politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » PB Video Analysis: Who Won The Midterms? Does It Matter?

System

politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » PB Video Analysis: Who Won The Midterms? Does It Matter?

There’s this parody of Guardian readers children’s parties, where pass the parcel involves presents with every layer, and nobody is ever eliminated from musical chairs. This “all must have prizes” mentality seems to have reached US politics, as it appears that everyone won the midterms: the Democrats, the Republicans, Nancy Pelosi and President Trump.

Read the full story here

tlg86

First. The car crash sound effect at 2:08 made me jump!

Pulpstar

The fair, competent and speedy election process of Broward County, Florida is the big winner.

Pulpstar

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1060949297900834816

Trump demonstrates his knowledge of electoral geography.

ExiledInScotland

Thanks Robert. My daughter (economics student) now follows your videos btw.

Sunil_Prasannan

"...where pass the parcel involves presents with every layer"


Rune Stones

Rune Stones is a popular game played throughout Titan.

Rules and Equipment

The game's popularity is due to the simplistic nature of the rules. It is a somewhat dangerous game, but the prizes are high. A rock is enchanted so that it will explode at some indefinite time. The participants, who are standing in a circle, then throw the rock to each other around the circle until the rock explodes. The player holding the stone when it explodes is out (if for no other reason than they can no longer catch the rock given that there hands are either burnt or missing).

http://fightingfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Rune_Stones

HYUFD

In politics terms the midterms were a draw, the Democrats gained the House and the GOP held on to the Senate gaining seats in the process. In power terms though the Democrats gained most as they will now be able to block Trump's legislation and budget and be able to investigate the administration as they control the House

tlg86

Pulpstar said:

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1060949297900834816

Trump demonstrates his knowledge of electoral geography.

Still better than Hillary's...

HYUFD

Interesting to see the Johnson family has both Remainers and Leavers covered with Boris resigning from the Cabinet to back a hard Brexit and Jo resigning as a Minister to back a 'People's Vote' and a second referendum.

May's Chequers Deal or Customs Union for the whole UK plan meanwhile risks getting squeezed in the middle

Pulpstar

36-40 house seats, a very marginal senate position worsening despite a very tough and plenty of governorships. The Democrats have won, but much of their vote is arriving so late the narrative is that of a draw.

Benpointer

HYUFD said:

Interesting to see the Johnson family has both Remainers and Leavers covered with Boris resigning from the Cabinet to back a hard Brexit and Jo resigning as a Minister to back a 'People's Vote' and a second referendum.

May's Chequers Deal or Customs Union for the whole UK plan meanwhile risks getting squeezed in the middle

Tbf if the two Johnson brothers think it's a non-starter, perhaps May's deal is not so bad after all?

rpjs

FPT:

shiney2 said:

rpjs said:

Apparently a spanner in the WTO works is that last year we denied a visa to the wife of Moldova's foreign minister, and consequently the Moldovans are vetoing us from joining the WTO's Government Procurement Agreement, which we're currently only members of through the EU. This could lead to British firms being blocked from bidding on government contracts worth $1.7tn worldwide. Never mind, there's always "innovative jams" to fall back on.

https://www.economist.com/britain/2018/10/25/brexits-latest-obstacle-a-moldovan-veto

The economist is as unbiased as the beeb on the subject of Brexit.

Oh, so it's pro-Brexit then?

Barnesian

Sinema is now 8,300 ahead. The gap is narrowing. Ooer.

HYUFD

Benpointer said:

HYUFD said:

Interesting to see the Johnson family has both Remainers and Leavers covered with Boris resigning from the Cabinet to back a hard Brexit and Jo resigning as a Minister to back a 'People's Vote' and a second referendum.

May's Chequers Deal or Customs Union for the whole UK plan meanwhile risks getting squeezed in the middle

Tbf if the two Johnson brothers think it's a non-starter, perhaps May's deal is not so bad after all?

May's proposed deal is certainly pretty much indistinguishable from what Corbyn and Starmer are proposing from Labour as far as I can see in terms of the future relationship with the EU so it looks like the real opposition to May is coming from the Johnson brothers, Mogg, Davis, the DUP and the LDs and SNP and Labour backbenchers like Umunna, Lammy and Bradshaw

RoyalBlue

Mid-terms, schmid-terms.

Get May out. Put in a consensus candidate who agrees to a Remain vs No Deal Brexit referendum, to give both wings of the party what they want.

another_richard

Various thoughts:

1) I see the Democrat graveyard vote has been efficient this year there's many things wrong with the UK but at least our elections are pretty competently conducted

2) The most interesting economic stat for today was the big drop in French industrial output - things do not look good in the EZ

3) The most interesting UK economic stat for today was the continued increase in house building, with that and house price growth reduced to manageable levels I wonder if the Conservatives will get a boost from Generation Now Able To Buy

4) Has there ever been a Test team which has included three possible wicket keepers ? England might well do so in the next year.

eek

Remember the talk earlier today about banana republics being more organised than America

Well I give you https://twitter.com/varin/status/1060937524040884224

and you do need to read all 25 parts for the full level of incompetency..

another_richard

HYUFD said:

Interesting to see the Johnson family has both Remainers and Leavers covered with Boris resigning from the Cabinet to back a hard Brexit and Jo resigning as a Minister to back a 'People's Vote' and a second referendum.

May's Chequers Deal or Customs Union for the whole UK plan meanwhile risks getting squeezed in the middle

Anything reasonable will probably get the support of the 60% in the middle.

The hardliners on both sides will hate it but their posturing will confirm the 60% in their support.

TheScreamingEagles

another_richard said:

Various thoughts:

1) I see the Democrat graveyard vote has been efficient this year there's many things wrong with the UK but at least our elections are pretty competently conducted

2) The most interesting economic stat for today was the big drop in French industrial output - things do not look good in the EZ

3) The most interesting UK economic stat for today was the continued increase in house building, with that and house price growth reduced to manageable levels I wonder if the Conservatives will get a boost from Generation Now Able To Buy

4) Has there ever been a Test team which has included three possible wicket keepers ? England might well do so in the next year.

Happened earlier on this summer with Bairstow, Buttler, and Pope in the team.

Pulpstar

Barnesian said:

Sinema is now 8,300 ahead. The gap is narrowing. Ooer.

