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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » CON lead over LAB drops 9% in latest Ipsos MORI phone poll

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  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,973
    justin124 said:

    justin124 said:

    theakes said:

    ScreamingEagles: Mrs May cannot call an election, The Parliament Act rules.

    She cannot call one but she can force one by using the Tory majority to deliberately lose a vote of no confidence and then voting down any alternatives.

    It's not a clean route and it's not without risk. The public might not like the game-playing and once you lose a VoNC, you lose some control over what happens next (which would be unchartered territory). All the same, it can be done.

    Curiously, the FTPA doesn't allow for an election in the event that a government simply resigns and no replacement can be found. The clock would tick from when the first VoNC in a new government is passed.
    Surely somebody would be invited to 'try' to form a Government which would then need an affirmative Confidence Vote in the Commons.Some argue that would be someone other than May - who had just lost a No Confidence Vote. Effectively a new Government would be formed awaiting affirmation by the Legislature. For an Affirmation Vote to take place there would have to be a Government in existence to vote for or against!
    Not necessarily, though it couldn't be ruled out. That would be the risk.

    Were May to lose a VoNC (deliberately), she could seek to stay on pending someone else being invited to form a government. That might work; it might not.

    The Queen might invite Corbyn as LotO to try. However, even if she did, Corbyn might refuse on the grounds that he clearly could not command the confidence of the House. Alternatively, the Queen might not even ask him on the same basis. FWIW, I think she would, simply because it would keep her above politics for him to refuse / fail, even if that outcome were inevitable. However, if he did accept and put it to the Commons then yes, he would have to be appointed PM, even if only briefly.

    The better option if parliament were being unreasonably obstructionist would first be to put down a motion in the Commons for an early election and then to challenge Labour to vote against it.
    But if Corbyn accepted, his Government would surely have to exist before an Affirmative Confidence Vote could take place? The Commons could hardly vote for or against a Phantom Government! On that basis he would already be PM and would require the Affirmative vote to continue. On his being denied the Confidence of the House a Dissolution would follow.
    By the way, I can see no reason why Corbyn would not 'try' after being invited.
    This is exactly why the FTPA is a piece of junk. He shouldn't be able to try given the number of Labour MPs.
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    Labour back in the 30s???

    Must be an outlier :lol:
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    FregglesFreggles Posts: 3,486
    RobD said:

    Pulpstar said:

    @TheScreamingEagles What 'stage' are you at with the Brexit vote ?

    When it comes to Brexit, I'm at the acceptancs stage and have been since June.

    I'm at the anger/bargaining stage when it comes to Dave going and Osborne being purged though.
    As far as Osborne is concerned it is good riddance to bad rubbish.
    I'm more interested in what stage he is at for the disastrous AV defeat in 2011 :p
    If we'd voted for AV UKIP might have picked up a few seats, the Lib Dems might have preserved a few more, and Need it referendum blocked by Clegg.

    Also, Trump would have become a painter in Austria :trollface:
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    Happy Birthday Sunil.
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    nunu said:

    Obama deported 2.5 million people, so Trump deporting 3 million is a big deal, why?

    Because only white people can be racist?
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    justin124justin124 Posts: 11,527
    RobD said:

    justin124 said:

    justin124 said:

    theakes said:

    ScreamingEagles: Mrs May cannot call an election, The Parliament Act rules.



    Curiously, the FTPA doesn't allow for an election in the event that a government simply resigns and no replacement can be found. The clock would tick from when the first VoNC in a new government is passed.
    Surely somebody would be invited to 'try' to form a Government which would then need an affirmative Confidence Vote in the Commons.Some argue that would be someone other than May - who had just lost a No Confidence Vote. Effectively a new Government would be formed awaiting affirmation by the Legislature. For an Affirmation Vote to take place there would have to be a Government in existence to vote for or against!
    Not necessarily, though it couldn't be ruled out. That would be the risk.

    Were May to lose a VoNC (deliberately), she could seek to stay on pending someone else being invited to form a government. That might work; it might not.

    The Queen might invite Corbyn as LotO to try. However, even if she did, Corbyn might refuse on the grounds that he clearly could not command the confidence of the House. Alternatively, the Queen might not even ask him on the same basis. FWIW, I think she would, simply because it would keep her above politics for him to refuse / fail, even if that outcome were inevitable. However, if he did accept and put it to the Commons then yes, he would have to be appointed PM, even if only briefly.

    The better option if parliament were being unreasonably obstructionist would first be to put down a motion in the Commons for an early election and then to challenge Labour to vote against it.
    But if Corbyn accepted, his Government would surely have to exist before an Affirmative Confidence Vote could take place? The Commons could hardly vote for or against a Phantom Government! On that basis he would already be PM and would require the Affirmative vote to continue. On his being denied the Confidence of the House a Dissolution would follow.
    By the way, I can see no reason why Corbyn would not 'try' after being invited.
    This is exactly why the FTPA is a piece of junk. He shouldn't be able to try given the number of Labour MPs.
    Ramsay Macdonald only had 191 MPs in Jan 1924. Campbell-Bannerman faced a Tory majority of 100 when appointed PM in December 1905.
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    Pulpstar said:

    MaxPB said:

    glw said:

    MaxPB said:

    Speaking to a few Dems, they think they don't have anyone who can beat Trump in 2020. No congressperson, Senator or Governor sticks out to them as someone who can beat Trump. They all want Obama back. Desperately.

    If the Democrats can't find a better candidate by 2020 they might as well shut up shop. Your party is in deep trouble if beating Trump looks challenging to you.
    This is what I was talking about earlier, no new net Hispanic voters, returning GOP traditionalists and the possibility of a fast growing economy on the back of a mega fiscal stimulus. There is no Dem candidate who can defeat all of those shifts away.
    Presidents normally win a second term if they run for it. Carter is the exception that proves the rule.

    And Bush senior.

    We are in completely uncharted territory with Trump. This will be a presidency like no other. making predictions about his re-election before he has even taken office does seem a touch speculative.
    Not quite like no other. There are strong elements of Andrew Jackson about him.
    Though Jackson was unarguably racist even by the standards of the time, and we're told Trump isn't, thank goodness.
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    LennonLennon Posts: 1,735

    An antifrank scoop:

    https://twitter.com/OvertonMarianne/status/798949066822602752

    FYI - Ms Overton has stood twice at general elections in this constituency, keeping her deposit each time.

    For a full list of those standing: https://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/_resources/assets/attachment/full/0/24958.pdf

    Interestingly there are 2 people with no ballot paper description at all.
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    MTimT said:

    wasn't he big in Germany ...

    Was reminded of this the other day, and thought Mr. Eagles might like it:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAf-3tJfIsM

    The Hoff is awesome, forget Ronald Reagan, The Berlin Wall came down thanks to the Hoff.

    One of my favourite nightclubs was Reflex Bar in Liverpool, it played 80s pop music, and they had a giant life sized photo of the Hoff in his speedos on the wall. It was awesome.
    He was and still is.
    And German band Alphaville were Big in Japan :)
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    Happy Birthday Sunil.

    Thanks, Mr Meeks!

    Um, how did you know???
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    SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,907
    edited November 2016
    Lennon said:

    An antifrank scoop:

    https://twitter.com/OvertonMarianne/status/798949066822602752

    FYI - Ms Overton has stood twice at general elections in this constituency, keeping her deposit each time.

    For a full list of those standing: https://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/_resources/assets/attachment/full/0/24958.pdf

    Interestingly there are 2 people with no ballot paper description at all.
    And the Loony is actually called The Iconic Arty-Pole :tongue:
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    FregglesFreggles Posts: 3,486

    nunu said:

    Obama deported 2.5 million people, so Trump deporting 3 million is a big deal, why?

    Because only white people can be racist?
    Because 3 is bigger than 2.5?


    Because he is talking about 3 million immediate deportations, not a cumulative figure over the whole term
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    I see Death To Traitors, Freedom For Britain told the police that arrested him that he was a political activist. Amazing the things you say when in the grip of mental illness.
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    Dr P, I have my ways.
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,973
    edited November 2016
    justin124 said:

    RobD said:

    justin124 said:

    justin124 said:

    theakes said:

    ScreamingEagles: Mrs May cannot call an election, The Parliament Act rules.



    Curiously, the FTPA doesn't allow for an election in the event that a government simply resigns and no replacement can be found. The clock would tick from when the first VoNC in a new government is passed.
    Surely somebody would be invited to 'try' to form a Government which would then need an affirmative Confidence Vote in the Commons.Some argue that would be someone other than May - who had just lost a No Confidence Vote. Effectively a new Government would be formed awaiting affirmation by the Legislature. For an Affirmation Vote to take place there would have to be a Government in existence to vote for or against!
    Not necessarily, though it couldn't be ruled out. That would be the risk.

    Were May to lose a VoNC (deliberately), she could seek to stay on pending someone else being invited to form a government. That might work; it might not.

    The Queen might invite Corbyn as LotO to try. However, even if she did, Corbyn might refuse on the grounds that he clearly could not command the confidence of the House. Alternatively, the Queen might not even ask him on the same basis. FWIW, I think she would, simply because it would keep her above politics for him to refuse / fail, even if that outcome were inevitable. However, if he did accept and put it to the Commons then yes, he would have to be appointed PM, even if only briefly.

    The better option if parliament were being unreasonably obstructionist would first be to put down a motion in the Commons for an early election and then to challenge Labour to vote against it.
    But if Corbyn accepted, his Government would surely have to exist before an Affirmative Confidence Vote could take place? The Commons could hardly vote for or against a Phantom Government! On that basis he would already be PM and would require the Affirmative vote to continue. On his being denied the Confidence of the House a Dissolution would follow.
    By the way, I can see no reason why Corbyn would not 'try' after being invited.
    This is exactly why the FTPA is a piece of junk. He shouldn't be able to try given the number of Labour MPs.
    Ramsay Macdonald only had 191 MPs in Jan 1924. Campbell-Bannerman faced a Tory majority of 100 when appointed PM in December 1905.
    Did he have to face a confidence vote at the start like the FTPA stipulates?

