NYT: FBI agents equipped with a signed warrant prepared to document blood spatter and bullet holes in Renee Good's SUV received orders to stop, including from Kash Patel.
The fear? "a civil rights investigation would contradict Trump’s claim that Good “violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer” who fired at her as she drove her vehicle."
Can the head of the FbI obstruct justice? Genuine question surprisingly!
Edit: I mean be charge with rather than do it; of course he can do it
Yes, but Trump would pardon and then reinstate him so why bother?
But isn’t it just a senior policeman using his judgement about resource allocation?
Just finishing my whisky before bed. Two random comments on tonight's musings:
1. It must be terribly frustrating to his opponents that Starmer, and all his cabinet, are still in place and that the press is having to rely on gossip as to what's going to happen.
2. I want to stick up for HYUFD: even if one disagrees with some of his opinions, he is by far the most loyal out-and-out Tory in the entire PB village; to question his loyalty to the true Tory cause is sacrilegious.
I disagree
If he was he would support Kemi
I don’t think that he doesn’t support Kemi
He’s just one of those people who gets tied up in knots in data analytics about today and doesn’t have the ability to lift his head from the numbers to form his own judgement about the future
Good morning
I agree
Morning Big G. On the whole Kemi, Tory, May elections, the future thing.... i spend a lot of time perhaps pointlessly poring over data points ftom local by elections and the like to fill my time. It seems to me fairly clear that statistically it does not look like May 26 will be anywhere near as May 25 for the Tories in England - fewer councils to defend, the local organisations seem better organised and funded, they have London which should be relatively OK results wise and Reform won't look as dominant (tories will be hoping to outpoll them too). Scotland they ought p yo be able to at least match their previous low point of 2011 or close to and Wales they just have to take the inevitable massive hit and hope Labours implosion takes the headlines. So, unless they underachieve badly from that expectation things will be 'improving' from the bottom and any challenge would be seen for heat it is - reginacide for the sake of it
Thank you and agree it would be reginacide and simply ridiculous
Actually it feeds into this mornings Trevor Phillips panel whose ladies are furious with men acting as if they are victims and the idea one of the only 2 high profile women [ Angela Rayner the other] should be defenestrated by men just adds to the anti women narrative
How very convenient. What exactly did they warn him about? I don't believe either him or Rayner on this. At the time Lammy said this "Mandelson had “a wealth of experience in trade, economic and foreign policy from his years in government and the private sector”.
It's a curious line to walk in such situations, as obviously everyone wants to give the impression (or outright state) that they had their doubts about the decision, but they have to know that there will be public statements from them saying otherwise.
It is not impossible such claims are true, people might have given warnings but then once the decision was made they were good little soldiers and advanced the approved lines, but that doesn't really help since it is an admission they lied to push a party narrative. Which often happens I'm sure, but you don't want to be caught out doing so.
To be fair to Lammy (what!?) the quote that @cyclefree cites is absolutely true. It doesn’t mean that he is the right person for the job or that Lammy was keen on his appointment
Hammy is about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike, however the ashtray would make a better PM.
A lot of hindsight judgmentalism going on here. The UK isn't a surveillance state, Mandeson's social diary and private communications weren't public from 2010 onwards until the Epstein files were released. So the full extent of his involvement wasn't known He got fired in September when it first began to leak, prior to that it was his previous form in govt he could be judged on and 2008-10 he appeared to have behaved until the emails to Epstein were released last week. It was a mistake to appoint him clearly, but unlike some of his colleagues, Kier hadn't worked alongside and didn't have the same distrust based on experience as Ed Milliband and others.
Excuses excuses
Yes, refute them then, how does Starmer know the contents of Mandeson's private emails to Epstein before the Epstein files were released? Or even his social diary?
Any athlete embarrassed to represent the United States has no business wearing Team USA across their chest. Representing this country is an honor. If you don’t love America, step aside, someone who does will gladly take your place. https://x.com/emilyraustin/status/2020154206301155429
Boohoo. You are an embarrassment on an international stage. If you don’t like being reminded of your failings to democratic values, stay in your isolationist bubble.
