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Can Mr Meeks account for his movements on Christmas Day?

https://order-order.com/2017/12/28/remain-scrooges-deface-christmas-tree-with-eu-flags/

FrancisUrquhart said:

Can Mr Meeks account for his movements on Christmas Day?

https://order-order.com/2017/12/28/remain-scrooges-deface-christmas-tree-with-eu-flags/

Guido is such a snowflake.

Odd his site hasn't covered the abuse Heidi Allen has received.

Can't imagine why.

This is the most important news out of America today, our American cousins agree with us.

Just 19 percent of Americans said that “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie in a YouGov poll; 56 percent think it is not a Christmas movie.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-democrats-wave-could-turn-into-a-flood/

MarqueeMark said:

Recidivist said:

RobD said:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/28/jeremy-corbyn-fails-rule-second-eu-referendum-labour-gains-power/

YouGov survey.

But the details of the Labour Party's twists and turns on its Brexit policy will have next to no impact.

The Conservatives are the Government. The Government has chosen to follow the instructions of the voters - and leave the EU.

A Government that chose to ignore that instruction would not be long for this world.

How is this the Conservatives opting to own Brexit?

The problem May's government created in 'owning' Brexit is in treating it as a political instruction rather than a technical one. The referendum result only specified that we leave the EU and by a narrow margin - May chose to interpret leave's win like a general election result where she had to attempt to implement much of the leave campaign's promises and rhetoric, even though it was often contradictory economical nonsensical (as even some of its architects admit). Worse, treating it as a winner takes all result was guaranteed to calcify the divisions created by the referendum. Remainers who initially were fairly accepting or phlegmatic about the result have hardened against Brexit as it's come to look more UKIP-fuelled and incompetent as they have more to lose - while Brexiteers have got angrier at the EU and those who, as we're all entitled to do, think it's going awfully and is a national disgrace. That's why she owns it - she chose that particular political path and tried to use it to win herself a landslide. She played divide and rule and lost.

Now, she may be able to solve some of that with a deal - but it seems pretty unlikely given the divisions have now got worse and the EU haven't really budged on the important economic stuff. Whatever we get, it ain't going to be cake and eat it, and whichever way there'll be a price to pay politically.

She'd have been far better off trying to bring the country together, excepting the loons, around a medium-term compromise - leaving the EU but remaining in the SM and CU that could then be revisited in a general election. That for now, the important thing was the leaving of the EU, and it would be done as quickly and as painlessly as possible for everyone - leaving future governments to decide to move further out to satisfy concerns about, say, immigration. Quick, technical Brexit - then have a more normal manifesto driven debate about where we go next.

Her approach put all the toxicity of the referendum campaign into the process of Brexit, rather than drawing the poison by treating it as a technical matter because she lacked the strength to face down the crazies in her party. Now she owns it, and a culture war that could gift No. 10 to Corbyn is the price.

TheScreamingEagles said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Can Mr Meeks account for his movements on Christmas Day?

https://order-order.com/2017/12/28/remain-scrooges-deface-christmas-tree-with-eu-flags/

Guido is such a snowflake.

Odd his site hasn't covered the abuse Heidi Allen has received.

Can't imagine why.

Indeed. A couple of flags = "deface". Interesting to see Rosindell blaming "Far Leftists".

FrancisUrquhart said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

This is the most important news out of America today, our American cousins agree with us.

Just 19 percent of Americans said that “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie in a YouGov poll; 56 percent think it is not a Christmas movie.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-democrats-wave-could-turn-into-a-flood/

Yeah but the Americans are wrong about everything....

Indeed. Not only are they the people who invented the Hawaiian pizza but Disney thought Episode VIII was a good film.

Indeed. Not only are they the people who invented the Hawaiian pizza but Disney thought Episode VIII was a good film.

Indeed...and Three Words - The Princess Bride

Peter_the_Punter said:

rpjs said:

On topic: CNN here in the U, S and A just reported that an Alabama circuit judge has denied Roy Moore's attempt to block certification of Doug Jones' win. CNN will be showing live coverage of the certification in a couple of minutes.

