There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
What has age got to do with anything? Mandela was 77. I am inspired that you can make a difference in your 70s. Biden does not appear to be a machine anything.
Oh FFS he's been an elected politician since he was 29, he was VP for 8 years, Obama cheer led his campaign. His age is relevant as a marker for how long he has been in politics. Next year he has been part of the party machine for half a century and he didnt spend that time locked up in Robben island.
Social media simply must be regulated - no idea how you do it but the principle should be you can still say what you want, but money doesnt give you the right to convince everyone else of political lies.
No speech must never be regulated. That is an authoritarians ideal dream. Imagine if a Barr equivalent was regulating social media? No thank you.
No speech ever? So are you in favour of repealing all libel laws everywhere, all laws against incitement of any kind etc?
Libel laws don't stop you from speaking first and it is a civil not criminal dispute that the government doesn't regulate or control. I do think there should be a clear presumption of innocence for that too.
Incitement too should have an immediate harm criteria. Conspiracy to kill someone is clearly illegal, but just being offensive is not.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
I disagree
He has impressed me so far but it is very early days
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
What has age got to do with anything? Mandela was 77. I am inspired that you can make a difference in your 70s. Biden does not appear to be a machine anything.
Oh FFS he's been an elected politician since he was 29, he was VP for 8 years, Obama cheer led his campaign. His age is relevant as a marker for how long he has been in politics. Next year he has been part of the party machine for half a century and he didnt spend that time locked up in Robben island.
After the last few years of Trumpism having a machine politician in charge would be a breath of fresh air.
America's quite a technically advanced country, pretty sure they can work out how to pack something in liquid nitrogen and store it for a few days.
But the vaccine’s complex and super-cold storage requirements are an obstacle for even the most sophisticated hospitals in the United States and may impact when and where it is available in rural areas or poor countries where resources are tight....
Indeed, one of the most prestigious U.S. hospitals, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said it does not currently have that capability.
There would have been more summits and renegotiations around Lisbon. It also would've provided a pressure valve for sceptical sentiment. The total absence from major political parties of any alternative to integrating more and more (excepting only the single currency/Schengen) is why scepticism grew so much.
The country was split, but the political class was not. To govern is to choose, but so is to elect. The political class did not reflect those they governed, nor did they attempt to do so nor did they wish to consult the electorate.
Blair/Brown should not have reneged. That sort of short-sighted idiocy is precisely why Scottish independence remains on the agenda. In a fantasy of creating a perpetual fiefdom they instituted a permanent political division. Likewise, in a fantasy of making the UK more and more pro-EU, they promised sceptics a say before an election then denied it afterwards.
This truly puts a nail in the notion that political betting markets are good predictors. And long may that continue.
Except the price reflects the probability the Republicans are trying to steal the election, in which case it's short...
Bill Barr is writing letters to federal prosecutors confirming he is fully on board to overturn the election.
Is he though? Or is the Attorney General (Barr) merely following a CYA strategy? It might depend how you read the word "substantial".
Barr told prosecutors that "fanciful or far-fetched claims" should not be a basis for investigation and that his letter did not indicate the Justice Department had uncovered voting irregularities affecting the outcome of the election.
Evidence from the court cases so far dismissed is that the Republicans so far have no "substantial" cases.
It is easy to see that a coup was planned or at least prepared for but it looks like Biden won too many states. It would be easy for the Supreme Court to overturn one result but not half a dozen. Barr's move might mean that if the Trump campaign has any evidence then the DoJ will run with it but so far there has been nothing that cannot be called "fanciful or far-fetched". Too real to steal, as they say.
It all sounds suspicious - and the resignation of the head of the elections investigation team isn't a positive indication it is all benign - but i wouldn't totally rule out the possibility that what's going on is that leading Republicans are desperately trying to walk a very narrow tightrope/balancing act between appearing to placate Trump whilst actually not doing anything to actively advance what he's doing. Under an assumption that once it all plays out in the courts he will go quietly.
The problem with narrow tightropes is that it only takes a small puff of wind and you can fall off.
And why was she commenting on its suitability for sectors of the populace ? I'd have fired her right there.
Don't forget this is someone who has described herself as having no specialist knowledge about vaccines.
In more positive news is the Liverpool testing trial on the right track for the testing you have been calling for?
I'm delighted that they're doing it (and the numbers reported so far are fairly encouraging in terms of overall infection). But if they're not systematically arranging for the isolation of infected individuals, it will be far less effective than it might otherwise be.
Hopefully they will learn lessons from it, as we've the winter to navigate before any vaccines start to have a significant impact, and the use of mass testing and isolation in regions with large outbreaks would keep things under control..
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
I disagree
He has impressed me so far but it is very early days
Well good luck with it, maybe he'll surprise us all, but Im not holding my breathe.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
What has age got to do with anything? Mandela was 77. I am inspired that you can make a difference in your 70s. Biden does not appear to be a machine anything.
Oh FFS he's been an elected politician since he was 29, he was VP for 8 years, Obama cheer led his campaign. His age is relevant as a marker for how long he has been in politics. Next year he has been part of the party machine for half a century and he didnt spend that time locked up in Robben island.
If you hear him speak about his son, his wife about his friends this is no machine. He’s very warm human being. A long way from a machine politician. So what if he’s been in the senate? Who cares? Watch his McCain eulogy and tell me this is a machine.
This man could have retired, played golf and dined out on the lecture circuit as Obama’s number 1. That’s what a machine politician fat on pork would have done aged 78. Instead he got off his backside, took on and defeated one of the most dangerous men to occupy the White House. That deserves respect.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
The Internal Market Bill puts the government on a collision course with the incoming Biden Administration and leaves the UK isolated and irrelevant in a way that we have not been for decades. The only way out is either withdrawing the clauses rejected by the Lords last night or a trade deal with the EU that would involve a serious climbdown. Both are politically impossible for Johnson to concede. He has allowed Cummings to dig him a very deep hole. Once again, the internal dynamics of the Conservative party - which, quite bizarrely, claims to be a patriotic party - will leave us all paying a heavy price.
I said yesterday the IMB must be either dropped or negotiated away 'tout de suite' and I expect that to happen over the coming weeks and long before the 20th January when Joe Biden becomes President
I do not see a trade deal with the EU as a climbdown and it was very interesting to see the DUP and Sinn Fein mount a written joint attack on the EU over restricting access for food to UK supermarkets in NI
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
The Internal Market Bill puts the government on a collision course with the incoming Biden Administration and leaves the UK isolated and irrelevant in a way that we have not been for decades. The only way out is either withdrawing the clauses rejected by the Lords last night or a trade deal with the EU that would involve a serious climbdown. Both are politically impossible for Johnson to concede. He has allowed Cummings to dig him a very deep hole. Once again, the internal dynamics of the Conservative party - which, quite bizarrely, claims to be a patriotic party - will leave us all paying a heavy price.
Why do we need to be "relevant" ? Relevant to what exactly ? Major is right in saying the UK will slowly sink down the league of powers and the sooner we come to terms with it the better. The idea that we are going to force UK values onto an 10 year old African child is for the birds.
Our government's values - the ones the UK projects to the world - are not very attractive these days, that is true. Being ignored is something we will have to get used to, of course. Others will shape the rules that we will have to abide by. We will have no say. But we are where we are: we have chosen to make ourselves less free, less competitive and less relevant. That is the reality of taking back control.
America's quite a technically advanced country, pretty sure they can work out how to pack something in liquid nitrogen and store it for a few days.
But the vaccine’s complex and super-cold storage requirements are an obstacle for even the most sophisticated hospitals in the United States and may impact when and where it is available in rural areas or poor countries where resources are tight....
Indeed, one of the most prestigious U.S. hospitals, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said it does not currently have that capability.
Andrew Cuomo was getting a lot of flack yesterday for saying that he's worried the vaccine has come three months early - arguing the Trump administration will not ensure that it is distributed competently and will likely try to organise it for political ends, but that Biden will then be stuck with "the plan" when he comes to power - but he's probably right.
America's quite a technically advanced country, pretty sure they can work out how to pack something in liquid nitrogen and store it for a few days.
But the vaccine’s complex and super-cold storage requirements are an obstacle for even the most sophisticated hospitals in the United States and may impact when and where it is available in rural areas or poor countries where resources are tight....
Indeed, one of the most prestigious U.S. hospitals, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said it does not currently have that capability.
Dry ice (frozen CO2) is widely available. Evaporates (no liquid phase) at -78c.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
What has age got to do with anything? Mandela was 77. I am inspired that you can make a difference in your 70s. Biden does not appear to be a machine anything.
