL 1.0 million
  • Steven_WhaleySteven_Whaley Posts: 313

    Cameron is a Gryffindor - Osborne is a Slytherin.

    Yeah, that's it in a nutshell. :)

    I might be odd though in that I need to trust a politician more than I need to agree with him/her in order to give them my vote. Aside from a few key issues that I care most about I'm more instinctive than ideological in my beliefs.

  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,624
    Corbyn's rating are shocking and this is supposedly in the honeymoon period. Certainly no signs of Corbynism sweeping the nation.
  • HurstLlamaHurstLlama Posts: 9,098


    Really, Mr. Charles! Of course I don't have anything against people working in finance, I know some jolly nice people who made their money in that sphere, not to mention having made a few quid myself out of the City.

    The point I was trying to make about Cameron is that his dad was a stockbroker and stockbrokers, even rich and successful ones, were not de facto toffs. Might I suggest that, when you boil it down, the reason you don't talk to the side of your family that were stockbrokers is that the nice side of the family don't like spivs.

    Mr Llama,

    leaving aside your temporary grumpiness (as shown by your uncharacteristic comments about Cameron), I just thought I'd say I've been having a play with Elite Horizons, which is (sort of) working for me after Beta-4.

    And it's fun. Really fun. It's another dimension to the game.
    Mr. J, thank you for that and I am very grateful for your recommendation. In the last week I have tried to get back into the game after a few months away and I have struggled to re-ignite some interest. It is a beautiful game and great fun for the first 600 hours or so, but at the end of the day it is an updated version of the game I played to death 30 years ago, without the excitement of the original.

    I have traded, pirated, hunted and explored (one day someone will make a base on one or more of the several planets labelled "HurstLlama") and have reached the point where the game has as much appeal as business-class travel did for me twenty-five years ago ("Oh, Feck, I have got to go to Miami on Monday"). Now, given your recommendation, I hope the game will get a new lease of life.

    P.S. What are you doing on Sunday 10 July 2016?
  • ThreeQuidderThreeQuidder Posts: 6,133
    MikeK said:

    Cameron is a Gryffindor - Osborne is a Slytherin.

    I'm fascinated by the section of the electorate that likes Cameron but doesn't care for Osborne. How can people like one and dislike the other? Like Ant and Dec or Laurel and Hardy.

    To me, at least, Cameron always comes across as likeable even if he's doing things I disagree with - and always Osborne comes across as a boo/hiss panto villain even when he's doing things I approve of.

    Sorry you are wrong there, Plato. Osborne is all Hufflepuff. ;)
    As opposed to us here, who are all huff'n'puff...
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,624
    edited 2015 11
    Why the BBC so coy about the story behind the police shooting?

    "man was shot dead by police after he ‘came out firing’ as armed officers thwarted an audacious bid to spring a convicted carjacker from a nearby court.

    Police are believed to have been tipped off that an attempt would be made to free Turkish nationals Erwin Amoyaw-Gyamfi and Erun Izzet as they attended court to be sentenced for carjacking and firearms offences."

    R5 report made it sound very different.
  • blackburn63blackburn63 Posts: 4,492

    kle4 said:

    I'm fascinated by the section of the electorate that likes Cameron but doesn't care for Osborne. How can people like one and dislike the other? Like Ant and Dec or Laurel and Hardy.

    To me, at least, Cameron always comes across as likeable even if he's doing things I disagree with - and always Osborne comes across as a boo/hiss panto villain even when he's doing things I approve of.

    It may not be fair on either of them, and Cameron is not amazing, but in terms of public perception he just has the right kind of charisma in sufficient amounts to get by against what he has faced. Osborne may be more intelligent and driven, and so with their goals pretty much intertwined perhaps should be more liked than Cameron, but them's the breaks.
    Mary Riddell summed Cameron up rather well a few years ago (not something I normally say about Mary), but basically very few people really hate him personally, ala Thatcher, across the political spectrum, he is nice enough bloke, but at the same time nobody has any real love for him. He is just the best of the piss poor bunch.

    You see it in the polling, he has for past x years had personal approval of "meh", and no amount of Bullington Tory Toff Flashman Bully s##t throwing ever really sticks against his character.
    Despite what people think I don't dislike Cameron as a person, I reserve that in the main for labour politicians. I felt great sympathy for him when his son died and thought he handled it with great dignity, his wife seems charming and from time to time at PMQs he is humourous.

    But what does he stand for? What does he believe in? If I vote for him what am I getting?

    I honestly don't know, and I'm sick of career politicians who say what they have to to get elected and stay there.



