Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short of never meeting him I'm not sure how it could be avoided.
Do you think that she will want to be pictorially hand in hand with Donald Trump forever?
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This started with me noting that she was almost certain to regret this picture. I'm glad we agree.
This is a very minor example of the malign consequences of Brexit. If Britain was not in such a strategically awful position, Theresa May would not have had to rush to touch the toxicity.
Strategically awful is the new way of saying 'the vote went against what I wanted'?
No.
Do you think that Theresa May wants to snuggle up to Donald Trump? But because of Brexit, she doesn't have any option.
Do you dislike the idea of our PM meeting with those who actually control the West, rather than those who can't control unemployment in Southern Europe?
Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short of never meeting him I'm not sure how it could be avoided.
Do you think that she will want to be pictorially hand in hand with Donald Trump forever?
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This started with me noting that she was almost certain to regret this picture. I'm glad we agree.
This is a very minor example of the malign consequences of Brexit. If Britain was not in such a strategically awful position, Theresa May would not have had to rush to touch the toxicity.
Brexit helped produce Trump, both are part of the same forces. Trump will signal a move by the U.S. away from Germany towards the UK after the Obama years, which were in turn a reverse of the Bush Jnr tilt towards the UK and as the Bush Snr era signalled a tilt towards Germany after the Reagan years.
@Ed_Miliband: No advance on trade deal, words about NATO from May.What exactly did UK get out of that apart from looking like Trump endorser or apologist?
Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short of never meeting him I'm not sure how it could be avoided.
Do you think that she will want to be pictorially hand in hand with Donald Trump forever?
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This started with me noting that she was almost certain to regret this picture. I'm glad we agree.
This is a very minor example of the malign consequences of Brexit. If Britain was not in such a strategically awful position, Theresa May would not have had to rush to touch the toxicity.
Strategically awful is the new way of saying 'the vote went against what I wanted'?
No.
Do you think that Theresa May wants to snuggle up to Donald Trump? But because of Brexit, she doesn't have any option.
Do you dislike the idea of our PM meeting with those who actually control the West, rather than those who can't control unemployment in Southern Europe?
The USA is no longer necessarily an ally, for the first time in our lifetimes. Donald Trump has given no sign that he is in the slightest bit trustworthy. But now we must trust him, because we have no choice.
@Ed_Miliband: No advance on trade deal, words about NATO from May.What exactly did UK get out of that apart from looking like Trump endorser or apologist?
Things that are discussed behind closed doors, perhaps?
@Ed_Miliband: No advance on trade deal, words about NATO from May.What exactly did UK get out of that apart from looking like Trump endorser or apologist?
The 2015 Scott_P is currently crying somewhere on the sight of his 2017 counterpart quoting Ed Miliband.
Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short of never meeting him I'm not sure how it could be avoided.
Do you think that she will want to be pictorially hand in hand with Donald Trump forever?
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This started with me noting that she was almost certain to regret this picture. I'm glad we agree.
This is a very minor example of the malign consequences of Brexit. If Britain was not in such a strategically awful position, Theresa May would not have had to rush to touch the toxicity.
Strategically awful is the new way of saying 'the vote went against what I wanted'?
No.
Do you think that Theresa May wants to snuggle up to Donald Trump? But because of Brexit, she doesn't have any option.
Do you dislike the idea of our PM meeting with those who actually control the West, rather than those who can't control unemployment in Southern Europe?
The USA is no longer necessarily an ally, for the first time in our lifetimes. Donald Trump has given no sign that he is in the slightest bit trustworthy. But now we must trust him, because we have no choice.
I think that's a bit strong Alastair.
May is playing him as well. And no bluff can be called until after we formally leave the EU, because we cannot formally agree anything on trade until then.
@Ed_Miliband: No advance on trade deal, words about NATO from May.What exactly did UK get out of that apart from looking like Trump endorser or apologist?
When Scott is quoting Ed Miliband approvingly the apocalypse cannot be far away.
@Ed_Miliband: No advance on trade deal, words about NATO from May.What exactly did UK get out of that apart from looking like Trump endorser or apologist?
Things that are discussed behind closed doors, perhaps?
Behind closed doors butter no parsnips for the virtue signaller's virtue signaller.
@Ed_Miliband: No advance on trade deal, words about NATO from May.What exactly did UK get out of that apart from looking like Trump endorser or apologist?
May got him to say he's 100% committed to NATO. And to equivocate on torture. Plus warned him about Russia and Putin.
My 2 cents. tM did well. Trump didn't say anything embarrassing but 4 questions is not really a press conference. The formalities were formalised! Nothing was said about the fabled trade deal and anything which was said will be soon forgotten. The photo won't though....could be the bacon sandwich moment.
@Ed_Miliband: No advance on trade deal, words about NATO from May.What exactly did UK get out of that apart from looking like Trump endorser or apologist?
Can't have it both ways. We can't sign up to a trade deal until we slip from the loving embrace of our darling European allies and partners. Even Trump, Godlike being that he is, can't knock up an FTA over a working lunch.
As ever, Milliband is wanking impotently from the sidelines. Nice to see he's keeping his hand in.
Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short of never meeting him I'm not sure how it could be avoided.
Do you think that she will want to be pictorially hand in hand with Donald Trump forever?
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This started with me noting that she was almost certain to regret this picture. I'm glad we agree.
This is a very minor example of the malign consequences of Brexit. If Britain was not in such a strategically awful position, Theresa May would not have had to rush to touch the toxicity.
Delusional. You know as well as I do that since ww1 at the latest our relationship with the USA has been that when they say jump we say "how high?" and that every pm in living memory has been obliged to do the invariably embarrassing special relationship tango with potus. T May had to go to the USA because she was summoned. Do you believe that absent the Brexit vote Cameron would have been one iota less prompt in accepting trump's summons than May has been? Of course you don't. Try to get it into your head that trump's importance is now defined by his role as potus, not by his funny hair and pussy grabbing antics, and that to say that he is important by virtue of being potus is not a coy way of disguising an infatuation with his admittedly revolting appearance and ethics.
Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short of never meeting him I'm not sure how it could be avoided.
Do you think that she will want to be pictorially hand in hand with Donald Trump forever?
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This started with me noting that she was almost certain to regret this picture. I'm glad we agree.
This is a very minor example of the malign consequences of Brexit. If Britain was not in such a strategically awful position, Theresa May would not have had to rush to touch the toxicity.
Strategically awful is the new way of saying 'the vote went against what I wanted'?
No.
Do you think that Theresa May wants to snuggle up to Donald Trump? But because of Brexit, she doesn't have any option.
