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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » It is crunch time tonight for Mike Bloomberg as he faces his f

SystemSystem Posts: 12,170
edited February 2020 in General

imagepoliticalbetting.com » Blog Archive » It is crunch time tonight for Mike Bloomberg as he faces his first WH2020 debate

Until now multi billionaire Mike Bloomberg has taken an unusual approach to his bid for the Democratic nomination. For starters he has skipped the tedious business of fundraising paying for his hugely expensive campaign himself. Secondly he has bypassed the first four primaries focusing all his efforts and money on the Super Tuesday states which vote on March 3. Also until now he has avoided the regular TV debates between the contenders and has yet to face up to the scrutiny of his fellow contenders.

Read the full story here


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Comments

  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,218
    Here's quite a good debate preview:

    https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/02/democratic-debate-no-9-this-one-really-counts.html
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 33,464
    edited February 2020
    I said the other day that Bloomberg knows where Trumps bodies are buried. And Trump really worries about that.

    If I were a Septic though, I'd still prefer Klobuchar or Warren.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,862
    Nevada west coast. This is going to be in the middle of the bloody night isn’t it?
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,678
    I’m on Team Bloomberg, pro bono publico.
  • geoffwgeoffw Posts: 8,720
    OldKingCole said:

    I said the other day that Bloomberg knows where Trumps bodies are buried. And Trump really worries about that.

    If I were a Septic though, I'd still prefer Klobuchar or Warren.

    Beware the antiseptics though.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,385
    OldKingCole said:

    I said the other day that Bloomberg knows where Trumps bodies are buried. And Trump really worries about that.

    If I were a Septic though, I'd still prefer Klobuchar or Warren.

    Only Mike can beat Trump, and that is a big maybe.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,205
    On your own, son.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,862
    Bloomberg hasn’t done a debate for about 15 years. He’s never done many. Everyone will be having a go about him trying to buy the nomination. Which he is.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 42,000
    Bercow waking up: Who shall I annoy today?

    https://twitter.com/ScotNational/status/1230239886046711808?s=20
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,225
    On the other hand, expectations are low for Bloomberg, so he doesn’t have to be brilliant.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,609
    There seem to be an awful lot of opposition politicians who have only just woken up today to what the Brexit vote means.....
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    MarqueeMark said:

    There seem to be an awful lot of opposition politicians who have only just woken up today to what the Brexit vote means.....

    They'll still be in denial until next year. Horrified at the notion that we might actually change anything rather than keep everything the same.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,491
    I'll basically be disappointed if Bloomberg doesn't burst into tears and soil himself on stage, following which he immediately flys out to 20/1.

    Obviously that's not going to happen.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    Casino_Royale said:

    I'll basically be disappointed if Bloomberg doesn't burst into tears and soil himself on stage, following which he immediately flys out to 20/1.

    Obviously that's not going to happen.

    Yeah, with the market as it is he could do that and still only go out to 15/1 ;)
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,678
    edited February 2020
    MarqueeMark said:

    There seem to be an awful lot of opposition politicians who have only just woken up today to what the Brexit vote means.....

    Hang on, I've been repeatedly reassured on here by a lot of PB Leavers that Brexit was nothing to do with immigration.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    MarqueeMark said:

    There seem to be an awful lot of opposition politicians who have only just woken up today to what the Brexit vote means.....

    Hang on, I've been repeatedly reassured on here by a lot of PB Leavers that Brexit was nothing to do with immigration.
    It was nothing to do with stopping immigration, or hating migrants.

    Controlling immigration was a policy platform though, much as its one I care little about.
  • tysontyson Posts: 6,117
    MarqueeMark said:

    There seem to be an awful lot of opposition politicians who have only just woken up today to what the Brexit vote means.....

    What???? .why do you think opposition politicians tried to stop it?

    Brexit makes me thoroughly ashamed of being British...it's disgusting....


  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    Reportedly NBC has tweeted that Bloomberg will not stand on a box tonight. Chapeau to Trump.

    He (Bloomberg) is an incredibly intelligent guy. In the past he has always been wooden on stage. He also has not projected warmth, and had the charisma of a rock.

    Expectations for him are low. He has hired the best that money can rent, and he's nobody's fool. He also won 3 elections for NYC Mayor. So I suspect that the others will underestimate him at their peril
  • TheGreenMachineTheGreenMachine Posts: 1,086
    Bloomberg isn't appealing at all.
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    TheGreenMachine said:

    Bloomberg isn't appealing at all.

    We're about to see if that's true in the next 6 hours.
  • tysontyson Posts: 6,117
    eadric said:

    This guy is intriguing on coronavirus

    https://twitter.com/evdefender

    He basically thinks China is cooking the stats, and changing the definition of covid, to hide the scale of the epidemic. His argument is complex but he certainly makes one good point: according to the official figures, on some days (eg Feb 17) there were more new confirmed cases of Covid on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, than there were..... in all of China outside Hubei.

    Now, cruise ships are quite easy places to catch bugs. That's probably why the corona infection rate on that ship is at present 21% and rising.

    But the population of the cruise ship is 3,700, and the population of China ex-Hubei is 1,340,000,000

    Yet there are more cases on the ship, than in mainland China (outside Hubei)?

    Yeah. Right,

    The only good thing about this thing is the impact on cruise ships....fucking ludicrous hulks of polluting metal transporting geriatric Brexiteers stuffing their faces....I fucking hate everything about cruise ships....
  • TheGreenMachineTheGreenMachine Posts: 1,086
    Tim_B said:

    TheGreenMachine said:

    Bloomberg isn't appealing at all.

    We're about to see if that's true in the next 6 hours.
    What happens in six hours?
  • Gabs3Gabs3 Posts: 836
    TheGreenMachine said:

    Tim_B said:

    TheGreenMachine said:

    Bloomberg isn't appealing at all.

    We're about to see if that's true in the next 6 hours.
    What happens in six hours?
    Nevada debate.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    tyson said:

    eadric said:

    This guy is intriguing on coronavirus

    https://twitter.com/evdefender

    He basically thinks China is cooking the stats, and changing the definition of covid, to hide the scale of the epidemic. His argument is complex but he certainly makes one good point: according to the official figures, on some days (eg Feb 17) there were more new confirmed cases of Covid on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, than there were..... in all of China outside Hubei.

    Now, cruise ships are quite easy places to catch bugs. That's probably why the corona infection rate on that ship is at present 21% and rising.

    But the population of the cruise ship is 3,700, and the population of China ex-Hubei is 1,340,000,000

    Yet there are more cases on the ship, than in mainland China (outside Hubei)?

    Yeah. Right,

    The only good thing about this thing is the impact on cruise ships....fucking ludicrous hulks of polluting metal transporting geriatric Brexiteers stuffing their faces....I fucking hate everything about cruise ships....
    The kinder, gentler, tolerant left ladies and gentlemen . . .
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,880
    tyson said:

    eadric said:

    This guy is intriguing on coronavirus

    https://twitter.com/evdefender

    He basically thinks China is cooking the stats, and changing the definition of covid, to hide the scale of the epidemic. His argument is complex but he certainly makes one good point: according to the official figures, on some days (eg Feb 17) there were more new confirmed cases of Covid on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, than there were..... in all of China outside Hubei.

