X-Factor finalists just murdered one of the best songs of all times.
Don't know the song, but they deliberately wanted to contrast R n B with Louisa just in case anyone was in doubt as to who to vote for.
More importantly, Chelsea are into 7/1 to finish top 4! Though they are also into 250/1 to be relegated, such is the Premier League this season.
Agree it has been biased towards Louisa from the start, Lauren is a better singer.
The song is Forever Young by Bob Dylan, the lyrics are so great they read like a poem.
Results went Chelsea's way today, 7/1 despite the fact we dropped to 16th.
The record low for finishing in the top 4 in PL history is 60 points (by Liverpool in 2003-04). I was surprised to see Spurs and Liverpool drop points today, but Chelsea will need plenty more of that if they are to get back into it. That said - the likes of Leicester and Palace should not be discounted from this race.
With everyone taking points off each other, any team that puts five straight wins together will rocket up the table.
Palace look a really good side and I fancy them to finish above Leicester. Having said that I would love to see Claudio win the league, I loved him when he Chelsea manager, a complete gentleman.
Palace are not a bad side, but lost 1 nil at Leicester.
David Camerons Villa? It was a mercy killing...
Looking forward to tommorow, but next week is Arsenal vs Man City so one or other will drop points. The Thinkerman could well be top at Christmas. Win tommorow and we are 9 points clear of 5th place. Living the dream.
Looks like the Lords will for certain be passing a REVISED amendment to give 16 year olds the vote in the EU referendum - revised to ensure the Commons Clerks won't certify it as a Money Bill.
I really don't see how Cameron can back down on this - but if he doesn't the Bill can't go through and he'll have to wait until he can Parliament Act it.
Surbiton Irish Farmers are subsidised too..CAP...If you don't want to pay the farming community for the food you eat Then you will have a poor choice at the supermarket...almost none in fact...maybe you should get an allotment..grow your own... apparently you think it is easy..
The best way to pay the farmers for the food we eat is by paying the price you think the produce is worth! There is no need to distort it all with subsidies on top. Farmers and retirees seem to be the two special interests that no-one ever dares to confront.
So why does America have farming subsidies? By all means do without, do without the security of supply of life's most basic good. And then live in a countryside overrun and out of control.
America has farming subsidies for the same reason we do. Farmers are a powerful lobby group in rural constituencies, and are often well connected wealthy people. If you just took half the money saved from the subsidies and stuffed it in an investment fund for a few years, you could buy all the food you'd ever need from overseas, many times over, even if food prices were at record highs. You'd also have more than enough left over to manage the countryside, not that wild forests are a bad thing.
It's worth noting the contents of his speeches (if that is the right word). The phrase 'resistance' is certainly worth noting and it is something which clearly marks them out as not a pacifist or 'peace' or anti war movement. They do support violence as long as it is support of their own anti west anti capitalist aims. I do not see any other interpretation ... the words are quite clear and cannot be misconstrued. Followers of Corbyn have no excuses.
No indeed, there are no excuses for this.
As I have done many times - read Orwell's "Notes on Nationalism" -
Surbiton Irish Farmers are subsidised too..CAP...If you don't want to pay the farming community for the food you eat Then you will have a poor choice at the supermarket...almost none in fact...maybe you should get an allotment..grow your own... apparently you think it is easy..
The best way to pay the farmers for the food we eat is by paying the price you think the produce is worth! There is no need to distort it all with subsidies on top. Farmers and retirees seem to be the two special interests that no-one ever dares to confront.
So why does America have farming subsidies? By all means do without, do without the security of supply of life's most basic good. And then live in a countryside overrun and out of control.
America has farming subsidies for the same reason we do. Farmers are a powerful lobby group in rural constituencies, and are often well connected wealthy people. If you just took half the money saved from the subsidies and stuffed it in an investment fund for a few years, you could buy all the food you'd ever need from overseas, many times over, even if food prices were at record highs. You'd also have more than enough left over to manage the countryside, not that wild forests are a bad thing.
Most countries have farming subsidies for the same reason we used to have steel subsidies. Because everyone else has them.
It's worth noting the contents of his speeches (if that is the right word). The phrase 'resistance' is certainly worth noting and it is something which clearly marks them out as not a pacifist or 'peace' or anti war movement. They do support violence as long as it is support of their own anti west anti capitalist aims. I do not see any other interpretation ... the words are quite clear and cannot be misconstrued. Followers of Corbyn have no excuses.
No indeed, there are no excuses for this.
As I have done many times - read Orwell's "Notes on Nationalism" -
Stop the War map perfectly onto the peace creeps of his own time - peace/disarmament was for us, not for the other side.
For example -
"Pacifist propaganda usually boils down to saying that one side is as bad as the other, but if one looks closely at the writings of younger intellectual pacifists, one finds that they do not by any means express impartial disapproval but are directed almost entirely against Britain and the United States. Moreover they do not as a rule condemn violence as such, but only violence used in defence of the western countries. The Russians, unlike the British, are not blamed for defending themselves by warlike means, and indeed all pacifist propaganda of this type avoids mention of Russia or China."
Looks like the Lords will for certain be passing a REVISED amendment to give 16 year olds the vote in the EU referendum - revised to ensure the Commons Clerks won't certify it as a Money Bill.
I really don't see how Cameron can back down on this - but if he doesn't the Bill can't go through and he'll have to wait until he can Parliament Act it.