Do you dislike the idea of our PM meeting with those who actually control the West, rather than those who can't control unemployment in Southern Europe?
The USA is no longer necessarily an ally, for the first time in our lifetimes. Donald Trump has given no sign that he is in the slightest bit trustworthy. But now we must trust him, because we have no choice.
For the first time, America should not be our ally.
A bargepole is not long enough for the distance we should keep.
I think Trump is an awful man and would not have voted for him in a million years. But anyone who thinks that Britain has any alternative but to maintain a close alliance with the US is a fucking lunatic - and there are clearly plenty of those on here this evening though they are mostly the normal bunch.
Brexit has absolutely nothing to do with it. The US remains our closest ally - even in our worst slumps in that relationship it has always been a million times more important than any relationship we have with any EU country.
There should be no embarrassment in this just as there was no cause for embarrassment over the relationship between Thatcher and Reagan - which incidently resulted in one of the greatest and most positive seismic shifts in geopolitics of the 20th century. And that in spite of the left pouring scorn on both of them for almost a decade.
Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short of never meeting him I'm not sure how it could be avoided.
Do you think that she will want to be pictorially hand in hand with Donald Trump forever?
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This started with me noting that she was almost certain to regret this picture. I'm glad we agree.
This is a very minor example of the malign consequences of Brexit. If Britain was not in such a strategically awful position, Theresa May would not have had to rush to touch the toxicity.
Strategically awful is the new way of saying 'the vote went against what I wanted'?
No.
Do you think that Theresa May wants to snuggle up to Donald Trump? But because of Brexit, she doesn't have any option.
Do you dislike the idea of our PM meeting with those who actually control the West, rather than those who can't control unemployment in Southern Europe?
The USA is no longer necessarily an ally, for the first time in our lifetimes. Donald Trump has given no sign that he is in the slightest bit trustworthy. But now we must trust him, because we have no choice.
For the first time, America should not be our ally.
A bargepole is not long enough for the distance we should keep.
Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short of never meeting him I'm not sure how it could be avoided.
Do you think that she will want to be pictorially hand in hand with Donald Trump forever?
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This started with me noting that she was almost certain to regret this picture. I'm glad we agree.
This is a very minor example of the malign consequences of Brexit. If Britain was not in such a strategically awful position, Theresa May would not have had to rush to touch the toxicity.
Strategically awful is the new way of saying 'the vote went against what I wanted'?
Especially when you are such a bad loser as Meeks.
Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short of never meeting him I'm not sure how it could be avoided.
Do you think that she will want to be pictorially hand in hand with Donald Trump forever?
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This started with me noting that she was almost certain to regret this picture. I'm glad we agree.
This is a very minor example of the malign consequences of Brexit. If Britain was not in such a strategically awful position, Theresa May would not have had to rush to touch the toxicity.
Strategically awful is the new way of saying 'the vote went against what I wanted'?
No.
Do you think that Theresa May wants to snuggle up to Donald Trump? But because of Brexit, she doesn't have any option.
Do you dislike the idea of our PM meeting with those who actually control the West, rather than those who can't control unemployment in Southern Europe?
The USA is no longer necessarily an ally, for the first time in our lifetimes. Donald Trump has given no sign that he is in the slightest bit trustworthy. But now we must trust him, because we have no choice.
For the first time, America should not be our ally.
A bargepole is not long enough for the distance we should keep.
That's an utterly ludicrous position. Why would you want to do that rather than seek to influence, warn and act as a bridge for engagement to the rest of the West?
Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short of never meeting him I'm not sure how it could be avoided.
Do you think that she will want to be pictorially hand in hand with Donald Trump forever?
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This started with me noting that she was almost certain to regret this picture. I'm glad we agree.
This is a very minor example of the malign consequences of Brexit. If Britain was not in such a strategically awful position, Theresa May would not have had to rush to touch the toxicity.
Strategically awful is the new way of saying 'the vote went against what I wanted'?
No.
Do you think that Theresa May wants to snuggle up to Donald Trump? But because of Brexit, she doesn't have any option.
Do you dislike the idea of our PM meeting with those who actually control the West, rather than those who can't control unemployment in Southern Europe?
The USA is no longer necessarily an ally, for the first time in our lifetimes. Donald Trump has given no sign that he is in the slightest bit trustworthy. But now we must trust him, because we have no choice.
For the first time, America should not be our ally.
A bargepole is not long enough for the distance we should keep.
That's an utterly ludicrous position. Why would you want to do that rather than seek to influence, warn and act as a bridge for engagement to the rest of the West?
Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short of never meeting him I'm not sure how it could be avoided.
Do you think that she will want to be pictorially hand in hand with Donald Trump forever?
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This started with me noting that she was almost certain to regret this picture. I'm glad we agree.
This is a very minor example of the malign consequences of Brexit. If Britain was not in such a strategically awful position, Theresa May would not have had to rush to touch the toxicity.
Strategically awful is the new way of saying 'the vote went against what I wanted'?
No.
Do you think that Theresa May wants to snuggle up to Donald Trump? But because of Brexit, she doesn't have any option.
Do you dislike the idea of our PM meeting with those who actually control the West, rather than those who can't control unemployment in Southern Europe?
The USA is no longer necessarily an ally, for the first time in our lifetimes. Donald Trump has given no sign that he is in the slightest bit trustworthy. But now we must trust him, because we have no choice.
For the first time, America should not be our ally.
A bargepole is not long enough for the distance we should keep.
We all have our views on Trump, and I think they're all mostly negative. The important person in his administration is Mattis, or at least, it's Mattis with regard to NATO.
I don't give two hoots what Trump thinks about NATO, he's got the attention span of a gnat, the memory of a goldfish combined with the vanity and pugilism of a Siamese fighting fish.
If we've got any sense (and when it comes to this stuff, we do), we'll be hugging Mattis hard, and simply watching Trump lambast the Krauts over their NATO contributions.
In the meantime, we can try and stand NATO up as an actual fighting force (as anyone who's read the reports on the US deployment into Poland & UK test of the Chunnel will know, there's a lot of really basic shit to nail down).
*edit* For example, the Yanks don't have decent maps of the tank-capable roads & bridges in Poland. Yes, that basic.
Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short of never meeting him I'm not sure how it could be avoided.
Do you think that she will want to be pictorially hand in hand with Donald Trump forever?
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This started with me noting that she was almost certain to regret this picture. I'm glad we agree.
This is a very minor example of the malign consequences of Brexit. If Britain was not in such a strategically awful position, Theresa May would not have had to rush to touch the toxicity.
Strategically awful is the new way of saying 'the vote went against what I wanted'?
No.
Do you think that Theresa May wants to snuggle up to Donald Trump? But because of Brexit, she doesn't have any option.
