Am I the only one who thinks Starmer is doing okay (just okay, not amazing)?
I'm not so deluded as to think the UK is a world power, or even a major regional one anymore.
I don't think whomever is in charge could seriously turn things around; whether that be Badenoch, Starmer, Farage, Davey or Denyer.
We're living in bad times, with bad actors like Trump, Xi, Putin all pretending to be the good guys but doing horrible things, and no one really wants to make the tough choices to stop them, or explain to us that, yep, our economies are so interlinked if Trump fucks up America, he fucks up the world.....
Always really annoyed me that played on is "bowled" in the scorebook
Why ?
As a dismissal playing on from a poor drive wide outside off is very different from being out due to missing a straight one, or an inswinger.
Not really.
The bowler gets credit for catches, which are often much the same thing. And then there's the batsman getting an unplayably bad bounce, etc. And it's not as though batsmen don't get credit for an edge which goes through the slips for four.
Am I the only one who thinks Starmer is doing okay (just okay, not amazing)?
I'm not so deluded as to think the UK is a world power, or even a major regional one anymore.
I don't think whomever is in charge could seriously turn things around; whether that be Badenoch, Starmer, Farage, Davey or Denyer.
We're living in bad times, with bad actors like Trump, Xi, Putin all pretending to be the good guys but doing horrible things, and no one really wants to make the tough choices to stop them, or explain to us that, yep, our economies are so interlinked if Trump fucks up America, he fucks up the world.....
I agree. Given a hypothetical choice, a world run by, say, Starmer and Macron would be considerably safer and saner than one run by Trump, Netanyahu and Putin.
Am I the only one who thinks Starmer is doing okay (just okay, not amazing)?
I'm not so deluded as to think the UK is a world power, or even a major regional one anymore.
I don't think whomever is in charge could seriously turn things around; whether that be Badenoch, Starmer, Farage, Davey or Denyer.
We're living in bad times, with bad actors like Trump, Xi, Putin all pretending to be the good guys but doing horrible things, and no one really wants to make the tough choices to stop them, or explain to us that, yep, our economies are so interlinked if Trump fucks up America, he fucks up the world.....
I agree. Given a hypothetical choice, a world run by, say, Starmer and Macron would be considerably safer and saner than one run by Trump, Netanyahu and Putin.
There'd be the risk of Leon expiring from boredom, but I think we might just live with that.
Am I the only one who thinks Starmer is doing okay (just okay, not amazing)?
I'm not so deluded as to think the UK is a world power, or even a major regional one anymore.
I don't think whomever is in charge could seriously turn things around; whether that be Badenoch, Starmer, Farage, Davey or Denyer.
We're living in bad times, with bad actors like Trump, Xi, Putin all pretending to be the good guys but doing horrible things, and no one really wants to make the tough choices to stop them, or explain to us that, yep, our economies are so interlinked if Trump fucks up America, he fucks up the world.....
Agree. he is playing a tricky hand well. It's one where it's impossible to come out brilliantly, but possible to to be completely demolished. To come out OK is fine.
Reasons: we are a responsible but not particularly powerful player; memories of Iraq etc; the unknowability of Trump; it's essential to be onside with USA because there isn't a choice; UK population is very keen not to be involved unless it is to defend ourselves here.
Am I the only one who thinks Starmer is doing okay (just okay, not amazing)?
I'm not so deluded as to think the UK is a world power, or even a major regional one anymore.
I don't think whomever is in charge could seriously turn things around; whether that be Badenoch, Starmer, Farage, Davey or Denyer.
We're living in bad times, with bad actors like Trump, Xi, Putin all pretending to be the good guys but doing horrible things, and no one really wants to make the tough choices to stop them, or explain to us that, yep, our economies are so interlinked if Trump fucks up America, he fucks up the world.....
He's not done anything positive for the UK, has targeted vulnerable groups and is pursuing vindictive and venal policies against businesses, the disabled etc and has utterly failed to smash the gangs So, no, I don't think he's doing okay, personally. Other views available
Am I the only one who thinks Starmer is doing okay (just okay, not amazing)?
I'm not so deluded as to think the UK is a world power, or even a major regional one anymore.
I don't think whomever is in charge could seriously turn things around; whether that be Badenoch, Starmer, Farage, Davey or Denyer.
We're living in bad times, with bad actors like Trump, Xi, Putin all pretending to be the good guys but doing horrible things, and no one really wants to make the tough choices to stop them, or explain to us that, yep, our economies are so interlinked if Trump fucks up America, he fucks up the world.....