Ooh, nice. Does that mean we get paid now?

His pen is poised.

rpjs said:

On topic: CNN here in the U, S and A just reported that an Alabama circuit judge has denied Roy Moore's attempt to block certification of Doug Jones' win. CNN will be showing live coverage of the certification in a couple of minutes.

God better hurry up or His intervention will be too late

Barnesian said:

Peter_the_Punter said:

rpjs said:

On topic: CNN here in the U, S and A just reported that an Alabama circuit judge has denied Roy Moore's attempt to block certification of Doug Jones' win. CNN will be showing live coverage of the certification in a couple of minutes.

Ooh, nice. Does that mean we get paid now?

His pen is poised.

But for a space, Moore's MO summed up.

ydoethur said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

This is the most important news out of America today, our American cousins agree with us.

Just 19 percent of Americans said that “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie in a YouGov poll; 56 percent think it is not a Christmas movie.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-democrats-wave-could-turn-into-a-flood/

Yeah but the Americans are wrong about everything....

Indeed. Not only are they the people who invented the Hawaiian pizza but Disney thought Episode VIII was a good film.

The Canadians invented the Hawaiian pizza.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/10/canadian-inventor-hawaiian-pizza-dies-leaving-behind-fruity/

FrancisUrquhart said:

Can Mr Meeks account for his movements on Christmas Day?

https://order-order.com/2017/12/28/remain-scrooges-deface-christmas-tree-with-eu-flags/

Yes, I was exercising what's left of my right to free movement in my swimming pool in Hungary.

AlastairMeeks said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Can Mr Meeks account for his movements on Christmas Day?

https://order-order.com/2017/12/28/remain-scrooges-deface-christmas-tree-with-eu-flags/

Yes, I was exercising what's left of my right to free movement in my swimming pool in Hungary.

The way Hungary is going, they might be out of the EU before we are.

FrancisUrquhart said:

AlastairMeeks said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Can Mr Meeks account for his movements on Christmas Day?

https://order-order.com/2017/12/28/remain-scrooges-deface-christmas-tree-with-eu-flags/

Yes, I was exercising what's left of my right to free movement in my swimming pool in Hungary.

The way Hungary and Poland are going, they might be out of the EU before we are.

Surely there's no way the EU will actually seriously censure them, or them pushing it that far, even with all the tough talk so far?

rpjs said:

Barnesian said:

Barnesian said:

Peter_the_Punter said:

rpjs said:

On topic: CNN here in the U, S and A just reported that an Alabama circuit judge has denied Roy Moore's attempt to block certification of Doug Jones' win. CNN will be showing live coverage of the certification in a couple of minutes.

Ooh, nice. Does that mean we get paid now?

His pen is poised.

He's signed. Where's my money?

CNN says the judge has dismissed Moore's complaint "with prejudice" which means it's going to be very difficult for Moore to re-open a legal challenge. Moore and his lawyers may even face sanctions for filing a frivolous suit. Apparently there was a claim about ballot box stuffing in a town that doesn't actually exist.

That just shows how deep the conspiracy goes!

What a moron though. I wonder what God thinks about being a liar.

ydoethur said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

This is the most important news out of America today, our American cousins agree with us.

Just 19 percent of Americans said that “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie in a YouGov poll; 56 percent think it is not a Christmas movie.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-democrats-wave-could-turn-into-a-flood/

Yeah but the Americans are wrong about everything....

Indeed. Not only are they the people who invented the Hawaiian pizza but Disney thought Episode VIII was a good film.

Long live Disney, our benevolent, all knowing overseers.

Charles said:

Recidivist said:

NickPalmer said:

RobD said:

Theuniondivvie said:

First.

Has this been done?

https://twitter.com/ireland_thinks/status/946279549779578880

I'm still looking forward to a poll on whether the Irish want to rejoin Brexit UK.

What's the deal with the question? Why not a simple 'how would you vote' question?

It looks like an attempt to load the question - do you REALLY want a united Ireland even if it would cost loadsamoney? The answer seems to be a decisive yes, and a major shift, presumably due to uncertainty over the post-Brexit border.