Cheers I've greened up.

HYUFD

RoyalBlue said:

Mid-terms, schmid-terms.

Get May out. Put in a consensus candidate who agrees to a Remain vs No Deal Brexit referendum, to give both wings of the party what they want.

That likely ends in Remain which would make the party unity situation even worse.

The only sustainable Brexit is either one leading to a Canada style FTA or one that stays in the Single Market and/or the Customs Union

not_on_fire

HYUFD said:

In politics terms the midterms were a draw, the Democrats gained the House and the GOP held on to the Senate gaining seats in the process. In power terms though the Democrats gained most as they will now be able to block Trump's legislation and budget and be able to investigate the administration as they control the House

Depends, in the new Senate if another Supreme Court justice dies or retires (and two of them are in their 80s) then Trump can pretty much be guaranteed to get whoever he nominates confirmed.

Alistair

https://twitter.com/MEPFuller/status/1060978584754552832?s=19

Alistair

Pulpstar said:

Barnesian said:

Sinema is now 8,300 ahead. The gap is narrowing. Ooer.

Cheers I've greened up.

I'm letting it ride.

tlg86

TheScreamingEagles said:

another_richard said:

Various thoughts:

1) I see the Democrat graveyard vote has been efficient this year there's many things wrong with the UK but at least our elections are pretty competently conducted

2) The most interesting economic stat for today was the big drop in French industrial output - things do not look good in the EZ

3) The most interesting UK economic stat for today was the continued increase in house building, with that and house price growth reduced to manageable levels I wonder if the Conservatives will get a boost from Generation Now Able To Buy

4) Has there ever been a Test team which has included three possible wicket keepers ? England might well do so in the next year.

Happened earlier on this summer with Bairstow, Buttler, and Pope in the team.

Cricketers do seem more versatile these days.

In the third test v New Zealand in 1999, England played Alec Stewart as a specialist batsman and Chris Read as the keeper. As bowlers they picked Headley, Caddick, Tufnell and Such. One wag said "only England could pick as many wicket keepers as spinners and seamers."

Pulpstar

Dems can't count their chickens tho - just took a look at the 82 midterms !

HYUFD

another_richard said:

HYUFD said:

Interesting to see the Johnson family has both Remainers and Leavers covered with Boris resigning from the Cabinet to back a hard Brexit and Jo resigning as a Minister to back a 'People's Vote' and a second referendum.

May's Chequers Deal or Customs Union for the whole UK plan meanwhile risks getting squeezed in the middle

Anything reasonable will probably get the support of the 60% in the middle.

The hardliners on both sides will hate it but their posturing will confirm the 60% in their support.

Those in the middle would be happy with a Deal which May to be fair to her is trying to achieve, it is those who want to reverse Brexit outright and those who want to go to No Deal and who refuse to compromise who are the hardliners

tlg86

another_richard said:

3) The most interesting UK economic stat for today was the continued increase in house building, with that and house price growth reduced to manageable levels I wonder if the Conservatives will get a boost from Generation Now Able To Buy

They certainly won't be thanked by the "we did help to buy and now prices have stopped rising" brigade.

another_richard

TheScreamingEagles said:

another_richard said:

Various thoughts:

1) I see the Democrat graveyard vote has been efficient this year there's many things wrong with the UK but at least our elections are pretty competently conducted

2) The most interesting economic stat for today was the big drop in French industrial output - things do not look good in the EZ

3) The most interesting UK economic stat for today was the continued increase in house building, with that and house price growth reduced to manageable levels I wonder if the Conservatives will get a boost from Generation Now Able To Buy

4) Has there ever been a Test team which has included three possible wicket keepers ? England might well do so in the next year.

Happened earlier on this summer with Bairstow, Buttler, and Pope in the team.

I didn't know that Olly Pope was a wicket keeper - reserve to Foakes for Surrey I assume.

Now without going all Hovis advert I remember when teams would be more than happy to have a wicket keeper who averaged above 20 and Alan Knott was regarded as a sensation for averaging above 30.

HYUFD

not_on_fire said:

HYUFD said:

In politics terms the midterms were a draw, the Democrats gained the House and the GOP held on to the Senate gaining seats in the process. In power terms though the Democrats gained most as they will now be able to block Trump's legislation and budget and be able to investigate the administration as they control the House

Depends, in the new Senate if another Supreme Court justice dies or retires (and two of them are in their 80s) then Trump can pretty much be guaranteed to get whoever he nominates confirmed.

The GOP already controlled the Senate and got Kavanaugh confirmed as a SC Justice so in reality that is no change there. However the Democrats do now control the House

Pulpstar

Alistair said:

Pulpstar said:

Barnesian said:

Sinema is now 8,300 ahead. The gap is narrowing. Ooer.

Cheers I've greened up.

I'm letting it ride.

I'm +£56 either way and +£213 is 'other' wins. Obviously I should have bet more, at bigger odds - but we can say that about every bet

TheScreamingEagles

another_richard said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

another_richard said:

Various thoughts:

1) I see the Democrat graveyard vote has been efficient this year there's many things wrong with the UK but at least our elections are pretty competently conducted

2) The most interesting economic stat for today was the big drop in French industrial output - things do not look good in the EZ

3) The most interesting UK economic stat for today was the continued increase in house building, with that and house price growth reduced to manageable levels I wonder if the Conservatives will get a boost from Generation Now Able To Buy

4) Has there ever been a Test team which has included three possible wicket keepers ? England might well do so in the next year.

Happened earlier on this summer with Bairstow, Buttler, and Pope in the team.

I didn't know that Olly Pope was a wicket keeper - reserve to Foakes for Surrey I assume.

Now without going all Hovis advert I remember when teams would be more than happy to have a wicket keeper who averaged above 20 and Alan Knott was regarded as a sensation for averaging above 30.

Actually I forgot Rory Burns has kept wicket as well.

So we fielded three keepers in this match.

Pulpstar

tlg86 said:

another_richard said:

3) The most interesting UK economic stat for today was the continued increase in house building, with that and house price growth reduced to manageable levels I wonder if the Conservatives will get a boost from Generation Now Able To Buy

They certainly won't be thanked by the "we did help to buy and now prices have stopped rising" brigade.