No you’re not. I’ve said since Xmas he’s really started to get better. I think the first impression of the last 6 months last year, where he was useless, is hard to shift.
Am I the only one who thinks Starmer is doing okay (just okay, not amazing)?
I'm not so deluded as to think the UK is a world power, or even a major regional one anymore.
I don't think whomever is in charge could seriously turn things around; whether that be Badenoch, Starmer, Farage, Davey or Denyer.
We're living in bad times, with bad actors like Trump, Xi, Putin all pretending to be the good guys but doing horrible things, and no one really wants to make the tough choices to stop them, or explain to us that, yep, our economies are so interlinked if Trump fucks up America, he fucks up the world.....
I'm with you, if anything I'm more positive. He's doing well. Starmer has inherited: a decade+ of no economic growth, the end of NATO and US democracy, a global trade war, and now we have what looks like a major war in the middle east.
On PB at the moment: your choice between a ring-side seat as the WWIII overture gets under way; or the latest from the really thrilling test match. (Fog in Channel, rest of the world isolated.)
On PB at the moment: your choice between a ring-side seat as the WWIII overture gets under way; or the latest from the really thrilling test match. (Fog in Channel, rest of the world isolated.)
I said in my post last night, do not rule out the Iranians doing something symbolic, telegraphing it, claiming success and then stopping the cycle with the Americans.
Stories have it the attack on the airbase in Qatar is right along those lines. The airbase, and the ports in Bahrain were largely emptied last week.
For a bunch of insane psychopaths, desperate to meet a bunch of virgins (why, by the way, surely someone who knows what they're doing...never mind) the Mullahs have shown themselves to be pragmatic and very cautious over the last few years. I think a symbolic gesture would fit.
On PB at the moment: your choice between a ring-side seat as the WWIII overture gets under way; or the latest from the really thrilling test match. (Fog in Channel, rest of the world isolated.)
But England only need 371 in 100 overs, which is eminently gettable under these conditions assuming we don’t lose early wickets.
On PB at the moment: your choice between a ring-side seat as the WWIII overture gets under way; or the latest from the really thrilling test match. (Fog in Channel, rest of the world isolated.)
I'm reminded of the Hitchcock film The Lady Vanishes.
If they want the off ramp.... they were talking about a 2 year war this morning
They’ve been promising all sorts of stuff since the Israelis started pounding away at them.
Never comes to fruition.
Again, remember Vietnam and Afghanistan who eventually saw off superpowers after years of attrition. And Iran is, even in its weakened state, richer and more powerful than those.
Trump will be seething at Bibi and the Neocons if they've dragged him into the Middle East quagmire he pledged to avoid.
Am I the only one who thinks Starmer is doing okay (just okay, not amazing)?
I'm not so deluded as to think the UK is a world power, or even a major regional one anymore.
I don't think whomever is in charge could seriously turn things around; whether that be Badenoch, Starmer, Farage, Davey or Denyer.
We're living in bad times, with bad actors like Trump, Xi, Putin all pretending to be the good guys but doing horrible things, and no one really wants to make the tough choices to stop them, or explain to us that, yep, our economies are so interlinked if Trump fucks up America, he fucks up the world.....
Sounds about right if you are happy with continued managed decline. I have more ambition for the UK than a timid old man without the intellectual capacity to imagine Britain as anything other than something to be a bit ashamed of.
On PB at the moment: your choice between a ring-side seat as the WWIII overture gets under way; or the latest from the really thrilling test match. (Fog in Channel, rest of the world isolated.)
But England only need 371 in 10 overs, which is eminently gettable under these conditions assuming we don’t lose early wickets.
Tim Marshall @Itwitius Iran says it has 'pulverised' the US Airbase in Qatar. It really hasn't but they hope the gullible, and some of the Iranian public, think it has. Qatar gov statement says no casualties from the missile attack.Qatar not happy at having missiles fired at the country. #Iran. .
On PB at the moment: your choice between a ring-side seat as the WWIII overture gets under way; or the latest from the really thrilling test match. (Fog in Channel, rest of the world isolated.)
But England only need 371 in 10 overs, which is eminently gettable under these conditions assuming we don’t lose early wickets.
Am I the only one who thinks Starmer is doing okay (just okay, not amazing)?
I'm not so deluded as to think the UK is a world power, or even a major regional one anymore.
I don't think whomever is in charge could seriously turn things around; whether that be Badenoch, Starmer, Farage, Davey or Denyer.
