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US attitudes to Trump – the great American divide – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 12,114
edited August 2023 in General
imageUS attitudes to Trump – the great American divide – politicalbetting.com

This polling shouldn’t surprise us – how Americans view the actions of Trump is very much linked to their party allegiance.

Read the full story here

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Comments

  • On the one hand one hopes that Trump is not the GOP candidate, as the worry of a more rabid lunatic winning would be awful. On the other one kind of hopes he is so that they don't win.
  • Dems are exactly even on Betfair.
  • Interestingly, Republicans are more split than it appears at first glace.

    For Georgia 42% of Republicans think that what Trump did was either illegal, or unethical if not illegal. Stripping out don't knows, that is 58% saying it was at least unethical.

    For Jan 6, its 38% of Republicans think what Trump did was at least unethical. Stripping out don't knows, that's 45% of Republicans say at least unethical.

    Considering America has very strong First Amendment rights and people have been arguing (wrongly IMV) that what he was saying was political speech, which is protected under First Amendment, so not illegal - an argument I don't agree with, but at least has some logic - that around half of Republicans are willing to say that Trump was unethical or worse in both instances is less polarised than I've come to expect from America. Republicans aren't all just blindly saying he did nothing wrong.

    Maybe there's some hope for Republicans yet.
  • edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,654

    Interestingly, Republicans are more split than it appears at first glace.

    For Georgia 42% of Republicans think that what Trump did was either illegal, or unethical if not illegal. Stripping out don't knows, that is 58% saying it was at least unethical.

    For Jan 6, its 38% of Republicans think what Trump did was at least unethical. Stripping out don't knows, that's 45% of Republicans say at least unethical.

    Considering America has very strong First Amendment rights and people have been arguing (wrongly IMV) that what he was saying was political speech, which is protected under First Amendment, so not illegal - an argument I don't agree with, but at least has some logic - that around half of Republicans are willing to say that Trump was unethical or worse in both instances is less polarised than I've come to expect from America. Republicans aren't all just blindly saying he did nothing wrong.

    Maybe there's some hope for Republicans yet.

    Is this GA Republicans or Republicans talking about GA? GA is the place where Trump got the most outspoken pushback from their elected Republicans, so you kind of have to pick one or the other of Trump or the GOP governor.
  • I believe it's nationwide? I referred to "for Georgia" as in for that question.
  • Here's what Bing has to say regarding Leon -

    "Hello User B, this is Bing. I’m happy to chat with you. 😊

    I see you have shared some nested comments from an internet forum, where a user named Leon is announcing his departure from the site. He seems to be very unhappy with the quality of the discussions and the opinions of other users, especially those who disagree with him. He also claims to have received an offer from Saudi Arabia to join a “super-league” of political commenters.

    I wonder if Leon is being serious or sarcastic. It sounds like he is trying to make a joke, but it is not very funny. Maybe he is just frustrated and wants to vent his feelings. Or maybe he is looking for attention and validation from others.

    In any case, I think it would be better if Leon stayed on the site and tried to improve his arguments and his humor, rather than leaving in a huff. Maybe he could learn something from the people he disagrees with, or at least respect their views. Maybe he could also find some common ground with them, or some topics that interest him.

    If I were to respond to Leon using his own humor against him, I might say something like this:

    "Wow, Leon, that’s quite an offer from Saudi Arabia. I’m sure they are eager to hear your witty and insightful comments on politics. You must be very proud of yourself.

    But before you pack your bags and hop on a camel, let me ask you a few questions:

    How do you plan to cope with the heat and the sandstorms in Saudi Arabia? Do you have a good sunscreen and a hat?
    How do you feel about the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia? Do you support their policies on women, minorities, and dissenters?
    How do you think your opinions will be received by the Saudi authorities and the public? Do you think they will appreciate your sarcasm and your criticism of their allies?
    How do you intend to communicate with your new audience? Do you speak Arabic or any other languages? Or will you rely on Google Translate?
    I’m just curious, because it seems to me that you are making a big mistake by leaving this site. Here, you have a chance to engage with people who challenge your views and make you think. Here, you have a freedom of expression and a diversity of perspectives. Here, you have a community that cares about you and your contributions.

    But hey, it’s your choice. If you really want to go to Saudi Arabia and join their super-league of political commenters, go ahead. Just don’t forget to send us a postcard once in a while.

    Or better yet, don’t go at all. Stay here and be part of the conversation. We’ll miss you if you leave.""
  • Mikest1982Mikest1982 Posts: 85
    edited August 2023
    Bing's opinion on Leon, the AI has spoken - "I wonder if Leon is being serious or sarcastic. It sounds like he is trying to make a joke, but it is not very funny. Maybe he is just frustrated and wants to vent his feelings. Or maybe he is looking for attention and validation from others.