Some estates look like instant negative equity traps to me. These houses are very near to each other (And no we don't have the price variation that say London does between streets half a mile from each other). £200k..

https://www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/find-your-home/england/south-yorkshire/sheffield/connect-at-halfway/the-gosford---plot-55

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-68402623.html

philiph

another_richard said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

another_richard said:

Various thoughts:

1) I see the Democrat graveyard vote has been efficient this year there's many things wrong with the UK but at least our elections are pretty competently conducted

2) The most interesting economic stat for today was the big drop in French industrial output - things do not look good in the EZ

3) The most interesting UK economic stat for today was the continued increase in house building, with that and house price growth reduced to manageable levels I wonder if the Conservatives will get a boost from Generation Now Able To Buy

4) Has there ever been a Test team which has included three possible wicket keepers ? England might well do so in the next year.

Happened earlier on this summer with Bairstow, Buttler, and Pope in the team.

I didn't know that Olly Pope was a wicket keeper - reserve to Foakes for Surrey I assume.

Now without going all Hovis advert I remember when teams would be more than happy to have a wicket keeper who averaged above 20 and Alan Knott was regarded as a sensation for averaging above 30.

Couldn't Jim Park(s?) bat a bit before Knott?

Barnesian

HYUFD said:

another_richard said:

HYUFD said:

Interesting to see the Johnson family has both Remainers and Leavers covered with Boris resigning from the Cabinet to back a hard Brexit and Jo resigning as a Minister to back a 'People's Vote' and a second referendum.

May's Chequers Deal or Customs Union for the whole UK plan meanwhile risks getting squeezed in the middle

Anything reasonable will probably get the support of the 60% in the middle.

The hardliners on both sides will hate it but their posturing will confirm the 60% in their support.

Those in the middle would be happy with a Deal which May to be fair to her is trying to achieve, it is those who want to reverse Brexit outright and those who want to go to No Deal and who refuse to compromise who are the hardliners

Those in the middle are the 20% who approve of Mrs May's deal. It might be less now she has conceded more.
https://news.sky.com/story/most-britons-disapprove-of-chequers-brexit-deal-sky-poll-11490402

20% want no deal and 50% want to remain in the EU. 10% don't know/don't care. Most of us are hardliners rather than compromisers if the compromise is so rubbish.

TheScreamingEagles

tlg86 said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

another_richard said:

Various thoughts:

1) I see the Democrat graveyard vote has been efficient this year there's many things wrong with the UK but at least our elections are pretty competently conducted

2) The most interesting economic stat for today was the big drop in French industrial output - things do not look good in the EZ

3) The most interesting UK economic stat for today was the continued increase in house building, with that and house price growth reduced to manageable levels I wonder if the Conservatives will get a boost from Generation Now Able To Buy

4) Has there ever been a Test team which has included three possible wicket keepers ? England might well do so in the next year.

Happened earlier on this summer with Bairstow, Buttler, and Pope in the team.

Cricketers do seem more versatile these days.

In the third test v New Zealand in 1999, England played Alec Stewart as a specialist batsman and Chris Read as the keeper. As bowlers they picked Headley, Caddick, Tufnell and Such. One wag said "only England could pick as many wicket keepers as spinners and seamers."

The dark days were in 1999.

In the final match of that series our 8,9,10, and 11 were Caddick, Mullaly (!!!), Tufnell, and Giddins.

Omnium

I think someone needs to consider supporting no-deal. I think perhaps I do.

The EU is just obstructing things. Any hint of a deal and all of a sudden borders in the Irish Sea, and fishing rights pop up. It's just so obvious that they want the political process to fail, and they're quite happy to spin us, the UK, into chaos, and have us come back, cap-in-hand, asking to remain.

I don't want no-deal, but neither does the EU. We'll do much better negotiating up from nothing than we will the other way.

We have no particular need to erect a border in Ireland. Let's just see how that goes. The Republic will send themselves mad fretting. I do feel a degree of sympathy for them - all disingenuous opportunists deserve that at least.

The Liverpool Echo may get the last laugh.

Stark_Dawning

tlg86 said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

another_richard said:

Various thoughts:

1) I see the Democrat graveyard vote has been efficient this year there's many things wrong with the UK but at least our elections are pretty competently conducted

2) The most interesting economic stat for today was the big drop in French industrial output - things do not look good in the EZ

3) The most interesting UK economic stat for today was the continued increase in house building, with that and house price growth reduced to manageable levels I wonder if the Conservatives will get a boost from Generation Now Able To Buy

4) Has there ever been a Test team which has included three possible wicket keepers ? England might well do so in the next year.

Happened earlier on this summer with Bairstow, Buttler, and Pope in the team.

Cricketers do seem more versatile these days.

In the third test v New Zealand in 1999, England played Alec Stewart as a specialist batsman and Chris Read as the keeper. As bowlers they picked Headley, Caddick, Tufnell and Such. One wag said "only England could pick as many wicket keepers as spinners and seamers."

I suspect these days you won’t even be taken on by a county unless you have several strings to your bow. Someone like Phil Tufnell - excellent bowler but utterly crap fielder and batsman - probably wouldn’t get a look in nowadays.

eek

Pulpstar said:

tlg86 said:

another_richard said:

3) The most interesting UK economic stat for today was the continued increase in house building, with that and house price growth reduced to manageable levels I wonder if the Conservatives will get a boost from Generation Now Able To Buy

They certainly won't be thanked by the "we did help to buy and now prices have stopped rising" brigade.

Some estates look like instant negative equity traps to me. These houses are very near to each other (And no we don't have the price variation that say London does between streets half a mile from each other). £200k..

https://www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/find-your-home/england/south-yorkshire/sheffield/connect-at-halfway/the-gosford---plot-55

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-68402623.html

What's the average household income for Sheffield?

The average salary is £22,599 so those houses are only 9 times the average salary - Sadly most banks can't lend people more than 4.5x their income

tlg86

Pulpstar said:

tlg86 said:

another_richard said:

3) The most interesting UK economic stat for today was the continued increase in house building, with that and house price growth reduced to manageable levels I wonder if the Conservatives will get a boost from Generation Now Able To Buy

They certainly won't be thanked by the "we did help to buy and now prices have stopped rising" brigade.

