politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The big worry for Trump is that his disapproval ratings remain above 50%
The chart shows the Real Clear Politics average for the President’s approval ratings which over the decades have been a good pointer to electoral outcomes.
Would be nice to think this thread header is right. But it depends a bit on who the Dems put up. I see nobody with the talent of a Reagan or a Clinton in their field. Buttigieg might be nearest but he is very inexperienced.
That reads as though any Iranian retaliatory action would be justified (ignoring that the assassination was itself retaliation for attacks on US positions/ people). And the answer to the first question is already known:
Well, that lets us know who's in charge whilst Boris is away.....
The US didn’t tell Israeli either, so we shouldn’t be feeling miffed...
why is anyone surprised that the US didn’t tell anyone? They treat their allies with almost as much contempt as they do their enemies. More pertinently, Trump is as paranoid as Weyoun and would have assumed that if he told anyone they would leak it to the Iranians - and he might well have been right incidentally, as I can think of several NATO leaders who would have seen that as the only way to stop it.
But actually, I’m not sure that NATO were informed about the attack on Bin Laden and I’m 99% sure Blair was not told about the capture of Saddam until it had happened. So maybe it’s not that unusual.
That reads as though any Iranian retaliatory action would be justified (ignoring that the assassination was itself retaliation for attacks on US positions/ people). And the answer to the first question is already known:
Well, that lets us know who's in charge whilst Boris is away.....
The US didn’t tell Israeli either, so we shouldn’t be feeling miffed...
why is anyone surprised that the US didn’t tell anyone? They treat their allies with almost as much contempt as they do their enemies. More pertinently, Trump is as paranoid as Weyoun and would have assumed that if he told anyone they would leak it to the Iranians - and he might well have been right incidentally, as I can think of several NATO leaders who would have seen that as the only way to stop it.
But actually, I’m not sure that NATO were informed about the attack on Bin Laden and I’m 99% sure Blair was not told about the capture of Saddam until it had happened. So maybe it’s not that unusual.
The US military at the end of the day could defeat the military of almost any other power on its own with the possible exception of China, if allies want to tag along the US is fine with that, if not it will go it alone anyway
That reads as though any Iranian retaliatory action would be justified (ignoring that the assassination was itself retaliation for attacks on US positions/ people). And the answer to the first question is already known:
Well, that lets us know who's in charge whilst Boris is away.....
The US didn’t tell Israeli either, so we shouldn’t be feeling miffed...
why is anyone surprised that the US didn’t tell anyone? They treat their allies with almost as much contempt as they do their enemies. More pertinently, Trump is as paranoid as Weyoun and would have assumed that if he told anyone they would leak it to the Iranians - and he might well have been right incidentally, as I can think of several NATO leaders who would have seen that as the only way to stop it.
But actually, I’m not sure that NATO were informed about the attack on Bin Laden and I’m 99% sure Blair was not told about the capture of Saddam until it had happened. So maybe it’s not that unusual.
The US at the end of the day could defeat almost any other power on its own with the possible exception of China, if allies want to tag along the US is fine with that, if not it will go it alone anyway
It could defeat China. The point is it couldn’t control it afterwards.
Iran obviously won't take on the US in a h2h instead it'll be more and it will be more sponsorship of terrorism, possible blockade of Hormuz, more help for Hezbollah and Hpuhti rebels that sort of thing.
He's not just unpopular on the coasts, but also in Iowa, the rust belt and Arizona.
Wisconsin -14% Michigan -14% Iowa -13%
He remains (relatively) popular in Florida (+1%) and Ohio (-5%).
If you take -10% as the point at which Trump loses a state (and +0% at the point at which he gains one), then he loses three states above, and wins by the narrowest of margins in 2020... Trump gets 272.
He's not just unpopular on the coasts, but also in Iowa, the rust belt and Arizona.
Thank you. I shall be happy to be proved incorrect, but having caught the last Democratic debate by accident (forced to watch it respectfully by in-laws) I came to the conclusion that the winner was ... Trump. Not one of them could stand up to his brutal campaigning where and when it actually matters. Like I said, I hope I'm wrong.
That reads as though any Iranian retaliatory action would be justified (ignoring that the assassination was itself retaliation for attacks on US positions/ people). And the answer to the first question is already known:
Well, that lets us know who's in charge whilst Boris is away.....
The US didn’t tell Israeli either, so we shouldn’t be feeling miffed...
why is anyone surprised that the US didn’t tell anyone? They treat their allies with almost as much contempt as they do their enemies. More pertinently, Trump is as paranoid as Weyoun and would have assumed that if he told anyone they would leak it to the Iranians - and he might well have been right incidentally, as I can think of several NATO leaders who would have seen that as the only way to stop it.
But actually, I’m not sure that NATO were informed about the attack on Bin Laden and I’m 99% sure Blair was not told about the capture of Saddam until it had happened. So maybe it’s not that unusual.
The US at the end of the day could defeat almost any other power on its own with the possible exception of China, if allies want to tag along the US is fine with that, if not it will go it alone anyway
It could defeat China. The point is it couldn’t control it afterwards.
It's very difficult for any power to control anywhere it defeats nowadays. In the age of empires, Britain managed to control a quarter of yhe world. France did something similar. Nowadays, the world's richest country and biggest military can't even control Afghanistan or Iraq. What has changed? Is it just that people are more unwilling to be governed? Or were the old empires just less squeamish about exercising control? Or something else?
That reads as though any Iranian retaliatory action would be justified (ignoring that the assassination was itself retaliation for attacks on US positions/ people). And the answer to the first question is already known:
Well, that lets us know who's in charge whilst Boris is away.....
The US didn’t tell Israeli either, so we shouldn’t be feeling miffed...
why is anyone surprised that the US didn’t tell anyone? They treat their allies with almost as much contempt as they do their enemies. More pertinently, Trump is as paranoid as Weyoun and would have assumed that if he told anyone they would leak it to the Iranians - and he might well have been right incidentally, as I can think of several NATO leaders who would have seen that as the only way to stop it.
But actually, I’m not sure that NATO were informed about the attack on Bin Laden and I’m 99% sure Blair was not told about the capture of Saddam until it had happened. So maybe it’s not that unusual.
The US at the end of the day could defeat almost any other power on its own with the possible exception of China, if allies want to tag along the US is fine with that, if not it will go it alone anyway
It could defeat China. The point is it couldn’t control it afterwards.
The only scenario the US might go to war with China is if China invaded Taiwan or Japan, the US would not invade China on a whim
That reads as though any Iranian retaliatory action would be justified (ignoring that the assassination was itself retaliation for attacks on US positions/ people). And the answer to the first question is already known:
Well, that lets us know who's in charge whilst Boris is away.....
The US didn’t tell Israeli either, so we shouldn’t be feeling miffed...
why is anyone surprised that the US didn’t tell anyone? They treat their TO leaders who would have seen that as the only way to stop it.
