Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

Sending best wishes to PBer JohnO – politicalbetting.com

12357

Comments

  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,782
    isam said:

    No hate here for man like Sir Keir! If he bounces back, good for him
    You fool no-one. Well you probably do, but not me. You have really taken against the guy. He epitomises something for you. Something that gets your goat. It's to do with upward mobility and moral rectitude.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 18,621
    gealbhan said:

    The Sunday Times story.

    Does Boris end up in the history books as initially wanting herd immunity when the pandemic began, hence the high number of deaths?

    Interesting. Without vaccines this was a way through this. Horrific though it would have been. We’ve done it before, in pretty much every pandemic since the dawn of time.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,290
    Leon said:

    As a prodigious musical genius, Elton John is up there with Mozart. He is basically the gay-clown-shoes-wearing Mozart of our time. I never realised the scale of his achievement until I read his book

    AND he had sex with 10,000 people and sniffed metric tonnes of coke, and then got properly serious with the booze and strippers, while buying entire villages and chateaux

    I salute him
    The ‘Star Stories’ show about him is hilarious

    https://www.channel4.com/programmes/star-stories/on-demand/45162-001
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,661
    Diana Bashir spilling over into the Sunday papers. Day 5 of this rubbish.
  • gealbhangealbhan Posts: 2,362
    edited May 2021
    Leon said:

    Yes, somehow Israel took the wrong fork in the road, in the 1970s or 80s, when it still had massive international sympathy, as the plucky little country. Now it is the Evil Oppressor, and that generally doesn't end well
    Or is it

    A) once their opponents visited UN with pistol in their apparel now it’s slick publicrelations spin
    B because of E.T. Opponents now fight asymmetric away from battlefields making it harder for decisive victories?
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,199

    On which note, keep an eye on whether Eastern European support for Ukraine materialises.
    Not a good enough song.

    There may be votes for Russia both from Putinistas and from those who knows the song is a challenge to his agenda.

    I think Germany worth an each way at 251
  • gealbhangealbhan Posts: 2,362
    edited May 2021

    You beat me!
    Your undercutting me. Since when was it £5? 🙂
  • isamisam Posts: 41,290
    edited May 2021
    kinabalu said:

    You fool no-one. Well you probably do, but not me. You have really taken against the guy. He epitomises something for you. Something that gets your goat. It's to do with upward mobility and moral rectitude.
    I just don’t think he has what it takes to beat Boris. That’s all I’ve said from the start, nothing malicious. He seems an upright, decent person.

    I don’t like him because he was one of the leading voices in trying to stop Brexit, and I think he comes across as really dull. But that goes for lots of people!

    If he bounces back I’ll owe you £300 though
  • FloaterFloater Posts: 14,207
    Wow - Nyiragongo Volcano, erupts near Goma (amazing views from a plane)

    https://twitter.com/lookner/status/1396220294528909313
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,782

    All very interesting but unlikely to shift many votes.
    These things can do. Andy Murray with Sue Barker after losing the Wimbledon final in 2012. Instant transformation to national treasure. Also Hugh Grant on Oprah after Devine Brown.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,236

    Starmer's image isn't the problem.

    He is a dull speaker, for which he should seek coaching. He needs to nail Boris to the wall. It is no good collecting evidence at PMQs if he never uses it: the electorate is not the Supreme Court bench who will have noted each answer; it is a jury waiting for the summing-up. Some policies would be nice too, though it is hard to create clear blue water against a backdrop of the covid pandemic.
    If Blair were LOTO he would be 15 points behind Johnson at this moment in time.

    That isn't to say Starmer shouldn't be banging on about Johnsonian corruption, Covid failures, Brexit shortcomings and the rampant inflation just around the corner.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 62,270
    Leon said:

    As a prodigious musical genius, Elton John is up there with Mozart. He is basically the gay-clown-shoes-wearing Mozart of our time. I never realised the scale of his achievement until I read his book

    AND he had sex with 10,000 people and sniffed metric tonnes of coke, and then got properly serious with the booze and strippers, while buying entire villages and chateaux

    I salute him
    Who would have sex with Elton John?

    He's an ugly bugger.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,199

    Diana Bashir spilling over into the Sunday papers. Day 5 of this rubbish.