    Now, cruise ships are quite easy places to catch bugs. That's probably why the corona infection rate on that ship is at present 21% and rising.

    But the population of the cruise ship is 3,700, and the population of China ex-Hubei is 1,340,000,000

    Yet there are more cases on the ship, than in mainland China (outside Hubei)?

    Yeah. Right,

    The only good thing about this thing is the impact on cruise ships....fucking ludicrous hulks of polluting metal transporting geriatric Brexiteers stuffing their faces....I fucking hate everything about cruise ships....
    Hatred of old people noted...
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,880
    TheGreenMachine said:

    Bloomberg isn't appealing at all.

    You prefer Fox News?

    (joke!)
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,218
    Casino_Royale said:

    I'll basically be disappointed if Bloomberg doesn't burst into tears and soil himself on stage, following which he immediately flys out to 20/1.

    Obviously that's not going to happen.

    Yeah, more like 200/1
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 63,102
    edited February 2020
    tyson said:

    eadric said:

    This guy is intriguing on coronavirus

    https://twitter.com/evdefender

    He basically thinks China is cooking the stats, and changing the definition of covid, to hide the scale of the epidemic. His argument is complex but he certainly makes one good point: according to the official figures, on some days (eg Feb 17) there were more new confirmed cases of Covid on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, than there were..... in all of China outside Hubei.

    Now, cruise ships are quite easy places to catch bugs. That's probably why the corona infection rate on that ship is at present 21% and rising.

    But the population of the cruise ship is 3,700, and the population of China ex-Hubei is 1,340,000,000

    Yet there are more cases on the ship, than in mainland China (outside Hubei)?

    Yeah. Right,

    The only good thing about this thing is the impact on cruise ships....fucking ludicrous hulks of polluting metal transporting geriatric Brexiteers stuffing their faces....I fucking hate everything about cruise ships....
    Have you ever been on a cruise ship. The vast majority of people on cruise ships are Americans, Canadians, and many other non brexiteers from across the world

    But don't let facts bother you Tyson
  • glwglw Posts: 9,908
    edited February 2020
    Philip_Thompson said:

    MarqueeMark said:

    There seem to be an awful lot of opposition politicians who have only just woken up today to what the Brexit vote means.....

    They'll still be in denial until next year. Horrified at the notion that we might actually change anything rather than keep everything the same.
    Even the Google GDPR story is a red-herring. We are leaving the EU so the GDPR would no longer be relevant to us when it involves a US company and the UK government, the only reason it would be relevant would be if Google maintained legal authority for UK accounts in Ireland.

    The UK's Data Protection Act will still apply after the end of the year, which is the UK implementation of the GDPR amongst other things. Obviously we could ammend that, but there's no reason to think we would change it by a significant amount as the direction of travel across the world is for tighter data protection and stronger privacy laws. That's the law that will protect UK citizens rights, not the EU GDPR, and as Robert suggested California is likely to have something quite similar soon as well.

    Basically most companies operating internet services will have to comply with the DPA, whatever applies in the US, and most of them will be GDPR compliant as well. I expect that as far as possible most of them will operate as though a superset of such laws applies.

    If there's a serious Remainer complaint to be made it should be that there will be more red-tape for companies operating internet services in the UK, they will have to make sure they are DPA compliant not just GDPR, but that's sort of the case now as the DPA goes beyond the GDPR anyway.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,695
    edited February 2020
    tyson said:

    eadric said:

    This guy is intriguing on coronavirus

    https://twitter.com/evdefender

    He basically thinks China is cooking the stats, and changing the definition of covid, to hide the scale of the epidemic. His argument is complex but he certainly makes one good point: according to the official figures, on some days (eg Feb 17) there were more new confirmed cases of Covid on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, than there were..... in all of China outside Hubei.

    Now, cruise ships are quite easy places to catch bugs. That's probably why the corona infection rate on that ship is at present 21% and rising.

    But the population of the cruise ship is 3,700, and the population of China ex-Hubei is 1,340,000,000

    Yet there are more cases on the ship, than in mainland China (outside Hubei)?

    Yeah. Right,

    The only good thing about this thing is the impact on cruise ships....fucking ludicrous hulks of polluting metal transporting geriatric Brexiteers stuffing their faces....I fucking hate everything about cruise ships....
    ... then don't go on one - they're not compulsory.

    Personally, they work for me... good wheelchair access, a chance to visit several places on one holiday, meet some interesting people (yes, and some bores, but generally a much wider spread of views than you seem to be assuming).

    I appreciate they are not everyone's cup of tea but live and let live.
  • Tim_BTim_B Posts: 7,669
    oddball poll taken Feb 14-17 by Wall St Journal/NBC News...

    Most unpopular qualities for a presidential candidate>>>

    Socialist 67%
    Heart attack in past year 57%
    75+ years old 53%
    Self-funder 41%
    Under 40 40%
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 63,102
    Benpointer said:

    tyson said:

    eadric said:

    This guy is intriguing on coronavirus

    https://twitter.com/evdefender

    He basically thinks China is cooking the stats, and changing the definition of covid, to hide the scale of the epidemic. His argument is complex but he certainly makes one good point: according to the official figures, on some days (eg Feb 17) there were more new confirmed cases of Covid on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, than there were..... in all of China outside Hubei.

    Now, cruise ships are quite easy places to catch bugs. That's probably why the corona infection rate on that ship is at present 21% and rising.

    But the population of the cruise ship is 3,700, and the population of China ex-Hubei is 1,340,000,000

    Yet there are more cases on the ship, than in mainland China (outside Hubei)?

    Yeah. Right,

    The only good thing about this thing is the impact on cruise ships....fucking ludicrous hulks of polluting metal transporting geriatric Brexiteers stuffing their faces....I fucking hate everything about cruise ships....
    ... then don't go on one - they're not compulsory.

    Personally, they work for me... good wheelchair access, a chance to visit several places on one holiday, meet somw interesting people (yes, and some bores, but generally a much wider spread of views than you seem to be assuming).
    Tyson is showing an irrational attitude to a leisure pursuit enjoyed by millions which brings together groups from across the world with an amazing varience of views, and in my experience little or no politics are discussed
  • BluestBlueBluestBlue Posts: 4,556
    eadric said:

    This guy is intriguing on coronavirus

    https://twitter.com/evdefender

    He basically thinks China is cooking the stats, and changing the definition of covid, to hide the scale of the epidemic. His argument is complex but he certainly makes one good point: according to the official figures, on some days (eg Feb 17) there were more new confirmed cases of Covid on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, than there were..... in all of China outside Hubei.

    Now, cruise ships are quite easy places to catch bugs. That's probably why the corona infection rate on that ship is at present 21% and rising.

    But the population of the cruise ship is 3,700, and the population of China ex-Hubei is 1,340,000,000

    Yet there are more cases on the ship, than in mainland China (outside Hubei)?