  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 44,246


    Really, Mr. Charles! Of course I don't have anything against people working in finance, I know some jolly nice people who made their money in that sphere, not to mention having made a few quid myself out of the City.

    The point I was trying to make about Cameron is that his dad was a stockbroker and stockbrokers, even rich and successful ones, were not de facto toffs. Might I suggest that, when you boil it down, the reason you don't talk to the side of your family that were stockbrokers is that the nice side of the family don't like spivs.

    Mr Llama,

    leaving aside your temporary grumpiness (as shown by your uncharacteristic comments about Cameron), I just thought I'd say I've been having a play with Elite Horizons, which is (sort of) working for me after Beta-4.

    And it's fun. Really fun. It's another dimension to the game.
    Mr. J, thank you for that and I am very grateful for your recommendation. In the last week I have tried to get back into the game after a few months away and I have struggled to re-ignite some interest. It is a beautiful game and great fun for the first 600 hours or so, but at the end of the day it is an updated version of the game I played to death 30 years ago, without the excitement of the original.

    I have traded, pirated, hunted and explored (one day someone will make a base on one or more of the several planets labelled "HurstLlama") and have reached the point where the game has as much appeal as business-class travel did for me twenty-five years ago ("Oh, Feck, I have got to go to Miami on Monday"). Now, given your recommendation, I hope the game will get a new lease of life.

    P.S. What are you doing on Sunday 10 July 2016?
    It's a shame the game's faded for you. It hasn't for me yet - perhaps because I cannot play it very often, and it's a bit of a luxury: the young 'un's asleep, I've done the housework, prepared the meal et al. Once that's done I might play. ;)

    I've set myself a target of driving an SRV on a planet on the other side of the galaxy. That'll keep me busy for six months!

    I'm not sure there's enough in the initial Horizons release to reignite your interest. If you're a bit jaded, it might be worth leaving it until later in the year when there'll be more content.

    No idea what I'm doing next month, yet alone next July! What's on?
  • justin124justin124 Posts: 11,527

    The clip of Harriet Harman at PMQs from July must be depressing for Labour supporters. She'd have been so much more effective in opposition than any of the candidates that stood for the leadership.
    Harman was a disaster . Her response to the July Budget opened the door for Corbyn.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,138
    Incidentally, you PC gamer types may be interested in XCOM 2, out in February next year. Bit miffed it's not out for PS4, but hoping it's a timed exclusive.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 52,641
    edited 2015 11

    Erun Izzet
    .

    Hopefully no relation of Muzzy?
  • weejonnieweejonnie Posts: 3,820

    Cameron is a Gryffindor - Osborne is a Slytherin.

    I'm fascinated by the section of the electorate that likes Cameron but doesn't care for Osborne. How can people like one and dislike the other? Like Ant and Dec or Laurel and Hardy.

    To me, at least, Cameron always comes across as likeable even if he's doing things I disagree with - and always Osborne comes across as a boo/hiss panto villain even when he's doing things I approve of.

    I'd say Cameron was a Hufflepuff, As for Osborne - well the sorting hat had to decide between Slytherin and Ravenclaw.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,624
    weejonnie said:

    Cameron is a Gryffindor - Osborne is a Slytherin.

    I'm fascinated by the section of the electorate that likes Cameron but doesn't care for Osborne. How can people like one and dislike the other? Like Ant and Dec or Laurel and Hardy.

    To me, at least, Cameron always comes across as likeable even if he's doing things I disagree with - and always Osborne comes across as a boo/hiss panto villain even when he's doing things I approve of.

    I'd say Cameron was a Hufflepuff, As for Osborne - well the sorting hat had to decide between Slytherin and Ravenclaw.
    Osborne definitely in Slytherin, along with Mandelson.
  • HurstLlamaHurstLlama Posts: 9,098
    edited 2015 11


    It's a shame the game's faded for you. It hasn't for me yet - perhaps because I cannot play it very often, and it's a bit of a luxury: the young 'un's asleep, I've done the housework, prepared the meal et al. Once that's done I might play. ;)

    I've set myself a target of driving an SRV on a planet on the other side of the galaxy. That'll keep me busy for six months!

    I'm not sure there's enough in the initial Horizons release to reignite your interest. If you're a bit jaded, it might be worth leaving it until later in the year when there'll be more content.

    No idea what I'm doing next month, yet alone next July! What's on?

    Yes, well the quote of 600 hours wasn't a random figure it is what Steam said that I had played (actually as of early July it was 663 hours) - the joys of retirement.