But actually, I’m not sure that NATO were informed about the attack on Bin Laden and I’m 99% sure Blair was not told about the capture of Saddam until it had happened. So maybe it’s not that unusual.
The US at the end of the day could defeat almost any other power on its own with the possible exception of China, if allies want to tag along the US is fine with that, if not it will go it alone anyway
It could defeat China. The point is it couldn’t control it afterwards.
It's very difficult for any power to control anywhere it defeats nowadays. In the age of empires, Britain managed to control a quarter of yhe world. France did something similar. Nowadays, the world's richest country and biggest military can't even control Afghanistan or Iraq. What has changed? Is it just that people are more unwilling to be governed? Or were the old empires just less squeamish about exercising control? Or something else?
The aim was to remove the Taliban from power in Afghanistan and Saddam from power in Iraq (and later IS) not to make them colonies
It's very difficult for any power to control anywhere it defeats nowadays. In the age of empires, Britain managed to control a quarter of yhe world. France did something similar. Nowadays, the world's richest country and biggest military can't even control Afghanistan or Iraq. What has changed? Is it just that people are more unwilling to be governed? Or were the old empires just less squeamish about exercising control? Or something else?
All of them. Plus, of course, most countries occupying other countries are only doing it for short term reasons. Further, international opinion is against it. Where countries do want to stay and are willing to take fearful punishment and opprobrium for doing so, it can still be done - ask the people of the West Bank.
That doesn't, of course, mean that Trump won't win. But it does mean that the augers from history aren't that great.
But Trump won't be facing anyone as electable as Kerry.
Actually, I remember being on a skiing holiday during the 04 campaign, where a friend of mine - who had fully assumed he wanted John Kerry to win was appalled to see him on the telly for the first time. "Is that him?" he asked, incredulously. "He looks... rickety". Still moee to recommend him than any of the current lot though. And as has been previously nited, Americans don't seem to mind rickety politicians.
45.1 is ok for Trump actually. If he wins 45.1% he can hold for a second term
Doesn't that depend.
If Michael Bloomberg is a third party candidate, then 45.1% is a landslide for Trump.
I don't see a significant Left Wing spoiler vote this time (not even if Buttigieg or Biden is the candidate), but let's be pessimistic for the Dems and assume there is exactly the same third party votes as last time. That would mean that ADem would be on 1% more than last time, and Trump would be on 1% less.
That swing would be enough to hand much of the rust belt back to ADem.
But, of course, we don't know what will happen between now and November. All we really know is that it's likely to be verrrrrrry close.
He's not just unpopular on the coasts, but also in Iowa, the rust belt and Arizona.
Wisconsin -14% Michigan -14% Iowa -13%
He remains (relatively) popular in Florida (+1%) and Ohio (-5%).
If you take -10% as the point at which Trump loses a state (and +0% at the point at which he gains one), then he loses three states above, and wins by the narrowest of margins in 2020... Trump gets 272.
Trump has a 45% approval rating in Pennsylvania, 46% in Ohio and 49% in Florida, he can be re elected with those
The US pollsters likely to vote screening questions are brutal. If you didn't vote at the last presidential election then many pollsters stop the call right there and then.
This means if you were an Obama 2008 and 2012 voter but couldn't stomach voting for Clinton then you won't appear in 2020 polling.
Given what happened in the rust belt (GOP vote increased a tiny bit, Dem vote cratered) this is important.
That doesn't, of course, mean that Trump won't win. But it does mean that the augers from history aren't that great.
But Trump won't be facing anyone as electable as Kerry.
Actually, I remember being on a skiing holiday during the 04 campaign, where a friend of mine - who had fully assumed he wanted John Kerry to win was appalled to see him on the telly for the first time. "Is that him?" he asked, incredulously. "He looks... rickety". Still moee to recommend him than any of the current lot though. And as has been previously nited, Americans don't seem to mind rickety politicians.
I think it's too early to tell.
Worth remembering that in 2004, Kerry was nowhere in the Democratic polling at this point. He was at 9% in Iowa.
He's not just unpopular on the coasts, but also in Iowa, the rust belt and Arizona.
Wisconsin -14% Michigan -14% Iowa -13%
He remains (relatively) popular in Florida (+1%) and Ohio (-5%).
If you take -10% as the point at which Trump loses a state (and +0% at the point at which he gains one), then he loses three states above, and wins by the narrowest of margins in 2020... Trump gets 272.
Trump has a 45% approval rating in Pennsylvania, 46% in Ohio and 49% in Florida, he can be re elected with those
Yes, that's exactly what I said.
That gets him 272 electoral college votes after losing Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa.
That doesn't, of course, mean that Trump won't win. But it does mean that the augers from history aren't that great.
But Trump won't be facing anyone as electable as Kerry.
Actually, I remember being on a skiing holiday during the 04 campaign, where a friend of mine - who had fully assumed he wanted John Kerry to win was appalled to see him on the telly for the first time. "Is that him?" he asked, incredulously. "He looks... rickety". Still moee to recommend him than any of the current lot though. And as has been previously nited, Americans don't seem to mind rickety politicians.
I think it's too early to tell.
Worth remembering that in 2004, Kerry was nowhere in the Democratic polling at this point. He was at 9% in Iowa.
By 6th January 2004 Kerry was up to 15% in Iowa, by 13th January 21%, by 15th January Kerry took the lead, it is now January 3rd
That reads as though any Iranian retaliatory action would be justified (ignoring that the assassination was itself retaliation for attacks on US positions/ people). And the answer to the first question is already known:
Well, that lets us know who's in charge whilst Boris is away.....
The US didn’t tell Israeli either, so we shouldn’t be feeling miffed...
why is anyone surprised that the US didn’t tell anyone? They treat their allies with almost as much contempt as they do their enemies. More pertinently, Trump is as paranoid as Weyoun and would have assumed that if he told anyone they would leak it to the Iranians - and he might well have been right incidentally, as I can think of several NATO leaders who would have seen that as the only way to stop it.
But actually, I’m not sure that NATO were informed about the attack on Bin Laden and I’m 99% sure Blair was not told about the capture of Saddam until it had happened. So maybe it’s not that unusual.
The US at the end of the day could defeat almost any other power on its own with the possible exception of China, if allies want to tag along the US is fine with that, if not it will go it alone anyway
It could defeat China. The point is it couldn’t control it afterwards.
It wasn't so great at defeating Chinese proxies N.Korea or N.Vietnam, let alone controlling them. Of course there's always the controlling several million square miles of radioactive glass option, but that would depend on being less radioactive & glassy themselves.
It could defeat China. The point is it couldn’t control it afterwards.
It wasn't so great at defeating Chinese proxies N.Korea or N.Vietnam, let alone controlling them. Of course there's always the controlling several million square miles of radioactive glass option, but that would depend on being less radioactive & glassy themselves.