    Yeah. Right.

    I'm waiting for the analysis from Twitter stats legend Dr. Moderate / Centrist Phone.

    If he tells us it's all going to be fine, then you know the world is truly fucked...
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    While we wait: I'm not exactly a fan of Dominic Cummings, but the Guardian has surpassed itself in the dishonesty of this top-headline smear piece:

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/19/sabisky-row-dominic-cummings-criticised-over-designer-babies-post

    That they have the gall to think themselves superior to the Mail is astonishing.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,695
    I've just clocked that as an early-retiree I am one of Priti's 8 million 'economically inactive Britons'.

    Call me unpatriotic, but I'm not looking forward to manning the Starbucks counter to plug the gap and keep the economy going. 😟

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/feb/19/immigration-firms-will-need-to-train-more-uk-workers-says-priti-patel
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,218
    Tim_B said:

    oddball poll taken Feb 14-17 by Wall St Journal/NBC News...

    Most unpopular qualities for a presidential candidate>>>

    Socialist 67%
    Heart attack in past year 57%
    75+ years old 53%
    Self-funder 41%
    Under 40 40%

    And there you have Sanders... ummm... problem.

    You see, he is a socialist.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,205
    Tim_B said:

    oddball poll taken Feb 14-17 by Wall St Journal/NBC News...

    Most unpopular qualities for a presidential candidate>>>

    Socialist 67%
    Heart attack in past year 57%
    75+ years old 53%
    Self-funder 41%
    Under 40 40%

    So it's between Klobuchar, Warren and Gabard then ?
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,695
    Richard_Nabavi said:

    While we wait: I'm not exactly a fan of Dominic Cummings, but the Guardian has surpassed itself in the dishonesty of this top-headline smear piece:

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/19/sabisky-row-dominic-cummings-criticised-over-designer-babies-post

    That they have the gall to think themselves superior to the Mail is astonishing.

    The Guardian is not only superior to the Mail but in a completely different class. One quick look at the websites or typical front pages tells you that.

    What is it about the Guardian article you think is dishonest?
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,218
    Pulpstar said:

    Tim_B said:

    oddball poll taken Feb 14-17 by Wall St Journal/NBC News...

    Most unpopular qualities for a presidential candidate>>>

    Socialist 67%
    Heart attack in past year 57%
    75+ years old 53%
    Self-funder 41%
    Under 40 40%

    So it's between Klobuchar, Warren and Gabard then ?
    I think "Funded by the Russians" was probably unprompted, but would lead to pretty high negatives.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,767
    Bloomberg and Sanders fight each other to a standstill. Then what?
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,767
    https://twitter.com/hendopolis/status/1230256177893736448/photo/1
  • TheGreenMachineTheGreenMachine Posts: 1,086
    Gabs3 said:

    TheGreenMachine said:

    Tim_B said:

    TheGreenMachine said:

    Bloomberg isn't appealing at all.

    We're about to see if that's true in the next 6 hours.
    What happens in six hours?
    Nevada debate.
    Ah right, I don't follow USA politics. It's boring and too long drawn out.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,767
    rcs1000 said:

    Tim_B said:

    oddball poll taken Feb 14-17 by Wall St Journal/NBC News...

    Most unpopular qualities for a presidential candidate>>>

    Socialist 67%
    Heart attack in past year 57%
    75+ years old 53%
    Self-funder 41%
    Under 40 40%

    And there you have Sanders... ummm... problem.

    You see, he is a socialist.
    Trump will tear him to pieces. Dems are deluded if they think this wont be Corbyn redux.

    But you've all heard this from me before...
  • TheGreenMachineTheGreenMachine Posts: 1,086
    Sunil_Prasannan said:

    TheGreenMachine said:

    Bloomberg isn't appealing at all.

    You prefer Fox News?

    (joke!)
    I don't like USA politics, no irrelevance to UK or Ireland so Imho pretty pointless.
  • TheGreenMachineTheGreenMachine Posts: 1,086
    rcs1000 said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    I'll basically be disappointed if Bloomberg doesn't burst into tears and soil himself on stage, following which he immediately flys out to 20/1.

    Obviously that's not going to happen.

    Yeah, more like 200/1
    1000-1 matey.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,767
    TheGreenMachine said:

    Gabs3 said:

    TheGreenMachine said:

    Tim_B said:

    TheGreenMachine said:

    Bloomberg isn't appealing at all.

    We're about to see if that's true in the next 6 hours.
    What happens in six hours?
    Nevada debate.
    Ah right, I don't follow USA politics. It's boring and too long drawn out.
    Not sure one debate will make a huge difference unless there's a Reagan moment.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,720
    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    While we wait: I'm not exactly a fan of Dominic Cummings, but the Guardian has surpassed itself in the dishonesty of this top-headline smear piece:

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/19/sabisky-row-dominic-cummings-criticised-over-designer-babies-post

    That they have the gall to think themselves superior to the Mail is astonishing.

    The Guardian is not only superior to the Mail but in a completely different class. One quick look at the websites or typical front pages tells you that.

    What is it about the Guardian article you think is dishonest?
    Yes, quoting Cummings on eugenic selection of babies on the NHS seems reasonable reporting to me.
  • TheGreenMachineTheGreenMachine Posts: 1,086
    rottenborough said:

    Bloomberg and Sanders fight each other to a standstill. Then what?

    If that happens, trump will win easy. Biden is the only one that has a chance against trump out of the males anyway.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    edited February 2020
    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    While we wait: I'm not exactly a fan of Dominic Cummings, but the Guardian has surpassed itself in the dishonesty of this top-headline smear piece:

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/19/sabisky-row-dominic-cummings-criticised-over-designer-babies-post

    That they have the gall to think themselves superior to the Mail is astonishing.

    The Guardian is not only superior to the Mail but in a completely different class. One quick look at the websites or typical front pages tells you that.

    What is it about the Guardian article you think is dishonest?
    Err - the fact that it is entirely based on a lie that Cummings proposed or supported something which he didn't. Pretty basic, surely?
  • TheGreenMachineTheGreenMachine Posts: 1,086
    Foxy said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    While we wait: I'm not exactly a fan of Dominic Cummings, but the Guardian has surpassed itself in the dishonesty of this top-headline smear piece:

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/19/sabisky-row-dominic-cummings-criticised-over-designer-babies-post

    That they have the gall to think themselves superior to the Mail is astonishing.

    The Guardian is not only superior to the Mail but in a completely different class. One quick look at the websites or typical front pages tells you that.

    What is it about the Guardian article you think is dishonest?
    Yes, quoting Cummings on eugenic selection of babies on the NHS seems reasonable reporting to me.
    Is Dominic on his last legs, in your opinion?
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,695
    Big_G_NorthWales said:

    Benpointer said:

    tyson said:

    eadric said:

    This guy is intriguing on coronavirus

    https://twitter.com/evdefender

    He basically thinks China is cooking the stats, and changing the definition of covid, to hide the scale of the epidemic. His argument is complex but he certainly makes one good point: according to the official figures, on some days (eg Feb 17) there were more new confirmed cases of Covid on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, than there were..... in all of China outside Hubei.