We're living in bad times, with bad actors like Trump, Xi, Putin all pretending to be the good guys but doing horrible things, and no one really wants to make the tough choices to stop them, or explain to us that, yep, our economies are so interlinked if Trump fucks up America, he fucks up the world.....
Sounds about right if you are happy with continued managed decline. I have more ambition for the UK than a timid old man without the intellectual capacity to imagine Britain as anything other than something to be a bit ashamed of.
On PB at the moment: your choice between a ring-side seat as the WWIII overture gets under way; or the latest from the really thrilling test match. (Fog in Channel, rest of the world isolated.)
But England only need 371 in 10 overs, which is eminently gettable under these conditions assuming we don’t lose early wickets.
Tim Marshall @Itwitius Iran says it has 'pulverised' the US Airbase in Qatar. It really hasn't but they hope the gullible, and some of the Iranian public, think it has. Qatar gov statement says no casualties from the missile attack.Qatar not happy at having missiles fired at the country. #Iran. .
Remember this Iranian attack is all about responding to the Americans, nothing else in the overall picture.
The joker in this is the militias in Iraq and so on. The Iraqis have been working hard to keep a lid on it but are a soft target if the Iranians attack directly. They have no long rang response mechanism.
If they want the off ramp.... they were talking about a 2 year war this morning
They’ve been promising all sorts of stuff since the Israelis started pounding away at them.
Never comes to fruition.
Again, remember Vietnam and Afghanistan who eventually saw off superpowers after years of attrition. And Iran is, even in its weakened state, richer and more powerful than those.
Trump will be seething at Bibi and the Neocons if they've dragged him into the Middle East quagmire he pledged to avoid.
Yet the only person he can really be seething at is himself. He’s danced to the neocons and Bibi’s tune.
If they want the off ramp.... they were talking about a 2 year war this morning
They’ve been promising all sorts of stuff since the Israelis started pounding away at them.
Never comes to fruition.
Again, remember Vietnam and Afghanistan who eventually saw off superpowers after years of attrition. And Iran is, even in its weakened state, richer and more powerful than those.
Trump will be seething at Bibi and the Neocons if they've dragged him into the Middle East quagmire he pledged to avoid.
Yet the only person he can really be seething at is himself. He’s danced to the neocons and Bibi’s tune.
What a mug.
Because its the right tune.
You apologists who want Iran to have nukes need a new tune.
On PB at the moment: your choice between a ring-side seat as the WWIII overture gets under way; or the latest from the really thrilling test match. (Fog in Channel, rest of the world isolated.)
I'm genuinely unsure whether this is said with scorn or approval.
On PB at the moment: your choice between a ring-side seat as the WWIII overture gets under way; or the latest from the really thrilling test match. (Fog in Channel, rest of the world isolated.)
But England only need 371 in 10 overs, which is eminently gettable under these conditions assuming we don’t lose early wickets.
10 overs
I took Sandpit to mean we'd only get 10 overs in before nuclear armageddon!
If they want the off ramp.... they were talking about a 2 year war this morning
They’ve been promising all sorts of stuff since the Israelis started pounding away at them.
Never comes to fruition.
Again, remember Vietnam and Afghanistan who eventually saw off superpowers after years of attrition. And Iran is, even in its weakened state, richer and more powerful than those.
Trump will be seething at Bibi and the Neocons if they've dragged him into the Middle East quagmire he pledged to avoid.
Nah, the Orange Guy seemed rather pleased with his attack on Iran.
If they want the off ramp.... they were talking about a 2 year war this morning
They’ve been promising all sorts of stuff since the Israelis started pounding away at them.
Never comes to fruition.
Again, remember Vietnam and Afghanistan who eventually saw off superpowers after years of attrition. And Iran is, even in its weakened state, richer and more powerful than those.
Trump will be seething at Bibi and the Neocons if they've dragged him into the Middle East quagmire he pledged to avoid.
Nah, the Orange Guy seemed rather pleased with his attack on Iran.
As well he should.
First time the orange one has done the right thing and targeted America's enemy instead of Democrats.
Always really annoyed me that played on is "bowled" in the scorebook
Why ?
As a dismissal playing on from a poor drive wide outside off is very different from being out due to missing a straight one, or an inswinger.
Not really.
The bowler gets credit for catches, which are often much the same thing. And then there's the batsman getting an unplayably bad bounce, etc. And it's not as though batsmen don't get credit for an edge which goes through the slips for four.