Do you dislike the idea of our PM meeting with those who actually control the West, rather than those who can't control unemployment in Southern Europe?
The USA is no longer necessarily an ally, for the first time in our lifetimes. Donald Trump has given no sign that he is in the slightest bit trustworthy. But now we must trust him, because we have no choice.
For the first time, America should not be our ally.
A bargepole is not long enough for the distance we should keep.
That's an utterly ludicrous position. Why would you want to do that rather than seek to influence, warn and act as a bridge for engagement to the rest of the West?
I'm glad you're not in charge.
Britain burned that bridge with Brexit.
The only bridge being burned is that between Remainistan and the real world...
Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short of never meeting him I'm not sure how it could be avoided.
Do you think that she will want to be pictorially hand in hand with Donald Trump forever?
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This started with me noting that she was almost certain to regret this picture. I'm glad we agree.
This is a very minor example of the malign consequences of Brexit. If Britain was not in such a strategically awful position, Theresa May would not have had to rush to touch the toxicity.
Strategically awful is the new way of saying 'the vote went against what I wanted'?
No.
Do you think that Theresa May wants to snuggle up to Donald Trump? But because of Brexit, she doesn't have any option.
Do you dislike the idea of our PM meeting with those who actually control the West, rather than those who can't control unemployment in Southern Europe?
The USA is no longer necessarily an ally, for the first time in our lifetimes. Donald Trump has given no sign that he is in the slightest bit trustworthy. But now we must trust him, because we have no choice.
For the first time, America should not be our ally.
A bargepole is not long enough for the distance we should keep.
That's an utterly ludicrous position. Why would you want to do that rather than seek to influence, warn and act as a bridge for engagement to the rest of the West?
I'm glad you're not in charge.
Britain burned that bridge with Brexit.
The only bridge being burned is that between Remainistan and the real world...
Yes, of course relations with other European states are just as sparkly and friendly as ever.
We all have our views on Trump, and I think they're all mostly negative. The important person in his administration is Mattis, or at least, it's Mattis with regard to NATO.
I don't give two hoots what Trump thinks about NATO, he's got the attention span of a gnat, the memory of a goldfish combined with the vanity and pugilism of a Siamese fighting fish.
If we've got any sense (and when it comes to this stuff, we do), we'll be hugging Mattis hard, and simply watching Trump lambast the Krauts over their NATO contributions.
In the meantime, we can try and stand NATO up as an actual fighting force (as anyone who's read the reports on the US deployment into Poland & UK test of the Chunnel will know, there's a lot of really basic shit to nail down).
*edit* For example, the Yanks don't have decent maps of the tank-capable roads & bridges in Poland. Yes, that basic.
Agreed. Have you read Sherrif's near future book on war with russia? It's pretty sensationalist and not greatly written, but I enjoyed it nonetheless...
Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short of never meeting him I'm not sure how it could be avoided.
Do you think that she will want to be pictorially hand in hand with Donald Trump forever?
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This started with me noting that she was almost certain to regret this picture. I'm glad we agree.
This is a very minor example of the malign consequences of Brexit. If Britain was not in such a strategically awful position, Theresa May would not have had to rush to touch the toxicity.
Strategically awful is the new way of saying 'the vote went against what I wanted'?
No.
Do you think that Theresa May wants to snuggle up to Donald Trump? But because of Brexit, she doesn't have any option.
Do you dislike the idea of our PM meeting with those who actually control the West, rather than those who can't control unemployment in Southern Europe?
The USA is no longer necessarily an ally, for the first time in our lifetimes. Donald Trump has given no sign that he is in the slightest bit trustworthy. But now we must trust him, because we have no choice.
For the first time, America should not be our ally.
A bargepole is not long enough for the distance we should keep.
I wouldn't have voted for Trump, but Dr I think you're wrong here. The US remains a vital ally.
My 2 cents. tM did well. Trump didn't say anything embarrassing but 4 questions is not really a press conference. The formalities were formalised! Nothing was said about the fabled trade deal and anything which was said will be soon forgotten. The photo won't though....could be the bacon sandwich moment.
As I typed that I became aware I am channelling the thoughts of EdM! Is he angling for a return? I'd have him back in a shot as Labour leader!
Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short of never meeting him I'm not sure how it could be avoided.
Do you think that she will want to be pictorially hand in hand with Donald Trump forever?
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This started with me noting that she was almost certain to regret this picture. I'm glad we agree.
This is a very minor example of the malign consequences of Brexit. If Britain was not in such a strategically awful position, Theresa May would not have had to rush to touch the toxicity.
Strategically awful is the new way of saying 'the vote went against what I wanted'?
No.
Do you think that Theresa May wants to snuggle up to Donald Trump? But because of Brexit, she doesn't have any option.
Do you dislike the idea of our PM meeting with those who actually control the West, rather than those who can't control unemployment in Southern Europe?
The USA is no longer necessarily an ally, for the first time in our lifetimes. Donald Trump has given no sign that he is in the slightest bit trustworthy. But now we must trust him, because we have no choice.
For the first time, America should not be our ally.
A bargepole is not long enough for the distance we should keep.
That's an utterly ludicrous position. Why would you want to do that rather than seek to influence, warn and act as a bridge for engagement to the rest of the West?
I'm glad you're not in charge.
Britain burned that bridge with Brexit.
The only bridge being burned is that between Remainistan and the real world...
Yes, of course relations with other European states are just as sparkly and friendly as ever.
Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short of never meeting him I'm not sure how it could be avoided.
Do you think that she will want to be pictorially hand in hand with Donald Trump forever?
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This started with me noting that she was almost certain to regret this picture. I'm glad we agree.
This is a very minor example of the malign consequences of Brexit. If Britain was not in such a strategically awful position, Theresa May would not have had to rush to touch the toxicity.
Strategically awful is the new way of saying 'the vote went against what I wanted'?
No.
Do you think that Theresa May wants to snuggle up to Donald Trump? But because of Brexit, she doesn't have any option.
Do you dislike the idea of our PM meeting with those who actually control the West, rather than those who can't control unemployment in Southern Europe?
The USA is no longer necessarily an ally, for the first time in our lifetimes. Donald Trump has given no sign that he is in the slightest bit trustworthy. But now we must trust him, because we have no choice.
For the first time, America should not be our ally.
A bargepole is not long enough for the distance we should keep.
That's an utterly ludicrous position. Why would you want to do that rather than seek to influence, warn and act as a bridge for engagement to the rest of the West?
I'm glad you're not in charge.
Britain burned that bridge with Brexit.
The only bridge being burned is that between Remainistan and the real world...