Some estates look like instant negative equity traps to me. These houses are very near to each other (And no we don't have the price variation that say London does between streets half a mile from each other). £200k..

https://www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/find-your-home/england/south-yorkshire/sheffield/connect-at-halfway/the-gosford---plot-55

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-68402623.html

The last photo on the Taylor Wimpey house looks like the back garden is shared by the two houses - is that right?

rpjs

HYUFD said:

not_on_fire said:

HYUFD said:

In politics terms the midterms were a draw, the Democrats gained the House and the GOP held on to the Senate gaining seats in the process. In power terms though the Democrats gained most as they will now be able to block Trump's legislation and budget and be able to investigate the administration as they control the House

Depends, in the new Senate if another Supreme Court justice dies or retires (and two of them are in their 80s) then Trump can pretty much be guaranteed to get whoever he nominates confirmed.

The GOP already controlled the Senate and got Kavanaugh confirmed as a SC Justice so in reality that is no change there. However the Democrats do now control the House

The Dems also did pretty well in the gubernatorial races and made some modest gains in the state legislatures. The former is important as it allows for more vetoing of gerrymandered electoral maps after the 2020 census, and the latter helps rebuild an electoral infrastructure that had decayed during the Obama years. All in all I'd say the Dems did pretty well. Taking the Senate was always going to be a very-hard-to-obtain stretch goal for them.

Pulpstar

eek said:

Pulpstar said:

tlg86 said:

another_richard said:

3) The most interesting UK economic stat for today was the continued increase in house building, with that and house price growth reduced to manageable levels I wonder if the Conservatives will get a boost from Generation Now Able To Buy

They certainly won't be thanked by the "we did help to buy and now prices have stopped rising" brigade.

Some estates look like instant negative equity traps to me. These houses are very near to each other (And no we don't have the price variation that say London does between streets half a mile from each other). £200k..

https://www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/find-your-home/england/south-yorkshire/sheffield/connect-at-halfway/the-gosford---plot-55

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-68402623.html

What's the average household income for Sheffield?

For that area, 30k or so. https://www.plumplot.co.uk/Sheffield-salary-and-unemployment.html

Barnesian

Pulpstar said:

Alistair said:

Pulpstar said:

Barnesian said:

Sinema is now 8,300 ahead. The gap is narrowing. Ooer.

Cheers I've greened up.

I'm letting it ride.

I'm +£56 either way and +£213 is 'other' wins. Obviously I should have bet more, at bigger odds - but we can say that about every bet

Sinema's lead has just increased to 8,800 but you're no longer interested are you!

NickPalmer

eek said:

Remember the talk earlier today about banana republics being more organised than America

Well I give you https://twitter.com/varin/status/1060937524040884224

and you do need to read all 25 parts for the full level of incompetency..

I remember that Robert Mugabe, who for all his countless faults does seem to have a sense of humour, offered after the "hanging chad" incident to send observers to the USA to monitor the conduct of the next election.

another_richard

Pulpstar said:

tlg86 said:

another_richard said:

3) The most interesting UK economic stat for today was the continued increase in house building, with that and house price growth reduced to manageable levels I wonder if the Conservatives will get a boost from Generation Now Able To Buy

They certainly won't be thanked by the "we did help to buy and now prices have stopped rising" brigade.

Some estates look like instant negative equity traps to me. These houses are very near to each other (And no we don't have the price variation that say London does between streets half a mile from each other). £200k..

https://www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/find-your-home/england/south-yorkshire/sheffield/connect-at-halfway/the-gosford---plot-55

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-68402623.html

Both look a little expensive to me but I notice one is in Killamrash and one in Halfway - is there any snob value to having a house in Sheffield (however far out) to having one in an ex pit village ?

And if you want to see big variations in houses on the same street:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/DN4/St-Wilfrids-Road.html

No 16 sold £640k Oct 2016
No 98 sold £135k Oct 2016

No 16 being a four bedroom detached and No 98 being a three bedroom semi but even so.

FF43

Philip_Thompson said:

Benpointer said:

RoyalBlue said:

I am not prepared for the U.K. to be the EU’s Puerto Rico, which is what Theresa May is aiming for.

Hard Brexit vs Remain. Let’s go.

Trouble is, the country is literally not prepared for Hard Brexit.

Whose fault is that?

May must go.

Yours. You voted for (apparently).

dr_spyn

Trump isn't impressed with Macron.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1061003186125856769

Pulpstar

another_richard said:

Pulpstar said:

tlg86 said:

another_richard said:

3) The most interesting UK economic stat for today was the continued increase in house building, with that and house price growth reduced to manageable levels I wonder if the Conservatives will get a boost from Generation Now Able To Buy

They certainly won't be thanked by the "we did help to buy and now prices have stopped rising" brigade.

Some estates look like instant negative equity traps to me. These houses are very near to each other (And no we don't have the price variation that say London does between streets half a mile from each other). £200k..

https://www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/find-your-home/england/south-yorkshire/sheffield/connect-at-halfway/the-gosford---plot-55

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-68402623.html

Both look a little expensive to me but I notice one is in Killamrash and one in Halfway - is there any snob value to having a house in Sheffield (however far out) to having one in an ex pit village ?

And if you want to see big variations in houses on the same street:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/DN4/St-Wilfrids-Road.html

No 16 sold £640k Oct 2016
No 98 sold £135k Oct 2016

No 16 being a four bedroom detached and No 98 being a three bedroom semi but even so.

Shorter walk to the tram from the Halfway house. Better pubs and horse livery in Killamarsh

Pulpstar

Few years from now, it'll be all about 'Were you missold help to buy'

another_richard

Pulpstar said:

another_richard said:

Pulpstar said:

tlg86 said:

another_richard said:

3) The most interesting UK economic stat for today was the continued increase in house building, with that and house price growth reduced to manageable levels I wonder if the Conservatives will get a boost from Generation Now Able To Buy

They certainly won't be thanked by the "we did help to buy and now prices have stopped rising" brigade.

Some estates look like instant negative equity traps to me. These houses are very near to each other (And no we don't have the price variation that say London does between streets half a mile from each other). £200k..

https://www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/find-your-home/england/south-yorkshire/sheffield/connect-at-halfway/the-gosford---plot-55

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-68402623.html

Both look a little expensive to me but I notice one is in Killamrash and one in Halfway - is there any snob value to having a house in Sheffield (however far out) to having one in an ex pit village ?