It's not about credit. It's just that they're different. Catches are recorded differently to stumpings and to lbw. You could distinguish between played on and clean bowled.
On PB at the moment: your choice between a ring-side seat as the WWIII overture gets under way; or the latest from the really thrilling test match. (Fog in Channel, rest of the world isolated.)
I'm genuinely unsure whether this is said with scorn or approval.
Definitely approval. It's part of the fascination of the site.
If they want the off ramp.... they were talking about a 2 year war this morning
They’ve been promising all sorts of stuff since the Israelis started pounding away at them.
Never comes to fruition.
Again, remember Vietnam and Afghanistan who eventually saw off superpowers after years of attrition. And Iran is, even in its weakened state, richer and more powerful than those.
Trump will be seething at Bibi and the Neocons if they've dragged him into the Middle East quagmire he pledged to avoid.
Nah, the Orange Guy seemed rather pleased with his attack on Iran.
If they want the off ramp.... they were talking about a 2 year war this morning
They’ve been promising all sorts of stuff since the Israelis started pounding away at them.
Never comes to fruition.
Again, remember Vietnam and Afghanistan who eventually saw off superpowers after years of attrition. And Iran is, even in its weakened state, richer and more powerful than those.
Trump will be seething at Bibi and the Neocons if they've dragged him into the Middle East quagmire he pledged to avoid.
Nah, the Orange Guy seemed rather pleased with his attack on Iran.
If they want the off ramp.... they were talking about a 2 year war this morning
They’ve been promising all sorts of stuff since the Israelis started pounding away at them.
Never comes to fruition.
Again, remember Vietnam and Afghanistan who eventually saw off superpowers after years of attrition. And Iran is, even in its weakened state, richer and more powerful than those.
Trump will be seething at Bibi and the Neocons if they've dragged him into the Middle East quagmire he pledged to avoid.
Nah, the Orange Guy seemed rather pleased with his attack on Iran.
He won't be pleased if these developments push him off the headlines.
On PB at the moment: your choice between a ring-side seat as the WWIII overture gets under way; or the latest from the really thrilling test match. (Fog in Channel, rest of the world isolated.)
But England only need 371 in 10 overs, which is eminently gettable under these conditions assuming we don’t lose early wickets.
If they want the off ramp.... they were talking about a 2 year war this morning
They’ve been promising all sorts of stuff since the Israelis started pounding away at them.
Never comes to fruition.
Again, remember Vietnam and Afghanistan who eventually saw off superpowers after years of attrition. And Iran is, even in its weakened state, richer and more powerful than those.
Trump will be seething at Bibi and the Neocons if they've dragged him into the Middle East quagmire he pledged to avoid.
Yet the only person he can really be seething at is himself. He’s danced to the neocons and Bibi’s tune.
What a mug.
Because its the right tune.
You apologists who want Iran to have nukes need a new tune.
If they want the off ramp.... they were talking about a 2 year war this morning
They’ve been promising all sorts of stuff since the Israelis started pounding away at them.
Never comes to fruition.
Again, remember Vietnam and Afghanistan who eventually saw off superpowers after years of attrition. And Iran is, even in its weakened state, richer and more powerful than those.
Trump will be seething at Bibi and the Neocons if they've dragged him into the Middle East quagmire he pledged to avoid.
Nah, the Orange Guy seemed rather pleased with his attack on Iran.
The summit starts tomorrow and there is currently no sane way to get from South Korea or Japan to the Netherlands given Russia isn’t an option and the middle east is for the next few hours a no fly zone
Can I plead with you to delurk permanently? The whys and wherefores of the last war seem meaningless compared to the direct realities of this new war. You are far closer than we are and your input to discussions would be very much appreciated.
If they want the off ramp.... they were talking about a 2 year war this morning
They’ve been promising all sorts of stuff since the Israelis started pounding away at them.
Never comes to fruition.
Again, remember Vietnam and Afghanistan who eventually saw off superpowers after years of attrition. And Iran is, even in its weakened state, richer and more powerful than those.
Trump will be seething at Bibi and the Neocons if they've dragged him into the Middle East quagmire he pledged to avoid.
Nah, the Orange Guy seemed rather pleased with his attack on Iran.
He's luving it.
Also clueless and doesn't think beyond the news cycle.
That said I saw Big Nige on telly other day and he looked… old
He's bored already. He'll be off before 2029
Where do people get this stuff from?
His track record of buggering off to do something else
Is it logical that he's working like a ditchdigger, and has just released an economic policy that has been stress-tested to the nth degree, just so he can give up before the General Election? What exactly would be the point?