Oh FFS he's been an elected politician since he was 29, he was VP for 8 years, Obama cheer led his campaign. His age is relevant as a marker for how long he has been in politics. Next year he has been part of the party machine for half a century and he didnt spend that time locked up in Robben island.
After the last few years of Trumpism having a machine politician in charge would be a breath of fresh air.
Aside from being wantonly offensive to people he didnt like Trumps time in office will probably get a better evaluation with the passage of time. Even Matthew Parris who is hardly your average Trump supporter was saying this weekend there were some things where Trump had a point.
Andrew Cuomo was getting a lot of flack yesterday for saying that he's worried the vaccine has come three months early - arguing the Trump administration will not ensure that it is distributed competently and will likely try to organise it for political ends, but that Biden will then be stuck with "the plan" when he comes to power - but he's probably right.
As predicted, Trump was whining on Twitter yesterday that the announcement was deliberately delayed 5 days to cost him the election (which he won BTW)
Mr. Observer, the EU does pack a bigger punch and has greater negotiating weight but I'd argue that it's not exactly brimming with the spirit of competitive capitalism. The delinquent failure to comprehend how business works led to the #VATmess, and the apparent current plans to criminalise encryption that works smacks of technological illiteracy, illiberal intrusiveness, and plain stupidity.
(Not that our own governments are immune to this. I remember MPs of various parties seeming to think algorithms are magical incantations that can make the internet safe for kids).
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
The Internal Market Bill puts the government on a collision course with the incoming Biden Administration and leaves the UK isolated and irrelevant in a way that we have not been for decades. The only way out is either withdrawing the clauses rejected by the Lords last night or a trade deal with the EU that would involve a serious climbdown. Both are politically impossible for Johnson to concede. He has allowed Cummings to dig him a very deep hole. Once again, the internal dynamics of the Conservative party - which, quite bizarrely, claims to be a patriotic party - will leave us all paying a heavy price.
Why do we need to be "relevant" ? Relevant to what exactly ? Major is right in saying the UK will slowly sink down the league of powers and the sooner we come to terms with it the better. The idea that we are going to force UK values onto an 10 year old African child is for the birds.
Our government's values - the ones the UK projects to the world - are not very attractive these days, that is true. Being ignored is something we will have to get used to, of course. Others will shape the rules that we will have to abide by. We will have no say. But we are where we are: we have chosen to make ourselves less free, less competitive and less relevant. That is the reality of taking back control.
The only people we have to be relevant to is ourselves. The values you wish to project are simply those a section of UK society that wants to run a "soft" empire. Personally I dont.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
I disagree
He has impressed me so far but it is very early days
Well good luck with it, maybe he'll surprise us all, but Im not holding my breathe.
Remember Obama getting the Peace Prize, practically before taking office, for the achievement of not being Bush II?
Same deal. Biden is a breath of fresh air by not being Trump. A fairly standard, middle of the road American politician is a big, big contrast to what they have now....
America's quite a technically advanced country, pretty sure they can work out how to pack something in liquid nitrogen and store it for a few days.
But the vaccine’s complex and super-cold storage requirements are an obstacle for even the most sophisticated hospitals in the United States and may impact when and where it is available in rural areas or poor countries where resources are tight....
Indeed, one of the most prestigious U.S. hospitals, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said it does not currently have that capability.
The packages will be shipped via air to major distribution hubs and then delivered by ground transport to dosing locations, which “may include hospitals, outpatient clinics, community vaccination locations and pharmacies,” Pfizer spokesperson Kim Bencker told NBC News in an email. Some vaccines will also be shipped from a separate distribution center in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.
Each package will be equipped with a GPS-tracked thermal sensor to monitor location and temperature, which the company says will “proactively” prevent “deviations” — such as accidents or theft.
The company is bypassing its usual wholesale distribution partners, including McKesson, which is also the main partner for the government’s Operation Warp Speed vaccine project, and spent over $2 billion to create its own direct distribution network.
Once the packages are delivered, receivers can store them in ultra-low temperature freezers for up to 6 months, inside a refrigeration unit for up to 5 days, or they can refill the box with new dry ice for up to 15 days of storage.
It's a delicate operation. The company has told the CDC that it recommends the thermal shippers are not opened more than twice per day, and should be closed within 1 minute...
Mr. Observer, the EU does pack a bigger punch and has greater negotiating weight but I'd argue that it's not exactly brimming with the spirit of competitive capitalism. The delinquent failure to comprehend how business works led to the #VATmess, and the apparent current plans to criminalise encryption that works smacks of technological illiteracy, illiberal intrusiveness, and plain stupidity.
(Not that our own governments are immune to this. I remember MPs of various parties seeming to think algorithms are magical incantations that can make the internet safe for kids).
By making us less free and business less competitive, the government is providing great succour - not to mention huge amounts of public money - to the crony capitalism which it seeks to enhance. The EU is a body in need of major reform. If and when it happens, we will play no part in making sure it is done in the UK's interests. If it doesn't, we will have to accept the rules it sets whatever.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
What has age got to do with anything? Mandela was 77. I am inspired that you can make a difference in your 70s. Biden does not appear to be a machine anything.
Oh FFS he's been an elected politician since he was 29, he was VP for 8 years, Obama cheer led his campaign. His age is relevant as a marker for how long he has been in politics. Next year he has been part of the party machine for half a century and he didnt spend that time locked up in Robben island.
If you hear him speak about his son, his wife about his friends this is no machine. He’s very warm human being. A long way from a machine politician. So what if he’s been in the senate? Who cares? Watch his McCain eulogy and tell me this is a machine.
This man could have retired, played golf and dined out on the lecture circuit as Obama’s number 1. That’s what a machine politician fat on pork would have done aged 78. Instead he got off his backside, took on and defeated one of the most dangerous men to occupy the White House. That deserves respect.
Of course its a machine man. Politics is acting for ugly people. Bill Clinton could do the schmoozing too, but you wouldnt want to leave your teenage daughter with him.
America's quite a technically advanced country, pretty sure they can work out how to pack something in liquid nitrogen and store it for a few days.
But the vaccine’s complex and super-cold storage requirements are an obstacle for even the most sophisticated hospitals in the United States and may impact when and where it is available in rural areas or poor countries where resources are tight....
Indeed, one of the most prestigious U.S. hospitals, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said it does not currently have that capability.
I repeat what our man in Tokyo wrote: America's quite a technically advanced country, pretty sure they can work out how to pack something in liquid nitrogen and store it for a few days.
He didn't say they have the capability now, but they have the wherewithall to do it.
Social media simply must be regulated - no idea how you do it but the principle should be you can still say what you want, but money doesnt give you the right to convince everyone else of political lies.
As with all such matters - yes - so long as there is also public trust in the regulator. The internet is totally a can of worms with extremist garbage from both ends of the political spectrum.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
What has age got to do with anything? Mandela was 77. I am inspired that you can make a difference in your 70s. Biden does not appear to be a machine anything.
Oh FFS he's been an elected politician since he was 29, he was VP for 8 years, Obama cheer led his campaign. His age is relevant as a marker for how long he has been in politics. Next year he has been part of the party machine for half a century and he didnt spend that time locked up in Robben island.
If you hear him speak about his son, his wife about his friends this is no machine. He’s very warm human being. A long way from a machine politician. So what if he’s been in the senate? Who cares? Watch his McCain eulogy and tell me this is a machine.
This man could have retired, played golf and dined out on the lecture circuit as Obama’s number 1. That’s what a machine politician fat on pork would have done aged 78. Instead he got off his backside, took on and defeated one of the most dangerous men to occupy the White House. That deserves respect.
Of course its a machine man. Politics is acting for ugly people. Bill Clinton could do the schmoozing too, but you wouldnt want to leave your teenage daughter with him.
Well today, personally feeling somewhat depressed in lockdown and feeling a bit old and tired in my 40s, I look to a man giving it his all and succeeding in his late 70s and feel inspired. If he can do that aged 78, there’s hope for all of us.
America's quite a technically advanced country, pretty sure they can work out how to pack something in liquid nitrogen and store it for a few days.
But the vaccine’s complex and super-cold storage requirements are an obstacle for even the most sophisticated hospitals in the United States and may impact when and where it is available in rural areas or poor countries where resources are tight....
Indeed, one of the most prestigious U.S. hospitals, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said it does not currently have that capability.
The packages will be shipped via air to major distribution hubs and then delivered by ground transport to dosing locations, which “may include hospitals, outpatient clinics, community vaccination locations and pharmacies,” Pfizer spokesperson Kim Bencker told NBC News in an email. Some vaccines will also be shipped from a separate distribution center in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.