And if you want to see big variations in houses on the same street:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/DN4/St-Wilfrids-Road.html

No 16 sold £640k Oct 2016
No 98 sold £135k Oct 2016

No 16 being a four bedroom detached and No 98 being a three bedroom semi but even so.

Shorter walk to the tram from the Halfway house. Better pubs and horse livery in Killamarsh

And Killamarsh is nearer the M1.

another_richard

Pulpstar said:

Few years from now, it'll be all about 'Were you missold help to buy'

"I blame the government and I deserve compensation".

It can't be long before the interest only mortgage holders start getting upset.

Scott_P

https://twitter.com/fotoole/status/1060868322798043141

ydoethur

TheScreamingEagles said:

another_richard said:

Various thoughts:

1) I see the Democrat graveyard vote has been efficient this year there's many things wrong with the UK but at least our elections are pretty competently conducted

2) The most interesting economic stat for today was the big drop in French industrial output - things do not look good in the EZ

3) The most interesting UK economic stat for today was the continued increase in house building, with that and house price growth reduced to manageable levels I wonder if the Conservatives will get a boost from Generation Now Able To Buy

4) Has there ever been a Test team which has included three possible wicket keepers ? England might well do so in the next year.

Happened earlier on this summer with Bairstow, Buttler, and Pope in the team.

Happened in this Test - Burns started out as a keeper.

Alistair

https://twitter.com/Stewartmoore/status/1060998929758801921?s=19

Casino_Royale

NickPalmer said:

eek said:

Remember the talk earlier today about banana republics being more organised than America

Well I give you https://twitter.com/varin/status/1060937524040884224

and you do need to read all 25 parts for the full level of incompetency..

I remember that Robert Mugabe, who for all his countless faults does seem to have a sense of humour, offered after the "hanging chad" incident to send observers to the USA to monitor the conduct of the next election.

That was quite funny.

ydoethur

TheScreamingEagles said:

another_richard said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

another_richard said:

Various thoughts:

1) I see the Democrat graveyard vote has been efficient this year there's many things wrong with the UK but at least our elections are pretty competently conducted

2) The most interesting economic stat for today was the big drop in French industrial output - things do not look good in the EZ

3) The most interesting UK economic stat for today was the continued increase in house building, with that and house price growth reduced to manageable levels I wonder if the Conservatives will get a boost from Generation Now Able To Buy

4) Has there ever been a Test team which has included three possible wicket keepers ? England might well do so in the next year.

Happened earlier on this summer with Bairstow, Buttler, and Pope in the team.

I didn't know that Olly Pope was a wicket keeper - reserve to Foakes for Surrey I assume.

Now without going all Hovis advert I remember when teams would be more than happy to have a wicket keeper who averaged above 20 and Alan Knott was regarded as a sensation for averaging above 30.

Actually I forgot Rory Burns has kept wicket as well.

So we fielded three keepers in this match.

Bairstow and Burns to open.

Buttler at 3

Pope at 5

Foakes at 7.

Howzat for too many keepers?

tlg86

If you count John Crawley as a wicket keeper - and he did keep wicket for England v Australia at Lords in 1997 - then there were some test matches in the 1990s with three keepers: Stewart, Crawley and Rhodes/Russell.

Nigelb

This is also a nice detail:
https://apnews.com/18679ae12bbe4b2d9dbe93fcaf00e757

There were more than 600,000 mail-in ballots left to process statewide as of Wednesday, about 75 percent in Maricopa County. That huge amount has put pressure on a system that spends a lot of time already verifying the mail ballot signatures.

Fontes said his office’s 1980s-era computer system is partly to blame. It was put in when Maricopa was far smaller and only a handful of its residents voted by mail.

He said the system only allows his office to tally about 75,000 votes a day. There are another 375,000 votes outstanding in Maricopa County alone as of Thursday night....

Casino_Royale

Omnium said:

I think someone needs to consider supporting no-deal. I think perhaps I do.

The EU is just obstructing things. Any hint of a deal and all of a sudden borders in the Irish Sea, and fishing rights pop up. It's just so obvious that they want the political process to fail, and they're quite happy to spin us, the UK, into chaos, and have us come back, cap-in-hand, asking to remain.

I don't want no-deal, but neither does the EU. We'll do much better negotiating up from nothing than we will the other way.

We have no particular need to erect a border in Ireland. Let's just see how that goes. The Republic will send themselves mad fretting. I do feel a degree of sympathy for them - all disingenuous opportunists deserve that at least.

The Liverpool Echo may get the last laugh.

That's exactly what's going on.

It's perfectly obvious that the EU want to make an example of the UK.

Pulpstar

Alistair said:

https://twitter.com/Stewartmoore/status/1060998929758801921?s=19

Lol so we move on from partisan officials to partisan judges. Get ready for a whole bunch of courts overuling each other.

GIN1138

dr_spyn said:

Trump isn't impressed with Macron.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1061003186125856769

Pull the plug Donald. UK should to.

HYUFD

Barnesian said:

HYUFD said:

another_richard said:

HYUFD said:

Interesting to see the Johnson family has both Remainers and Leavers covered with Boris resigning from the Cabinet to back a hard Brexit and Jo resigning as a Minister to back a 'People's Vote' and a second referendum.

May's Chequers Deal or Customs Union for the whole UK plan meanwhile risks getting squeezed in the middle

Anything reasonable will probably get the support of the 60% in the middle.

The hardliners on both sides will hate it but their posturing will confirm the 60% in their support.

Those in the middle would be happy with a Deal which May to be fair to her is trying to achieve, it is those who want to reverse Brexit outright and those who want to go to No Deal and who refuse to compromise who are the hardliners

Those in the middle are the 20% who approve of Mrs May's deal. It might be less now she has conceded more.
https://news.sky.com/story/most-britons-disapprove-of-chequers-brexit-deal-sky-poll-11490402

20% want no deal and 50% want to remain in the EU. 10% don't know/don't care. Most of us are hardliners rather than compromisers if the compromise is so rubbish.