Fog of war - the missiles at Iraq were either false or Iraqi militias, it appears just to have been Al Udeied and thus possible Iran are looking for a performative response only. Let's see what the US does
If they want the off ramp.... they were talking about a 2 year war this morning
They’ve been promising all sorts of stuff since the Israelis started pounding away at them.
Never comes to fruition.
Again, remember Vietnam and Afghanistan who eventually saw off superpowers after years of attrition. And Iran is, even in its weakened state, richer and more powerful than those.
Trump will be seething at Bibi and the Neocons if they've dragged him into the Middle East quagmire he pledged to avoid.
Nah, the Orange Guy seemed rather pleased with his attack on Iran.
If they want the off ramp.... they were talking about a 2 year war this morning
They’ve been promising all sorts of stuff since the Israelis started pounding away at them.
Never comes to fruition.
Again, remember Vietnam and Afghanistan who eventually saw off superpowers after years of attrition. And Iran is, even in its weakened state, richer and more powerful than those.
Trump will be seething at Bibi and the Neocons if they've dragged him into the Middle East quagmire he pledged to avoid.
Yet the only person he can really be seething at is himself. He’s danced to the neocons and Bibi’s tune.
What a mug.
Because its the right tune.
You apologists who want Iran to have nukes need a new tune.
You are sounding a bit one-note yourself.
Happy to be the calm voice of reason while everyone else loses their heads and goes BRACE!
Can I plead with you to delurk permanently? The whys and wherefores of the last war seem meaningless compared to the direct realities of this new war. You are far closer than we are and your input to discussions would be very much appreciated.
Thanks. We’ll see, it’s been a crazy few months at work though. Have been lurking a bit here but mostly busy with life.
Trip to UK and Ukraine planned for August, first holiday in more than two years.
If they want the off ramp.... they were talking about a 2 year war this morning
They’ve been promising all sorts of stuff since the Israelis started pounding away at them.
Never comes to fruition.
Again, remember Vietnam and Afghanistan who eventually saw off superpowers after years of attrition. And Iran is, even in its weakened state, richer and more powerful than those.
Trump will be seething at Bibi and the Neocons if they've dragged him into the Middle East quagmire he pledged to avoid.
Yet the only person he can really be seething at is himself. He’s danced to the neocons and Bibi’s tune.
What a mug.
Because its the right tune.
You apologists who want Iran to have nukes need a new tune.
You are sounding a bit one-note yourself.
Just pointless even engaging with him especially when he makes stupid comments like the above.
Am I the only one who thinks Starmer is doing okay (just okay, not amazing)?
I'm not so deluded as to think the UK is a world power, or even a major regional one anymore.
I don't think whomever is in charge could seriously turn things around; whether that be Badenoch, Starmer, Farage, Davey or Denyer.
We're living in bad times, with bad actors like Trump, Xi, Putin all pretending to be the good guys but doing horrible things, and no one really wants to make the tough choices to stop them, or explain to us that, yep, our economies are so interlinked if Trump fucks up America, he fucks up the world.....
He's not done anything positive for the UK, has targeted vulnerable groups and is pursuing vindictive and venal policies against businesses, the disabled etc and has utterly failed to smash the gangs So, no, I don't think he's doing okay, personally. Other views available
There's the electricity stuff that was announced in the last day or so that seems to have been buried by the Middle East firework show.
If they want the off ramp.... they were talking about a 2 year war this morning
They’ve been promising all sorts of stuff since the Israelis started pounding away at them.
Never comes to fruition.
Again, remember Vietnam and Afghanistan who eventually saw off superpowers after years of attrition. And Iran is, even in its weakened state, richer and more powerful than those.
Trump will be seething at Bibi and the Neocons if they've dragged him into the Middle East quagmire he pledged to avoid.
Yet the only person he can really be seething at is himself. He’s danced to the neocons and Bibi’s tune.
What a mug.
Because its the right tune.
You apologists who want Iran to have nukes need a new tune.
You are sounding a bit one-note yourself.
Just pointless even engaging with him especially when he makes stupid comments like the above.
You feel free to engage only with those hyperventilating about WW3 if you like.
I'll remain grounded in actual facts, facts you can't engage with.
Can I plead with you to delurk permanently? The whys and wherefores of the last war seem meaningless compared to the direct realities of this new war. You are far closer than we are and your input to discussions would be very much appreciated.