    And Ramsay had the support of the liberals, so that's 191+158.
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    RobD said:

    Pulpstar said:

    @TheScreamingEagles What 'stage' are you at with the Brexit vote ?

    When it comes to Brexit, I'm at the acceptancs stage and have been since June.

    I'm at the anger/bargaining stage when it comes to Dave going and Osborne being purged though.
    As far as Osborne is concerned it is good riddance to bad rubbish.
    I'm more interested in what stage he is at for the disastrous AV defeat in 2011 :p
    Acceptance 68%
    Anger 32%

    :lol:
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    SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,907
    RobD said:

    justin124 said:

    justin124 said:

    theakes said:

    ScreamingEagles: Mrs May cannot call an election, The Parliament Act rules.

    .
    Not necessarily, though it couldn't be ruled out. That would be the risk.

    Were May to lose a VoNC (deliberately), she could seek to stay on pending someone else being invited to form a government. That might work; it might not.

    The Queen might invite Corbyn as LotO to try. However, even if she did, Corbyn might refuse on the grounds that he clearly could not command the confidence of the House. Alternatively, the Queen might not even ask him on the same basis. FWIW, I think she would, simply because it would keep her above politics for him to refuse / fail, even if that outcome were inevitable. However, if he did accept and put it to the Commons then yes, he would have to be appointed PM, even if only briefly.

    The better option if parliament were being unreasonably obstructionist would first be to put down a motion in the Commons for an early election and then to challenge Labour to vote against it.
    But if Corbyn accepted, his Government would surely have to exist before an Affirmative Confidence Vote could take place? The Commons could hardly vote for or against a Phantom Government! On that basis he would already be PM and would require the Affirmative vote to continue. On his being denied the Confidence of the House a Dissolution would follow.
    By the way, I can see no reason why Corbyn would not 'try' after being invited.
    This is exactly why the FTPA is a piece of junk. He shouldn't be able to try given the number of Labour MPs.
    The unanswered question is what happens after the vote of confidence. In pre-FTPA times, the Government would resign and Parliament dissolved. Under the FTPA there is a two week window to form a government, will this in practice be similar to the post-2010 situation, where the PM and govt would stay in place until another party indicated they have enough support for the PM to go to the Palace and formally resign. If so then the vote of confidence happens, we all wait two weeks and Parliament is dissolved.

    It surely can't be that Mrs May is forced to resign, allowing Corbyn to be in charge for the six weeks of the election campaign, following which the Tories are returned again with a majority. That's not good for democracy.

    The concept of the FTPA was to protect the last Coalition govt, for which it served its purpose. it doesn't really work with a single party majority.
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    Happy Birthday Sunil.

    Thanks, Mr Meeks!

    Um, how did you know???
    Your name is on ze list. Happy birthday mate.
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    Pulpstar said:

    Obama vs Trump would have been interesting.

    I think Obama would have won in 2012, just.

    Obama 2008 and Trump 2016 elections.

    Nah. Obama would probably have won a third term. Much better favourability ratings than Hillary and he's a much better campaigner than her too. His ratings would probably have suffered in a campaign as against what they are now but given how close it ultimately was, I think he'd have come through.
    I can't believe Obama would not have won a third term if it were an option. For one thing, he would have been far more vital in his second term, rather than spending several years as a lame duck President.

    His golf handicap might have suffered, mind.
    This is the Obama who won by a margin of just 3.86% at the height of his powers in 2012, against Mighty Mitt Romney?
    Even LEAVE won by a margin of 3.8% in June!
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    Happy Birthday Sunil.

    Thanks, Mr Meeks!

    Um, how did you know???
    Your name is on ze list. Happy birthday mate.
    Thanks, Mr Pubgoer!
  • Options
    MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,609
    Sandpit said:

    RobD said:

    justin124 said:

    justin124 said:

    theakes said:

    ScreamingEagles: Mrs May cannot call an election, The Parliament Act rules.

    .
    Not necessarily, though it couldn't be ruled out. That would be the risk.

    Were May to lose a VoNC (deliberately), she could seek to stay on pending someone else being invited to form a government. That might work; it might not.

    The Queen might invite Corbyn as LotO to try. However, even if she did, Corbyn might refuse on the grounds that he clearly could not command the confidence of the House. Alternatively, the Queen might not even ask him on the same basis. FWIW, I think she would, simply because it would keep her above politics for him to refuse / fail, even if that outcome were inevitable. However, if he did accept and put it to the Commons then yes, he would have to be appointed PM, even if only briefly.

    The better option if parliament were being unreasonably obstructionist would first be to put down a motion in the Commons for an early election and then to challenge Labour to vote against it.
    But if Corbyn accepted, his Government would surely have to exist before an Affirmative Confidence Vote could take place? The Commons could hardly vote for or against a Phantom Government! On that basis he would already be PM and would require the Affirmative vote to continue. On his being denied the Confidence of the House a Dissolution would follow.
    By the way, I can see no reason why Corbyn would not 'try' after being invited.
    This is exactly why the FTPA is a piece of junk. He shouldn't be able to try given the number of Labour MPs.
    The unanswered question is what happens after the vote of confidence. In pre-FTPA times, the Government would resign and Parliament dissolved. Under the FTPA there is a two week window to form a government, will this in practice be similar to the post-2010 situation, where the PM and govt would stay in place until another party indicated they have enough support for the PM to go to the Palace and formally resign. If so then the vote of confidence happens, we all wait two weeks and Parliament is dissolved.

    It surely can't be that Mrs May is forced to resign, allowing Corbyn to be in charge for the six weeks of the election campaign, following which the Tories are returned again with a majority. That's not good for democracy.

    The concept of the FTPA was to protect the last Coalition govt, for which it served its purpose. it doesn't really work with a single party majority.
    Repeal or amend the FTPA to remove the stipulation of the waiting period.
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    chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341
    edited November 2016

    Voters want to have cake and eat it shocker.

    Voters overwhelmingly want Britain to remain in the EU single market after Brexit but would also like to see controls on immigration, according to a study that suggests Theresa May faces a tough political challenge in reconciling public expectations.

    Extensive polling carried out by NatCen, the independent social research agency, and overseen by the elections expert John Curtice suggests 90% of people favour remaining in the single market, regardless of how they voted in the referendum.

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/nov/16/uk-voters-want-single-market-access-and-immigration-controls-poll-finds?CMP=twt_a-politics_b-gdnukpolitics

    51-49 split on the trade off, in favour of limiting migration.

    It seems reasonably clear that if the EU approaches the issue with a degree of sense and pragmatism, rather than ideological zeal, a deal should be very possible. Merkel seems to get it.

    (note: unweighted base was Remain heavy)
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    rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 54,011
    Scott_P said:
    What a small world: I was at university with Eduardo. Nice chap. Bit sincere.
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    Then and now:

    ' Stephen Crabb said the latest labour report, which showed the unemployment total rose by 21,000 in the three months to February to 1.7 million, was a signal that the looming EU referendum vote was hitting the jobs market. '

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/apr/20/uk-unemployment-rises-and-pay-growth-falls

    ' UK unemployment fell by 37,000 to 1.6 million in the three months to September, hitting an 11-year low. '

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37997713
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,973
    Days on which it is Sunil's birthday 0.27%
    Days on which it is not Sunil's birthday 99.73%
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    Good old Bouncy MORI.
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    rcs1000 said:

    Scott_P said:
    What a small world: I was at university with Eduardo. Nice chap. Bit sincere.
    It directs Company's to the department at visit Great. Gov. UK. Seems sensible
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    rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 54,011
    RobD said:

    Days on which it is Sunil's birthday 0.27%
    Days on which it is not Sunil's birthday 99.73%

    Beware of extrapolating from small data sets.
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    SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,907
    MaxPB said:

    Sandpit said:

    RobD said:

    justin124 said:

    justin124 said:

    theakes said:

    ScreamingEagles: Mrs May cannot call an election, The Parliament Act rules.

    .
    The better option if parliament were being unreasonably obstructionist would first be to put down a motion in the Commons for an early election and then to challenge Labour to vote against it.
    But if Corbyn accepted, his Government would surely have to exist before an Affirmative Confidence Vote could take place? The Commons could hardly vote for or against a Phantom Government! On that basis he would already be PM and would require the Affirmative vote to continue. On his being denied the Confidence of the House a Dissolution would follow.
    By the way, I can see no reason why Corbyn would not 'try' after being invited.
    This is exactly why the FTPA is a piece of junk. He shouldn't be able to try given the number of Labour MPs.
    The unanswered question is what happens after the vote of confidence. In pre-FTPA times, the Government would resign and Parliament dissolved. Under the FTPA there is a two week window to form a government, will this in practice be similar to the post-2010 situation, where the PM and govt would stay in place until another party indicated they have enough support for the PM to go to the Palace and formally resign. If so then the vote of confidence happens, we all wait two weeks and Parliament is dissolved.

    It surely can't be that Mrs May is forced to resign, allowing Corbyn to be in charge for the six weeks of the election campaign, following which the Tories are returned again with a majority. That's not good for democracy.

    The concept of the FTPA was to protect the last Coalition govt, for which it served its purpose. it doesn't really work with a single party majority.
    Repeal or amend the FTPA to remove the stipulation of the waiting period.
    That would be the sensible idea, if their Lordships would agree to it.

    FTPA is really not fit for purpose for the current situation, where a new PM is popular but has only a tiny majority and struggles to get things done - such as implementing the result of a referendum.

    One for the constitutional scholars.
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    rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 54,011
    Sandpit said:

    RobD said:

    justin124 said:

    justin124 said:

    theakes said:

    ScreamingEagles: Mrs May cannot call an election, The Parliament Act rules.