    Anyway, 9th and 10th July 2016 is the Duxford airshow. I missed out this year by prevaricating and there were no tickets left when I came to order. So I am going to book a hotel for the Saturday night, do the show on the Sunday (10/7/16), stay again that night and get the train back down South on the Monday. I wondered if I could tempt you to joining me at the airshow. Or if you can't manage the airshow how about Saturday night talking about engineering and trains in the boozer in the Town Centre whose name eludes me for the moment.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    Politicians are almost without exception dementors.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 52,641
    Cameron is Darth Vader to Osborne's Sidious/Palpatine :lol:
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 44,246


    It's a shame the game's faded for you. It hasn't for me yet - perhaps because I cannot play it very often, and it's a bit of a luxury: the young 'un's asleep, I've done the housework, prepared the meal et al. Once that's done I might play. ;)

    I've set myself a target of driving an SRV on a planet on the other side of the galaxy. That'll keep me busy for six months!

    I'm not sure there's enough in the initial Horizons release to reignite your interest. If you're a bit jaded, it might be worth leaving it until later in the year when there'll be more content.

    No idea what I'm doing next month, yet alone next July! What's on?

    Yes, well the quote of 600 hours wasn't a random figure it is what Steam said that I had played (actually as of early July it was 663 hours) - the joys of retirement.

    Anyway, 9th and 10th July 2016 is the Duxford airshow. I missed out this year by prevaricating and there were no tickets left when I came to order. So I am going to book a hotel for the Saturday night, do the show on the Sunday (10/7/16), stay again that night and get the train back down South on the Monday. I wondered if I could tempt you to joining me at the airshow.
    Ah, I can always be persuaded to Duxford. I'll have to have a word with the boss and underboss this weekend to check.
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,281
    edited 2015 11


    Heathrow is significantly easier to get to than Gatwick

    Is it?

    How many domestic flight connections does Heathrow have compared to Gatwick?

  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 53,362

    Via John Rentoul:

    Leo Barasi ‏@leobarasi · 2h2 hours ago
    3 months since Corbyn took office, Labour's poll score unchanged. Here's the comparison with past leaders.

    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CV8q-PUUwAIrryv.png

    Direction of travel better than Foot and Callaghan (who both lost the subsequent election). But those base numbers are horrible....
  • HurstLlamaHurstLlama Posts: 9,098


    It's a shame the game's faded for you. It hasn't for me yet - perhaps because I cannot play it very often, and it's a bit of a luxury: the young 'un's asleep, I've done the housework, prepared the meal et al. Once that's done I might play. ;)

    I've set myself a target of driving an SRV on a planet on the other side of the galaxy. That'll keep me busy for six months!

    I'm not sure there's enough in the initial Horizons release to reignite your interest. If you're a bit jaded, it might be worth leaving it until later in the year when there'll be more content.

    No idea what I'm doing next month, yet alone next July! What's on?

    Yes, well the quote of 600 hours wasn't a random figure it is what Steam said that I had played (actually as of early July it was 663 hours) - the joys of retirement.

    Anyway, 9th and 10th July 2016 is the Duxford airshow. I missed out this year by prevaricating and there were no tickets left when I came to order. So I am going to book a hotel for the Saturday night, do the show on the Sunday (10/7/16), stay again that night and get the train back down South on the Monday. I wondered if I could tempt you to joining me at the airshow.
    Ah, I can always be persuaded to Duxford. I'll have to have a word with the boss and underboss this weekend to check.
    Super, do let me know as soon as you can because I want to get everything booked. An email to HurstLlama at gmail dot com will find me.
  • The_ApocalypseThe_Apocalypse Posts: 7,830
    edited 2015 11

    Cameron is a Gryffindor - Osborne is a Slytherin.

    I'm fascinated by the section of the electorate that likes Cameron but doesn't care for Osborne. How can people like one and dislike the other? Like Ant and Dec or Laurel and Hardy.

    To me, at least, Cameron always comes across as likeable even if he's doing things I disagree with - and always Osborne comes across as a boo/hiss panto villain even when he's doing things I approve of.

    Both of them belong in Slytherin. Certainly J.K Rowling, who is infamously a Labour supporter (or was) wouldn't be putting Cameron in Gryffindor.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 53,362
    I would love to see Boris play quidditch....
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,354
    Personally I have some real doubts as to whether Zac was indeed the best idea for London Mayor for the Tories. I fear it is a choice they will come to regret.

