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  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 38,858

    kinabalu said:

    Yeah, we just seem to be reasonably immune from a need to vote for parties that espouse ant-immigrant & anti-refugee rhetoric, eg UKIP, TBP and the Tory party. Still, let's see if the linesman can build up some momentum with the gypsy traveller schtick.
    Absolutely! No "othering" in Scottish politics! No "blaming another country" for Scotland's failings. You must be so proud!

    No 'othering' after Yousef's law BY law....! - or prison!

    Still, you get to keep your hands. For now.
    Ah, I see the Muslim thing is one of your many triggers.
    Anything rather defend a gagging blasphemy law eh?
    Do you still defend coked up racists using the word P*kis?
    Absolutely not but I do defend people who might like to criticise and satirize islam and its prophet should they so wish, along with christianity, buddhism, humanism, and the attitudes of the left, right, and every other belief out there.
    What about people who spend every waking hour "criticizing and satirizing" Islam?
    That's their right. You don't stop free speech when it gets 'a bit much'.
    We have free speech.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,286
    Pulpstar said:

    Harris is as safe a VP nominee as they come for the Dems, plainly not on the loony left but also 'expands the coalition' for the whitehouse.

    Wouldn't Susan Rice have been an even safer pair of hands than Harris?
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,614
    Andy_JS said:

    How come you can still make 1% profit on backing Harris, after Biden's announcement?

    https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/politics/market/1.168954647

    Because they’re not officially nominated until the convention next week?
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,408
    Eh? Is that a thing? We don't even have a deputy PM most of the time.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,044
    tlg86 said:

    Poor Wolves.

    What's Kamala got against wolves?
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,072

    Brexit happened ages ago. Why are these guys still so obsessed?
    Because they think it will define voting habits forever.

    I genuinely don't know if that's the case, I wonder what the electoral landscape looks like after we've ended the transition period
    It will define voting habits until “Brexit” stops being an abstract concept and actually means something - when things actually start to change for the better, or for the worse. That should be next year I guess.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 25,047

    Yeah, we just seem to be reasonably immune from a need to vote for parties that espouse ant-immigrant & anti-refugee rhetoric, eg UKIP, TBP and the Tory party. Still, let's see if the linesman can build up some momentum with the gypsy traveller schtick.
    Absolutely! No "othering" in Scottish politics! No "blaming another country" for Scotland's failings. You must be so proud!

    Aye, the 'UKIP, Farage and Brexit were vastly important elements in the nation's history' merchants always seem to fall silent when they're reminded that Scotland didn't vote for any of them. I am quite proud of that as it happens.
    That's nice. Scotland has 4% ethnic minorities. Easy to wave a #refugeeswelcome sign and sneer at the dreadful bigoted English and their tendency to elect anti-immigration parties when you have none of the tensions and difficulties arising from that immigration.
    Here's a thought, why doesn't England vote for the government it wants to deal the tensions and difficulties arising from immigration, and Scotland can do the same?

    Oh, that's right, England already does.
    Or, slightly more simply and cheaply, we could quietly acknowledge that Scotland being 'reasonably immune' from voting for anti-immigrant and refugee parties could be largely due to the fact that it has virtually no immigrants or refugees.
  • kle4 said:

    Why not Krazy Kamala, to get all alliterative?
    Dickhead Donald?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 61,589
    Charles said:

    Nigelb said:

    Charles said:

    Nigelb said:

    An important debate (FWIW I’m in favour of a challenge trial):

    https://twitter.com/angie_rasmussen/status/1293263923022503936

    I don’t see how you can ethically* implement a target species challenge trial though given the severity of the disease. I think you’ve got to go down the route of a placebo controlled trial

    * meant in the technical sense rather than a personal comment.
    Understood.
    It’s not an easy decision, but IMO, if you have a cohort of young, properly informed volunteers, and the challenge dose is strictly limited, there is a very good case for it.
    Can you really properly inform people about tail risk though? I’m not sure you can. And if the dose is limited it may not reflect the real world / if the challenge cohort is limited (not sure which you meant) you run into issues with statistical significance
    It seems to me that if medical professionals are volunteering, you perhaps can.
    And of course you’d limit the dose initially. As opposed to the massive doses given to marmosets...
    Dose escalation could follow.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 39,756

    Yeah, we just seem to be reasonably immune from a need to vote for parties that espouse ant-immigrant & anti-refugee rhetoric, eg UKIP, TBP and the Tory party. Still, let's see if the linesman can build up some momentum with the gypsy traveller schtick.
    Absolutely! No "othering" in Scottish politics! No "blaming another country" for Scotland's failings. You must be so proud!

    Aye, the 'UKIP, Farage and Brexit were vastly important elements in the nation's history' merchants always seem to fall silent when they're reminded that Scotland didn't vote for any of them. I am quite proud of that as it happens.
    That's nice. Scotland has 4% ethnic minorities. Easy to wave a #refugeeswelcome sign and sneer at the dreadful bigoted English and their tendency to elect anti-immigration parties when you have none of the tensions and difficulties arising from that immigration.
    Here's a thought, why doesn't England vote for the government it wants to deal the tensions and difficulties arising from immigration, and Scotland can do the same?

    Oh, that's right, England already does.
    Northumberland is 98% White so experiences none of the “difficulties” or “tensions” @Luckyguy1983 is blathering on about. They still elect Tory MPs though.

    County Durham also.
    Indeed.
    My city has more than 15% of the population from an ethnic minority group while still managing not to elect Tory MPs. No doubt there's some arcane explanation about it being caused by SNP brainwashing or wokeism.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 24,600
    Republicans united against Trump.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,408

    kle4 said:

    Why not Krazy Kamala, to get all alliterative?
    Dickhead Donald?
    I prefer dumb Donald myself, though I'd advise the Dems not to try to play Trump's game the same way he does. They don't need to rise above, exactly, politics is vicious thre right now, but in a gutter fight he has the advantage thanks to his lack of shame and absurd self confidence.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,044
    Andy_JS said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Harris is as safe a VP nominee as they come for the Dems, plainly not on the loony left but also 'expands the coalition' for the whitehouse.