    .
    Not necessarily, though it couldn't be ruled out. That would be the risk.

    Were May to lose a VoNC (deliberately), she could seek to stay on pending someone else being invited to form a government. That might work; it might not.

    The Queen might invite Corbyn as LotO to try. However, even if she did, Corbyn might refuse on the grounds that he clearly could not command the confidence of the House. Alternatively, the Queen might not even ask him on the same basis. FWIW, I think she would, simply because it would keep her above politics for him to refuse / fail, even if that outcome were inevitable. However, if he did accept and put it to the Commons then yes, he would have to be appointed PM, even if only briefly.

    The better option if parliament were being unreasonably obstructionist would first be to put down a motion in the Commons for an early election and then to challenge Labour to vote against it.
    But if Corbyn accepted, his Government would surely have to exist before an Affirmative Confidence Vote could take place? The Commons could hardly vote for or against a Phantom Government! On that basis he would already be PM and would require the Affirmative vote to continue. On his being denied the Confidence of the House a Dissolution would follow.
    By the way, I can see no reason why Corbyn would not 'try' after being invited.
    This is exactly why the FTPA is a piece of junk. He shouldn't be able to try given the number of Labour MPs.
    The unanswered question is what happens after the vote of confidence. In pre-FTPA times, the Government would resign and Parliament dissolved. Under the FTPA there is a two week window to form a government, will this in practice be similar to the post-2010 situation, where the PM and govt would stay in place until another party indicated they have enough support for the PM to go to the Palace and formally resign. If so then the vote of confidence happens, we all wait two weeks and Parliament is dissolved.

    It surely can't be that Mrs May is forced to resign, allowing Corbyn to be in charge for the six weeks of the election campaign, following which the Tories are returned again with a majority. That's not good for democracy.

    The concept of the FTPA was to protect the last Coalition govt, for which it served its purpose. it doesn't really work with a single party majority.
    No, because Corbyn would indicate to HM that he is unable to command a majority.
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,973
    edited November 2016
    rcs1000 said:

    RobD said:

    Days on which it is Sunil's birthday 0.27%
    Days on which it is not Sunil's birthday 99.73%

    Beware of extrapolating from small data sets.
    I drew 365 days randomly from the year, being careful to exclude duplicates. My MoE must be pretty small :D
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    SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,907
    edited November 2016
    rcs1000 said:

    Sandpit said:

    RobD said:

    justin124 said:

    justin124 said:

    theakes said:

    ScreamingEagles: Mrs May cannot call an election, The Parliament Act rules.

    .
    The better option if parliament were being unreasonably obstructionist would first be to put down a motion in the Commons for an early election and then to challenge Labour to vote against it.
    But if Corbyn accepted, his Government would surely have to exist before an Affirmative Confidence Vote could take place? The Commons could hardly vote for or against a Phantom Government! On that basis he would already be PM and would require the Affirmative vote to continue. On his being denied the Confidence of the House a Dissolution would follow.
    By the way, I can see no reason why Corbyn would not 'try' after being invited.
    This is exactly why the FTPA is a piece of junk. He shouldn't be able to try given the number of Labour MPs.
    The unanswered question is what happens after the vote of confidence. In pre-FTPA times, the Government would resign and Parliament dissolved. Under the FTPA there is a two week window to form a government, will this in practice be similar to the post-2010 situation, where the PM and govt would stay in place until another party indicated they have enough support for the PM to go to the Palace and formally resign. If so then the vote of confidence happens, we all wait two weeks and Parliament is dissolved.

    It surely can't be that Mrs May is forced to resign, allowing Corbyn to be in charge for the six weeks of the election campaign, following which the Tories are returned again with a majority. That's not good for democracy.

    The concept of the FTPA was to protect the last Coalition govt, for which it served its purpose. it doesn't really work with a single party majority.
    No, because Corbyn would indicate to HM that he is unable to command a majority.
    So May resigns on the day after the vote of no confidence, asks HM to call Corbyn. Corbyn goes to the Palace and declines the job. Then what?

    Does HM call May back? What happens is Corbyn accepts then gets voted down, does he remain in charge for the duration of the campaign? Surely all this is written down somewhere and a few guys on a blog shouldn't really be discussing the process?
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,973
    Sandpit said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Sandpit said:

    RobD said:

    justin124 said:

    justin124 said:

    theakes said:

    ScreamingEagles: Mrs May cannot call an election, The Parliament Act rules.

    .
    The Queen might invite Corbyn as LotO to try. However, even if she did, Corbyn might refuse on the grounds that he clearly could not command the confidence of the House. Alternatively, the Queen might not even ask him on the same basis. FWIW, I think she would, simply because it would keep her above politics for him to refuse / fail, even if that outcome were inevitable. However, if he did accept and put it to the Commons then yes, he would have to be appointed PM, even if only briefly.

    The better option if parliament were being unreasonably obstructionist would first be to put down a motion in the Commons for an early election and then to challenge Labour to vote against it.
    But if Corbyn accepted, his Government would surely have to exist before an Affirmative Confidence Vote could take place? The Commons could hardly vote for or against a Phantom Government! On that basis he would already be PM and would require the Affirmative vote to continue. On his being denied the Confidence of the House a Dissolution would follow.
    By the way, I can see no reason why Corbyn would not 'try' after being invited.
    This is exactly why the FTPA is a piece of junk. He shouldn't be able to try given the number of Labour MPs.
    The unanswered question is what happens after the vote of confidence. In pre-FTPA times, the Government would resign and Parliament dissolved. Under the FTPA there is a two week window to form a government, will this in practice be similar to the post-2010 situation, where the PM and govt would stay in place until another party indicated they have enough support for the PM to go to the Palace and formally resign. If so then the vote of confidence happens, we all wait two weeks and Parliament is dissolved.

    It surely can't be that Mrs May is forced to resign, allowing Corbyn to be in charge for the six weeks of the election campaign, following which the Tories are returned again with a majority. That's not good for democracy.

    The concept of the FTPA was to protect the last Coalition govt, for which it served its purpose. it doesn't really work with a single party majority.
    No, because Corbyn would indicate to HM that he is unable to command a majority.
    So May resigns on the day after the vote of no confidence, asks HM to call Corbyn. Corbyn goes to the Palace and declines the job. Then what?
    HM direct rule!
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    tlg86tlg86 Posts: 25,190
    Sandpit said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Sandpit said:

    RobD said:

    justin124 said:

    justin124 said:

    theakes said:

    ScreamingEagles: Mrs May cannot call an election, The Parliament Act rules.

    .
    The Queen might invite Corbyn as LotO to try. However, even if she did, Corbyn might refuse on the grounds that he clearly could not command the confidence of the House. Alternatively, the Queen might not even ask him on the same basis. FWIW, I think she would, simply because it would keep her above politics for him to refuse / fail, even if that outcome were inevitable. However, if he did accept and put it to the Commons then yes, he would have to be appointed PM, even if only briefly.

    The better option if parliament were being unreasonably obstructionist would first be to put down a motion in the Commons for an early election and then to challenge Labour to vote against it.
    But if Corbyn accepted, his Government would surely have to exist before an Affirmative Confidence Vote could take place? The Commons could hardly vote for or against a Phantom Government! On that basis he would already be PM and would require the Affirmative vote to continue. On his being denied the Confidence of the House a Dissolution would follow.
    By the way, I can see no reason why Corbyn would not 'try' after being invited.
    This is exactly why the FTPA is a piece of junk. He shouldn't be able to try given the number of Labour MPs.
    The unanswered question is what happens after the vote of confidence. In pre-FTPA times, the Government would resign and Parliament dissolved. Under the FTPA there is a two week window to form a government, will this in practice be similar to the post-2010 situation, where the PM and govt would stay in place until another party indicated they have enough support for the PM to go to the Palace and formally resign. If so then the vote of confidence happens, we all wait two weeks and Parliament is dissolved.

    It surely can't be that Mrs May is forced to resign, allowing Corbyn to be in charge for the six weeks of the election campaign, following which the Tories are returned again with a majority. That's not good for democracy.

    The concept of the FTPA was to protect the last Coalition govt, for which it served its purpose. it doesn't really work with a single party majority.
    No, because Corbyn would indicate to HM that he is unable to command a majority.
    So May resigns on the day after the vote of no confidence, asks HM to call Corbyn. Corbyn goes to the Palace and declines the job. Then what?
    I'm sure Bercow would get involved somewhere along the road.
  • Options
    chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341
    edited November 2016
    The data tables from Natcen give some indication of the strength of feeling the public have concerning various Brexit Issues.

    The following is a list that they strongly support;

    65% - giving EU companies permission to trade freely here in return for UK companies having the same;
    48% - reintroducing customs checks at EU borders;
    47% - introducing visa requirements for EU citizens to match non-EU ones;
    45% - allow EU citizens to stay if they are already here;
    44% - barring NHS access to EU citizens;
    43% - capping numbers arriving from EU;
    36% - comply with EU regulations on industry;
    32% - bank passporting agreements allowing EU banks access here in return for UK banks having the same;
    31% - giving access to UK territorial waters in return for same;
    30% - abolishing working time directive;
    25% - hard border with Ireland
    24% - maintain mobile phone rules from EU

    The free trade question is phrased in terms of us giving them access if we have it, rather than the other way around. Quite curious.

    The study was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (who derive their funding from???)
  • Options
    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 39,045
    Off-topic:

    Elon Musk and SpaceX have sort-of announced plans to launch up to 4,400 satellites into low-earth orbit to give worldwide satellite Internet coverage. To be launched up to 50 on a rocket.

