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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Biden still trails in the WH2020 betting in spite of opening d

SystemSystem Posts: 12,169
edited April 2020 in General

imagepoliticalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Biden still trails in the WH2020 betting in spite of opening double digit poll leads over Trump

By far the biggest development so far in WH2020 has been Trump’s comment a few days ago that people could inject themselves with bleach to fight the the coronavirus. This has been widely ridiculed and there have been reports from many parts of the US of people actually ingesting bleach and other such liquids and having to be treated by the emergency services.Of all the crazy things that this President has said so far during the campaign this is been ranked as the craziest and it is been suggested that it could have a decisive effect on the outcome in November. It is so blindingly obvious that his advice was bonkers that it has reinforced all sorts of doubts about him even at Fox News.The extraordinary is that over the past two months of the pandemic Joe Biden has found it very hard commanding any media attention whatsoever. He has got nothing really to say about the pandemic and has largely ignored. In spite, or maybe because of this, the latest polls have him enjoying double-digit leads over Trump.It is being suggested that the best strategy for 77 year old Joe between now and November is to lay low and let the election be all about Trump and all that entails. The worst thing that could happen is for Biden himself to become an issue and there are a number of reasons why that could be the case.The former VP should formally get the nomination at the the party convention in Milwaukee in July. There’s still a lot of doubt about whether that will actually take place but clearly the party has got to decide on its choice that that could happen at a virtual convention.Generally speaking presumptive nominees like Biden don’t announce their vice presidential choice until just before the convention and I don’t see any reason why there’ll be something different this time. The betting favourite for this is still Kamala Harris though Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren have fairly tight odds.

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Comments

  • Bojo can't miss PMQs surely.... it's only another baby
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    Congratulations for Boris and Carrie.

    Nothing in the world like the birth of a child, happy for them.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,250
    edited April 2020
    Third.

    Like one of Boris' earlier children :smile: .

    Who'll be sixth?

    Nice to see some unalloyed joy in the midst of this.
  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 6,729
    Congrats to Boris and Carrie.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,805
    FPT: F1: Ladbrokes now has title and Austria (win) markets up.

    Not tempted at the moment. Currently feeling quietly confidence of my bet on Hamilton scoring at under 21 races this year.

    Edited extra bit: assuming it isn't voided, of course.

    On-topic: reckon Biden should be slight favourite.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 36,002
    How many weeks paternity leave is he going to take...

    [ducks]
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,205
    Phew thank goodness.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,250
    Oh. Me.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,766
    iirc the convention has already been put back to August. But happy to be corrected.
  • SlackbladderSlackbladder Posts: 9,773
    Scott_xP said:

    How many weeks paternity leave is he going to take...

    [ducks]

    2, like he's allowed, and which should be available to him.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,224
    Is that betting not more an assessment of their relatively chances of mortality, though ?
    After all, Trump is worse than evens (otherwise I'd be laying him again).
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,224
    MattW said:

    Oh. Me.

    Far. So.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,205
    Nigelb said:

    Is that betting not more an assessment of their relatively chances of mortality, though ?
    After all, Trump is worse than evens (otherwise I'd be laying him again).

    You'd think so, but after Betfair's intervention in the PM market I asked them this directly. They refused to comment.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 123,139
    edited April 2020
    On the face of it Biden has a clear poll lead against Trump so should be favourite, for example:

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255284006519746561?s=19

    However punters may be sticking with Trump as his supporters seem much more enthusiastic than Biden's. Biden faces the problem that John Kerry or Mitt Romney faced, a vote for him seems to be more against the incumbent than for them



    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255310629629542401?s=19
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,176
    Well that’s conveniently timed - I assume she was further gone than was previously thought.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,205
    HYUFD said:

    On the face of it Biden has a clear poll lead against Trump so should be favourite, for example:

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255284006519746561?s=19

    However punters may be sticking with Trump as his supporters seem much more enthusiastic than Biden's. Biden faces the problem that John Kerry or Mitt Romney faced, a vote for him seems to be more against the incumbent than for them



    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255310629629542401?s=19

    That's Emerson's view. But what do Lake and Palmer's models on the race suggest.
  • SlackbladderSlackbladder Posts: 9,773
    Cyclefree said:

    I really hope Trump loses in November. The man is a menace.

    So say we all.
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,317
    FPT

    @Pulpstar said:
    “Depends how the virus/a vaccine pan out and whether people rebound like a coiled spring into the way life was previously or perhaps, whilst not enjoying the total lockdown we now have, prefer a more relaxed pace of life.”

    I don’t think there is anything relaxed about a life in which one can’t see family or friends, can’t visit a museum or gallery, or go to a play, concert, gig or film, can’t eat out, can’t explore parts of one’s country or visit historic or architectural attractions or join with others in any sort of communal activity, whether as participant or spectator. And this is the sort of life we will have to endure - because none of these activities are possible with “social distancing”
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    Nigelb said:

    Is that betting not more an assessment of their relatively chances of mortality, though ?
    After all, Trump is worse than evens (otherwise I'd be laying him again).

    Not just mortality. With allegations of Biden having committed sexual assault against Reade (which I'm surprised hasn't been more news on this site) as well as Biden's clear mental issues (which have been regularly commented on) there has to be a possibility that despite the primary results he isn't candidate.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    tlg86 said:

    Well that’s conveniently timed - I assume she was further gone than was previously thought.

    Or the birth was premature. Was due in June, can be perfectly healthy even if ~6 weeks premature.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,224
    edited April 2020
    HYUFD said:

    On the face of it Biden has a clear poll lead against Trump so should be favourite.
    However punters may be sticking with Trump as his supporters seem much more enthusiastic than Biden's. Biden faces the problem that John Kerry or Mitt Romney faced, a vote for him seems to be more against the incumbent than for them

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255310629629542401?s=19

    In the current climate, excitement is just not a particularly important metric.

    Prospective Democratic voters are pretty damned determined to get rid of Trump; they'd vote for a ham sandwich in preference.

    And who but fools are excited about an election when the economy is crashing and there are millions of unemployed, and while the pandemic still menaces ?
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,176

    tlg86 said:

    Well that’s conveniently timed - I assume she was further gone than was previously thought.

    Or the birth was premature. Was due in June, can be perfectly healthy even if ~6 weeks premature.
    True.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    I wonder if Starmer will attend PMQs today?