    Wouldn't Susan Rice have been an even safer pair of hands than Harris?
    Not battle tested in a campaign though. I guess that will be one of the main factors in the final weighing up.
  • Numbers are out tomorrow, I think it's going to be an absolute disaster.

    At some point the Tories are going to have to resort to austerity, they can't go on with investment-led growth, it's surely against what Sunak believes in
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    kinabalu said:

    kinabalu said:

    kinabalu said:

    Yeah, we just seem to be reasonably immune from a need to vote for parties that espouse ant-immigrant & anti-refugee rhetoric, eg UKIP, TBP and the Tory party. Still, let's see if the linesman can build up some momentum with the gypsy traveller schtick.
    Absolutely! No "othering" in Scottish politics! No "blaming another country" for Scotland's failings. You must be so proud!

    No 'othering' after Yousef's law BY law....! - or prison!

    Still, you get to keep your hands. For now.
    Ah, I see the Muslim thing is one of your many triggers.
    Anything rather defend a gagging blasphemy law eh?
    Do you still defend coked up racists using the word P*kis?
    Absolutely not but I do defend people who might like to criticise and satirize islam and its prophet should they so wish, along with christianity, buddhism, humanism, and the attitudes of the left, right, and every other belief out there.
    What about people who spend every waking hour "criticizing and satirizing" Islam?
    Personally I can;t stand people who spend their lives picking holes in the Koran or what the prophet did or didn;t do with his time or whatever. What a bunch of useless saddos. Nobody listens to them or gives a toss.

    Should they be prosecuted for that? Put in prison? no. They can try to find fault with religions in stupid inconsequential ways if they want. Its their own time they are wasting. Nobody else's.
    Fair enough. But we don't have a blasphemy law. Only islamaphobes say that.

    ISLAM SUCKS!

    See?
    Indeed I 100% agree with you on this.
    And are you scared of prosecution? No.

    It's bollox this "blasphemy law" claim.
    I don't particularly want you to be wrong about this but you are. Your post wouldn't have stayed up for 30 seconds in the aftermath of the Danish cartoon stuff or the Charlie Hebdo bombing. Even now I don’t think you would be allowed to push it any further.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,405
    And if you win you keep the other feckers out.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,286
    edited August 2020

    Republicans united against Trump.
    Republicans or Republican elitists? Last time a lot of the top party brass refused to support Trump (such as George HW Bush and Mitt Romney) and he won anyway.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 61,589
    Sandpit said:

    So, after all that, we end up with the pick who’s been favourite for ages. Anyone else think that Biden just wanted everyone taking about the VP ‘race’, to take the heat off himself for a couple of months?

    More to get national attention for a number of Democrats.
    Effectively, free advertising.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 24,600
    I saw Douglas Ross crowing about Swinney's capitulation on Channel 4 News. Let us see if Private Pike takes the hint.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 48,928
    edited August 2020
    Andy_JS said:

    kle4 said:

    What these cretins pretend not to realise is that making slight compromises in the interests of winning does not mean you have to abandon all of your principles and objectives. It's not an either/or equation.
    The Tories have to abandon principles to win elections too.
    If you don't like these elections, I have others.
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,072
    IshmaelZ said:

    kinabalu said:

    kinabalu said:

    kinabalu said:

    Yeah, we just seem to be reasonably immune from a need to vote for parties that espouse ant-immigrant & anti-refugee rhetoric, eg UKIP, TBP and the Tory party. Still, let's see if the linesman can build up some momentum with the gypsy traveller schtick.
    Absolutely! No "othering" in Scottish politics! No "blaming another country" for Scotland's failings. You must be so proud!

    No 'othering' after Yousef's law BY law....! - or prison!

    Still, you get to keep your hands. For now.
    Ah, I see the Muslim thing is one of your many triggers.
    Anything rather defend a gagging blasphemy law eh?
    Do you still defend coked up racists using the word P*kis?
    Absolutely not but I do defend people who might like to criticise and satirize islam and its prophet should they so wish, along with christianity, buddhism, humanism, and the attitudes of the left, right, and every other belief out there.
    What about people who spend every waking hour "criticizing and satirizing" Islam?
    Personally I can;t stand people who spend their lives picking holes in the Koran or what the prophet did or didn;t do with his time or whatever. What a bunch of useless saddos. Nobody listens to them or gives a toss.

    Should they be prosecuted for that? Put in prison? no. They can try to find fault with religions in stupid inconsequential ways if they want. Its their own time they are wasting. Nobody else's.
    Fair enough. But we don't have a blasphemy law. Only islamaphobes say that.

    ISLAM SUCKS!

    See?
    Indeed I 100% agree with you on this.
    And are you scared of prosecution? No.

    It's bollox this "blasphemy law" claim.
    I don't particularly want you to be wrong about this but you are. Your post wouldn't have stayed up for 30 seconds in the aftermath of the Danish cartoon stuff or the Charlie Hebdo bombing. Even now I don’t think you would be allowed to push it any further.
    “You can’t even say you’re English anymore without being thrown in jail”.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 38,858

    kinabalu said:

    kinabalu said:

    MattW said:

    kle4 said:

    kinabalu said:

    rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    UK: number of asylum seekers by year

    image

    Are there any statistics as to where the claim of asylum was made?
    IIRC, between 75 and 80% of claims happen at the UK's international airports. So, if we assume that 30,000 asylum seekers arrive in the UK each year, that means around 6,000 come via the Channel.