    The guy's rather ambitious. Though I think others have similar plans, so they're probably in a hurry.
  • Options
    NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,344
    Canvass update (usual disclaimers, just for entertainment/curiosity): not really very much happening at the moment compared with the 2015 election. Sample 97. People in my quiet WWC division don't seem to be following politics particularly closely, and the most common response is "I always vote X" (usually Lab in these streets). Some sign of keenness: 5 normally apathetic Lab voters agreed to fill out PV applications "to make sure we can vote next time".

    One couple ONLY wanted to discuss Brexit - they had opposing views, but neither cared in the least about County politics. It's a LibDem-held seat but LibDem support today was literally invisible, as was UKIP support (although the division voted Leave) - non-Lab voters were all Tory or "don't know".

  • Options
    Sandpit said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Sandpit said:

    RobD said:

    justin124 said:

    justin124 said:

    theakes said:

    ScreamingEagles: Mrs May cannot call an election, The Parliament Act rules.

    .
    The better option if parliament were being unreasonably obstructionist would first be to put down a motion in the Commons for an early election and then to challenge Labour to vote against it.
    But if Corbyn accepted, his Government would surely have to exist before an Affirmative Confidence Vote could take place? The Commons could hardly vote for or against a Phantom Government! On that basis he would already be PM and would require the Affirmative vote to continue. On his being denied the Confidence of the House a Dissolution would follow.
    By the way, I can see no reason why Corbyn would not 'try' after being invited.
    This is exactly why the FTPA is a piece of junk. He shouldn't be able to try given the number of Labour MPs.
    The unanswered question is what happens after the vote of confidence. In pre-FTPA times, the Government would resign and Parliament dissolved. Under the FTPA there is a two week window to form a government, will this in practice be similar to the post-2010 situation, where the PM and govt would stay in place until another party indicated they have enough support for the PM to go to the Palace and formally resign. If so then the vote of confidence happens, we all wait two weeks and Parliament is dissolved.

    It surely can't be that Mrs May is forced to resign, allowing Corbyn to be in charge for the six weeks of the election campaign, following which the Tories are returned again with a majority. That's not good for democracy.

    The concept of the FTPA was to protect the last Coalition govt, for which it served its purpose. it doesn't really work with a single party majority.
    No, because Corbyn would indicate to HM that he is unable to command a majority.
    So May resigns on the day after the vote of no confidence, asks HM to call Corbyn. Corbyn goes to the Palace and declines the job. Then what?

    Does HM call May back? What happens is Corbyn accepts then gets voted down, does he remain in charge for the duration of the campaign? Surely all this is written down somewhere and a few guys on a blog shouldn't really be discussing the process?
    Lawd, not something else that Cameron bungled. No wonder the Pound Shop Eden scuttled off at the earliest opportunity.
  • Options
    SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,907
    tlg86 said:

    Sandpit said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Sandpit said:

    RobD said:

    justin124 said:

    justin124 said:

    theakes said:

    ScreamingEagles: Mrs May cannot call an election, The Parliament Act rules.

    .

    The better option if parliament were being unreasonably obstructionist would first be to put down a motion in the Commons for an early election and then to challenge Labour to vote against it.
    But if Corbyn accepted, his Government would surely have to exist before an Affirmative Confidence Vote could take place? The Commons could hardly vote for or against a Phantom Government! On that basis he would already be PM and would require the Affirmative vote to continue. On his being denied the Confidence of the House a Dissolution would follow.
    By the way, I can see no reason why Corbyn would not 'try' after being invited.
    This is exactly why the FTPA is a piece of junk. He shouldn't be able to try given the number of Labour MPs.
    The unanswered question is what happens after the vote of confidence. In pre-FTPA times, the Government would resign and Parliament dissolved. Under the FTPA there is a two week window to form a government, will this in practice be similar to the post-2010 situation, where the PM and govt would stay in place until another party indicated they have enough support for the PM to go to the Palace and formally resign. If so then the vote of confidence happens, we all wait two weeks and Parliament is dissolved.

    It surely can't be that Mrs May is forced to resign, allowing Corbyn to be in charge for the six weeks of the election campaign, following which the Tories are returned again with a majority. That's not good for democracy.

    The concept of the FTPA was to protect the last Coalition govt, for which it served its purpose. it doesn't really work with a single party majority.
    No, because Corbyn would indicate to HM that he is unable to command a majority.
    So May resigns on the day after the vote of no confidence, asks HM to call Corbyn. Corbyn goes to the Palace and declines the job. Then what?
    I'm sure Bercow would get involved somewhere along the road.
    Yes, he's the sort of guy who will find a way to put himself in the middle of it all.

    But seriously, there's no way May will go down the route of engineering an election if she's not positive it can be done without letting Corbyn (or Bercow) through the door of Number 10.

    As was mentioned earlier, there's always the 2/3 of the HoC option, daring the Opposition to vote against an election.
  • Options
    jcesmond said:


    Lawd, not something else that Cameron bungled. No wonder the Pound Shop Eden scuttled off at the earliest opportunity.

    Yawn, no, he didn't bungle it, you are showing both arrogance and ignorance. Theresa May remains PM until a new PM is appointed. Nothing has changed in this respect.
  • Options
    chestnut said:

    The data tables from Natcen give some indication of the strength of feeling the public have concerning various Brexit Issues.

    The following is a list that they strongly support;

    65% - giving EU companies permission to trade freely here in return for UK companies having the same;
    48% - reintroducing customs checks at EU borders;
    47% - introducing visa requirements for EU citizens to match non-EU ones;
    45% - allow EU citizens to stay if they are already here;
    44% - barring NHS access to EU citizens;
    43% - capping numbers arriving from EU;
    36% - comply with EU regulations on industry;
    32% - bank passporting agreements allowing EU banks access here in return for UK banks having the same;
    31% - giving access to UK territorial waters in return for same;
    30% - abolishing working time directive;
    25% - hard border with Ireland
    24% - maintain mobile phone rules from EU

    The free trade question is phrased in terms of us giving them access if we have it, rather than the other way around. Quite curious.

    The study was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (who derive their funding from???)

    They are a government organisation, they get most their funding from the Government via the BIS Department.

    Why are you curious where they derive their funding from???
  • Options
    CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    edited November 2016
    Lost on previous thread. Friend had dinner last night with former NY Governor who knows Trump well (on other side of table from him multiple times).

    Said that his standard MO was to come in with a demand so outrageous as to knock you off balance & to anchor the negotiation.

    In his view the wall is just this: he has no intention of building it, but it is designed to force concessions from Mexico
  • Options
    rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 54,011
    chestnut said:

    The data tables from Natcen give some indication of the strength of feeling the public have concerning various Brexit Issues.

    The following is a list that they strongly support;

    65% - giving EU companies permission to trade freely here in return for UK companies having the same;
    48% - reintroducing customs checks at EU borders;
    47% - introducing visa requirements for EU citizens to match non-EU ones;
    45% - allow EU citizens to stay if they are already here;
    44% - barring NHS access to EU citizens;
    43% - capping numbers arriving from EU;
    36% - comply with EU regulations on industry;
    32% - bank passporting agreements allowing EU banks access here in return for UK banks having the same;
    31% - giving access to UK territorial waters in return for same;
    30% - abolishing working time directive;
    25% - hard border with Ireland
    24% - maintain mobile phone rules from EU

    The free trade question is phrased in terms of us giving them access if we have it, rather than the other way around. Quite curious.

    The study was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (who derive their funding from???)

    What are the nets on those? Without DKs it's hard to get a feel from those numbers.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,973

    jcesmond said:


    Lawd, not something else that Cameron bungled. No wonder the Pound Shop Eden scuttled off at the earliest opportunity.

    Yawn, no, he didn't bungle it, you are showing both arrogance and ignorance. Theresa May remains PM until a new PM is appointed. Nothing has changed in this respect.
    The question is, is he appointed before the vote of confidence?
  • Options
    SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,907

    Off-topic:

    Elon Musk and SpaceX have sort-of announced plans to launch up to 4,400 satellites into low-earth orbit to give worldwide satellite Internet coverage. To be launched up to 50 on a rocket.

    The guy's rather ambitious. Though I think others have similar plans, so they're probably in a hurry.

    There's some great innovation going on in aerospace right now, and the amazing thing is it's almost all being done with private money.

    Richard Branson's also helping a startup in the US with a small supersonic jet, aiming for the same price as business class between London and NY
    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/nov/15/richard-branson-supersonic-flight-virgin-boom

    Oh, and Dubai are gonna build a H*******p prototype, initially for freight ;)
    http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/transport/dubai-to-have-hyperloop-prototype-by-2020-1.1926075
  • Options
    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901
    Charles said:

    Lost on previous thread. Friend had dinner last night with former NY Governor who knows Trump well (on other side of table from him multiple times).

    Said that his standard MO was to come in with a demand so outrageous as to knock you off balance & to anchor the negotiation.

    In his view the wall is just this: he has no intention of building it, but it is designed to force concessions from Mexico

    Do he's an arsehole, not a fascist
  • Options
    rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 54,011
    chestnut said:

    The data tables from Natcen give some indication of the strength of feeling the public have concerning various Brexit Issues.

    The following is a list that they strongly support;

    65% - giving EU companies permission to trade freely here in return for UK companies having the same;
    48% - reintroducing customs checks at EU borders;
    47% - introducing visa requirements for EU citizens to match non-EU ones;
    45% - allow EU citizens to stay if they are already here;
    44% - barring NHS access to EU citizens;
    43% - capping numbers arriving from EU;
    36% - comply with EU regulations on industry;
    32% - bank passporting agreements allowing EU banks access here in return for UK banks having the same;
    31% - giving access to UK territorial waters in return for same;
    30% - abolishing working time directive;
    25% - hard border with Ireland
    24% - maintain mobile phone rules from EU

    The free trade question is phrased in terms of us giving them access if we have it, rather than the other way around. Quite curious.

    The study was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (who derive their funding from???)