Each package will be equipped with a GPS-tracked thermal sensor to monitor location and temperature, which the company says will “proactively” prevent “deviations” — such as accidents or theft.
The company is bypassing its usual wholesale distribution partners, including McKesson, which is also the main partner for the government’s Operation Warp Speed vaccine project, and spent over $2 billion to create its own direct distribution network.
Once the packages are delivered, receivers can store them in ultra-low temperature freezers for up to 6 months, inside a refrigeration unit for up to 5 days, or they can refill the box with new dry ice for up to 15 days of storage.
It's a delicate operation. The company has told the CDC that it recommends the thermal shippers are not opened more than twice per day, and should be closed within 1 minute...
Frozen dog food goes through the post packed with dry ice. So it can't be that difficult or expensive.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
The Internal Market Bill puts the government on a collision course with the incoming Biden Administration and leaves the UK isolated and irrelevant in a way that we have not been for decades. The only way out is either withdrawing the clauses rejected by the Lords last night or a trade deal with the EU that would involve a serious climbdown. Both are politically impossible for Johnson to concede. He has allowed Cummings to dig him a very deep hole. Once again, the internal dynamics of the Conservative party - which, quite bizarrely, claims to be a patriotic party - will leave us all paying a heavy price.
Why do we need to be "relevant" ? Relevant to what exactly ? Major is right in saying the UK will slowly sink down the league of powers and the sooner we come to terms with it the better. The idea that we are going to force UK values onto an 10 year old African child is for the birds.
Our government's values - the ones the UK projects to the world - are not very attractive these days, that is true. Being ignored is something we will have to get used to, of course. Others will shape the rules that we will have to abide by. We will have no say. But we are where we are: we have chosen to make ourselves less free, less competitive and less relevant. That is the reality of taking back control.
The only people we have to be relevant to is ourselves. The values you wish to project are simply those a section of UK society that wants to run a "soft" empire. Personally I dont.
We are part of a bigger world. It shapes us. I know many people do not want that to be the case, but it is. We can either participate or not, of course. If we don't, others will make all the decisions for us. I prefer to be involved, you don't. We disagree. But your side has won. I accept that. I can still think it's a very bad idea.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
What has age got to do with anything? Mandela was 77. I am inspired that you can make a difference in your 70s. Biden does not appear to be a machine anything.
Oh FFS he's been an elected politician since he was 29, he was VP for 8 years, Obama cheer led his campaign. His age is relevant as a marker for how long he has been in politics. Next year he has been part of the party machine for half a century and he didnt spend that time locked up in Robben island.
After the last few years of Trumpism having a machine politician in charge would be a breath of fresh air.
Aside from being wantonly offensive to people he didnt like Trumps time in office will probably get a better evaluation with the passage of time. Even Matthew Parris who is hardly your average Trump supporter was saying this weekend there were some things where Trump had a point.
It won't. His elevation of dozens of manifestly unqualified judges to the federal bench alone will have negative effects for the next two or three decades.
Social media simply must be regulated - no idea how you do it but the principle should be you can still say what you want, but money doesnt give you the right to convince everyone else of political lies.
No speech must never be regulated. That is an authoritarians ideal dream. Imagine if a Barr equivalent was regulating social media? No thank you.
No speech ever? So are you in favour of repealing all libel laws everywhere, all laws against incitement of any kind etc?
Libel laws don't stop you from speaking first and it is a civil not criminal dispute that the government doesn't regulate or control. I do think there should be a clear presumption of innocence for that too.
Incitement too should have an immediate harm criteria. Conspiracy to kill someone is clearly illegal, but just being offensive is not.
So you ARE in favour of regulation of speech sometimes it seems? So in principle, regulation can also apply to social media platforms. For example, they could be treated the same as any other publisher. I mean, since when does "regulation" mean "criminal sanctions"?
I also think the targeting of political advertisements on social media is several orders of magnitude away from libdems saying "vote for us to keep labour out" and simultaneously "vote for us to keep the conservatives out". I doubt anyone who thinks about it for a moment would agree with you that it is similar.
America's quite a technically advanced country, pretty sure they can work out how to pack something in liquid nitrogen and store it for a few days.
But the vaccine’s complex and super-cold storage requirements are an obstacle for even the most sophisticated hospitals in the United States and may impact when and where it is available in rural areas or poor countries where resources are tight....
Indeed, one of the most prestigious U.S. hospitals, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said it does not currently have that capability.
The packages will be shipped via air to major distribution hubs and then delivered by ground transport to dosing locations, which “may include hospitals, outpatient clinics, community vaccination locations and pharmacies,” Pfizer spokesperson Kim Bencker told NBC News in an email. Some vaccines will also be shipped from a separate distribution center in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.
Each package will be equipped with a GPS-tracked thermal sensor to monitor location and temperature, which the company says will “proactively” prevent “deviations” — such as accidents or theft.
The company is bypassing its usual wholesale distribution partners, including McKesson, which is also the main partner for the government’s Operation Warp Speed vaccine project, and spent over $2 billion to create its own direct distribution network.
Once the packages are delivered, receivers can store them in ultra-low temperature freezers for up to 6 months, inside a refrigeration unit for up to 5 days, or they can refill the box with new dry ice for up to 15 days of storage.
It's a delicate operation. The company has told the CDC that it recommends the thermal shippers are not opened more than twice per day, and should be closed within 1 minute...
Dry ice coolers are a standard product, by the way. As are devices that show if the temperature exceeded a specified level in transport.
Social media simply must be regulated - no idea how you do it but the principle should be you can still say what you want, but money doesnt give you the right to convince everyone else of political lies.
No speech must never be regulated. That is an authoritarians ideal dream. Imagine if a Barr equivalent was regulating social media? No thank you.
Free speech is being able to say what you want, not being free to pay to say one thing to household x who dislike high taxes and another thing to household y who want high taxes.
In this country the Liberal Democrats made a habit of doing precisely that very successfully until 2010.
Free speech is about being able to say what you want - if what you want is different things to different audiences then free speech also allows people to reveal that hypocrisy.
If there wasn't free speech then Trump would have put someone with all the integrity of Barr in charge of regulating speech. That is not a good thing.
There is no potential for revealing hypocrisy when they can micro message different people with opposite messages. People never know what everyone else is hearing.
Democracy is simply not sustainable without some shared understanding of the world.
Ah - the mask slips - you want the free speech for those with similar views to you.
I see Matt Hancock has confirmed this morning what I put on here last Tuesday that hospitals and GP surgeries will be ready to start vaccinating in early December.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
What has age got to do with anything? Mandela was 77. I am inspired that you can make a difference in your 70s. Biden does not appear to be a machine anything.
Oh FFS he's been an elected politician since he was 29, he was VP for 8 years, Obama cheer led his campaign. His age is relevant as a marker for how long he has been in politics. Next year he has been part of the party machine for half a century and he didnt spend that time locked up in Robben island.
If you hear him speak about his son, his wife about his friends this is no machine. He’s very warm human being. A long way from a machine politician. So what if he’s been in the senate? Who cares? Watch his McCain eulogy and tell me this is a machine.
This man could have retired, played golf and dined out on the lecture circuit as Obama’s number 1. That’s what a machine politician fat on pork would have done aged 78. Instead he got off his backside, took on and defeated one of the most dangerous men to occupy the White House. That deserves respect.
Of course its a machine man. Politics is acting for ugly people. Bill Clinton could do the schmoozing too, but you wouldnt want to leave your teenage daughter with him.
Machine politician doesn't mean that the politician is a machine. It means, in the American context, that the politician in question is the er... public face of an organised group.
Truman started out that way. Obama as well. It is a way for an aspiring politician to get ahead. Some transcend that origin. Others simply become a tool for the machine behind them.
Social media simply must be regulated - no idea how you do it but the principle should be you can still say what you want, but money doesnt give you the right to convince everyone else of political lies.
No speech must never be regulated. That is an authoritarians ideal dream. Imagine if a Barr equivalent was regulating social media? No thank you.
Free speech is being able to say what you want, not being free to pay to say one thing to household x who dislike high taxes and another thing to household y who want high taxes.
In this country the Liberal Democrats made a habit of doing precisely that very successfully until 2010.
Free speech is about being able to say what you want - if what you want is different things to different audiences then free speech also allows people to reveal that hypocrisy.
If there wasn't free speech then Trump would have put someone with all the integrity of Barr in charge of regulating speech. That is not a good thing.