    (It doesn't get much reported, but more of France's asylum seekers head North to Belgium, Holland and beyond than try and cross the Channel. While Sangrettes and the Calais jungle gets all the press, the reality is that the French government puts migrant camps by their international borders, makes conditions really shit, and then hope that as many as possible self-deport. They do this because it is politically popular in France.)
    Many votes in being "tough" on this issue. Merkel was imo brave and principled to go the other way.
    Merkel was neither brace nor principled. Brave and principled would have been saying Germany would be taking more migrants and offering safe transport to get there. She took the path of least resistance instead and created a darkly Darwinian experiment of survival of the fittest that led to many deaths with no safe transit.

    Cameron was brave and principled.
    I think it rather telling, whether one supports Merkel's intentions or their consequences or not, that apparently cooperation between nations which is usually stated to be so vital went right out the window and it was deemed ok to act unilaterally in the way she did.
    I think PT is absolutely correct on this one. Merkel's behaviour was despicable.

    One point not noted was that Germany at the time had a shrinking population and a lot empty homes (unlike the UK) so had many facilities available.

    This was 2014:

    image
    She exposed the hypocrisy and empty rhetoric of lesser, narrow minded politicians. This is not my definition of despicable.
    She was the lesser, narrow minded politician.

    Did she offer to take refugees from camps at the front line?

    Did she offer safe transport and safe transit to a safe harbour?

    She did nothing.
    Except make it possible - in defiance of a rising tide of introverted populism - for 1m plus people fleeing destitution and violence to have the sort of life that you and I take for granted.
    Oh really?

    So did she offer safe transit for a million plus people?
    Did she have some selection criteria, or even lottery or any other metric to fairly determine who those million would be?
    Did she do so based on needs?

    Or did she walk away from making any decisions and did people smugglers and criminal gangs provide the transport for a million people leaving people to drown due to her inaction?

    Given your objections to eg private schools, I don't understand how you don't seethe with rage at how despicable her letting money and gangs determine who could migrate instead of fairness. Clearly your ideals on fairness only go so far.

    By saying that anyone who made it there could stay but there'd be no legal movement or safe transit and you'd have to pay people smugglers to get you there - was no more fair than a politician saying everyone should have a good education, so long as parents pay tuition fees to private schools and there will be no state schools.
    I do wonder about you sometimes. That is a bizarre take and a beyond bizarre analogy.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,286

    Yeah, we just seem to be reasonably immune from a need to vote for parties that espouse ant-immigrant & anti-refugee rhetoric, eg UKIP, TBP and the Tory party. Still, let's see if the linesman can build up some momentum with the gypsy traveller schtick.
    Absolutely! No "othering" in Scottish politics! No "blaming another country" for Scotland's failings. You must be so proud!

    Aye, the 'UKIP, Farage and Brexit were vastly important elements in the nation's history' merchants always seem to fall silent when they're reminded that Scotland didn't vote for any of them. I am quite proud of that as it happens.
    That's nice. Scotland has 4% ethnic minorities. Easy to wave a #refugeeswelcome sign and sneer at the dreadful bigoted English and their tendency to elect anti-immigration parties when you have none of the tensions and difficulties arising from that immigration.
    Here's a thought, why doesn't England vote for the government it wants to deal the tensions and difficulties arising from immigration, and Scotland can do the same?

    Oh, that's right, England already does.
    Northumberland is 98% White so experiences none of the “difficulties” or “tensions” @Luckyguy1983 is blathering on about. They still elect Tory MPs though.

    County Durham also.
    Indeed.
    My city has more than 15% of the population from an ethnic minority group while still managing not to elect Tory MPs. No doubt there's some arcane explanation about it being caused by SNP brainwashing or wokeism.
    On the other hand a seat like Harrow East is 65% non-white and does elect Conservative MPs.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,038
    Harris. Fuxsake.

    Only laid her down to zero today!
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 27,841

    Yeah, we just seem to be reasonably immune from a need to vote for parties that espouse ant-immigrant & anti-refugee rhetoric, eg UKIP, TBP and the Tory party. Still, let's see if the linesman can build up some momentum with the gypsy traveller schtick.
    Absolutely! No "othering" in Scottish politics! No "blaming another country" for Scotland's failings. You must be so proud!

    Aye, the 'UKIP, Farage and Brexit were vastly important elements in the nation's history' merchants always seem to fall silent when they're reminded that Scotland didn't vote for any of them. I am quite proud of that as it happens.
    That's nice. Scotland has 4% ethnic minorities. Easy to wave a #refugeeswelcome sign and sneer at the dreadful bigoted English and their tendency to elect anti-immigration parties when you have none of the tensions and difficulties arising from that immigration.
    Here's a thought, why doesn't England vote for the government it wants to deal the tensions and difficulties arising from immigration, and Scotland can do the same?

    Oh, that's right, England already does.
    Northumberland is 98% White so experiences none of the “difficulties” or “tensions” @Luckyguy1983 is blathering on about. They still elect Tory MPs though.

    County Durham also.
    They aren't the only places.
    Leigh springs to mind. Possibly the most white area of Greater Manchester.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 61,589
    Andy_JS said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Harris is as safe a VP nominee as they come for the Dems, plainly not on the loony left but also 'expands the coalition' for the whitehouse.

    Wouldn't Susan Rice have been an even safer pair of hands than Harris?
    Never ran for office before, so no.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,044

    Harris. Fuxsake.

    Only laid her down to zero today!

    I am a day late!!
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 39,756
    Andy_JS said:

    Yeah, we just seem to be reasonably immune from a need to vote for parties that espouse ant-immigrant & anti-refugee rhetoric, eg UKIP, TBP and the Tory party. Still, let's see if the linesman can build up some momentum with the gypsy traveller schtick.
    Absolutely! No "othering" in Scottish politics! No "blaming another country" for Scotland's failings. You must be so proud!

    Aye, the 'UKIP, Farage and Brexit were vastly important elements in the nation's history' merchants always seem to fall silent when they're reminded that Scotland didn't vote for any of them. I am quite proud of that as it happens.
    That's nice. Scotland has 4% ethnic minorities. Easy to wave a #refugeeswelcome sign and sneer at the dreadful bigoted English and their tendency to elect anti-immigration parties when you have none of the tensions and difficulties arising from that immigration.
    Here's a thought, why doesn't England vote for the government it wants to deal the tensions and difficulties arising from immigration, and Scotland can do the same?