    As an aside what - if any - percentage of funding is EU related? It's one thing if it's sub 5%, it's another if it's 50% or more.
  • Options
    MTimTMTimT Posts: 7,034
    edited November 2016
    Jonathan said:

    Charles said:

    Lost on previous thread. Friend had dinner last night with former NY Governor who knows Trump well (on other side of table from him multiple times).

    Said that his standard MO was to come in with a demand so outrageous as to knock you off balance & to anchor the negotiation.

    In his view the wall is just this: he has no intention of building it, but it is designed to force concessions from Mexico

    Do he's an arsehole, not a fascist
    Not necessarily even an arsehole.

    Read up about Boyd and the OODA loop. It is a military strategy for winning based on disorientating the enemy. As with any strategy, it can only be successful if the other side thinks you mean it and if you are impervious to criticisms of your tactics. The enemy has to believe utterly and totally that you are an arsehole*.

    * In the Trump version of the political rendering of the strategy.
  • Options
    Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,820
    edited November 2016
    RobD said:

    jcesmond said:


    Lawd, not something else that Cameron bungled. No wonder the Pound Shop Eden scuttled off at the earliest opportunity.

    Yawn, no, he didn't bungle it, you are showing both arrogance and ignorance. Theresa May remains PM until a new PM is appointed. Nothing has changed in this respect.
    The question is, is he appointed before the vote of confidence?
    Exactly as in the past, a new PM would be appointed when Her Majesty is advised that he or she commands a majority in the House. That could be before a formal vote of confidence, exactly as after a GE the new PM is (usually) appointed immediately. When it's not clear that anyone commands a majority (as was the case for a few days after the 2010 GE), the current PM remains in office until it becomes clear.
  • Options
    PAWPAW Posts: 1,074
    From Der Spiegal - "However, if conventional troops no longer provide the necessary clout, the nuclear option automatically comes to the fore". I do hope we don't offer a nuclear back stop for the EU. It would make us the one important nuclear target. Not for governments that have spent the last 6 months threatening us. If the USA takes its 75% of Nato home I can see us going back to the post war levels of military spending if we try.
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,973

    RobD said:

    jcesmond said:


    Lawd, not something else that Cameron bungled. No wonder the Pound Shop Eden scuttled off at the earliest opportunity.

    Yawn, no, he didn't bungle it, you are showing both arrogance and ignorance. Theresa May remains PM until a new PM is appointed. Nothing has changed in this respect.
    The question is, is he appointed before the vote of confidence?
    Exactly as in the past, a new PM would be appointed when Her Majesty is advised that he or she commands a majority in the House. That could be before a formal vote of confidence, exactly as after a GE the new PM is (usually) appointed immediately. When it's not clear (as was the case for a few days after the 2010 GE), the current PM remains in office.
    So the government would not resign after the first vote? Otherwise which government is the second vote referring to?
  • Options
    rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 54,011
    PAW said:

    From Der Spiegal - "However, if conventional troops no longer provide the necessary clout, the nuclear option automatically comes to the fore". I do hope we don't offer a nuclear back stop for the EU. It would make us the one important nuclear target. Not for governments that have spent the last 6 months threatening us. If the USA takes its 75% of Nato home I can see us going back to the post war levels of military spending if we try.

    France has nuclear weapons.
  • Options
    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901
    MTimT said:

    Jonathan said:

    Charles said:

    Lost on previous thread. Friend had dinner last night with former NY Governor who knows Trump well (on other side of table from him multiple times).

    Said that his standard MO was to come in with a demand so outrageous as to knock you off balance & to anchor the negotiation.

    In his view the wall is just this: he has no intention of building it, but it is designed to force concessions from Mexico

    Do he's an arsehole, not a fascist
    Not necessarily even an arsehole.

    Read up about Boyd and the OODA loop. It is a military strategy for winning based on disorientating the enemy. As with any strategy, it can only be successful if the other side thinks you mean it and if you are impervious to criticisms of your tactics. The enemy has to believe utterly and totally that you are an arsehole*.

    * In the Trump version of the political rendering of the strategy.
    If he's using military tactics like that in civilian election , he's a weapons grade arsehole.
  • Options
    chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341
    edited November 2016
    Natcen Data Tables

    http://whatukthinks.org/eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Analysis-paper-9-Appendix-What-do-voters-want-from-Brexit.pdf

    ESRC are the UK funders of the bi-annual European Social Study for our element of a Europe wide study.
  • Options
    rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 54,011
    Sandpit said:

    Off-topic:

    Elon Musk and SpaceX have sort-of announced plans to launch up to 4,400 satellites into low-earth orbit to give worldwide satellite Internet coverage. To be launched up to 50 on a rocket.

    The guy's rather ambitious. Though I think others have similar plans, so they're probably in a hurry.

    There's some great innovation going on in aerospace right now, and the amazing thing is it's almost all being done with private money.

    Richard Branson's also helping a startup in the US with a small supersonic jet, aiming for the same price as business class between London and NY
    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/nov/15/richard-branson-supersonic-flight-virgin-boom

    Oh, and Dubai are gonna build a H*******p prototype, initially for freight ;)
    http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/transport/dubai-to-have-hyperloop-prototype-by-2020-1.1926075
    They're only doing that to piss off JJ...
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,973
    rcs1000 said:

    PAW said:

    From Der Spiegal - "However, if conventional troops no longer provide the necessary clout, the nuclear option automatically comes to the fore". I do hope we don't offer a nuclear back stop for the EU. It would make us the one important nuclear target. Not for governments that have spent the last 6 months threatening us. If the USA takes its 75% of Nato home I can see us going back to the post war levels of military spending if we try.

    France has nuclear weapons.
    Force de Frape. Sounds like a type of coffee!
  • Options
    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,946
    justin124 said:

    RobD said:

    justin124 said:

    justin124 said:

    theakes said:

    ScreamingEagles: Mrs May cannot call an election, The Parliament Act rules.

    .
    Surely somebody would be invited to 'try' to form a Government which would then need an affirmative Confidence Vote in the Commons.Some argue that would be someone other than May - who had just lost a No Confidence Vote. Effectively a new Government would be formed awaiting affirmation by the Legislature. For an Affirmation Vote to take place there would have to be a Government in existence to vote for or against!
    Not necessarily, though it couldn't be ruled out. That would be the risk.

    Were May to lose a VoNC (deliberately), she could seek to stay on pending someone else being invited to form a government. That might work; it might not.

    The Queen might invite Corbyn as LotO to try. However, even if she did, Corbyn might refuse on the grounds that he clearly could not command the confidence of the House. Alternatively, the Queen might not even ask him on the same basis. FWIW, I think she would, simply because it would keep her above politics for him to refuse / fail, even if that outcome were inevitable. However, if he did accept and put it to the Commons then yes, he would have to be appointed PM, even if only briefly.

    The better option if parliament were being unreasonably obstructionist would first be to put down a motion in the Commons for an early election and then to challenge Labour to vote against it.
    But if Corbyn accepted, his Government would surely have to exist before an Affirmative Confidence Vote could take place? The Commons could hardly vote for or against a Phantom Government! On that basis he would already be PM and would require the Affirmative vote to continue. On his being denied the Confidence of the House a Dissolution would follow.
    By the way, I can see no reason why Corbyn would not 'try' after being invited.
    This is exactly why the FTPA is a piece of junk. He shouldn't be able to try given the number of Labour MPs.
    Ramsay Macdonald only had 191 MPs in Jan 1924. Campbell-Bannerman faced a Tory majority of 100 when appointed PM in December 1905.
    Wow. Didn't we used to joke about you referring to 1905.

    2016 - the year that jokes actually become used as constitutional evidence....

    Seriously Justin, there is no way in the real world that Corbyn becomes PM in your situation despite the FTPA. The civil service and palace officials wouldn't be bogged down in examples from 1905, they'd encourage a dissolution.
  • Options
    MTimTMTimT Posts: 7,034
    Jonathan said:

    MTimT said:

    Jonathan said:

    Charles said:

    Lost on previous thread. Friend had dinner last night with former NY Governor who knows Trump well (on other side of table from him multiple times).

    Said that his standard MO was to come in with a demand so outrageous as to knock you off balance & to anchor the negotiation.

    In his view the wall is just this: he has no intention of building it, but it is designed to force concessions from Mexico

    Do he's an arsehole, not a fascist
    Not necessarily even an arsehole.

    Read up about Boyd and the OODA loop. It is a military strategy for winning based on disorientating the enemy. As with any strategy, it can only be successful if the other side thinks you mean it and if you are impervious to criticisms of your tactics. The enemy has to believe utterly and totally that you are an arsehole*.

    * In the Trump version of the political rendering of the strategy.
    If he's using military tactics like that in civilian election , he's a weapons grade arsehole.
    It is a total war approach to politics, but given that POTUS is also CinC of the greatest military force in the history of the planet, it is hardly just a civilian election.
  • Options
    Charles said:

    Lost on previous thread. Friend had dinner last night with former NY Governor who knows Trump well (on other side of table from him multiple times).

    Said that his standard MO was to come in with a demand so outrageous as to knock you off balance & to anchor the negotiation.

    In his view the wall is just this: he has no intention of building it, but it is designed to force concessions from Mexico

    I'm sure those naive Hispanics won't have an inkling of this.
  • Options
    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 39,045
    Sandpit said:

    Off-topic:

    Elon Musk and SpaceX have sort-of announced plans to launch up to 4,400 satellites into low-earth orbit to give worldwide satellite Internet coverage. To be launched up to 50 on a rocket.

    The guy's rather ambitious. Though I think others have similar plans, so they're probably in a hurry.

    There's some great innovation going on in aerospace right now, and the amazing thing is it's almost all being done with private money.