    In the past when the PM was unable to attend PMQs due to being eg out of the country or having a baby the Opposition normally sent their deputy. Who is Starmer's deputy?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,224

    I wonder if Starmer will attend PMQs today?

    In the past when the PM was unable to attend PMQs due to being eg out of the country or having a baby the Opposition normally sent their deputy. Who is Starmer's deputy?

    I'm pretty sure he'll be there.
  • SouthamObserverSouthamObserver Posts: 39,653
    Given he’s clearly not fit enough to be working, and given the baby could well have been born prematurely, Johnson should take his full paternity leave.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 23,250

    I wonder if Starmer will attend PMQs today?

    In the past when the PM was unable to attend PMQs due to being eg out of the country or having a baby the Opposition normally sent their deputy. Who is Starmer's deputy?

    I think so - he still needs to establish himself.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,291
    Congrats to Boris and Carrie :)
  • logical_songlogical_song Posts: 9,914
    Nigelb said:

    HYUFD said:

    On the face of it Biden has a clear poll lead against Trump so should be favourite.
    However punters may be sticking with Trump as his supporters seem much more enthusiastic than Biden's. Biden faces the problem that John Kerry or Mitt Romney faced, a vote for him seems to be more against the incumbent than for them

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255310629629542401?s=19

    In the current climate, excitement is just not a particularly important metric.

    Prospective Democratic voters are pretty damned determined to get rid of Trump; they'd vote for a ham sandwich in preference.

    And who but fools are excited about an election when the economy is crashing and there are millions of unemployed, and while the pandemic still menaces ?
    True - and remember 2018 and the special elections. When given a chance Democrats have done well against Republicans, since Trump.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,222
    edited April 2020
    Nigelb said:

    HYUFD said:

    On the face of it Biden has a clear poll lead against Trump so should be favourite.
    However punters may be sticking with Trump as his supporters seem much more enthusiastic than Biden's. Biden faces the problem that John Kerry or Mitt Romney faced, a vote for him seems to be more against the incumbent than for them

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255310629629542401?s=19

    In the current climate, excitement is just not a particularly important metric.

    Prospective Democratic voters are pretty damned determined to get rid of Trump; they'd vote for a ham sandwich in preference.

    And who but fools are excited about an election when the economy is crashing and there are millions of unemployed, and while the pandemic still menaces ?
    Well, our very own kinabalu has said that he thinks that a re-elected Trump would be more worrisome than a global pandemic.

    On a different tack - does anyone know whether the November election could be postponed? I know there`s no precedent for this, but is it theoretically possible under their constitution?
  • BluestBlueBluestBlue Posts: 4,556
    Congratulations to the proud parents! Carrie must be immensely relieved at not having to use the name 'Postumus', in accordance with Roman tradition...
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    Nigelb said:

    I wonder if Starmer will attend PMQs today?

    In the past when the PM was unable to attend PMQs due to being eg out of the country or having a baby the Opposition normally sent their deputy. Who is Starmer's deputy?

    I'm pretty sure he'll be there.
    I think so too.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,222

    I wonder if Starmer will attend PMQs today?

    In the past when the PM was unable to attend PMQs due to being eg out of the country or having a baby the Opposition normally sent their deputy. Who is Starmer's deputy?

    Raynor I guess?
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    Stocky said:

    Nigelb said:

    HYUFD said:

    On the face of it Biden has a clear poll lead against Trump so should be favourite.
    However punters may be sticking with Trump as his supporters seem much more enthusiastic than Biden's. Biden faces the problem that John Kerry or Mitt Romney faced, a vote for him seems to be more against the incumbent than for them

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255310629629542401?s=19

    In the current climate, excitement is just not a particularly important metric.

    Prospective Democratic voters are pretty damned determined to get rid of Trump; they'd vote for a ham sandwich in preference.

    And who but fools are excited about an election when the economy is crashing and there are millions of unemployed, and while the pandemic still menaces ?
    Well, our very own kinabalu has said that he thinks that a re-elected Trump would be more worrisome than a global pandemic.

    On a different tack - does anyone know whether the November election could be postponed? I know there`s no precedent for this, but is it theoretically possible under their constitution?
    Potentially by a couple of weeks, IIRC the date of the election isn't set in the Constitution. However practically no because the end of the Presidential term and start of the next one is set in the Constitution.
  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 6,729

    I wonder if Starmer will attend PMQs today?

    In the past when the PM was unable to attend PMQs due to being eg out of the country or having a baby the Opposition normally sent their deputy. Who is Starmer's deputy?

    I have absolutely no idea and nor do 90pc of the population.!!
  • SlackbladderSlackbladder Posts: 9,773
    Stocky said:

    I wonder if Starmer will attend PMQs today?

    In the past when the PM was unable to attend PMQs due to being eg out of the country or having a baby the Opposition normally sent their deputy. Who is Starmer's deputy?

    Raynor I guess?
    Watson never did PMQs with Corbyn there. It was Thornberry wasn't it?
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,205
    edited April 2020
    Cyclefree said:

    FPT

    @Pulpstar said:
    “Depends how the virus/a vaccine pan out and whether people rebound like a coiled spring into the way life was previously or perhaps, whilst not enjoying the total lockdown we now have, prefer a more relaxed pace of life.”

    I don’t think there is anything relaxed about a life in which one can’t see family or friends, can’t visit a museum or gallery, or go to a play, concert, gig or film, can’t eat out, can’t explore parts of one’s country or visit historic or architectural attractions or join with others in any sort of communal activity, whether as participant or spectator. And this is the sort of life we will have to endure - because none of these activities are possible with “social distancing”

    In terms of total hours for the country I imagine that'd be dwarfed by the currently forgone collective commuting time switched workers from home are doing right now.

    I accept it is different and can be extremely stressful for anyone who still needs to physically be at their work at the moment.
  • TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,454

    Stocky said:

    Nigelb said:

    HYUFD said:

    On the face of it Biden has a clear poll lead against Trump so should be favourite.
    However punters may be sticking with Trump as his supporters seem much more enthusiastic than Biden's. Biden faces the problem that John Kerry or Mitt Romney faced, a vote for him seems to be more against the incumbent than for them

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255310629629542401?s=19

    In the current climate, excitement is just not a particularly important metric.

    Prospective Democratic voters are pretty damned determined to get rid of Trump; they'd vote for a ham sandwich in preference.

    And who but fools are excited about an election when the economy is crashing and there are millions of unemployed, and while the pandemic still menaces ?
    Well, our very own kinabalu has said that he thinks that a re-elected Trump would be more worrisome than a global pandemic.