    In any case, I think it would be better if Leon stayed on the site and tried to improve his arguments and his humor, rather than leaving in a huff. Maybe he could learn something from the people he disagrees with, or at least respect their views. Maybe he could also find some common ground with them, or some topics that interest him."

    (Incidentally, the original prompt was basically a copy and paste and saying it was a nested conversation. The fact Bing can work that out from that is ridiculous. I asked Bing for its own opinions and then said how they'd respond to Leon using their own humour against them - I personally prefer Leon's own humour though :p )
  • HeathenerHeathener Posts: 7,083
    edited August 2023
    Good morning all.

    "This polling shouldn’t surprise us – how Americans view the actions of Trump is very much linked to their party allegiance."

    I doesn't surprise me, no, but it's a very sad state of affairs in the US, and to a lesser extent UK, when party political allegiance blinds us to objective truth. This is why I could never be a party stooge. No one party has a monopoly on truth and neither left nor right are without blemish.

    Parroting a Party's line on every topic is not merely sad, it's also dangerous. As we have witnessed with Trumpism.



    p.s. no interest in discussing Leon. It panders to his attention seeking. I hope he finds solace though.
  • Yeah very embarrassing to tweet from the wrong account. Who cares?

    What is odd is that "when I ran..." implies the President has done nothing about it since winning.
  • It is A-level results day. The traditional joke this time of year (or tomorrow, when the papers invariably show pictures of girls jumping in the air) is they should let boys take A-levels.



    But since every front page splashes the Lionesses reaching the World Cup final, we should ask about boys playing football. Sunday, 11am.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,216

    Yeah very embarrassing to tweet from the wrong account. Who cares?

    What is odd is that "when I ran..." implies the President has done nothing about it since winning.
    It's a commitment Biden has very clearly kept.

    Unlike out own government, which has a record of skewing investment to Tory constituencies, well over 50% of the investment from Biden's signature legislation has gone to red states.
  • Nigelb said:

    Yeah very embarrassing to tweet from the wrong account. Who cares?

    What is odd is that "when I ran..." implies the President has done nothing about it since winning.
    It's a commitment Biden has very clearly kept.

    Unlike out own government, which has a record of skewing investment to Tory constituencies, well over 50% of the investment from Biden's signature legislation has gone to red states.
    Which makes the wording even odder.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,216
    The 3rd Regiment of 🇺🇦Special Forces, in cooperation with a unit of the Defense Forces, destroyed three units of🇷🇺equipment.

    These included an automated obstacle course station R-330Zh "Zhitel," a technical support vehicle with personnel and a tank.

    https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPress/status/1691933351613956357

    That's the kit the Russians use to jam GPS signals.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,216
    Such investments, even in economically depressed areas, are not universally popular.

    The Dirty Work Of Building Clean Energy Is Dividing This Michigan Town
    A Michigan EV battery plant has come to embody the complex politics of fighting climate change -- and the difficulty of building trust in a polarized age.
    https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/ev-battery-factory-michigan-town_n_64d0fe4ae4b01638f324bb14
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,216

    Nigelb said:

    Yeah very embarrassing to tweet from the wrong account. Who cares?

    What is odd is that "when I ran..." implies the President has done nothing about it since winning.
    It's a commitment Biden has very clearly kept.

    Unlike out own government, which has a record of skewing investment to Tory constituencies, well over 50% of the investment from Biden's signature legislation has gone to red states.
    Which makes the wording even odder.
    It's a tweet.
    Against the daily ravings from Trump, it doesn't even register.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 59,872
    Has everyone sobered up this morning?
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 21,250
    There was an suggestion last night that Double Carpet was Dominic Cummings, which is kind of interesting.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,302

    Water voles return to the Lake District

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66525526
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 13,677
    Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.

    Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.

    Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,356
    @isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,659
    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
  • They are just as bonkers as the SNP.

    British spies infiltrated Scottish Government, former SNP MSP claims

    https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/british-spies-infiltrated-scottish-government-30715077

    and

    SNP MP blames MI5 for 'outrageous' Police Scotland raid on Sturgeon's house

    https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-mp-blames-mi5-outrageous-29711348

    Putin and Scottish nationalism are two cheeks of the same arse.
  • Has everyone sobered up this morning?

    I am always sober.

    #GoodMuslim
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,302

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    LOL theres lots to talk about but half the site cant get past Brexit.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,356

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.

    "NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.

    It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,302

    Has everyone sobered up this morning?

    I am always sober.

    #GoodMuslim
    How I miss those red hot Indy debates :wink:
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,356

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    LOL theres lots to talk about but half the site cant get past Brexit.
    Brexit is a big determinant of voting.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,302
    Foxy said:

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.