    Oh, that's right, England already does.
    Northumberland is 98% White so experiences none of the “difficulties” or “tensions” @Luckyguy1983 is blathering on about. They still elect Tory MPs though.

    County Durham also.
    Indeed.
    My city has more than 15% of the population from an ethnic minority group while still managing not to elect Tory MPs. No doubt there's some arcane explanation about it being caused by SNP brainwashing or wokeism.
    On the other hand a seat like Harrow East is 65% non-white and does elect Conservative MPs.
    Golly, England is different from Scotland! You'll be accused of othering if you're not careful..
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 24,600

    IshmaelZ said:

    kinabalu said:

    kinabalu said:

    kinabalu said:

    Yeah, we just seem to be reasonably immune from a need to vote for parties that espouse ant-immigrant & anti-refugee rhetoric, eg UKIP, TBP and the Tory party. Still, let's see if the linesman can build up some momentum with the gypsy traveller schtick.
    Absolutely! No "othering" in Scottish politics! No "blaming another country" for Scotland's failings. You must be so proud!

    No 'othering' after Yousef's law BY law....! - or prison!

    Still, you get to keep your hands. For now.
    Ah, I see the Muslim thing is one of your many triggers.
    Anything rather defend a gagging blasphemy law eh?
    Do you still defend coked up racists using the word P*kis?
    Absolutely not but I do defend people who might like to criticise and satirize islam and its prophet should they so wish, along with christianity, buddhism, humanism, and the attitudes of the left, right, and every other belief out there.
    What about people who spend every waking hour "criticizing and satirizing" Islam?
    Personally I can;t stand people who spend their lives picking holes in the Koran or what the prophet did or didn;t do with his time or whatever. What a bunch of useless saddos. Nobody listens to them or gives a toss.

    Should they be prosecuted for that? Put in prison? no. They can try to find fault with religions in stupid inconsequential ways if they want. Its their own time they are wasting. Nobody else's.
    Fair enough. But we don't have a blasphemy law. Only islamaphobes say that.

    ISLAM SUCKS!

    See?
    Indeed I 100% agree with you on this.
    And are you scared of prosecution? No.

    It's bollox this "blasphemy law" claim.
    I don't particularly want you to be wrong about this but you are. Your post wouldn't have stayed up for 30 seconds in the aftermath of the Danish cartoon stuff or the Charlie Hebdo bombing. Even now I don’t think you would be allowed to push it any further.
    “You can’t even say you’re English anymore without being thrown in jail”.
    That quotation might benefit from a context.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,408
    edited August 2020

    And if you win you keep the other feckers out.
    Well that's no good. How are you to stoke grievances to turn into mythology if you don't let your hated enemy govern as they please by ceding elections to them? The next generation are not going to get marching in the streets over the mediocre achievements of the party, and protest marches and petitions are the like are the spice of life.
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,072
    Andy_JS said:

    Yeah, we just seem to be reasonably immune from a need to vote for parties that espouse ant-immigrant & anti-refugee rhetoric, eg UKIP, TBP and the Tory party. Still, let's see if the linesman can build up some momentum with the gypsy traveller schtick.
    Absolutely! No "othering" in Scottish politics! No "blaming another country" for Scotland's failings. You must be so proud!

    Aye, the 'UKIP, Farage and Brexit were vastly important elements in the nation's history' merchants always seem to fall silent when they're reminded that Scotland didn't vote for any of them. I am quite proud of that as it happens.
    That's nice. Scotland has 4% ethnic minorities. Easy to wave a #refugeeswelcome sign and sneer at the dreadful bigoted English and their tendency to elect anti-immigration parties when you have none of the tensions and difficulties arising from that immigration.
    Here's a thought, why doesn't England vote for the government it wants to deal the tensions and difficulties arising from immigration, and Scotland can do the same?

    Oh, that's right, England already does.
    Northumberland is 98% White so experiences none of the “difficulties” or “tensions” @Luckyguy1983 is blathering on about. They still elect Tory MPs though.

    County Durham also.
    Indeed.
    My city has more than 15% of the population from an ethnic minority group while still managing not to elect Tory MPs. No doubt there's some arcane explanation about it being caused by SNP brainwashing or wokeism.
    On the other hand a seat like Harrow East is 65% non-white and does elect Conservative MPs.
    Exactly. Which suggests there’s some other factors at play rather than the simplistic “England has too many immigrants”.
  • We are officially in a recession.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 27,841
    What exactly is the definition of the "Red Wall?"
    Is it seats Labour lost?
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830

    IshmaelZ said:

    kinabalu said:

    kinabalu said:

    kinabalu said:

    Yeah, we just seem to be reasonably immune from a need to vote for parties that espouse ant-immigrant & anti-refugee rhetoric, eg UKIP, TBP and the Tory party. Still, let's see if the linesman can build up some momentum with the gypsy traveller schtick.
    Absolutely! No "othering" in Scottish politics! No "blaming another country" for Scotland's failings. You must be so proud!

    No 'othering' after Yousef's law BY law....! - or prison!

    Still, you get to keep your hands. For now.
    Ah, I see the Muslim thing is one of your many triggers.
    Anything rather defend a gagging blasphemy law eh?
    Do you still defend coked up racists using the word P*kis?
    Absolutely not but I do defend people who might like to criticise and satirize islam and its prophet should they so wish, along with christianity, buddhism, humanism, and the attitudes of the left, right, and every other belief out there.
    What about people who spend every waking hour "criticizing and satirizing" Islam?
    Personally I can;t stand people who spend their lives picking holes in the Koran or what the prophet did or didn;t do with his time or whatever. What a bunch of useless saddos. Nobody listens to them or gives a toss.