    On a different tack - does anyone know whether the November election could be postponed? I know there`s no precedent for this, but is it theoretically possible under their constitution?
    Potentially by a couple of weeks, IIRC the date of the election isn't set in the Constitution. However practically no because the end of the Presidential term and start of the next one is set in the Constitution.
    I think they could cut the dead duck presidency a fair amount.
  • edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,708
    On topic, the markets are wrong, Biden should be the favourite, it's probably something like 55/40/5 (the 5 being some other candidate). Maybe punters were stung by the 2016 result, where Hillary led consistently by a similar amount but then lost, but the differences are:

    1) Some dumb luck was involved - the Comey stuff hit right at the wrong time, etc etc.

    2) Hillary had very weak pandering-to-the-right-voters skills, that's also how she lost to Obama. Biden is naturally strong in the mid-west, and his team knows how to appeal to the voters they have, not the voters they'd like to have.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,222

    Stocky said:

    Nigelb said:

    HYUFD said:

    On the face of it Biden has a clear poll lead against Trump so should be favourite.
    However punters may be sticking with Trump as his supporters seem much more enthusiastic than Biden's. Biden faces the problem that John Kerry or Mitt Romney faced, a vote for him seems to be more against the incumbent than for them

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255310629629542401?s=19

    In the current climate, excitement is just not a particularly important metric.

    Prospective Democratic voters are pretty damned determined to get rid of Trump; they'd vote for a ham sandwich in preference.

    And who but fools are excited about an election when the economy is crashing and there are millions of unemployed, and while the pandemic still menaces ?
    Well, our very own kinabalu has said that he thinks that a re-elected Trump would be more worrisome than a global pandemic.

    On a different tack - does anyone know whether the November election could be postponed? I know there`s no precedent for this, but is it theoretically possible under their constitution?
    Potentially by a couple of weeks, IIRC the date of the election isn't set in the Constitution. However practically no because the end of the Presidential term and start of the next one is set in the Constitution.
    In that case the Betfair markets should stand and can we confidently predict a rise in postal voting/other remote voting of some sort - which should favour the Dems? I`m very comfortable with my big betting position against Trump winning.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826

    Stocky said:

    Nigelb said:

    HYUFD said:

    On the face of it Biden has a clear poll lead against Trump so should be favourite.
    However punters may be sticking with Trump as his supporters seem much more enthusiastic than Biden's. Biden faces the problem that John Kerry or Mitt Romney faced, a vote for him seems to be more against the incumbent than for them

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255310629629542401?s=19

    In the current climate, excitement is just not a particularly important metric.

    Prospective Democratic voters are pretty damned determined to get rid of Trump; they'd vote for a ham sandwich in preference.

    And who but fools are excited about an election when the economy is crashing and there are millions of unemployed, and while the pandemic still menaces ?
    Well, our very own kinabalu has said that he thinks that a re-elected Trump would be more worrisome than a global pandemic.

    On a different tack - does anyone know whether the November election could be postponed? I know there`s no precedent for this, but is it theoretically possible under their constitution?
    Potentially by a couple of weeks, IIRC the date of the election isn't set in the Constitution. However practically no because the end of the Presidential term and start of the next one is set in the Constitution.
    I think they could cut the dead duck presidency a fair amount.
    Not much in practice. With Christmas in December, there really isn't much space between November and January to hold a delayed election.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,222

    Stocky said:

    I wonder if Starmer will attend PMQs today?

    In the past when the PM was unable to attend PMQs due to being eg out of the country or having a baby the Opposition normally sent their deputy. Who is Starmer's deputy?

    Raynor I guess?
    Watson never did PMQs with Corbyn there. It was Thornberry wasn't it?
    True - I still suspect it would be Raynor though.
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 8,604
    HYUFD said:

    On the face of it Biden has a clear poll lead against Trump so should be favourite, for example:

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255284006519746561?s=19

    However punters may be sticking with Trump as his supporters seem much more enthusiastic than Biden's. Biden faces the problem that John Kerry or Mitt Romney faced, a vote for him seems to be more against the incumbent than for them



    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255310629629542401?s=19

    They should ask " How excited are you to vote AGAINST the rival candidate for President?"

    My guess:

    Biden supporters:
    Extremely/Very excited 64% (+27)
    Mildly/Not that excited 37%

    Trump supporters:
    Extremely/Very excited 45% (-10)
    Mildly/Not that excited 55%
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 13,677

    Given he’s clearly not fit enough to be working, and given the baby could well have been born prematurely, Johnson should take his full paternity leave.

    He can just get William Cash to look after it like his other cast off.
  • SlackbladderSlackbladder Posts: 9,773

    Stocky said:

    Nigelb said:

    HYUFD said:

    On the face of it Biden has a clear poll lead against Trump so should be favourite.
    However punters may be sticking with Trump as his supporters seem much more enthusiastic than Biden's. Biden faces the problem that John Kerry or Mitt Romney faced, a vote for him seems to be more against the incumbent than for them

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255310629629542401?s=19

    In the current climate, excitement is just not a particularly important metric.

    Prospective Democratic voters are pretty damned determined to get rid of Trump; they'd vote for a ham sandwich in preference.

    And who but fools are excited about an election when the economy is crashing and there are millions of unemployed, and while the pandemic still menaces ?
    Well, our very own kinabalu has said that he thinks that a re-elected Trump would be more worrisome than a global pandemic.

    On a different tack - does anyone know whether the November election could be postponed? I know there`s no precedent for this, but is it theoretically possible under their constitution?
    Potentially by a couple of weeks, IIRC the date of the election isn't set in the Constitution. However practically no because the end of the Presidential term and start of the next one is set in the Constitution.
    I think they could cut the dead duck presidency a fair amount.
    Especially with Trump. If he loses, the period between the election and him being actually booted out of office, you have to worry what he could do.
  • edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,708
    Stocky said:


    In that case the Betfair markets should stand and can we confidently predict a rise in postal voting/other remote voting of some sort - which should favour the Dems? I`m very comfortable with my big betting position against Trump winning.