Actually in terms of net favourability Canada is first on +20%, Norway is second on +7%, Chequers is on +5%, Remain is on +1% and No Deal is last on -33%

https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/libleave_brexit_spectrum.html

ydoethur

dr_spyn said:

Trump isn't impressed with Macron.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1061003186125856769

Rare to find myself in agreement with the orang-utan, but...

HYUFD

rpjs said:

HYUFD said:

not_on_fire said:

HYUFD said:

In politics terms the midterms were a draw, the Democrats gained the House and the GOP held on to the Senate gaining seats in the process. In power terms though the Democrats gained most as they will now be able to block Trump's legislation and budget and be able to investigate the administration as they control the House

Depends, in the new Senate if another Supreme Court justice dies or retires (and two of them are in their 80s) then Trump can pretty much be guaranteed to get whoever he nominates confirmed.

The GOP already controlled the Senate and got Kavanaugh confirmed as a SC Justice so in reality that is no change there. However the Democrats do now control the House

The Dems also did pretty well in the gubernatorial races and made some modest gains in the state legislatures. The former is important as it allows for more vetoing of gerrymandered electoral maps after the 2020 census, and the latter helps rebuild an electoral infrastructure that had decayed during the Obama years. All in all I'd say the Dems did pretty well. Taking the Senate was always going to be a very-hard-to-obtain stretch goal for them.

Yes and of course the GOP won the House and made gains in state governorships and legislatures too in 2010 but they did not win back the Senate for another 4 years until 2014

Alistair

Pulpstar said:

Alistair said:

https://twitter.com/Stewartmoore/status/1060998929758801921?s=19

Lol so we move on from partisan officials to partisan judges. Get ready for a whole bunch of courts overuling each other.

I think this one looks straoghtndown the middle. Broward has failed to report stuff it should have reported. This doesn't affect whether they get to count votes or not.

Incidentally the cops Rick Scott called have found not election fraud and have left.

Pulpstar

Alistair said:

Pulpstar said:

Alistair said:

https://twitter.com/Stewartmoore/status/1060998929758801921?s=19

Lol so we move on from partisan officials to partisan judges. Get ready for a whole bunch of courts overuling each other.

I think this one looks straoghtndown the middle. Broward has failed to report stuff it should have reported. This doesn't affect whether they get to count votes or not.

Incidentally the cops Rick Scott called have found not election fraud and have left.

Lol, he called the police ?!

What a dickhead.

ydoethur

tlg86 said:

If you count John Crawley as a wicket keeper - and he did keep wicket for England v Australia at Lords in 1997 - then there were some test matches in the 1990s with three keepers: Stewart, Crawley and Rhodes/Russell.

More controversially Trescothick, Crawley and Stewart all featured in the 2002-2003 Ashes Tests, although Tresco never kept in Tests.

Nigelb

GIN1138 said:

dr_spyn said:

Trump isn't impressed with Macron.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1061003186125856769

Pull the plug Donald. UK should to.

Not the sharpest tool, your Donald...

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/415892-trump-have-not-spoken-to-whitaker-about-russia-probe
Trump defended Whitaker as a "very well respected man in the law enforcement community" but claimed he does not know him personally.
"I didn't speak to Matt Whitaker about it. I don't know Matt Whitaker," Trump told reporters at the White House before leaving for a trip to Paris....

Whitaker, who formerly served as chief of staff to ousted Attorney General Jeff Sessions, reportedly met with Trump roughly a dozen times in the Oval Office.
In an Oct. 11 interview with Fox News, Trump said "I can tell you Matt Whitaker's a great guy. I mean, I know Matt Whitaker."...

ydoethur

Pulpstar said:

Alistair said:

Pulpstar said:

Alistair said:

https://twitter.com/Stewartmoore/status/1060998929758801921?s=19

Lol so we move on from partisan officials to partisan judges. Get ready for a whole bunch of courts overuling each other.

I think this one looks straoghtndown the middle. Broward has failed to report stuff it should have reported. This doesn't affect whether they get to count votes or not.

Incidentally the cops Rick Scott called have found not election fraud and have left.

Lol, he called the police ?!

What a dickhead.

As I say, it needs to go to a coin toss, so that he can be shown up as a useless tosser...

Pulpstar

Everyone remember the Swedish elections ?

The next PM market is still live ! And "Annie Loof" is challenging Ulf Kristersson for favouritism

https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/politics/market/1.132732034

Nigelb

ydoethur said:

dr_spyn said:

Trump isn't impressed with Macron.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1061003186125856769

Rare to find myself in agreement with the orang-utan, but...

Isn’t that tantamount to saying they don’t spend enough on defence, and then complaining when they make plans to increase spending... on defence ?

Or is he suggesting that they just bung Washington a few billion a year instead ? Wouldn’t that be seen as .... vassalage or something ?

ydoethur

Of course, if you want a Test where they had not just four keepers but four people who kept wicket in the same innings, try this one:

https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/four-wicket-keepers-in-a-single-test-29275

FF43

ydoethur said:

dr_spyn said:

Trump isn't impressed with Macron.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1061003186125856769

Rare to find myself in agreement with the orang-utan, but...

I don't agree, on grounds of logic. NATO - staffing, HQ etc - is directly funded according to a formula based on national income. Members make a much more significant contribution by having personnel and materiel available to the common NATO cause. Trump presumably is referring to the US' relatively large military when he talks about subsidy. But that's what Macron is proposing to increase in Europe

justin124

Not much change in Florida - Republican lead cut by 150 to just over 14,900.

Nigelb

ydoethur said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

another_richard said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

another_richard said:

Various thoughts:

1) I see the Democrat graveyard vote has been efficient this year there's many things wrong with the UK but at least our elections are pretty competently conducted

2) The most interesting economic stat for today was the big drop in French industrial output - things do not look good in the EZ

3) The most interesting UK economic stat for today was the continued increase in house building, with that and house price growth reduced to manageable levels I wonder if the Conservatives will get a boost from Generation Now Able To Buy

4) Has there ever been a Test team which has included three possible wicket keepers ? England might well do so in the next year.

Happened earlier on this summer with Bairstow, Buttler, and Pope in the team.

I didn't know that Olly Pope was a wicket keeper - reserve to Foakes for Surrey I assume.

Now without going all Hovis advert I remember when teams would be more than happy to have a wicket keeper who averaged above 20 and Alan Knott was regarded as a sensation for averaging above 30.