There is no potential for revealing hypocrisy when they can micro message different people with opposite messages. People never know what everyone else is hearing.
Democracy is simply not sustainable without some shared understanding of the world.
Ah - the mask slips - you want the free speech for those with similar views to you.
Where have I said that or anything that resembles that?
And Im yet to meet anyone that shares my views across 100 different topics as we all think differently, and I dont follow any particular political groups so it would be quite an absurd position to take.
There would have been more summits and renegotiations around Lisbon. It also would've provided a pressure valve for sceptical sentiment. The total absence from major political parties of any alternative to integrating more and more (excepting only the single currency/Schengen) is why scepticism grew so much.
If they couldn't pass Lisbon they couldn't have passed anything. The thing the British euroskeptics vaguely wanted (apart from leaving) of a loose trading arrangement wasn't really wanted by anybody else, and even if it had been they never really had a workable idea, so it wouldn't have happened. They'd have just muddled through with what they've got, which would have been basically the same but with more grandstanding last-minute brinksmanship and little bungs to paper over the unanimity requirements, it wouldn't have been particularly edifying.
So the British would have felt like they'd voted for change, like you they'd have expected that something would happen, and they'd have got more of the same. That's not a pressure valve - it's increasing the pressure, and not releasing it.
What has age got to do with anything? Mandela was 77. I am inspired that you can make a difference in your 70s. Biden does not appear to be a machine anything.
Oh FFS he's been an elected politician since he was 29, he was VP for 8 years, Obama cheer led his campaign. His age is relevant as a marker for how long he has been in politics. Next year he has been part of the party machine for half a century and he didnt spend that time locked up in Robben island.
After the last few years of Trumpism having a machine politician in charge would be a breath of fresh air.
Well, quite. As the Washington Post said in an editorial, it was tempting to feel that almost anyone would be preferable (they went on to say that fortunately Biden did more than clear that low bar). It's too early to canonise or demonise Biden, but he looks like the right person for the moment, steady and disinclined to sow division. And Jonathan is right that it's impressive how he's kept working at one of the most punishing schedules in the world when he could have opted for peaceful, prosperous retirement.
This truly puts a nail in the notion that political betting markets are good predictors. And long may that continue.
Except the price reflects the probability the Republicans are trying to steal the election, in which case it's short...
Bill Barr is writing letters to federal prosecutors confirming he is fully on board to overturn the election.
Is he though? Or is the Attorney General (Barr) merely following a CYA strategy? It might depend how you read the word "substantial".
Barr told prosecutors that "fanciful or far-fetched claims" should not be a basis for investigation and that his letter did not indicate the Justice Department had uncovered voting irregularities affecting the outcome of the election.
Evidence from the court cases so far dismissed is that the Republicans so far have no "substantial" cases.
It is easy to see that a coup was planned or at least prepared for but it looks like Biden won too many states. It would be easy for the Supreme Court to overturn one result but not half a dozen. Barr's move might mean that if the Trump campaign has any evidence then the DoJ will run with it but so far there has been nothing that cannot be called "fanciful or far-fetched". Too real to steal, as they say.
Quite possibly, but willingness to attempt it is a big deal regardless of if it succeeds.
Mr. Observer, the EU does pack a bigger punch and has greater negotiating weight but I'd argue that it's not exactly brimming with the spirit of competitive capitalism. The delinquent failure to comprehend how business works led to the #VATmess, and the apparent current plans to criminalise encryption that works smacks of technological illiteracy, illiberal intrusiveness, and plain stupidity.
(Not that our own governments are immune to this. I remember MPs of various parties seeming to think algorithms are magical incantations that can make the internet safe for kids).
By making us less free and business less competitive, the government is providing great succour - not to mention huge amounts of public money - to the crony capitalism which it seeks to enhance. The EU is a body in need of major reform. If and when it happens, we will play no part in making sure it is done in the UK's interests. If it doesn't, we will have to accept the rules it sets whatever.
I have heard about the major reforms needed in the EU throughout my life so I'd not hold my breath on them happening any time soon. Like many I voted Remain is spite of the faults which is why I cannot see any major clamour to return. Better to make the best of a bad job.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
What has age got to do with anything? Mandela was 77. I am inspired that you can make a difference in your 70s. Biden does not appear to be a machine anything.
Oh FFS he's been an elected politician since he was 29, he was VP for 8 years, Obama cheer led his campaign. His age is relevant as a marker for how long he has been in politics. Next year he has been part of the party machine for half a century and he didnt spend that time locked up in Robben island.
If you hear him speak about his son, his wife about his friends this is no machine. He’s very warm human being. A long way from a machine politician. So what if he’s been in the senate? Who cares? Watch his McCain eulogy and tell me this is a machine.
This man could have retired, played golf and dined out on the lecture circuit as Obama’s number 1. That’s what a machine politician fat on pork would have done aged 78. Instead he got off his backside, took on and defeated one of the most dangerous men to occupy the White House. That deserves respect.
Of course its a machine man. Politics is acting for ugly people. Bill Clinton could do the schmoozing too, but you wouldnt want to leave your teenage daughter with him.
I see Matt Hancock has confirmed this morning what I put on here last Tuesday that hospitals and GP surgeries will be ready to start vaccinating in early December.
I see Matt Hancock has confirmed this morning what I put on here last Tuesday that hospitals and GP surgeries will be ready to start vaccinating in early December.
Mr. Observer, the EU does pack a bigger punch and has greater negotiating weight but I'd argue that it's not exactly brimming with the spirit of competitive capitalism. The delinquent failure to comprehend how business works led to the #VATmess, and the apparent current plans to criminalise encryption that works smacks of technological illiteracy, illiberal intrusiveness, and plain stupidity.
(Not that our own governments are immune to this. I remember MPs of various parties seeming to think algorithms are magical incantations that can make the internet safe for kids).
By making us less free and business less competitive, the government is providing great succour - not to mention huge amounts of public money - to the crony capitalism which it seeks to enhance. The EU is a body in need of major reform. If and when it happens, we will play no part in making sure it is done in the UK's interests. If it doesn't, we will have to accept the rules it sets whatever.
I have heard about the major reforms needed in the EU throughout my life so I'd not hold my breath on them happening any time soon. Like many I voted Remain is spite of the faults which is why I cannot see any major clamour to return. Better to make the best of a bad job.
Unfortunately, we are currently exacerbating a bad job by making it far worse than it had to be.
On another note - the wife starts getting her teacher's pension at the start of next month. Once again, many thanks for putting us onto this.
Interesting stats from ONS on those in Employment by place of birth;
Jul Sept (vs April June) ('000) Total: 32,515 (-77) UK: 29,352 (+244) EU27: 1,874 (-287) - lowest since Dec 2014 Other: 1,287 (-27)
These are preliminary stats, subject to revision - but it may well be many EU27 nationals have gone home, as the number of EU27 unemployed has only risen by 22,000 and the number of economically inactive has fallen by 52,000.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
What has age got to do with anything? Mandela was 77. I am inspired that you can make a difference in your 70s. Biden does not appear to be a machine anything.
Oh FFS he's been an elected politician since he was 29, he was VP for 8 years, Obama cheer led his campaign. His age is relevant as a marker for how long he has been in politics. Next year he has been part of the party machine for half a century and he didnt spend that time locked up in Robben island.
After the last few years of Trumpism having a machine politician in charge would be a breath of fresh air.
Aside from being wantonly offensive to people he didnt like Trumps time in office will probably get a better evaluation with the passage of time. Even Matthew Parris who is hardly your average Trump supporter was saying this weekend there were some things where Trump had a point.
It won't. His elevation of dozens of manifestly unqualified judges to the federal bench alone will have negative effects for the next two or three decades.
Interesting to see how critical some are of the role of the Judiciary in the American system. Oh for the halcyon days when we were all lauding the independence of the Judiciary in the UK not so long ago. It's good to be reminded how apolitical judges are in the UK and among our allies.
Interesting stats from ONS on those in Employment by place of birth;
Jul Sept (vs April June) ('000) Total: 32,515 (-77) UK: 29,352 (+244) EU27: 1,874 (-287) - lowest since Dec 2014 Other: 1,287 (-27)
These are preliminary stats, subject to revision - but it may well be many EU27 nationals have gone home, as the number of EU27 unemployed has only risen by 22,000 and the number of economically inactive has fallen by 52,000.
That fits with the anecdotes from some businesses (e.g. restaurants) not being able to re-open post-lockdown.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
I disagree
He has impressed me so far but it is very early days
I'm afraid he hasn't impressed me yet.