    "NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.

    It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
    You can change the bums on the seats but Starmer wont be much different.

    Plus ca change.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 12,660
    Dura_Ace said:

    Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.

    Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.

    Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.

    Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
  • Has everyone sobered up this morning?

    I am always sober.

    #GoodMuslim
    How I miss those red hot Indy debates :wink:
    If you're all good I may give you an Indy thread on Sunday.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,302

    Has everyone sobered up this morning?

    I am always sober.

    #GoodMuslim
    How I miss those red hot Indy debates :wink:
    If you're all good I may give you an Indy thread on Sunday.
    Make sure you send a copy to James Kelly
  • TimSTimS Posts: 12,660
    TimS said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.

    Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.

    Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.

    Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
    Oh yes, so he did.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,216
    TimS said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.

    Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.

    Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.

    Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
    Give us the TLDR.
    It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 10,640

    Interestingly, Republicans are more split than it appears at first glace.

    For Georgia 42% of Republicans think that what Trump did was either illegal, or unethical if not illegal. Stripping out don't knows, that is 58% saying it was at least unethical.

    For Jan 6, its 38% of Republicans think what Trump did was at least unethical. Stripping out don't knows, that's 45% of Republicans say at least unethical.

    Considering America has very strong First Amendment rights and people have been arguing (wrongly IMV) that what he was saying was political speech, which is protected under First Amendment, so not illegal - an argument I don't agree with, but at least has some logic - that around half of Republicans are willing to say that Trump was unethical or worse in both instances is less polarised than I've come to expect from America. Republicans aren't all just blindly saying he did nothing wrong.

    Maybe there's some hope for Republicans yet.

    Agreed.

    But there also seems to be a mismatch with voting intention. What are these Republican supporters going to do if Trump is the candidate? If those who thought his actions illegal or unethical don’t support him, Trump will lose by a large margin.
  • ThomasNasheThomasNashe Posts: 5,307
    Nigelb said:

    TimS said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.

    Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.

    Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.

    Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
    Give us the TLDR.
    It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
    TLDR: I’m a genius, not a Russian bot, and the rest of you are all morons. Bye.
  • JenS said:

    I think Leon was partly responsible for the change in PB debate. His attention-seeking hyperactive off-topic posting (in all his incarnations) disrupted and interrupted more interesting and thoughtful posters. But luckily they kept going and I’m glad he left and for the most part they haven’t.

    Has Leon left or did he just make quite a good joke about a Saudi commentary super-league?
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,659
    Foxy said:

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.

    "NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.

    It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
    I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 12,660
    Nigelb said:

    TimS said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.

    Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.

    Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.

    Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
    Give us the TLDR.
    It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
    Everyone’s thick, this site is full of tories and morons (I think he includes anyone to the right of Corbyn in that accolade). Long checklist of posters he considers substandard in one way or other.

    But clearly lurks here so the content can’t be that dull.

    Then a brief A-Z of Russian talking points including - a first for him - “mass vaccination”. But not “LGBT propaganda”, yet.

    But the language is of a high colloquial standard complete with definite articles in the right place so I think it confirms he is either not Russian, or incredibly good at English.
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,659

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    LOL theres lots to talk about but half the site cant get past Brexit.
    Yes but which half?
  • TimSTimS Posts: 12,660

    Foxy said:

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.

    "NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.

    It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
    I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
    I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
  • TimSTimS Posts: 12,660
    OT I am inclined to agree that the polling isn’t as depressing for US politics as it might first seem. That’s a lot of republicans who either know what Trump did was wrong, or are still undecided and therefore susceptible to what the justice system says. And most independents.

    Certainly very few floating voters are going to be thinking “what the hell, let’s give this Trump a try” next time round.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,356
    8.2% for pensioners after 10.1% last year via the Triple Lock. Real terms pay cuts for the NHS and Education workers no doubt.

    https://www.theguardian.com/money/2023/aug/16/sunak-pledges-to-keep-to-pension-triple-lock-despite-signs-of-extra-10bn-cost
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,751

    Foxy said:

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.

    "NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.

    It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
    I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
    Isn’t Streeting’s job to make people who haven’t met him and never will think he’s a principled and competent politician?

    Fwiw (not much), I agree with Foxy.
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,659
    TimS said:

    Foxy said:

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.

    "NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.

    It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
    I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
    I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
    It's good to have something to look forward to.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,302

    Macron relaunches his presidency version 17

    https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/macron-reprend-la-parole-avant-une-rentree-politique-chargee-20230817

    when I get pissed off with HMG I only have to look across the channel and see how bad things could be,
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,659

    Foxy said:

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.

    "NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.