Actually I forgot Rory Burns has kept wicket as well.

So we fielded three keepers in this match.

Bairstow and Burns to open.

Buttler at 3

Pope at 5

Foakes at 7.

Howzat for too many keepers?

If you count wicketkeeper batsmen as all rounders, we could play a pretty good team solely composed of all test rounders. Actually, we could field a reasonably good team even if you only counted the actual wicket keeper as the all rounder.

ydoethur

Nigelb said:

ydoethur said:

dr_spyn said:

Trump isn't impressed with Macron.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1061003186125856769

Rare to find myself in agreement with the orang-utan, but...

Isn’t that tantamount to saying they don’t spend enough on defence, and then complaining when they make plans to increase spending... on defence ?

Or is he suggesting that they just bung Washington a few billion a year instead ? Wouldn’t that be seen as .... vassalage or something ?

I think he's saying (although he's so incoherent it's hard to be sure that this is what he means) that it's very difficult to take such talk seriously when the countries in question can't meet NATO commitments, which are not onerous compared to the full fledged military build up he seems to think Macron is proposing,

It has been mooted in the past that a united Europe could provide a military counterweight to the US. It's nonsensical - there's neither the will nor the money for it without savage cuts elsewhere - and that may be what Macron's saying. Either way, it's never smart to offend your allies (even ones as unreliable as Mr Fake News) when they provide most of your defence capability.

ydoethur

FF43 said:

ydoethur said:

dr_spyn said:

Trump isn't impressed with Macron.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1061003186125856769

Rare to find myself in agreement with the orang-utan, but...

I don't agree, on grounds of logic. NATO - staffing, HQ etc - is directly funded according to a formula based on national income. Members make a much more significant contribution by having personnel and materiel available to the common NATO cause. Trump presumably is referring to the US' relatively large military when he talks about subsidy. But that's what Macron is proposing to increase in Europe

You do know that NATO members are also committed to spending 2% of GDP on defensive capability, don't you? And that none of them do (I don't think even we do now)?

Nigelb

ydoethur said:

Nigelb said:

ydoethur said:

dr_spyn said:

Trump isn't impressed with Macron.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1061003186125856769

Rare to find myself in agreement with the orang-utan, but...

Isn’t that tantamount to saying they don’t spend enough on defence, and then complaining when they make plans to increase spending... on defence ?

Or is he suggesting that they just bung Washington a few billion a year instead ? Wouldn’t that be seen as .... vassalage or something ?

I think he's saying (although he's so incoherent it's hard to be sure that this is what he means) that it's very difficult to take such talk seriously when the countries in question can't meet NATO commitments, which are not onerous compared to the full fledged military build up he seems to think Macron is proposing,

It has been mooted in the past that a united Europe could provide a military counterweight to the US. It's nonsensical - there's neither the will nor the money for it without savage cuts elsewhere - and that may be what Macron's saying. Either way, it's never smart to offend your allies (even ones as unreliable as Mr Fake News) when they provide most of your defence capability.

Careful... you might suddenly find yourself the next White House Communications Director....


Though I have to admit any tweet bashing the French does tend to induce a reflex to approve of it.

Toms

Bah.
The US has no idea how to conduct a democracy.
They should still be a colony.
And, anyway, without us they are small fry compared to a resurgent China, as SeanT has repeatedly foretold.

Scott_P

Toms said:

Bah.
The US has no idea how to conduct a democracy.
They should still be a colony.

Cos we are shit hot at the whole democracy lark right now...

Scott_P

https://twitter.com/ottocrat/status/1061015735370244101

ydoethur

These are Macron's remarks as reported by the Beeb:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46108633

They are stupid. No ifs, no buts. Fine to say Europe needs to protect itself and not rely on others. Indeed, many people need to understand that and currently don't. Very foolish indeed to effectively say you're thinking of the possibility of war with your key ally, especially when it's led by a thin-skinned narcissist with a Twitter account.

Between this and his decision to honour Pétain, Macron's had a rotten week. Along with Merkel's implosion, we have to face the fact that the EU may be currently leaderless.

GIN1138

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/ottocrat/status/1061015735370244101

Isn't that just recognition that in the real world nobody knows who the hell Jo Johnson is so to make the story a bit more "sexy" they have to point out the relationship to Boris?

Theo

Scott_P said:

Toms said:

Bah.
The US has no idea how to conduct a democracy.
They should still be a colony.

Cos we are shit hot at the whole democracy lark right now...

Yes, it has been a travesty how many of the political and media elite think democracy should only apply when they get the answer they want. Thankfully our institutions are strong enough to withstand these illiberal pressures and the referendum is still being implemented.

Scott_P

https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1061018373725786112

williamglenn

ydoethur said:

FF43 said:

ydoethur said:

dr_spyn said:

Trump isn't impressed with Macron.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1061003186125856769

Rare to find myself in agreement with the orang-utan, but...

I don't agree, on grounds of logic. NATO - staffing, HQ etc - is directly funded according to a formula based on national income. Members make a much more significant contribution by having personnel and materiel available to the common NATO cause. Trump presumably is referring to the US' relatively large military when he talks about subsidy. But that's what Macron is proposing to increase in Europe

You do know that NATO members are also committed to spending 2% of GDP on defensive capability, don't you? And that none of them do (I don't think even we do now)?

That target was just agreed in 2006 and has always been controversial because it has little relation to capabilities. It's not a foundational principle of NATO.

Pulpstar

lol
https://twitter.com/GuidoFawkes/status/1060951871190376448

Nigelb

williamglenn said:

ydoethur said:

FF43 said:

ydoethur said:

dr_spyn said:

Trump isn't impressed with Macron.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1061003186125856769

Rare to find myself in agreement with the orang-utan, but...

I don't agree, on grounds of logic. NATO - staffing, HQ etc - is directly funded according to a formula based on national income. Members make a much more significant contribution by having personnel and materiel available to the common NATO cause. Trump presumably is referring to the US' relatively large military when he talks about subsidy. But that's what Macron is proposing to increase in Europe

You do know that NATO members are also committed to spending 2% of GDP on defensive capability, don't you? And that none of them do (I don't think even we do now)?

That target was just agreed in 2006 and has always been controversial because it has little relation to capabilities. It's not a foundational principle of NATO.