    On Heathrow the priority is to have the decision that is not judicially reviewable. The economic costs of governments delaying the inevitable for the best part of 30 years are serious and we cannot waste another few years in the Courts. If Cameron got told that Davis had made mistakes on environmental factors and additional steps are needed (such as all electric vehicles airside) then so be it. If he ducked it for purely political reasons then I would think less of him. I guess we may have to wait until the memoirs are out.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 53,362
    .....and surely all Tories are in Bullingdon House - so exclusive even the sorting hat can't get you in.....
  • SimonStClareSimonStClare Posts: 7,976
    edited 2015 11

    I would love to see Boris play quidditch....

    Blimey, Boris is dangerous enough on the field – in the air he’d be lethal...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq1fEQLXT5w
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 44,246


    It's a shame the game's faded for you. It hasn't for me yet - perhaps because I cannot play it very often, and it's a bit of a luxury: the young 'un's asleep, I've done the housework, prepared the meal et al. Once that's done I might play. ;)

    I've set myself a target of driving an SRV on a planet on the other side of the galaxy. That'll keep me busy for six months!

    I'm not sure there's enough in the initial Horizons release to reignite your interest. If you're a bit jaded, it might be worth leaving it until later in the year when there'll be more content.

    No idea what I'm doing next month, yet alone next July! What's on?

    Yes, well the quote of 600 hours wasn't a random figure it is what Steam said that I had played (actually as of early July it was 663 hours) - the joys of retirement.

    Anyway, 9th and 10th July 2016 is the Duxford airshow. I missed out this year by prevaricating and there were no tickets left when I came to order. So I am going to book a hotel for the Saturday night, do the show on the Sunday (10/7/16), stay again that night and get the train back down South on the Monday. I wondered if I could tempt you to joining me at the airshow.
    Ah, I can always be persuaded to Duxford. I'll have to have a word with the boss and underboss this weekend to check.
    Super, do let me know as soon as you can because I want to get everything booked. An email to HurstLlama at gmail dot com will find me.
    Okay, cool. I'm always up for drinkies as well.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 53,362

    I would love to see Boris play quidditch....

    Blimey, Boris is dangerous enough on the field – in the air he’d be lethal...
    Exactly. He'd probably say "sod the broomstick - I'm using mater's dragon...."
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826

    Incidentally, you PC gamer types may be interested in XCOM 2, out in February next year. Bit miffed it's not out for PS4, but hoping it's a timed exclusive.

    Very much interested Mr Dancer.
  • perdixperdix Posts: 1,806
    DavidL said:

    Personally I have some real doubts as to whether Zac was indeed the best idea for London Mayor for the Tories. I fear it is a choice they will come to regret.

    On Heathrow the priority is to have the decision that is not judicially reviewable. The economic costs of governments delaying the inevitable for the best part of 30 years are serious and we cannot waste another few years in the Courts. If Cameron got told that Davis had made mistakes on environmental factors and additional steps are needed (such as all electric vehicles airside) then so be it. If he ducked it for purely political reasons then I would think less of him. I guess we may have to wait until the memoirs are out.

    There is a potential problem if environmental factors have not been sufficiently covered - it would be open to judicial review brought by tree huggers.

    Cameron's government has made many difficult decisions but the best decision was to go into coalition with the LibDums and thereby ruin them.

  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 53,362
    As it's Friday afternoon... You can never tire of Boris v Germany:

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iWIUp19bBoA
  • weejonnieweejonnie Posts: 3,820

    weejonnie said:

    Cameron is a Gryffindor - Osborne is a Slytherin.

    I'm fascinated by the section of the electorate that likes Cameron but doesn't care for Osborne. How can people like one and dislike the other? Like Ant and Dec or Laurel and Hardy.

    To me, at least, Cameron always comes across as likeable even if he's doing things I disagree with - and always Osborne comes across as a boo/hiss panto villain even when he's doing things I approve of.

    I'd say Cameron was a Hufflepuff, As for Osborne - well the sorting hat had to decide between Slytherin and Ravenclaw.
    Osborne definitely in Slytherin, along with Mandelson.
    Mandelson's was Malfoyesque. With Osborne there are other qualities.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @benjaminhaddad: So this happened : far right French leader Marine Le Pen comes out against Donald Trump, saying she never went that far.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,882

    Cameron is a Gryffindor - Osborne is a Slytherin.

    I'm fascinated by the section of the electorate that likes Cameron but doesn't care for Osborne. How can people like one and dislike the other? Like Ant and Dec or Laurel and Hardy.

    To me, at least, Cameron always comes across as likeable even if he's doing things I disagree with - and always Osborne comes across as a boo/hiss panto villain even when he's doing things I approve of.

    Both of them belong in Slytherin. Certainly J.K Rowling, who is infamously a Labour supporter (or was) wouldn't be putting Cameron in Gryffindor.
    Rowling messed up with her portrayal of Slytherin House, by making almost all of them evil.