    Should they be prosecuted for that? Put in prison? no. They can try to find fault with religions in stupid inconsequential ways if they want. Its their own time they are wasting. Nobody else's.
    Fair enough. But we don't have a blasphemy law. Only islamaphobes say that.

    ISLAM SUCKS!

    See?
    Indeed I 100% agree with you on this.
    And are you scared of prosecution? No.

    It's bollox this "blasphemy law" claim.
    I don't particularly want you to be wrong about this but you are. Your post wouldn't have stayed up for 30 seconds in the aftermath of the Danish cartoon stuff or the Charlie Hebdo bombing. Even now I don’t think you would be allowed to push it any further.
    “You can’t even say you’re English anymore without being thrown in jail”.
    What?

  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 25,047

    Yeah, we just seem to be reasonably immune from a need to vote for parties that espouse ant-immigrant & anti-refugee rhetoric, eg UKIP, TBP and the Tory party. Still, let's see if the linesman can build up some momentum with the gypsy traveller schtick.
    Absolutely! No "othering" in Scottish politics! No "blaming another country" for Scotland's failings. You must be so proud!

    Aye, the 'UKIP, Farage and Brexit were vastly important elements in the nation's history' merchants always seem to fall silent when they're reminded that Scotland didn't vote for any of them. I am quite proud of that as it happens.
    That's nice. Scotland has 4% ethnic minorities. Easy to wave a #refugeeswelcome sign and sneer at the dreadful bigoted English and their tendency to elect anti-immigration parties when you have none of the tensions and difficulties arising from that immigration.
    Here's a thought, why doesn't England vote for the government it wants to deal the tensions and difficulties arising from immigration, and Scotland can do the same?

    Oh, that's right, England already does.
    Northumberland is 98% White so experiences none of the “difficulties” or “tensions” @Luckyguy1983 is blathering on about. They still elect Tory MPs though.

    County Durham also.
    Indeed.
    My city has more than 15% of the population from an ethnic minority group while still managing not to elect Tory MPs. No doubt there's some arcane explanation about it being caused by SNP brainwashing or wokeism.
    Would this be the same Tory Party with Home Secretary, Chancellor, Biz Sec, and Attorney General from ethnic minority backgrounds? You'll have to remind me how many people there are from ethnic minority backgrounds on the SNP's Westminster front bench, I forget.
  • Nigelb said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Harris is as safe a VP nominee as they come for the Dems, plainly not on the loony left but also 'expands the coalition' for the whitehouse.

    Wouldn't Susan Rice have been an even safer pair of hands than Harris?
    Never ran for office before, so no.
    Or they focus-grouped Benghazi.
  • dixiedean said:

    What exactly is the definition of the "Red Wall?"
    Is it seats Labour lost?
    It's historically Labour seats that went red.

    Of course some are lost but others are marginal.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,408
    Andy_JS said:

    Republicans united against Trump.
    Republicans or Republican elitists? Last time a lot of the top party brass refused to support Trump (such as George HW Bush and Mitt Romney) and he won anyway.
    Republican elitists are still Republicans. And given the margins of victory last time even a small number voting against him rather than, as perhaps happened last time, sitting it out, could be crucial.

    Every little helps.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,286
    An interesting fact about Kamala Harris is that this was the result of her Senate election in California in 2016:

    Kamala Harris (Democrat): 62%
    Loretta Sanchez (Democrat): 38%

    No sign of the Republicans.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_United_States_Senate_election_in_California
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,072
    IshmaelZ said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    kinabalu said:

    kinabalu said:

    kinabalu said:

    Yeah, we just seem to be reasonably immune from a need to vote for parties that espouse ant-immigrant & anti-refugee rhetoric, eg UKIP, TBP and the Tory party. Still, let's see if the linesman can build up some momentum with the gypsy traveller schtick.
    Absolutely! No "othering" in Scottish politics! No "blaming another country" for Scotland's failings. You must be so proud!

    No 'othering' after Yousef's law BY law....! - or prison!

    Still, you get to keep your hands. For now.
    Ah, I see the Muslim thing is one of your many triggers.
    Anything rather defend a gagging blasphemy law eh?
    Do you still defend coked up racists using the word P*kis?
    Absolutely not but I do defend people who might like to criticise and satirize islam and its prophet should they so wish, along with christianity, buddhism, humanism, and the attitudes of the left, right, and every other belief out there.
    What about people who spend every waking hour "criticizing and satirizing" Islam?
    Personally I can;t stand people who spend their lives picking holes in the Koran or what the prophet did or didn;t do with his time or whatever. What a bunch of useless saddos. Nobody listens to them or gives a toss.

    Should they be prosecuted for that? Put in prison? no. They can try to find fault with religions in stupid inconsequential ways if they want. Its their own time they are wasting. Nobody else's.
    Fair enough. But we don't have a blasphemy law. Only islamaphobes say that.

    ISLAM SUCKS!

    See?
    Indeed I 100% agree with you on this.
    And are you scared of prosecution? No.

    It's bollox this "blasphemy law" claim.
    I don't particularly want you to be wrong about this but you are. Your post wouldn't have stayed up for 30 seconds in the aftermath of the Danish cartoon stuff or the Charlie Hebdo bombing. Even now I don’t think you would be allowed to push it any further.
    “You can’t even say you’re English anymore without being thrown in jail”.
    What?

    That’s what you sound like.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 24,600
    Andy_JS said:

    Republicans united against Trump.
    Republicans or Republican elitists? Last time a lot of the top party brass refused to support Trump (such as George HW Bush and Mitt Romney) and he won anyway.
    Either, or. I don't care really if they can help eject Trump, more power to their elitist elbows.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,038

    Yeah, we just seem to be reasonably immune from a need to vote for parties that espouse ant-immigrant & anti-refugee rhetoric, eg UKIP, TBP and the Tory party. Still, let's see if the linesman can build up some momentum with the gypsy traveller schtick.
    Absolutely! No "othering" in Scottish politics! No "blaming another country" for Scotland's failings. You must be so proud!

