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  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,383
    Axiomatic said:

    AndyJS said:

    8,000 Britons may need to be evacuated from Sri Lanka according to the BBC. I hope the government has contingency plans in place.

    Heavens, that sounds a bit apocalyptic. Presumably the Govt has inside info that more is to come? When did we last evacuate all Britons from an entire country?
    Libya in 2011, I think.
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,313
    algarkirk said:

    RobD said:

    Eco-warrior glues her BREASTS to the road in most bizarre Extinction Rebellion stunt yet

    https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8934720/eco-warriors-glue-london-stock-exchange-climb-canary-wharf-train/

    Is glueing the new thing or something?
    Completely ignoring people who glue themselves to things sounds quite a good strategy where practicable. Other eco-warriors can unglue their friends when they get bored.
    I hope it is eco-friendly, non-animal tested non-toxic glue. If so it is probably quite easy to unglue oneself
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    Pulpstar said:

    Oh dear, Joe Biden seems to have gaffed by quoting the Declaration of Independence in his opening campaign email.

    How's that a gaffe ?
    "America is an idea. Based on a founding principle that all men are created equal".
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,313
    Sean_F said:

    nico67 said:

    AndyJS said:

    "UK, Kantar Public poll:

    European Union Membership Referendum

    Remain: 55% (+1)
    Leave: 45% (-1)

    +/- vs. 4-8 April

    Fieldwork: 19 February-4 March 2019
    Sample Size: ~1,000"

    Not a single poll in over 18 months has had Leave ahead . You can see why Leavers don’t want another EU referendum.
    Opinium and YouGov have recently shown pluralities for Leave.

    The Kantar poll includes people aged 16-18 and EU nationals, so is not directly comparable to UK polls.
    The Kantar poll much more democratic then. It's the will-o-the-people you know!
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Expect a big announcement on Crossrail later tonight or early tomorrow morning. Main Board meeting right now.

    It will still carry a lot of risk in it (opening date) before anyone asks.

    Is Khan pushing for before or after his reelection day?
  • NemtynakhtNemtynakht Posts: 2,329
    Off topic but I have been very impressed with the Brexit Party political operation. Recognisable name which has meaning for likely supporters. Simple messages. Not dissimilar in style to Labour at last GE. Never mind if you scratch the surface and there is no substance, that won’t necessarily get you in
  • AxiomaticAxiomatic Posts: 21
    Sean_F said:

    Axiomatic said:

    AndyJS said:

    8,000 Britons may need to be evacuated from Sri Lanka according to the BBC. I hope the government has contingency plans in place.

    Heavens, that sounds a bit apocalyptic. Presumably the Govt has inside info that more is to come? When did we last evacuate all Britons from an entire country?
    Libya in 2011, I think.
    Yes, I believe you could be right. But that was a civil war. Hopefully this is just plan B if it all gets a lot worse.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,217

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh dear, Joe Biden seems to have gaffed by quoting the Declaration of Independence in his opening campaign email.

    How's that a gaffe ?
    "America is an idea. Based on a founding principle that all men are created equal".
    He's the Democrats last chance (Along with perhaps Buttigieg... ) to save themselves from some hellish leftist abyss. I note the twitter SJWs have leapt all over this, that in itself doesn't make it a bad email though.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821

    Off topic but I have been very impressed with the Brexit Party political operation. Recognisable name which has meaning for likely supporters. Simple messages. Not dissimilar in style to Labour at last GE. Never mind if you scratch the surface and there is no substance, that won’t necessarily get you in

    Yes, it's been a very slick launch.
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,313

    Off topic but I have been very impressed with the Brexit Party political operation. Recognisable name which has meaning for likely supporters. Simple messages. Not dissimilar in style to Labour at last GE. Never mind if you scratch the surface and there is no substance, that won’t necessarily get you in

    Fascism delights in simplistic messages.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,383
    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh dear, Joe Biden seems to have gaffed by quoting the Declaration of Independence in his opening campaign email.

    How's that a gaffe ?
    "America is an idea. Based on a founding principle that all men are created equal".
    He's the Democrats last chance (Along with perhaps Buttigieg... ) to save themselves from some hellish leftist abyss. I note the twitter SJWs have leapt all over this, that in itself doesn't make it a bad email though.
    OTOH, the Dems may choose a candidate who campaigns on reparations for slavery, late term abortion, and abolishing immigration controls, in which case, Trump will be re-elected very comfortably.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh dear, Joe Biden seems to have gaffed by quoting the Declaration of Independence in his opening campaign email.

    How's that a gaffe ?
    "America is an idea. Based on a founding principle that all men are created equal".
    He's the Democrats last chance (Along with perhaps Buttigieg... ) to save themselves from some hellish leftist abyss. I note the twitter SJWs have leapt all over this, that in itself doesn't make it a bad email though.
    The grammar is abysmal, but why didn't they just write something like 'we are all created equal'? This is 2019, and people (especially Democrat supporters) are touchy about these things.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,237
    edited April 2019

    Yes, surely the most devious playing around with appellations since Churchill used to pronounce the first syllable of 'Nazi' to rhyme with 'jazz' instead of 'arts'.

    And neither averse to a spot of white supremacy but there the similarity ends. Thank goodness we had Winnie not Trump in our darkest hour.

    "Little Adolf thinks he has more planes and a better army than me. Got another thing coming I can tell you that. And that moustache! What a pansy!"

    The House of Commons erupts.

    A nation listens avidly, crowded around the crackling wireless, and its resolve to defeat the evil on its doorstep is immeasurably stiffened. Not.
  • AndreaParma_82AndreaParma_82 Posts: 4,714
    edited April 2019
    Statements of people nominated for Euros are being published.

    BrexitParty rankings emerged so far...


    Yorkshire (6 seats, 2 each for Con, Lab and UKIP last time)

    1) John Longworth
    2) Lucy Elizabeth Harris
    3) Jake Pugh
    etc

    West Midlands (7 seats, in 2014 3 UKIP 2 Lab 2 Con)

    1) Rupert James Graham Lowe
    2) Martin Edward Daubney
    3) Andrew Robert England Kerr
    4) Vishal Dilip Khatri
    etc

    North East (3 seats, in 2014 2 Lab 1 UKIP)

    1) Brian Monteith
    2) John David Edward Tennant
    etc

    South East (10 seats, in 2014 4 UKIP, 3 Con, 1 Lab, 1 Green, 1 LD)

    1) Nigel Paul Farage
    2) Alexandra Lesley Phillips
    3) Robert Andrew Rowland
    4) Belinda Claire De Camborne Lucy
    5) James Gilbert Bartholomew
    etc
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,318
    Axiomatic said:

    AndyJS said:

    8,000 Britons may need to be evacuated from Sri Lanka according to the BBC. I hope the government has contingency plans in place.

    Heavens, that sounds a bit apocalyptic. Presumably the Govt has inside info that more is to come? When did we last evacuate all Britons from an entire country?
    According to today's papers, there was another hotel which was targeted but where the suicide bombing did not happen. Given how many people have died - 359 - and hundreds injured ( and there are heart-breaking stories of whole families wiped out), I am not surprised the government is worried.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,217
    Sean_F said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh dear, Joe Biden seems to have gaffed by quoting the Declaration of Independence in his opening campaign email.