    Richard Branson's also helping a startup in the US with a small supersonic jet, aiming for the same price as business class between London and NY
    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/nov/15/richard-branson-supersonic-flight-virgin-boom

    Oh, and Dubai are gonna build a H*******p prototype, initially for freight ;)
    http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/transport/dubai-to-have-hyperloop-prototype-by-2020-1.1926075
    Yes, it's a great time to be alive in tech.

    I could combine the Hyperloop story with the tram one we discussed earlier: as I've said before, in my view one of the biggest problems with Hyperloop will be safety. You might be able to get it to work most of the time, but how does it work when it fails? And have you thought of all failure mechanisms?

    The latter was why the supposedly-safe Maglev test track in Germany killed many people in a crash. The amount of energy that will need safely dissipating in Hyperloop from momentum alone will be immense.
  • Options
    justin124justin124 Posts: 11,527
    rcs1000 said:

    Sandpit said:

    RobD said:

    justin124 said:

    justin124 said:

    theakes said:

    ScreamingEagles: Mrs May cannot call an election, The Parliament Act rules.

    .
    Not necessarily, though it couldn't be ruled out. That would be the risk.

    Were May to lose a VoNC (deliberately), she could seek to stay on pending someone else being invited to form a government. That might work; it might not.



    The better option if parliament were being unreasonably obstructionist would first be to put down a motion in the Commons for an early election and then to challenge Labour to vote against it.
    But if Corbyn accepted, his Government would surely have to exist before an Affirmative Confidence Vote could take place? The Commons could hardly vote for or against a Phantom Government! On that basis he would already be PM and would require the Affirmative vote to continue. On his being denied the Confidence of the House a Dissolution would follow.
    By the way, I can see no reason why Corbyn would not 'try' after being invited.
    This is exactly why the FTPA is a piece of junk. He shouldn't be able to try given the number of Labour MPs.
    The unanswered question is what happens after the vote of confidence. In pre-FTPA times, the Government would resign and Parliament dissolved. Under the FTPA there is a two week window to form a government, will this in practice be similar to the post-2010 situation, where the PM and govt would stay in place until another party indicated they have enough support for the PM to go to the Palace and formally resign. If so then the vote of confidence happens, we all wait two weeks and Parliament is dissolved.

    It surely can't be that Mrs May is forced to resign, allowing Corbyn to be in charge for the six weeks of the election campaign, following which the Tories are returned again with a majority. That's not good for democracy.

    The concept of the FTPA was to protect the last Coalition govt, for which it served its purpose. it doesn't really work with a single party majority.
    No, because Corbyn would indicate to HM that he is unable to command a majority.
    Why would he do that? He could still 'try' - lose the Affirmative Confidence Vote - but remain PM throughout the ensuing election campaign period!
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    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 39,045
    Are the BBC playing the police for the police outriders that appear to be following their rickshaw challenge?
  • Options
    RobD said:

    So the government would not resign after the first vote? Otherwise which government is the second vote referring to?

    The government wouldn't resign until there's an alternative government ready to take its place. It's a fundamental principle of our unwritten constitution that Her Majesty must always have ministers.
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,080
    RobD said:

    rcs1000 said:

    PAW said:

    From Der Spiegal - "However, if conventional troops no longer provide the necessary clout, the nuclear option automatically comes to the fore". I do hope we don't offer a nuclear back stop for the EU. It would make us the one important nuclear target. Not for governments that have spent the last 6 months threatening us. If the USA takes its 75% of Nato home I can see us going back to the post war levels of military spending if we try.

    France has nuclear weapons.
    Force de Frape. Sounds like a type of coffee!
    That's the Force de Frappé. Very effective against Greeks.
  • Options
    Sandpit said:

    Off-topic:

    Elon Musk and SpaceX have sort-of announced plans to launch up to 4,400 satellites into low-earth orbit to give worldwide satellite Internet coverage. To be launched up to 50 on a rocket.

    The guy's rather ambitious. Though I think others have similar plans, so they're probably in a hurry.

    There's some great innovation going on in aerospace right now, and the amazing thing is it's almost all being done with private money.

    Richard Branson's also helping a startup in the US with a small supersonic jet, aiming for the same price as business class between London and NY
    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/nov/15/richard-branson-supersonic-flight-virgin-boom

    Oh, and Dubai are gonna build a H*******p prototype, initially for freight ;)
    http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/transport/dubai-to-have-hyperloop-prototype-by-2020-1.1926075
    Why is hyperloop censored?
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,973

    RobD said:

    So the government would not resign after the first vote? Otherwise which government is the second vote referring to?

    The government wouldn't resign until there's an alternative government ready to take its place. It's a fundamental principle of our unwritten constitution that Her Majesty must always have ministers.
    OK!
  • Options
    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901
    MTimT said:

    Jonathan said:

    MTimT said:

    Jonathan said:

    Charles said:

    Lost on previous thread. Friend had dinner last night with former NY Governor who knows Trump well (on other side of table from him multiple times).

    Said that his standard MO was to come in with a demand so outrageous as to knock you off balance & to anchor the negotiation.

    In his view the wall is just this: he has no intention of building it, but it is designed to force concessions from Mexico

    Do he's an arsehole, not a fascist
    Not necessarily even an arsehole.

    Read up about Boyd and the OODA loop. It is a military strategy for winning based on disorientating the enemy. As with any strategy, it can only be successful if the other side thinks you mean it and if you are impervious to criticisms of your tactics. The enemy has to believe utterly and totally that you are an arsehole*.

    * In the Trump version of the political rendering of the strategy.
    If he's using military tactics like that in civilian election , he's a weapons grade arsehole.
    It is a total war approach to politics, but given that POTUS is also CinC of the greatest military force in the history of the planet, it is hardly just a civilian election.
    Sounds like macho bullshit. Will he take responsibility for the collateral damage caused by his posturing?
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,973
    justin124 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Sandpit said:

    RobD said:

    justin124 said:

    justin124 said:

    theakes said:

    ScreamingEagles: Mrs May cannot call an election, The Parliament Act rules.

    .
    Not necessarily, though it couldn't be ruled out. That would be the risk.

    Were May to lose a VoNC (deliberately), she could seek to stay on pending someone else being invited to form a government. That might work; it might not.



    The better option if parliament were being unreasonably obstructionist would first be to put down a motion in the Commons for an early election and then to challenge Labour to vote against it.
    But if Corbyn accepted, his Government would surely have to exist before an Affirmative Confidence Vote could take place? The Commons could hardly vote for or against a Phantom Government! On that basis he would already be PM and would require the Affirmative vote to continue. On his being denied the Confidence of the House a Dissolution would follow.
    By the way, I can see no reason why Corbyn would not 'try' after being invited.
    This is exactly why the FTPA is a piece of junk. He shouldn't be able to try given the number of Labour MPs.
    The unanswered question is what happens after the vote of confidence. In pre-FTPA times, the Government would resign and Parliament dissolved. Under the FTPA there is a two week window to form a government, will this in practice be similar to the post-2010 situation, where the PM and govt would stay in place until another party indicated they have enough support for the PM to go to the Palace and formally resign. If so then the vote of confidence happens, we all wait two weeks and Parliament is dissolved.

    It surely can't be that Mrs May is forced to resign, allowing Corbyn to be in charge for the six weeks of the election campaign, following which the Tories are returned again with a majority. That's not good for democracy.

    The concept of the FTPA was to protect the last Coalition govt, for which it served its purpose. it doesn't really work with a single party majority.
    No, because Corbyn would indicate to HM that he is unable to command a majority.
    Why would he do that? He could still 'try' - lose the Affirmative Confidence Vote - but remain PM throughout the ensuing election campaign period!
    Could HM refuse if she/her advisors didn't think he could?
  • Options
    RobD said:

    justin124 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Sandpit said:

    RobD said:

    justin124 said:

    justin124 said:

    theakes said:

    ScreamingEagles: Mrs May cannot call an election, The Parliament Act rules.

    .
    Not necessarily, though it couldn't be ruled out. That would be the risk.

    Were May to lose a VoNC (deliberately), she could seek to stay on pending someone else being invited to form a government. That might work; it might not.



    The better option if parliament were being unreasonably obstructionist would first be to put down a motion in the Commons for an early election and then to challenge Labour to vote against it.
    But if Corbyn accepted, his Government would surely have to exist before an Affirmative Confidence Vote could take place? The Commons could hardly vote for or against a Phantom Government! On that basis he would already be PM and would require the Affirmative vote to continue. On his being denied the Confidence of the House a Dissolution would follow.
    By the way, I can see no reason why Corbyn would not 'try' after being invited.
    This is exactly why the FTPA is a piece of junk. He shouldn't be able to try given the number of Labour MPs.
    The unanswered question is what happens after the vote of confidence. In pre-FTPA times, the Government would resign and Parliament dissolved. Under the FTPA there is a two week window to form a government, will this in practice be similar to the post-2010 situation, where the PM and govt would stay in place until another party indicated they have enough support for the PM to go to the Palace and formally resign. If so then the vote of confidence happens, we all wait two weeks and Parliament is dissolved.

    It surely can't be that Mrs May is forced to resign, allowing Corbyn to be in charge for the six weeks of the election campaign, following which the Tories are returned again with a majority. That's not good for democracy.

    The concept of the FTPA was to protect the last Coalition govt, for which it served its purpose. it doesn't really work with a single party majority.
    No, because Corbyn would indicate to HM that he is unable to command a majority.
    Why would he do that? He could still 'try' - lose the Affirmative Confidence Vote - but remain PM throughout the ensuing election campaign period!
    Could HM refuse if she/her advisors didn't think he could?
    Yup, I wouldn't be the only one pointing recent events show Jeremy Corbyn does not command the confidence of a majority of Labour MPs, let alone the House of Commons.
  • Options
    MP_SEMP_SE Posts: 3,642
    Charles said:

    Lost on previous thread. Friend had dinner last night with former NY Governor who knows Trump well (on other side of table from him multiple times).

    Said that his standard MO was to come in with a demand so outrageous as to knock you off balance & to anchor the negotiation.