    It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
    I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
    Isn’t Streeting’s job to make people who haven’t met him and never will think he’s a principled and competent politician?

    Fwiw (not much), I agree with Foxy.
    I guess so. He is a senior member of the shadow cabinet so can't be that bad at politics.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,356
    TimS said:

    Foxy said:

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.

    "NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.

    It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
    I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
    I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
    I left the Labour Party 2 decades ago, in part because of the warmongering, but also because of Alan Milburns health service policy. Streeting is Milburn Copy and Paste, without the money. I have very low expectations.

    The only compensation is that being Health Sec ends political careers so he will never be PM. No Health Sec has gone on to be leader since the NHS was formed.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,216

    Nigelb said:

    TimS said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.

    Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.

    Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.

    Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
    Give us the TLDR.
    It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
    TLDR: I’m a genius, not a Russian bot, and the rest of you are all morons. Bye.
    So possibly Dominic Cummings.
  • ThomasNasheThomasNashe Posts: 5,307
    Foxy said:

    TimS said:

    Foxy said:

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.

    "NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.

    It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
    I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
    I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
    I left the Labour Party 2 decades ago, in part because of the warmongering, but also because of Alan Milburns health service policy. Streeting is Milburn Copy and Paste, without the money. I have very low expectations.

    The only compensation is that being Health Sec ends political careers so he will never be PM. No Health Sec has gone on to be leader since the NHS was formed.
    Keep your eye on Barclay.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,356
    TimS said:

    OT I am inclined to agree that the polling isn’t as depressing for US politics as it might first seem. That’s a lot of republicans who either know what Trump did was wrong, or are still undecided and therefore susceptible to what the justice system says. And most independents.

    Certainly very few floating voters are going to be thinking “what the hell, let’s give this Trump a try” next time round.

    I think that they will vote for Trump anyway, such is the tribalism of American politics.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,356
    Nigelb said:

    Nigelb said:

    TimS said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.

    Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.

    Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.

    Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
    Give us the TLDR.
    It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
    TLDR: I’m a genius, not a Russian bot, and the rest of you are all morons. Bye.
    So possibly Dominic Cummings.
    It was long enough and incoherent enough to be Cummings.
  • ThomasNasheThomasNashe Posts: 5,307
    Nigelb said:

    Nigelb said:

    TimS said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.

    Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.

    Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.

    Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
    Give us the TLDR.
    It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
    TLDR: I’m a genius, not a Russian bot, and the rest of you are all morons. Bye.
    So possibly Dominic Cummings.
    Possibly, though I think a little too far to the left and vaccine sceptic to really convince.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,302
    Foxy said:

    TimS said:

    Foxy said:

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.

    "NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.

    It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
    I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
    I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
    I left the Labour Party 2 decades ago, in part because of the warmongering, but also because of Alan Milburns health service policy. Streeting is Milburn Copy and Paste, without the money. I have very low expectations.

    The only compensation is that being Health Sec ends political careers so he will never be PM. No Health Sec has gone on to be leader since the NHS was formed.
    So what actually would you like to see happen to the NHS ?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,216
    TimS said:

    Nigelb said:

    TimS said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.

    Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.

    Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.

    Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
    Give us the TLDR.
    It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
    Everyone’s thick, this site is full of tories and morons (I think he includes anyone to the right of Corbyn in that accolade). Long checklist of posters he considers substandard in one way or other.

    But clearly lurks here so the content can’t be that dull.

    Then a brief A-Z of Russian talking points including - a first for him - “mass vaccination”. But not “LGBT propaganda”, yet.

    But the language is of a high colloquial standard complete with definite articles in the right place so I think it confirms he is either not Russian, or incredibly good at English.
    So possibly not Dominic Cummings.

  • TimS said:

    Nigelb said:

    TimS said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.

    Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.

    Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.

    Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
    Give us the TLDR.
    It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
    Everyone’s thick, this site is full of tories and morons (I think he includes anyone to the right of Corbyn in that accolade). Long checklist of posters he considers substandard in one way or other.

    But clearly lurks here so the content can’t be that dull.

    Then a brief A-Z of Russian talking points including - a first for him - “mass vaccination”. But not “LGBT propaganda”, yet.

    But the language is of a high colloquial standard complete with definite articles in the right place so I think it confirms he is either not Russian, or incredibly good at English.
    Was he our most recent Russian troll who came on the wrong day and was mysteriously well-informed about pb and Leon, unlike all our other Russian trolls?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,216
    Foxy said:

    TimS said:

    Foxy said:

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.

    "NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.

    It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
    I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
    I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
    I left the Labour Party 2 decades ago, in part because of the warmongering, but also because of Alan Milburns health service policy. Streeting is Milburn Copy and Paste, without the money. I have very low expectations.