Surbiton Irish Farmers are subsidised too..CAP...If you don't want to pay the farming community for the food you eat Then you will have a poor choice at the supermarket...almost none in fact...maybe you should get an allotment..grow your own... apparently you think it is easy..
The best way to pay the farmers for the food we eat is by paying the price you think the produce is worth! There is no need to distort it all with subsidies on top. Farmers and retirees seem to be the two special interests that no-one ever dares to confront.
So why does America have farming subsidies? By all means do without, do without the security of supply of life's most basic good. And then live in a countryside overrun and out of control.
America has farming subsidies for the same reason we do. Farmers are a powerful lobby group in rural constituencies, and are often well connected wealthy people. If you just took half the money saved from the subsidies and stuffed it in an investment fund for a few years, you could buy all the food you'd ever need from overseas, many times over, even if food prices were at record highs. You'd also have more than enough left over to manage the countryside, not that wild forests are a bad thing.
Most countries have farming subsidies for the same reason we used to have steel subsidies. Because everyone else has them.
How many countries also have the double subsidy of also exempting food from Sales Tax/VAT ?
Or this on Russia which could easily be Seumus Milne (from Politics and the English Language)
Consider for instance some comfortable English professor defending Russian totalitarianism. He cannot say outright, ‘I believe in killing off your opponents when you can get good results by doing so’. Probably, therefore, he will say something like this:
‘While freely conceding that the Soviet regime exhibits certain features which the humanitarian may be inclined to deplore, we must, I think, agree that a certain curtailment of the right to political opposition is an unavoidable concomitant of transitional periods, and that the rigors which the Russian people have been called upon to undergo have been amply justified in the sphere of concrete achievement.’
Surbiton Irish Farmers are subsidised too..CAP...If you don't want to pay the farming community for the food you eat Then you will have a poor choice at the supermarket...almost none in fact...maybe you should get an allotment..grow your own... apparently you think it is easy..
The best way to pay the farmers for the food we eat is by paying the price you think the produce is worth! There is no need to distort it all with subsidies on top. Farmers and retirees seem to be the two special interests that no-one ever dares to confront.
So why does America have farming subsidies? By all means do without, do without the security of supply of life's most basic good. And then live in a countryside overrun and out of control.
America has farming subsidies for the same reason we do. Farmers are a powerful lobby group in rural constituencies, and are often well connected wealthy people. If you just took half the money saved from the subsidies and stuffed it in an investment fund for a few years, you could buy all the food you'd ever need from overseas, many times over, even if food prices were at record highs. You'd also have more than enough left over to manage the countryside, not that wild forests are a bad thing.
Do you want to put some figures to those very interesting claims? I ask because I know a few farmers but I don't know any that actually make their living solely from farming - they can't because the margins are not there. So I am fascinated by your ideas and wonder on what numbers you base them.
I am also fascinated by the idea that there are sufficient wealthy and well connected farmers who apparently are so well connected that governments of both main parties are prepared to bribe them to the detriment on the vast majority of the population. Perhaps you could give some examples of how these wealthy and well connected farmers have caused policy to be changed to their benefit in the period, say, from 1997.
Edited extra Bit: I forgot to ask which are the countries that have sufficient spare agricultural capacity to produce enough food to feed a country of 60+ million people?
Surbiton Irish Farmers are subsidised too..CAP...If you don't want to pay the farming community for the food you eat Then you will have a poor choice at the supermarket...almost none in fact...maybe you should get an allotment..grow your own... apparently you think it is easy..
The best way to pay the farmers for the food we eat is by paying the price you think the produce is worth! There is no need to distort it all with subsidies on top. Farmers and retirees seem to be the two special interests that no-one ever dares to confront.
So why does America have farming subsidies? By all means do without, do without the security of supply of life's most basic good. And then live in a countryside overrun and out of control.
America has farming subsidies for the same reason we do. Farmers are a powerful lobby group in rural constituencies, and are often well connected wealthy people. If you just took half the money saved from the subsidies and stuffed it in an investment fund for a few years, you could buy all the food you'd ever need from overseas, many times over, even if food prices were at record highs. You'd also have more than enough left over to manage the countryside, not that wild forests are a bad thing.
Most countries have farming subsidies for the same reason we used to have steel subsidies. Because everyone else has them.
How many countries also have the double subsidy of also exempting food from Sales Tax/VAT ?
Quite a number - "NoTaxOnFoodForThePoor" is popular in many countries as a political slogan
Looks like the Lords will for certain be passing a REVISED amendment to give 16 year olds the vote in the EU referendum - revised to ensure the Commons Clerks won't certify it as a Money Bill.
Or this on Russia which could easily be Seumus Milne (from Politics and the English Language)
Consider for instance some comfortable English professor defending Russian totalitarianism. He cannot say outright, ‘I believe in killing off your opponents when you can get good results by doing so’. Probably, therefore, he will say something like this:
‘While freely conceding that the Soviet regime exhibits certain features which the humanitarian may be inclined to deplore, we must, I think, agree that a certain curtailment of the right to political opposition is an unavoidable concomitant of transitional periods, and that the rigors which the Russian people have been called upon to undergo have been amply justified in the sphere of concrete achievement.’
The same sentiment has been expressed in a similar way by the Stoppers - usually regarding any anti-western dictator they can think of.
Aren't the well connected farmers in France and Germany? If we didn't have CAP i'm sure we wouldn't provide the same subsidies. The way senate elections favour small rural states is part of what drives the US subsidies.