    This one's tricky, in that:

    1) Adding a chaos factor like this should help whoever controls the voting in swing states, and the swingiest states now have Dem governors, who can at least block politically unfavourable changes, and in some cases can push through favourable ones

    But

    2) Procedural chaos also favours whoever is the most audacious, and Trump is nothing if not audacious
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 27,929

    Stocky said:

    Nigelb said:

    HYUFD said:

    On the face of it Biden has a clear poll lead against Trump so should be favourite.
    However punters may be sticking with Trump as his supporters seem much more enthusiastic than Biden's. Biden faces the problem that John Kerry or Mitt Romney faced, a vote for him seems to be more against the incumbent than for them

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255310629629542401?s=19

    In the current climate, excitement is just not a particularly important metric.

    Prospective Democratic voters are pretty damned determined to get rid of Trump; they'd vote for a ham sandwich in preference.

    And who but fools are excited about an election when the economy is crashing and there are millions of unemployed, and while the pandemic still menaces ?
    Well, our very own kinabalu has said that he thinks that a re-elected Trump would be more worrisome than a global pandemic.

    On a different tack - does anyone know whether the November election could be postponed? I know there`s no precedent for this, but is it theoretically possible under their constitution?
    Potentially by a couple of weeks, IIRC the date of the election isn't set in the Constitution. However practically no because the end of the Presidential term and start of the next one is set in the Constitution.
    I think they could cut the dead duck presidency a fair amount.
    Isn't the gap between November and January to allow stagecoach travel from the southern states, should the winner be esconsed at, for instance, the Mar-a-Lago, to the White House, and never updated for the motor car, let alone the jet age?
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 38,868

    Given he’s clearly not fit enough to be working, and given the baby could well have been born prematurely, Johnson should take his full paternity leave.

    Yup, agree with that. 2 weeks of additional recovery time would be exactly what he needs.
  • edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,708


    Especially with Trump. If he loses, the period between the election and him being actually booted out of office, you have to worry what he could do.

    He's not an ideologue though, I think he'd concentrate on his stealing.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,224
    edited April 2020
    Stocky said:

    Nigelb said:

    HYUFD said:

    On the face of it Biden has a clear poll lead against Trump so should be favourite.
    However punters may be sticking with Trump as his supporters seem much more enthusiastic than Biden's. Biden faces the problem that John Kerry or Mitt Romney faced, a vote for him seems to be more against the incumbent than for them

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255310629629542401?s=19

    In the current climate, excitement is just not a particularly important metric.

    Prospective Democratic voters are pretty damned determined to get rid of Trump; they'd vote for a ham sandwich in preference.

    And who but fools are excited about an election when the economy is crashing and there are millions of unemployed, and while the pandemic still menaces ?
    Well, our very own kinabalu has said that he thinks that a re-elected Trump would be more worrisome than a global pandemic.

    On a different tack - does anyone know whether the November election could be postponed? I know there`s no precedent for this, but is it theoretically possible under their constitution?
    The date of the election is constitutionally mandated, so not by Presidential fiat.
    (Edit - 'determined' is more accurate than 'mandated'.)
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 13,677


    Especially with Trump. If he loses, the period between the election and him being actually booted out of office, you have to worry what he could do.

    He's not an ideologue though, I think he'd concentrate on his stealing.
    It's better if he wins because there is going to be a distinct possibility of armed-to-the-teeth civil unrest if he loses.
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 8,604
    Cyclefree said:

    FPT

    @Pulpstar said:
    “Depends how the virus/a vaccine pan out and whether people rebound like a coiled spring into the way life was previously or perhaps, whilst not enjoying the total lockdown we now have, prefer a more relaxed pace of life.”

    I don’t think there is anything relaxed about a life in which one can’t see family or friends, can’t visit a museum or gallery, or go to a play, concert, gig or film, can’t eat out, can’t explore parts of one’s country or visit historic or architectural attractions or join with others in any sort of communal activity, whether as participant or spectator. And this is the sort of life we will have to endure - because none of these activities are possible with “social distancing”

    I think one of the first relaxations will be the definition of "household". Two people living separately but visiting one another (carefully travelling) have the same transmission risk to the rest of the community as two people living together. They can be considered a unit.

    I think we may have "virtual" households made up of not more than five people and not including any vulnerable people.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,992
    isam said:

    Spending the last half hour reading the last thread knowing that Boris was missing PMQs because his fiancée had just given birth was fabulous!!!!

    How they must hate him!

    I don't think he should miss PMQs because of his baby and neither do I think he should take paternity leave.

    It's all there in the terms and conditions of being a crisis PM.

    And I don't hate him. I think he is, as I have always thought, a solipsistic, lazy, useless twat.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826

    Stocky said:

    Nigelb said:

    HYUFD said:

    On the face of it Biden has a clear poll lead against Trump so should be favourite.
    However punters may be sticking with Trump as his supporters seem much more enthusiastic than Biden's. Biden faces the problem that John Kerry or Mitt Romney faced, a vote for him seems to be more against the incumbent than for them

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255310629629542401?s=19

    In the current climate, excitement is just not a particularly important metric.

    Prospective Democratic voters are pretty damned determined to get rid of Trump; they'd vote for a ham sandwich in preference.

    And who but fools are excited about an election when the economy is crashing and there are millions of unemployed, and while the pandemic still menaces ?
    Well, our very own kinabalu has said that he thinks that a re-elected Trump would be more worrisome than a global pandemic.

    On a different tack - does anyone know whether the November election could be postponed? I know there`s no precedent for this, but is it theoretically possible under their constitution?
    Potentially by a couple of weeks, IIRC the date of the election isn't set in the Constitution. However practically no because the end of the Presidential term and start of the next one is set in the Constitution.
    I think they could cut the dead duck presidency a fair amount.
    Isn't the gap between November and January to allow stagecoach travel from the southern states, should the winner be esconsed at, for instance, the Mar-a-Lago, to the White House, and never updated for the motor car, let alone the jet age?
    Not just for the winner to travel but also a delay for the states to travel and get their results together and then to have the Electoral College to travel and get its decision made - and to give Congress time to travel and make its decision if the Electoral College doesn't make a decision.
  • ParistondaParistonda Posts: 1,843
    UK coronavirus deaths in hospitals is over 21000, whereas France hospital deaths are at about 15000 (the rest is care home deaths) despite France having been further ahead in its outbreak. It really doesn't seem to be getting enough analysis, why does the UK have so many dead despite seemingly not suffering overwhelming of hospitals? Its not like France has done well out of this crisis so its not an "unfair" comparison either (France had a similar number of ventilators to the UK at the start, they were slow to act, as bad at testing as the UK, not enough PPE). France also did actually see overwhelming of its Eastern region hot-spot whereas London never seemed to become quite as severe.