    How's that a gaffe ?
    "America is an idea. Based on a founding principle that all men are created equal".
    He's the Democrats last chance (Along with perhaps Buttigieg... ) to save themselves from some hellish leftist abyss. I note the twitter SJWs have leapt all over this, that in itself doesn't make it a bad email though.
    OTOH, the Dems may choose a candidate who campaigns on reparations for slavery, late term abortion, and abolishing immigration controls, in which case, Trump will be re-elected very comfortably.
    There is an interesting late Chris Hitchens talk up on Youtube re slavery reparations.

    I expect he wouldn't have passed the "woke test" for a Democrat candidate, despite being very left wing, if he were alive & eligible though !
  • TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,454

    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh dear, Joe Biden seems to have gaffed by quoting the Declaration of Independence in his opening campaign email.

    How's that a gaffe ?
    "America is an idea. Based on a founding principle that all men are created equal".
    He's the Democrats last chance (Along with perhaps Buttigieg... ) to save themselves from some hellish leftist abyss. I note the twitter SJWs have leapt all over this, that in itself doesn't make it a bad email though.
    The grammar is abysmal, but why didn't they just write something like 'we are all created equal'? This is 2019, and people (especially Democrat supporters) are touchy about these things.
    Someone who is not at work can link the Family Guy sketch, but as the joke goes, all men are created equal, except women, ethnic minorities, the French, Catholics, the Iris or anyone who wasn't white English basically.
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,318
    I see that the Labour Party has appointed as Head of Complaints someone with no experience of investigations or of managing a complaints system and that both the party and the appointee have no understanding of the concept of an actual or potential conflict of interest.

    If a bank were to do something similar the regulator would be all over them.

    Still, it will probably achieve its purpose - to put off any complainant so that's all good.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,741
    stodge said:

    If no one else has mentioned it, it was ANZAC day in NZ and Australia yesterday (because in NZ it's already Friday morning).

    It's also 45 years since the Carnation Revolution in Portugal when the Army overthrew the Estado Nero Government of Marcelo Caetano.

    My Great Great Uncle died on Pine Ridge on Anzac Day. His war lasted less than 6 hours. The Turkish counter attack was so total that the battalion was wiped out. The ANZACs never retook the ridge. RIP.

  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,617

    Off topic but I have been very impressed with the Brexit Party political operation. Recognisable name which has meaning for likely supporters. Simple messages. Not dissimilar in style to Labour at last GE. Never mind if you scratch the surface and there is no substance, that won’t necessarily get you in

    Not many of their voters will want substance for the Euros. This is a Tory voter strike. Just saying "Brexit" gets the job done.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    dixiedean said:

    stodge said:

    If no one else has mentioned it, it was ANZAC day in NZ and Australia yesterday (because in NZ it's already Friday morning).

    It's also 45 years since the Carnation Revolution in Portugal when the Army overthrew the Estado Nero Government of Marcelo Caetano.

    Remember it well. Was on holiday there. Flew home a few days before the coup.
    That same July, we were in Cyprus. Flew home the night before the coup, which led to the Turkish invasion a week or so later.
    Even as a child, was aware I had visited two places which would never be the same again.
    Have you checked your dad’s MI5 file?
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    stodge said:



    I don't know what you mean. Electomania hasn't asked ANYONE for their political opinions, only their thoughts on a range of emojies.

    Are we then to suppose the 11,000 or so who have responded are in any way "representative" or "sampled" - I think it's a bit more than just saying whether you prefer water to a rose or an aubergine to an orange.

    It looks like a poll, smells like a poll and sounds like a poll - it's probably a poll.
    Of course it's a poll, I just think it's a bit silly and rather funny :)

    I think Electomania's 11k "sample" is a rolling panel type poll, but I'm not 100%.
    It’s absolutely not a political poll. That would be illegal. They are just interested in emoji
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,741

    Off topic but I have been very impressed with the Brexit Party political operation. Recognisable name which has meaning for likely supporters. Simple messages. Not dissimilar in style to Labour at last GE. Never mind if you scratch the surface and there is no substance, that won’t necessarily get you in

    Not many of their voters will want substance for the Euros. This is a Tory voter strike. Just saying "Brexit" gets the job done.
    Yes, the Brexit Party have been deliberately vague about what they mean by Brexit. WA or No Deal?

    After all, it worked the first time!
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    rcs1000 said:

    Expect a big announcement on Crossrail later tonight or early tomorrow morning. Main Board meeting right now.

    It will still carry a lot of risk in it (opening date) before anyone asks.

    "Crossrail to open on Brexit Day"
    The Elizabeth Line to be renamed the Brexit Line?
    Or the Elizabeth Bowes Line?
    😂😂👏
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,720

    Off topic but I have been very impressed with the Brexit Party political operation. Recognisable name which has meaning for likely supporters. Simple messages. Not dissimilar in style to Labour at last GE. Never mind if you scratch the surface and there is no substance, that won’t necessarily get you in

    Yes, it's been a very slick launch.
    So far it's a far superior campaign than the Vote Leave operation in 2016.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,871

    Off topic but I have been very impressed with the Brexit Party political operation. Recognisable name which has meaning for likely supporters. Simple messages. Not dissimilar in style to Labour at last GE. Never mind if you scratch the surface and there is no substance, that won’t necessarily get you in

    Yes, it's been a very slick launch.
    Painful contrast to Change UK who are dead before they even get going. Chukka and company are not daft but if they are completely incapable of organising a party you do have to wonder at their ability to organise a department, let alone a government.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Ishmael_Z said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Nigelb said:

    Nigelb said:

    538 has a more measured assessment:
    https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-joe-biden-could-win-the-2020-democratic-nomination/

    I appreciate Mike is pretty dismissive of Biden's prospects, but it seems a mistake to write off any of the top half dozen candidates at this point.

    Yes, Nate's article is a good balanced assessment. Clearly Biden has a goodish chance, but it's early days and there are significant obstacles.
    An interesting question is who will be the top ten who make it to the first debate, and what metric will they apply to allocate spaces at the grownup version ?

    https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/440599-booker-fundraises-off-biden-announcement
    The Democratic National Committee has said no more than 20 candidates will be allowed to attend debates with only 10 on stage at one time. Candidates must poll at 1 percent or more in three national or early primary state polls or receive contributions from at least 65,000 donors in 20 states to qualify....

    Anyone outside that is probably toast.
    8 more or less certain to make it to the first debate :

    Biden
    Sanders
    Buttigieg
    Harris
    Warren
    O 'Rourke
    Booker
    Klobuchar

    Then after 2 of:

    -----------
    Yang
    Castro
    Gillibrand
    Hickenlooper
    ------------

    I think perhaps Yang and Gillibrand.
    What's happened to Hickenlooper? Seem to recall OGH was quite keen.
    Repurposed himself as a radiohead tribute act when it was pointed out that he anagrams to "OK Necrophile."
    Otoh Nunzi (or whatever daft nickname you attach to Annunziata) was overjoyed that her anagram fits right in.

    https://twitter.com/Fabapocalypse/status/1121347797343715328
    She’s officially Unity Rees Mogg (on this board at least)
  • Nigel_ForemainNigel_Foremain Posts: 14,313
    Cyclefree said:

    I see that the Labour Party has appointed as Head of Complaints someone with no experience of investigations or of managing a complaints system and that both the party and the appointee have no understanding of the concept of an actual or potential conflict of interest.