Also (O/T), just come back from Mauritius (via Dubai) where I have attended a wedding. A fantastic island and had a great time snorkelling, sunbathing and visiting local markets and saw giant turtles and iguanas and colourful fish of all shapes and sizes (as well as reconstructions of the dodo, whose last residence was on the island)
Just be aware, had quite a problem with credit card cloning when I went there...
Thanks and will keep an eye out on my account over the next few days though hopefully should be OK and I only took a debit card. HSBC also know I am back now
Aren't the well connected farmers in France and Germany? If we didn't have CAP i'm sure we wouldn't provide the same subsidies. The way senate elections favour small rural states is part of what drives the US subsidies.
Correct - also in Japan. The key in such arms races is that the politically powerful groups are not present in all countries.
Tony Blair was insane to give up the rebate on the promise of an "examination of the CAP". Neither France nor Germany will tolerate a change to the current system.
Note that they were prepared to sacrifice "solidarity" - an alleged core European value - when the EU expanded on exactly this point. If the new states had been brought in at the same subsidy levels, the system would have collapsed. One fix would have been to reduce subsidies and share them out fairly. The other was to screw over the newly joined eastern nations....
Stop the War map perfectly onto the peace creeps of his own time - peace/disarmament was for us, not for the other side.
Always amazing how history repeats itself
Not really amazing - humans haven't really changed in the timespan of history.
Sure, but that they never seem to learn from history...
Possibly because the people that make the big decisions have, in the main, never studied history. One cannot learn from something unless one knows about it, and the level of ignorance about history amongst politicians seems only to be matched by their ignorance of basic mathematics.
Mcgonagall walks among us yet......Bit of a broad brush to claim the "Unionists" opposed a second crossing when it was first mooted under a Tory government - Labour did oppose....
Stop the War map perfectly onto the peace creeps of his own time - peace/disarmament was for us, not for the other side.
Always amazing how history repeats itself
Not really amazing - humans haven't really changed in the timespan of history.
Sure, but that they never seem to learn from history...
Possibly because the people that make the big decisions have, in the main, never studied history. One cannot learn from something unless one knows about it, and the level of ignorance about history amongst politicians seems only to be matched by their ignorance of basic mathematics.
PPE is supposed to include history. The big problem is the "ThatDoesn'tApplyToMe" syndrome.
I had a discussion with a Labour MP a couple of years back about Government funded research. As usual, turned out he wanted MITI type "big projects" rather than DARPA style - "Let a thousand flowers bloom". When I pointed out the abject failure of the "GovernmentGiantProject" thing in just about every country it was tried... well, he seemed to think "WeHaveLearn'tAllTheLessonsRequired"......
Stop the War map perfectly onto the peace creeps of his own time - peace/disarmament was for us, not for the other side.
Always amazing how history repeats itself
Not really amazing - humans haven't really changed in the timespan of history.
Sure, but that they never seem to learn from history...
Possibly because the people that make the big decisions have, in the main, never studied history. One cannot learn from something unless one knows about it, and the level of ignorance about history amongst politicians seems only to be matched by their ignorance of basic mathematics.
And the PPE grads seem to forget everything they got taught about philosophy and economics
Stop the War map perfectly onto the peace creeps of his own time - peace/disarmament was for us, not for the other side.
Always amazing how history repeats itself
Not really amazing - humans haven't really changed in the timespan of history.
Sure, but that they never seem to learn from history...
Possibly because the people that make the big decisions have, in the main, never studied history. One cannot learn from something unless one knows about it, and the level of ignorance about history amongst politicians seems only to be matched by their ignorance of basic mathematics.
PPE is supposed to include history. The big problem is the "ThatDoesn'tApplyToMe" syndrome.
I had a discussion with a Labour MP a couple of years back about Government funded research. As usual, turned out he wanted MITI type "big projects" rather than DARPA style - "Let a thousand flowers bloom". When I pointed out the abject failure of the "GovernmentGiantProject" thing in just about every country it was tried... well, he seemed to think "WeHaveLearn'tAllTheLessonsRequired"......
I forgot to mention - he irritated me so much, that I spent the rest of our talk convincing him that an ideal replacement for fossil fuel was a bio-fuel derived from groundnuts grown in West Africa. He was quite convinced.
Stop the War map perfectly onto the peace creeps of his own time - peace/disarmament was for us, not for the other side.
Always amazing how history repeats itself
Not really amazing - humans haven't really changed in the timespan of history.
Sure, but that they never seem to learn from history...
Possibly because the people that make the big decisions have, in the main, never studied history. One cannot learn from something unless one knows about it, and the level of ignorance about history amongst politicians seems only to be matched by their ignorance of basic mathematics.
And the PPE grads seem to forget everything they got taught about philosophy and economics
Stop the War map perfectly onto the peace creeps of his own time - peace/disarmament was for us, not for the other side.
Always amazing how history repeats itself
Not really amazing - humans haven't really changed in the timespan of history.
Sure, but that they never seem to learn from history...
Possibly because the people that make the big decisions have, in the main, never studied history. One cannot learn from something unless one knows about it, and the level of ignorance about history amongst politicians seems only to be matched by their ignorance of basic mathematics.
PPE is supposed to include history. The big problem is the "ThatDoesn'tApplyToMe" syndrome.
I had a discussion with a Labour MP a couple of years back about Government funded research. As usual, turned out he wanted MITI type "big projects" rather than DARPA style - "Let a thousand flowers bloom". When I pointed out the abject failure of the "GovernmentGiantProject" thing in just about every country it was tried... well, he seemed to think "WeHaveLearn'tAllTheLessonsRequired"......