Remember the bits of America that we are likely to benefit from (the East and West coasts, NYC, the cultural and software industies) are not Trumpland. What does West Virginia or Alabama do for us?
We all have our views on Trump, and I think they're all mostly negative. The important person in his administration is Mattis, or at least, it's Mattis with regard to NATO.
I don't give two hoots what Trump thinks about NATO, he's got the attention span of a gnat, the memory of a goldfish combined with the vanity and pugilism of a Siamese fighting fish.
If we've got any sense (and when it comes to this stuff, we do), we'll be hugging Mattis hard, and simply watching Trump lambast the Krauts over their NATO contributions.
In the meantime, we can try and stand NATO up as an actual fighting force (as anyone who's read the reports on the US deployment into Poland & UK test of the Chunnel will know, there's a lot of really basic shit to nail down).
*edit* For example, the Yanks don't have decent maps of the tank-capable roads & bridges in Poland. Yes, that basic.
Agreed. Have you read Sherrif's near future book on war with russia? It's pretty sensationalist and not greatly written, but I enjoyed it nonetheless...
Alas no. I'm reading Darwin's "Unfinished Empire" and have a huge backlog of books to work through. As an aside, given it's Holocaust Remembrance Day, I recently finished John Kelly's excellent "The Great Mortality" (on the Black Death).
In many areas of Europe, the response to the plague was to massacre the local Jews, often with the full connivance of the authorities. The pre-conditions for the Holocaust were laid down centuries ago. So tragic.
*edit* It's only a fiver on Amazon. Duly downloaded to the Kindle to languish for months . Thanks for the recommendation.
Just imagine how FURIOUS these Trump/May photos are making your dwindling circle of Guardian reading friends and allow yourself a chuckle.
Chortle.
This parliament has already seen off the Indy. Hopefully the Grauniad won't be long for this world.
The Indy is still alive in digital form (and in cut-down 'i' form). Digital is the future of news reporting; weekly is the future of print (IMO, because it'll need to be quality and will therefore need to be not timely).
I shall now disprove this by writing a quality piece for tomorrow in 30 minutes. Maybe.
Cheap newspapers get cheap news. The FT is still very good. One of the few to pick up that trump might win.
Just imagine how FURIOUS these Trump/May photos are making your dwindling circle of Guardian reading friends and allow yourself a chuckle.
Chortle.
This parliament has already seen off the Indy. Hopefully the Grauniad won't be long for this world.
The Indy is still alive in digital form (and in cut-down 'i' form). Digital is the future of news reporting; weekly is the future of print (IMO, because it'll need to be quality and will therefore need to be not timely).
I shall now disprove this by writing a quality piece for tomorrow in 30 minutes. Maybe.
Cheap newspapers get cheap news. The FT is still very good. One of the few to pick up that trump might win.
Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short
Do
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This
Strategically awful is the new way of saying 'the vote went against what I wanted'?
No.
Do you think that Theresa May wants to snuggle up to Donald Trump? But because of Brexit, she doesn't have any option.
Do you dislike the idea of our PM meeting with those who actually control the West, rather than those who can't control unemployment in Southern Europe?
The USA is no longer necessarily an ally, for the first time in our lifetimes. Donald Trump has given no sign that he is in the slightest bit trustworthy. But now we must trust him, because we have no choice.
For the first time, America should not be our ally.
A bargepole is not long enough for the distance we should keep.
That's an utterly ludicrous position. Why would you want to do that rather than seek to influence, warn and act as a bridge for engagement to the rest of the West?
I'm glad you're not in charge.
Britain burned that bridge with Brexit.
I disagree.
I think May is respected, and there is a detectable shift in European capitals over the past 10 days to the UK - at the very least, to a resigned neutrality over Brexit - following May's announcement of her support for NATO, the EU, and ongoing sanctions against Russia. They will also have noted the dynamic between Trump and her today, and the skill with which way she gently maneuvered him away from some of his more extreme positions.
She is clearly positioning herself as an arbitrator between the EU and the US. Britain in the future is looking to be its own advocate and mediator.
Of course, the EU apparatchiks and fundamentalists will want to give Britain a beating, come what may, for having the audacity to vote against membership.
We all have our views on Trump, and I think they're all mostly negative. The important person in his administration is Mattis, or at least, it's Mattis with regard to NATO.
I don't give two hoots what Trump thinks about NATO, he's got the attention span of a gnat, the memory of a goldfish combined with the vanity and pugilism of a Siamese fighting fish.
If we've got any sense (and when it comes to this stuff, we do), we'll be hugging Mattis hard, and simply watching Trump lambast the Krauts over their NATO contributions.
In the meantime, we can try and stand NATO up as an actual fighting force (as anyone who's read the reports on the US deployment into Poland & UK test of the Chunnel will know, there's a lot of really basic shit to nail down).
*edit* For example, the Yanks don't have decent maps of the tank-capable roads & bridges in Poland. Yes, that basic.
Agreed. Have you read Sherrif's near future book on war with russia? It's pretty sensationalist and not greatly written, but I enjoyed it nonetheless...
Alas no. I'm reading Darwin's "Unfinished Empire" and have a huge backlog of books to work through. As an aside, given it's Holocaust Remembrance Day, I recently finished John Kelly's excellent "The Great Mortality" (on the Black Death).
In many areas of Europe, the response to the plague was to massacre the local Jews, often with the full connivance of the authorities. The pre-conditions for the Holocaust were laid down centuries ago. So tragic.
*edit* It's only a fiver on Amazon. Duly downloaded to the Kindle to languish for months . Thanks for the recommendation.
And thanks for yours. I'm a fan of history looked at through different sized lenses. E.g. No More Champagne, a financial biog of Churchill, was the best insight to early 20th century political norms. And I've read about 50...
Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short of never meeting him I'm not sure how it could be avoided.
Do you think that she will want to be pictorially hand in hand with Donald Trump forever?
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This started with me noting that she was almost certain to regret this picture. I'm glad
Strategically awful is the new way of saying 'the vote went against what I wanted'?
No.
Do you think that Theresa May wants to snuggle up to Donald Trump? But because of Brexit, she doesn't have any option.
Do you dislike the idea of our PM meeting with those who actually control the West, rather than those who can't control unemployment in Southern Europe?
The USA is no longer necessarily an ally, for the first time in our lifetimes.
For the first time, America should not be our ally.
A bargepole is not long enough for the distance we should keep.
That's an utterly ludicrous position. Why would you want to do that rather than seek to influence, warn and act as a bridge for engagement to the rest of the West?
I'm glad you're not in charge.
Britain burned that bridge with Brexit.
The only bridge being burned is that between Remainistan and the real world...