    In his view the wall is just this: he has no intention of building it, but it is designed to force concessions from Mexico

    The Art of the Deal should be essential reading for any world leader.
  • Options
    When I attended a seminar last year on the FTPA, someone made the observation that the FTPA was conceived in 2010 on the assumption we'd have minority governments for the next few Parliaments.

    Dave winning a majority threw a spanner into the works.
  • Options
    MTimTMTimT Posts: 7,034
    Jonathan said:

    MTimT said:

    Jonathan said:

    MTimT said:

    Jonathan said:

    Charles said:

    Lost on previous thread. Friend had dinner last night with former NY Governor who knows Trump well (on other side of table from him multiple times).

    Said that his standard MO was to come in with a demand so outrageous as to knock you off balance & to anchor the negotiation.

    In his view the wall is just this: he has no intention of building it, but it is designed to force concessions from Mexico

    Do he's an arsehole, not a fascist
    Not necessarily even an arsehole.

    Read up about Boyd and the OODA loop. It is a military strategy for winning based on disorientating the enemy. As with any strategy, it can only be successful if the other side thinks you mean it and if you are impervious to criticisms of your tactics. The enemy has to believe utterly and totally that you are an arsehole*.

    * In the Trump version of the political rendering of the strategy.
    If he's using military tactics like that in civilian election , he's a weapons grade arsehole.
    It is a total war approach to politics, but given that POTUS is also CinC of the greatest military force in the history of the planet, it is hardly just a civilian election.
    Sounds like macho bullshit. Will he take responsibility for the collateral damage caused by his posturing?
    I've no idea what he will take responsibility for and I am not even an apologist for him, let alone a fan. But there are clearly more than one possible view of him and more than one possible set of motivators/strategies behind his actions. Which possibility you discount entirely. I will leave you to your monochrome world.
  • Options
    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901

    RobD said:

    justin124 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Sandpit said:

    RobD said:

    justin124 said:

    justin124 said:

    theakes said:

    ScreamingEagles: Mrs May cannot call an election, The Parliament Act rules.

    .
    Not necessarily, though it couldn't be ruled out. That would be the risk.

    Were May to lose a VoNC (deliberately), she could seek to stay on pending someone else being invited to form a government. That might work; it might not.



    The better option if parliament were being unreasonably obstructionist would first be to put down a motion in the Commons for an early election and then to challenge Labour to vote against it.
    But if Corbyn accepted, his Government would surely have to exist before an Affirmative Confidence Vote could take place? The Commons could hardly vote for or against a Phantom Government! On that basis he would already be PM and would require the Affirmative vote to continue. On his being denied the Confidence of the House a Dissolution would follow.
    By the way, I can see no reason why Corbyn would not 'try' after being invited.
    This is exactly why the FTPA is a piece of junk. He shouldn't be able to try given the number of Labour MPs.
    The unanswered question is what happens after thender the FTPA there is a two week window to form a government, will this in practice be similar to the post-2010 situation, where the PM and govt would stay in place until another party indic

    It surely can't be that Mrs May is forced to resign, allowing Corbyn to be in charge for the six weeks of the election campaign, following which the Tories are returned again with a majority. That's not good for democracy.

    The concept of the FTPA was to protect the last Coalition govt, for which it served its purpose. it doesn't really work with a single party majority.
    No, because Corbyn would indicate to HM that he is unable to command a majority.
    Why would he do that? He could still 'try' - lose the Affirmative Confidence Vote - but remain PM throughout the ensuing election campaign period!
    Could HM refuse if she/her advisors didn't think he could?
    Yup, I wouldn't be the only one pointing recent events show Jeremy Corbyn does not command the confidence of a majority of Labour MPs, let alone the House of Commons.
    The PM recommends to Hm who to invite to form a government. For Corbyn to become Pm May would have to say that he could command a majority. She wouldn't if he couldn't.
  • Options
    SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,907

    Sandpit said:

    Off-topic:

    Elon Musk and SpaceX have sort-of announced plans to launch up to 4,400 satellites into low-earth orbit to give worldwide satellite Internet coverage. To be launched up to 50 on a rocket.

    The guy's rather ambitious. Though I think others have similar plans, so they're probably in a hurry.

    There's some great innovation going on in aerospace right now, and the amazing thing is it's almost all being done with private money.

    Richard Branson's also helping a startup in the US with a small supersonic jet, aiming for the same price as business class between London and NY
    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/nov/15/richard-branson-supersonic-flight-virgin-boom

    Oh, and Dubai are gonna build a H*******p prototype, initially for freight ;)
    http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/transport/dubai-to-have-hyperloop-prototype-by-2020-1.1926075
    Yes, it's a great time to be alive in tech.

    I could combine the Hyperloop story with the tram one we discussed earlier: as I've said before, in my view one of the biggest problems with Hyperloop will be safety. You might be able to get it to work most of the time, but how does it work when it fails? And have you thought of all failure mechanisms?

    The latter was why the supposedly-safe Maglev test track in Germany killed many people in a crash. The amount of energy that will need safely dissipating in Hyperloop from momentum alone will be immense.
    For all that I've been a fan of the Hyperloop technology, the idea of doing a freight version first is a sensible one. There would as you say be a huge amount of energy involved in a accident, if it were full of people there wouldn't be much left to put in the coffins either.

    Mythbusters showed what an 800mph impact does, and it's really not good.
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dWXyr4Y0aP0
  • Options
    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901
    MTimT said:

    Jonathan said:

    MTimT said:

    Jonathan said:

    MTimT said:

    Jonathan said:

    Charles said:

    Lost on previous thread. Friend had dinner last night with former NY Governor who knows Trump well (on other side of table from him multiple times).

    Said that his standard MO was to come in with a demand so outrageous as to knock you off balance & to anchor the negotiation.

    In his view the wall is just this: he has no intention of building it, but it is designed to force concessions from Mexico

    Do he's an arsehole, not a fascist
    Not necessarily even an arsehole.

    Read up about Boyd and the OODA loop. It is a military strategy for winning based on disorientating the enemy. As with any strategy, it can only be successful if the other side thinks you mean it and if you are impervious to criticisms of your tactics. The enemy has to believe utterly and totally that you are an arsehole*.

    * In the Trump version of the political rendering of the strategy.
    If he's using military tactics like that in civilian election , he's a weapons grade arsehole.
    It is a total war approach to politics, but given that POTUS is also CinC of the greatest military force in the history of the planet, it is hardly just a civilian election.
    Sounds like macho bullshit. Will he take responsibility for the collateral damage caused by his posturing?
    I've no idea what he will take responsibility for and I am not even an apologist for him, let alone a fan. But there are clearly more than one possible view of him and more than one possible set of motivators/strategies behind his actions. Which possibility you discount entirely. I will leave you to your monochrome world.
    My world aspires to monochrome. Far too dark these days. Perfectly willing to believe that's his motivation, just saddened that he could be so cynical. Mad is almost better than cynical.
  • Options
    nunununu Posts: 6,024
    MaxPB said:

    Pulpstar said:

    MaxPB said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Obama vs Trump would have been interesting.

    I think Obama would have won in 2012, just.

    Obama 2008 and Trump 2016 elections.

    Obama's favourables are excellent, and he would have carried NC and FL.
    PA, MI and WI as well.
    Ohio to Trump,

    Iowa would have been interesting - Obama won it "despite" the demographics there.
    He campaigned in Iowa a lot in 2008, his personal voter contact levels were huge.
    He understood the difference between losing a red county by 20% and 50%, looks like Hillary thought it would be enough to just win big in the city and immediate suburbs and just really ignore the rest. He must be pretty pissed with her now.
  • Options
    SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,907

    Sandpit said:

    Off-topic:

    Elon Musk and SpaceX have sort-of announced plans to launch up to 4,400 satellites into low-earth orbit to give worldwide satellite Internet coverage. To be launched up to 50 on a rocket.

    The guy's rather ambitious. Though I think others have similar plans, so they're probably in a hurry.

    There's some great innovation going on in aerospace right now, and the amazing thing is it's almost all being done with private money.

    Richard Branson's also helping a startup in the US with a small supersonic jet, aiming for the same price as business class between London and NY
    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/nov/15/richard-branson-supersonic-flight-virgin-boom

    Oh, and Dubai are gonna build a H*******p prototype, initially for freight ;)
    http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/transport/dubai-to-have-hyperloop-prototype-by-2020-1.1926075
    Why is hyperloop censored?
    It's a bit of an in-joke between Mr Jessop and I. I've always been supportive of it and he dismissive - and now my home town is going to build one - for freight initially, which is actually the sensible middle way that makes us both happy!
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,973
    Err.. Trump, of course. :)
  • Options
    MTimT said:

    Jonathan said:

    MTimT said:

    Jonathan said:

    Charles said:

    Lost on previous thread. Friend had dinner last night with former NY Governor who knows Trump well (on other side of table from him multiple times).

    Said that his standard MO was to come in with a demand so outrageous as to knock you off balance & to anchor the negotiation.

    In his view the wall is just this: he has no intention of building it, but it is designed to force concessions from Mexico

    Do he's an arsehole, not a fascist
    Not necessarily even an arsehole.

    Read up about Boyd and the OODA loop. It is a military strategy for winning based on disorientating the enemy. As with any strategy, it can only be successful if the other side thinks you mean it and if you are impervious to criticisms of your tactics. The enemy has to believe utterly and totally that you are an arsehole*.

    * In the Trump version of the political rendering of the strategy.
    If he's using military tactics like that in civilian election , he's a weapons grade arsehole.
    It is a total war approach to politics, but given that POTUS is also CinC of the greatest military force in the history of the planet, it is hardly just a civilian election.
    I've seen that tactic used in Freddy Forsythe novels.
  • Options
    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901

    MTimT said:

    Jonathan said:

    MTimT said:

    Jonathan said:

    Charles said:

    Lost on previous thread. Friend had dinner last night with former NY Governor who knows Trump well (on other side of table from him multiple times).