I forgot to mention - he irritated me so much, that I spent the rest of our talk convincing him that an ideal replacement for fossil fuel was a bio-fuel derived from groundnuts grown in West Africa. He was quite convinced.
Thank you for that! Best laugh I have had all day, and now I must get some tissues and try and get the whiskey out of my keyboard.
P.S. It occurs that probably 80% of the people here won't have a clue what you were talking about.
Stop the War map perfectly onto the peace creeps of his own time - peace/disarmament was for us, not for the other side.
Always amazing how history repeats itself
Not really amazing - humans haven't really changed in the timespan of history.
Sure, but that they never seem to learn from history...
Possibly because the people that make the big decisions have, in the main, never studied history. One cannot learn from something unless one knows about it, and the level of ignorance about history amongst politicians seems only to be matched by their ignorance of basic mathematics.
PPE is supposed to include history. The big problem is the "ThatDoesn'tApplyToMe" syndrome.
I had a discussion with a Labour MP a couple of years back about Government funded research. As usual, turned out he wanted MITI type "big projects" rather than DARPA style - "Let a thousand flowers bloom". When I pointed out the abject failure of the "GovernmentGiantProject" thing in just about every country it was tried... well, he seemed to think "WeHaveLearn'tAllTheLessonsRequired"......
I forgot to mention - he irritated me so much, that I spent the rest of our talk convincing him that an ideal replacement for fossil fuel was a bio-fuel derived from groundnuts grown in West Africa. He was quite convinced.
Thank you for that! Best laugh I have had all day, and now I must get some tissues and try and get the whiskey out of my keyboard.
P.S. It occurs that probably 80% of the people here won't have a clue what you were talking about.
I do!
Hello Mr Llama: I am now back from Paris and you, being the civilised gentleman you are, owe me a drink after casting aspersions on my fondness for Parisians.....
Undoubtedly, had she stuck with the train, she would have been criticised for delaying her return to deal with the floods and/or Labour's Forth Road Bridge debacle.
Stop the War map perfectly onto the peace creeps of his own time - peace/disarmament was for us, not for the other side.
Always amazing how history repeats itself
Not really amazing - humans haven't really changed in the timespan of history.
Sure, but that they never seem to learn from history...
Possibly because the people that make the big decisions have, in the main, never studied history. One cannot learn from something unless one knows about it, and the level of ignorance about history amongst politicians seems only to be matched by their ignorance of basic mathematics.
PPE is supposed to include history. The big problem is the "ThatDoesn'tApplyToMe" syndrome.
I had a discussion with a Labour MP a couple of years back about Government funded research. As usual, turned out he wanted MITI type "big projects" rather than DARPA style - "Let a thousand flowers bloom". When I pointed out the abject failure of the "GovernmentGiantProject" thing in just about every country it was tried... well, he seemed to think "WeHaveLearn'tAllTheLessonsRequired"......
I forgot to mention - he irritated me so much, that I spent the rest of our talk convincing him that an ideal replacement for fossil fuel was a bio-fuel derived from groundnuts grown in West Africa. He was quite convinced.
Are you trolling us all, or just this poor sod? If true that really is very funny.
(Though I am unsure how much might be the MP's credulity, or to be generous, whether there is a political art to "listening in a sympathetic way" - honed by a thousand doorsteps and nightmarish never-ending surgeries - which belies a deeper scepticism, or indeed desire to exit the conversation entirely.)
Looks like the Lords will for certain be passing a REVISED amendment to give 16 year olds the vote in the EU referendum - revised to ensure the Commons Clerks won't certify it as a Money Bill.
I really don't see how Cameron can back down on this - but if he doesn't the Bill can't go through and he'll have to wait until he can Parliament Act it.
Hello Mr Llama: I am now back from Paris and you, being the civilised gentleman you are, owe me a drink after casting aspersions on my fondness for Parisians.....
Mrs Free, I am delighted you had a good time amongst the worst of the enemy and will happily buy you a drink any time you like. Well, when I say any time that is if you come to Hurstpierpoint. In London it would have to be a lunchtime (not allowed out after dark these days because of my eyes).
P.S. Thomas surpassed himself this evening. For his evening meal I gave him a dish of freshly carved roast chicken breast and he turned his nose up. So, leaving the chicken dish down, I offered him a plate of M&S prawns. He didn't want those either so I tried Waitrose Salmon flakes - nope not interested. In desperation I rummaged at the back of his cupboard and found an old pouch of Wilkinsons cat food and put that in a bowl for him. He wolfed it down and wanted more. Of course, I didn't have an more old cheap cat food to give him so over the next few hours he ate the salmon, the prawns and made a start on the chicken before collapsing on the sofa with what I swear is a very smug expression on his face.
P.S. Thomas surpassed himself this evening. For his evening meal I gave him a dish of freshly carved roast chicken breast and he turned his nose up. So, leaving the chicken dish down, I offered him a plate of M&S prawns. He didn't want those either so I tried Waitrose Salmon flakes - nope not interested. In desperation I rummaged at the back of his cupboard and found an old pouch of Wilkinsons cat food and put that in a bowl for him. He wolfed it down and wanted more. Of course, I didn't have an more old cheap cat food to give him so over the next few hours he ate the salmon, the prawns and made a start on the chicken before collapsing on the sofa with what I swear is a very smug expression on his face.