    Now, cruise ships are quite easy places to catch bugs. That's probably why the corona infection rate on that ship is at present 21% and rising.

    But the population of the cruise ship is 3,700, and the population of China ex-Hubei is 1,340,000,000

    Yet there are more cases on the ship, than in mainland China (outside Hubei)?

    Yeah. Right,

    The only good thing about this thing is the impact on cruise ships....fucking ludicrous hulks of polluting metal transporting geriatric Brexiteers stuffing their faces....I fucking hate everything about cruise ships....
    ... then don't go on one - they're not compulsory.

    Personally, they work for me... good wheelchair access, a chance to visit several places on one holiday, meet somw interesting people (yes, and some bores, but generally a much wider spread of views than you seem to be assuming).
    Tyson is showing an irrational attitude to a leisure pursuit enjoyed by millions which brings together groups from across the world with an amazing varience of views, and in my experience little or no politics are discussed
    Agreed. We always opt for flexible dining as meeting lots of different people is one of the best things about cruises. We've only had two bad experiences over dinner: one political (extreme right-wing racist bigot) and another from a hyper-hypochondriac determined to describe every one of her 49 illnesses in great detail.

    All the other experiences have been fine or better; we've met some remarkable and interesting people.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,992
    eadric said:

    BluestBlue said:

    eadric said:

    This guy is intriguing on coronavirus

    https://twitter.com/evdefender

    He basically thinks China is cooking the stats, and changing the definition of covid, to hide the scale of the epidemic. His argument is complex but he certainly makes one good point: according to the official figures, on some days (eg Feb 17) there were more new confirmed cases of Covid on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, than there were..... in all of China outside Hubei.

    Now, cruise ships are quite easy places to cHubei is 1,340,000,000

    Yet there are more cases on the ship, than in mainland China (outside Hubei)?

    Yeah. Right.

    I'm waiting for the analysis from Twitter stats legend Dr. Moderate / Centrist Phone.

    If he tells us it's all going to be fine, then you know the world is truly fucked...
    I reckon this guy is on to something. The reported numbers from China ex Hubei are just unbelievable.

    So here's my theory as to what is happening. And I've read everything possible in the past week, from all sides of the argument

    1. The virus did possibly come from a lab, because there really is a lab testing bat coronaviruses in central Wuhan, 280m from the "seafood market." The coincidence is just too intense. Either way it doesn't matter. It kicked off. I do not believe it is a bioweapon.

    2. The spread in Wuhan was quick and dangerous and the authorities went into Chernobyl mode, calamitously trying to silence everyone (which could have Chernboyl like ramifications down the line, for the CCP). Then the outbreak got too big to hide.

    3. At this point the CCP decided to sacrifice the entire province of Hubei. Close it down, seal it off, let it cope as best it can. At the same time, crucially, they narrowed the definition of who would be tested, and who would be seen as infected, OUTSIDE Hubei, hence the weird lack of Chinese cases outside Hubei

    4. The idea is to let the virus burn itself out, in Hubei and outside. In Hubei it will kill many, as the now-isolated, overwhelmed health system in Hubei has crashed, outside Hubei who knows how many it will kill. The Chinese leadership don't care, they will cope, the virus is not the Black Death - the main thing is to make it look like the virus is contained and dying, and the economy can restart.

    5. This will probably work. It might even be good for the world economy, China has made a brutal choice that we might have found too difficult. Sacrificing a whole province.

    6. The question now becomes if and when it spreads outside China, and how bad it will be. We will know the answer soon. My guess is quite bad in Asia, but really not that bad in the West, because genetics.
    I am so glad you are not still banging on in post after post after post. After post. About Coronavirus.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,880
    rottenborough said:

    Bloomberg and Sanders fight each other to a standstill. Then what?

    Zimmer frames at 10 paces? (only kidding!)
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,695
    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    While we wait: I'm not exactly a fan of Dominic Cummings, but the Guardian has surpassed itself in the dishonesty of this top-headline smear piece:

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/19/sabisky-row-dominic-cummings-criticised-over-designer-babies-post

    That they have the gall to think themselves superior to the Mail is astonishing.

    The Guardian is not only superior to the Mail but in a completely different class. One quick look at the websites or typical front pages tells you that.

    What is it about the Guardian article you think is dishonest?
    Err - the fact that it is entirely based on a lie that Cummings proposed or supported something which he didn't. Pretty basic, surely?
    You think they are making up the Cummings quotes?
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,880
    TheGreenMachine said:

    Sunil_Prasannan said:

    TheGreenMachine said:

    Bloomberg isn't appealing at all.

    You prefer Fox News?

    (joke!)
    I don't like USA politics, no irrelevance to UK or Ireland so Imho pretty pointless.
    I agree.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,767
    Sense outbreak in Labour continues. This is getting quite dizzying...

    https://twitter.com/siennamarla/status/1230182334479192065
  • TheGreenMachineTheGreenMachine Posts: 1,086
    Milestone complete.

    @rcs1000

    @Foxy

    @Pulpstar

    @MikeSmithson

    @TheScreamingEagles

    @HYUFD

    @rottenborough

    @Richard_Nabavi

    @TOPPING

    Etc

    1000 comments and counting :smile:
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    rottenborough said:

    Sense outbreak in Labour continues. This is getting quite dizzying...

    https://twitter.com/siennamarla/status/1230182334479192065

    Alternatively another indication Starmer may be a continuity Corbyn candidate afterall.

    Have we seen any indication of Starmer rejecting and denouncing Corbyn or Corbynism yet?
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,767
    https://twitter.com/BBCPolitics/status/1230116164434583553
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 63,102
    Benpointer said:

    Big_G_NorthWales said:

    Benpointer said:

    tyson said:

    eadric said:

    This guy is intriguing on coronavirus

    https://twitter.com/evdefender

    He basically thinks China is cooking the stats, and changing the definition of covid, to hide the scale of the epidemic. His argument is complex but he certainly makes one good point: according to the official figures, on some days (eg Feb 17) there were more new confirmed cases of Covid on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, than there were..... in all of China outside Hubei.

    Now, cruise ships are quite easy places to catch bugs. That's probably why the corona infection rate on that ship is at present 21% and rising.

    But the population of the cruise ship is 3,700, and the population of China ex-Hubei is 1,340,000,000

    Yet there are more cases on the ship, than in mainland China (outside Hubei)?

    Yeah. Right,

    The only good thing about this thing is the impact on cruise ships....fucking ludicrous hulks of polluting metal transporting geriatric Brexiteers stuffing their faces....I fucking hate everything about cruise ships....
    ... then don't go on one - they're not compulsory.

    Personally, they work for me... good wheelchair access, a chance to visit several places on one holiday, meet somw interesting people (yes, and some bores, but generally a much wider spread of views than you seem to be assuming).
    Tyson is showing an irrational attitude to a leisure pursuit enjoyed by millions which brings together groups from across the world with an amazing varience of views, and in my experience little or no politics are discussed
    Agreed. We always opt for flexible dining as meeting lots of different people is one of the best things about cruises. We've only had two bad experiences over dinner: one political (extreme right-wing racist bigot) and another from a hyper-hypochondriac determined to describe every one of her 49 illnesses in great detail.