    Did he really do anything worse than other journalists of the day? Phone hacking, bribing policemen for stories, searching through rubbish and using freelance paparazzi to harass?
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,629
    kinabalu said:

    These things can do. Andy Murray with Sue Barker after losing the Wimbledon final in 2012. Instant transformation to national treasure. Also Hugh Grant on Oprah after Devine Brown.
    And Gazza 1990!
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 22,100
    Forgive the pessimism, but I am not confident that the U.K. are going to win tonight
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,782

    How do "a series of devastating family tragedies" shape him into the boring man he is today?
    Boring didn't stop John Major winning a record number of votes in 92.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,629
    tlg86 said:

    FFS, 18 more minutes of voting! :angry:

    VOTING OVER!

    Let the "fun" begin :lol:
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,295
    The Spanish People's Party has abruptly taken a lead in the opinion polls.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Spanish_general_election#Voting_intention_estimates
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,728

    Who would have sex with Elton John?

    He's an ugly bugger.
    Judging by the book, he is funny, candid, entertaining and smart. MUCH funnier than I expected, TBH

    Also he's not that ugly. He's just a bit bald, and slightly round-faced. Set against that an immortal talent, huge intelligence, great sense of humour.... and the personal possession of £100m, and yeah, I can see why he was quite popular. Good for him

    He's very funny about his mundane suburban upbringing in Pinner

  • gealbhangealbhan Posts: 2,362
    Foxy said:

    Did he really do anything worse than other journalists of the day? Phone hacking, bribing policemen for stories, searching through rubbish and using freelance paparazzi to harass?
    You saying The Mail and The Sun lambasting that kind of journalism rings hollow because it is so laugh out loud embarrassing from them?
  • isamisam Posts: 41,290
    edited May 2021
    kinabalu said:

    Boring didn't stop John Major winning a record number of votes in 92.
    His rival was not seen as much less boring really. Boris vs Sir Keir is one of the biggest disparity’s in personality scores since polling on it began. I think Thatcher vs Foot and Blair vs Hague might just beat it. But the next IPSOS poll is next month
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,295
    edited May 2021
    Part Time Love by Elton John is one of the best songs of the late 70s IMO. Genius songwriting.

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k0rJYtoJz4
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,199
    gealbhan said:

    You saying The Mail and The Sun lambasting that kind of journalism rings hollow because it is so laugh out loud embarrassing from them?
    Not just those two. The press were completely out of control at that time.
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,651
    Just come to this thread and wanted to add my best wishes to @JohnO for a speedy and full recovery.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,290
    Leon said:

    Judging by the book, he is funny, candid, entertaining and smart. MUCH funnier than I expected, TBH

    Also he's not that ugly. He's just a bit bald, and slightly round-faced. Set against that an immortal talent, huge intelligence, great sense of humour.... and the personal possession of £100m, and yeah, I can see why he was quite popular. Good for him

    He's very funny about his mundane suburban upbringing in Pinner

    Have you seen the film?
  • gealbhangealbhan Posts: 2,362
    isam said:

    His rival was not seen as much less boring really. Boris vs Sir Keir is one of the biggest disparity’s in personality scores since polling on it began. I think Thatcher vs Foot and Blair vs Hague might just beat it. But the next IPSOS poll is next month
    Surely you employ someone on basis of character, not personality?
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,533
    Switzerland!
  • alex_alex_ Posts: 7,518
    edited May 2021

    Interesting. Without vaccines this was a way through this. Horrific though it would have been. We’ve done it before, in pretty much every pandemic since the dawn of time.
    So basically the story is...

    “Ministers backed “herd immunity” approach but they were, er, overruled by those people taking the decisions”?

    As opposed to, say, “ministers backed herd immunity approach, but they changed course when the health and political consequences of this became apparent”?
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,313
    Leon said:

    As a prodigious musical genius, Elton John is up there with Mozart. He is basically the gay-clown-shoes-wearing Mozart of our time. I never realised the scale of his achievement until I read his book

    AND he had sex with 10,000 people and sniffed metric tonnes of coke, and then got properly serious with the booze and strippers, while buying entire villages and chateaux

    I salute him
    On a slightly connected note, in my previous life as a purveyor of chaps’ finest second hand clothing I had one of John Reid’s Tommy Nutter suits pass through my hands. It was both horrific and wonderful, 3 piece double breasted in a pale caramel window pane check, silk and wool. I sort of wish I’d kept it but a Japanese tourist made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.