Your cat has the life of riley, by the sounds.
It reminds me of my neighbour when I lived in Quarry St. Leeds back in the day (A proper back to back st with washing strung across between the houses). the old lady (Lily) had a cat called "Tiddles" which she called out for every night. Lily didn't have a lot of money and Tiddles' diet was I think far superior to hers. Roast chicken and so on. She once confided she was worried about his appetite. I did try to gently point out that Tiddles was a fat bastard and probably was too stuffed to eat anymore but I don't think the message really got through. That Summer, Tiddles was to be found sitting in the bathroom sink trying to keep cool through his mounds of fat...
[ps I am in no way criticising your care of your cat. just to be clear]
Nice try. But you've been in power for over 8 years - and it was the SNP's 'Free Tolls' that robbed the bridge of its maintenance budget.....you broke it you own it....
Hello Mr Llama: I am now back from Paris and you, being the civilised gentleman you are, owe me a drink after casting aspersions on my fondness for Parisians.....
Mrs Free, I am delighted you had a good time amongst the worst of the enemy and will happily buy you a drink any time you like. Well, when I say any time that is if you come to Hurstpierpoint. In London it would have to be a lunchtime (not allowed out after dark these days because of my eyes).
P.S. Thomas surpassed himself this evening. For his evening meal I gave him a dish of freshly carved roast chicken breast and he turned his nose up. So, leaving the chicken dish down, I offered him a plate of M&S prawns. He didn't want those either so I tried Waitrose Salmon flakes - nope not interested. In desperation I rummaged at the back of his cupboard and found an old pouch of Wilkinsons cat food and put that in a bowl for him. He wolfed it down and wanted more. Of course, I didn't have an more old cheap cat food to give him so over the next few hours he ate the salmon, the prawns and made a start on the chicken before collapsing on the sofa with what I swear is a very smug expression on his face.
Well, I'm now closer to voting "Leave" than before.
Apparently as part of this "renegotiation" sham, the Tories are going to strip benefits from British young people, in order not to "discriminate" against EU citizens who will be denied benefits. If Dave is going to make lefties choose between staying in the EU OR keeping the basic welfare safety net, then I'm not sure he'll like the answer.
P.S. Thomas surpassed himself this evening. For his evening meal I gave him a dish of freshly carved roast chicken breast and he turned his nose up. So, leaving the chicken dish down, I offered him a plate of M&S prawns. He didn't want those either so I tried Waitrose Salmon flakes - nope not interested. In desperation I rummaged at the back of his cupboard and found an old pouch of Wilkinsons cat food and put that in a bowl for him. He wolfed it down and wanted more. Of course, I didn't have an more old cheap cat food to give him so over the next few hours he ate the salmon, the prawns and made a start on the chicken before collapsing on the sofa with what I swear is a very smug expression on his face.
Your cat has the life of riley, by the sounds.
It reminds me of my neighbour when I lived in Quarry St. Leeds back in the day (A proper back to back st with washing strung across between the houses). the old lady (Lily) had a cat called "Tiddles" which she called out for every night. Lily didn't have a lot of money and Tiddles' diet was I think far superior to hers. Roast chicken and so on. She once confided she was worried about his appetite. I did try to gently point out that Tiddles was a fat bastard and probably was too stuffed to eat anymore but I don't think the message really got through. That Summer, Tiddles was to be found sitting in the bathroom sink trying to keep cool through his mounds of fat...
[ps I am in no way criticising your care of your cat. just to be clear]
Mr. Dugarbandier, A labourer is worthy of his hire and I will not have an animal as a pet as I think that demeans him/her and me. Now Thomas The Rescue probably had a shitty life for at least a spell (he is Welsh from the valleys after all and came to us via Crawley) and so I perhaps over-compensate a little but he has to earn his keep, and on the whole he does.
Another poll shpowing Cruz ahead in Iowa, though just by 2, and a further poll showing him now just 5 behind Trump nationally: (Rubio not out of sight either.)
Only thing is - how far has he been tested by the media? Trump has been roasted again and again, and Carson's had a grilling. Have they had a go at Cruz yet, and if not, will he ride it out (there's always something for the press to seize on)?
Another poll shpowing Cruz ahead in Iowa, though just by 2, and a further poll showing him now just 5 behind Trump nationally: (Rubio not out of sight either.)
Only thing is - how far has he been tested by the media? Trump has been roasted again and again, and Carson's had a grilling. Have they had a go at Cruz yet, and if not, will he ride it out (there's always something for the press to seize on)?
Hmm It looks to me like Cruz will take Iowa and most likely Trump New Hampshire. It'll then get framed as a race between those two.
Mr. Dugarbandier, A labourer is worthy of his hire and I will not have an animal as a pet as I think that demeans him/her and me. Now Thomas The Rescue probably had a shitty life for at least a spell (he is Welsh from the valleys after all and came to us via Crawley) and so I perhaps over-compensate a little but he has to earn his keep, and on the whole he does.
Fair play, and Merry Christmas, to you and Thomas!
Another poll shpowing Cruz ahead in Iowa, though just by 2, and a further poll showing him now just 5 behind Trump nationally: (Rubio not out of sight either.)
Only thing is - how far has he been tested by the media? Trump has been roasted again and again, and Carson's had a grilling. Have they had a go at Cruz yet, and if not, will he ride it out (there's always something for the press to seize on)?