    It is genuinely strange. Is it because there is less obesity in France?
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    Nigelb said:

    Stocky said:

    Nigelb said:

    HYUFD said:

    On the face of it Biden has a clear poll lead against Trump so should be favourite.
    However punters may be sticking with Trump as his supporters seem much more enthusiastic than Biden's. Biden faces the problem that John Kerry or Mitt Romney faced, a vote for him seems to be more against the incumbent than for them

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255310629629542401?s=19

    In the current climate, excitement is just not a particularly important metric.

    Prospective Democratic voters are pretty damned determined to get rid of Trump; they'd vote for a ham sandwich in preference.

    And who but fools are excited about an election when the economy is crashing and there are millions of unemployed, and while the pandemic still menaces ?
    Well, our very own kinabalu has said that he thinks that a re-elected Trump would be more worrisome than a global pandemic.

    On a different tack - does anyone know whether the November election could be postponed? I know there`s no precedent for this, but is it theoretically possible under their constitution?
    The date of the election is constitutionally mandated, so not by Presidential fiat.
    Is it?
  • Ave_itAve_it Posts: 2,411
    Well done Boris and Carrie

    LOL at all the hard left halfwits posting on here earlier criticising him for not attending PMQs!

  • BluestBlueBluestBlue Posts: 4,556
    Ave_it said:

    Well done Boris and Carrie

    LOL at all the hard left halfwits posting on here earlier criticising him for not attending PMQs!

    They must indeed feel like the spiteful tools they are :smile:
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,608
    Baby names - Young Winston?

    (Always assuming there isn't a previous Winston in the brood. In which case - Youngest Winston?)
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,992
    Ave_it said:

    Well done Boris and Carrie

    LOL at all the hard left halfwits posting on here earlier criticising him for not attending PMQs!

    I'm not a hard left halfwit (well not two out of three). And I was criticising him for not attending PMQs. And I am still criticising him for not attending PMQs. He doesn't get to be like a normal dad. He is PM. Apparently.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,935

    Baby names - Young Winston?

    (Always assuming there isn't a previous Winston in the brood. In which case - Youngest Winston?)

    Youngest Winston, middle name: For Now.

    :smiley:
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,226
    Nigelb said:

    HYUFD said:

    On the face of it Biden has a clear poll lead against Trump so should be favourite.
    However punters may be sticking with Trump as his supporters seem much more enthusiastic than Biden's. Biden faces the problem that John Kerry or Mitt Romney faced, a vote for him seems to be more against the incumbent than for them

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255310629629542401?s=19

    In the current climate, excitement is just not a particularly important metric.

    Prospective Democratic voters are pretty damned determined to get rid of Trump; they'd vote for a ham sandwich in preference.

    And who but fools are excited about an election when the economy is crashing and there are millions of unemployed, and while the pandemic still menaces ?
    Yes the ham sandwich - if it can be persuaded to run - would romp home.
  • SouthamObserverSouthamObserver Posts: 39,653
    MaxPB said:

    Given he’s clearly not fit enough to be working, and given the baby could well have been born prematurely, Johnson should take his full paternity leave.

    Yup, agree with that. 2 weeks of additional recovery time would be exactly what he needs.
    It’s a great excuse and he should take it. He is clearly not fit enough to be doing the job currently. And a new born is only going to add to the stress. There really is no shame in stepping back for a while. It would be the responsible thing to do.

  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,222
    isam said:

    Spending the last half hour reading the last thread knowing that Boris was missing PMQs because his fiancée had just given birth was fabulous!!!!

    How they must hate him!

    How did you know?
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    TOPPING said:

    Ave_it said:

    Well done Boris and Carrie

    LOL at all the hard left halfwits posting on here earlier criticising him for not attending PMQs!

    I'm not a hard left halfwit (well not two out of three). And I was criticising him for not attending PMQs. And I am still criticising him for not attending PMQs. He doesn't get to be like a normal dad. He is PM. Apparently.
    PM not President. We have a cabinet government in this country.
  • Baby names - Young Winston?

    (Always assuming there isn't a previous Winston in the brood. In which case - Youngest Winston?)

    Tipped at 20/1 by yours truly last month which seems like a millennium away.

    https://www7.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2020/03/08/what-will-be-the-name-of-the-boris-johnsons-baby/

  • kjhkjh Posts: 11,805
    The lengths Boris will go to get publicity :)
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 8,604

    Nigelb said:

    Stocky said:

    Nigelb said:

    HYUFD said:

    On the face of it Biden has a clear poll lead against Trump so should be favourite.
    However punters may be sticking with Trump as his supporters seem much more enthusiastic than Biden's. Biden faces the problem that John Kerry or Mitt Romney faced, a vote for him seems to be more against the incumbent than for them

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255310629629542401?s=19

    In the current climate, excitement is just not a particularly important metric.

    Prospective Democratic voters are pretty damned determined to get rid of Trump; they'd vote for a ham sandwich in preference.

    And who but fools are excited about an election when the economy is crashing and there are millions of unemployed, and while the pandemic still menaces ?
    Well, our very own kinabalu has said that he thinks that a re-elected Trump would be more worrisome than a global pandemic.

    On a different tack - does anyone know whether the November election could be postponed? I know there`s no precedent for this, but is it theoretically possible under their constitution?
    The date of the election is constitutionally mandated, so not by Presidential fiat.
    Is it?
    There are many scenarios for a delayed election.
    "The bottom line is that even if he does try to cancel the election, Trump can't be guaranteed that he stays in the White House. He would need either a great deal of luck or a coup to remain president. And the office might easily elude the likely Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, too.
    Here’s why"
    .
    https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/04/17/could-trump-use-the-virus-to-stay-in-power-192883
  • RobDRobD Posts: 59,935
    Stocky said:

    isam said:

    Spending the last half hour reading the last thread knowing that Boris was missing PMQs because his fiancée had just given birth was fabulous!!!!

    How they must hate him!

    How did you know?
    I think he means reading it after the fact.
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,317
    Barnesian said:

    Cyclefree said:

    FPT

    @Pulpstar said:
    “Depends how the virus/a vaccine pan out and whether people rebound like a coiled spring into the way life was previously or perhaps, whilst not enjoying the total lockdown we now have, prefer a more relaxed pace of life.”