A similar poll in the North with the premise that the alternative was a hard border produced an almos even split. But that's loaded too, and the outcome is likely to be less dramatic. Nonetheless, the idea of Ireland uniting has moved slightly from the "will never happen" to "we might consider it if..." stage.

It's a funny old world isn't it. I don't imagine the Venn diagram of people supporting Brexit and people supporting a united Ireland would have a very big area of overlap. The only person I can think of would be pre-Labour leadership Jeremy Corbyn. It's a bit of a shame he's not in a position to enjoy either outcome very much if they actually happen.

I'd expect there to be a meaningful overlap among those who believe in self determination

Until quite recently, Sinn Fein favoured leaving the EU, when the British government was in favour of membership.

ydoethur said:

kle4 said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

AlastairMeeks said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Can Mr Meeks account for his movements on Christmas Day?

https://order-order.com/2017/12/28/remain-scrooges-deface-christmas-tree-with-eu-flags/

Yes, I was exercising what's left of my right to free movement in my swimming pool in Hungary.

The way Hungary and Poland are going, they might be out of the EU before we are.

Surely there's no way the EU will actually seriously censure them, or them pushing it that far, even with all the tough talk so far?

They never do. They can't even be bothered to enforce widespread flouting of their own rules on free trade when people break them (cf the French over BSE, despite them having more BSE than the rest of the world put together).

Moreover, the EC itself ignores the rules when it suits them - the appointment of Barnier springs to mind.

Which rule did they break by appointing Barnier?

ydoethur said:

kle4 said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

AlastairMeeks said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Can Mr Meeks account for his movements on Christmas Day?

https://order-order.com/2017/12/28/remain-scrooges-deface-christmas-tree-with-eu-flags/

Yes, I was exercising what's left of my right to free movement in my swimming pool in Hungary.

The way Hungary and Poland are going, they might be out of the EU before we are.

Surely there's no way the EU will actually seriously censure them, or them pushing it that far, even with all the tough talk so far?

They never do. They can't even be bothered to enforce widespread flouting of their own rules on free trade when people break them (cf the French over BSE, despite them having more BSE than the rest of the world put together).

Moreover, the EC itself ignores the rules when it suits them - the appointment of Barnier springs to mind.

I think more of a concern is that Hungary and neighbours are increasingly ganging up, and their views on some issues are a million miles from the wishes of the old guard.

ydoethur said:

RobD said:

ydoethur said:

kle4 said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

AlastairMeeks said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Can Mr Meeks account for his movements on Christmas Day?

https://order-order.com/2017/12/28/remain-scrooges-deface-christmas-tree-with-eu-flags/

Yes, I was exercising what's left of my right to free movement in my swimming pool in Hungary.

The way Hungary and Poland are going, they might be out of the EU before we are.

Surely there's no way the EU will actually seriously censure them, or them pushing it that far, even with all the tough talk so far?

They never do. They can't even be bothered to enforce widespread flouting of their own rules on free trade when people break them (cf the French over BSE, despite them having more BSE than the rest of the world put together).

Moreover, the EC itself ignores the rules when it suits them - the appointment of Barnier springs to mind.

Which rule did they break by appointing Barnier?

Juncker appointed him the day after the referendum.

But according to their own rules, it should have been done by the Heads of Government.

Instead of telling him to do one and giving both of them the sack, as they should have done, they confirmed the appointment. It was craven and it was stupid.

Ah, thanks. I must have missed that!

On Topic. Roy Moore hasn't conceded in the 2006 or 2010 Republican Governor Primaries either.

bigjohnowls said:

On Topic. Roy Moore hasn't conceded in the 2006 or 2010 Republican Governor Primaries either.

So he always calls for Decision Democratic Review System (DRS) ?

bigjohnowls said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

bigjohnowls said:

On Topic. Roy Moore hasn't conceded in the 2006 or 2010 Republican Governor Primaries either.

So he always calls for Decision Democratic Review System (DRS) ?

Even when all 3 stumps are flattened.

Could have been a no-ball !