    Slytherins are leaders. Leaders can be either good or bad, rather than almost always bad. Slytherins are practically intelligent, and brave in a calculated sort of way. Those should not necessarily been seen as bad qualities.
  • The_ApocalypseThe_Apocalypse Posts: 7,830
    Scott_P said:

    @benjaminhaddad: So this happened : far right French leader Marine Le Pen comes out against Donald Trump, saying she never went that far.

    LOL. You know Trump's gone TOO far when Farage, and Le Pen come out against him. Hell, even some of the most right-wing Republicans in recent times (Cheney) reject his comments.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,138
    Mr. Thompson, do let me know what you make of it [spoiler-free, of course]. I'm only keeping half an eye on it, but what I've seen looks promising.

    Mr. F, sounds like Spock could've been in Slytherin.
  • david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 18,029

    Scott_P said:

    @benjaminhaddad: So this happened : far right French leader Marine Le Pen comes out against Donald Trump, saying she never went that far.

    LOL. You know Trump's gone TOO far when Farage, and Le Pen come out against him. Hell, even some of the most right-wing Republicans in recent times (Cheney) reject his comments.
    And yet his poll ratings have gone up.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    Sean_F said:

    Cameron is a Gryffindor - Osborne is a Slytherin.

    I'm fascinated by the section of the electorate that likes Cameron but doesn't care for Osborne. How can people like one and dislike the other? Like Ant and Dec or Laurel and Hardy.

    To me, at least, Cameron always comes across as likeable even if he's doing things I disagree with - and always Osborne comes across as a boo/hiss panto villain even when he's doing things I approve of.

    Both of them belong in Slytherin. Certainly J.K Rowling, who is infamously a Labour supporter (or was) wouldn't be putting Cameron in Gryffindor.
    Rowling messed up with her portrayal of Slytherin House, by making almost all of them evil.

    Slytherins are leaders. Leaders can be either good or bad, rather than almost always bad. Slytherins are practically intelligent, and brave in a calculated sort of way. Those should not necessarily been seen as bad qualities.
    I thought Slytherin were selfish (and thus largely evil) leaders while Gryffindor also had leaders (not all, wouldn't call Weasley's leaders) and those it had were the more selfless leaders?
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,752
    edited 2015 11

    Scott_P said:

    @benjaminhaddad: So this happened : far right French leader Marine Le Pen comes out against Donald Trump, saying she never went that far.

    LOL. You know Trump's gone TOO far when Farage, and Le Pen come out against him. Hell, even some of the most right-wing Republicans in recent times (Cheney) reject his comments.
    And yet his poll ratings have gone up.
    Fiorina looked like the first Donald challenger, her numbers have dropped off completely. Carson looks to be suffering a similiar fate.

    Is Trump this race's Gingrich or will his numbers last ?
  • The_ApocalypseThe_Apocalypse Posts: 7,830
    edited 2015 11
    Sean_F said:

    Cameron is a Gryffindor - Osborne is a Slytherin.

    I'm fascinated by the section of the electorate that likes Cameron but doesn't care for Osborne. How can people like one and dislike the other? Like Ant and Dec or Laurel and Hardy.

    To me, at least, Cameron always comes across as likeable even if he's doing things I disagree with - and always Osborne comes across as a boo/hiss panto villain even when he's doing things I approve of.

    Both of them belong in Slytherin. Certainly J.K Rowling, who is infamously a Labour supporter (or was) wouldn't be putting Cameron in Gryffindor.
    Rowling messed up with her portrayal of Slytherin House, by making almost all of them evil.

    Slytherins are leaders. Leaders can be either good or bad, rather than almost always bad. Slytherins are practically intelligent, and brave in a calculated sort of way. Those should not necessarily been seen as bad qualities.
    I don't agree that Rowling messed up on that at all. Slytherins were portrayed mainly as Machiavellian. They were intially 'stereotypical baddies' in the frst 1-5 books, but became far more multi-faceted in the 6th, and 7th books. Draco Malfoy, particularly towards the end of the series was far more a victim than he was a villain. Snape, as it turns out was also far more a victim than an evil villain - if anything, he was a Hero. It was James Potter - Harry's father and who was in Gryffindor, who was portrayed as the stereotypical school-bully (in flashbacks), in a way that mimicated - and was perhaps even worse - than Malfoy.