    If a bank were to do something similar the regulator would be all over them.

    Still, it will probably achieve its purpose - to put off any complainant so that's all good.

    Political organisations believe they are not bound by the norms that they insist for the rest of society. The best example being how you could put someone in charge of trade policy who has no credentials whatsoever for such a role.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    Cyclefree said:

    I see that the Labour Party has appointed as Head of Complaints someone with no experience of investigations or of managing a complaints system and that both the party and the appointee have no understanding of the concept of an actual or potential conflict of interest.

    If a bank were to do something similar the regulator would be all over them.

    Still, it will probably achieve its purpose - to put off any complainant so that's all good.

    Since she’s apparently going to be defending a libel action she has a busy time ahead of her.
  • AndreaParma_82AndreaParma_82 Posts: 4,714
    East Midlands Brexit list (2 UKIP 2 Con 1 Lab in 2014)

    1) Annunziata Mary Rees-Mogg
    2) Jonathan Deryck Bullock
    3) Matthew Richard Patten
    etc
  • AndreaParma_82AndreaParma_82 Posts: 4,714
    edited April 2019
    I am deeply disappointed she was named Annunziata Mary rather than Maria Annunziata
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    Cyclefree said:

    I see that the Labour Party has appointed as Head of Complaints someone with no experience of investigations or of managing a complaints system and that both the party and the appointee have no understanding of the concept of an actual or potential conflict of interest.

    If a bank were to do something similar the regulator would be all over them.

    Still, it will probably achieve its purpose - to put off any complainant so that's all good.

    The appointment shows a complete contempt for due process. It is nepotistic, she has no relevant experience, she is already seen as biased, and has previously been accused of interfering improperly in investigations. They could hardly have chosen anyone worse, except perhaps Ken Livingstone or Chris Williamson.

    But then this is an institutionally anti-semitic party, so they don't care.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh dear, Joe Biden seems to have gaffed by quoting the Declaration of Independence in his opening campaign email.

    How's that a gaffe ?
    "America is an idea. Based on a founding principle that all men are created equal".
    It’s not modern wording, but is the failure to include “/women/whatever else should be included” really a gaffe?

    Can’t people look beyond the trivial and focus on the important message he’s trying to highlight?
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,383
    Charles said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh dear, Joe Biden seems to have gaffed by quoting the Declaration of Independence in his opening campaign email.

    How's that a gaffe ?
    "America is an idea. Based on a founding principle that all men are created equal".
    It’s not modern wording, but is the failure to include “/women/whatever else should be included” really a gaffe?

    Can’t people look beyond the trivial and focus on the important message he’s trying to highlight?
    We know the answer to that last question. The professionally offended will always be offended.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    Charles said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh dear, Joe Biden seems to have gaffed by quoting the Declaration of Independence in his opening campaign email.

    How's that a gaffe ?
    "America is an idea. Based on a founding principle that all men are created equal".
    It’s not modern wording, but is the failure to include “/women/whatever else should be included” really a gaffe?

    Can’t people look beyond the trivial and focus on the important message he’s trying to highlight?
    You don't need to tell me that, but neither you nor I are the target market.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 37,383

    East Midlands Brexit list (2 UKIP 2 Con 1 Lab in 2014)

    1) Annunziata Mary Rees-Mogg
    2) Jonathan Deryck Bullock
    3) Matthew Richard Patten
    etc

    I'm having dinner with Jonathan Bullock tomorrow. I'll be interested for his views on the campaign.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,871

    Charles said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh dear, Joe Biden seems to have gaffed by quoting the Declaration of Independence in his opening campaign email.

    How's that a gaffe ?
    "America is an idea. Based on a founding principle that all men are created equal".
    It’s not modern wording, but is the failure to include “/women/whatever else should be included” really a gaffe?

    Can’t people look beyond the trivial and focus on the important message he’s trying to highlight?
    You don't need to tell me that, but neither you nor I are the target market.
    I think that its a trade off between being more inclusive and emphasising that these were the principles that the US was founded upon and always aspired to. The pay off is his face when reporting Trump's comment that there were good people on both sides. I thought that was pretty devastating. As he says the US has not always lived up to those principles but jeez, this is bad.
  • nico67nico67 Posts: 4,502
    Sean_F said:

    nico67 said:

    AndyJS said:

    "UK, Kantar Public poll:

    European Union Membership Referendum

    Remain: 55% (+1)
    Leave: 45% (-1)

    +/- vs. 4-8 April

    Fieldwork: 19 February-4 March 2019
    Sample Size: ~1,000"

    Not a single poll in over 18 months has had Leave ahead . You can see why Leavers don’t want another EU referendum.
    Opinium and YouGov have recently shown pluralities for Leave.

    The Kantar poll includes people aged 16-18 and EU nationals, so is not directly comparable to UK polls.
    On the question Remain or Leave in another EU ref no polls have shown this recently . As for the Kantar even if you take out EU nationals and 16 to 17 year olds it would still show a lead for Remain . 18 year olds are allowed to vote by the way!
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,246
    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh dear, Joe Biden seems to have gaffed by quoting the Declaration of Independence in his opening campaign email.

    How's that a gaffe ?
    "America is an idea. Based on a founding principle that all men are created equal".
    He's the Democrats last chance (Along with perhaps Buttigieg... ) to save themselves from some hellish leftist abyss. I note the twitter SJWs have leapt all over this, that in itself doesn't make it a bad email though.
    In of itself, probably harmless (like his ill judged joke a couple of weeks back), but it indicates a tone deafness when talking to a significant part of his party electorate, which is going to hurt his chances of getting the nomination.
    It's a long campaign, and Buttigieg and Harris aren't tone deaf.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,237
    IanB2 said:

    As I recall many such surnames arise from one regional administrator tasked with allocating the Jewish population of the part of partitioned Poland that was annexed in the 1790s to Germany (Prussia) with surnames, and doing so arbitrarily by making up names from whatever words came into his mind. For reasons of history the surviving descendants are mostly now in America.

    Really? So another example of how names can be symptoms of disrespect and oppression. For example, many black people are to this day known by the surname allocated to their slave forbears by their 'owners'. I did not realize that until somebody much younger and wiser and better read than me told me about it.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,217
    Nigelb said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh dear, Joe Biden seems to have gaffed by quoting the Declaration of Independence in his opening campaign email.

    How's that a gaffe ?
    "America is an idea. Based on a founding principle that all men are created equal".
    He's the Democrats last chance (Along with perhaps Buttigieg... ) to save themselves from some hellish leftist abyss. I note the twitter SJWs have leapt all over this, that in itself doesn't make it a bad email though.
    In of itself, probably harmless (like his ill judged joke a couple of weeks back), but it indicates a tone deafness when talking to a significant part of his party electorate, which is going to hurt his chances of getting the nomination.
    It's a long campaign, and Buttigieg and Harris aren't tone deaf.
    Pete has some err... issues with police tapes in South Bends or so it seems. Kamala Harris is dull as dishwater.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,871
    edited April 2019
    If I was an American I would vote for Biden against Trump in a heart beat. Ditto Kamela Harris. Ditto Pocahontas. I would probably vote for Buttigieg but he has a bit to prove yet. Sanders or Beto would both give me a lot of heartache. Not Hilary levels of heartache but real concern.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 42,006
    IanB2 said:

    kinabalu said:

    What's happened to Hickenlooper? Seem to recall OGH was quite keen.