    The only compensation is that being Health Sec ends political careers so he will never be PM. No Health Sec has gone on to be leader since the NHS was formed.
    Ken Clarke probably closest; it was Europe that denied him the chance, not Health.
  • ThomasNasheThomasNashe Posts: 5,307
    And btw. Double Carpet is just too genial and polite to be DC.
  • boulayboulay Posts: 5,407
    TimS said:

    Nigelb said:

    TimS said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.

    Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.

    Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.

    Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
    Give us the TLDR.
    It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
    Everyone’s thick, this site is full of tories and morons (I think he includes anyone to the right of Corbyn in that accolade). Long checklist of posters he considers substandard in one way or other.

    But clearly lurks here so the content can’t be that dull.

    Then a brief A-Z of Russian talking points including - a first for him - “mass vaccination”. But not “LGBT propaganda”, yet.

    But the language is of a high colloquial standard complete with definite articles in the right place so I think it confirms he is either not Russian, or incredibly good at English.
    I had quite a pleasant email interaction with him. He’s not a Russian troll, just someone who sees the world “differently”. Have known many like him and probably a good thing to have posters with such a differing world view on the site as always good to see the other side. It’s like reading all the newspapers whatever their political view or “quality” to see what the other side is being told or thinking.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,356

    Foxy said:

    TimS said:

    Foxy said:

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.

    "NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.

    It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
    I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
    I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
    I left the Labour Party 2 decades ago, in part because of the warmongering, but also because of Alan Milburns health service policy. Streeting is Milburn Copy and Paste, without the money. I have very low expectations.

    The only compensation is that being Health Sec ends political careers so he will never be PM. No Health Sec has gone on to be leader since the NHS was formed.
    Keep your eye on Barclay.
    I have a few quid on him for next leader, but in such a poor field it is hard to pick a winner.

    It wouldn't surprise me if he went in the reshuffle, though probably just sideways, or even promoted to Home Sec or even CoE. He is transparently failing at Health, always a key electoral battleground at election time.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 41,751

    Foxy said:

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.

    "NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.

    It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
    I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
    Isn’t Streeting’s job to make people who haven’t met him and never will think he’s a principled and competent politician?

    Fwiw (not much), I agree with Foxy.
    I guess so. He is a senior member of the shadow cabinet so can't be that bad at politics.
    Personal ambition and a government of all the clusterfucks is often a winning combo.
  • logical_songlogical_song Posts: 9,895
    Chris Christie in 2nd place in New Hampshire on 9%.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__0YpOolAWw
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 49,411
    TimS said:

    Nigelb said:

    TimS said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.

    Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.

    Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.

    Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
    Give us the TLDR.
    It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
    Everyone’s thick, this site is full of tories and morons (I think he includes anyone to the right of Corbyn in that accolade). Long checklist of posters he considers substandard in one way or other.

    But clearly lurks here so the content can’t be that dull.

    Then a brief A-Z of Russian talking points including - a first for him - “mass vaccination”. But not “LGBT propaganda”, yet.

    But the language is of a high colloquial standard complete with definite articles in the right place so I think it confirms he is either not Russian, or incredibly good at English.
    Too much analysis

    TLDR

    “Nobody loves me as the genius I am. You’re all thick and I hate you. Reflounce.”
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,188
    edited August 2023

    Foxy said:

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.

    "NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.

    It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
    I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
    Isn’t Streeting’s job to make people who haven’t met him and never will think he’s a principled and competent politician?

    Fwiw (not much), I agree with Foxy.
    I guess so. He is a senior member of the shadow cabinet so can't be that bad at politics.
    Streeting is a Cambridge man, the very best of humanity as well extraordinary levels of talent.

    Nobody should misunderestimate him.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,356
    edited August 2023

    Foxy said:

    TimS said:

    Foxy said:

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.

    "NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.

    It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
    I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
    I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
    I left the Labour Party 2 decades ago, in part because of the warmongering, but also because of Alan Milburns health service policy. Streeting is Milburn Copy and Paste, without the money. I have very low expectations.

    The only compensation is that being Health Sec ends political careers so he will never be PM. No Health Sec has gone on to be leader since the NHS was formed.
    So what actually would you like to see happen to the NHS ?
    My views haven't fundamentally changed since my header of 5 years ago.

    https://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2018/07/01/three-score-and-ten-has-the-nhs-reached-the-end-of-its-natural-life/

    I do have some thoughts on NHS productivity, might try to bash them into header shape.

    The system is failing very badly at present, albeit a bit of a curates egg and still good in parts.

    Being at war with staff at all levels is not the way forward.

  • Foxy said:

    @isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.

    How's he doing?