    Slytherins are 'leaders' - but they lead through fear and hatred. Rowling was not critiquing leadership, but the way Slytherins approached such leadership. The biggest message I got from Harry Potter, was that life is about choices. Harry and Voldermort had many similarities, and both were leaders. But Harry chose to lead through an ideology of hope, and unity. Machiavellian 'cunning', and 'intelligence', only gets you so far, as Voldemort pretty much proves. The most intelligent character in the novels was Hermione, and the most brave include Neville, Harry and Ron - all Gryffindors. I can't really agree that Slytherins - Snape aside - were all that brave, either. The epitomise of cowardice in the books was Lucious Malfoy, after all.
  • The_ApocalypseThe_Apocalypse Posts: 7,830

    Scott_P said:

    @benjaminhaddad: So this happened : far right French leader Marine Le Pen comes out against Donald Trump, saying she never went that far.

    LOL. You know Trump's gone TOO far when Farage, and Le Pen come out against him. Hell, even some of the most right-wing Republicans in recent times (Cheney) reject his comments.
    And yet his poll ratings have gone up.
    That's because of the kind of people within the GOP base.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,138
    Mr. Thompson, only read the first of the books, but it seems odd to me to have a house dedicated to total bastards.

    Bit like having houses named Wellington, Nelson, Shakespeare, and Hitler.

    Ms. Apocalypse, Septimius Severus and Tamerlane might disagree that cunning can only go so far. Alexander Severus would also disagree hope and general righteousness necessarily triumphs.

    Of course, in fiction you can only have a 'baddies win' scenario if it fits what you're writing.
  • blackburn63blackburn63 Posts: 4,492

    Scott_P said:

    @benjaminhaddad: So this happened : far right French leader Marine Le Pen comes out against Donald Trump, saying she never went that far.

    LOL. You know Trump's gone TOO far when Farage, and Le Pen come out against him. Hell, even some of the most right-wing Republicans in recent times (Cheney) reject his comments.
    And yet his poll ratings have gone up.
    I'm not sure if it's envy but plenty assume or accuse Trump of being stupid, he isn't, what he said was calculated. I'm glad Nigel has said he's gone too far, most people overlook the fact that his right hand man in the GE campaign was a Muslim.

    Mr Herdson as usual makes a good point, it might be an uncomfortable one but Trump knew what he was doing,
  • The_ApocalypseThe_Apocalypse Posts: 7,830
    edited 2015 11
    Trump did know what he was doing. He was consolidating his base. The trouble his, winning the GOP base and winning the election isn't the same thing.

    Mr. Thompson, only read the first of the books, but it seems odd to me to have a house dedicated to total bastards.

    Bit like having houses named Wellington, Nelson, Shakespeare, and Hitler.

    Ms. Apocalypse, Septimius Severus and Tamerlane might disagree that cunning can only go so far. Alexander Severus would also disagree hope and general righteousness necessarily triumphs.

    Of course, in fiction you can only have a 'baddies win' scenario if it fits what you're writing.

    I think it was Machavelli, who warned that while rulers should be feared, they should not be hated. The Voldermort approach was cunning, but it also entailed most people hating him - even his own followers, in some cases. Eventually if enough people hate you, there'll be at least one willingly to stab you in the back.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,138
    Ms. Apocalypse, indeed. As Antoninus Caracalla (son of Septimius) discovered. It turns out, threatening to kill your bodyguard and then killing his brother on a whim doesn't do your own life expectancy much good.
  • AndreaParma_82AndreaParma_82 Posts: 4,714
    SLAB regional list shortlists in full

    http://labourhame.com/campaigning-begins-in-scottish-labours-biggest-ever-regional-list-selection/

    I think all constituency MSPs not retiring are going for the list except for Elaine Murray.
    3 defeated MPs trying selection for Holyrood: Sarwar, Fiona O'Donnell, Thomas Docherty.
    2 MSPs defeated in 2011 too: Bill Butler and Pauline McNeill.

  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 11,130
    I wonder if any of the other Republican's will try 'I agree with Donald'?

    Or perhaps a Federal court could incarcerate him as he's clearly insane.

    "I could be more politically correct, if I wanted to, than anyone else in America" (or words to that effect) - could he win all of the World's major sporting events too? Perhaps he can have a go at Kim Il Sung's golfing record?

  • The_ApocalypseThe_Apocalypse Posts: 7,830

    Ms. Apocalypse, indeed. As Antoninus Caracalla (son of Septimius) discovered. It turns out, threatening to kill your bodyguard and then killing his brother on a whim doesn't do your own life expectancy much good.

    BIB: Blimey.

    Morris_Dancer, the one thing I've noticed is that you know an awful lot about Roman Emperors. Is it just a particular aspect of history that you're very interested in, or do you specialise in that kind of History professionally?
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,138
    Ms. Apocalypse, BIB?