Ah but will he be treated with courtesy and respect, or subjected to the usual PB purity test where not holding one view automatically makes you a shill for our enemies ?
With his personal investment in both Ukraine and the Middle East why subject yourself to it from people thousands of miles away 🤔
The small-cocked orange baby isn't going to react calmly to this. Iran has told the world he has a button mushroom instead of a big swinging yankee dick. Trump will hit them back very hard to show the world that he is a manly man's man.
Can I plead with you to delurk permanently? The whys and wherefores of the last war seem meaningless compared to the direct realities of this new war. You are far closer than we are and your input to discussions would be very much appreciated.
Ah but will he be treated with courtesy and respect, or subjected to the usual PB purity test where not holding one view automatically makes you a shill for our enemies ?
With his personal investment in both Ukraine and the Middle East why subject yourself to it from people thousands of miles away 🤔
LOL.
Do you not get the irony of banging on about a purity test seconds after decreeing that I'd failed your purity test? 🤔
The small-cocked orange baby isn't going to react calmly to this. Iran has told the world he has a button mushroom instead of a big swinging yankee dick. Trump will hit them back very hard to show the world that he is a manly man's man.
Hopefully, but he'll probably return true to form and TACO.
Amusing to me that anyone is still discussing Starmers track record or England’s target for tomorrow, when all heck is breaking loose
WWIII is not breaking out. Iran may want a war with someone, but all the others just want it to stay within its borders. The progress made on that front in the past few months has been gigantic. There is no future for Trumpism in continuing the Viet Nam, Afghanistan and Iraq errors, and he doesn't want to. Unless Russia and China decide they want WWIII it isn't happening.
Under cover of this of course authoritarian Trumpism is being quietly overlooked for now. He could use it as cover to moderate. Wait and see.
Turning to other matters, the odds are shortening for England at Leeds. Value?
Am I the only one who thinks Starmer is doing okay (just okay, not amazing)?
I'm not so deluded as to think the UK is a world power, or even a major regional one anymore.
I don't think whomever is in charge could seriously turn things around; whether that be Badenoch, Starmer, Farage, Davey or Denyer.
We're living in bad times, with bad actors like Trump, Xi, Putin all pretending to be the good guys but doing horrible things, and no one really wants to make the tough choices to stop them, or explain to us that, yep, our economies are so interlinked if Trump fucks up America, he fucks up the world.....
He's not done anything positive for the UK, has targeted vulnerable groups and is pursuing vindictive and venal policies against businesses, the disabled etc and has utterly failed to smash the gangs So, no, I don't think he's doing okay, personally. Other views available
There's the electricity stuff that was announced in the last day or so that seems to have been buried by the Middle East firework show.
Is that the cheaper energy for business, by 2027 !!
Businesses that are energy intensive paying alot for their energy have 18 months to wait !
The small-cocked orange baby isn't going to react calmly to this. Iran has told the world he has a button mushroom instead of a big swinging yankee dick. Trump will hit them back very hard to show the world that he is a manly man's man.
Amusing to me that anyone is still discussing Starmers track record or England’s target for tomorrow, when all heck is breaking loose
WWIII is not breaking out. Iran may want a war with someone, but all the others just want it to stay within its borders. The progress made on that front in the past few months has been gigantic. There is no future for Trumpism in continuing the Viet Nam, Afghanistan and Iraq errors, and he doesn't want to. Unless Russia and China decide they want WWIII it isn't happening.
Under cover of this of course authoritarian Trumpism is being quietly overlooked for now. He could use it as cover to moderate. Wait and see.
Turning to other matters, the odds are shortening for England at Leeds. Value?
I'll say India by 35 runs..looks like a nailbiter that's boiling up nice now though..😏
The small-cocked orange baby isn't going to react calmly to this. Iran has told the world he has a button mushroom instead of a big swinging yankee dick. Trump will hit them back very hard to show the world that he is a manly man's man.
?
The Iranians seem to have done a performative dance retaliation - lobbed some missile at empty bases.
The small-cocked orange baby isn't going to react calmly to this. Iran has told the world he has a button mushroom instead of a big swinging yankee dick. Trump will hit them back very hard to show the world that he is a manly man's man.
?
The Iranians seem to have done a performative dance retaliation - lobbed some missile at empty bases.
Mind you. If you really wanted to be a bugger in their shoes, perhaps what you’d actually do is telegraph a performative dance retaliation. Do that. And the. Soon after do the real attack.