    Said that his standard MO was to come in with a demand so outrageous as to knock you off balance & to anchor the negotiation.

    In his view the wall is just this: he has no intention of building it, but it is designed to force concessions from Mexico

    Do he's an arsehole, not a fascist
    Not necessarily even an arsehole.

    Read up about Boyd and the OODA loop. It is a military strategy for winning based on disorientating the enemy. As with any strategy, it can only be successful if the other side thinks you mean it and if you are impervious to criticisms of your tactics. The enemy has to believe utterly and totally that you are an arsehole*.

    * In the Trump version of the political rendering of the strategy.
    If he's using military tactics like that in civilian election , he's a weapons grade arsehole.
    It is a total war approach to politics, but given that POTUS is also CinC of the greatest military force in the history of the planet, it is hardly just a civilian election.
    I've seen that tactic used in Freddy Forsythe novels.
    He'll be eating cordite and hiding a rifle in crutches next.
  • Options
    Sandpit said:

    Sandpit said:

    Off-topic:

    Elon Musk and SpaceX have sort-of announced plans to launch up to 4,400 satellites into low-earth orbit to give worldwide satellite Internet coverage. To be launched up to 50 on a rocket.

    The guy's rather ambitious. Though I think others have similar plans, so they're probably in a hurry.

    There's some great innovation going on in aerospace right now, and the amazing thing is it's almost all being done with private money.

    Richard Branson's also helping a startup in the US with a small supersonic jet, aiming for the same price as business class between London and NY
    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/nov/15/richard-branson-supersonic-flight-virgin-boom

    Oh, and Dubai are gonna build a H*******p prototype, initially for freight ;)
    http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/transport/dubai-to-have-hyperloop-prototype-by-2020-1.1926075
    Why is hyperloop censored?
    It's a bit of an in-joke between Mr Jessop and I. I've always been supportive of it and he dismissive - and now my home town is going to build one - for freight initially, which is actually the sensible middle way that makes us both happy!
    Begin Grammar Nazi mode:

    "Between Mr Jessop and ME"

    End Grammar Nazi mode
  • Options
    SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,907

    Sandpit said:

    Sandpit said:

    Off-topic:

    Elon Musk and SpaceX have sort-of announced plans to launch up to 4,400 satellites into low-earth orbit to give worldwide satellite Internet coverage. To be launched up to 50 on a rocket.

    The guy's rather ambitious. Though I think others have similar plans, so they're probably in a hurry.

    There's some great innovation going on in aerospace right now, and the amazing thing is it's almost all being done with private money.

    Richard Branson's also helping a startup in the US with a small supersonic jet, aiming for the same price as business class between London and NY
    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/nov/15/richard-branson-supersonic-flight-virgin-boom

    Oh, and Dubai are gonna build a H*******p prototype, initially for freight ;)
    http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/transport/dubai-to-have-hyperloop-prototype-by-2020-1.1926075
    Why is hyperloop censored?
    It's a bit of an in-joke between Mr Jessop and I. I've always been supportive of it and he dismissive - and now my home town is going to build one - for freight initially, which is actually the sensible middle way that makes us both happy!
    Begin Grammar Nazi mode:

    "Between Mr Jessop and ME"

    End Grammar Nazi mode
    Happy Birthday!
  • Options
    Merkel. As. Their. Mutti. Jesus God.
  • Options
    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 35,850
    nunu said:

    MaxPB said:

    Pulpstar said:

    MaxPB said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Obama vs Trump would have been interesting.

    I think Obama would have won in 2012, just.

    Obama 2008 and Trump 2016 elections.

    Obama's favourables are excellent, and he would have carried NC and FL.
    PA, MI and WI as well.
    Ohio to Trump,

    Iowa would have been interesting - Obama won it "despite" the demographics there.
    He campaigned in Iowa a lot in 2008, his personal voter contact levels were huge.
    He understood the difference between losing a red county by 20% and 50%, looks like Hillary thought it would be enough to just win big in the city and immediate suburbs and just really ignore the rest. He must be pretty pissed with her now.
    Obama is a likeable man, and people enjoy meeting him, even those who disagree with him. I'm told that in private, Hilary can be good company, but she just wasn't interested in working those far-flung counties.
  • Options
    MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 37,609

    Merkel. As. Their. Mutti. Jesus God.
    Stalin as Uncle Joe.
  • Options
    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    MaxPB said:

    Stalin as Uncle Joe.

    Boris as their crazy Uncle Boris.

    oh, wait...
  • Options
    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901
    Scott_P said:

    MaxPB said:

    Stalin as Uncle Joe.

    Boris as their crazy Uncle Boris.

    oh, wait...
    Farage as a sleazy hanger on that looks suspiciously like the offspring.
  • Options
    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,930
    Evening all, anyone seen Daddy about on twitter ?
  • Options
    MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 44,451

    MTimT said:

    Jonathan said:

    MTimT said:

    Jonathan said:

    Charles said:

    Lost on previous thread. Friend had dinner last night with former NY Governor who knows Trump well (on other side of table from him multiple times).

    Said that his standard MO was to come in with a demand so outrageous as to knock you off balance & to anchor the negotiation.

    In his view the wall is just this: he has no intention of building it, but it is designed to force concessions from Mexico

    Do he's an arsehole, not a fascist
    Not necessarily even an arsehole.

    Read up about Boyd and the OODA loop. It is a military strategy for winning based on disorientating the enemy. As with any strategy, it can only be successful if the other side thinks you mean it and if you are impervious to criticisms of your tactics. The enemy has to believe utterly and totally that you are an arsehole*.

    * In the Trump version of the political rendering of the strategy.
    If he's using military tactics like that in civilian election , he's a weapons grade arsehole.
    It is a total war approach to politics, but given that POTUS is also CinC of the greatest military force in the history of the planet, it is hardly just a civilian election.
    I've seen that tactic used in Freddy Forsythe novels.
    The outrageous demand followed by a reasonable one is *not* using OODA. And it is quite often done in politics. Leak a 20p per whatsit tax rise and then everyone thinks that 2p is so so reasonable...

    OODA is about making decisions faster than the opposition. An example in politics was the Damien Green afafir. Damien Green had a source inside the Home Office who was telling him what the next excuse the spin doctors would come up with plus what was really happening. So Green briefed the lobby journalists on the story, the government attempt to spin it and the rebuttal of the spin before the spin doctors had even had a go. So they would rattle off the spin to the press and wlak straight into a barrage of questions... and by then Green would be telling journalists the rebuttal to the next spin lines....

    The whole thing upset the spin machine that the Cabinet Secretary came up with the novel argument that being defeated at spinning was a threat to organised government and got Green arrested...

    Interestingly a certain MP who posts here claimed that he was entirely in favour of arresting MPs who received leaks. When it was pointed out to him that a certain Gordon Brown publicly boasted of his sources inside the government (when in opposition), he retreated to the position that he had been out of the country alot and had had no idea that leaking to MPs was a part of public life....
  • Options
    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 35,850
    Actually, it's God Emperor Daddy, to the true believers.

    That makes Trump a kind of giant earthworm.
  • Options
    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 35,850
    Jonathan said:

    Scott_P said:

    MaxPB said:

    Stalin as Uncle Joe.

    Boris as their crazy Uncle Boris.

    oh, wait...
    Farage as a sleazy hanger on that looks suspiciously like the offspring.
    Farage is one of the sand trout.
  • Options
    williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 48,080
    Pulpstar said:

    Evening all, anyone seen Daddy about on twitter ?

    Last seen settling scores with the dishonest New York Times.
  • Options
    chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341
    Looks like Nicola has some work to do:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-38004836

    Scotland worst place in UK for homophobia.
  • Options

    MTimT said:

    Jonathan said:

    MTimT said:

    Jonathan said:

    Charles said:

    Lost on previous thread. Friend had dinner last night with former NY Governor who knows Trump well (on other side of table from him multiple times).

    Said that his standard MO was to come in with a demand so outrageous as to knock you off balance & to anchor the negotiation.

    In his view the wall is just this: he has no intention of building it, but it is designed to force concessions from Mexico

    Do he's an arsehole, not a fascist
    Not necessarily even an arsehole.

    Read up about Boyd and the OODA loop. It is a military strategy for winning based on disorientating the enemy. As with any strategy, it can only be successful if the other side thinks you mean it and if you are impervious to criticisms of your tactics. The enemy has to believe utterly and totally that you are an arsehole*.

    * In the Trump version of the political rendering of the strategy.
    If he's using military tactics like that in civilian election , he's a weapons grade arsehole.
    It is a total war approach to politics, but given that POTUS is also CinC of the greatest military force in the history of the planet, it is hardly just a civilian election.
    I've seen that tactic used in Freddy Forsythe novels.
    The outrageous demand followed by a reasonable one is *not* using OODA. And it is quite often done in politics. Leak a 20p per whatsit tax rise and then everyone thinks that 2p is so so reasonable...

    OODA is about making decisions faster than the opposition. An example in politics was the Damien Green afafir. Damien Green had a source inside the Home Office who was telling him what the next excuse the spin doctors would come up with plus what was really happening. So Green briefed the lobby journalists on the story, the government attempt to spin it and the rebuttal of the spin before the spin doctors had even had a go. So they would rattle off the spin to the press and wlak straight into a barrage of questions... and by then Green would be telling journalists the rebuttal to the next spin lines....
    There's a great chapter on OODA and Trump in Tim Harford's latest book 'Messy'. To be honest, there's nothing that Trump is doing / has done that can't be found in 'The Art of War' but then politicians have probably stopped reading just like most other people in society. People should read more (good) fiction - it trains you to spot archetypal patterns and narratives as they evolve...
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