    An awful lot might be exaggerating, though I do like the period (I've mostly been reading about Macedonian stuff, and some medieval, recently). I just read it as a hobby, I never actually took history or classical civilisation beyond the mandatory first year at school.

    More than happy to point you towards a good book, or suchlike, if you're after something like that.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,752

    Further to Heathrow, what I don't see is why (in March) the coalition government ruled out the HS2 link to Heathrow:.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-31814933

    No idea. If we're going to do two big infrastructure projects, might as well go full trousers.
  • The_ApocalypseThe_Apocalypse Posts: 7,830

    Ms. Apocalypse, BIB?

    An awful lot might be exaggerating, though I do like the period (I've mostly been reading about Macedonian stuff, and some medieval, recently). I just read it as a hobby, I never actually took history or classical civilisation beyond the mandatory first year at school.

    More than happy to point you towards a good book, or suchlike, if you're after something like that.

    BIB = Bit In Bold.

    I always loved Victorian and Tudor History when I was at school. Though I do think it is regretful that we didn't do more on Post-War History in secondary school.

    I wish I had the time to read for enjoyment (right now there's too much to read for uni)!
  • ThreeQuidderThreeQuidder Posts: 6,133

    Scott_P said:

    @benjaminhaddad: So this happened : far right French leader Marine Le Pen comes out against Donald Trump, saying she never went that far.

    LOL. You know Trump's gone TOO far when Farage, and Le Pen come out against him. Hell, even some of the most right-wing Republicans in recent times (Cheney) reject his comments.
    And yet his poll ratings have gone up.
    That's because of the kind of people within the GOP base.
    Partly, but probably also partly simply an example of there being no such thing as bad publicity.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,138
    Ms. Apocalypse, yeah, I remember reading less (for leisure) at university because of the psych textbooks I had.

    Never really liked modern history. Too prone to prejudice. Less likely to have that when discussing matters from thousands of years ago.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 44,246

    Further to Heathrow, what I don't see is why (in March) the coalition government ruled out the HS2 link to Heathrow:.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-31814933

    The answer is in the article:
    Responding to Mr Grieve's written Parliamentary question, the minister cited the Airports Commission review findings - published in November - which "indicated that an HS2 spur is highly unlikely to be necessary to support any expansion of Heathrow airport".
    Basically, people can change onto Crossrail at Old Oak Common to reach the airport.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826

    Mr. Thompson, do let me know what you make of it [spoiler-free, of course]. I'm only keeping half an eye on it, but what I've seen looks promising.

    Mr. F, sounds like Spock could've been in Slytherin.

    Will do. My only problem with Xcom: Enemy Unknown (for PC) was that at times it felt like a port from consoles. Sometimes the controls felt rather weird for a PC game and designed more for controllers. I am hoping that won't be an issue in the sequel.
  • DairDair Posts: 6,108
    dr_spyn said:

    Dair said:

    All of those finalist flag designs look like labels for supermarket own-brand butter.

    Yet all infinitely better than the current flag, defaced by the butcher's apron.
    Butcher's Apron...cost an SNP guy his job in 2008.

    http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/snp-aide-quits-in-row-over-press-release-attacking-the-union-flag-1-689192
    If the SNP are stupid enough to kow tow to Loyalist whining, that's their concern.

    I am not a member of their party and would not join it.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @faisalislam: Current price of crude oil: 16p per litre ... Current cost of milk (wholesale): 25p per litre

    ...just a bonus...
  • SpeedySpeedy Posts: 12,100

    UK and Ireland airport passenger numbers (from Wiki):

    Airport        code	Passengers(2014)

    Heathrow LHR 73.4 million
    Gatwick LGW 38.1 million
    Manchester MAN 22.0 million
    Dublin DUB 21.7 million
    Stansted STN 19.9 million
    Luton LTN 10.5 million
    Edinburgh EDI 10.2 million
    Birmingham BHX 9.7 million
    Glasgow GLA 7.7 million
    Bristol BRS 6.3 million
    Newcastle NCL 4.5 million
    East Midlands EMA 4.5 million
    Belfast Int'n'l BFS 4.0 million
    Liverpool LPL 4.0 million
    Aberdeen ABZ 3.7 million
    London City LCY 3.6 million
    Leeds-Bradford LBA 3.3 million
    Belfast City BHD 2.6 million
    Cork ORK 2.1 million
    Southampton SOU 1.8 million
    Shannon SNN 1.6 million
    Jersey JER 1.5 million
    Southend SEN 1.1 million
    Cardiff CWL 1.0 million
    Time to diversify from Heathrow.
  • DairDair Posts: 6,108

    SLAB regional list shortlists in full

    http://labourhame.com/campaigning-begins-in-scottish-labours-biggest-ever-regional-list-selection/

    I think all constituency MSPs not retiring are going for the list except for Elaine Murray.
    3 defeated MPs trying selection for Holyrood: Sarwar, Fiona O'Donnell, Thomas Docherty.
    2 MSPs defeated in 2011 too: Bill Butler and Pauline McNeill.