The small-cocked orange baby isn't going to react calmly to this. Iran has told the world he has a button mushroom instead of a big swinging yankee dick. Trump will hit them back very hard to show the world that he is a manly man's man.
?
The Iranians seem to have done a performative dance retaliation - lobbed some missile at empty bases.
THEY ATTACKED AMERICA.
The best way that Lord Protector Trump can finally get that Peace Prize which means so much to him is for him to kill as many Iranians as he can.
Can I plead with you to delurk permanently? The whys and wherefores of the last war seem meaningless compared to the direct realities of this new war. You are far closer than we are and your input to discussions would be very much appreciated.
Ah but will he be treated with courtesy and respect, or subjected to the usual PB purity test where not holding one view automatically makes you a shill for our enemies ?
With his personal investment in both Ukraine and the Middle East why subject yourself to it from people thousands of miles away 🤔
Physical location does not matter. Neither does stated attachments.
You simply cannot support Ukraine and Trump. I treated @Sandpit with courtesy and respect, whilst pointing that out. I often liked his comments, and valued his input. But it did not detract from the fact you simply cannot support Trump and Ukraine.
If Sandpit would like to tell us how the first ~6 months of Trump's presidency has helped Ukraine, I'd be all ears.
The small-cocked orange baby isn't going to react calmly to this. Iran has told the world he has a button mushroom instead of a big swinging yankee dick. Trump will hit them back very hard to show the world that he is a manly man's man.
Anything that hastens the end of the Iranian regime is a good thing imo.
I think Farage is making a mistake in presenting creative economic policies that lead to this sort of criticism. It will scare off the voters needed to win. The gap in immigration rhetoric is enough
John Rentoul’s View from Westminster email
“Nigel Truss in Liz Farage’s clothing Nigel Farage unveiled his plan for a Robin Hood tax and it turned out to be exactly the Truss-style unfunded nonsense we all knew it would be.
The Reform leader stole The Independent’s name for an idea that we have promoted for some time: reform the non-dom regime to give the globally mobile rich an incentive to live, employ and spend in the UK – a favourable tax treatment that would bring in more revenue than it would give up.
The key, of course, is to get the balance right between the tax giveaway and raising revenue.
It goes without saying that Farage’s scheme gets the balance wrong. Dan Neidle, the tax lawyer who is Labour leaning but has been rude about Labour’s tax plans, says the plan would lose £7bn a year. ”
Amusing to me that anyone is still discussing Starmers track record or England’s target for tomorrow, when all heck is breaking loose
WWIII is not breaking out. Iran may want a war with someone, but all the others just want it to stay within its borders. The progress made on that front in the past few months has been gigantic. There is no future for Trumpism in continuing the Viet Nam, Afghanistan and Iraq errors, and he doesn't want to. Unless Russia and China decide they want WWIII it isn't happening.
Under cover of this of course authoritarian Trumpism is being quietly overlooked for now. He could use it as cover to moderate. Wait and see.
Turning to other matters, the odds are shortening for England at Leeds. Value?
Unpopular opinion but Iraq was not a mistake .
There were mistakes with the war and its aftermath, but removing Saddam was not a mistake.
22 years later its Iran, whom we didn't invade, that is the one giving us grief, not Iraq whom we did who are much better now without Saddam.
They're not an idyllic western nation, but for the Middle East, Iraq today isn't too bad. Unlike what it was like under Saddam.
Comments
But probably too many for England.
I'm not so deluded as to think the UK is a world power, or even a major regional one anymore.
I don't think whomever is in charge could seriously turn things around; whether that be Badenoch, Starmer, Farage, Davey or Denyer.
We're living in bad times, with bad actors like Trump, Xi, Putin all pretending to be the good guys but doing horrible things, and no one really wants to make the tough choices to stop them, or explain to us that, yep, our economies are so interlinked if Trump fucks up America, he fucks up the world.....
The bowler gets credit for catches, which are often much the same thing. And then there's the batsman getting an unplayably bad bounce, etc.
And it's not as though batsmen don't get credit for an edge which goes through the slips for four.
Reasons: we are a responsible but not particularly powerful player; memories of Iraq etc; the unknowability of Trump; it's essential to be onside with USA because there isn't a choice; UK population is very keen not to be involved unless it is to defend ourselves here.
So, no, I don't think he's doing okay, personally.
Other views available
Starmer has inherited: a decade+ of no economic growth, the end of NATO and US democracy, a global trade war, and now we have what looks like a major war in the middle east.