Crumbs, Nick, if the media having something to seize on was a measure of eligibility how on earth is Clinton ever in the race. She has been up to her neck in scandal for decades.
The political system in the USA is a complete mystery to me, someone with Hilary Clinton's form would never even get a look in here but it would seem she is probably going to become the next president. I am sure Morris Dancer could drawn a comparison with Rome in its declining decadent years.
Just wrong place, wrong time, you know how it goes. Must be the most unlucky man alive to find that all these people who he becomes friends with are extremists, Jahadi's and terrorists. Think you going to do development work in a country run by the Taliban, its just like going to become a 18-30 holiday rep, s##t just happens sometimes and things get out of control and the wrong person gets framed for the mess.
Well, I'm now closer to voting "Leave" than before.
Apparently as part of this "renegotiation" sham, the Tories are going to strip benefits from British young people, in order not to "discriminate" against EU citizens who will be denied benefits. If Dave is going to make lefties choose between staying in the EU OR keeping the basic welfare safety net, then I'm not sure he'll like the answer.
I'd vote for that though. Enthusiastically in fact.
Barring severe disability etc why on earth should someone who is fit and able be granted welfare thru haven't contributed towards? You 21st centuty lefties have forgotten one of the Great Evils that welfare was meant to tackle not encourage.
You 21st centuty lefties have forgotten one of the Great Evils that welfare was meant to tackle not encourage.
Most of today's Labour would probably say that Beveridge was a Tory. I mean he opposed mean tested benefits, and proposed a safety net where there was a flat rate contribution for a flat benefit, because mean-testing caused high marginal tax rates and hence made a poverty trap. Wot no "relative poverty", no "flat screen TV and foreign holidays or you are poor" ?
Looks like the Lords will for certain be passing a REVISED amendment to give 16 year olds the vote in the EU referendum - revised to ensure the Commons Clerks won't certify it as a Money Bill.
I really don't see how Cameron can back down on this - but if he doesn't the Bill can't go through and he'll have to wait until he can Parliament Act it.
If the Lords start playing games with a manifesto commitment of the Government, then Cameron will probably have no choice but to respond in kind. As many new Conservative peers as it takes to get the vote though.
You 21st centuty lefties have forgotten one of the Great Evils that welfare was meant to tackle not encourage.
Most of today's Labour would probably say that Beveridge was a Tory. I mean he opposed mean tested benefits, and proposed a safety net where there was a flat rate contribution for a flat benefit, because mean-testing caused high marginal tax rates and hence made a poverty trap. Wot no "relative poverty", no "flat screen TV and foreign holidays or you are poor" ?
Beveridge had very little to say on the matter of flat screen TVs, possibly because he recognised that by 2015 it would no longer be possible to buy any other sort.
Would never have happened under a Labour government.....
Tax authorities are stepping up an assault on evasion that led to a 58 per cent rise in convictions last year.
In the push to increase prosecutions for tax-related offences, 1,258 individuals were convicted of evasion or fraud in the year to 2015, up from 795 a year earlier.
The figures show that HMRC has easily beaten its target of 1,165 prosecutions for the year to 2015, which it agreed after the coalition government told it to increase prosecutions fivefold in 2010.
Would never have happened under a Labour government.....
Tax authorities are stepping up an assault on evasion that led to a 58 per cent rise in convictions last year.
In the push to increase prosecutions for tax-related offences, 1,258 individuals were convicted of evasion or fraud in the year to 2015, up from 795 a year earlier.
The figures show that HMRC has easily beaten its target of 1,165 prosecutions for the year to 2015, which it agreed after the coalition government told it to increase prosecutions fivefold in 2010.
I note the headline figure is the increased conviction rate, not increase in income. How many of these are dodgy builders, eBay sellers etc. that are the easy targets, rather than the serious players evading £ms?
Looks like the Lords will for certain be passing a REVISED amendment to give 16 year olds the vote in the EU referendum - revised to ensure the Commons Clerks won't certify it as a Money Bill.
I really don't see how Cameron can back down on this - but if he doesn't the Bill can't go through and he'll have to wait until he can Parliament Act it.
If the Lords start playing games with a manifesto commitment of the Government, then Cameron will probably have no choice but to respond in kind. As many new Conservative peers as it takes to get the vote though.
Might be nice to get a title, but would a successful business tory want to get £300 a day when they earn maybe a couple of thousand in the same time already? If they don't earn that much, would they be wanted by Cameron in the HoL?
Looks like the Lords will for certain be passing a REVISED amendment to give 16 year olds the vote in the EU referendum - revised to ensure the Commons Clerks won't certify it as a Money Bill.
I really don't see how Cameron can back down on this - but if he doesn't the Bill can't go through and he'll have to wait until he can Parliament Act it.
If the Lords start playing games with a manifesto commitment of the Government, then Cameron will probably have no choice but to respond in kind. As many new Conservative peers as it takes to get the vote though.
Not a credible option. The Queen will not allow herself to be put in such a position where she has to authorise such constitutional gerrymandering. Plus it makes a nonsense of "cutting the cost of politics" to add another 100 Lords after making such a fanfare of removing 50 MPs.
Looks like the Lords will for certain be passing a REVISED amendment to give 16 year olds the vote in the EU referendum - revised to ensure the Commons Clerks won't certify it as a Money Bill.
I really don't see how Cameron can back down on this - but if he doesn't the Bill can't go through and he'll have to wait until he can Parliament Act it.