    I don’t think there is anything relaxed about a life in which one can’t see family or friends, can’t visit a museum or gallery, or go to a play, concert, gig or film, can’t eat out, can’t explore parts of one’s country or visit historic or architectural attractions or join with others in any sort of communal activity, whether as participant or spectator. And this is the sort of life we will have to endure - because none of these activities are possible with “social distancing”

    I think one of the first relaxations will be the definition of "household". Two people living separately but visiting one another (carefully travelling) have the same transmission risk to the rest of the community as two people living together. They can be considered a unit.

    I think we may have "virtual" households made up of not more than five people and not including any vulnerable people.
    So if you are a family of more than 5 and one of you is vulnerable you have to be forcibly separated do you? And where do you go?
  • contrariancontrarian Posts: 5,818
    Look at the evidence before betting on Biden

    What will the next presidential election be about, primarily?

    A step change on relations with China? A revised, sterner approach?

    Trump went to war with the Chinese on trade for two years and stopped flights from there when Corona broke out, in the face of official advice.

    He has railed against outsourcing and the exporting of jobs to China for years. Recently even devout globalists like President Macron said that the French might have to adopt a more domestic supply chain approach.

    The evidence is that Trump is ahead of the curve and has a very solid track record on the number one issue of this campaign

    Biden?

    Trump may be vain, boorish, narcissistic, thin skinned, opportunistic and a very poor communicator.

    The mistake his detractors make is underestimating his mental acuity.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,805
    Mr. Eagles, indeed.

    It's the last episode, I think, of Homeland this Sunday. When the current series started the world was quite a different place.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,992

    TOPPING said:

    Ave_it said:

    Well done Boris and Carrie

    LOL at all the hard left halfwits posting on here earlier criticising him for not attending PMQs!

    I'm not a hard left halfwit (well not two out of three). And I was criticising him for not attending PMQs. And I am still criticising him for not attending PMQs. He doesn't get to be like a normal dad. He is PM. Apparently.
    PM not President. We have a cabinet government in this country.
    Even you don't believe that anything of import happens without the PM. And there are one or two important bits and bobs going on right now in the country.

    Boris was apparently raring to go and to take charge as of a few days ago.

    In the meantime there is no one in charge.
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,317
    Ave_it said:

    Well done Boris and Carrie

    LOL at all the hard left halfwits posting on here earlier criticising him for not attending PMQs!

    Point of order. That was before the news about the baby was known. Perfectly fine for him to miss PMQs to be with his child. Not fine for him to be back at work and miss crucial aspects of his work if he is not yet well enough to work. He should use his paternity leave to get himself fully well again and then, when he is back at work, he needs to do the key aspects of the job, including PMQs.

    Accountability for the PM is essential in a Parliamentary democracy.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 42,992
    Cyclefree said:

    Barnesian said:

    Cyclefree said:

    FPT

    @Pulpstar said:
    “Depends how the virus/a vaccine pan out and whether people rebound like a coiled spring into the way life was previously or perhaps, whilst not enjoying the total lockdown we now have, prefer a more relaxed pace of life.”

    I don’t think there is anything relaxed about a life in which one can’t see family or friends, can’t visit a museum or gallery, or go to a play, concert, gig or film, can’t eat out, can’t explore parts of one’s country or visit historic or architectural attractions or join with others in any sort of communal activity, whether as participant or spectator. And this is the sort of life we will have to endure - because none of these activities are possible with “social distancing”

    I think one of the first relaxations will be the definition of "household". Two people living separately but visiting one another (carefully travelling) have the same transmission risk to the rest of the community as two people living together. They can be considered a unit.

    I think we may have "virtual" households made up of not more than five people and not including any vulnerable people.
    So if you are a family of more than 5 and one of you is vulnerable you have to be forcibly separated do you? And where do you go?
    Just spoke to a friend back from HK. He says it is brutal over there with families split up and effectively imprisoned (at Stanley).
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 8,604
    Cyclefree said:

    Barnesian said:

    Cyclefree said:

    FPT

    @Pulpstar said:
    “Depends how the virus/a vaccine pan out and whether people rebound like a coiled spring into the way life was previously or perhaps, whilst not enjoying the total lockdown we now have, prefer a more relaxed pace of life.”

    I don’t think there is anything relaxed about a life in which one can’t see family or friends, can’t visit a museum or gallery, or go to a play, concert, gig or film, can’t eat out, can’t explore parts of one’s country or visit historic or architectural attractions or join with others in any sort of communal activity, whether as participant or spectator. And this is the sort of life we will have to endure - because none of these activities are possible with “social distancing”

    I think one of the first relaxations will be the definition of "household". Two people living separately but visiting one another (carefully travelling) have the same transmission risk to the rest of the community as two people living together. They can be considered a unit.

    I think we may have "virtual" households made up of not more than five people and not including any vulnerable people.
    So if you are a family of more than 5 and one of you is vulnerable you have to be forcibly separated do you? And where do you go?
    No I don't mean that. I think the current rule will continue to apply to actual physical households living together including vulnerable people.

    But if the government extends the definition to "virtual" households I think they would not want to expose vulnerable people any more than they are currently exposed.
  • Ave_itAve_it Posts: 2,411
    Cyclefree said:

    Barnesian said:

    Cyclefree said:

    FPT

    @Pulpstar said:
    “Depends how the virus/a vaccine pan out and whether people rebound like a coiled spring into the way life was previously or perhaps, whilst not enjoying the total lockdown we now have, prefer a more relaxed pace of life.”

    I don’t think there is anything relaxed about a life in which one can’t see family or friends, can’t visit a museum or gallery, or go to a play, concert, gig or film, can’t eat out, can’t explore parts of one’s country or visit historic or architectural attractions or join with others in any sort of communal activity, whether as participant or spectator. And this is the sort of life we will have to endure - because none of these activities are possible with “social distancing”

    I think one of the first relaxations will be the definition of "household". Two people living separately but visiting one another (carefully travelling) have the same transmission risk to the rest of the community as two people living together. They can be considered a unit.

    I think we may have "virtual" households made up of not more than five people and not including any vulnerable people.
    So if you are a family of more than 5 and one of you is vulnerable you have to be forcibly separated do you? And where do you go?
    I think the '5' should be defined as 'the total members of two households if greater' to get round this. Let's make it 10 to give greater flexibility. Raab can announce it on 7 May as Boris is busy at the moment!
  • MundoMundo Posts: 36

    Baby names - Young Winston?

    (Always assuming there isn't a previous Winston in the brood. In which case - Youngest Winston?)