North Vietnam was not a Chinese proxy. Quite the reverse, the Chinese stole much of the Soviet military aid that was taken through China by rail.
As for North Korea, it would have been defeated without Chinese intervention. With Chinese intervention, both sides fought themselves to a stalemate. Could the US have won? Yes. Was it worth the costs and risks involved? Truman, quite correctly, judged not.
That reads as though any Iranian retaliatory action would be justified (ignoring that the assassination was itself retaliation for attacks on US positions/ people). And the answer to the first question is already known:
Well, that lets us know who's in charge whilst Boris is away.....
The US didn’t tell Israeli either, so we shouldn’t be feeling miffed...
why is anyone surprised that the US didn’t tell anyone? They treat their allies with almost as much contempt as they do their enemies. More pertinently, Trump is as paranoid as Weyoun and would have assumed that if he told anyone they would leak it to the Iranians - and he might well have been right incidentally, as I can think of several NATO leaders who would have seen that as the only way to stop it.
But actually, I’m not sure that NATO were informed about the attack on Bin Laden and I’m 99% sure Blair was not told about the capture of Saddam until it had happened. So maybe it’s not that unusual.
The US at the end of the day could defeat almost any other power on its own with the possible exception of China, if allies want to tag along the US is fine with that, if not it will go it alone anyway
It could defeat China. The point is it couldn’t control it afterwards.
It's very difficult for any power to control anywhere it defeats nowadays. In the age of empires, Britain managed to control a quarter of The world.
Yebbut for how long? Even India was a formal Crown Colony for only 89 years.
That reads as though any Iranian retaliatory action would be justified (ignoring that the assassination was itself retaliation for attacks on US positions/ people). And the answer to the first question is already known:
Well, that lets us know who's in charge whilst Boris is away.....
The US didn’t tell Israeli either, so we shouldn’t be feeling miffed...
why is anyone surprised that the US didn’t tell anyone? They treat their allies with almost as much contempt as they do their enemies. More pertinently, Trump is as paranoid as Weyoun and would have assumed that if he told anyone they would leak it to the Iranians - and he might well have been right incidentally, as I can think of several NATO leaders who would have seen that as the only way to stop it.
But actually, I’m not sure that NATO were informed about the attack on Bin Laden and I’m 99% sure Blair was not told about the capture of Saddam until it had happened. So maybe it’s not that unusual.
The US at the end of the day could defeat almost any other power on its own with the possible exception of China, if allies want to tag along the US is fine with that, if not it will go it alone anyway
It could defeat China. The point is it couldn’t control it afterwards.
It's very difficult for any power to control anywhere it defeats nowadays. In the age of empires, Britain managed to control a quarter of The world.
Yebbut for how long? Even India was a formal Crown Colony for only 89 years.
People can get guns easier nowadays and will fight back.
That doesn't, of course, mean that Trump won't win. But it does mean that the augers from history aren't that great.
But Trump won't be facing anyone as electable as Kerry.
Actually, I remember being on a skiing holiday during the 04 campaign, where a friend of mine - who had fully assumed he wanted John Kerry to win was appalled to see him on the telly for the first time. "Is that him?" he asked, incredulously. "He looks... rickety". Still moee to recommend him than any of the current lot though. And as has been previously nited, Americans don't seem to mind rickety politicians.
I think it's too early to tell.
Worth remembering that in 2004, Kerry was nowhere in the Democratic polling at this point. He was at 9% in Iowa.
By 6th January 2004 Kerry was up to 15% in Iowa, by 13th January 21%, by 15th January Kerry took the lead, it is now January 3rd
My point, though, is that relying on the December 2003 Iowa polls would have lost you a lot of money. The top two candidates ended up sinking without trace, while the nomination ended up a battle between two people who barely registered.
In the next few days I'm sure we'll get a new Iowa poll. It may well show Sanders surging, and Buttigieg sinking like a stone. Or it may show that Klobuchar is in double digits. Or it may show that Biden's "No Malarkey" tour is working and he's leading in Iowa as much as nationally. All these things are possible.
That doesn't, of course, mean that Trump won't win. But it does mean that the augers from history aren't that great.
But Trump won't be facing anyone as electable as Kerry.
Actually, I remember being on a skiing holiday during the 04 campaign, where a friend of mine - who had fully assumed he wanted John Kerry to win was appalled to see him on the telly for the first time. "Is that him?" he asked, incredulously. "He looks... rickety". Still moee to recommend him than any of the current lot though. And as has been previously nited, Americans don't seem to mind rickety politicians.
I think it's too early to tell.
Worth remembering that in 2004, Kerry was nowhere in the Democratic polling at this point. He was at 9% in Iowa.
I actually think all of the top four, with the possible exception of Sanders, are stronger candidates than Kerry. Biden is charismatic. Sanders is seen as less corrupt. Warren is smarter and less corrupt. Buttigieg is smarter and more charismatic.
He's not just unpopular on the coasts, but also in Iowa, the rust belt and Arizona.
That's interesting. Trump is extremely unpopular in a fair number of states and not very popular anywhere except Wyoming (somewhere has to) and -ish in a couple more. But he is neutral in some very important states. Because the election is decided state by state, that helps him a lot relative to his dire headline popularity figure.
He's not just unpopular on the coasts, but also in Iowa, the rust belt and Arizona.
That's interesting. Trump is extremely unpopular in a fair number of states and not very popular anywhere except Wyoming (somewhere has to) and -ish in a couple more. But he is neutral in some very important states. Because the election is decided state by state, that helps him a lot relative to his dire headline popularity figure.
Places like Georgia and North Carolina are very dangerous for him. There is a big black population the Democrats can tap into after poor turnout last time. If someone like Gillum, Abrams or Booker is the VP especially.
That reads as though any Iranian retaliatory action would be justified (ignoring that the assassination was itself retaliation for attacks on US positions/ people). And the answer to the first question is already known:
Well, that lets us know who's in charge whilst Boris is away.....
The US didn’t tell Israeli either, so we shouldn’t be feeling miffed...
why is anyone surprised that the US didn’t tell anyone? They treat their TO leaders who would have seen that as the only way to stop it.
But actually, I’m not sure that NATO were informed about the attack on Bin Laden and I’m 99% sure Blair was not told about the capture of Saddam until it had happened. So maybe it’s not that unusual.
The US at the end of the day could defeat almost any other power on its own with the possible exception of China, if allies want to tag along the US is fine with that, if not it will go it alone anyway
It could defeat China. The point is it couldn’t control it afterwards.
It's very difficult for any power to control anywhere it defeats nowadays. In the age of empires, Britain managed to control a quarter of yhe world. France did something similar. Nowadays, the world's richest country and biggest military can't even control Afghanistan or Iraq. What has changed? Is it just that people are more unwilling to be governed? Or were the old empires just less squeamish about exercising control? Or something else?