Sandpit said:

ydoethur said:

RobD said:

ydoethur said:

kle4 said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

AlastairMeeks said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Can Mr Meeks account for his movements on Christmas Day?

https://order-order.com/2017/12/28/remain-scrooges-deface-christmas-tree-with-eu-flags/

Yes, I was exercising what's left of my right to free movement in my swimming pool in Hungary.

The way Hungary and Poland are going, they might be out of the EU before we are.

Surely there's no way the EU will actually seriously censure them, or them pushing it that far, even with all the tough talk so far?

They never do. They can't even be bothered to enforce widespread flouting of their own rules on free trade when people break them (cf the French over BSE, despite them having more BSE than the rest of the world put together).

Moreover, the EC itself ignores the rules when it suits them - the appointment of Barnier springs to mind.

Which rule did they break by appointing Barnier?

Juncker appointed him the day after the referendum.

But according to their own rules, it should have been done by the Heads of Government.

Instead of telling him to do one and giving both of them the sack, as they should have done, they confirmed the appointment. It was craven and it was stupid.

It tells you a lot about the EU that Junker didn’t resign after the referendum and no-one can force him out.

Yes they can and why should he have resigned?

williamglenn said:

Sandpit said:

ydoethur said:

RobD said:

ydoethur said:

kle4 said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

AlastairMeeks said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Can Mr Meeks account for his movements on Christmas Day?

https://order-order.com/2017/12/28/remain-scrooges-deface-christmas-tree-with-eu-flags/

Yes, I was exercising what's left of my right to free movement in my swimming pool in Hungary.

The way Hungary and Poland are going, they might be out of the EU before we are.

Surely there's no way the EU will actually seriously censure them, or them pushing it that far, even with all the tough talk so far?

They never do. They can't even be bothered to enforce widespread flouting of their own rules on free trade when people break them (cf the French over BSE, despite them having more BSE than the rest of the world put together).

Moreover, the EC itself ignores the rules when it suits them - the appointment of Barnier springs to mind.

Which rule did they break by appointing Barnier?

Juncker appointed him the day after the referendum.

But according to their own rules, it should have been done by the Heads of Government.

Instead of telling him to do one and giving both of them the sack, as they should have done, they confirmed the appointment. It was craven and it was stupid.

It tells you a lot about the EU that Junker didn’t resign after the referendum and no-one can force him out.

Yes they can and why should he have resigned?

Oh, I dunno. Presiding over the loss of one of their biggest members, perhaps?

williamglenn said:

Sandpit said:

ydoethur said:

RobD said:

ydoethur said:

kle4 said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

AlastairMeeks said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Can Mr Meeks account for his movements on Christmas Day?

https://order-order.com/2017/12/28/remain-scrooges-deface-christmas-tree-with-eu-flags/

Yes, I was exercising what's left of my right to free movement in my swimming pool in Hungary.

The way Hungary and Poland are going, they might be out of the EU before we are.

Surely there's no way the EU will actually seriously censure them, or them pushing it that far, even with all the tough talk so far?

They never do. They can't even be bothered to enforce widespread flouting of their own rules on free trade when people break them (cf the French over BSE, despite them having more BSE than the rest of the world put together).

Moreover, the EC itself ignores the rules when it suits them - the appointment of Barnier springs to mind.

Which rule did they break by appointing Barnier?

Juncker appointed him the day after the referendum.

But according to their own rules, it should have been done by the Heads of Government.

Instead of telling him to do one and giving both of them the sack, as they should have done, they confirmed the appointment. It was craven and it was stupid.

It tells you a lot about the EU that Junker didn’t resign after the referendum and no-one can force him out.

Yes they can and why should he have resigned?

For the same reason David Cameron resigned, as the EU lost it’s second largest member on his watch. Remind me who can sack him again?

Fishing said:

ydoethur said:

Moreover, the EC itself ignores the rules when it suits them - the appointment of Barnier springs to mind.

I have a friend who works in Brussels. He tells me that in the runup to the referendum, the EU were baffled that the British government wasn't using the loopholes in the freedom of movement rules creatively to defuse the immigration issue. In other words, that a government might play by the rules rather than rigging them in its favour stunned them ...

When people say the EU thinks this... do they mean the Commission? Other member states collectively? I always wonder...