Any athlete embarrassed to represent the United States has no business wearing Team USA across their chest. Representing this country is an honor. If you don’t love America, step aside, someone who does will gladly take your place. https://x.com/emilyraustin/status/2020154206301155429
Boohoo. You are an embarrassment on an international stage. If you don’t like being reminded of your failings to democratic values, stay in your isolationist bubble.
If they're still in power next time around, they might well make toeing the line a condition of selection.
The "radical freedom of speech" party doesn't believe in freedom of speech.
Does anyone know why so many of the best PB posters have left the site over the last few years? I'm thinking of people like Antifrank/Alistair Meeks, SouthamObserver, Richard Navabi, Fitalass, etc. I just think it's sad and regrettable that they're not here anymore.
I was sorry to see Antifrank and David Herdson leave PB, both regularly contributed very insightful and imformative must read regular articles. And I also miss SouthernObserver, Richard Navabi and HurstLlama as well as that ancient old Jacobite rogue JackW who was always teasing us all tried to guess his identity. Sadly I have not been posting as much since Christmas due to ill health.
There doesn't seem to be such a big pool of cross party contributors these days, and definitely not enough much needed cross party female contributions to add more spice to a broader robust debate across a range of political issues. I still also miss the contributions from the SNP supporting poster Marcia, such a lovely lady and always a pleasure to debate with her on back in the days when we both posted here regularly and before that Indy Referendum tribally turned Scottish political discourse toxic across social media.
I hate to say it and I know I am not going to be popular, but lads, some nights/weekends on here its like reading the equivalent of watching what I call Fitaloon's and our sons beloved mens shed TV programmes on the documentary channels. And now more than twenty years on from when I first started posting on here I hit the big 60 recently, and I am now officially calling myself the Scottish grumpy female equivalent of MalcolmG!
Ironic you mention Men’s Sheds. I looked to possibly join one locally as it sounded a worthy thing for men to get together, and can talk about issues. The two local to me are run by women !!
This board since I first same in 2021 has steadily moved towards ‘my side right or wrong’ and a lack of tolerance of views that the majority posters don’t align with. Be it on US politics, again just look at the bullying of William Glenn over his posts during the US election, or be it on U.K. politics.
Hopefully your health picks up.
Going to a PB drinks is quite interesting. Quite a lot of posters I didnt think I would get along with were quite different in person. It changed my online relationships to them afterwards.
NYT: FBI agents equipped with a signed warrant prepared to document blood spatter and bullet holes in Renee Good's SUV received orders to stop, including from Kash Patel.
The fear? "a civil rights investigation would contradict Trump’s claim that Good “violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer” who fired at her as she drove her vehicle."
Can the head of the FbI obstruct justice? Genuine question surprisingly!
Edit: I mean be charge with rather than do it; of course he can do it
Yes, but Trump would pardon and then reinstate him so why bother?
The next question is - is there a pardon too far?
He has pardoned drug kingpins, financial scammers, thugs and J6 rioters. Would pardoning a paedophile (for crypto) be a pardon too far?
Just finishing my whisky before bed. Two random comments on tonight's musings:
1. It must be terribly frustrating to his opponents that Starmer, and all his cabinet, are still in place and that the press is having to rely on gossip as to what's going to happen.
2. I want to stick up for HYUFD: even if one disagrees with some of his opinions, he is by far the most loyal out-and-out Tory in the entire PB village; to question his loyalty to the true Tory cause is sacrilegious.