So far he's said he will govern for all Americans but I see no signs whatsoever of him reaching out across divides. Instead he seems more interested in appeasing his left-wing base as his rumoured cabinet appointments reported in The Times today show.
He likes trains though. I suppose that's something.
Interesting stats from ONS on those in Employment by place of birth;
Jul Sept (vs April June) ('000) Total: 32,515 (-77) UK: 29,352 (+244) EU27: 1,874 (-287) - lowest since Dec 2014 Other: 1,287 (-27)
These are preliminary stats, subject to revision - but it may well be many EU27 nationals have gone home, as the number of EU27 unemployed has only risen by 22,000 and the number of economically inactive has fallen by 52,000.
I know! One can't get a good cleaner anywhere for love nor money.
Mr. Observer, the EU does pack a bigger punch and has greater negotiating weight but I'd argue that it's not exactly brimming with the spirit of competitive capitalism. The delinquent failure to comprehend how business works led to the #VATmess, and the apparent current plans to criminalise encryption that works smacks of technological illiteracy, illiberal intrusiveness, and plain stupidity.
(Not that our own governments are immune to this. I remember MPs of various parties seeming to think algorithms are magical incantations that can make the internet safe for kids).
By making us less free and business less competitive, the government is providing great succour - not to mention huge amounts of public money - to the crony capitalism which it seeks to enhance. The EU is a body in need of major reform. If and when it happens, we will play no part in making sure it is done in the UK's interests. If it doesn't, we will have to accept the rules it sets whatever.
I have heard about the major reforms needed in the EU throughout my life so I'd not hold my breath on them happening any time soon. Like many I voted Remain is spite of the faults which is why I cannot see any major clamour to return. Better to make the best of a bad job.
Unfortunately, we are currently exacerbating a bad job by making it far worse than it had to be.
On another note - the wife starts getting her teacher's pension at the start of next month. Once again, many thanks for putting us onto this.
Oh - I hadn't seen your posts for a while so missed that. But great news - I've been incredibly lucky to have mine for nearly 12 years now and never regretted it. It still amazes me how many teachers miss out on options through lack of transparency form the TPA in terms of their availability! I send my very best wishes.
I hadn't been aware she was married to Jesse Norman. Johnson likes to keep his appointees close to home.
The chumocracy is thriving
One of the less obvious features of this government is the blatant nepotism, which may well slip over into corruption. Of course with so many of it's leading lights having spent their time around the City of London......
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
The Internal Market Bill puts the government on a collision course with the incoming Biden Administration and leaves the UK isolated and irrelevant in a way that we have not been for decades. The only way out is either withdrawing the clauses rejected by the Lords last night or a trade deal with the EU that would involve a serious climbdown. Both are politically impossible for Johnson to concede. He has allowed Cummings to dig him a very deep hole. Once again, the internal dynamics of the Conservative party - which, quite bizarrely, claims to be a patriotic party - will leave us all paying a heavy price.
Why do we need to be "relevant" ? Relevant to what exactly ? Major is right in saying the UK will slowly sink down the league of powers and the sooner we come to terms with it the better. The idea that we are going to force UK values onto an 10 year old African child is for the birds.
Our government's values - the ones the UK projects to the world - are not very attractive these days, that is true. Being ignored is something we will have to get used to, of course. Others will shape the rules that we will have to abide by. We will have no say. But we are where we are: we have chosen to make ourselves less free, less competitive and less relevant. That is the reality of taking back control.
The only people we have to be relevant to is ourselves. The values you wish to project are simply those a section of UK society that wants to run a "soft" empire. Personally I dont.
We are part of a bigger world. It shapes us. I know many people do not want that to be the case, but it is. We can either participate or not, of course. If we don't, others will make all the decisions for us. I prefer to be involved, you don't. We disagree. But your side has won. I accept that. I can still think it's a very bad idea.
The problem with that bigger world is it increasingly wont have our values. Like you I am quite happy to fight our corner but I am perhaps more pessimistic as to how far that can go, but more optimistic that we can work out something that works for us. We have had our day in the sun and shaped values when we were the hegemon but that was two centuries ago and it isnt coming back.
The UK has basically three options
- sign up to the EU as power number 3 ( Germany first, France second ) - establish a loose Commonwealth arrangement (CANZAUK ) - take the Switzerland option ( small but rich )
Weve rejected the first, the second will take some work if even possible, the third means forgetting history for the good of our wallets.
I see Matt Hancock has confirmed this morning what I put on here last Tuesday that hospitals and GP surgeries will be ready to start vaccinating in early December.
Did he say that? He seemed unwilling to commit himself.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
What has age got to do with anything? Mandela was 77. I am inspired that you can make a difference in your 70s. Biden does not appear to be a machine anything.
Oh FFS he's been an elected politician since he was 29, he was VP for 8 years, Obama cheer led his campaign. His age is relevant as a marker for how long he has been in politics. Next year he has been part of the party machine for half a century and he didnt spend that time locked up in Robben island.
After the last few years of Trumpism having a machine politician in charge would be a breath of fresh air.
Aside from being wantonly offensive to people he didnt like Trumps time in office will probably get a better evaluation with the passage of time. Even Matthew Parris who is hardly your average Trump supporter was saying this weekend there were some things where Trump had a point.
I've read two articles in The Times on two consecutive days now where journalists have said the levels of triumphant left-wing gloating and fawning over Biden have started to make them feel pro-Trump.
Interesting stats from ONS on those in Employment by place of birth;
Jul Sept (vs April June) ('000) Total: 32,515 (-77) UK: 29,352 (+244) EU27: 1,874 (-287) - lowest since Dec 2014 Other: 1,287 (-27)
These are preliminary stats, subject to revision - but it may well be many EU27 nationals have gone home, as the number of EU27 unemployed has only risen by 22,000 and the number of economically inactive has fallen by 52,000.
On reflection "many EU nationals may have returned to their country of birth" - I suspect some at least already regarded the UK as "home".
I see Matt Hancock has confirmed this morning what I put on here last Tuesday that hospitals and GP surgeries will be ready to start vaccinating in early December.
I see Matt Hancock has confirmed this morning what I put on here last Tuesday that hospitals and GP surgeries will be ready to start vaccinating in early December.
Well done Nerys.
Indeed. Was Nerys doubted on here though? It would be poor planning for GPs not to be "ready" for vaccine by December, even if likely to be actually rolling out to 80+ year olds in New Year.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
I disagree
He has impressed me so far but it is very early days
I'm afraid he hasn't impressed me yet.
So far he's said he will govern for all Americans but I see no signs whatsoever of him reaching out across divides. Instead he seems more interested in appeasing his left-wing base as his rumoured cabinet appointments reported in The Times today show.
He likes trains though. I suppose that's something.
You keep banging on about "left wing".
What is your definition of "left wing"? Mine would be personified by, let me think? Jeremy Corbyn, not Joe Biden (or John Major).
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
What has age got to do with anything? Mandela was 77. I am inspired that you can make a difference in your 70s. Biden does not appear to be a machine anything.
Oh FFS he's been an elected politician since he was 29, he was VP for 8 years, Obama cheer led his campaign. His age is relevant as a marker for how long he has been in politics. Next year he has been part of the party machine for half a century and he didnt spend that time locked up in Robben island.
If you hear him speak about his son, his wife about his friends this is no machine. He’s very warm human being. A long way from a machine politician. So what if he’s been in the senate? Who cares? Watch his McCain eulogy and tell me this is a machine.
This man could have retired, played golf and dined out on the lecture circuit as Obama’s number 1. That’s what a machine politician fat on pork would have done aged 78. Instead he got off his backside, took on and defeated one of the most dangerous men to occupy the White House. That deserves respect.
Of course its a machine man. Politics is acting for ugly people. Bill Clinton could do the schmoozing too, but you wouldnt want to leave your teenage daughter with him.
Try reading that with an Alf Garnett accent!
Obviously I cant match your inner West Ham Roger, but I could offer you North Antrim instead :-)
There would have been more summits and renegotiations around Lisbon. It also would've provided a pressure valve for sceptical sentiment. The total absence from major political parties of any alternative to integrating more and more (excepting only the single currency/Schengen) is why scepticism grew so much.
The country was split, but the political class was not. To govern is to choose, but so is to elect. The political class did not reflect those they governed, nor did they attempt to do so nor did they wish to consult the electorate.
Blair/Brown should not have reneged. That sort of short-sighted idiocy is precisely why Scottish independence remains on the agenda. In a fantasy of creating a perpetual fiefdom they instituted a permanent political division. Likewise, in a fantasy of making the UK more and more pro-EU, they promised sceptics a say before an election then denied it afterwards.