Barnesian said:

Betfair have just suspended the Alabama market. Looking good.

Chink! The money has arrived.

Recidivist said:

RobD said:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/28/jeremy-corbyn-fails-rule-second-eu-referendum-labour-gains-power/

Labour’s policy on Brexit is so ill-defined that Labour Remain voters are as convinced that the party is “completely against Brexit” as Labour Leave voters are convinced the party is “completely in favour of Brexit”, according to a YouGov survey.

The thing is though it doesn't matter.

The Conservatives, wisely or foolishly, have opted to own Brexit. And now they have to deliver it. They'll be judged not on how well it has worked out against the range of possible Brexits they could have gone for, or even how it would have gone with Labour in charge.

There is no yardstick for a successful Brexit that they can use to justify what they've done. The only result that matters will be what the country looks like and how people feel about it at the next election. They could get Barnier to agree that the EU will give the UK a €60bn leaving present with a card signed by the entire Commission. It won't directly gain the Tories a single vote.

If people decide that the NHS is in a mess and wages are going down, the Conservatives will get the blame and will be turfed out even if those problems are the direct result of the Brexit vote. It isn't fair. That's politics.

I admire the diligence of the likes of HYFUD in going through the polls and trying to come up with a winning combination of policies. But there is no formula. If the economy does okay, public services look like they are getting better and there aren't too many immigration stories in the news the Conservatives might just squeeze back in. If not, Labour will win. But the details of the Labour Party's twists and turns on its Brexit policy will have next to no impact.

Labour has neutralised Brexit effectively by being all things to Remainers and Leavers equally

williamglenn said:

John_M said:

Charles said:

Recidivist said:

NickPalmer said:

RobD said:

Theuniondivvie said:

First.

Has this been done?

https://twitter.com/ireland_thinks/status/946279549779578880

I'm still looking forward to a poll on whether the Irish want to rejoin Brexit UK.

What's the deal with the question? Why not a simple 'how would you vote' question?

It looks like an attempt to load the question - do you REALLY want a united Ireland even if it would cost loadsamoney? The answer seems to be a decisive yes, and a major shift, presumably due to uncertainty over the post-Brexit border.

A similar poll in the North with the premise that the alternative was a hard border produced an almos even split. But that's loaded too, and the outcome is likely to be less dramatic. Nonetheless, the idea of Ireland uniting has moved slightly from the "will never happen" to "we might consider it if..." stage.

It's a funny old world isn't it. I don't imagine the Venn diagram of people supporting Brexit and people supporting a united Ireland would have a very big area of overlap. The only person I can think of would be pre-Labour leadership Jeremy Corbyn. It's a bit of a shame he's not in a position to enjoy either outcome very much if they actually happen.

I'd expect there to be a meaningful overlap among those who believe in self determination

I think a united Ireland is quite an attractive proposition - as is an independent Scotland. Nothing lasts forever, not even the United Kingdom.

Once the English get our nation state back, we may find it easier to reconcile our national identity with pride in being part of a European political union.

An independent England would have voted 55% to 45% to Leave the EU so that would make it even more likely we stay outside the EU. The UK is also older than both Italy and Germany as Federal states and Wales has been formally united with England since the 16th century and informally under one monarch since the 13th century. Indeed if you go back that far England also owned much of France

Sandpit said:

williamglenn said:

Sandpit said:

williamglenn said:

Sandpit said:

ydoethur said:

RobD said:

ydoethur said:

kle4 said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

AlastairMeeks said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

Can Mr Meeks account for his movements on Christmas Day?

https://order-order.com/2017/12/28/remain-scrooges-deface-christmas-tree-with-eu-flags/

Yes, I was exercising what's left of my right to free movement in my swimming pool in Hungary.

The way Hungary and Poland are going, they might be out of the EU before we are.

Surely there's no way the EU will actually seriously censure them, or them pushing it that far, even with all the tough talk so far?

They never do. They can't even be bothered to enforce widespread flouting of their own rules on free trade when people break them (cf the French over BSE, despite them having more BSE than the rest of the world put together).