    Huge waist btw.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,782
    gealbhan said:

    It’s a sinister development this week, Israel losing one of these skirmishes leaving the terrorists dancing in their tunnels tonight. Far cry from whipping surprise attack from the whole of the Middle East in just six days.

    Ben goes into history books as his watch strutting tough whilst delivering weakness?
    Well he thought the Palestinians could be squeezed into irrelevance, forgotten by all. Rethink required. Or rather replacement required in order to make a rethink possible.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,290
    gealbhan said:

    Surely you employ someone on basis of character, not personality?
    I’ve never employed anyone. But for political leaders to be seen as lacking in personality, relative to their opponents, is a huge disadvantage
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,199
    Cyclefree said:

    Just come to this thread and wanted to add my best wishes to @JohnO for a speedy and full recovery.

    Me too. Out of hospital arrests are nasty. Having a CPR capable person nearby must have made the difference.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,728
    isam said:

    Have you seen the film?
    No, is it good?

    I absolutely adored the Freddie Mercury movie. Genius (him and the film). But I was told the Elton John movie was poor in comparison, so I didn't bother

    Worth a punt?
  • TazTaz Posts: 17,612
    U.K. performing as expected so far.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,199
    Leon said:

    No, is it good?

    I absolutely adored the Freddie Mercury movie. Genius (him and the film). But I was told the Elton John movie was poor in comparison, so I didn't bother

    Worth a punt?
    Very good indeed.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,728
    Even Malta didn't give us a point

    lol
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,533
    I have £5 on Switzerland @ 12-1.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,728
    tlg86 said:

    I have £5 on Switzerland @ 12-1.

    Looks like France v Switzerland. Good bet
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,629
    Switzerland in the lead at the mo.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,199
    Leon said:

    Even Malta didn't give us a point

    lol

    These are the jury rather than public votes.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,290
    Leon said:

    No, is it good?

    I absolutely adored the Freddie Mercury movie. Genius (him and the film). But I was told the Elton John movie was poor in comparison, so I didn't bother

    Worth a punt?
    I loved the Freddie one, and enjoyed Elton’s too. It’s why I got bought the book for Christmas (2019!) Def worth a punt


    But the Star Stories is better! It’s on More4 now to download, absolutely brilliant, you will love it
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,295
    Last time I watched the Eurovision Song Contest they went through each country that had been awarded between 1 and 12 points. They seem to have scrapped that now, probably because it wasn't exciting enough.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,728
    Foxy said:

    Very good indeed.
    Persuaded. I shall give it a go!
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,295
    Did anyone bet on the UK receiving zero points overall?
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 30,137
    Foxy said:

    Not just those two. The press were completely out of control at that time.
    Murder in the Car Park, the Channel 4 documentary series about the Daniel Morgan case, available to view on their web site, is strong on the News of the World in particular paying a detective agency that in turn bribed the police for stories. I think it was the second episode.

    We should remember some journalists went to prison, including Andy Coulson who worked for David Cameron, so it's not just the BBC with bad judgement.
  • gealbhangealbhan Posts: 2,362
    isam said:

    I’ve never employed anyone. But for political leaders to be seen as lacking in personality, relative to their opponents, is a huge disadvantage
    You got evidence to support that? I still reckon in final analysis character matters more.
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,533
    I think France will win in the end once the public votes get added.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,001
    isam said:

    I’ve never employed anyone. But for political leaders to be seen as lacking in personality, relative to their opponents, is a huge disadvantage
    Depends on the circumstances, that is usually the case but Biden had less personality than Trump, Hollande less personality than Sarkozy, Major less personality than Kinnock they still won
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,728
    We are going to come LAST. They hate our vaccine
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,629
    Andy_JS said:

    Last time I watched the Eurovision Song Contest they went through each country that had been awarded between 1 and 12 points. They seem to have scrapped that now, probably because it wasn't exciting enough.

    Andy, it's been like that for a few years now.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 30,137
    Eurovision betting is all over the shop. France is now favourite; you can't give Italy away; big move for Switzerland into second favourite.
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,533
    FFS! UK give the French 12 points.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,629
    Douze points from UK to France!
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,933
    We've given France 12?
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,199

    Eurovision betting is all over the shop. France is now favourite; you can't give Italy away; big move for Switzerland into second favourite.