Mr Tokyo is a Europhile/Globalist who thinks that under absolutely no circumstances should politicians compromise with the electorate.
What has age got to do with anything? Mandela was 77. I am inspired that you can make a difference in your 70s. Biden does not appear to be a machine anything.
Oh FFS he's been an elected politician since he was 29, he was VP for 8 years, Obama cheer led his campaign. His age is relevant as a marker for how long he has been in politics. Next year he has been part of the party machine for half a century and he didnt spend that time locked up in Robben island.
After the last few years of Trumpism having a machine politician in charge would be a breath of fresh air.
Well, quite. As the Washington Post said in an editorial, it was tempting to feel that almost anyone would be preferable (they went on to say that fortunately Biden did more than clear that low bar). It's too early to canonise or demonise Biden, but he looks like the right person for the moment, steady and disinclined to sow division. And Jonathan is right that it's impressive how he's kept working at one of the most punishing schedules in the world when he could have opted for peaceful, prosperous retirement.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
The Internal Market Bill puts the government on a collision course with the incoming Biden Administration and leaves the UK isolated and irrelevant in a way that we have not been for decades. The only way out is either withdrawing the clauses rejected by the Lords last night or a trade deal with the EU that would involve a serious climbdown. Both are politically impossible for Johnson to concede. He has allowed Cummings to dig him a very deep hole. Once again, the internal dynamics of the Conservative party - which, quite bizarrely, claims to be a patriotic party - will leave us all paying a heavy price.
Why do we need to be "relevant" ? Relevant to what exactly ? Major is right in saying the UK will slowly sink down the league of powers and the sooner we come to terms with it the better. The idea that we are going to force UK values onto an 10 year old African child is for the birds.
Our government's values - the ones the UK projects to the world - are not very attractive these days, that is true. Being ignored is something we will have to get used to, of course. Others will shape the rules that we will have to abide by. We will have no say. But we are where we are: we have chosen to make ourselves less free, less competitive and less relevant. That is the reality of taking back control.
The only people we have to be relevant to is ourselves. The values you wish to project are simply those a section of UK society that wants to run a "soft" empire. Personally I dont.
We are part of a bigger world. It shapes us. I know many people do not want that to be the case, but it is. We can either participate or not, of course. If we don't, others will make all the decisions for us. I prefer to be involved, you don't. We disagree. But your side has won. I accept that. I can still think it's a very bad idea.
The problem with that bigger world is it increasingly wont have our values. Like you I am quite happy to fight our corner but I am perhaps more pessimistic as to how far that can go, but more optimistic that we can work out something that works for us. We have had our day in the sun and shaped values when we were the hegemon but that was two centuries ago and it isnt coming back.
The UK has basically three options
- sign up to the EU as power number 3 ( Germany first, France second ) - establish a loose Commonwealth arrangement (CANZAUK ) - take the Switzerland option ( small but rich )
Weve rejected the first, the second will take some work if even possible, the third means forgetting history for the good of our wallets.
There is a 4th option which I believe is where we are heading: -hang on to the EU coat-tails whilst proclaiming our independence and magnificence
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
What has age got to do with anything? Mandela was 77. I am inspired that you can make a difference in your 70s. Biden does not appear to be a machine anything.
Oh FFS he's been an elected politician since he was 29, he was VP for 8 years, Obama cheer led his campaign. His age is relevant as a marker for how long he has been in politics. Next year he has been part of the party machine for half a century and he didnt spend that time locked up in Robben island.
After the last few years of Trumpism having a machine politician in charge would be a breath of fresh air.
Aside from being wantonly offensive to people he didnt like Trumps time in office will probably get a better evaluation with the passage of time. Even Matthew Parris who is hardly your average Trump supporter was saying this weekend there were some things where Trump had a point.
I've read two articles in The Times on two consecutive days now where journalists have said the levels of triumphant left-wing gloating and fawning over Biden have started to make them feel pro-Trump.
I agree.
Then you're pushing the culture war narrative AGAIN, despite representing like you oppose it.
The most important thing is reigning in the "left-wing" happiness right?
Interesting stats from ONS on those in Employment by place of birth;
Jul Sept (vs April June) ('000) Total: 32,515 (-77) UK: 29,352 (+244) EU27: 1,874 (-287) - lowest since Dec 2014 Other: 1,287 (-27)
These are preliminary stats, subject to revision - but it may well be many EU27 nationals have gone home, as the number of EU27 unemployed has only risen by 22,000 and the number of economically inactive has fallen by 52,000.
On reflection "many EU nationals may have returned to their country of birth" - I suspect some at least already regarded the UK as "home".
My grandmother is a French citizen who has lived in the UK for around 60 years. I wonder how she'd present in these figures.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
I disagree
He has impressed me so far but it is very early days
I'm afraid he hasn't impressed me yet.
So far he's said he will govern for all Americans but I see no signs whatsoever of him reaching out across divides. Instead he seems more interested in appeasing his left-wing base as his rumoured cabinet appointments reported in The Times today show.
He likes trains though. I suppose that's something.
I thought his speech yesterday was tough viewing. He looked like an old man who was struggling to read his autocue, which is exactly what he is. What is he going to be like in 2 years with all the pressure of being the president. Bookies need to open a market on the date of his presidency ending.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
What has age got to do with anything? Mandela was 77. I am inspired that you can make a difference in your 70s. Biden does not appear to be a machine anything.
Oh FFS he's been an elected politician since he was 29, he was VP for 8 years, Obama cheer led his campaign. His age is relevant as a marker for how long he has been in politics. Next year he has been part of the party machine for half a century and he didnt spend that time locked up in Robben island.
After the last few years of Trumpism having a machine politician in charge would be a breath of fresh air.
Aside from being wantonly offensive to people he didnt like Trumps time in office will probably get a better evaluation with the passage of time. Even Matthew Parris who is hardly your average Trump supporter was saying this weekend there were some things where Trump had a point.
It won't. His elevation of dozens of manifestly unqualified judges to the federal bench alone will have negative effects for the next two or three decades.
Interesting to see how critical some are of the role of the Judiciary in the American system. Oh for the halcyon days when we were all lauding the independence of the Judiciary in the UK not so long ago. It's good to be reminded how apolitical judges are in the UK and among our allies.
The role of the Judiciary in the US is constitutionally mandated, so there is little point in getting upset over it. My criticism relates the the appointment of nakedly partisan and/or unqualified judges, which has happened to an unusual extent under the Trump administration.
Previously, such appointments would not have made it out of the Judiciary Committee.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
What has age got to do with anything? Mandela was 77. I am inspired that you can make a difference in your 70s. Biden does not appear to be a machine anything.
Oh FFS he's been an elected politician since he was 29, he was VP for 8 years, Obama cheer led his campaign. His age is relevant as a marker for how long he has been in politics. Next year he has been part of the party machine for half a century and he didnt spend that time locked up in Robben island.
After the last few years of Trumpism having a machine politician in charge would be a breath of fresh air.
Aside from being wantonly offensive to people he didnt like Trumps time in office will probably get a better evaluation with the passage of time. Even Matthew Parris who is hardly your average Trump supporter was saying this weekend there were some things where Trump had a point.
I've read two articles in The Times on two consecutive days now where journalists have said the levels of triumphant left-wing gloating and fawning over Biden have started to make them feel pro-Trump.
I agree.
Then you're pushing the culture war narrative AGAIN, despite representing like you oppose it.
The most important thing is reigning in the "left-wing" happiness right?
It's rather sweet that you think this is all about me but you can read about the counterproductive behaviour of your side here:
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
What has age got to do with anything? Mandela was 77. I am inspired that you can make a difference in your 70s. Biden does not appear to be a machine anything.
Oh FFS he's been an elected politician since he was 29, he was VP for 8 years, Obama cheer led his campaign. His age is relevant as a marker for how long he has been in politics. Next year he has been part of the party machine for half a century and he didnt spend that time locked up in Robben island.
After the last few years of Trumpism having a machine politician in charge would be a breath of fresh air.
Aside from being wantonly offensive to people he didnt like Trumps time in office will probably get a better evaluation with the passage of time. Even Matthew Parris who is hardly your average Trump supporter was saying this weekend there were some things where Trump had a point.
I've read two articles in The Times on two consecutive days now where journalists have said the levels of triumphant left-wing gloating and fawning over Biden have started to make them feel pro-Trump.
I agree.