Moreover, the EC itself ignores the rules when it suits them - the appointment of Barnier springs to mind.

Which rule did they break by appointing Barnier?

Juncker appointed him the day after the referendum.

But according to their own rules, it should have been done by the Heads of Government.

Instead of telling him to do one and giving both of them the sack, as they should have done, they confirmed the appointment. It was craven and it was stupid.

It tells you a lot about the EU that Junker didn’t resign after the referendum and no-one can force him out.

Yes they can and why should he have resigned?

For the same reason David Cameron resigned, as the EU lost it’s second largest member on his watch. Remind me who can sack him again?

The European parliament can sack him.

The EU hasn't lost anything yet and Juncker's approach to dealing with the UK will probably be vindicated in the long term.

The Commission as a whole is theoretically accountable to the Parliament, but he can’t be sacked individually.

Only in the same sense that the UK parliament can't sack Theresa May individually. Also the accountability is more than theoretical. The Santer Commission was forced to resign by the parliament in the past.

Barnesian said:

Barnesian said:

Betfair have just suspended the Alabama market. Looking good.

Chink! The money has arrived.

Alas five time less than it would have been if only I had held my nerve.

Fishing said:

rkrkrk said:

When people say the EU thinks this... do they mean the Commission? Other member states collectively? I always wonder...

From the context, he meant Juncker's officials.

More in general than specific to you... it feels to me that political discussion often talks about the EU as if it is something separate and other to all the member states... as if the Commission are In charge of everything...

kle4 said:

rkrkrk said:

Fishing said:

rkrkrk said:

When people say the EU thinks this... do they mean the Commission? Other member states collectively? I always wonder...

From the context, he meant Juncker's officials.

More in general than specific to you... it feels to me that political discussion often talks about the EU as if it is something separate and other to all the member states... as if the Commission are In charge of everything...

In fairness, when it suits, supporters and detractors act as though it is a monolithic bloc.

Absolutely. The news media too.

Alabama was the biggest betting event since GE2017 - nice to see the winnings being paid out

MikeSmithson said:

Alabama was the biggest betting event since GE2017 - nice to see the winnings being paid out

Great, that's paid for my shopping trip today.

On the subject of which I would say the shops are quieter than in previous years but that people are spending plenty of money on eating out.

nielh said:

Hi all. Thinking about the end of the year.

I just wonder if 2016 was a populist high water mark.

2016 saw Brexit, then Trump.

In 2017, we've had a few terrorist attacks, but no populist breakthroughs. Le Pen was beaten in France. The AfD had no serious effect in Germany. Nothing happened in Austria that we haven't seen before. There is certainly instability, particularly in Spain, but they seemed to have muddled through.

Back in the UK, UKIP are a non entity. Both of the main parties support some sort of sensible Brexit. Aaron Banks and Nigel Farage are howling in the wind as they did for years. The SNP are in retreat.

Is the genie back in the bottle?

I expect populism to be back in May where Five Star currently lead Italian polls. Though they are more liberal than most of the anti EU far right and are more VoteLeave to Le Pen' s Leave.EU (Though of course officially they want Italy to stay in the EU they are just willing to consider Italy leaving an unreformed Eurozone).

The other big global elections next year are the November mid terms where if Alabama is any guide the Democrats should gain the House and maybe even the Senate too putting a lid back on the excesses of Trumpite populism.

The SNP may be in retreat in Scotland but in Catalonia nationalist parties are still very much alive

'I expect populism to be back in May where Five Star currently lead Italian polls. Though they are more liberal than most of the anti EU far right and are more VoteLeave to Le Pen' s Leave.EU (Though of course officially they want Italy to stay in the EU they are just willing to consider Italy leaving an unreformed Eurozone).

The other big global elections next year are the November mid terms where if Alabama is any guide the Democrats should gain the House and maybe even the Senate too putting a lid back on the excesses of Trumpite populism.

The SNP may be in retreat in Scotland but in Catalonia nationalist parties are still very much alive'

Sweden will also be worth watching in September as some polls have the anti immigration Swedish Democrats second ahead of the centre right moderates

nielh said:

Hi all. Thinking about the end of the year.