Remember the bits of America that we are likely to benefit from (the East and West coasts, NYC, the cultural and software industies) are not Trumpland. What does West Virginia or Alabama do for us?
You could equally ask what the North of England and the Midlands does for the U.S. but it was those areas which won it for Leave not London much as it was the Rustbelt and the South which won it for Trump not NYC or LA
Those who are enthralled by a self-confessed sexual predator with a tangential relationship with the truth and a hair trigger temper might not see the problem with that image. Others will.
@Ed_Miliband: No advance on trade deal, words about NATO from May.What exactly did UK get out of that apart from looking like Trump endorser or apologist?
Things that are discussed behind closed doors, perhaps?
Behind closed doors butter no parsnips for the virtue signaller's virtue signaller.
Parsnips and two occurrences of virtue signalling in one 'sentence'. Stunning work.
I think May is respected, and there is a detectable shift in European capitals over the past 10 days to the UK - at the very least, to a resigned neutrality over Brexit - following May's announcement of her support for NATO, the EU, and ongoing sanctions against Russia. They will also have noted the dynamic between Trump and her today, and the skill with which way she gently maneuvered him away from some of his more extreme positions.
She is clearly positioning herself as an arbitrator between the EU and the US. Britain in the future is looking to be its own advocate and mediator.
Of course, the EU apparatchiks and fundamentalists will want to give Britain a beating, come what may, for having the audacity to vote against membership.
But realpolitik will win out in the end.
I see the Leavers have embarked on their return journey to fantasy island tonight. Britain has never been in such a strategically weak and isolated position in peacetime before.
Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short of never meeting him I'm not sure how it could be avoided.
Do you think that she will want to be pictorially hand in hand with Donald Trump forever?
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This started with me noting that she was almost certain to regret this picture. I'm glad
Strategically awful is the new way of saying 'the vote went against what I wanted'?
No.
Do you think that Theresa May wants to snuggle up to Donald Trump? But because of Brexit, she doesn't have any option.
Do you dislike the idea of our PM meeting with those who actually control the West, rather than those who can't control unemployment in Southern Europe?
The USA is no longer necessarily an ally, for the first time in our lifetimes.
For the first time, America should not be our ally.
A bargepole is not long enough for the distance we should keep.
That's an utterly ludicrous position. Why would you want to do that rather than seek to influence, warn and act as a bridge for engagement to the rest of the West?
I'm glad you're not in charge.
Britain burned that bridge with Brexit.
The only bridge being burned is that between Remainistan and the real world...
Remember the bits of America that we are likely to benefit from (the East and West coasts, NYC, the cultural and software industies) are not Trumpland. What does West Virginia or Alabama do for us?
You could equally ask what the North of England and the Midlands does for the U.S. but it was those areas which won it for Leave not London much as it was the Rustbelt and the South which won it for Trump not NYC or LA
Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short of never meeting him I'm not sure how it could be avoided.
Do you think that she will want to be pictorially hand in hand with Donald Trump forever?
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This started with me noting that she was almost certain to regret this picture. I'm glad
Strategically awful is the new way of saying 'the vote went against what I wanted'?
No.
Do you think that Theresa May wants to snuggle up to Donald Trump? But because of Brexit, she doesn't have any option.
Do you dislike the idea of our PM meeting with those who actually control the West, rather than those who can't control unemployment in Southern Europe?
The USA is no longer necessarily an ally, for the first time in our lifetimes.
For the first time, America should not be our ally.
A bargepole is not long enough for the distance we should keep.
That's an utterly ludicrous position. Why would you want to do that rather than seek to influence, warn and act as a bridge for engagement to the rest of the West?
I'm glad you're not in charge.
Britain burned that bridge with Brexit.
The only bridge being burned is that between Remainistan and the real world...
Remember the bits of America that we are likely to benefit from (the East and West coasts, NYC, the cultural and software industies) are not Trumpland. What does West Virginia or Alabama do for us?
You could equally ask what the North of England and the Midlands does for the U.S. but it was those areas which won it for Leave not London much as it was the Rustbelt and the South which won it for Trump not NYC or LA
Good point. Trump is interested in Scotland and London, not Leaverstan.
Just imagine how FURIOUS these Trump/May photos are making your dwindling circle of Guardian reading friends and allow yourself a chuckle.
Chortle.
This parliament has already seen off the Indy. Hopefully the Grauniad won't be long for this world.
The Indy is still alive in digital form (and in cut-down 'i' form). Digital is the future of news reporting; weekly is the future of print (IMO, because it'll need to be quality and will therefore need to be not timely).
I shall now disprove this by writing a quality piece for tomorrow in 30 minutes. Maybe.
Cheap newspapers get cheap news. The FT is still very good. One of the few to pick up that trump might win.
They could have got that for free from PBC.
Jokes aside, that's why I don't bother subscribing to any paper.
Why should I pay when I get better analysis on here for free?
Well this is a betting site, so advice please to a novice political better. I put £40 on Macron, last November at 20-1 on the advice of my French neighbours (who spend half their time in France and half here, and who have a wide circle of French friends). Do I hedge the bet or let it run?
I think May is respected, and there is a detectable shift in European capitals over the past 10 days to the UK - at the very least, to a resigned neutrality over Brexit - following May's announcement of her support for NATO, the EU, and ongoing sanctions against Russia. They will also have noted the dynamic between Trump and her today, and the skill with which way she gently maneuvered him away from some of his more extreme positions.
She is clearly positioning herself as an arbitrator between the EU and the US. Britain in the future is looking to be its own advocate and mediator.
Of course, the EU apparatchiks and fundamentalists will want to give Britain a beating, come what may, for having the audacity to vote against membership.
But realpolitik will win out in the end.
I see the Leavers have embarked on their return journey to fantasy island tonight. Britain has never been in such a strategically weak and isolated position in peacetime before.
Ok, if that's your response I suggest we leave our discussion there.
Edit: "Leavers" is very patronising. Address me individually, and with respect, or not at all, Alastair.
Well this is a betting site, so advice please to a novice political better. I put £40 on Macron, last November at 20-1 on the advice of my French neighbours (who spend half their time in France and half here, and who have a wide circle of French friends). Do I hedge the bet or let it run?
I have taken advantage of the shortening on Macron to part hedge, and go all green, but still best off with a Macron win. Things may well change over the next couple of months.
Good point. Trump is interested in Scotland and London, not Leaverstan.
Trump is interested in Scotland, but of course he believes it is the capital of Leaverstan.
After the vote, he touched down in Scotland and tweeted that "Just arrived in Scotland. The place is going wild over the vote. They took their country back, just like we will take America back. No games!"