The wide spread of small automatic firearms. Makes guerilla warfare far easier.
That reads as though any Iranian retaliatory action would be justified (ignoring that the assassination was itself retaliation for attacks on US positions/ people). And the answer to the first question is already known:
Well, that lets us know who's in charge whilst Boris is away.....
The US didn’t tell Israeli either, so we shouldn’t be feeling miffed...
why is anyone surprised that the US didn’t tell anyone? They treat their allies with almost as much contempt as they do their enemies. More pertinently, Trump is as paranoid as Weyoun and would have assumed that if he told anyone they would leak it to the Iranians - and he might well have been right incidentally, as I can think of several NATO leaders who would have seen that as the only way to stop it.
But actually, I’m not sure that NATO were informed about the attack on Bin Laden and I’m 99% sure Blair was not told about the capture of Saddam until it had happened. So maybe it’s not that unusual.
The US at the end of the day could defeat almost any other power on its own with the possible exception of China, if allies want to tag along the US is fine with that, if not it will go it alone anyway
It could defeat China. The point is it couldn’t control it afterwards.
It's very difficult for any power to control anywhere it defeats nowadays. In the age of empires, Britain managed to control a quarter of The world.
Yebbut for how long? Even India was a formal Crown Colony for only 89 years.
That's longer than the history of the Soviet Union! I'm not advocating colonialism. I'm just wondering why when powers do attempt to control foreign countries they are so unsuccessful at it.
That reads as though any Iranian retaliatory action would be justified (ignoring that the assassination was itself retaliation for attacks on US positions/ people). And the answer to the first question is already known:
Well, that lets us know who's in charge whilst Boris is away.....
The US didn’t tell Israeli either, so we shouldn’t be feeling miffed...
why is anyone surprised that the US didn’t tell anyone? They treat their allies with almost as much contempt as they do their enemies. More pertinently, Trump is as paranoid as Weyoun and would have assumed that if he told anyone they would leak it to the Iranians - and he might well have been .
The US at the end of the day could defeat almost any other power on its own with the possible exception of China, if allies want to tag along the US is fine with that, if not it will go it alone anyway
It could defeat China. The point is it couldn’t control it afterwards.
It's very difficult for any power to control anywhere it defeats nowadays. In the age of empires, Britain managed to control a quarter of The world.
Yebbut for how long? Even India was a formal Crown Colony for only 89 years.
That's longer than the history of the Soviet Union! I'm not advocating colonialism. I'm just wondering why when powers do attempt to control foreign countries they are so unsuccessful at it.
Compared to the longevity of Roman control of Britain?
He's not just unpopular on the coasts, but also in Iowa, the rust belt and Arizona.
That's interesting. Trump is extremely unpopular in a fair number of states and not very popular anywhere except Wyoming (somewhere has to) and -ish in a couple more. But he is neutral in some very important states. Because the election is decided state by state, that helps him a lot relative to his dire headline popularity figure.
Places like Georgia and North Carolina are very dangerous for him. There is a big black population the Democrats can tap into after poor turnout last time. If someone like Gillum, Abrams or Booker is the VP especially.
States that are in play (+- 10% net approval) include Texas, Florida, Ohio, Georgia, the Carolinas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nevada, Arizona. He has quite a lot to play with. But something will need to change, I think, for him to win Michigan, Wisconsin or Iowa again.
I think it's entirely winnable for him, but, interestingly he could very well also crash and burn and win hardly any states at all.
It's very difficult for any power to control anywhere it defeats nowadays. In the age of empires, Britain managed to control a quarter of yhe world. France did something similar. Nowadays, the world's richest country and biggest military can't even control Afghanistan or Iraq. What has changed? Is it just that people are more unwilling to be governed? Or were the old empires just less squeamish about exercising control? Or something else?
All of them. Plus, of course, most countries occupying other countries are only doing it for short term reasons. Further, international opinion is against it. Where countries do want to stay and are willing to take fearful punishment and opprobrium for doing so, it can still be done - ask the people of the West Bank.
Russia's annexation of Crimea was pretty straightforward.
Eavesdropping in the pub. There is a grouo of Labour Party members debating the leadership, loudly and angrily and with lots of Mancunian swearing. Verdicts are: Angela - she's thick. Lisa - she's lovely and she's one of us. But she's not a leader. Jess - like her but we'll lose half our members. Ian - no. Kier, or, at a push, Emily are the only ones who can unite the party. This is only six people, mind! But they are not, to look at, the sort of peoole you would expect to be favouring Kier or Emily.
It's very difficult for any power to control anywhere it defeats nowadays. In the age of empires, Britain managed to control a quarter of yhe world. France did something similar. Nowadays, the world's richest country and biggest military can't even control Afghanistan or Iraq. What has changed? Is it just that people are more unwilling to be governed? Or were the old empires just less squeamish about exercising control? Or something else?
All of them. Plus, of course, most countries occupying other countries are only doing it for short term reasons. Further, international opinion is against it. Where countries do want to stay and are willing to take fearful punishment and opprobrium for doing so, it can still be done - ask the people of the West Bank.
Russia's annexation of Crimea was pretty straightforward.
Crucial factor here is that there was a population that was broadly pro-Russian.
He's not just unpopular on the coasts, but also in Iowa, the rust belt and Arizona.
That's interesting. Trump is extremely unpopular in a fair number of states and not very popular anywhere except Wyoming (somewhere has to) and -ish in a couple more. But he is neutral in some very important states. Because the election is decided state by state, that helps him a lot relative to his dire headline popularity figure.
Places like Georgia and North Carolina are very dangerous for him. There is a big black population the Democrats can tap into after poor turnout last time. If someone like Gillum, Abrams or Booker is the VP especially.
States that are in play (+- 10% net approval) include Texas, Florida, Ohio, Georgia, the Carolinas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nevada, Arizona. He has quite a lot to play with. But something will need to change, I think, for him to win Michigan, Wisconsin or Iowa again.
I think it's entirely winnable for him, but, interestingly he could very well also crash and burn and win hardly any states at all.
Trump is on 45% approval in Virginia and Nevada, both Hillary 2016 states but also Bush 2004 states
He's not just unpopular on the coasts, but also in Iowa, the rust belt and Arizona.
That's interesting. Trump is extremely unpopular in a fair number of states and not very popular anywhere except Wyoming (somewhere has to) and -ish in a couple more. But he is neutral in some very important states. Because the election is decided state by state, that helps him a lot relative to his dire headline popularity figure.
Places like Georgia and North Carolina are very dangerous for him. There is a big black population the Democrats can tap into after poor turnout last time. If someone like Gillum, Abrams or Booker is the VP especially.