    All the other experiences have been fine or better; we've met some remarkable and interesting people.
    So have we Ben and Tyson attacking it shows he hasn't a clue about the cruise industry
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 32,601
    "The downsides of a cashless society cannot be ignored
    TELEGRAPH VIEW"

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2020/02/18/downsides-cashless-society-cannot-ignored/
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    While we wait: I'm not exactly a fan of Dominic Cummings, but the Guardian has surpassed itself in the dishonesty of this top-headline smear piece:

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/19/sabisky-row-dominic-cummings-criticised-over-designer-babies-post

    That they have the gall to think themselves superior to the Mail is astonishing.

    The Guardian is not only superior to the Mail but in a completely different class. One quick look at the websites or typical front pages tells you that.

    What is it about the Guardian article you think is dishonest?
    Err - the fact that it is entirely based on a lie that Cummings proposed or supported something which he didn't. Pretty basic, surely?
    You think they are making up the Cummings quotes?
    No, quite the opposite. They have no doubt quoted them accurately, which is why it is entirely clear that they are smearing him Mail-style. He says nothing which bears the interpretation they've put on his words.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,695
    eadric said:

    BluestBlue said:

    eadric said:




    I'm waiting for the analysis from Twitter stats legend Dr. Moderate / Centrist Phone.

    If he tells us it's all going to be fine, then you know the world is truly fucked...
    I reckon this guy is on to something. The reported numbers from China ex Hubei are just unbelievable.

    So here's my theory as to what is happening. And I've read everything possible in the past week, from all sides of the argument

    1. The virus did possibly come from a lab, because there really is a lab testing bat coronaviruses in central Wuhan, 280m from the "seafood market." The coincidence is just too intense. Either way it doesn't matter. It kicked off. I do not believe it is a bioweapon.

    2. The spread in Wuhan was quick and dangerous and the authorities went into Chernobyl mode, calamitously trying to silence everyone (which could have Chernboyl like ramifications down the line, for the CCP). Then the outbreak got too big to hide.

    3. At this point the CCP decided to sacrifice the entire province of Hubei. Close it down, seal it off, let it cope as best it can. At the same time, crucially, they narrowed the definition of who would be tested, and who would be seen as infected, OUTSIDE Hubei, hence the weird lack of Chinese cases outside Hubei

    4. The idea is to let the virus burn itself out, in Hubei and outside. In Hubei it will kill many, as the now-isolated, overwhelmed health system in Hubei has crashed, outside Hubei who knows how many it will kill. The Chinese leadership don't care, they will cope, the virus is not the Black Death - the main thing is to make it look like the virus is contained and dying, and the economy can restart.

    5. This will probably work. It might even be good for the world economy, China has made a brutal choice that we might have found too difficult. Sacrificing a whole province.

    6. The question now becomes if and when it spreads outside China, and how bad it will be. We will know the answer soon. My guess is quite bad in Asia, but really not that bad in the West, because genetics.
    Sounds like the plot outline for the next SeanT thriller.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 96,153
    Philip_Thompson said:

    rottenborough said:

    Sense outbreak in Labour continues. This is getting quite dizzying...

    https://twitter.com/siennamarla/status/1230182334479192065

    Alternatively another indication Starmer may be a continuity Corbyn candidate afterall.

    Have we seen any indication of Starmer rejecting and denouncing Corbyn or Corbynism yet?
    Not to my knowledge. But even 'the same thing, but more competently' would be something.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 26,622
    rottenborough said:

    https://twitter.com/BBCPolitics/status/1230116164434583553

    The answer to staff shortages is higher pay or capital investment.
  • TGOHF666TGOHF666 Posts: 2,052
    Big story for the budget is pension tax relief - are the Conservatives going to stab their own voters in the neck by cutting it for defined contribution pensions ?

    This could be a massive faux pas.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,695
    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    While we wait: I'm not exactly a fan of Dominic Cummings, but the Guardian has surpassed itself in the dishonesty of this top-headline smear piece:

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/19/sabisky-row-dominic-cummings-criticised-over-designer-babies-post

    That they have the gall to think themselves superior to the Mail is astonishing.

    The Guardian is not only superior to the Mail but in a completely different class. One quick look at the websites or typical front pages tells you that.

    What is it about the Guardian article you think is dishonest?
    Err - the fact that it is entirely based on a lie that Cummings proposed or supported something which he didn't. Pretty basic, surely?
    You think they are making up the Cummings quotes?
    No, quite the opposite. They have no doubt quoted them accurately, which is why it is entirely clear that they are smearing him Mail-style. He says nothing which bears the interpretation they've put on his words.
    Pah! Cummings is fair game. Live by the sword...
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,992
    TheGreenMachine said:

    Milestone complete.

    @rcs1000

    @Foxy

    @Pulpstar

    @MikeSmithson

    @TheScreamingEagles

    @HYUFD

    @rottenborough

    @Richard_Nabavi

    @TOPPING

    Etc

    1000 comments and counting :smile:

    Keep at it!
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    rottenborough said:

    https://twitter.com/BBCPolitics/status/1230116164434583553

    There is never a requirement to import staff to fill vacancies (besides skills shortages etc which will still happen).

    If there are more vacancies than staff available for unskilled jobs then the solution is not to bring in more staff. Its for the free market to resolve it. Wages will go up for unskilled staff until the least competitive employers go out of business or switch to automation.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,880
    Benpointer said:

    eadric said:

    BluestBlue said:

    eadric said:




    I'm waiting for the analysis from Twitter stats legend Dr. Moderate / Centrist Phone.

    If he tells us it's all going to be fine, then you know the world is truly fucked...
    I reckon this guy is on to something. The reported numbers from China ex Hubei are just unbelievable.

    So here's my theory as to what is happening. And I've read everything possible in the past week, from all sides of the argument

    1. The virus did possibly come from a lab, because there really is a lab testing bat coronaviruses in central Wuhan, 280m from the "seafood market." The coincidence is just too intense. Either way it doesn't matter. It kicked off. I do not believe it is a bioweapon.

    2. The spread in Wuhan was quick and dangerous and the authorities went into Chernobyl mode, calamitously trying to silence everyone (which could have Chernboyl like ramifications down the line, for the CCP). Then the outbreak got too big to hide.

    3. At this point the CCP decided to sacrifice the entire province of Hubei. Close it down, seal it off, let it cope as best it can. At the same time, crucially, they narrowed the definition of who would be tested, and who would be seen as infected, OUTSIDE Hubei, hence the weird lack of Chinese cases outside Hubei

    4. The idea is to let the virus burn itself out, in Hubei and outside. In Hubei it will kill many, as the now-isolated, overwhelmed health system in Hubei has crashed, outside Hubei who knows how many it will kill. The Chinese leadership don't care, they will cope, the virus is not the Black Death - the main thing is to make it look like the virus is contained and dying, and the economy can restart.