    These American names!

    Hickenlooper sounds like he should be battling on the back nine on Sunday to win a minor tournament, pursued every inch of the way by the apocryphal JJ Spatula.
    As I recall many such surnames arise from one regional administrator tasked with allocating the Jewish population of the part of partitioned Poland that was annexed in the 1790s to Germany (Prussia) with surnames, and doing so arbitrarily by making up names from whatever words came into his mind. For reasons of history the surviving descendants are mostly now in America.
    Wasn't there some C19th statute that required Jews in Germany (or associated area) to take gentile names? More often than not this meant the name of the local priincipality or estate, resulting in Jews ending up with aristocratic German names. This produced oddities such as the family of the philosopher Wittgenstein having to buy their way to survival in the Nazi period, while Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein became a much decorated nightfighter pilot.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,741
    Sean_F said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh dear, Joe Biden seems to have gaffed by quoting the Declaration of Independence in his opening campaign email.

    How's that a gaffe ?
    "America is an idea. Based on a founding principle that all men are created equal".
    He's the Democrats last chance (Along with perhaps Buttigieg... ) to save themselves from some hellish leftist abyss. I note the twitter SJWs have leapt all over this, that in itself doesn't make it a bad email though.
    OTOH, the Dems may choose a candidate who campaigns on reparations for slavery, late term abortion, and abolishing immigration controls, in which case, Trump will be re-elected very comfortably.
    Socialism polls surprisingly well in the USA:

    37% support overall, 49.6% for millennials in this recent survey:

    https://www.axios.com/exclusive-poll-young-americans-embracing-socialism-b051907a-87a8-4f61-9e6e-0db75f7edc4a.html
  • Stark_DawningStark_Dawning Posts: 9,683
    kinabalu said:

    IanB2 said:

    As I recall many such surnames arise from one regional administrator tasked with allocating the Jewish population of the part of partitioned Poland that was annexed in the 1790s to Germany (Prussia) with surnames, and doing so arbitrarily by making up names from whatever words came into his mind. For reasons of history the surviving descendants are mostly now in America.

    Really? So another example of how names can be symptoms of disrespect and oppression. For example, many black people are to this day known by the surname allocated to their slave forbears by their 'owners'. I did not realize that until somebody much younger and wiser and better read than me told me about it.
    Hence the X in Malcolm X.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,246
    edited April 2019
    DavidL said:

    If I was an American I would vote for Biden against Trump in a heart beat. Ditto Kamela Harris. Ditto Pocahontas. I would probably vote for Buttigieg but he has a bit to prove yet. Sanders or Beto would both give me a lot of heartache. Not Hilary levels of heartache but real concern.

    Sounds reasonable.
    Though I'd happily vote for Hillary too against Trump.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,617
    Anybody seen Avengers Endgame yet?
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,741
    kinabalu said:

    IanB2 said:

    As I recall many such surnames arise from one regional administrator tasked with allocating the Jewish population of the part of partitioned Poland that was annexed in the 1790s to Germany (Prussia) with surnames, and doing so arbitrarily by making up names from whatever words came into his mind. For reasons of history the surviving descendants are mostly now in America.

    Really? So another example of how names can be symptoms of disrespect and oppression. For example, many black people are to this day known by the surname allocated to their slave forbears by their 'owners'. I did not realize that until somebody much younger and wiser and better read than me told me about it.
    Yes, it is why so many West Indians have English, Irish or Scottish surnames. My friend from Barbados, Dr Grosvenor, is more likely to have had her family owned by the Duke of Westminster than be related, though the latter is quite possible.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,617
    edited April 2019
    I'm waiting for Booty-gig to assure Americans that his election "would guarantee there'd be no pussy-grabber in the White House....."
  • AndreaParma_82AndreaParma_82 Posts: 4,714
    one of the very few exUKIP MEP (other than Farage) who got on the Brexit lists
    Sean_F said:

    East Midlands Brexit list (2 UKIP 2 Con 1 Lab in 2014)

    1) Annunziata Mary Rees-Mogg
    2) Jonathan Deryck Bullock
    3) Matthew Richard Patten
    etc

    I'm having dinner with Jonathan Bullock tomorrow. I'll be interested for his views on the campaign.
  • Anybody seen Avengers Endgame yet?

    Three times already.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,237
    edited April 2019
    Pulpstar said:

    He's the Democrats last chance (Along with perhaps Buttigieg... ) to save themselves from some hellish leftist abyss. I note the twitter SJWs have leapt all over this, that in itself doesn't make it a bad email though.

    Your definition of leftism is quite American. Fair enough, we are talking US politics, but I just thought I would point this out. Take Elizabeth Warren, for example, a flag-bearer on the left of the Democrats. She would probably be defecting from Labour to TIG if she were over here. (And would make a much better leader than Heidi Allen, IMO, but that is by the by.) And the late sometimes great sometimes a noodle Christopher Hitchens started out left but by his later years was if anything right of centre on many issues by our standards, a touch gammony even, but still considered a leftie in America.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,617

    Anybody seen Avengers Endgame yet?

    Three times already.
    It's got fabulous reviews.
  • Anybody seen Avengers Endgame yet?

    Three times already.
    It's got fabulous reviews.
    Deservedly so.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 32,580
    Foxy said:

    Off topic but I have been very impressed with the Brexit Party political operation. Recognisable name which has meaning for likely supporters. Simple messages. Not dissimilar in style to Labour at last GE. Never mind if you scratch the surface and there is no substance, that won’t necessarily get you in

    Not many of their voters will want substance for the Euros. This is a Tory voter strike. Just saying "Brexit" gets the job done.
    Yes, the Brexit Party have been deliberately vague about what they mean by Brexit. WA or No Deal?

    After all, it worked the first time!
    It is interesting that both Ann Widdecombe and Claire Fox explicitly said that they didn't agree with everything about the Brexit Party and its positions but that they were standing on the principle of respecting the referendum result. It looks very much like Farage has made it clear people can, at least until after the EU elections, follow this line without fear of criticism from the party. A clever move in the short term but perhaps storing up trouble for later on.
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 22,131

    Anybody seen Avengers Endgame yet?

    The plot is online on the Wikipedia article and I saw the 15 minute leak on Weibo with the final battle. So I know who dies, who lives, who stays and who leaves. I must say that Karen Gillan must have found the fate of one character remarkably similar to her fate on her former franchise.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,237
    Foxy said:

    Yes, it is why so many West Indians have English, Irish or Scottish surnames. My friend from Barbados, Dr Grosvenor, is more likely to have had her family owned by the Duke of Westminster than be related, though the latter is quite possible.