    Yes, but just the jury votes.
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 5,588
    Leon said:

    As a prodigious musical genius, Elton John is up there with Mozart. He is basically the gay-clown-shoes-wearing Mozart of our time. I never realised the scale of his achievement until I read his book

    AND he had sex with 10,000 people and sniffed metric tonnes of coke, and then got properly serious with the booze and strippers, while buying entire villages and chateaux

    I salute him
    He sounds like a kindred spirit, Leon!
  • GarethoftheVale2GarethoftheVale2 Posts: 2,292
    Null points!
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,001
    Andy_JS said:

    The Spanish People's Party has abruptly taken a lead in the opinion polls.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Spanish_general_election#Voting_intention_estimates

    Shows what comes from taking a firm line against upstart Nationalists
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,533
    Greece jury giving 12 points to Cyprus. Shameless.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 62,270
    Hold on. Are these all the votes now, or just the jury votes or just the public votes?

    Confused.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 14,790
    isam said:

    His rival was not seen as much less boring really. Boris vs Sir Keir is one of the biggest disparity’s in personality scores since polling on it began. I think Thatcher vs Foot and Blair vs Hague might just beat it. But the next IPSOS poll is next month
    Neither Foot nor Hague were boring. Both were capable of being interesting, thoughtful and amusing. Neither had the looks for television though. Keir does have the looks for television. But he's boring. Not boring as in geeky. Not boring as in dull. Just bereft of any particular interesting features. Like a minor character in a film whose purpose is simply not to detract from the main action.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,523
    We gave Iceland 10..... Doing OK
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,001
    edited May 2021

    Null points!

    Post Brexit we will be lucky to ever get a point again let alone win it whoever we pick, don't know why we bother
  • gealbhangealbhan Posts: 2,362
    edited May 2021

    Murder in the Car Park, the Channel 4 documentary series about the Daniel Morgan case, available to view on their web site, is strong on the News of the World in particular paying a detective agency that in turn bribed the police for stories. I think it was the second episode.

    We should remember some journalists went to prison, including Andy Coulson who worked for David Cameron, so it's not just the BBC with bad judgement.
    But the point here though, when those organs go on attack with this bad journalistic practice line, does it carry any weight? When Even their own brainwashed readership will cringe and turn to the feature pages. A lot of this weeks Front pages, what a complete waste of time writing them.
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,533

    Hold on. Are these all the votes now, or just the jury votes or just the public votes?

    Confused.

    Jury only, I think.
  • alex_alex_ Posts: 7,518
    Andy_JS said:

    Last time I watched the Eurovision Song Contest they went through each country that had been awarded between 1 and 12 points. They seem to have scrapped that now, probably because it wasn't exciting enough.

    It’s because there’s too many countries voting and it would take 4 hours
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,629
    Irish give us NUL POINTS!
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,933
    My youngest, "12 points to Switzerland! Fuck the French"
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,674

    Hold on. Are these all the votes now, or just the jury votes or just the public votes?

    Confused.

    Jury only I think?
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,817
    0!
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,001

    Irish give us NUL POINTS!

    No surprise either, they were the ones who wanted a border in the Irish sea after all!
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,661
    Crossover!
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,629
    tlg86 said:

    Jury only, I think.
    Jury only.

    Public voting will add HUNDREDS to the leading countries.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 62,270
    Thanks. Question is: can Italy overtake in the public?

    If not they're looking at good lay at 3.9
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 22,100
    Based on the song, the performance and the general low regard for us in Europe. Nil points was towards the upper end of my expectations for the U.K. entry.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,199

    We gave Iceland 10..... Doing OK

    I think the public vote will be good for Iceland.
  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,435
    Good Luck JohnO! One of the few PBers I've actually met and certainly one of the nicest and funniest.
  • isamisam Posts: 41,290
    gealbhan said:

    You got evidence to support that? I still reckon in final analysis character matters more.
    42 years of IPSOS-MORI Polls

    https://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2020/06/06/the-case-for-making-personality-ratings-a-good-electoral-indicator/
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,313
    HYUFD said:

    Post Brexit we will be lucky to ever get a point again let alone win it whoever we pick, don't know why we bother
    But why aren’t the non EU countries voting for plucky little us?
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,661
    Belgium screws over France
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,728

    But why aren’t the non EU countries voting for plucky little us?
    Because they are all speaking English. We are the Man Utd, mid-Ferguson-era, of culture
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,933
    Jonathan said:

    Based on the song, the performance and the general low regard for us in Europe. Nil points was towards the upper end of my expectations for the U.K. entry.