    Aye, the 'UKIP, Farage and Brexit were vastly important elements in the nation's history' merchants always seem to fall silent when they're reminded that Scotland didn't vote for any of them. I am quite proud of that as it happens.
    That's nice. Scotland has 4% ethnic minorities. Easy to wave a #refugeeswelcome sign and sneer at the dreadful bigoted English and their tendency to elect anti-immigration parties when you have none of the tensions and difficulties arising from that immigration.
    Here's a thought, why doesn't England vote for the government it wants to deal the tensions and difficulties arising from immigration, and Scotland can do the same?

    Oh, that's right, England already does.
    Northumberland is 98% White so experiences none of the “difficulties” or “tensions” @Luckyguy1983 is blathering on about. They still elect Tory MPs though.

    County Durham also.
    Indeed.
    My city has more than 15% of the population from an ethnic minority group while still managing not to elect Tory MPs. No doubt there's some arcane explanation about it being caused by SNP brainwashing or wokeism.
    Well, over 30% of Scots voted Leave (yes, they do exist) and plenty did so due to concerns about immigration.

    I even heard a female SNP voter admit as much on a vox-pop post 2016.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,842
    Nigelb said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Harris is as safe a VP nominee as they come for the Dems, plainly not on the loony left but also 'expands the coalition' for the whitehouse.

    Wouldn't Susan Rice have been an even safer pair of hands than Harris?
    Never ran for office before, so no.
    THe heat and scrutiny of the Dem campaign was probably a big factor in Harris favour. Sure she faded but no massive character flaws were exposed.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 38,858
    kle4 said:

    kinabalu said:

    kinabalu said:

    kinabalu said:

    Yeah, we just seem to be reasonably immune from a need to vote for parties that espouse ant-immigrant & anti-refugee rhetoric, eg UKIP, TBP and the Tory party. Still, let's see if the linesman can build up some momentum with the gypsy traveller schtick.
    Absolutely! No "othering" in Scottish politics! No "blaming another country" for Scotland's failings. You must be so proud!

    No 'othering' after Yousef's law BY law....! - or prison!

    Still, you get to keep your hands. For now.
    Ah, I see the Muslim thing is one of your many triggers.
    Anything rather defend a gagging blasphemy law eh?
    Do you still defend coked up racists using the word P*kis?
    Absolutely not but I do defend people who might like to criticise and satirize islam and its prophet should they so wish, along with christianity, buddhism, humanism, and the attitudes of the left, right, and every other belief out there.
    What about people who spend every waking hour "criticizing and satirizing" Islam?
    Personally I can;t stand people who spend their lives picking holes in the Koran or what the prophet did or didn;t do with his time or whatever. What a bunch of useless saddos. Nobody listens to them or gives a toss.

    Should they be prosecuted for that? Put in prison? no. They can try to find fault with religions in stupid inconsequential ways if they want. Its their own time they are wasting. Nobody else's.
    Fair enough. But we don't have a blasphemy law. Only islamaphobes say that.

    ISLAM SUCKS!

    See?
    Indeed I 100% agree with you on this.
    And are you scared of prosecution? No.

    It's bollox this "blasphemy law" claim.
    If you say so, though on free speech issues better to err on the side of caution.
    I do say so! And I agree that it's better to err on the side of caution in both of the 2 ways you could mean this. Unless it's clear and dangerous hate speech against Muslims it should be legal. And if you are in doubt as to whether it would be legal don't say it.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,038
    Hillary Clinton is still 100/1 for the nomination.

    The mind boggles. It really does.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,842
    Christ and we thought Swinney was amusing.
  • If this plan goes ahead, I am convinced the Tories have a Labour sleeper agent within their ranks. Which one of you is it
  • NEW THREAD

  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 38,858
    Nigelb said:

    Nigelb said:

    Harris I fear gives the Bernie bros an excuse to sit out the election and let Trump win a second term.

    As opposed to Rice ?

    And I don’t buy that thesis anyway.
    Biden will be running on the most progressive Democratic platform ever. Against the biggest asshole to hold the Presidency since Jackson.
    I'm a relentless pessimist on this election.

    I'm definitely a glass half empty guy at the moment.
    Having made money on both nominee & VP, I am perhaps overconfident, I acknowledge...
    Yes - doing great. Now for the Big One. 3/11.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,614
    Andy_JS said:

    An interesting fact about Kamala Harris is that this was the result of her Senate election in California in 2016:

    Kamala Harris (Democrat): 62%
    Loretta Sanchez (Democrat): 38%

    No sign of the Republicans.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_United_States_Senate_election_in_California

    That election being the runoff following a “jungle” primary with 37 candidates!
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 27,841

    dixiedean said:

    What exactly is the definition of the "Red Wall?"
    Is it seats Labour lost?
    It's historically Labour seats that went red.

    Of course some are lost but others are marginal.
    So what makes Leigh, specifically, different from the other 2 Wigan seats (Wigan and Makerfield) for example?
    They are 98.7% White and not wealthy.
    Has anyone studied this?
    I have my own ideas.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 39,756
    edited August 2020

    Yeah, we just seem to be reasonably immune from a need to vote for parties that espouse ant-immigrant & anti-refugee rhetoric, eg UKIP, TBP and the Tory party. Still, let's see if the linesman can build up some momentum with the gypsy traveller schtick.
    Absolutely! No "othering" in Scottish politics! No "blaming another country" for Scotland's failings. You must be so proud!

    Aye, the 'UKIP, Farage and Brexit were vastly important elements in the nation's history' merchants always seem to fall silent when they're reminded that Scotland didn't vote for any of them. I am quite proud of that as it happens.
    That's nice. Scotland has 4% ethnic minorities. Easy to wave a #refugeeswelcome sign and sneer at the dreadful bigoted English and their tendency to elect anti-immigration parties when you have none of the tensions and difficulties arising from that immigration.
    Here's a thought, why doesn't England vote for the government it wants to deal the tensions and difficulties arising from immigration, and Scotland can do the same?