States that are in play (+- 10% net approval) include Texas, Florida, Ohio, Georgia, the Carolinas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nevada, Arizona. He has quite a lot to play with. But something will need to change, I think, for him to win Michigan, Wisconsin or Iowa again.
I think it's entirely winnable for him, but, interestingly he could very well also crash and burn and win hardly any states at all.
Well, that lets us know who's in charge whilst Boris is away.....
The US didn’t tell Israeli either, so we shouldn’t be feeling miffed...
why is anyone surprised that the US didn’t tell anyone? They treat their TO leaders who would have seen that as the only way to stop it.
But actually, I’m not sure that NATO were informed about the attack on Bin Laden and I’m 99% sure Blair was not told about the capture of Saddam until it had happened. So maybe it’s not that unusual.
The US at the end of the day could defeat almost any other power on its own with the possible exception of China, if allies want to tag along the US is fine with that, if not it will go it alone anyway
It could defeat China. The point is it couldn’t control it afterwards.
It's very difficult for any power to control anywhere it defeats nowadays. In the age of empires, Britain managed to control a quarter of yhe world. France did something similar. Nowadays, the world's richest country and biggest military can't even control Afghanistan or Iraq. What has changed? Is it just that people are more unwilling to be governed? Or were the old empires just less squeamish about exercising control? Or something else?
The wide spread of small automatic firearms. Makes guerilla warfare far easier.
That's an interesting point. I think that's right. Conversely, before guns, you needed to amass a force of thousands to confront your oppressor's small but disciplined and effective army. And your force of tjousands had to be fairly ambivalent to their own survival prospects.
This is really interesting is Kieth Vaz's old seat of Leicester East. 58% Asian but voted 54% LEAVE.
I remember people in here being shocked at how big of a swing it saw to Con. With many saying it was down to the Con candidate being Asian and the Lab candidate being white, but now I think it is more to do with the high Leave vote.
Are there any other Leave seats where it looks like the British Asian population voted Leave?
That reads as though any Iranian retaliatory action would be justified (ignoring that the assassination was itself retaliation for attacks on US positions/ people). And the answer to the first question is already known:
Well, that lets us know who's in charge whilst Boris is away.....
The US didn’t tell Israeli either, so we shouldn’t be feeling miffed...
why is anyone surprised that the US didn’t tell anyone? They treat
But actually, I’m not sure that NATO were informed about the attack on Bin Laden and I’m 99% sure Blair was not told about the capture of Saddam until it had happened. So maybe it’s not that unusual.
The US at the end of the day could defeat almost any other power on its own with the possible exception of China, if allies want to tag along the US is fine with that, if not it will go it alone anyway
It could defeat China. The point is it couldn’t control it afterwards.
It's very difficult for any power to control anywhere it defeats nowadays. In the age of empires, Britain managed to control a quarter of yhe world. France did something similar. Nowadays, the world's richest country and biggest military can't even control Afghanistan or Iraq. What has changed? Is it just that people are more unwilling to be governed? Or were the old empires just less squeamish about exercising control? Or something else?
Lack of squeamishness seems a strong factor. Reminds me of a bit from Terry Pratchett's Jingo, about the world watching, but that back in the day you wanted the world to watch your ruthlessness.
It's very difficult for any power to control anywhere it defeats nowadays. In the age of empires, Britain managed to control a quarter of yhe world. France did something similar. Nowadays, the world's richest country and biggest military can't even control Afghanistan or Iraq. What has changed? Is it just that people are more unwilling to be governed? Or were the old empires just less squeamish about exercising control? Or something else?
All of them. Plus, of course, most countries occupying other countries are only doing it for short term reasons. Further, international opinion is against it. Where countries do want to stay and are willing to take fearful punishment and opprobrium for doing so, it can still be done - ask the people of the West Bank.
Russia's annexation of Crimea was pretty straightforward.
Even then they pretended they weren't doing it initially.
That reads as though any Iranian retaliatory action would be justified (ignoring that the assassination was itself retaliation for attacks on US positions/ people). And the answer to the first question is already known:
Well, that lets us know who's in charge whilst Boris is away.....
The US didn’t tell Israeli either, so we shouldn’t be feeling miffed...
why is anyone surprised that the US didn’t tell anyone? They treat their allies with almost as much contempt as they do their enemies. More pertinently, Trump is as paranoid as Weyoun and would have assumed that if he told anyone they would leak it to the Iranians - and he might well have been right incidentally, as I can think of several NATO leaders who would have seen that as the only way to stop it.
But actually, I’m not sure that NATO were informed about the attack on Bin Laden and I’m 99% sure Blair was not told about the capture of Saddam until it had happened. So maybe it’s not that unusual.
The US at the end of the day could defeat almost any other power on its own with the possible exception of China, if allies want to tag along the US is fine with that, if not it will go it alone anyway
It could defeat China. The point is it couldn’t control it afterwards.
Only in a nuclear exchange. At which point terms like victory/defeat become somewhat meaningless.
And the US couldn’t control Iran, let alone China.
Well, that lets us know who's in charge whilst Boris is away.....
The US didn’t tell Israeli either, so we shouldn’t be feeling miffed...
why is anyone surprised that the US didn’t tell anyone? They treat their TO leaders who would have seen that as the only way to stop it.
But actually, I’m not sure that NATO were informed about the attack on Bin Laden and I’m 99% sure Blair was not told about the capture of Saddam until it had happened. So maybe it’s not that unusual.
The US at the end of the day could defeat almost any other power on its own with the possible exception of China, if allies want to tag along the US is fine with that, if not it will go it alone anyway
It could defeat China. The point is it couldn’t control it afterwards.
It's very difficult for any power to control anywhere it defeats nowadays. In the age of empires, Britain managed to control a quarter of yhe world. France did something similar. Nowadays, the world's richest country and biggest military can't even control Afghanistan or Iraq. What has changed? Is it just that people are more unwilling to be governed? Or were the old empires just less squeamish about exercising control? Or something else?
The wide spread of small automatic firearms. Makes guerilla warfare far easier.
That's an interesting point. I think that's right. Conversely, before guns, you needed to amass a force of thousands to confront your oppressor's small but disciplined and effective army. And your force of tjousands had to be fairly ambivalent to their own survival prospects.
I understand the Romans elephant squadron seriously put the whatsits up the Britons.
He's not just unpopular on the coasts, but also in Iowa, the rust belt and Arizona.
That's interesting. Trump is extremely unpopular in a fair number of states and not very popular anywhere except Wyoming (somewhere has to) and -ish in a couple more. But he is neutral in some very important states. Because the election is decided state by state, that helps him a lot relative to his dire headline popularity figure.
Places like Georgia and North Carolina are very dangerous for him. There is a big black population the Democrats can tap into after poor turnout last time. If someone like Gillum, Abrams or Booker is the VP especially.