    Quite a thought. Illustrates why when it comes to racism 'we' can never truly get it and should not pretend that we can.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,741

    Foxy said:

    Off topic but I have been very impressed with the Brexit Party political operation. Recognisable name which has meaning for likely supporters. Simple messages. Not dissimilar in style to Labour at last GE. Never mind if you scratch the surface and there is no substance, that won’t necessarily get you in

    Not many of their voters will want substance for the Euros. This is a Tory voter strike. Just saying "Brexit" gets the job done.
    Yes, the Brexit Party have been deliberately vague about what they mean by Brexit. WA or No Deal?

    After all, it worked the first time!
    It is interesting that both Ann Widdecombe and Claire Fox explicitly said that they didn't agree with everything about the Brexit Party and its positions but that they were standing on the principle of respecting the referendum result. It looks very much like Farage has made it clear people can, at least until after the EU elections, follow this line without fear of criticism from the party. A clever move in the short term but perhaps storing up trouble for later on.
    Yes, it is potentially the achillies heel of the BP, if the other parties and media focus on it.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,413
    edited April 2019
    For anyone interested there is a live feed on Macrons address to the nation

    http://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2019/04/25/01002-20190425LIVWWW00046-en-direct-emmanuel-macron-conference-presse-annonces-gilets-jaunes-ric-ena-notre-dame.php

    Im still wondering how hes going to get his tax cuts past the Germans

  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,237

    Hence the X in Malcolm X.

    And the Ali in Clay.
  • PloppikinsPloppikins Posts: 126
    nico67 said:

    Sean_F said:

    nico67 said:

    AndyJS said:

    "UK, Kantar Public poll:

    European Union Membership Referendum

    Remain: 55% (+1)
    Leave: 45% (-1)

    +/- vs. 4-8 April

    Fieldwork: 19 February-4 March 2019
    Sample Size: ~1,000"

    Not a single poll in over 18 months has had Leave ahead . You can see why Leavers don’t want another EU referendum.
    Opinium and YouGov have recently shown pluralities for Leave.

    The Kantar poll includes people aged 16-18 and EU nationals, so is not directly comparable to UK polls.
    On the question Remain or Leave in another EU ref no polls have shown this recently . As for the Kantar even if you take out EU nationals and 16 to 17 year olds it would still show a lead for Remain . 18 year olds are allowed to vote by the way!
    It's a sad indictment for remain that they can barely scrape a convincing lead after all the chaos of 3 meaningful votes, 2 extensions and a partridge in a pear tree. You'd think from listening to some of the people's vote lot that remain is polling 70/30 ahead and victory is nailed on! No such luck!
  • TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,454

    I'm waiting for Booty-gig to assure Americans that his election "would guarantee there'd be no pussy-grabber in the White House....."

    It may surprise you but the Christian right (albeit of the Democrats) are his biggest supporters. They are more likely to go to church and listen to Conservative radio than supporters of any other candidate.
  • StereotomyStereotomy Posts: 4,092

    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh dear, Joe Biden seems to have gaffed by quoting the Declaration of Independence in his opening campaign email.

    How's that a gaffe ?
    "America is an idea. Based on a founding principle that all men are created equal".
    He's the Democrats last chance (Along with perhaps Buttigieg... ) to save themselves from some hellish leftist abyss. I note the twitter SJWs have leapt all over this, that in itself doesn't make it a bad email though.
    The grammar is abysmal, but why didn't they just write something like 'we are all created equal'? This is 2019, and people (especially Democrat supporters) are touchy about these things.
    This isn't going to hurt him. Despite what a lot of people like to believe, the world of politics hasn't turned into a vortex of ultra-SJW hysteria. People are going vote based partially on policies, partially on personal charisma, but mostly on values. The question that matters most for Biden is whether the values of the party have moved too far from what he represents. I think they probably have, but I'm far from certain.

    I also think the model some people seem of have of politics as a spectrum from left to right, in which politicians need to stake claim to as much territory as possible, and where the US version of politics is just ours with the spectrum neatly shifted a bit to the right, is extremely lacking.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,720

    nico67 said:

    Sean_F said:

    nico67 said:

    AndyJS said:

    "UK, Kantar Public poll:

    European Union Membership Referendum

    Remain: 55% (+1)
    Leave: 45% (-1)

    +/- vs. 4-8 April

    Fieldwork: 19 February-4 March 2019
    Sample Size: ~1,000"

    Not a single poll in over 18 months has had Leave ahead . You can see why Leavers don’t want another EU referendum.
    Opinium and YouGov have recently shown pluralities for Leave.

    The Kantar poll includes people aged 16-18 and EU nationals, so is not directly comparable to UK polls.
    On the question Remain or Leave in another EU ref no polls have shown this recently . As for the Kantar even if you take out EU nationals and 16 to 17 year olds it would still show a lead for Remain . 18 year olds are allowed to vote by the way!
    It's a sad indictment for remain that they can barely scrape a convincing lead after all the chaos of 3 meaningful votes, 2 extensions and a partridge in a pear tree. You'd think from listening to some of the people's vote lot that remain is polling 70/30 ahead and victory is nailed on! No such luck!
    Remain needs to overcome its status quo problem. To get to a 70/30 consensus view will require not just changing minds on the EU, but having a compelling proposition about what needs to change domestically.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,413

    nico67 said:

    Sean_F said:

    nico67 said:

    AndyJS said:

    "UK, Kantar Public poll:

    European Union Membership Referendum

    Remain: 55% (+1)
    Leave: 45% (-1)

    +/- vs. 4-8 April

    Fieldwork: 19 February-4 March 2019
    Sample Size: ~1,000"

    Not a single poll in over 18 months has had Leave ahead . You can see why Leavers don’t want another EU referendum.
    Opinium and YouGov have recently shown pluralities for Leave.

    The Kantar poll includes people aged 16-18 and EU nationals, so is not directly comparable to UK polls.
    On the question Remain or Leave in another EU ref no polls have shown this recently . As for the Kantar even if you take out EU nationals and 16 to 17 year olds it would still show a lead for Remain . 18 year olds are allowed to vote by the way!
    It's a sad indictment for remain that they can barely scrape a convincing lead after all the chaos of 3 meaningful votes, 2 extensions and a partridge in a pear tree. You'd think from listening to some of the people's vote lot that remain is polling 70/30 ahead and victory is nailed on! No such luck!
    Remain needs to overcome its status quo problem. To get to a 70/30 consensus view will require not just changing minds on the EU, but having a compelling proposition about what needs to change domestically.
    why would people ardently in favour of the status quo want to change ?
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,318
    kinabalu said:

    IanB2 said:

    As I recall many such surnames arise from one regional administrator tasked with allocating the Jewish population of the part of partitioned Poland that was annexed in the 1790s to Germany (Prussia) with surnames, and doing so arbitrarily by making up names from whatever words came into his mind. For reasons of history the surviving descendants are mostly now in America.