    5. This will probably work. It might even be good for the world economy, China has made a brutal choice that we might have found too difficult. Sacrificing a whole province.

    6. The question now becomes if and when it spreads outside China, and how bad it will be. We will know the answer soon. My guess is quite bad in Asia, but really not that bad in the West, because genetics.
    Sounds like the plot outline for the next SeanT thriller.
    The Pathogenesis Secret?
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,609
    kle4 said:

    Philip_Thompson said:

    rottenborough said:

    Sense outbreak in Labour continues. This is getting quite dizzying...

    https://twitter.com/siennamarla/status/1230182334479192065

    Alternatively another indication Starmer may be a continuity Corbyn candidate afterall.

    Have we seen any indication of Starmer rejecting and denouncing Corbyn or Corbynism yet?
    Not to my knowledge. But even 'the same thing, but more competently' would be something.
    You think "The Gulags - but more competently" would be a way to sell a new and improved Stalinism?
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    kle4 said:

    Philip_Thompson said:

    rottenborough said:

    Sense outbreak in Labour continues. This is getting quite dizzying...

    https://twitter.com/siennamarla/status/1230182334479192065

    Alternatively another indication Starmer may be a continuity Corbyn candidate afterall.

    Have we seen any indication of Starmer rejecting and denouncing Corbyn or Corbynism yet?
    Not to my knowledge. But even 'the same thing, but more competently' would be something.
    Corbynism is shooting the British economy in the head.

    Competently shooting the British economy in the head is not something I want to see.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,880
    TheGreenMachine said:

    Milestone complete.

    @rcs1000

    @Foxy

    @Pulpstar

    @MikeSmithson

    @TheScreamingEagles

    @HYUFD

    @rottenborough

    @Richard_Nabavi

    @TOPPING

    Etc

    1000 comments and counting :smile:

    Great, kid! Don't get cocky! :)
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,695
    edited February 2020
    Philip_Thompson said:

    rottenborough said:

    Sense outbreak in Labour continues. This is getting quite dizzying...

    https://twitter.com/siennamarla/status/1230182334479192065

    Alternatively another indication Starmer may be a continuity Corbyn candidate afterall.

    Have we seen any indication of Starmer rejecting and denouncing Corbyn or Corbynism yet?
    To mis-quote Mandy Rice-Davies: "He wouldn't say that would he?" (until he has been safely elected as LOTO).
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    While we wait: I'm not exactly a fan of Dominic Cummings, but the Guardian has surpassed itself in the dishonesty of this top-headline smear piece:

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/19/sabisky-row-dominic-cummings-criticised-over-designer-babies-post

    That they have the gall to think themselves superior to the Mail is astonishing.

    The Guardian is not only superior to the Mail but in a completely different class. One quick look at the websites or typical front pages tells you that.

    What is it about the Guardian article you think is dishonest?
    Err - the fact that it is entirely based on a lie that Cummings proposed or supported something which he didn't. Pretty basic, surely?
    You think they are making up the Cummings quotes?
    No, quite the opposite. They have no doubt quoted them accurately, which is why it is entirely clear that they are smearing him Mail-style. He says nothing which bears the interpretation they've put on his words.
    Pah! Cummings is fair game. Live by the sword...
    Oh, he's fair game for sure. But you can' t twist words into a lie and also claim the moral high ground or be respected as a serious newspaper.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,720
    TheGreenMachine said:

    Foxy said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    While we wait: I'm not exactly a fan of Dominic Cummings, but the Guardian has surpassed itself in the dishonesty of this top-headline smear piece:

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/19/sabisky-row-dominic-cummings-criticised-over-designer-babies-post

    That they have the gall to think themselves superior to the Mail is astonishing.

    The Guardian is not only superior to the Mail but in a completely different class. One quick look at the websites or typical front pages tells you that.

    What is it about the Guardian article you think is dishonest?
    Yes, quoting Cummings on eugenic selection of babies on the NHS seems reasonable reporting to me.
    Is Dominic on his last legs, in your opinion?
    No, he will run a while longer. Johnson is too lazy to sack him, and he won't give up his precious lightly.

    He wants to smash all the institutions of state. Like many Brexiteers he hates modern Britain.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,695
    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    While we wait: I'm not exactly a fan of Dominic Cummings, but the Guardian has surpassed itself in the dishonesty of this top-headline smear piece:

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/19/sabisky-row-dominic-cummings-criticised-over-designer-babies-post

    That they have the gall to think themselves superior to the Mail is astonishing.

    The Guardian is not only superior to the Mail but in a completely different class. One quick look at the websites or typical front pages tells you that.

    What is it about the Guardian article you think is dishonest?
    Err - the fact that it is entirely based on a lie that Cummings proposed or supported something which he didn't. Pretty basic, surely?
    You think they are making up the Cummings quotes?
    No, quite the opposite. They have no doubt quoted them accurately, which is why it is entirely clear that they are smearing him Mail-style. He says nothing which bears the interpretation they've put on his words.
    Pah! Cummings is fair game. Live by the sword...
    Oh, he's fair game for sure. But you can' t twist words into a lie and also claim the moral high ground or be respected as a serious newspaper.
    I am struggling to see the lie tbh. Spin, yes, but show me the newspaper serious or otherwise that doesn't do that?
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    Benpointer said:

    TGOHF666 said:

    Big story for the budget is pension tax relief - are the Conservatives going to stab their own voters in the neck by cutting it for defined contribution pensions ?

    This could be a massive faux pas.

    Philip_Thompson said:

    rottenborough said:

    Sense outbreak in Labour continues. This is getting quite dizzying...

    https://twitter.com/siennamarla/status/1230182334479192065

    Alternatively another indication Starmer may be a continuity Corbyn candidate afterall.

    Have we seen any indication of Starmer rejecting and denouncing Corbyn or Corbynism yet?
    To mis-quote Mandy Rice-Davies: "He wouldn't say that would he?" (until he has been safely elected as LOTO).
    Perhaps but unless or until he does say it, then perhaps its premature to think sense has broken out in the Labour Party.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,720
    MarqueeMark said:

    kle4 said:

    Philip_Thompson said:

    rottenborough said:

    Sense outbreak in Labour continues. This is getting quite dizzying...

    https://twitter.com/siennamarla/status/1230182334479192065

    Alternatively another indication Starmer may be a continuity Corbyn candidate afterall.

    Have we seen any indication of Starmer rejecting and denouncing Corbyn or Corbynism yet?
    Not to my knowledge. But even 'the same thing, but more competently' would be something.
    You think "The Gulags - but more competently" would be a way to sell a new and improved Stalinism?
    Perhaps that is what Number 10s little Lenin has in mind.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,862
    Tim_B said:

    oddball poll taken Feb 14-17 by Wall St Journal/NBC News...