Most your right wing rants on here would suggest that you, like Philip Thompson, are pro-Trump, you just dont have the guts to admit it. If you were American you would be a Trump supporter and proud of it.
There would have been more summits and renegotiations around Lisbon. It also would've provided a pressure valve for sceptical sentiment. The total absence from major political parties of any alternative to integrating more and more (excepting only the single currency/Schengen) is why scepticism grew so much.
The country was split, but the political class was not. To govern is to choose, but so is to elect. The political class did not reflect those they governed, nor did they attempt to do so nor did they wish to consult the electorate.
Blair/Brown should not have reneged. That sort of short-sighted idiocy is precisely why Scottish independence remains on the agenda. In a fantasy of creating a perpetual fiefdom they instituted a permanent political division. Likewise, in a fantasy of making the UK more and more pro-EU, they promised sceptics a say before an election then denied it afterwards.
Mr Tokyo is a Europhile/Globalist who thinks that under absolutely no circumstances should politicians compromise with the electorate.
Look, I didn't make any claims about what someone should or shouldn't do, I'm just talking about what would have happened if things had been done. Euroskeptics always had unrealistic ideas about what the rest of the EU would do if Britain said "no" to things. They thought that if Britain left the EU, other nations would also leave the EU, and the EU would change itself into something else. What actually happened was that the rest of the EU said, "hmm, the British left the EU, that seems like a bad idea, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯".
If the British had voted down Lisbon, they'd have expected that the EU would respond by changing into a vaguely-defined thing that was more to their taste. It wouldn't have changed, it would have been the same, but slightly more dysfunctional. The idea that this would have relieved the pressure among the British to leave is not sensible.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
I disagree
He has impressed me so far but it is very early days
I'm afraid he hasn't impressed me yet.
So far he's said he will govern for all Americans but I see no signs whatsoever of him reaching out across divides. Instead he seems more interested in appeasing his left-wing base as his rumoured cabinet appointments reported in The Times today show.
He likes trains though. I suppose that's something.
You keep banging on about "left wing".
What is your definition of "left wing"? Mine would be personified by, let me think? Jeremy Corbyn, not Joe Biden (or John Major).
I dunno, people who cheer Biden's victory and compare it to the 1997 Labour landslide might be a good example.
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
What has age got to do with anything? Mandela was 77. I am inspired that you can make a difference in your 70s. Biden does not appear to be a machine anything.
Oh FFS he's been an elected politician since he was 29, he was VP for 8 years, Obama cheer led his campaign. His age is relevant as a marker for how long he has been in politics. Next year he has been part of the party machine for half a century and he didnt spend that time locked up in Robben island.
After the last few years of Trumpism having a machine politician in charge would be a breath of fresh air.
Aside from being wantonly offensive to people he didnt like Trumps time in office will probably get a better evaluation with the passage of time. Even Matthew Parris who is hardly your average Trump supporter was saying this weekend there were some things where Trump had a point.
I've read two articles in The Times on two consecutive days now where journalists have said the levels of triumphant left-wing gloating and fawning over Biden have started to make them feel pro-Trump.
I agree.
Then you're pushing the culture war narrative AGAIN, despite representing like you oppose it.
The most important thing is reigning in the "left-wing" happiness right?
It's rather sweet that you think this is all about me but you can read about the counterproductive behaviour of your side here:
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
The Internal Market Bill puts the government on a collision course with the incoming Biden Administration and leaves the UK isolated and irrelevant in a way that we have not been for decades. The only way out is either withdrawing the clauses rejected by the Lords last night or a trade deal with the EU that would involve a serious climbdown. Both are politically impossible for Johnson to concede. He has allowed Cummings to dig him a very deep hole. Once again, the internal dynamics of the Conservative party - which, quite bizarrely, claims to be a patriotic party - will leave us all paying a heavy price.
Why do we need to be "relevant" ? Relevant to what exactly ? Major is right in saying the UK will slowly sink down the league of powers and the sooner we come to terms with it the better. The idea that we are going to force UK values onto an 10 year old African child is for the birds.
Our government's values - the ones the UK projects to the world - are not very attractive these days, that is true. Being ignored is something we will have to get used to, of course. Others will shape the rules that we will have to abide by. We will have no say. But we are where we are: we have chosen to make ourselves less free, less competitive and less relevant. That is the reality of taking back control.
The only people we have to be relevant to is ourselves. The values you wish to project are simply those a section of UK society that wants to run a "soft" empire. Personally I dont.
We are part of a bigger world. It shapes us. I know many people do not want that to be the case, but it is. We can either participate or not, of course. If we don't, others will make all the decisions for us. I prefer to be involved, you don't. We disagree. But your side has won. I accept that. I can still think it's a very bad idea.
The problem with that bigger world is it increasingly wont have our values. Like you I am quite happy to fight our corner but I am perhaps more pessimistic as to how far that can go, but more optimistic that we can work out something that works for us. We have had our day in the sun and shaped values when we were the hegemon but that was two centuries ago and it isnt coming back.
The UK has basically three options
- sign up to the EU as power number 3 ( Germany first, France second ) - establish a loose Commonwealth arrangement (CANZAUK ) - take the Switzerland option ( small but rich )
Weve rejected the first, the second will take some work if even possible, the third means forgetting history for the good of our wallets.
Sunder Katwala, who has rather different politics to me, has got closest to articulating the trouble progressive internationalists have over on Twitter. Very bright:
I hadn't been aware she was married to Jesse Norman. Johnson likes to keep his appointees close to home.
The chumocracy is thriving
Obviously not reading The Guardian. They're having a very good war. One of the only papers still worth reading
"Given" six months of their lives is rather an odd way of putting it. And perhaps not wise for Hancock to encourage people to recall what the last six months of their own lives have been like.
It never fails to amaze me that when these people lavish public money on their unqualified friends and relations, they expect the public's reaction to be "Thank you very much".
There is a real danger here that we get widespread civil unrest in America. There has always been an undercurrent of the right who fundamentally distrust the US government as an institution. In their heads Trump rescued the government for them and now the government is trying to steal it back.
We have already seen Trump whipping up armed militias. If - and it remains an if - this drags on then what happens? It won't just be Trump digging in against the thieves in the DNC and the traitors at Fox News and the cowards in the courts. It will be a significant portion of the 70m who voted for him in record numbers. And they are armed. Heavily armed.
I don't think we are yet at the moment of clarity. The President can seek legal challenge no matter how laughable that is. The challenges will be dismissed. At that point if the man digs in and encourages others to do so then things get very dangerous very quickly. The very legitimacy of the American system and American institutions are being attacked by the man in the White House, fuelling the anger of people who barely thought it legitimate to start with.
You paint a very bad picture but let us hope that the unthinkable does not happen
Joe Biden is a breath of fresh air offering conciliatory noises to the Republicans and this has to be the way forward, not just in the US but also here in the UK as we enter 2021
How can a 78 year old machine politican be a breath of fresh air ? He's simply more of the same.
What has age got to do with anything? Mandela was 77. I am inspired that you can make a difference in your 70s. Biden does not appear to be a machine anything.
Oh FFS he's been an elected politician since he was 29, he was VP for 8 years, Obama cheer led his campaign. His age is relevant as a marker for how long he has been in politics. Next year he has been part of the party machine for half a century and he didnt spend that time locked up in Robben island.
After the last few years of Trumpism having a machine politician in charge would be a breath of fresh air.
Aside from being wantonly offensive to people he didnt like Trumps time in office will probably get a better evaluation with the passage of time. Even Matthew Parris who is hardly your average Trump supporter was saying this weekend there were some things where Trump had a point.
I've read two articles in The Times on two consecutive days now where journalists have said the levels of triumphant left-wing gloating and fawning over Biden have started to make them feel pro-Trump.
I agree.
The Times isn't without it's Trumpian Fruitcakes. Parris is an aberration. Even The completely bonkers James Delingpole wrote for them at one time.
I dunno, people who cheer Biden's victory and compare it to the 1997 Labour landslide might be a good example.
People like that??
Biden's victory is much more important and significant (Though obviously narrower). Neither the Tories nor Labour were an existential threat to democracy in 1997.
Mr. JS, am I missing something? Isn't Biden assured of winning in Wisconsin, barring a black swan?
The swan in question is the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which unlike PA and MI is GOP-run and quite hackish, so it at least makes sense that it would be considered more likely to flip than PA and MI.
Social media simply must be regulated - no idea how you do it but the principle should be you can still say what you want, but money doesnt give you the right to convince everyone else of political lies.
No speech must never be regulated. That is an authoritarians ideal dream. Imagine if a Barr equivalent was regulating social media? No thank you.