    Really? So another example of how names can be symptoms of disrespect and oppression. For example, many black people are to this day known by the surname allocated to their slave forbears by their 'owners'. I did not realize that until somebody much younger and wiser and better read than me told me about it.
    Hence Cassius Clay to Muhammed Ali.
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    edited April 2019
    Annunziata Rees-Mogg pretty much guaranteed to be elected as number one on the list in the East Midlands. That's the problem with closed lists: you can't choose which candidate you'd like to be at the top.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,741

    nico67 said:

    Sean_F said:

    nico67 said:

    AndyJS said:

    "UK, Kantar Public poll:

    European Union Membership Referendum

    Remain: 55% (+1)
    Leave: 45% (-1)

    +/- vs. 4-8 April

    Fieldwork: 19 February-4 March 2019
    Sample Size: ~1,000"

    Not a single poll in over 18 months has had Leave ahead . You can see why Leavers don’t want another EU referendum.
    Opinium and YouGov have recently shown pluralities for Leave.

    The Kantar poll includes people aged 16-18 and EU nationals, so is not directly comparable to UK polls.
    On the question Remain or Leave in another EU ref no polls have shown this recently . As for the Kantar even if you take out EU nationals and 16 to 17 year olds it would still show a lead for Remain . 18 year olds are allowed to vote by the way!
    It's a sad indictment for remain that they can barely scrape a convincing lead after all the chaos of 3 meaningful votes, 2 extensions and a partridge in a pear tree. You'd think from listening to some of the people's vote lot that remain is polling 70/30 ahead and victory is nailed on! No such luck!
    Remain needs to overcome its status quo problem. To get to a 70/30 consensus view will require not just changing minds on the EU, but having a compelling proposition about what needs to change domestically.
    why would people ardently in favour of the status quo want to change ?
    It is more that the grievances that clinched Brexit in the distressed regions of the country will not be resolved by Brexit. Those issues of social failure need addressing whatever happens next in Brexit.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,720

    nico67 said:

    Sean_F said:

    nico67 said:

    AndyJS said:

    "UK, Kantar Public poll:

    European Union Membership Referendum

    Remain: 55% (+1)
    Leave: 45% (-1)

    +/- vs. 4-8 April

    Fieldwork: 19 February-4 March 2019
    Sample Size: ~1,000"

    Not a single poll in over 18 months has had Leave ahead . You can see why Leavers don’t want another EU referendum.
    Opinium and YouGov have recently shown pluralities for Leave.

    The Kantar poll includes people aged 16-18 and EU nationals, so is not directly comparable to UK polls.
    On the question Remain or Leave in another EU ref no polls have shown this recently . As for the Kantar even if you take out EU nationals and 16 to 17 year olds it would still show a lead for Remain . 18 year olds are allowed to vote by the way!
    It's a sad indictment for remain that they can barely scrape a convincing lead after all the chaos of 3 meaningful votes, 2 extensions and a partridge in a pear tree. You'd think from listening to some of the people's vote lot that remain is polling 70/30 ahead and victory is nailed on! No such luck!
    Remain needs to overcome its status quo problem. To get to a 70/30 consensus view will require not just changing minds on the EU, but having a compelling proposition about what needs to change domestically.
    why would people ardently in favour of the status quo want to change ?
    Being ardently in favour of EU membership doesn't necessarily mean you're ardently in favour of the status quo. You could be a Remainer and want an English republic.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 49,870
    Just for balance amid all the Brexit Party and Change UK commentary:

    Two Conservative local election candidates and a woman honoured with an MBE are among 40 new self-professed Tory members who have shared or endorsed racist and inflammatory Facebook posts including Islamophobic material, the Guardian has learned.

    The torrent of racist posts include references to Muslims as “bin bag wearing individuals”, calls for the “cult” of Islam to be banned and the Qur’an being branded an “evil book”.

    One female Tory supporter even called for a boycott of Muslim-owned shops and endorsed another comment labelling the religion’s followers “sub-human” and “cockroaches”.

    Both of the council candidates – one of them claimed “Islamophobia was not surprising” in a rant about Muslims and said he would celebrate the death of the anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller – have now been suspended.


    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/25/tory-candidates-suspended-over-racist-and-inflammatory-posts
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,246

    nico67 said:

    Sean_F said:

    nico67 said:

    AndyJS said:

    "UK, Kantar Public poll:

    European Union Membership Referendum

    Remain: 55% (+1)
    Leave: 45% (-1)

    +/- vs. 4-8 April

    Fieldwork: 19 February-4 March 2019
    Sample Size: ~1,000"

    Not a single poll in over 18 months has had Leave ahead . You can see why Leavers don’t want another EU referendum.
    Opinium and YouGov have recently shown pluralities for Leave.

    The Kantar poll includes people aged 16-18 and EU nationals, so is not directly comparable to UK polls.
    On the question Remain or Leave in another EU ref no polls have shown this recently . As for the Kantar even if you take out EU nationals and 16 to 17 year olds it would still show a lead for Remain . 18 year olds are allowed to vote by the way!
    It's a sad indictment for remain that they can barely scrape a convincing lead after all the chaos of 3 meaningful votes, 2 extensions and a partridge in a pear tree. You'd think from listening to some of the people's vote lot that remain is polling 70/30 ahead and victory is nailed on! No such luck!
    Remain needs to overcome its status quo problem. To get to a 70/30 consensus view will require not just changing minds on the EU, but having a compelling proposition about what needs to change domestically.
    why would people ardently in favour of the status quo want to change ?
    Yes, unionists voting for Brexit, what's that about ?
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,497
    Charles said:

    Expect a big announcement on Crossrail later tonight or early tomorrow morning. Main Board meeting right now.

    It will still carry a lot of risk in it (opening date) before anyone asks.

    Is Khan pushing for before or after his reelection day?
    Khan wants it before his election day, so he can claim it in the campaign and is putting a lot of pressure on the project to deliver.

    It won't happen. You can't cut corners with railway reliability and safety.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,497
    rcs1000 said:

    Expect a big announcement on Crossrail later tonight or early tomorrow morning. Main Board meeting right now.

    It will still carry a lot of risk in it (opening date) before anyone asks.

    My flat is two minutes walk from Tottenham Court Road tube station, so I'm super keen on it opening asap.
    Don't hold your breath!
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,497

    rcs1000 said:

    Expect a big announcement on Crossrail later tonight or early tomorrow morning. Main Board meeting right now.

    It will still carry a lot of risk in it (opening date) before anyone asks.

    My flat is two minutes walk from Tottenham Court Road tube station, so I'm super keen on it opening asap.
    I was hoping to ride on it before I die! Bucket list!!
    I'm about 80% confident it will open before the end of 2021.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,884

    rcs1000 said:

    Expect a big announcement on Crossrail later tonight or early tomorrow morning. Main Board meeting right now.

    It will still carry a lot of risk in it (opening date) before anyone asks.

    My flat is two minutes walk from Tottenham Court Road tube station, so I'm super keen on it opening asap.
    Don't hold your breath!
    What have you done with my Crossrail, CR??? :(

    [another SNAFU on the Central line right now]
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,497
    rcs1000 said:

    Expect a big announcement on Crossrail later tonight or early tomorrow morning. Main Board meeting right now.

    It will still carry a lot of risk in it (opening date) before anyone asks.

    "Crossrail to open on Brexit Day"
    The Elizabeth Line to be renamed the Brexit Line?
    It really is only on this site (this mad, mad site) that absolutely everything is linked to Brexit.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,884

    Anybody seen Avengers Endgame yet?