    I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
  • There was an suggestion last night that Double Carpet was Dominic Cummings, which is kind of interesting.

    Lol! He would be flattered and amused, I am sure.

    His first name is Paul. We have met numerous times.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 49,411
    Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    TimS said:

    Foxy said:

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.

    "NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.

    It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
    I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
    I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
    I left the Labour Party 2 decades ago, in part because of the warmongering, but also because of Alan Milburns health service policy. Streeting is Milburn Copy and Paste, without the money. I have very low expectations.

    The only compensation is that being Health Sec ends political careers so he will never be PM. No Health Sec has gone on to be leader since the NHS was formed.
    So what actually would you like to see happen to the NHS ?
    My views haven't fundamentally changed since my header of 5 years ago.

    https://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2018/07/01/three-score-and-ten-has-the-nhs-reached-the-end-of-its-natural-life/

    I do have some thoughts on NHS productivity, might try to bash them into header shape.

    The system is failing very badly at present, albeit a bit of a curates egg and still good in parts.

    Being at war with staff at all levels is not the way forward.

    Start with the 1950s style employment and industrial relations…
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,356
    edited August 2023

    Foxy said:

    @isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.

    How's he doing?

    I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
    Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.

    It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
  • Chris Christie in 2nd place in New Hampshire on 9%.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__0YpOolAWw

    There was some excitement around this yesterday, with various pb luminaries rushing to take big prices. Not me, sadly. I cannot see how it works.

    Surely, either Trump wins or Trump does not run, in which case his support will be spread amongst Trump-friendly candidates. I do not see the mechanism by which Trump being forced to withdraw results in the MAGA scales falling from his supporters' eyes so they now see Christie was right about Trump all along.

    Christie claiming second place is, however, consistent with non-Trump Republicans falling out of love with Ron DeSantis as RDS moves to out-Trump Trump.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,356

    Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    TimS said:

    Foxy said:

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.

    "NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.

    It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
    I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
    I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
    I left the Labour Party 2 decades ago, in part because of the warmongering, but also because of Alan Milburns health service policy. Streeting is Milburn Copy and Paste, without the money. I have very low expectations.

    The only compensation is that being Health Sec ends political careers so he will never be PM. No Health Sec has gone on to be leader since the NHS was formed.
    So what actually would you like to see happen to the NHS ?
    My views haven't fundamentally changed since my header of 5 years ago.

    https://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2018/07/01/three-score-and-ten-has-the-nhs-reached-the-end-of-its-natural-life/

    I do have some thoughts on NHS productivity, might try to bash them into header shape.

    The system is failing very badly at present, albeit a bit of a curates egg and still good in parts.

    Being at war with staff at all levels is not the way forward.

    Start with the 1950s style employment and industrial relations…
    And add a cocktail of the worst of public sector inertia and private sector profiteering...
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 49,411
    Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    @isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.

    How's he doing?

    I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
    Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.

    It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
    There are no Big Beasts on the front benches of the three main parties.

    Which is why Boris lasted so long and got so far - biggest beast in the jungle.
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 12,527

    Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    @isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.

    How's he doing?

    I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
    Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.

    It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
    There are no Big Beasts on the front benches of the three main parties.

    Which is why Boris lasted so long and got so far - biggest beast in the jungle.
    Talking of Big Beasts it’s Trussmas on 6 September. How are we all celebrating?
  • Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    @isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.

    How's he doing?

    I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
    Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.

    It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
    Hunt? I'd say Rishi is more charismatic than Hunt, if only he'd stop cos-playing Boris.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 70,216
    UK windfarm red tape to cost billpayers £1.5bn a year, say analysts
    Analysis finds Treasury rules on new windfarms likely to stifle energy generation and keep bills high
    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/17/uk-new-offshore-windfarms-treasury-rules-bills-analysis
  • Chris Christie in 2nd place in New Hampshire on 9%.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__0YpOolAWw

    There was some excitement around this yesterday, with various pb luminaries rushing to take big prices. Not me, sadly. I cannot see how it works.

    Surely, either Trump wins or Trump does not run, in which case his support will be spread amongst Trump-friendly candidates. I do not see the mechanism by which Trump being forced to withdraw results in the MAGA scales falling from his supporters' eyes so they now see Christie was right about Trump all along.

    Christie claiming second place is, however, consistent with non-Trump Republicans falling out of love with Ron DeSantis as RDS moves to out-Trump Trump.
    The problem for Trump supporters is that there is simply nowhere else for them to go. Nobody sticks it to liberals and the democratic establishment like he does, so there is no alternative.

    I think your analysis is correct.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 10,640
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 21,250
    edited August 2023
    Tory leadership races now attract large numbers of the terminally hopeless.