Perhaps not, but it’s ludicrous to suggest that Europe has not neglected its defence.

Theo

Omnium said:

I think someone needs to consider supporting no-deal. I think perhaps I do.

The EU is just obstructing things. Any hint of a deal and all of a sudden borders in the Irish Sea, and fishing rights pop up. It's just so obvious that they want the political process to fail, and they're quite happy to spin us, the UK, into chaos, and have us come back, cap-in-hand, asking to remain.

I don't want no-deal, but neither does the EU. We'll do much better negotiating up from nothing than we will the other way.

We have no particular need to erect a border in Ireland. Let's just see how that goes. The Republic will send themselves mad fretting. I do feel a degree of sympathy for them - all disingenuous opportunists deserve that at least.

The Liverpool Echo may get the last laugh.

This is exactly right. The EU is only offering two things: annexation of foreign territory or EU membership in all but name. Unfortunately our press, through either bias or incompetence is failing to point out this central information to the whole topic.

Scott_P

https://twitter.com/MsHelicat/status/1061019145142259712

ydoethur

GIN1138 said:

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/ottocrat/status/1061015735370244101

Isn't that just recognition that in the real world nobody knows who the hell Jo Johnson is so to make the story a bit more "sexy" they have to point out the relationship to Boris?

Jo Johnson? He was a general of the Confederacy, appointed to command the army of the West in 1863 after the battle of Vicksburg...

Oh, sorry, that was Jo Johnston. No idea who this other guy is. Is he a snooker player of some kind?

another_richard

GIN1138 said:

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/ottocrat/status/1061015735370244101

Isn't that just recognition that in the real world nobody knows who the hell Jo Johnson is so to make the story a bit more "sexy" they have to point out the relationship to Boris?

Of course people know who Jo Johnson is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7IYGmzNB1E

another_richard

ydoethur said:

These are Macron's remarks as reported by the Beeb:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46108633

They are stupid. No ifs, no buts. Fine to say Europe needs to protect itself and not rely on others. Indeed, many people need to understand that and currently don't. Very foolish indeed to effectively say you're thinking of the possibility of war with your key ally, especially when it's led by a thin-skinned narcissist with a Twitter account.

Between this and his decision to honour Pétain, Macron's had a rotten week. Along with Merkel's implosion, we have to face the fact that the EU may be currently leaderless.

What's that saying about each French President being worse than the one before

ydoethur

williamglenn said:

ydoethur said:

FF43 said:

ydoethur said:

dr_spyn said:

Trump isn't impressed with Macron.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1061003186125856769

Rare to find myself in agreement with the orang-utan, but...

I don't agree, on grounds of logic. NATO - staffing, HQ etc - is directly funded according to a formula based on national income. Members make a much more significant contribution by having personnel and materiel available to the common NATO cause. Trump presumably is referring to the US' relatively large military when he talks about subsidy. But that's what Macron is proposing to increase in Europe

You do know that NATO members are also committed to spending 2% of GDP on defensive capability, don't you? And that none of them do (I don't think even we do now)?

That target was just agreed in 2006 and has always been controversial because it has little relation to capabilities. It's not a foundational principle of NATO.

So you consider commitments made later on that everyone agrees are pointless to be non-binding?

I wish you'd said this earlier and preferably to M. Barnier.

Good night.

FF43

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1061018373725786112

The flaw with this plan is that it exists for the situation where the UK can't agree the EU terms and yet it expects the EU pick up negotiations again but this time drop its demands. Why wouldn't it demand the same thing again?

Sunil_Prasannan

Pulpstar said:

lol
https://twitter.com/GuidoFawkes/status/1060951871190376448

Brexit McBrexitface

ydoethur

another_richard said:

ydoethur said:

These are Macron's remarks as reported by the Beeb:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46108633

They are stupid. No ifs, no buts. Fine to say Europe needs to protect itself and not rely on others. Indeed, many people need to understand that and currently don't. Very foolish indeed to effectively say you're thinking of the possibility of war with your key ally, especially when it's led by a thin-skinned narcissist with a Twitter account.

Between this and his decision to honour Pétain, Macron's had a rotten week. Along with Merkel's implosion, we have to face the fact that the EU may be currently leaderless.

What's that saying about each French President being worse than the one before

This one's rapidly turning into a latter day Paul Deschanel, who famously turned up to an official meeting in all his official insignia but having forgotten to put on his actual clothes.

And that is saying something.

Nos da.

twistedfirestopper3

Scott_P said:

Toms said:

Bah.
The US has no idea how to conduct a democracy.
They should still be a colony.

Cos we are shit hot at the whole democracy lark right now...

What part of our democracy are you saying isn't' democratic? I get that Brexit makes you wet the bed, and it may even be as bad as you hoped, but what do you mean by that? I realise you normally only paste a tweet by someone who you agree with, but go on, have a stab at it.

williamglenn

FF43 said:

Scott_P said:

https://twitter.com/MrHarryCole/status/1061018373725786112

The flaw with this plan is that it exists for the situation where the UK can't agree the EU terms and yet it expects the EU pick up negotiations again but this time drop its demands. Why wouldn't it demand the same thing again?

HYUFD gets it.

https://twitter.com/HYUFD1/status/1061020190123663363

another_richard

williamglenn said:

ydoethur said:

FF43 said:

ydoethur said:

dr_spyn said:

Trump isn't impressed with Macron.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1061003186125856769

Rare to find myself in agreement with the orang-utan, but...

I don't agree, on grounds of logic. NATO - staffing, HQ etc - is directly funded according to a formula based on national income. Members make a much more significant contribution by having personnel and materiel available to the common NATO cause. Trump presumably is referring to the US' relatively large military when he talks about subsidy. But that's what Macron is proposing to increase in Europe

You do know that NATO members are also committed to spending 2% of GDP on defensive capability, don't you? And that none of them do (I don't think even we do now)?

That target was just agreed in 2006 and has always been controversial because it has little relation to capabilities. It's not a foundational principle of NATO.

As it is a percentage of GDP it is by definition related to capabilities.

GIN1138

This time next week Theresa May really could be a dead woman walking - Having resigned as leader of the Conservative Party and just acting a PM until Con sort out a new leader.

After which she has a date with George Osborne's freezer...