States that are in play (+- 10% net approval) include Texas, Florida, Ohio, Georgia, the Carolinas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nevada, Arizona. He has quite a lot to play with. But something will need to change, I think, for him to win Michigan, Wisconsin or Iowa again.
I think it's entirely winnable for him, but, interestingly he could very well also crash and burn and win hardly any states at all.
That would be hilarious.
Kendall did at least say something i.e. that we should listen try to reflect the values of the people whose votes we are trying to win (apart from those areas where Liz Kendall disagreed with those voters i.e. about Europe). Burnham's shtick was "I'm not a Westminster politician" - which wasn't desperately convincing.
Edit: Apologies, I appear to have replied to the wrong conversation. I'm sure there was a comment somewhere about Liz Kendall being more memorable than Andy Burnham. But I can't find it now.
Nandy's opponent in the GE was Ashley Williams, and if she can best the protagonist of the Evil Dead films, she can surely beat Sir Keir and the others.
He's not just unpopular on the coasts, but also in Iowa, the rust belt and Arizona.
That's interesting. Trump is extremely unpopular in a fair number of states and not very popular anywhere except Wyoming (somewhere has to) and -ish in a couple more. But he is neutral in some very important states. Because the election is decided state by state, that helps him a lot relative to his dire headline popularity figure.
Places like Georgia and North Carolina are very dangerous for him. There is a big black population the Democrats can tap into after poor turnout last time. If someone like Gillum, Abrams or Booker is the VP especially.
States that are in play (+- 10% net approval) include Texas, Florida, Ohio, Georgia, the Carolinas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nevada, Arizona. He has quite a lot to play with. But something will need to change, I think, for him to win Michigan, Wisconsin or Iowa again.
I think it's entirely winnable for him, but, interestingly he could very well also crash and burn and win hardly any states at all.
That would be hilarious.
Burnham's shtick was "I'm not a Westminster politician" - which wasn't desperately convincing.
Amazing Corbyn pulled that off and continues to do so for many, despite being as Westminster as they come (no, being a backbencher for most of the time doesn't prevent that).
Still, it would take some doing to try to beat Jeb Bush trying to claim to be a political outsider.
This is really interesting is Kieth Vaz's old seat of Leicester East. 58% Asian but voted 54% LEAVE.
I remember people in here being shocked at how big of a swing it saw to Con. With many saying it was down to the Con candidate being Asian and the Lab candidate being white, but now I think it is more to do with the high Leave vote.
Are there any other Leave seats where it looks like the British Asian population voted Leave?
As I remember post-referendum polling, British Asians tended leave.
He's not just unpopular on the coasts, but also in Iowa, the rust belt and Arizona.
That's interesting. Trump is extremely unpopular in a fair number of states and not very popular anywhere except Wyoming (somewhere has to) and -ish in a couple more. But he is neutral in some very important states. Because the election is decided state by state, that helps him a lot relative to his dire headline popularity figure.
Places like Georgia and North Carolina are very dangerous for him. There is a big black population the Democrats can tap into after poor turnout last time. If someone like Gillum, Abrams or Booker is the VP especially.
States that are in play (+- 10% net approval) include Texas, Florida, Ohio, Georgia, the Carolinas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nevada, Arizona. He has quite a lot to play with. But something will need to change, I think, for him to win Michigan, Wisconsin or Iowa again.
I think it's entirely winnable for him, but, interestingly he could very well also crash and burn and win hardly any states at all.
That would be hilarious.
Burnham's shtick was "I'm not a Westminster politician" - which wasn't desperately convincing.
Amazing Corbyn pulled that off and continues to do so for many, despite being as Westminster as they come (no, being a backbencher for most of the time doesn't prevent that).
Still, it would take some doing to try to beat Jeb Bush trying to claim to be a political outsider.
Because Corbyn was an unknown backbencher that was ideologically pure.
Lack of squeamishness seems a strong factor. Reminds me of a bit from Terry Pratchett's Jingo, about the world watching, but that back in the day you wanted the world to watch your ruthlessness.
Yep I would agree with that. Britain won and maintained an Emplire through the selective, targetted use of utter ruthless force. They got away with it because most of the time it was out of the public eye and when it was brought to the attention of the public they generally thought they were on the side of the angels.
The world today has irrevocably changed and personally I think that is a good thing. What we need now is for the last of the adventurers and Empire builders to realise it.
This is really interesting is Kieth Vaz's old seat of Leicester East. 58% Asian but voted 54% LEAVE.
I remember people in here being shocked at how big of a swing it saw to Con. With many saying it was down to the Con candidate being Asian and the Lab candidate being white, but now I think it is more to do with the high Leave vote.
Are there any other Leave seats where it looks like the British Asian population voted Leave?
Claudia Webbe is not white.
I think there was a low turnout of BME voters in the Brexit referendum, but also Leave did target Asian communities with promises of making RoW immigration easier. Certainly some of my Philipino friends fell for that. Not quite what was promised Brexit voters in Hartlepool of course, but we shall soon find out who is disappointed.
Keith Vaz also had a large personal vote, having pork barrelled very actively over the years.
He's not just unpopular on the coasts, but also in Iowa, the rust belt and Arizona.
That's interesting. Trump is extremely unpopular in a fair number of states and not very popular anywhere except Wyoming (somewhere has to) and -ish in a couple more. But he is neutral in some very important states. Because the election is decided state by state, that helps him a lot relative to his dire headline popularity figure.
Places like Georgia and North Carolina are very dangerous for him. There is a big black population the Democrats can tap into after poor turnout last time. If someone like Gillum, Abrams or Booker is the VP especially.
States that are in play (+- 10% net approval) include Texas, Florida, Ohio, Georgia, the Carolinas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nevada, Arizona. He has quite a lot to play with. But something will need to change, I think, for him to win Michigan, Wisconsin or Iowa again.
I think it's entirely winnable for him, but, interestingly he could very well also crash and burn and win hardly any states at all.
That would be hilarious.
Burnham's shtick was "I'm not a Westminster politician" - which wasn't desperately convincing.
Amazing Corbyn pulled that off and continues to do so for many, despite being as Westminster as they come (no, being a backbencher for most of the time doesn't prevent that).
Still, it would take some doing to try to beat Jeb Bush trying to claim to be a political outsider.
Because Corbyn was an unknown backbencher that was ideologically pure.
Yes, but the idea he is not like other politicians was never very true, and certainly is not now, yet plenty of people seem to believe, even aside from his ideological purity, that he is not as capable of obfuscation, spin and other behaviours one would expect of a political animal steeped in decades of service.
No polls from Ohio, but looking at Pennsylvania he probably lead by 2 points. Only Georgia and Virginia look way out of line.
If Trump wins all the states that he is either tied or leading, plus Georgia he gets 285 Electoral Votes.
But the Biden-Ukraine and Iran War stuff is not a sign that Trump thinks he is going to win, those are acts of a campaign that is desperate.