No speech ever? So are you in favour of repealing all libel laws everywhere, all laws against incitement of any kind etc?
Libel laws don't stop you from speaking first and it is a civil not criminal dispute that the government doesn't regulate or control. I do think there should be a clear presumption of innocence for that too.
Incitement too should have an immediate harm criteria. Conspiracy to kill someone is clearly illegal, but just being offensive is not.
So you ARE in favour of regulation of speech sometimes it seems? So in principle, regulation can also apply to social media platforms. For example, they could be treated the same as any other publisher. I mean, since when does "regulation" mean "criminal sanctions"?
I also think the targeting of political advertisements on social media is several orders of magnitude away from libdems saying "vote for us to keep labour out" and simultaneously "vote for us to keep the conservatives out". I doubt anyone who thinks about it for a moment would agree with you that it is similar.
"Could be treated the same as any other publisher".
Yes absolutely since I'm not in favour of regulating other publishers either.
The targeting of political advertisements is exactly the same as that, its just more developed and modern but it is the exact same principle. I doubt anyone who thinks about it for a moment could disagree that it is similar.
Comments
It's possible this is the first and perhaps only tip of mine that anyone has followed and profited from.
Incitement too should have an immediate harm criteria. Conspiracy to kill someone is clearly illegal, but just being offensive is not.
He has impressed me so far but it is very early days
Indeed, one of the most prestigious U.S. hospitals, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said it does not currently have that capability.
There would have been more summits and renegotiations around Lisbon. It also would've provided a pressure valve for sceptical sentiment. The total absence from major political parties of any alternative to integrating more and more (excepting only the single currency/Schengen) is why scepticism grew so much.
The country was split, but the political class was not. To govern is to choose, but so is to elect. The political class did not reflect those they governed, nor did they attempt to do so nor did they wish to consult the electorate.
Blair/Brown should not have reneged. That sort of short-sighted idiocy is precisely why Scottish independence remains on the agenda. In a fantasy of creating a perpetual fiefdom they instituted a permanent political division. Likewise, in a fantasy of making the UK more and more pro-EU, they promised sceptics a say before an election then denied it afterwards.
The problem with narrow tightropes is that it only takes a small puff of wind and you can fall off.
But if they're not systematically arranging for the isolation of infected individuals, it will be far less effective than it might otherwise be.
Hopefully they will learn lessons from it, as we've the winter to navigate before any vaccines start to have a significant impact, and the use of mass testing and isolation in regions with large outbreaks would keep things under control..
This man could have retired, played golf and dined out on the lecture circuit as Obama’s number 1. That’s what a machine politician fat on pork would have done aged 78. Instead he got off his backside, took on and defeated one of the most dangerous men to occupy the White House. That deserves respect.
I do not see a trade deal with the EU as a climbdown and it was very interesting to see the DUP and Sinn Fein mount a written joint attack on the EU over restricting access for food to UK supermarkets in NI
(Not that our own governments are immune to this. I remember MPs of various parties seeming to think algorithms are magical incantations that can make the internet safe for kids).
https://twitter.com/seanjonesqc/status/1326079913972076544
Even the most ardent Brexiteers on here are still blaming remainers...
Same deal. Biden is a breath of fresh air by not being Trump. A fairly standard, middle of the road American politician is a big, big contrast to what they have now....
It will be fiddly, but not of great technical complexity.
https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/pfizer-readies-herculean-effort-distribute-coronavirus-vaccine-n1247147
...the vaccines will be packed below dry ice inside thermal containers expressly designed by the company for this vaccine’s delivery.
The packages will be shipped via air to major distribution hubs and then delivered by ground transport to dosing locations, which “may include hospitals, outpatient clinics, community vaccination locations and pharmacies,” Pfizer spokesperson Kim Bencker told NBC News in an email. Some vaccines will also be shipped from a separate distribution center in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.
Each package will be equipped with a GPS-tracked thermal sensor to monitor location and temperature, which the company says will “proactively” prevent “deviations” — such as accidents or theft.
The company is bypassing its usual wholesale distribution partners, including McKesson, which is also the main partner for the government’s Operation Warp Speed vaccine project, and spent over $2 billion to create its own direct distribution network.
Once the packages are delivered, receivers can store them in ultra-low temperature freezers for up to 6 months, inside a refrigeration unit for up to 5 days, or they can refill the box with new dry ice for up to 15 days of storage.
It's a delicate operation. The company has told the CDC that it recommends the thermal shippers are not opened more than twice per day, and should be closed within 1 minute...
America's quite a technically advanced country, pretty sure they can work out how to pack something in liquid nitrogen and store it for a few days.
He didn't say they have the capability now, but they have the wherewithall to do it.
Although it isn't at -70 C when it arrives.
His elevation of dozens of manifestly unqualified judges to the federal bench alone will have negative effects for the next two or three decades.
I also think the targeting of political advertisements on social media is several orders of magnitude away from libdems saying "vote for us to keep labour out" and simultaneously "vote for us to keep the conservatives out". I doubt anyone who thinks about it for a moment would agree with you that it is similar.
Truman started out that way. Obama as well. It is a way for an aspiring politician to get ahead. Some transcend that origin. Others simply become a tool for the machine behind them.
And Im yet to meet anyone that shares my views across 100 different topics as we all think differently, and I dont follow any particular political groups so it would be quite an absurd position to take.
So the British would have felt like they'd voted for change, like you they'd have expected that something would happen, and they'd have got more of the same. That's not a pressure valve - it's increasing the pressure, and not releasing it.
On another note - the wife starts getting her teacher's pension at the start of next month. Once again, many thanks for putting us onto this.
Jul Sept (vs April June) ('000)
Total: 32,515 (-77)
UK: 29,352 (+244)
EU27: 1,874 (-287) - lowest since Dec 2014
Other: 1,287 (-27)
These are preliminary stats, subject to revision - but it may well be many EU27 nationals have gone home, as the number of EU27 unemployed has only risen by 22,000 and the number of economically inactive has fallen by 52,000.
Governor General of the 51st State?
So far he's said he will govern for all Americans but I see no signs whatsoever of him reaching out across divides. Instead he seems more interested in appeasing his left-wing base as his rumoured cabinet appointments reported in The Times today show.
He likes trains though. I suppose that's something.
The UK has basically three options
- sign up to the EU as power number 3 ( Germany first, France second )
- establish a loose Commonwealth arrangement (CANZAUK )
- take the Switzerland option ( small but rich )
Weve rejected the first, the second will take some work if even possible, the third means forgetting history for the good of our wallets.
Re: Trump. He's going all in. It only ends in a Piazzale Loreto style incident for him and Melania.
I agree.
What is your definition of "left wing"? Mine would be personified by, let me think? Jeremy Corbyn, not Joe Biden (or John Major).
the spirit of Squealer is alive and well
-hang on to the EU coat-tails whilst proclaiming our independence and magnificence
The most important thing is reigning in the "left-wing" happiness right?
https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/politics/market/1.170367742
Michigan: Biden 1.07
https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/politics/market/1.170359682
Pennsylvania: Biden 1.11
https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/politics/market/1.170367709
Georgia: Biden 1.17
https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/politics/market/1.170351366
Nevada: Biden 1.09
https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/politics/market/1.170365381
😕
My criticism relates the the appointment of nakedly partisan and/or unqualified judges, which has happened to an unusual extent under the Trump administration.
Previously, such appointments would not have made it out of the Judiciary Committee.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2020-11-09/comment/i-m-pro-joe-but-spare-me-the-trump-haters-8j6wsdj6h
And here:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/comment/smug-brits-for-biden-had-me-warming-to-trump-23wg6x899
Who knows? You might even learn something from it.
If the British had voted down Lisbon, they'd have expected that the EU would respond by changing into a vaguely-defined thing that was more to their taste. It wouldn't have changed, it would have been the same, but slightly more dysfunctional. The idea that this would have relieved the pressure among the British to leave is not sensible.
People like that??
Trump supporters betting he will win nonsense legal cases?
https://twitter.com/sundersays/status/1325911170100809728?s=19
Basically, our future needs to be strongly rooted in our past and we need to stop seeing national identity and patriotism as problem.
It never fails to amaze me that when these people lavish public money on their unqualified friends and relations, they expect the public's reaction to be "Thank you very much".
Yes absolutely since I'm not in favour of regulating other publishers either.
The targeting of political advertisements is exactly the same as that, its just more developed and modern but it is the exact same principle. I doubt anyone who thinks about it for a moment could disagree that it is similar.