Looks like the Lords will for certain be passing a REVISED amendment to give 16 year olds the vote in the EU referendum - revised to ensure the Commons Clerks won't certify it as a Money Bill.
I really don't see how Cameron can back down on this - but if he doesn't the Bill can't go through and he'll have to wait until he can Parliament Act it.
Would never have happened under a Labour government.....
Tax authorities are stepping up an assault on evasion that led to a 58 per cent rise in convictions last year.
In the push to increase prosecutions for tax-related offences, 1,258 individuals were convicted of evasion or fraud in the year to 2015, up from 795 a year earlier.
The figures show that HMRC has easily beaten its target of 1,165 prosecutions for the year to 2015, which it agreed after the coalition government told it to increase prosecutions fivefold in 2010.
I note the headline figure is the increased conviction rate, not increase in income.
Further down the article:
“Last year we secured a record £26 billion of additional yield across all our work, and our successful prosecutions resulted in over 400 years of custodial sentences.
I note the misinterpretation by the BBC and others about the result of the French regional elections. The FN did better than ever in round 1 and increased their number of votes (from 6.0m to 6.8m) in round 2 (27-28% of the total vote in each round). The only reason they didn't win was tactical voting and withdrawal of the socialist candidate in certain regions, resulting in an increase in the vote for conservative parties from 6.9m in round 1 to 10.1m in round 2. In 2 regions where all 3 main parties remained in contention (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and Centre-Val de Loire), both runners-up were within 5% of the winner.
There is only so far one can go in tactical voting to defeat an insurgent party in FPTP systems, even when there is a second round if there is no outright winner in round 1. At some point a tipping point will be reached and the insurgents will sweep the board, as happened in Scotlan in May 2015 when the number of SNP seats leapt from 6 to 56. Please note that I am in no way comparing the politics of the SNP to the FN - I would view such a comparison as SNP GOOD (as they usually are - witness their united vote against the Syrian bombing), FN BAD.
Looks like the Lords will for certain be passing a REVISED amendment to give 16 year olds the vote in the EU referendum - revised to ensure the Commons Clerks won't certify it as a Money Bill.
I really don't see how Cameron can back down on this - but if he doesn't the Bill can't go through and he'll have to wait until he can Parliament Act it.
Does it matter if it costs £6m or £2m for it to be viewed as a financial measure?
Surely any law has some kind of financial impact so could be classed as a "money bill."
I don't think so. Lots of legislation deals with matters which does not involve government expenditure. Saying that, the Lords are really forcing the governments hand on this one.
Comments
The two petition scores on the boards thus far
Banff and Buchan Ban Trump 633 Don't Ban 153
Gordon Ban Trump 1156 Don't Ban 73
So in Salmond's old constituency it is 4-1 for a ban and in his current constituency it is 15-1 for a ban on Trumpy.
Other than these inconvenient facts your point is a really cracking one!!!
The Gordon figures are interesting because that is the area which has most personal experience of "We Shall Overcomb!"
David Camerons Villa? It was a mercy killing...
Looking forward to tommorow, but next week is Arsenal vs Man City so one or other will drop points. The Thinkerman could well be top at Christmas. Win tommorow and we are 9 points clear of 5th place. Living the dream.
I really don't see how Cameron can back down on this - but if he doesn't the Bill can't go through and he'll have to wait until he can Parliament Act it.
What is going to happen?
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/dec/13/labour-peers-eu-referendum-vote-16-year-olds-costs
http://theorwellprize.co.uk/george-orwell/by-orwell/essays-and-other-works/notes-on-nationalism/
Stop the War map perfectly onto the peace creeps of his own time - peace/disarmament was for us, not for the other side.
"Pacifist propaganda usually boils down to saying that one side is as bad as the other, but if one looks closely at the writings of younger intellectual pacifists, one finds that they do not by any means express impartial disapproval but are directed almost entirely against Britain and the United States. Moreover they do not as a rule condemn violence as such, but only violence used in defence of the western countries. The Russians, unlike the British, are not blamed for defending themselves by warlike means, and indeed all pacifist propaganda of this type avoids mention of Russia or China."
The man is lacking a spine.
Consider for instance some comfortable English professor defending Russian totalitarianism. He cannot say outright, ‘I believe in killing off your opponents when you can get good results by doing so’. Probably, therefore, he will say something like this:
‘While freely conceding that the Soviet regime exhibits certain features which the humanitarian may be inclined to deplore, we must, I think, agree that a certain curtailment of the right to political opposition is an unavoidable concomitant of transitional periods, and that the rigors which the Russian people have been called upon to undergo have been amply justified in the sphere of concrete achievement.’
I am also fascinated by the idea that there are sufficient wealthy and well connected farmers who apparently are so well connected that governments of both main parties are prepared to bribe them to the detriment on the vast majority of the population. Perhaps you could give some examples of how these wealthy and well connected farmers have caused policy to be changed to their benefit in the period, say, from 1997.
Edited extra Bit: I forgot to ask which are the countries that have sufficient spare agricultural capacity to produce enough food to feed a country of 60+ million people?
I was just wondering why Banff & Buchan had one of the highest number of pro-Trump signatures.
Tony Blair was insane to give up the rebate on the promise of an "examination of the CAP". Neither France nor Germany will tolerate a change to the current system.