I'm not that convinced by the state polls yet.
Pennsylvania looks far too good for the Democrats, while Wisconsin, where the Democratic Lesbian Senator got more votes than Trump in the midterms (which is unprecedented) looks implausibly Republican (especially given state approval ratings).
Eavesdropping in the pub. There is a grouo of Labour Party members debating the leadership, loudly and angrily and with lots of Mancunian swearing. Verdicts are: Angela - she's thick. Lisa - she's lovely and she's one of us. But she's not a leader. Jess - like her but we'll lose half our members. Ian - no. Kier, or, at a push, Emily are the only ones who can unite the party. This is only six people, mind! But they are not, to look at, the sort of peoole you would expect to be favouring Kier or Emily.
No polls from Ohio, but looking at Pennsylvania he probably lead by 2 points. Only Georgia and Virginia look way out of line.
If Trump wins all the states that he is either tied or leading, plus Georgia he gets 285 Electoral Votes.
But the Biden-Ukraine and Iran War stuff is not a sign that Trump thinks he is going to win, those are acts of a campaign that is desperate.
I'm not that convinced by the state polls yet.
Pennsylvania looks far too good for the Democrats, while Wisconsin, where the Democratic Lesbian Senator got more votes than Trump in the midterms (which is unprecedented) looks implausibly Republican (especially given state approval ratings).
Pennsylvania has two very large cities for the Democrats to draw votes from, and a big local political machines. Wisconsin has had its union base decimated by Walker and... Milwaukee.
This is really interesting is Kieth Vaz's old seat of Leicester East. 58% Asian but voted 54% LEAVE.
I remember people in here being shocked at how big of a swing it saw to Con. With many saying it was down to the Con candidate being Asian and the Lab candidate being white, but now I think it is more to do with the high Leave vote.
Are there any other Leave seats where it looks like the British Asian population voted Leave?
Claudia Webbe is not white.
I think there was a low turnout of BME voters in the Brexit referendum, but also Leave did target Asian communities with promises of making RoW immigration easier. Certainly some of my Philipino friends fell for that. Not quite what was promised Brexit voters in Hartlepool of course, but we shall soon find out who is disappointed.
Keith Vaz also had a large personal vote, having pork barrelled very actively over the years.
Claudia Webbe is not white but is an outsider, parachuted in by the party establishment caysung great ructions in the local party. It may be the case that in established minority communities like that in Leicester East, individuals are more important than parties to a greayer degree than usual.
No polls from Ohio, but looking at Pennsylvania he probably lead by 2 points. Only Georgia and Virginia look way out of line.
If Trump wins all the states that he is either tied or leading, plus Georgia he gets 285 Electoral Votes.
But the Biden-Ukraine and Iran War stuff is not a sign that Trump thinks he is going to win, those are acts of a campaign that is desperate.
I'm not that convinced by the state polls yet.
Pennsylvania looks far too good for the Democrats, while Wisconsin, where the Democratic Lesbian Senator got more votes than Trump in the midterms (which is unprecedented) looks implausibly Republican (especially given state approval ratings).
Given how terribly Trump and the GOP are doing in upstate N.Y. I think it's true, Trump is really doing as badly as Bush W. in the north east.
The Wisconsin polls were very reputable, but the Georgia polls were not weighted by education.
It's very difficult for any power to control anywhere it defeats nowadays. In the age of empires, Britain managed to control a quarter of yhe world. France did something similar. Nowadays, the world's richest country and biggest military can't even control Afghanistan or Iraq. What has changed? Is it just that people are more unwilling to be governed? Or were the old empires just less squeamish about exercising control? Or something else?
All of them. Plus, of course, most countries occupying other countries are only doing it for short term reasons. Further, international opinion is against it. Where countries do want to stay and are willing to take fearful punishment and opprobrium for doing so, it can still be done - ask the people of the West Bank.
Russia's annexation of Crimea was pretty straightforward.
Crucial factor here is that there was a population that was broadly pro-Russian.
That was the dumb thing about it - Russia would probably have one a properly conducted reunification referendum. Now it’s just illegal.
This is really interesting is Kieth Vaz's old seat of Leicester East. 58% Asian but voted 54% LEAVE.
I remember people in here being shocked at how big of a swing it saw to Con. With many saying it was down to the Con candidate being Asian and the Lab candidate being white, but now I think it is more to do with the high Leave vote.
Are there any other Leave seats where it looks like the British Asian population voted Leave?
Claudia Webbe is not white.
I think there was a low turnout of BME voters in the Brexit referendum, but also Leave did target Asian communities with promises of making RoW immigration easier. Certainly some of my Philipino friends fell for that. Not quite what was promised Brexit voters in Hartlepool of course, but we shall soon find out who is disappointed.
Keith Vaz also had a large personal vote, having pork barrelled very actively over the years.
I remember a decade or so back picking up a newspaper on a bus which turned out to be the newspaper of the local Punjabi community; its headline was a complaint about Polish immigration and specifically the impact it was having on the ability of Punjabi builders to run their businesses profitably. It is perfectly rational for immigrants to have concerns about immigration.
This is really interesting is Kieth Vaz's old seat of Leicester East. 58% Asian but voted 54% LEAVE.
I remember people in here being shocked at how big of a swing it saw to Con. With many saying it was down to the Con candidate being Asian and the Lab candidate being white, but now I think it is more to do with the high Leave vote.
Are there any other Leave seats where it looks like the British Asian population voted Leave?
Burnley, Hounslow, Luton, Newham and Slough are possibilities.
The British Asian population might have voted Leave in Barnsley, Bassetlaw and Bolsover and other strongly Leave areas as well.
But in such places its only a small proportion of the electorate.
If we assume that the maximum Leave vote among white voters was 75% it might be possible to do rough calculations to give estimates of how non-white voters voted.
For example 95% white Basildon was 69% Leave while 86% white Thurrock was 72% Leave and 96% white Castle Point was 73% Leave.
Which suggests non-white voters in Thurrock at least voted Leave.
Eavesdropping in the pub. There is a grouo of Labour Party members debating the leadership, loudly and angrily and with lots of Mancunian swearing. Verdicts are: Angela - she's thick. Lisa - she's lovely and she's one of us. But she's not a leader. Jess - like her but we'll lose half our members. Ian - no. Kier, or, at a push, Emily are the only ones who can unite the party. This is only six people, mind! But they are not, to look at, the sort of peoole you would expect to be favouring Kier or Emily.
Biden identifies with his fanatically anti-english aunt, which even told him bedtime stories about the Evil British. Given Biden is a man stuck in the far past that's a big problem for Britain.