I think May is respected, and there is a detectable shift in European capitals over the past 10 days to the UK - at the very least, to a resigned neutrality over Brexit - following May's announcement of her support for NATO, the EU, and ongoing sanctions against Russia. They will also have noted the dynamic between Trump and her today, and the skill with which way she gently maneuvered him away from some of his more extreme positions.
She is clearly positioning herself as an arbitrator between the EU and the US. Britain in the future is looking to be its own advocate and mediator.
Of course, the EU apparatchiks and fundamentalists will want to give Britain a beating, come what may, for having the audacity to vote against membership.
But realpolitik will win out in the end.
I see the Leavers have embarked on their return journey to fantasy island tonight. Britain has never been in such a strategically weak and isolated position in peacetime before.
I think May is respected, and there is a detectable shift in European capitals over the past 10 days to the UK - at the very least, to a resigned neutrality over Brexit - following May's announcement of her support for NATO, the EU, and ongoing sanctions against Russia. They will also have noted the dynamic between Trump and her today, and the skill with which way she gently maneuvered him away from some of his more extreme positions.
She is clearly positioning herself as an arbitrator between the EU and the US. Britain in the future is looking to be its own advocate and mediator.
Of course, the EU apparatchiks and fundamentalists will want to give Britain a beating, come what may, for having the audacity to vote against membership.
But realpolitik will win out in the end.
I see the Leavers have embarked on their return journey to fantasy island tonight. Britain has never been in such a strategically weak and isolated position in peacetime before.
Good point. Trump is interested in Scotland and London, not Leaverstan.
Trump is interested in Scotland, but of course he believes it is the capital of Leaverstan.
After the vote, he touched down in Scotland and tweeted that "Just arrived in Scotland. The place is going wild over the vote. They took their country back, just like we will take America back. No games!"
He's currently persuading May to initiate an enquiry into Brexit voter fraud in Scatland.
Theresa May is almost certain to regret that picture.
What should she have done?
I didn't say she could avoid it, merely that she will regret it.
That picture will be used every time Donald Trump does something outrageous.
Short of never meeting him I'm not sure how it could be avoided.
Do you think that she will want to be pictorially hand in hand with Donald Trump forever?
Of course she'd have preferred not to have this photo. But, again, how was it to be avoided other than never meeting him?
This started with me noting that she was almost certain to regret this picture. I'm glad
Strategically awful is the new way of saying 'the vote went against what I wanted'?
No.
Do you think that Theresa May wants to snuggle up to Donald Trump? But because of Brexit, she doesn't have any option.
Do you dislike the idea of our PM meeting with those who actually control the West, rather than those who can't control unemployment in Southern Europe?
The USA is no longer necessarily an ally, ld keep.
That's an utterly ludicrous position. Why would you want to do that rather than seek to influence, warn and act as a bridge for engagement to the rest of the West?
I'm glad you're not in charge.
Britain burned that bridge with Brexit.
The only bridge being burned is that between Remainistan and the real world...
Remember the bits of America that we are likely to benefit from (the East and West coasts, NYC, the cultural and software industies) are not Trumpland. What does West Virginia or Alabama do for us?
You could equally ask what the North of England and the Midlands does for the U.S. but it was those areas which won it for Leave not London much as it was the Rustbelt and the South which won it for Trump not NYC or LA
Good point. Trump is interested in Scotland and London, not Leaverstan.
He likes the people of Leaverstan who remind him of his own voters
If every deranged impotent remoaner irrelevance is as fuming as Bobajob, tomorrow is going to a marvellous day.
Bobajobabobajob is a generally a contrary indicator to me:
The angrier he is, the less the common ground of this country give a damn. The more comfortable he is with something, the more likely the people of this country will be unhappy.
He had been on the wrong side of every recent political argument, let him whine
I think May is respected, and there is a detectable shift in European capitals over the past 10 days to the UK - at the very least, to a resigned neutrality over Brexit - following May's announcement of her support for NATO, the EU, and ongoing sanctions against Russia. They will also have noted the dynamic between Trump and her today, and the skill with which way she gently maneuvered him away from some of his more extreme positions.
She is clearly positioning herself as an arbitrator between the EU and the US. Britain in the future is looking to be its own advocate and mediator.
Of course, the EU apparatchiks and fundamentalists will want to give Britain a beating, come what may, for having the audacity to vote against membership.
But realpolitik will win out in the end.
I see the Leavers have embarked on their return journey to fantasy island tonight. Britain has never been in such a strategically weak and isolated position in peacetime before.
We were weaker after Suez when we certainly did not have U.S. support but we did have French backing
He is filing a complaint against Le Canard Enchaîné. Unfortunately the BBC were too lazy to find out for their readers what kind of complaint - judicial? regulatory? - and what its time-scale is.
Good luck with that.
" 'Only one thing would prevent me from being a candidate: it's if my honour was harmed, if I were placed under formal investigation' by a judge."
Yeah - you tell 'em, mate. L'honneur avant tout! Last year he said she had no other role than accompanying him and handing out leaflets, and she has stated that she has no role in his political life. The pair of them obviously think they can say any old crap and their audience will believe them, even if it changes from one thing to something else with which it's mutually exclusive.
If every deranged impotent remoaner irrelevance is as fuming as Bobajob, tomorrow is going to a marvellous day.
Bobajobabobajob is a generally a contrary indicator to me:
The angrier he is, the less the common ground of this country give a damn. The more comfortable he is with something, the more likely the people of this country will be unhappy.
He had been on the wrong side of every recent political argument, let him whine
He is filing a complaint against Le Canard Enchaîné. Unfortunately the BBC were too lazy to find out for their readers what kind of complaint - judicial? regulatory? - and what its time-scale is.
Good luck with that.
" 'Only one thing would prevent me from being a candidate: it's if my honour was harmed, if I were placed under formal investigation' by a judge."
Yeah - you tell 'em, mate. L'honneur avant tout! Last year he said she had no other role than accompanying him and handing out leaflets, and she has stated that she has no role in his political life. The pair of them obviously think they can say any old crap and their audience will believe them, even if it changes from one thing to something else with which it's mutually exclusive.
"Lock them up" And where are you, Julian?
@Dromedary . Did you see the piece I put up earlier today about paying his children?
Thursday night on TF1 , Fillon sought to anticipate any future controversy. The presidential candidate thus acknowledged having paid two of his children lawyers of the time when he was senator of the Sarthe, between September 2005 and June 2007. Problem: his children were not yet graduates at that time ... Marie, 34, was sworn in on 14 November 2007, while Charles, enrolled in the New York Bar in 2010, joined that of Paris a year later.