    106 troughers fighting it out for around 25 seats (at most). This is going to be a wonderful catfight. The smears are probably all prepared and waiting to be submitted to friendly journos at the turn of the year.

    I think I shall be asking for some popcorn for Christmas.
  • John_MJohn_M Posts: 7,503
    Speedy said:

    UK and Ireland airport passenger numbers (from Wiki):

    Airport        code	Passengers(2014)

    Heathrow LHR 73.4 million
    Gatwick LGW 38.1 million
    Manchester MAN 22.0 million
    Dublin DUB 21.7 million
    Stansted STN 19.9 million
    Luton LTN 10.5 million
    Edinburgh EDI 10.2 million
    Birmingham BHX 9.7 million
    Glasgow GLA 7.7 million
    Bristol BRS 6.3 million
    Newcastle NCL 4.5 million
    East Midlands EMA 4.5 million
    Belfast Int'n'l BFS 4.0 million
    Liverpool LPL 4.0 million
    Aberdeen ABZ 3.7 million
    London City LCY 3.6 million
    Leeds-Bradford LBA 3.3 million
    Belfast City BHD 2.6 million
    Cork ORK 2.1 million
    Southampton SOU 1.8 million
    Shannon SNN 1.6 million
    Jersey JER 1.5 million
    Southend SEN 1.1 million
    Cardiff CWL 1.0 million
    Time to diversify from Heathrow.
    Bristol is perfect. As long as they keep their mitts off Bristol, I don't mind what they do.
  • DairDair Posts: 6,108
    I've just noticed that Jim Leishman is standing for Labour on the Mid Scotland and Fife list. I suspect he could do fairly well in the list vote and have a good chance of second or third place. Will put a lot of troughers noses well out of join if he manages that.
  • SpeedySpeedy Posts: 12,100
    Ted Cruz effectively has endorsed Trump:

    https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/675360299747184640


    Meanwhile the GOP establishment is trying to think how to get to a brokered convention by having Christie or Kasich win the California primary (the very last one) or failing that thinking of a legal challenge, and Walker has called on everyone to drop out like he did to try to stop Trump.
    It stinks of the Labour leadership race, were some were desperate to stop Corbyn, from legal challenges to "you should drop out, why me?" to "the voters will get serious" all the way to "Corbyn will have difficulty translating his support into actual votes".

    Also a new N.H poll from WBUR:

    Trump 27 +4
    Christie 12 +6
    Rubio 11 -2
    Cruz 10 +2
    Bush 8 +1
    Kasich 7 0
    Carson 6 -7
    Friorina 3 -1
    Paul 2 -3
    Rest at 1 or bellow.

    http://s3.amazonaws.com/media.wbur.org/wordpress/1/files/2015/12/Topline-WBUR-NH-Primary-5-Republicans.pdf?platform=hootsuite

    Causion not to any high hopes about Christie:
    http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/12/nj_politics_roundup_pension_plan_moves_forward_christies_job_rating_hits_all-time_low.html

    The New Jersey pension crisis continues to worsen.
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395

    Scott_P said:

    @benjaminhaddad: So this happened : far right French leader Marine Le Pen comes out against Donald Trump, saying she never went that far.

    LOL. You know Trump's gone TOO far when Farage, and Le Pen come out against him. Hell, even some of the most right-wing Republicans in recent times (Cheney) reject his comments.
    No you don't. The only opinions that count in this race are American ones.
  • richardDoddrichardDodd Posts: 5,472
    The so called Butchers Apron consists of three flags..Scotland own one third of it..whether some Scots like it or not
  • TCPoliticalBettingTCPoliticalBetting Posts: 10,819
    Any articles or insight around as to why Nick Watt lost out on the Guardian political editor job?
    http://order-order.com/2015/12/11/guardian-pol-ed-job-share/

    Watt seemed to be doing the bulk of the work compared to his boss, Wintour, so to lose out seems rough.
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    It really does feel like the Republican betting odds simply don't match reality at the moment so I have decided to put money on despite swearing off the market earlier.
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    edited 2015 11
    Edit
This discussion has been closed.