    Oh, that's right, England already does.
    Northumberland is 98% White so experiences none of the “difficulties” or “tensions” @Luckyguy1983 is blathering on about. They still elect Tory MPs though.

    County Durham also.
    Indeed.
    My city has more than 15% of the population from an ethnic minority group while still managing not to elect Tory MPs. No doubt there's some arcane explanation about it being caused by SNP brainwashing or wokeism.
    Would this be the same Tory Party with Home Secretary, Chancellor, Biz Sec, and Attorney General from ethnic minority backgrounds? You'll have to remind me how many people there are from ethnic minority backgrounds on the SNP's Westminster front bench, I forget.
    You seem to have answered a question that you've plucked from the air.

    You started humping a proposition that the English vote for UKIP/Farage/Tory 'cos of immigration. You've been offered English areas with tiny amounts of immigration that vote Tory/Brexit and a Scottish city with 15% of ethnic minorities that did neither. Can you explain what you're getting at in 30 words or less?
  • dodradedodrade Posts: 595
    dixiedean said:

    What exactly is the definition of the "Red Wall?"
    Is it seats Labour lost?
    It's a bit strange that they are still referred to as the "Red Wall". It rather implies that they are still Labour territory and Conservative success in them is a temporary aberration.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,842

    Hillary Clinton is still 100/1 for the nomination.

    The mind boggles. It really does.

    Laid a bit of the 150. It's basically "double locked" with the fact it'll redeem in a week and Kamala Harris is now there as snuff protection. More like 10 million to one.
  • theProletheProle Posts: 948
    dodrade said:

    TimT said:

    Charles said:

    From the article...

    The truth was far more mundane. A few protesters among the many thousands appear to have burned a single Bible — and possibly a second — for kindling to start a bigger fire. None of the other protesters seemed to notice or care.

    So conservatives criticised protestors for burning the Bible because... drum roll... they burned a Bible.

    But it's a "Russian Hit!!!!!!" because, presumably, this is seen as a way of drawing the sting from a legitimate criticism.



    edit: and in what way is "using a Bible as kindling for a bigger fire" any different to "burning a Bible"?
    You are being disingenuous there, Charles. Clearly, using a Bible as kindling because it is to hand is qualitatively different from burning a Bible specifically in order to make a political or religious point. And one or two people burning a Bible for either reason and others not noticing is qualitatively different from deliberate, political Bible-burning being one of the defining themes of the protest.
    So the Bible was burned in a non-prejorative context and people are only offended because of the Russians?

    Somehow I don't think many US Christians are going to find that argument very convincing.
    Occam's razor suggests that a Bible is unlikely to have merely been the most convenient kindling. Why would they be in possession of a Bible they valued so little they were willing to burn it? Very few people I know carry Bibles round incase of running short on firelighters. Also, books are very difficult to get to burn, particularly intact as pictured - some sort of accelerant must have been used, at which point why bother with the Bible.
  • theProletheProle Posts: 948
    dodrade said:

    TimT said:

    Charles said:

    From the article...

    The truth was far more mundane. A few protesters among the many thousands appear to have burned a single Bible — and possibly a second — for kindling to start a bigger fire. None of the other protesters seemed to notice or care.

    So conservatives criticised protestors for burning the Bible because... drum roll... they burned a Bible.

    But it's a "Russian Hit!!!!!!" because, presumably, this is seen as a way of drawing the sting from a legitimate criticism.



    edit: and in what way is "using a Bible as kindling for a bigger fire" any different to "burning a Bible"?
    You are being disingenuous there, Charles. Clearly, using a Bible as kindling because it is to hand is qualitatively different from burning a Bible specifically in order to make a political or religious point. And one or two people burning a Bible for either reason and others not noticing is qualitatively different from deliberate, political Bible-burning being one of the defining themes of the protest.
    So the Bible was burned in a non-prejorative context and people are only offended because of the Russians?

    Somehow I don't think many US Christians are going to find that argument very convincing.
    Occam's razor suggests that a Bible is unlikely to have merely been the most convenient kindling. Why would they be in possession of a Bible they valued so little they were willing to burn it? Very few people I know carry Bibles round incase of running short on firelighters. Also, books are very difficult to get to burn, particularly intact as pictured - some sort of accelerant must have been used, at which point why bother with the Bible.
  • dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    What exactly is the definition of the "Red Wall?"
    Is it seats Labour lost?
    It's historically Labour seats that went red.

    Of course some are lost but others are marginal.
    So what makes Leigh, specifically, different from the other 2 Wigan seats (Wigan and Makerfield) for example?
    They are 98.7% White and not wealthy.
    Has anyone studied this?
    I have my own ideas.
    Leigh, Makerfield and Wigan had almost identical falls in the Labour vote but Leigh had a much bigger increase in the Conservative and a much smaller BXP vote than Makerfield and Wigan.

    It was also the most marginal of the three to big with so did it get a more active Conservative campaign combined with Farage's 'the Conservatives cannot win here' line not being believed ?

    Or was there more local demographic factors as well ?
  • dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    What exactly is the definition of the "Red Wall?"
    Is it seats Labour lost?
    It's historically Labour seats that went red.

    Of course some are lost but others are marginal.
    So what makes Leigh, specifically, different from the other 2 Wigan seats (Wigan and Makerfield) for example?
    They are 98.7% White and not wealthy.
    Has anyone studied this?
    I have my own ideas.
    Leigh, Makerfield and Wigan had almost identical falls in the Labour vote but Leigh had a much bigger increase in the Conservative and a much smaller BXP vote than Makerfield and Wigan.

    It was also the most marginal of the three to big with so did it get a more active Conservative campaign combined with Farage's 'the Conservatives cannot win here' line not being believed ?