    Would not be amazed to see “Aneurin” in there somewhere

  • BigRichBigRich Posts: 3,492

    UK coronavirus deaths in hospitals is over 21000, whereas France hospital deaths are at about 15000 (the rest is care home deaths) despite France having been further ahead in its outbreak. It really doesn't seem to be getting enough analysis, why does the UK have so many dead despite seemingly not suffering overwhelming of hospitals? Its not like France has done well out of this crisis so its not an "unfair" comparison either (France had a similar number of ventilators to the UK at the start, they were slow to act, as bad at testing as the UK, not enough PPE). France also did actually see overwhelming of its Eastern region hot-spot whereas London never seemed to become quite as severe.

    It is genuinely strange. Is it because there is less obesity in France?

    I would speculate that the UK has had more deaths because more people have had the infection, which is probably at least partly if not mainly dew to population density. I would suggest that the Netherlands and Belgium are better compartments in this rearguard as they have closer levels of population density.

    Other factors including obesity levels will also have at least some effect but at this stage its just difficult to way how retentive much each factor is.

    While having more infections, and more deaths at this stage may seem terrible, the flip side is that we are probably closer to 'heard immunity' the total deaths per million when this is all over may be simmiler, and only vary by things like % of population over 80, and obesity.
  • BarnesianBarnesian Posts: 8,604
    Ave_it said:

    Cyclefree said:

    Barnesian said:

    Cyclefree said:

    FPT

    @Pulpstar said:
    “Depends how the virus/a vaccine pan out and whether people rebound like a coiled spring into the way life was previously or perhaps, whilst not enjoying the total lockdown we now have, prefer a more relaxed pace of life.”

    I don’t think there is anything relaxed about a life in which one can’t see family or friends, can’t visit a museum or gallery, or go to a play, concert, gig or film, can’t eat out, can’t explore parts of one’s country or visit historic or architectural attractions or join with others in any sort of communal activity, whether as participant or spectator. And this is the sort of life we will have to endure - because none of these activities are possible with “social distancing”

    I think one of the first relaxations will be the definition of "household". Two people living separately but visiting one another (carefully travelling) have the same transmission risk to the rest of the community as two people living together. They can be considered a unit.

    I think we may have "virtual" households made up of not more than five people and not including any vulnerable people.
    So if you are a family of more than 5 and one of you is vulnerable you have to be forcibly separated do you? And where do you go?
    I think the '5' should be defined as 'the total members of two households if greater' to get round this. Let's make it 10 to give greater flexibility. Raab can announce it on 7 May as Boris is busy at the moment!
    I think he will with a number between 5 and 10. Bookmark this.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    Mundo said:

    Baby names - Young Winston?

    (Always assuming there isn't a previous Winston in the brood. In which case - Youngest Winston?)

    Would not be amazed to see “Aneurin” in there somewhere

    Or something like Neil Henry Simon
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,224
    edited April 2020
    Barnesian said:

    Nigelb said:

    Stocky said:

    Nigelb said:

    HYUFD said:

    On the face of it Biden has a clear poll lead against Trump so should be favourite.
    However punters may be sticking with Trump as his supporters seem much more enthusiastic than Biden's. Biden faces the problem that John Kerry or Mitt Romney faced, a vote for him seems to be more against the incumbent than for them

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255310629629542401?s=19

    In the current climate, excitement is just not a particularly important metric.

    Prospective Democratic voters are pretty damned determined to get rid of Trump; they'd vote for a ham sandwich in preference.

    And who but fools are excited about an election when the economy is crashing and there are millions of unemployed, and while the pandemic still menaces ?
    Well, our very own kinabalu has said that he thinks that a re-elected Trump would be more worrisome than a global pandemic.

    On a different tack - does anyone know whether the November election could be postponed? I know there`s no precedent for this, but is it theoretically possible under their constitution?
    The date of the election is constitutionally mandated, so not by Presidential fiat.
    Is it?
    There are many scenarios for a delayed election.
    "The bottom line is that even if he does try to cancel the election, Trump can't be guaranteed that he stays in the White House. He would need either a great deal of luck or a coup to remain president. And the office might easily elude the likely Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, too.
    Here’s why"
    .
    https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/04/17/could-trump-use-the-virus-to-stay-in-power-192883
    Indeed.
    The duration of a presidential term is set by the Constitution. The date of the election is set by Federal law, and which the constitution requires a vote of Congress to change.
    So the simple answer is no, Trump cannot alter the date of the election.

    Of course he can (and almost certainly will) do anything he can to thrown sand in the works, with the full cooperation of Republican state governors (limiting postal voting, the number of polling stations, early voting etc.).
    I don't put it past him to declare some state of emergency.

    But legally, there's little or nothing he can do to stay in the White House beyond January of next year. Other than win the election in November.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 27,929
    IshmaelZ said:

    Mundo said:

    Baby names - Young Winston?

    (Always assuming there isn't a previous Winston in the brood. In which case - Youngest Winston?)

    Would not be amazed to see “Aneurin” in there somewhere

    Or something like Neil Henry Simon
    Pericles Jeremy Dominic Johnson has a nice ring to it.
  • AndrewAndrew Posts: 2,900
    edited April 2020

    UK coronavirus deaths in hospitals is over 21000, whereas France hospital deaths are at about 15000 (the rest is care home deaths) despite France having been further ahead in its outbreak. It really doesn't seem to be getting enough analysis, why does the UK have so many dead despite seemingly not suffering overwhelming of hospitals? Its not like France has done well out of this crisis so its not an "unfair" comparison either (France had a similar number of ventilators to the UK at the start, they were slow to act, as bad at testing as the UK, not enough PPE). France also did actually see overwhelming of its Eastern region hot-spot whereas London never seemed to become quite as severe.

    It is genuinely strange. Is it because there is less obesity in France?


    Ton of unknowns, we'll probably not know until a few years of analysis. The models seem to suggest a near identical number of infections, it's just our infected are faring worse.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,226
    Stocky said:

    Nigelb said:

    HYUFD said:

    On the face of it Biden has a clear poll lead against Trump so should be favourite.
    However punters may be sticking with Trump as his supporters seem much more enthusiastic than Biden's. Biden faces the problem that John Kerry or Mitt Romney faced, a vote for him seems to be more against the incumbent than for them

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255310629629542401?s=19

    In the current climate, excitement is just not a particularly important metric.

    Prospective Democratic voters are pretty damned determined to get rid of Trump; they'd vote for a ham sandwich in preference.