    Three times already.
    TSE the Man-Child :lol:
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,936

    rcs1000 said:

    Expect a big announcement on Crossrail later tonight or early tomorrow morning. Main Board meeting right now.

    It will still carry a lot of risk in it (opening date) before anyone asks.

    "Crossrail to open on Brexit Day"
    The Elizabeth Line to be renamed the Brexit Line?
    It really is only on this site (this mad, mad site) that absolutely everything is linked to Brexit.
    Next thing you'll be telling us it that normal people don't discuss the merits of the Alternative Vote system on a regular basis. Preposterous.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,884
    edited April 2019
    Cyclefree said:

    kinabalu said:

    IanB2 said:

    As I recall many such surnames arise from one regional administrator tasked with allocating the Jewish population of the part of partitioned Poland that was annexed in the 1790s to Germany (Prussia) with surnames, and doing so arbitrarily by making up names from whatever words came into his mind. For reasons of history the surviving descendants are mostly now in America.

    Really? So another example of how names can be symptoms of disrespect and oppression. For example, many black people are to this day known by the surname allocated to their slave forbears by their 'owners'. I did not realize that until somebody much younger and wiser and better read than me told me about it.
    Hence Cassius Clay to Muhammed Ali.
    The irony of course being that many Africans were enslaved by the Arabs, right up till the 20th century...
  • MangoMango Posts: 1,019

    nico67 said:

    Sean_F said:

    nico67 said:

    AndyJS said:

    "UK, Kantar Public poll:

    European Union Membership Referendum

    Remain: 55% (+1)
    Leave: 45% (-1)

    +/- vs. 4-8 April

    Fieldwork: 19 February-4 March 2019
    Sample Size: ~1,000"

    Not a single poll in over 18 months has had Leave ahead . You can see why Leavers don’t want another EU referendum.
    Opinium and YouGov have recently shown pluralities for Leave.

    The Kantar poll includes people aged 16-18 and EU nationals, so is not directly comparable to UK polls.
    On the question Remain or Leave in another EU ref no polls have shown this recently . As for the Kantar even if you take out EU nationals and 16 to 17 year olds it would still show a lead for Remain . 18 year olds are allowed to vote by the way!
    It's a sad indictment for remain that they can barely scrape a convincing lead after all the chaos of 3 meaningful votes, 2 extensions and a partridge in a pear tree. You'd think from listening to some of the people's vote lot that remain is polling 70/30 ahead and victory is nailed on! No such luck!
    Remain needs to overcome its status quo problem. To get to a 70/30 consensus view will require not just changing minds on the EU, but having a compelling proposition about what needs to change domestically.
    why would people ardently in favour of the status quo want to change ?
    You may not have noticed, but the most pro-EU parties have either never been in government or last governed alone in 1915. So it is quite possible to be pro-EU and in favour of radical change. The status quo belongs to the Tories and Labour, in that order. The Leave fallacy appears to be 1. something must be done; 2. leaving the EU is something; 3. therefore we must leave the EU.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,497
    AndyJS said:

    Annunziata Rees-Mogg pretty much guaranteed to be elected as number one on the list in the East Midlands. That's the problem with closed lists: you can't choose which candidate you'd like to be at the top.

    There are Tory MEPs I'd be happy to see returned, and others I'd be dismayed at.

    Trouble is, you never know how far down the list your vote is going to count.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,246

    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh dear, Joe Biden seems to have gaffed by quoting the Declaration of Independence in his opening campaign email.

    How's that a gaffe ?
    "America is an idea. Based on a founding principle that all men are created equal".
    He's the Democrats last chance (Along with perhaps Buttigieg... ) to save themselves from some hellish leftist abyss. I note the twitter SJWs have leapt all over this, that in itself doesn't make it a bad email though.
    The grammar is abysmal, but why didn't they just write something like 'we are all created equal'? This is 2019, and people (especially Democrat supporters) are touchy about these things.
    This isn't going to hurt him. Despite what a lot of people like to believe, the world of politics hasn't turned into a vortex of ultra-SJW hysteria. People are going vote based partially on policies, partially on personal charisma, but mostly on values. The question that matters most for Biden is whether the values of the party have moved too far from what he represents. I think they probably have, but I'm far from certain...
    This doesn't have a great deal to do with left/right so much as a generational difference in awareness of gender issues, amongst other stuff.
    Democrats like Biden, and even those who don't are probably prepared to vote for him if they think he's their best chance of beating Trump. But he is currently the preferred choice of only about a quarter of the party, and the tone deafness I alluded to earlier isn't going to help him improve that figure.

    It's not SJW hysteria to recognise that women's expectations of how they are treated have changed, and it's not clear how much Biden gets that.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,884
    RobD said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Expect a big announcement on Crossrail later tonight or early tomorrow morning. Main Board meeting right now.

    It will still carry a lot of risk in it (opening date) before anyone asks.

    "Crossrail to open on Brexit Day"
    The Elizabeth Line to be renamed the Brexit Line?
    It really is only on this site (this mad, mad site) that absolutely everything is linked to Brexit.
    Next thing you'll be telling us it that normal people don't discuss the merits of the Alternative Vote system on a regular basis. Preposterous.
    No2AV 68%
    Yes2AV 32%

    :innocent:
  • MangoMango Posts: 1,019
    AndyJS said:

    Annunziata Rees-Mogg pretty much guaranteed to be elected as number one on the list in the East Midlands. That's the problem with closed lists: you can't choose which candidate you'd like to be at the top.

    Yep. They stink.
  • StereotomyStereotomy Posts: 4,092
    Nigelb said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Oh dear, Joe Biden seems to have gaffed by quoting the Declaration of Independence in his opening campaign email.

    How's that a gaffe ?
    "America is an idea. Based on a founding principle that all men are created equal".
    He's the Democrats last chance (Along with perhaps Buttigieg... ) to save themselves from some hellish leftist abyss. I note the twitter SJWs have leapt all over this, that in itself doesn't make it a bad email though.
    The grammar is abysmal, but why didn't they just write something like 'we are all created equal'? This is 2019, and people (especially Democrat supporters) are touchy about these things.
    This isn't going to hurt him. Despite what a lot of people like to believe, the world of politics hasn't turned into a vortex of ultra-SJW hysteria. People are going vote based partially on policies, partially on personal charisma, but mostly on values. The question that matters most for Biden is whether the values of the party have moved too far from what he represents. I think they probably have, but I'm far from certain...
    This doesn't have a great deal to do with left/right so much as a generational difference in awareness of gender issues, amongst other stuff.
    Democrats like Biden, and even those who don't are probably prepared to vote for him if they think he's their best chance of beating Trump. But he is currently the preferred choice of only about a quarter of the party, and the tone deafness I alluded to earlier isn't going to help him improve that figure.

    It's not SJW hysteria to recognise that women's expectations of how they are treated have changed, and it's not clear how much Biden gets that.
    Yes, I agree that attitudes towards women may be a problem for him in general. I don't think this particular case has any staying power, though
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,497
    edited April 2019

    rcs1000 said:

    Expect a big announcement on Crossrail later tonight or early tomorrow morning. Main Board meeting right now.