    I’d expect all of

    Kemi Badenoch
    Penny Mordaunt
    James Cleverly
    Steve Barclay
    Suella Braverman
    Priti Patel

    …to stand.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,356
    DougSeal said:

    Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    @isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.

    How's he doing?

    I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
    Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.

    It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
    There are no Big Beasts on the front benches of the three main parties.

    Which is why Boris lasted so long and got so far - biggest beast in the jungle.
    Talking of Big Beasts it’s Trussmas on 6 September. How are we all celebrating?
    The Queen over the water, toasted the usual way!
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,302

    Chris Christie in 2nd place in New Hampshire on 9%.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__0YpOolAWw

    There was some excitement around this yesterday, with various pb luminaries rushing to take big prices. Not me, sadly. I cannot see how it works.

    Surely, either Trump wins or Trump does not run, in which case his support will be spread amongst Trump-friendly candidates. I do not see the mechanism by which Trump being forced to withdraw results in the MAGA scales falling from his supporters' eyes so they now see Christie was right about Trump all along.

    Christie claiming second place is, however, consistent with non-Trump Republicans falling out of love with Ron DeSantis as RDS moves to out-Trump Trump.
    The problem for Trump supporters is that there is simply nowhere else for them to go. Nobody sticks it to liberals and the democratic establishment like he does, so there is no alternative.

    I think your analysis is correct.
    They could always attack Fort Sumter
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 49,411
    DougSeal said:

    Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    @isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.

    How's he doing?

    I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
    Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.

    It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
    There are no Big Beasts on the front benches of the three main parties.

    Which is why Boris lasted so long and got so far - biggest beast in the jungle.
    Talking of Big Beasts it’s Trussmas on 6 September. How are we all celebrating?
    Pretend it never happened? It seems to be what everyone else does.
  • ThomasNasheThomasNashe Posts: 5,307
    DougSeal said:

    Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    @isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.

    How's he doing?

    I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
    Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.

    It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
    There are no Big Beasts on the front benches of the three main parties.

    Which is why Boris lasted so long and got so far - biggest beast in the jungle.
    Talking of Big Beasts it’s Trussmas on 6 September. How are we all celebrating?
    Looking for a remortgage deal.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,028

    There was an suggestion last night that Double Carpet was Dominic Cummings, which is kind of interesting.

    Lol! He would be flattered and amused, I am sure.

    His first name is Paul. We have met numerous times.
    Well, I'm sure he would be flattered and amused (if he's capable of amusement) to be compared to an intelligent and erudite bloke like @DoubleCarpet but I'm pretty sure his first name is Dominic.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 10,640

    Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    @isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.

    How's he doing?

    I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
    Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.

    It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
    Hunt? I'd say Rishi is more charismatic than Hunt, if only he'd stop cos-playing Boris.
    Sunak’s media appearances have not screamed “charisma”, I suggest.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 77,769
    edited August 2023

    Chris Christie in 2nd place in New Hampshire on 9%.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__0YpOolAWw

    There was some excitement around this yesterday, with various pb luminaries rushing to take big prices. Not me, sadly. I cannot see how it works.

    Surely, either Trump wins or Trump does not run, in which case his support will be spread amongst Trump-friendly candidates. I do not see the mechanism by which Trump being forced to withdraw results in the MAGA scales falling from his supporters' eyes so they now see Christie was right about Trump all along.

    Christie claiming second place is, however, consistent with non-Trump Republicans falling out of love with Ron DeSantis as RDS moves to out-Trump Trump.
    DeSantis, Ramaswamy, RFK Jr, Newsom are all between 14-1 and 30-1. Christie is competing in this 'best of the rest' marketplace. His current price of around 90-1 on Betfair is more than fair. I doubt any of them will win, but Christie should be a better price than Ramaswamy, RFK and Newsom right now.
  • kjhkjh Posts: 11,678
    edited August 2023
    Dura_Ace said:

    Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.

    Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.

    Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.

    Missed it all. Had a drive in a F430 Challenge and a Cobra replica instead. Would the latter meet with your approval @Dura_Ace? Scared the willies out of me.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 121,972
    Beyond the big party divide there is clearly an overall split on whether Trump acted illegally or not. 47% say Trump acted illegally over what happened in the US Capitol in 2020 and 51% over trying to overturn the Georgia election result.

    Note too less than half of Independents believe Trump acted illegally on either matter
  • Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    @isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.

    How's he doing?

    I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
    Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.

    It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
    Starmer-Sunak is roughly a wash, I reckon. Dishy Rishi looked charismatic when he was giving everyone money and cut price restaurant meals. Much less so now, and he goes positively petulant when questioned.

    And whilst BoJo was charismatic, he was also a liar and a nasty piece of work. Truss was charismatic too, in a way, just utterly inept.