    Most unpopular qualities for a presidential candidate>>>

    Socialist 67%
    Heart attack in past year 57%
    75+ years old 53%
    Self-funder 41%
    Under 40 40%

    Clearly biased. Doesn’t mention being orange.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,218
    Andy_JS said:

    "The downsides of a cashless society cannot be ignored
    TELEGRAPH VIEW"

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2020/02/18/downsides-cashless-society-cannot-ignored/

    Yeah, but BITCOIN
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    While we wait: I'm not exactly a fan of Dominic Cummings, but the Guardian has surpassed itself in the dishonesty of this top-headline smear piece:

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/19/sabisky-row-dominic-cummings-criticised-over-designer-babies-post

    That they have the gall to think themselves superior to the Mail is astonishing.

    The Guardian is not only superior to the Mail but in a completely different class. One quick look at the websites or typical front pages tells you that.

    What is it about the Guardian article you think is dishonest?
    Err - the fact that it is entirely based on a lie that Cummings proposed or supported something which he didn't. Pretty basic, surely?
    You think they are making up the Cummings quotes?
    No, quite the opposite. They have no doubt quoted them accurately, which is why it is entirely clear that they are smearing him Mail-style. He says nothing which bears the interpretation they've put on his words.
    Pah! Cummings is fair game. Live by the sword...
    Oh, he's fair game for sure. But you can' t twist words into a lie and also claim the moral high ground or be respected as a serious newspaper.
    I am struggling to see the lie tbh. Spin, yes, but show me the newspaper serious or otherwise that doesn't do that?
    "he suggested in his own writings that the NHS should cover the cost of selecting babies to have higher IQs".
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,767
    Foxy said:

    TheGreenMachine said:

    Foxy said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    While we wait: I'm not exactly a fan of Dominic Cummings, but the Guardian has surpassed itself in the dishonesty of this top-headline smear piece:

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/19/sabisky-row-dominic-cummings-criticised-over-designer-babies-post

    That they have the gall to think themselves superior to the Mail is astonishing.

    The Guardian is not only superior to the Mail but in a completely different class. One quick look at the websites or typical front pages tells you that.

    What is it about the Guardian article you think is dishonest?
    Yes, quoting Cummings on eugenic selection of babies on the NHS seems reasonable reporting to me.
    Is Dominic on his last legs, in your opinion?
    No, he will run a while longer. Johnson is too lazy to sack him, and he won't give up his precious lightly.

    He wants to smash all the institutions of state. Like many Brexiteers he hates modern Britain.
    Actually he just seems to hate Britain. Judges are centuries old. He seems to hate them.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,695
    Philip_Thompson said:

    Benpointer said:

    TGOHF666 said:

    Big story for the budget is pension tax relief - are the Conservatives going to stab their own voters in the neck by cutting it for defined contribution pensions ?

    This could be a massive faux pas.

    Philip_Thompson said:

    rottenborough said:

    Sense outbreak in Labour continues. This is getting quite dizzying...

    https://twitter.com/siennamarla/status/1230182334479192065

    Alternatively another indication Starmer may be a continuity Corbyn candidate afterall.

    Have we seen any indication of Starmer rejecting and denouncing Corbyn or Corbynism yet?
    To mis-quote Mandy Rice-Davies: "He wouldn't say that would he?" (until he has been safely elected as LOTO).
    Perhaps but unless or until he does say it, then perhaps its premature to think sense has broken out in the Labour Party.
    Fair point... although I happen to think Corbyn + Brexit was the problem not Labour's (non-Brexit) policies.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,218
    edited February 2020
    Philip_Thompson said:

    rottenborough said:

    https://twitter.com/BBCPolitics/status/1230116164434583553

    There is never a requirement to import staff to fill vacancies (besides skills shortages etc which will still happen).

    If there are more vacancies than staff available for unskilled jobs then the solution is not to bring in more staff. Its for the free market to resolve it. Wages will go up for unskilled staff until the least competitive employers go out of business or switch to automation.
    From a technical point of view, I'm not sure that's correct.

    If the UK's Total Fertility Ratio was sub one, then it's almost certain that the country would need to import people in the long run. (Although, of course, the UK TFR is well above one.)

    Rising life expectancy combined with few births is a recipe for serious economic problems.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,695
    edited February 2020
    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    While we wait: I'm not exactly a fan of Dominic Cummings, but the Guardian has surpassed itself in the dishonesty of this top-headline smear piece:

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/19/sabisky-row-dominic-cummings-criticised-over-designer-babies-post

    That they have the gall to think themselves superior to the Mail is astonishing.

    The Guardian is not only superior to the Mail but in a completely different class. One quick look at the websites or typical front pages tells you that.

    What is it about the Guardian article you think is dishonest?
    Err - the fact that it is entirely based on a lie that Cummings proposed or supported something which he didn't. Pretty basic, surely?
    You think they are making up the Cummings quotes?
    No, quite the opposite. They have no doubt quoted them accurately, which is why it is entirely clear that they are smearing him Mail-style. He says nothing which bears the interpretation they've put on his words.
    Pah! Cummings is fair game. Live by the sword...
    Oh, he's fair game for sure. But you can' t twist words into a lie and also claim the moral high ground or be respected as a serious newspaper.
    I am struggling to see the lie tbh. Spin, yes, but show me the newspaper serious or otherwise that doesn't do that?
    "he suggested in his own writings that the NHS should cover the cost of selecting babies to have higher IQs".
    Which they support with this Cummings quote (my bold):

    "Once we identify a substantial number of IQ genes, there is no obvious reason why rich people will not select the egg that has the highest prediction for IQ. This clearly raises many big questions. If the poor cannot do the same, then the rich could quickly embed advantages and society could become not only more unequal but also based on biological classes. One response is that if this sort of thing does become possible, then a national health system should fund everybody to do this."
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 8,604
    Philip_Thompson said:

    rottenborough said:

    https://twitter.com/BBCPolitics/status/1230116164434583553

    There is never a requirement to import staff to fill vacancies (besides skills shortages etc which will still happen).

    If there are more vacancies than staff available for unskilled jobs then the solution is not to bring in more staff. Its for the free market to resolve it. Wages will go up for unskilled staff until the least competitive employers go out of business or switch to automation.
    How does that work in care homes?
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,609
    TOPPING said:



    I am so glad you are not still banging on in post after post after post. After post. About Coronavirus.

    Which is the most important topic today:

    1. The Labour leadership election

    2. The Democratic Party primaries

    3. The impact of coronavirus on

    a ) the Chinese Communist Party

    b ) The world economy

    c ) London house prices

    d ) airport literature (I mean, nobody's flying = nobody's buying!!! C'mon....)

    4. More fucking rain

    5. Liverpool FC and their fucking reign?

  • alteregoalterego Posts: 1,100
    rcs1000 said:

    Philip_Thompson said:

    rottenborough said:

    https://twitter.com/BBCPolitics/status/1230116164434583553

    There is never a requirement to import staff to fill vacancies (besides skills shortages etc which will still happen).

    If there are more vacancies than staff available for unskilled jobs then the solution is not to bring in more staff. Its for the free market to resolve it. Wages will go up for unskilled staff until the least competitive employers go out of business or switch to automation.
    From a technical point of view, I'm not sure that's correct.