Note that they were prepared to sacrifice "solidarity" - an alleged core European value - when the EU expanded on exactly this point. If the new states had been brought in at the same subsidy levels, the system would have collapsed. One fix would have been to reduce subsidies and share them out fairly. The other was to screw over the newly joined eastern nations....
https://twitter.com/Zarkwan/status/675703558533160960
I had a discussion with a Labour MP a couple of years back about Government funded research. As usual, turned out he wanted MITI type "big projects" rather than DARPA style - "Let a thousand flowers bloom". When I pointed out the abject failure of the "GovernmentGiantProject" thing in just about every country it was tried... well, he seemed to think "WeHaveLearn'tAllTheLessonsRequired"......
P.S. It occurs that probably 80% of the people here won't have a clue what you were talking about.
Hello Mr Llama: I am now back from Paris and you, being the civilised gentleman you are, owe me a drink after casting aspersions on my fondness for Parisians.....
Undoubtedly, had she stuck with the train, she would have been criticised for delaying her return to deal with the floods and/or Labour's Forth Road Bridge debacle.
(Though I am unsure how much might be the MP's credulity, or to be generous, whether there is a political art to "listening in a sympathetic way" - honed by a thousand doorsteps and nightmarish never-ending surgeries - which belies a deeper scepticism, or indeed desire to exit the conversation entirely.)
The UK will vote to leave the EU, to spite the Nats and call their bluff.
P.S. Thomas surpassed himself this evening. For his evening meal I gave him a dish of freshly carved roast chicken breast and he turned his nose up. So, leaving the chicken dish down, I offered him a plate of M&S prawns. He didn't want those either so I tried Waitrose Salmon flakes - nope not interested. In desperation I rummaged at the back of his cupboard and found an old pouch of Wilkinsons cat food and put that in a bowl for him. He wolfed it down and wanted more. Of course, I didn't have an more old cheap cat food to give him so over the next few hours he ate the salmon, the prawns and made a start on the chicken before collapsing on the sofa with what I swear is a very smug expression on his face.
It reminds me of my neighbour when I lived in Quarry St. Leeds back in the day (A proper back to back st with washing strung across between the houses). the old lady (Lily) had a cat called "Tiddles" which she called out for every night. Lily didn't have a lot of money and Tiddles' diet was I think far superior to hers. Roast chicken and so on. She once confided she was worried about his appetite. I did try to gently point out that Tiddles was a fat bastard and probably was too stuffed to eat anymore but I don't think the message really got through. That Summer, Tiddles was to be found sitting in the bathroom sink trying to keep cool through his mounds of fat...
[ps I am in no way criticising your care of your cat. just to be clear]
Apparently as part of this "renegotiation" sham, the Tories are going to strip benefits from British young people, in order not to "discriminate" against EU citizens who will be denied benefits. If Dave is going to make lefties choose between staying in the EU OR keeping the basic welfare safety net, then I'm not sure he'll like the answer.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls/
Only thing is - how far has he been tested by the media? Trump has been roasted again and again, and Carson's had a grilling. Have they had a go at Cruz yet, and if not, will he ride it out (there's always something for the press to seize on)?
That's the plan for my betting anyway !
The political system in the USA is a complete mystery to me, someone with Hilary Clinton's form would never even get a look in here but it would seem she is probably going to become the next president. I am sure Morris Dancer could drawn a comparison with Rome in its declining decadent years.
Chancellor Angela Merkel wants to “drastically decrease” the number of refugees coming to Germany
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/14/angela-merkel-wants-to-drastically-reduce-refugee-arrivals-in-germany
He also says he could have been at the Battle of Tora Bora in 2001
He adds that he met Abu Hamza in London
He used to 'sit and talk' with Abu Qatada..and I quote "I don't believe that man is radicalising anybody or believes in terrorism.'
Went to do development work in Afghanistan with self admitted Jahadi Moazzam Begg
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3358741/Bin-Laden-s-house-Shaker-Aamer-says-gone-seek-safety-bombing-stresses-never-met-Al-Qaeda-leader.html
Just wrong place, wrong time, you know how it goes. Must be the most unlucky man alive to find that all these people who he becomes friends with are extremists, Jahadi's and terrorists. Think you going to do development work in a country run by the Taliban, its just like going to become a 18-30 holiday rep, s##t just happens sometimes and things get out of control and the wrong person gets framed for the mess.
Barring severe disability etc why on earth should someone who is fit and able be granted welfare thru haven't contributed towards? You 21st centuty lefties have forgotten one of the Great Evils that welfare was meant to tackle not encourage.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35088276
Tax authorities are stepping up an assault on evasion that led to a 58 per cent rise in convictions last year.
In the push to increase prosecutions for tax-related offences, 1,258 individuals were convicted of evasion or fraud in the year to 2015, up from 795 a year earlier.
The figures show that HMRC has easily beaten its target of 1,165 prosecutions for the year to 2015, which it agreed after the coalition government told it to increase prosecutions fivefold in 2010.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4ff76fa0-a030-11e5-8613-08e211ea5317.html
“Last year we secured a record £26 billion of additional yield across all our work, and our successful prosecutions resulted in over 400 years of custodial sentences.
There is only so far one can go in tactical voting to defeat an insurgent party in FPTP systems, even when there is a second round if there is no outright winner in round 1. At some point a tipping point will be reached and the insurgents will sweep the board, as happened in Scotlan in May 2015 when the number of SNP seats leapt from 6 to 56. Please note that I am in no way comparing the politics of the SNP to the FN - I would view such a comparison as SNP GOOD (as they usually are - witness their united vote against the Syrian bombing), FN BAD.