    It will still carry a lot of risk in it (opening date) before anyone asks.

    My flat is two minutes walk from Tottenham Court Road tube station, so I'm super keen on it opening asap.
    Don't hold your breath!
    What have you done with my Crossrail, CR???

    [another SNAFU on the Central line right now]
    It's hard. Really hard.

    Most of the Executives who set up the supply chain and governance structures ten years ago that led to the problems with systems integration in 2017/2018 bailed out years ago. They've got off scot-free. The ones who were there last year - when the music stopped - have taken all the blame.

    There are a few others who haven't put their public reputations first and who do most of the hard work. They've stuck around out of a sense of duty to, and passion for, the Crossrail Project and are continuing to do everything they can to get the Project over the line despite all the obstacles. They've been working hard and diligently throughout, and with little thanks.

    One lesson I've learnt is that it turns out that cuts no ice. The ones who bailed were the savvy ones. If you are still there on Day One after a disastrous announcement you still absorb opprobrium and blame regardless of your position or efforts, and are believed to be culpable.

    But, hey-ho - it's still the right thing to do: I couldn't live with myself if I'd quit, and I won't. Not until it opens.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,720

    Most of the Executives who set up the supply chain and governance structures ten years ago that led to the problems with systems integration in 2017/2018 bailed out years ago. They've got off scot-free. The ones who were there last year - when the music stopped - have taken all the blame.

    A bit like Theresa May and Brexit.
  • nico67nico67 Posts: 4,502
    Amazing how quiet the media are over the latest cases of Islamophobia in the Tory Party .

    One can only imagine the wall to wall coverage if this had been Labour . Both parties have issues , but clearly the media blackout by the BBC and others only fuels suspicion that they’re happy to report issues with Labour but seem less interested in doing the same with the government .

  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 42,714

    rcs1000 said:

    Expect a big announcement on Crossrail later tonight or early tomorrow morning. Main Board meeting right now.

    It will still carry a lot of risk in it (opening date) before anyone asks.

    My flat is two minutes walk from Tottenham Court Road tube station, so I'm super keen on it opening asap.
    Don't hold your breath!
    What have you done with my Crossrail, CR???

    [another SNAFU on the Central line right now]
    It's hard. Really hard.

    Most of the Executives who set up the supply chain and governance structures ten years ago that led to the problems with systems integration in 2017/2018 bailed out years ago. They've got off scot-free. The ones who were there last year - when the music stopped - have taken all the blame.

    There are a few others who haven't put their public reputations first and who do most of the hard work. They've stuck around out of a sense of duty to, and passion for, the Crossrail Project and are continuing to do everything they can to get the Project over the line despite all the obstacles. They've been working hard and diligently throughout, and with little thanks.

    One lesson I've learnt is that it turns out that cuts no ice. The ones who bailed were the savvy ones. If you are still there on Day One after a disastrous announcement you still absorb opprobrium and blame regardless of your position or efforts, and are believed to be culpable.

    But, hey-ho - it's still the right thing to do: I couldn't live with myself if I'd quit, and I won't. Not until it opens.
    If it's any consolation, I love reading about the history of engineering (especially civil engineering) and vast numbers of projects have gone over budget and been delivered late - yet those timing and budget failures are only a footnote in history as we continue using the infrastructure created a century or two later.

    There's a bigger picture.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 42,006
    Mango said:
    If Brexit does go ahead, Farage will need a replacement gravy train in any case. The Establishment should really have done a cost benefit analysis of sending him to the HoL on £300 a day as Baron Greenback of the Royal Mile, might have saved them a lot of trouble.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,617

    Cyclefree said:

    kinabalu said:

    IanB2 said:

    As I recall many such surnames arise from one regional administrator tasked with allocating the Jewish population of the part of partitioned Poland that was annexed in the 1790s to Germany (Prussia) with surnames, and doing so arbitrarily by making up names from whatever words came into his mind. For reasons of history the surviving descendants are mostly now in America.

    Really? So another example of how names can be symptoms of disrespect and oppression. For example, many black people are to this day known by the surname allocated to their slave forbears by their 'owners'. I did not realize that until somebody much younger and wiser and better read than me told me about it.
    Hence Cassius Clay to Muhammed Ali.
    The irony of course being that many Africans were enslaved by the Arabs, right up till the 20th century...
    Slavery within Africa is still very much a real 21st century problem. Have a look at Mauritania.

    https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/jun/08/the-unspeakable-truth-about-slavery-in-mauritania
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,237
    edited April 2019
    Cyclefree said:

    Hence Cassius Clay to Muhammed Ali.

    "No Viet Cong ever called me nigger."

    Unimprovable if given just 7 words to justify refusing the draft.

    Edit: Or perhaps unimprovable anyway.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,884

    rcs1000 said:

    Expect a big announcement on Crossrail later tonight or early tomorrow morning. Main Board meeting right now.

    It will still carry a lot of risk in it (opening date) before anyone asks.

    My flat is two minutes walk from Tottenham Court Road tube station, so I'm super keen on it opening asap.
    Don't hold your breath!
    What have you done with my Crossrail, CR???

    [another SNAFU on the Central line right now]
    It's hard. Really hard.

    Most of the Executives who set up the supply chain and governance structures ten years ago that led to the problems with systems integration in 2017/2018 bailed out years ago. They've got off scot-free. The ones who were there last year - when the music stopped - have taken all the blame.

    There are a few others who haven't put their public reputations first and who do most of the hard work. They've stuck around out of a sense of duty to, and passion for, the Crossrail Project and are continuing to do everything they can to get the Project over the line despite all the obstacles. They've been working hard and diligently throughout, and with little thanks.

    One lesson I've learnt is that it turns out that cuts no ice. The ones who bailed were the savvy ones. If you are still there on Day One after a disastrous announcement you still absorb opprobrium and blame regardless of your position or efforts, and are believed to be culpable.

    But, hey-ho - it's still the right thing to do: I couldn't live with myself if I'd quit, and I won't. Not until it opens.
    Thanks for explaining - you guys aren't the only ones: The Gospel Oak to Barking Line still hasn't received its new 4-car electric trains (incidentally from the same Aventra family as Crossrail).
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    edited April 2019
    nico67 said:

    Amazing how quiet the media are over the latest cases of Islamophobia in the Tory Party .

    One can only imagine the wall to wall coverage if this had been Labour . Both parties have issues , but clearly the media blackout by the BBC and others only fuels suspicion that they’re happy to report issues with Labour but seem less interested in doing the same with the government .

    They are pretty thin gruel, that is why the media are 'quiet' about them, as you put it. The Conservative Party doesn't have the issues at the top, as Labour does, nor the sheer number of cases, and it has mostly dealt with those cases which have arisen.

    And the idea that the BBC, of all organisations, would seek to favour the Conservatives is hilarious!
  • AndyJSAndyJS Posts: 29,395
    "From Ann Widdecombe to Sargon of Akkad, the EU elections are starting to look like a dinner party from hell

    As Change UK candidates drop like flies, the remaining am-dram troupe of European parliament hopefuls look like a sorry bunch

    Sean O'Grady"

    https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-party-ann-widdecombe-nigel-farage-change-uk-ukip-eu-elections-a8884336.html
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