I just wonder if 2016 was a populist high water mark.

2016 saw Brexit, then Trump.

In 2017, we've had a few terrorist attacks, but no populist breakthroughs. Le Pen was beaten in France. The AfD had no serious effect in Germany. Nothing happened in Austria that we haven't seen before. There is certainly instability, particularly in Spain, but they seemed to have muddled through.

Back in the UK, UKIP are a non entity. Both of the main parties support some sort of sensible Brexit. Aaron Banks and Nigel Farage are howling in the wind as they did for years. The SNP are in retreat.

Is the genie back in the bottle?

AfD had no effect?

another_richard said:

viewcode said:

another_richard said:

MikeSmithson said:

Alabama was the biggest betting event since GE2017 - nice to see the winnings being paid out

Great, that's paid for my shopping trip today.

Excellent! How much, or is it rude to ask?

Over £50 but under £100.

Cool!

nielh said:

Hi all. Thinking about the end of the year.

I just wonder if 2016 was a populist high water mark.

2016 saw Brexit, then Trump.

In 2017, we've had a few terrorist attacks, but no populist breakthroughs. Le Pen was beaten in France. The AfD had no serious effect in Germany. Nothing happened in Austria that we haven't seen before. There is certainly instability, particularly in Spain, but they seemed to have muddled through.

Back in the UK, UKIP are a non entity. Both of the main parties support some sort of sensible Brexit. Aaron Banks and Nigel Farage are howling in the wind as they did for years. The SNP are in retreat.

Is the genie back in the bottle?

UKIP are only a non entity because they won. Once they had achieved their aim of a successful vote to leave the EU they became pointless in the eyes of the vast majority of the population including most of their former voters.

I am afraid that if you think populism (the dirty word anti-democrats use to describe any vote they don't agree with) has gone away you are sadly mistaken.

viewcode said:

Sandpit said:

The Commission as a whole is theoretically accountable to the Parliament, but he [Junker] can’t be sacked individually.

Two points:

* That's actually accountable, not just theoretically accountable.
* A Commissioner can't be individually sacked, except for the Commission President. It's a bit like saying the UK Parliament can't sack a Cabinet member, and normally that's true, except for the Prime Minister, who is also a Cabinet member.

It’s theoretical because it’s never happened, although one Commission under the previous incarnation resigned when it looked as if it might. The Parliament can only sack the Commission as a whole AIUI.

Richard_Tyndall said:

nielh said:

Hi all. Thinking about the end of the year.

I just wonder if 2016 was a populist high water mark.

2016 saw Brexit, then Trump.

In 2017, we've had a few terrorist attacks, but no populist breakthroughs. Le Pen was beaten in France. The AfD had no serious effect in Germany. Nothing happened in Austria that we haven't seen before. There is certainly instability, particularly in Spain, but they seemed to have muddled through.

Back in the UK, UKIP are a non entity. Both of the main parties support some sort of sensible Brexit. Aaron Banks and Nigel Farage are howling in the wind as they did for years. The SNP are in retreat.

Is the genie back in the bottle?

UKIP are only a non entity because they won. Once they had achieved their aim of a successful vote to leave the EU they became pointless in the eyes of the vast majority of the population including most of their former voters.

I am afraid that if you think populism (the dirty word anti-democrats use to describe any vote they don't agree with) has gone away you are sadly mistaken.

Indeed.

People who decry 'populism' tend to mean things which are popular with other people but not with themselves.

While fully supporting things which are popular and which they also approve of.

viewcode said:

another_richard said:

viewcode said:

another_richard said:

MikeSmithson said:

Alabama was the biggest betting event since GE2017 - nice to see the winnings being paid out

Great, that's paid for my shopping trip today.

Excellent! How much, or is it rude to ask?

Over £50 but under £100.

Cool!

Mine was over £100 but under £200.

EDIT: My betting is an interesting hobby rather than a source of income.

My total winnings this year, just transferred from various accounts is a four figure sum. It would really need to be a five figure sum to count as an income but I'd have to hide it from my wife.