There's no overstating how extraordinary this is. The West (ie Trump) has now lost political support from the whole of Asia, even Japan and South Korea.
https://x.com/RnaudBertrand/status/1937126934309405148
Interesting that Iran are claiming to have used the same number of bombs the US used when attacking them.
https://x.com/wallstengine/status/1937196086277640570?s=61
See, for example, The Lady Vanishes.
Trump will be seething at Bibi and the Neocons if they've dragged him into the Middle East quagmire he pledged to avoid.
Tim Marshall
@Itwitius
Iran says it has 'pulverised' the US Airbase in Qatar. It really hasn't but they hope the gullible, and some of the Iranian public, think it has. Qatar gov statement says no casualties from the missile attack.Qatar not happy at having missiles fired at the country. #Iran. .
Welcome.
The joker in this is the militias in Iraq and so on. The Iraqis have been working hard to keep a lid on it but are a soft target if the Iranians attack directly. They have no long rang response mechanism.
Lee's top security aide to attend NATO summit in Netherlands
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffairs/20250623/lee-jae-myungs-top-security-aide-to-attend-nato-summit-in-netherlands-presidential-office
What a mug.
You apologists who want Iran to have nukes need a new tune.
In their minds the “bad” people are the UK, US, and Israel, and they’ll support anyone against those three nations.
First time the orange one has done the right thing and targeted America's enemy instead of Democrats.
It’s most likely to be a firework show, assuming the bunker-busters did their job over the weekend.
ENG: 3
IND: 3
DRAW: 3
How about that. Very rare.
https://x.com/wallstengine/status/1937200867826106503?s=61
FUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCKKKKKKK
Phew. What a scorcher !!
https://x.com/themancuk/status/1937188478518694358?s=61
Also clueless and doesn't think beyond the news cycle.
Precarious combination.
Is Iran supposed to be a sleeping giant?
Giant asteroid could crash into moon in 2032, firing debris towards Earth
Researchers say satellites may be at risk and impact could create a spectacular meteor shower in the skies
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/jun/23/giant-asteroid-could-crash-moon-2032-firing-debris-earth
Trip to UK and Ukraine planned for August, first holiday in more than two years.
I'll remain grounded in actual facts, facts you can't engage with.
With his personal investment in both Ukraine and the Middle East why subject yourself to it from people thousands of miles away 🤔
Do you not get the irony of banging on about a purity test seconds after decreeing that I'd failed your purity test? 🤔
Under cover of this of course authoritarian Trumpism is being quietly overlooked for now. He could use it as cover to moderate. Wait and see.
Turning to other matters, the odds are shortening for England at Leeds. Value?
Businesses that are energy intensive paying alot for their energy have 18 months to wait !
The Iranians seem to have done a performative dance retaliation - lobbed some missile at empty bases.
India 3.8
England 2.26
Draw 3.5
https://www.betfair.com/exchange/plus/cricket/market/1.244792514
Not sure I agree with these odds. I'd put England a bit more likely than a draw.
The best way that Lord Protector Trump can finally get that Peace Prize which means so much to him is for him to kill as many Iranians as he can.
You simply cannot support Ukraine and Trump. I treated @Sandpit with courtesy and respect, whilst pointing that out. I often liked his comments, and valued his input. But it did not detract from the fact you simply cannot support Trump and Ukraine.
If Sandpit would like to tell us how the first ~6 months of Trump's presidency has helped Ukraine, I'd be all ears.
John Rentoul’s View from Westminster email
“Nigel Truss in Liz Farage’s clothing
Nigel Farage unveiled his plan for a Robin Hood tax and it turned out to be exactly the Truss-style unfunded nonsense we all knew it would be.
The Reform leader stole The Independent’s name for an idea that we have promoted for some time: reform the non-dom regime to give the globally mobile rich an incentive to live, employ and spend in the UK – a favourable tax treatment that would bring in more revenue than it would give up.
The key, of course, is to get the balance right between the tax giveaway and raising revenue.
It goes without saying that Farage’s scheme gets the balance wrong. Dan Neidle, the tax lawyer who is Labour leaning but has been rude about Labour’s tax plans, says the plan would lose £7bn a year. ”
There were mistakes with the war and its aftermath, but removing Saddam was not a mistake.
22 years later its Iran, whom we didn't invade, that is the one giving us grief, not Iraq whom we did who are much better now without Saddam.
They're not an idyllic western nation, but for the Middle East, Iraq today isn't too bad. Unlike what it was like under Saddam.
Regime change in Iran would be a good thing.