    If the UK's Total Fertility Ratio was sub one, then it's almost certain that the country would need to import people in the long run. (Although, of course, the UK TFR is well above one.)

    Rising life expectancy combined with few births is a recipe for serious economic problems.
    Importing a few people now and then to fill gaps not filled by automation and/ or improved efficiency, is a tap easily turned on and off. It's on now, let's turn it off and see hoe we go.
  • TGOHF666TGOHF666 Posts: 2,052
    The voters don’t care about Cummings - utter bubble story.

    Pension tax relief however is Brexit level voter annoyance.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,695
    Barnesian said:

    Philip_Thompson said:

    rottenborough said:

    https://twitter.com/BBCPolitics/status/1230116164434583553

    There is never a requirement to import staff to fill vacancies (besides skills shortages etc which will still happen).

    If there are more vacancies than staff available for unskilled jobs then the solution is not to bring in more staff. Its for the free market to resolve it. Wages will go up for unskilled staff until the least competitive employers go out of business or switch to automation.
    How does that work in care homes?
    I'm gonna design and patent an automatic arse-wiper.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    MarqueeMark said:

    There seem to be an awful lot of opposition politicians who have only just woken up today to what the Brexit vote means.....

    Hang on, I've been repeatedly reassured on here by a lot of PB Leavers that Brexit was nothing to do with immigration.
    Really?! Don’t fall for that old claptrap
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    Sunil_Prasannan said:

    tyson said:

    eadric said:

    This guy is intriguing on coronavirus

    https://twitter.com/evdefender

    He basically thinks China is cooking the stats, and changing the definition of covid, to hide the scale of the epidemic. His argument is complex but he certainly makes one good point: according to the official figures, on some days (eg Feb 17) there were more new confirmed cases of Covid on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, than there were..... in all of China outside Hubei.

    Now, cruise ships are quite easy places to catch bugs. That's probably why the corona infection rate on that ship is at present 21% and rising.

    But the population of the cruise ship is 3,700, and the population of China ex-Hubei is 1,340,000,000

    Yet there are more cases on the ship, than in mainland China (outside Hubei)?

    Yeah. Right,

    The only good thing about this thing is the impact on cruise ships....fucking ludicrous hulks of polluting metal transporting geriatric Brexiteers stuffing their faces....I fucking hate everything about cruise ships....
    Hatred of old people noted...
    Tyson Fury!
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,767
    On topic:

    https://twitter.com/mortenmorland/status/1230162296846069760
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 57,218
    TheGreenMachine said:

    rottenborough said:

    Bloomberg and Sanders fight each other to a standstill. Then what?

    If that happens, trump will win easy. Biden is the only one that has a chance against trump out of the males anyway.
    You think an inability to remember how a sentence started when you get to the end is a vote winner?
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 34,695
    edited February 2020
    TGOHF666 said:

    The voters don’t care about Cummings - utter bubble story.

    Pension tax relief however is Brexit level voter annoyance.

    I agree about Cummings. Not sure that pension tax relief will be much more than a minority interest though. Not bothered about it will be:
    - all those already retired
    - all those not in employment
    - all those making no or next to no pension contributions

    I reckon that adds up to a large majority of the country.

    PS I am not saying discouraging citizens from saving for their retirement is a good thing though, far from it.
  • alteregoalterego Posts: 1,100
    Benpointer said:

    Barnesian said:

    Philip_Thompson said:

    rottenborough said:

    https://twitter.com/BBCPolitics/status/1230116164434583553

    There is never a requirement to import staff to fill vacancies (besides skills shortages etc which will still happen).

    If there are more vacancies than staff available for unskilled jobs then the solution is not to bring in more staff. Its for the free market to resolve it. Wages will go up for unskilled staff until the least competitive employers go out of business or switch to automation.
    How does that work in care homes?
    I'm gonna design and patent an automatic arse-wiper.
    Surely training dogs would be easier,
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    edited February 2020
    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    While we wait: I'm not exactly a fan of Dominic Cummings, but the Guardian has surpassed itself in the dishonesty of this top-headline smear piece:

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/19/sabisky-row-dominic-cummings-criticised-over-designer-babies-post

    That they have the gall to think themselves superior to the Mail is astonishing.

    The Guardian is not only superior to the Mail but in a completely different class. One quick look at the websites or typical front pages tells you that.

    What is it about the Guardian article you think is dishonest?
    Err - the fact that it is entirely based on a lie that Cummings proposed or supported something which he didn't. Pretty basic, surely?
    You think they are making up the Cummings quotes?
    No, quite the opposite. They have no doubt quoted them accurately, which is why it is entirely clear that they are smearing him Mail-style. He says nothing which bears the interpretation they've put on his words.
    Pah! Cummings is fair game. Live by the sword...
    Oh, he's fair game for sure. But you can' t twist words into a lie and also claim the moral high ground or be respected as a serious newspaper.
    I am struggling to see the lie tbh. Spin, yes, but show me the newspaper serious or otherwise that doesn't do that?
    "he suggested in his own writings that the NHS should cover the cost of selecting babies to have higher IQs".
    Which they support with this Cummings quote (my bold):

    "Once we identify a substantial number of IQ genes, there is no obvious reason why rich people will not select the egg that has the highest prediction for IQ. This clearly raises many big questions. If the poor cannot do the same, then the rich could quickly embed advantages and society could become not only more unequal but also based on biological classes. One response is that if this sort of thing does become possible, then a national health system should fund everybody to do this."
    Exactly. So he is musing that in some hypothetical future, some people might suggest a response. He is certainly not suggesting that the NHS should (present tense) cover the cost of such selection, which in any case isn't possible today. He's not even suggesting it for the future hypothetical circumstances. He's musing that it might be a future suggestion.
  • TheGreenMachineTheGreenMachine Posts: 1,086
    Foxy said:

    TheGreenMachine said:

    Foxy said:

    Benpointer said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    While we wait: I'm not exactly a fan of Dominic Cummings, but the Guardian has surpassed itself in the dishonesty of this top-headline smear piece:

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/19/sabisky-row-dominic-cummings-criticised-over-designer-babies-post

    That they have the gall to think themselves superior to the Mail is astonishing.

    The Guardian is not only superior to the Mail but in a completely different class. One quick look at the websites or typical front pages tells you that.

    What is it about the Guardian article you think is dishonest?
    Yes, quoting Cummings on eugenic selection of babies on the NHS seems reasonable reporting to me.
    Is Dominic on his last legs, in your opinion?
    No, he will run a while longer. Johnson is too lazy to sack him, and he won't give up his precious lightly.

    He wants to smash all the institutions of state. Like many Brexiteers he hates modern Britain.
    Boris wasn't lazy last week, sacking all round him.

    I thought Dom was the back bone of the government.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,767
    TGOHF666 said:

    The voters don’t care about Cummings - utter bubble story.

    Pension tax relief however is Brexit level voter annoyance.

    I will eat my hat if pension tax reform happens on 11th March. I have lost track of the number of times that this kite has been flown.
This discussion has been closed.