AndyJS said:

"Woman walking alone attacked with acid in London's Canary Wharf

The 36-year-old victim has suffered life-changing burns to her leg and face after she was sprayed with a "noxious substance"."

https://news.sky.com/story/woman-walking-alone-attacked-with-acid-in-londons-canary-wharf-11187610

Those responsible are Absolute filth.

TheScreamingEagles said:

This is the most important news out of America today, our American cousins agree with us.

Just 19 percent of Americans said that “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie in a YouGov poll; 56 percent think it is not a Christmas movie.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-democrats-wave-could-turn-into-a-flood/

Proof that Trump's America has lost its mind......

FrancisUrquhart said:

Any doubt that the last Jedi was crap has now been removed...

http://amp.timeinc.net/nme/news/film/gary-barlow-the-last-jedi-cameo-revealed-star-wars-2194874?source=dam

Pah, it'll take more than that to convince me. (Besides, if no one even notices a cameo, it doesn't even count). But they're on thin ice.

another_richard said:

viewcode said:

another_richard said:

viewcode said:

another_richard said:

MikeSmithson said:

Alabama was the biggest betting event since GE2017 - nice to see the winnings being paid out

Great, that's paid for my shopping trip today.

Excellent! How much, or is it rude to ask?

Over £50 but under £100.

Cool!

Its a nice, if not enormous, amount.

There will be PBers who will have made many multiples of that in this election.

PB is good for little tips like that which should bring in a few hundred pounds each year even without the big elections.

Laying the draw in the cricket is something I learnt to do on PB as an example.

I think other similar rules of thumb are "lay the favourite for Conservative leader" and "lay the favorite in a Republican primary"

viewcode said:

another_richard said:

viewcode said:

another_richard said:

viewcode said:

another_richard said:

MikeSmithson said:

Alabama was the biggest betting event since GE2017 - nice to see the winnings being paid out

Great, that's paid for my shopping trip today.

Excellent! How much, or is it rude to ask?

Over £50 but under £100.

Cool!

Its a nice, if not enormous, amount.

There will be PBers who will have made many multiples of that in this election.

PB is good for little tips like that which should bring in a few hundred pounds each year even without the big elections.

Laying the draw in the cricket is something I learnt to do on PB as an example.

I think other similar rules of thumb are "lay the favourite for Conservative leader" and "lay the favorite in a Republican primary"

The latter would have gotten you badly burnt in 2016 though.

Philip_Thompson said:

viewcode said:

another_richard said:

viewcode said:

another_richard said:

viewcode said:

another_richard said:

MikeSmithson said:

Alabama was the biggest betting event since GE2017 - nice to see the winnings being paid out

Great, that's paid for my shopping trip today.

Excellent! How much, or is it rude to ask?

Over £50 but under £100.

Cool!

Its a nice, if not enormous, amount.

There will be PBers who will have made many multiples of that in this election.

PB is good for little tips like that which should bring in a few hundred pounds each year even without the big elections.

Laying the draw in the cricket is something I learnt to do on PB as an example.

I think other similar rules of thumb are "lay the favourite for Conservative leader" and "lay the favorite in a Republican primary"

The latter would have gotten you badly burnt in 2016 though.

True. The trick is to know when to stop.

viewcode said:

another_richard said:

viewcode said:

another_richard said:

viewcode said:

another_richard said:

MikeSmithson said:

Alabama was the biggest betting event since GE2017 - nice to see the winnings being paid out

Great, that's paid for my shopping trip today.

Excellent! How much, or is it rude to ask?

Over £50 but under £100.

Cool!

Its a nice, if not enormous, amount.

There will be PBers who will have made many multiples of that in this election.

PB is good for little tips like that which should bring in a few hundred pounds each year even without the big elections.

Laying the draw in the cricket is something I learnt to do on PB as an example.

I think other similar rules of thumb are "lay the favourite for Conservative leader" and "lay the favorite in a Republican primary"

Certainly not the Republican primary, Reagan, Bush Snr, Dole, W Bush and Romney were all favourite and all ended up nominee. Trump also led polls from summer 2015 even if Rubio was favourite.

Even the last Tory leadership race saw the favourite, May, ultimately win.