He is filing a complaint against Le Canard Enchaîné. Unfortunately the BBC were too lazy to find out for their readers what kind of complaint - judicial? regulatory? - and what its time-scale is.
Good luck with that.
" 'Only one thing would prevent me from being a candidate: it's if my honour was harmed, if I were placed under formal investigation' by a judge."
Yeah - you tell 'em, mate. L'honneur avant tout! Last year he said she had no other role than accompanying him and handing out leaflets, and she has stated that she has no role in his political life. The pair of them obviously think they can say any old crap and their audience will believe them, even if it changes from one thing to something else with which it's mutually exclusive.
"Lock them up" And where are you, Julian?
@Dromedary . Did you see the piece I put up earlier today about paying his children?
Thursday night on TF1 , Fillon sought to anticipate any future controversy. The presidential candidate thus acknowledged having paid two of his children lawyers of the time when he was senator of the Sarthe, between September 2005 and June 2007. Problem: his children were not yet graduates at that time ... Marie, 34, was sworn in on 14 November 2007, while Charles, enrolled in the New York Bar in 2010, joined that of Paris a year later.
Plenty of parents help their children with work experience but this is a metropolitan, establishment media vendetta against Fillon much as the U.S. media was anti Trump and the likes of the BBC and most broadsheets anti Brexit. Notice they do not have much to say about the vast sums of government money Macron spent on exorbitant dinners
He is filing a complaint against Le Canard Enchaîné. Unfortunately the BBC were too lazy to find out for their readers what kind of complaint - judicial? regulatory? - and what its time-scale is.
Good luck with that.
" 'Only one thing would prevent me from being a candidate: it's if my honour was harmed, if I were placed under formal investigation' by a judge."
Yeah - you tell 'em, mate. L'honneur avant tout! Last year he said she had no other role than accompanying him and handing out leaflets, and she has stated that she has no role in his political life. The pair of them obviously think they can say any old crap and their audience will believe them, even if it changes from one thing to something else with which it's mutually exclusive.
"Lock them up" And where are you, Julian?
@Dromedary . Did you see the piece I put up earlier today about paying his children?
Thursday night on TF1 , Fillon sought to anticipate any future controversy. The presidential candidate thus acknowledged having paid two of his children lawyers of the time when he was senator of the Sarthe, between September 2005 and June 2007. Problem: his children were not yet graduates at that time ... Marie, 34, was sworn in on 14 November 2007, while Charles, enrolled in the New York Bar in 2010, joined that of Paris a year later.
@BudG - No, I missed it. (I wish there were a better search function on Vanilla.) That's interesting about his children. And he specifically said he employed them as "avocats", which surely is a protected term unlike "lawyers" in Britain. He now says his wife worked for him daily. I almost feel sorry for him. Perhaps if a judicial case is opened and he stands by his word and withdraws he will be replaced as the LR candidate within a week or so. Giving it to Juppé doesn't seem fair, but...
He is filing a complaint against Le Canard Enchaîné. Unfortunately the BBC were too lazy to find out for their readers what kind of complaint - judicial? regulatory? - and what its time-scale is.
Good luck with that.
" 'Only one thing would prevent me from being a candidate: it's if my honour was harmed, if I were placed under formal investigation' by a judge."
Yeah - you tell 'em, mate. L'honneur avant tout! Last year he said she had no other role than accompanying him and handing out leaflets, and she has stated that she has no role in his political life. The pair of them obviously think they can say any old crap and their audience will believe them, even if it changes from one thing to something else with which it's mutually exclusive.
"Lock them up" And where are you, Julian?
@Dromedary . Did you see the piece I put up earlier today about paying his children?
Thursday night on TF1 , Fillon sought to anticipate any future controversy. The presidential candidate thus acknowledged having paid two of his children lawyers of the time when he was senator of the Sarthe, between September 2005 and June 2007. Problem: his children were not yet graduates at that time ... Marie, 34, was sworn in on 14 November 2007, while Charles, enrolled in the New York Bar in 2010, joined that of Paris a year later.
@BudG - No, I missed it. (I wish there were a better search function on Vanilla.) That's interesting about his children. And he specifically said he employed them as "avocats", which surely is a protected term unlike "lawyers" in Britain. He now says his wife worked for him daily. I almost feel sorry for him. Perhaps if a judicial case is opened and he stands by his word and withdraws he will be replaced as the LR candidate within a week or so. Giving it to Juppé doesn't seem fair, but...
He is not going to withdraw, there is little to discuss here other than a glorified French Betsygate and there are no grounds for Juppe to be the candidate as Fillon is the nominee of the LR having been elected under the primary of that party, a primary Juppe could not even win when he was favourite. If anything in the unlikely event of a Fillon withdrawal it would open the way for Sarkozy, not Juppe, as most Fillon voters come from the same pool as his
This is a ritual all modern British PM's go through. We can't blame May for our national psychosis over the " Special Relationship " or that as the most powerful country on earth is an anglospheric democracy we'll always need to and be willing to toady. On this bit I'd score her performance highly. She's new in the job herself with little firuegn policy experience. It's a big hug and her two pronged strategy re the Congressional group and Trump himself went well.
None of that takes away from the fact that #1 This is now much worse than Suez. #2 That we looked desperate because we are and the world will have seen this starkly. #3 That the numerous comments from May endorsing the Republicans was born of weakness and will backfire long term. #4 That her ' Atlantic Bridge ' strategy is ludicrous post Brexit #5 That THAT photo is naseating and avoidable and a huge hostage to fortune.
My considerable reservoir of goodwill towards May has run dry. She deserves what's coming to her sadly. However we should judge her fairly. Do we really think any of the other contenders in the Tory race, or Boris, would be making a better job of it ? Of course not.
Anyway in the final weeks before A50 invocation and the phoney war comes to an end at least after this we can't say we weren't warned. We had 8 months to sober up. We had extra evidence presented via the devaluation. Via the hand holding, via Trump's win. We knew.
Despite some very nifty footwork by Theresa May a defeat was always the most likely result. The 'hand of God' which did for England all those years ago has just done it again. The Europeans kept their distance and their dignity. We didn't. Being photographed hand in hand was the moment the world cringed. Here we were friendless clinging on for dear life to a President with the international respect of a dung beetle.
Despite some very nifty footwork by Theresa May a defeat was always the most likely result. The 'hand of God' which did for England all those years ago has just done it again. The Europeans kept their distance and their dignity. We didn't. Being photographed hand in hand was the moment the world cringed. Here we were friendless clinging on for dear life to a President with the international respect of a dung beetle.