    And who but fools are excited about an election when the economy is crashing and there are millions of unemployed, and while the pandemic still menaces ?
    Well, our very own kinabalu has said that he thinks that a re-elected Trump would be more worrisome than a global pandemic.
    :smile: - I'll revise down to "equally worrying" but no further.

    But just to say again, I cannot see a 2nd term for Trump. To re-elect him having seen how he behaves in office and when he has zero tangible achievements to his name apart from appointing a misogynist drunk to the Supreme Court, would mean that America has gone completely loco. It would render them a rogue nation. Beyond the pale. It could happen - of course it could, he's the incumbent - but I'd be wanting a LOT longer than even money on it.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    Ave_it said:

    Well done Boris and Carrie

    LOL at all the hard left halfwits posting on here earlier criticising him for not attending PMQs!

    I'm not a hard left halfwit (well not two out of three). And I was criticising him for not attending PMQs. And I am still criticising him for not attending PMQs. He doesn't get to be like a normal dad. He is PM. Apparently.
    PM not President. We have a cabinet government in this country.
    Even you don't believe that anything of import happens without the PM. And there are one or two important bits and bobs going on right now in the country.

    Boris was apparently raring to go and to take charge as of a few days ago.

    In the meantime there is no one in charge.
    Indeed and going and taking charge does not mean that he does everything. It is possible to delegate some elements of his role and every PM ever has done that - including PMQs. Every PM in my adult lifetime has not attended every 100% of PMQs.
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 12,541
    edited April 2020
  • Ave_itAve_it Posts: 2,411
    Cyclefree said:

    Ave_it said:

    Well done Boris and Carrie

    LOL at all the hard left halfwits posting on here earlier criticising him for not attending PMQs!

    Point of order. That was before the news about the baby was known. Perfectly fine for him to miss PMQs to be with his child. Not fine for him to be back at work and miss crucial aspects of his work if he is not yet well enough to work. He should use his paternity leave to get himself fully well again and then, when he is back at work, he needs to do the key aspects of the job, including PMQs.

    Accountability for the PM is essential in a Parliamentary democracy.
    The reports emanating from government sources of Boris being away from PMQ (and which the hard left halfwits were commenting on) would have been in the knowledge of the (then) imminent birth which couldn't be made public at the time.
  • BannedinnParisBannedinnParis Posts: 1,884
    genuine LOL @ the 'where's Boris' crew this am. Good work lads.
  • StockyStocky Posts: 10,222
    kinabalu said:

    Stocky said:

    Nigelb said:

    HYUFD said:

    On the face of it Biden has a clear poll lead against Trump so should be favourite.
    However punters may be sticking with Trump as his supporters seem much more enthusiastic than Biden's. Biden faces the problem that John Kerry or Mitt Romney faced, a vote for him seems to be more against the incumbent than for them

    https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1255310629629542401?s=19

    In the current climate, excitement is just not a particularly important metric.

    Prospective Democratic voters are pretty damned determined to get rid of Trump; they'd vote for a ham sandwich in preference.

    And who but fools are excited about an election when the economy is crashing and there are millions of unemployed, and while the pandemic still menaces ?
    Well, our very own kinabalu has said that he thinks that a re-elected Trump would be more worrisome than a global pandemic.
    :smile: - I'll revise down to "equally worrying" but no further.

    But just to say again, I cannot see a 2nd term for Trump. To re-elect him having seen how he behaves in office and when he has zero tangible achievements to his name apart from appointing a misogynist drunk to the Supreme Court, would mean that America has gone completely loco. It would render them a rogue nation. Beyond the pale. It could happen - of course it could, he's the incumbent - but I'd be wanting a LOT longer than even money on it.
    Agreed - though personally i`d rank getting rid of, say, Putin and Jong-un ahead of Trump?
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 12,541

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    Ave_it said:

    Well done Boris and Carrie

    LOL at all the hard left halfwits posting on here earlier criticising him for not attending PMQs!

    I'm not a hard left halfwit (well not two out of three). And I was criticising him for not attending PMQs. And I am still criticising him for not attending PMQs. He doesn't get to be like a normal dad. He is PM. Apparently.
    PM not President. We have a cabinet government in this country.
    Even you don't believe that anything of import happens without the PM. And there are one or two important bits and bobs going on right now in the country.

    Boris was apparently raring to go and to take charge as of a few days ago.

    In the meantime there is no one in charge.
    Indeed and going and taking charge does not mean that he does everything. It is possible to delegate some elements of his role and every PM ever has done that - including PMQs. Every PM in my adult lifetime has not attended every 100% of PMQs.
    Perhaps “No PM in my adult lifetime has...”?
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    DougSeal said:

    TOPPING said:

    TOPPING said:

    Ave_it said:

    Well done Boris and Carrie

    LOL at all the hard left halfwits posting on here earlier criticising him for not attending PMQs!

    I'm not a hard left halfwit (well not two out of three). And I was criticising him for not attending PMQs. And I am still criticising him for not attending PMQs. He doesn't get to be like a normal dad. He is PM. Apparently.
    PM not President. We have a cabinet government in this country.
    Even you don't believe that anything of import happens without the PM. And there are one or two important bits and bobs going on right now in the country.

    Boris was apparently raring to go and to take charge as of a few days ago.

    In the meantime there is no one in charge.
    Indeed and going and taking charge does not mean that he does everything. It is possible to delegate some elements of his role and every PM ever has done that - including PMQs. Every PM in my adult lifetime has not attended every 100% of PMQs.
    Perhaps “No PM in my adult lifetime has...”?
    Yes sorry, distracted by children.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    TOPPING said:

    isam said:

    Spending the last half hour reading the last thread knowing that Boris was missing PMQs because his fiancée had just given birth was fabulous!!!!

    How they must hate him!

    I don't think he should miss PMQs because of his baby and neither do I think he should take paternity leave.

    It's all there in the terms and conditions of being a crisis PM.

    And I don't hate him. I think he is, as I have always thought, a solipsistic, lazy, useless twat.
    Speaks highly of you, I’m sure!
  • isamisam Posts: 41,118
    Stocky said:

    isam said:

    Spending the last half hour reading the last thread knowing that Boris was missing PMQs because his fiancée had just given birth was fabulous!!!!

    How they must hate him!

    How did you know?
    Just because I only happened to read the thread after the birth was announced
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,766
    Stirrings of trouble on the backbenches.

    https://twitter.com/DavidDavisMP/status/1255413299874799617
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