    Or was there more local demographic factors as well ?
    Perhaps because it's next door to Bolton West which is now the safest Tory seat in Greater Manchester.....?

    Perhaps the tory candidate James Grundy was popular?
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 27,841
    edited August 2020

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    What exactly is the definition of the "Red Wall?"
    Is it seats Labour lost?
    It's historically Labour seats that went red.

    Of course some are lost but others are marginal.
    So what makes Leigh, specifically, different from the other 2 Wigan seats (Wigan and Makerfield) for example?
    They are 98.7% White and not wealthy.
    Has anyone studied this?
    I have my own ideas.
    Leigh, Makerfield and Wigan had almost identical falls in the Labour vote but Leigh had a much bigger increase in the Conservative and a much smaller BXP vote than Makerfield and Wigan.

    It was also the most marginal of the three to big with so did it get a more active Conservative campaign combined with Farage's 'the Conservatives cannot win here' line not being believed ?

    Or was there more local demographic factors as well ?
    I would tend to the latter. Lots of new housing. Which is why it was more marginal in the first place.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 27,841

    dixiedean said:

    dixiedean said:

    What exactly is the definition of the "Red Wall?"
    Is it seats Labour lost?
    It's historically Labour seats that went red.

    Of course some are lost but others are marginal.
    So what makes Leigh, specifically, different from the other 2 Wigan seats (Wigan and Makerfield) for example?
    They are 98.7% White and not wealthy.
    Has anyone studied this?
    I have my own ideas.
    Leigh, Makerfield and Wigan had almost identical falls in the Labour vote but Leigh had a much bigger increase in the Conservative and a much smaller BXP vote than Makerfield and Wigan.

    It was also the most marginal of the three to big with so did it get a more active Conservative campaign combined with Farage's 'the Conservatives cannot win here' line not being believed ?

    Or was there more local demographic factors as well ?
    Perhaps because it's next door to Bolton West which is now the safest Tory seat in Greater Manchester.....?

    Perhaps the tory candidate James Grundy was popular?
    I would argue Joanne Platt was most unpopular.
    Both Wigan and Makerfield border Bolton West too.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 25,047

    Yeah, we just seem to be reasonably immune from a need to vote for parties that espouse ant-immigrant & anti-refugee rhetoric, eg UKIP, TBP and the Tory party. Still, let's see if the linesman can build up some momentum with the gypsy traveller schtick.
    Absolutely! No "othering" in Scottish politics! No "blaming another country" for Scotland's failings. You must be so proud!

    Aye, the 'UKIP, Farage and Brexit were vastly important elements in the nation's history' merchants always seem to fall silent when they're reminded that Scotland didn't vote for any of them. I am quite proud of that as it happens.
    That's nice. Scotland has 4% ethnic minorities. Easy to wave a #refugeeswelcome sign and sneer at the dreadful bigoted English and their tendency to elect anti-immigration parties when you have none of the tensions and difficulties arising from that immigration.
    Here's a thought, why doesn't England vote for the government it wants to deal the tensions and difficulties arising from immigration, and Scotland can do the same?

    Oh, that's right, England already does.
    Northumberland is 98% White so experiences none of the “difficulties” or “tensions” @Luckyguy1983 is blathering on about. They still elect Tory MPs though.

    County Durham also.
    Indeed.
    My city has more than 15% of the population from an ethnic minority group while still managing not to elect Tory MPs. No doubt there's some arcane explanation about it being caused by SNP brainwashing or wokeism.
    Would this be the same Tory Party with Home Secretary, Chancellor, Biz Sec, and Attorney General from ethnic minority backgrounds? You'll have to remind me how many people there are from ethnic minority backgrounds on the SNP's Westminster front bench, I forget.
    You seem to have answered a question that you've plucked from the air.

    You started humping a proposition that the English vote for UKIP/Farage/Tory 'cos of immigration. You've been offered English areas with tiny amounts of immigration that vote Tory/Brexit and a Scottish city with 15% of ethnic minorities that did neither. Can you explain what you're getting at in 30 words or less?
    You seem very upset by this suggestion. You've lumped the Conservative Party in with 'Farage' etc., for the purposes of your argument - I'm saying that's specious. It's also a very odd suggestion that Scots are 'reasonably immune' from voting Tory - they are the second largest party here AFAIK, and are represented at all levels in Scotland's elected bodies.

    As for your city, Google tells me that Glasgow sits at the highest level of ethnic minority population, at 12%. So I really have no idea what you're talking about.

  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Nigelb said:

    Harris I fear gives the Bernie bros an excuse to sit out the election and let Trump win a second term.

    As opposed to Rice ?

    And I don’t buy that thesis anyway.
    Biden will be running on the most progressive Democratic platform ever. Against the biggest asshole to hold the Presidency since Jackson.
    I'm a relentless pessimist on this election.

    I'm definitely a glass half empty guy at the moment.
    Don't blame you. I think all this talk of Biden being ahead by plenty is going to turn out to be polling rot. Shy Trumpsters will come out of the woodwork and make this very close imho.

    Hope I am very wrong.
    I fear you are right

    I’ve been very surprised by the number of MAGA hats I’ve seen in OC & the IE
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    kle4 said:

    Charles said:

    God, I hate it when the aristos tell the plebs what to do.

    https://twitter.com/labour_history/status/1293263729665159169

    I’ve paid both rent and a mortgage. Does that make me a pleb in your eyes?
    I hope not, it totally destroys my mental image of you.
    Rent was to my brother’s company... my mortgage wasn’t because Barclays was cheaper... does that help?
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,684
    sarissa said:

    Siri, please show me cultural insecurity in the form of architecture.

    https://twitter.com/jack_capener/status/1293225664804466692?s=20

    That street was a favourite graffiti location when it was being built....
    @sarissa @Theuniondivvie
    Absolutely horrific but just the mentality you expect from these morons
This discussion has been closed.