    Every single year the commentators whinge that our song was better than its score.
    I strongly beg to differ.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 22,100
    Will Boris announce a commonwealth song contest tomorrow?
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,782
    isam said:

    I just don’t think he has what it takes to beat Boris. That’s all I’ve said from the start, nothing malicious. He seems an upright, decent person.

    I don’t like him because he was one of the leading voices in trying to stop Brexit, and I think he comes across as really dull. But that goes for lots of people!

    If he bounces back I’ll owe you £300 though
    That too. Mental anguish PLUS money down. Odds still on your side though. Very much so. But time is on mine.

    Kinnock wasn't boring btw. Don't know why you say that. He was Mr Personality vs Grey John Major. And he lost.

    But these are different times. Reality TV and social media times. Your pet theory does have some merit. It's not obvious and total bollocks.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,629
    France leading at the mo. Swiss second.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 127,001
    edited May 2021

    But why aren’t the non EU countries voting for plucky little us?
    What non EU countries? Iceland, Norway and Switzerland but they are still in the EEA or EFTA and the Russians hate us too as we are close to the US.

    We might get a point from Israel and Australia, that is it (not this time from the latter though it seems)
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,674

    Belgium screws over France

    To be fair there's not much regional voting this year (apart from Cyprus).
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,295

    Andy, it's been like that for a few years now.
    I haven't bothered watching it properly for a number of years.
  • gealbhangealbhan Posts: 2,362
    edited May 2021
    isam said:

    42 years of IPSOS-MORI Polls

    https://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2020/06/06/the-case-for-making-personality-ratings-a-good-electoral-indicator/
    Do people actually understand the difference between personality and character traits? Or think they are same thing?

    Personality, you get from first birth into your family, funny, extroverted, energetic, optimistic, confident—as well as overly serious, lazy, negative, and shy as some traits.

    Character you get from your second birth, into your tribe. traits like honesty, virtue, and kindliness. That treating others in the right way is important. sympathy, loyalty, reciprocity, bravery, respect, fairness, all come from tribe membership.

    Tribe you could try to read across as religion, nationalism or society, or the second birth honouring some form of rights of passage, perhaps earn’t in some way by displaying resilience and wisdom.

    Wisdom doesn’t burst forth fully developed like Athena out of Zeus’s head; it is built up, small step by small step, from most irrational beginnings.

    Character always trumps Personality in GE voting, 2019 fine example. In fact every election has been a fine example.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,199
    Jonathan said:

    Will Boris announce a commonwealth song contest tomorrow?

    From Australia, null points....
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,236
    Nil point from Aussie!
  • isamisam Posts: 41,290
    Cookie said:

    Neither Foot nor Hague were boring. Both were capable of being interesting, thoughtful and amusing. Neither had the looks for television though. Keir does have the looks for television. But he's boring. Not boring as in geeky. Not boring as in dull. Just bereft of any particular interesting features. Like a minor character in a film whose purpose is simply not to detract from the main action.
    I have my own opinions, but for this argument I defer to IPSOS-MORIs leader image ratings 1979-2021
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,817
    dixiedean said:

    Every single year the commentators whinge that our song was better than its score.
    I strongly beg to differ.
    Indeed. Bland song, badly sung. Honestly we need to start sending in novelty acts. We're never going to win so let's just send in gimmicks that make the people laugh.
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,533

    To be fair there's not much regional voting this year (apart from Cyprus).
    Well, these are juries so it should be better than the public. But still Greece and Cyprus vote for each other.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,661

    To be fair there's not much regional voting this year (apart from Cyprus).
    And Moldova Bulgaria
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,295
    Can't believe they hate our vaccine success this much. 😊
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,629
    Swiss leading just!
  • alex_alex_ Posts: 7,518

    To be fair there's not much regional voting this year (apart from Cyprus).
    That’ll kick in for the public vote. It was the reason the jury voting was reintroduced.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,933
    MaxPB said:

    Indeed. Bland song, badly sung. Honestly we need to start sending in novelty acts. We're never going to win so let's just send in gimmicks that make the people laugh.
    Either that, or we could find a decent song from one of our many more than decent bands.
This discussion has been closed.