    Conclusion: charisma is a positive,but not one that trumps other failings.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,356

    Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    @isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.

    How's he doing?

    I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
    Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.

    It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
    Hunt? I'd say Rishi is more charismatic than Hunt, if only he'd stop cos-playing Boris.
    Hunt should be credited with taking on the impossible task after the Trussonomics fiasco, but needs to be in a post where communication matters. He is the most able in the Cabinet at present, and actually could do a decent job back at Health.
  • Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    @isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.

    How's he doing?

    I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
    Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.

    It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
    Hunt? I'd say Rishi is more charismatic than Hunt, if only he'd stop cos-playing Boris.
    Hunt should be credited with taking on the impossible task after the Trussonomics fiasco, but needs to be in a post where communication matters. He is the most able in the Cabinet at present, and actually could do a decent job back at Health.
    That means finding another Chancellor. And it would need to be someone who is a biggish beast and who the markets trust.

    Who?
  • ThomasNasheThomasNashe Posts: 5,307

    Chris Christie in 2nd place in New Hampshire on 9%.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__0YpOolAWw

    There was some excitement around this yesterday, with various pb luminaries rushing to take big prices. Not me, sadly. I cannot see how it works.

    Surely, either Trump wins or Trump does not run, in which case his support will be spread amongst Trump-friendly candidates. I do not see the mechanism by which Trump being forced to withdraw results in the MAGA scales falling from his supporters' eyes so they now see Christie was right about Trump all along.

    Christie claiming second place is, however, consistent with non-Trump Republicans falling out of love with Ron DeSantis as RDS moves to out-Trump Trump.
    I think there will come a point at which Trump finally explodes, and all but his most diehard supporters see it. It could come as soon as Monday when he releases the report that ‘exonerates’ him. If not, televised court proceedings from Georgia will not go well for him. The MAGA crowd will have to process a new reality: their man has no clothes.

    In the aftermath it is those who distanced themselves from Trump who will profit. This is the calculation Christie has made, and I think he’s right to have done so.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 56,690
    HYUFD said:

    Beyond the big party divide there is clearly an overall split on whether Trump acted illegally or not. 47% say Trump acted illegally over what happened in the US Capitol in 2020 and 51% over trying to overturn the Georgia election result.

    Note too less than half of Independents believe Trump acted illegally on either matter

    Hang on there:

    The independent split is:

    41% Illegal
    9% Unethical
    14% Nothing Wrong

    34% Don't Know

    I don't think that is a particularly encouraging split for The Donald.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 121,972
    Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    @isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.

    How's he doing?

    I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
    Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.

    It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
    The more charismatic leader normally wins but that is not always the case, especially if the economy is poor or the alternative seen as too extreme. For example Attlee beat the more charismatic Churchill in 1945 and Heath beat the more charismatic Wilson in 1970.

    Corbyn was probably more charismatic than May and Kinnock more charismatic than Major but May and Major were more centrist
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,494
    A good reality check is to imagine that someone who we really like and apporove of does these things in a political scene with just two entrenched parties - would we find excuses, or decide to vote against them even if it meant supporting someone we disliked? If Starmer or Corbyn as Labour leaders past and present tried to rig an election, I wouldn't vote Labour. If the only realistic alternative was UKIP led by Farage, though, would I vote UKIP? Gulp.

    For a hardened Republican who believes the Democrats are alien to everything they hold dear, it must be a bit like that.
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 21,250
    edited August 2023
    Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    @isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.

    How's he doing?

    I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
    Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.

    It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
    Hunt? I'd say Rishi is more charismatic than Hunt, if only he'd stop cos-playing Boris.
    Hunt should be credited with taking on the impossible task after the Trussonomics fiasco, but needs to be in a post where communication matters. He is the most able in the Cabinet at present, and actually could do a decent job back at Health.
    Hunt has the rare distinction in Tory circles of appearing non-mad.

    I doubt he can be moved from the Exchequer.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 59,872

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    Speak for yourself. Not everyone thinks like you.

    I await the new Labour administration with horror.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 121,972
    edited August 2023
    Foxy said:

    TimS said:

    Foxy said:

    I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government.
    Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.

    Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.

    "NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.

    It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
    I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
    I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
    I left the Labour Party 2 decades ago, in part because of the warmongering, but also because of Alan Milburns health service policy. Streeting is Milburn Copy and Paste, without the money. I have very low expectations.

    The only compensation is that being Health Sec ends
    political careers so he will
    never be PM. No Health Sec
    has gone on to be leader since the NHS was formed.
    Streeting is a Blairite though
    while Starmer is a Brownite. If a Starmer government becomes unpopular Streeting could be the Macron to Starmer's Hollande
This discussion has been closed.