Eavesdropping in the pub. There is a grouo of Labour Party members debating the leadership, loudly and angrily and with lots of Mancunian swearing. Verdicts are: Angela - she's thick. Lisa - she's lovely and she's one of us. But she's not a leader. Jess - like her but we'll lose half our members. Ian - no. Kier, or, at a push, Emily are the only ones who can unite the party. This is only six people, mind! But they are not, to look at, the sort of peoole you would expect to be favouring Kier or Emily.
Comments
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quds_Force
But actually, I’m not sure that NATO were informed about the attack on Bin Laden and I’m 99% sure Blair was not told about the capture of Saddam until it had happened. So maybe it’s not that unusual.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-50982743
(What a bunch)
He's not just unpopular on the coasts, but also in Iowa, the rust belt and Arizona.
Michigan -14%
Iowa -13%
He remains (relatively) popular in Florida (+1%) and Ohio (-5%).
If you take -10% as the point at which Trump loses a state (and +0% at the point at which he gains one), then he loses three states above, and wins by the narrowest of margins in 2020... Trump gets 272.
No President in modern times has ever had lower net approval ratings at this stage in their Presidency. See: https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/
That doesn't, of course, mean that Trump won't win. But it does mean that the augers from history aren't that great.
Oh no wait, I got myself confused there for a moment.
Actually, I remember being on a skiing holiday during the 04 campaign, where a friend of mine - who had fully assumed he wanted John Kerry to win was appalled to see him on the telly for the first time. "Is that him?" he asked, incredulously. "He looks... rickety". Still moee to recommend him than any of the current lot though. And as has been previously nited, Americans don't seem to mind rickety politicians.
If Michael Bloomberg is a third party candidate, then 45.1% is a landslide for Trump.
I don't see a significant Left Wing spoiler vote this time (not even if Buttigieg or Biden is the candidate), but let's be pessimistic for the Dems and assume there is exactly the same third party votes as last time. That would mean that ADem would be on 1% more than last time, and Trump would be on 1% less.
That swing would be enough to hand much of the rust belt back to ADem.
But, of course, we don't know what will happen between now and November. All we really know is that it's likely to be verrrrrrry close.
The US pollsters likely to vote screening questions are brutal. If you didn't vote at the last presidential election then many pollsters stop the call right there and then.
This means if you were an Obama 2008 and 2012 voter but couldn't stomach voting for Clinton then you won't appear in 2020 polling.
Given what happened in the rust belt (GOP vote increased a tiny bit, Dem vote cratered) this is important.
Worth remembering that in 2004, Kerry was nowhere in the Democratic polling at this point. He was at 9% in Iowa.
That gets him 272 electoral college votes after losing Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_2004_Democratic_Party_presidential_primaries
As for North Korea, it would have been defeated without Chinese intervention. With Chinese intervention, both sides fought themselves to a stalemate. Could the US have won? Yes. Was it worth the costs and risks involved? Truman, quite correctly, judged not.
https://twitter.com/JohnnyMercerUK/status/1212842380061265921?s=20
In the next few days I'm sure we'll get a new Iowa poll. It may well show Sanders surging, and Buttigieg sinking like a stone. Or it may show that Klobuchar is in double digits. Or it may show that Biden's "No Malarkey" tour is working and he's leading in Iowa as much as nationally. All these things are possible.
I'm not advocating colonialism. I'm just wondering why when powers do attempt to control foreign countries they are so unsuccessful at it.
I think it's entirely winnable for him, but, interestingly he could very well also crash and burn and win hardly any states at all.
This is only six people, mind! But they are not, to look at, the sort of peoole you would expect to be favouring Kier or Emily.
Although weirdly I remember her being in the race more than Burnham, who came second.
I remember people in here being shocked at how big of a swing it saw to Con. With many saying it was down to the Con candidate being Asian and the Lab candidate being white, but now I think it is more to do with the high Leave vote.
Are there any other Leave seats where it looks like the British Asian population voted Leave?
And the US couldn’t control Iran, let alone China.
Edit: Apologies, I appear to have replied to the wrong conversation. I'm sure there was a comment somewhere about Liz Kendall being more memorable than Andy Burnham. But I can't find it now.
Here is the state polling average of Trump's lead vs the Top 3 Democrats:
Texas +6
Iowa +5
Florida +2
Michigan +2
Wisconsin +1
N.Carolina 0
Arizona 0
Georgia -1
Virginia -2
Nevada -4
N.Hampshire -5
Pennsylvania -5
No polls from Ohio, but looking at Pennsylvania he probably lead by 2 points.
Only Georgia and Virginia look way out of line.
If Trump wins all the states that he is either tied or leading, plus Georgia he gets 285 Electoral Votes.
But the Biden-Ukraine and Iran War stuff is not a sign that Trump thinks he is going to win, those are acts of a campaign that is desperate.
Still, it would take some doing to try to beat Jeb Bush trying to claim to be a political outsider.
The world today has irrevocably changed and personally I think that is a good thing. What we need now is for the last of the adventurers and Empire builders to realise it.
I think there was a low turnout of BME voters in the Brexit referendum, but also Leave did target Asian communities with promises of making RoW immigration easier. Certainly some of my Philipino friends fell for that. Not quite what was promised Brexit voters in Hartlepool of course, but we shall soon find out who is disappointed.
Keith Vaz also had a large personal vote, having pork barrelled very actively over the years.
Pennsylvania looks far too good for the Democrats, while Wisconsin, where the Democratic Lesbian Senator got more votes than Trump in the midterms (which is unprecedented) looks implausibly Republican (especially given state approval ratings).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE_9MzFo2zw
Harris has Bloomberg leapfrogging Buttigieg into fourth (and into double digits).
HarrisX has Bloomberg getting just 2%.
Which, I wonder, is right.
The Wisconsin polls were very reputable, but the Georgia polls were not weighted by education.
https://twitter.com/tnewtondunn/status/1213224476533559297?s=20
The British Asian population might have voted Leave in Barnsley, Bassetlaw and Bolsover and other strongly Leave areas as well.
But in such places its only a small proportion of the electorate.
If we assume that the maximum Leave vote among white voters was 75% it might be possible to do rough calculations to give estimates of how non-white voters voted.
For example 95% white Basildon was 69% Leave while 86% white Thurrock was 72% Leave and 96% white Castle Point was 73% Leave.
Which suggests non-white voters in Thurrock at least voted Leave.
For me her big achievement was being referred to as the 'Blair Witch Project' by BigJohnOwls.
https://twitter.com/YouGov/status/1212725650878017536
Trump maybe bad but for Britain he is our only ally.
As long as he doesn't blow up people in a fit he is still better than irish Joe Biden for Britain.
https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2020/01/16/joe-biden-designated-mourner/
Biden identifies with his fanatically anti-english aunt, which even told him bedtime stories about the Evil British.
Given Biden is a man stuck in the far past that's a big problem for Britain.
70 implies a ≈ 1.5% chance, if my maths are not wrong at this Blue Nun hour.