Being friends with the most powerful man in the world is rather more important than kowtowing to PC elements within the EU
This is a ritual all modern British PM's go through. We can't blame May for our national psychosis over the " Special Relationship " or that as the most powerful country on earth is an anglospheric democracy we'll always need to and be willing to toady. On this bit I'd score her performance highly. She's new in the job herself with little firuegn policy experience. It's a big hug and her two pronged strategy re the Congressional group and Trump himself went well.
None of that takes away from the fact that #1 This is now much worse than Suez. #2 That we looked desperate because we are and the world will have seen this starkly. #3 That the numerous comments from May endorsing the Republicans was born of weakness and will backfire long term. #4 That her ' Atlantic Bridge ' strategy is ludicrous post Brexit #5 That THAT photo is naseating and avoidable and a huge hostage to fortune.
My considerable reservoir of goodwill towards May has run dry. She deserves what's coming to her sadly. However we should judge her fairly. Do we really think any of the other contenders in the Tory race, or Boris, would be making a better job of it ? Of course not.
Anyway in the final weeks before A50 invocation and the phoney war comes to an end at least after this we can't say we weren't warned. We had 8 months to sober up. We had extra evidence presented via the devaluation. Via the hand holding, via Trump's win. We knew.
Complete rubbish, Suez showed we could no longer act exclusively on our own in world affairs, even with the French, we needed the U.S. too
Comments
They almost certainly won't care about what you care about. Which is a relief.
Number of non-EU nations: 166
May is playing him as well. And no bluff can be called until after we formally leave the EU, because we cannot formally agree anything on trade until then.
I'd say that's a result.
As ever, Milliband is wanking impotently from the sidelines. Nice to see he's keeping his hand in.
She said he was 100% committed...
Private commitment. Public ambush. Respectful acquiescence.
May is good.
A bargepole is not long enough for the distance we should keep.
Brexit has absolutely nothing to do with it. The US remains our closest ally - even in our worst slumps in that relationship it has always been a million times more important than any relationship we have with any EU country.
There should be no embarrassment in this just as there was no cause for embarrassment over the relationship between Thatcher and Reagan - which incidently resulted in one of the greatest and most positive seismic shifts in geopolitics of the 20th century. And that in spite of the left pouring scorn on both of them for almost a decade.
Oh, wait...
I'm glad you're not in charge.
He never uses alternative facts does he?
Oh wait...
I don't give two hoots what Trump thinks about NATO, he's got the attention span of a gnat, the memory of a goldfish combined with the vanity and pugilism of a Siamese fighting fish.
If we've got any sense (and when it comes to this stuff, we do), we'll be hugging Mattis hard, and simply watching Trump lambast the Krauts over their NATO contributions.
In the meantime, we can try and stand NATO up as an actual fighting force (as anyone who's read the reports on the US deployment into Poland & UK test of the Chunnel will know, there's a lot of really basic shit to nail down).
*edit* For example, the Yanks don't have decent maps of the tank-capable roads & bridges in Poland. Yes, that basic.
No platforming is silly, trying to do it to the POTUS is just moronic.
Cretin.
In many areas of Europe, the response to the plague was to massacre the local Jews, often with the full connivance of the authorities. The pre-conditions for the Holocaust were laid down centuries ago. So tragic.
*edit* It's only a fiver on Amazon. Duly downloaded to the Kindle to languish for months
I think May is respected, and there is a detectable shift in European capitals over the past 10 days to the UK - at the very least, to a resigned neutrality over Brexit - following May's announcement of her support for NATO, the EU, and ongoing sanctions against Russia. They will also have noted the dynamic between Trump and her today, and the skill with which way she gently maneuvered him away from some of his more extreme positions.
She is clearly positioning herself as an arbitrator between the EU and the US. Britain in the future is looking to be its own advocate and mediator.
Of course, the EU apparatchiks and fundamentalists will want to give Britain a beating, come what may, for having the audacity to vote against membership.
But realpolitik will win out in the end.
Why should I pay when I get better analysis on here for free?
I put £40 on Macron, last November at 20-1 on the advice of my French neighbours (who spend half their time in France and half here, and who have a wide circle of French friends). Do I hedge the bet or let it run?
Edit: "Leavers" is very patronising. Address me individually, and with respect, or not at all, Alastair.
https://twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/825049423088607233
After the vote, he touched down in Scotland and tweeted that "Just arrived in Scotland. The place is going wild over the vote. They took their country back, just like we will take America back. No games!"
He is filing a complaint against Le Canard Enchaîné. Unfortunately the BBC were too lazy to find out for their readers what kind of complaint - judicial? regulatory? - and what its time-scale is.
Good luck with that.
" 'Only one thing would prevent me from being a candidate: it's if my honour was harmed, if I were placed under formal investigation' by a judge."
Yeah - you tell 'em, mate. L'honneur avant tout! Last year he said she had no other role than accompanying him and handing out leaflets, and she has stated that she has no role in his political life. The pair of them obviously think they can say any old crap and their audience will believe them, even if it changes from one thing to something else with which it's mutually exclusive.
"Lock them up"
Although in betting, I won.
Thursday night on TF1 , Fillon sought to anticipate any future controversy. The presidential candidate thus acknowledged having paid two of his children lawyers of the time when he was senator of the Sarthe, between September 2005 and June 2007. Problem: his children were not yet graduates at that time ... Marie, 34, was sworn in on 14 November 2007, while Charles, enrolled in the New York Bar in 2010, joined that of Paris a year later.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/turkey-threatens-cancel-greece-migration-deal-170127132727369.html
People will make divisions over any differences.....
None of that takes away from the fact that #1 This is now much worse than Suez. #2 That we looked desperate because we are and the world will have seen this starkly. #3 That the numerous comments from May endorsing the Republicans was born of weakness and will backfire long term. #4 That her ' Atlantic Bridge ' strategy is ludicrous post Brexit #5 That THAT photo is naseating and avoidable and a huge hostage to fortune.
My considerable reservoir of goodwill towards May has run dry. She deserves what's coming to her sadly. However we should judge her fairly. Do we really think any of the other contenders in the Tory race, or Boris, would be making a better job of it ? Of course not.
Anyway in the final weeks before A50 invocation and the phoney war comes to an end at least after this we can't say we weren't warned. We had 8 months to sober up. We had extra evidence presented via the devaluation. Via the hand holding, via Trump's win. We knew.
Despite some very nifty footwork by Theresa May a defeat was always the most likely result. The 'hand of God' which did for England all those years ago has just done it again. The Europeans kept their distance and their dignity. We didn't. Being photographed hand in hand was the moment the world cringed. Here we were friendless clinging on for dear life to a President with the international respect of a dung beetle.