I disagree
If he was he would support Kemi
I don’t think that he doesn’t support Kemi
He’s just one of those people who gets tied up in knots in data analytics about today and doesn’t have the ability to lift his head from the numbers to form his own judgement about the future
Good morning
I agree
Morning Big G. On the whole Kemi, Tory, May elections, the future thing.... i spend a lot of time perhaps pointlessly poring over data points ftom local by elections and the like to fill my time. It seems to me fairly clear that statistically it does not look like May 26 will be anywhere near as May 25 for the Tories in England - fewer councils to defend, the local organisations seem better organised and funded, they have London which should be relatively OK results wise and Reform won't look as dominant (tories will be hoping to outpoll them too). Scotland they ought p yo be able to at least match their previous low point of 2011 or close to and Wales they just have to take the inevitable massive hit and hope Labours implosion takes the headlines. So, unless they underachieve badly from that expectation things will be 'improving' from the bottom and any challenge would be seen for heat it is - reginacide for the sake of it
Thank you and agree it would be reginacide and simply ridiculous
Actually it feeds into this mornings Trevor Phillips panel whose ladies are furious with men acting as if they are victims and the idea one of the only 2 high profile women [ Angela Rayner the other] should be defenestrated by men just adds to the anti women narrative
Don’t get the impression that Cleverly is on manoeuvres. With Jenrick gone, I expect Badenoch to survive the May locals.
Just finishing my whisky before bed. Two random comments on tonight's musings:
1. It must be terribly frustrating to his opponents that Starmer, and all his cabinet, are still in place and that the press is having to rely on gossip as to what's going to happen.
2. I want to stick up for HYUFD: even if one disagrees with some of his opinions, he is by far the most loyal out-and-out Tory in the entire PB village; to question his loyalty to the true Tory cause is sacrilegious.
I disagree
If he was he would support Kemi
I don’t think that he doesn’t support Kemi
He’s just one of those people who gets tied up in knots in data analytics about today and doesn’t have the ability to lift his head from the numbers to form his own judgement about the future
Good morning
I agree
Morning Big G. On the whole Kemi, Tory, May elections, the future thing.... i spend a lot of time perhaps pointlessly poring over data points ftom local by elections and the like to fill my time. It seems to me fairly clear that statistically it does not look like May 26 will be anywhere near as bad as May 25 for the Tories in England - fewer councils to defend, the local organisations seem better organised and funded, they have London which should be relatively OK results wise and Reform won't look as dominant (tories will be hoping to outpoll them there too). Scotland they ought to be able to at least match their previous low point of 2011 or close to and Wales they just have to take the inevitable massive hit and hope Labours implosion takes the headlines. So, unless they underachieve badly from that expectation things will be 'improving' from the bottom and any challenge would be seen for what it is - reginacide for the sake of it
I still predict that Kemi Badenoch and her far more recent charismatic media savvy performances in the House of Commons and in the UK news media and far more indepth policy offers are now becoming Nigel Farage's and Reform's worst nightmare. Hence their current attacks aimed at her and the Conservatives rather than the current Labour government despite all their difficulties. Kemi's impressive performances and stature is growing among the political media classes as quickly as it has done in her personal polling in recent months. Nigel Farage is looking a bit tired and long in the tooth with his usual protest tropes without any significant well thought out and hard hitting policies to back it up.
And more importantly, Kemi Badenoch is a full time working leader and MP in the House of Commons and Nigel Farage is not and its now beginning to show as it did with that shambolic vote which saw his newest defecting recruits accidentaly rebelling on the two child cap vote.
How very convenient. What exactly did they warn him about? I don't believe either him or Rayner on this. At the time Lammy said this "Mandelson had “a wealth of experience in trade, economic and foreign policy from his years in government and the private sector”.
It's a curious line to walk in such situations, as obviously everyone wants to give the impression (or outright state) that they had their doubts about the decision, but they have to know that there will be public statements from them saying otherwise.
It is not impossible such claims are true, people might have given warnings but then once the decision was made they were good little soldiers and advanced the approved lines, but that doesn't really help since it is an admission they lied to push a party narrative. Which often happens I'm sure, but you don't want to be caught out doing so.
To be fair to Lammy (what!?) the quote that @cyclefree cites is absolutely true. It doesn’t mean that he is the right person for the job or that Lammy was keen on his appointment
Hammy is about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike, however the ashtray would make a better PM.
A lot of hindsight judgmentalism going on here. The UK isn't a surveillance state, Mandeson's social diary and private communications weren't public from 2010 onwards until the Epstein files were released. So the full extent of his involvement wasn't known He got fired in September when it first began to leak, prior to that it was his previous form in govt he could be judged on and 2008-10 he appeared to have behaved until the emails to Epstein were released last week. It was a mistake to appoint him clearly, but unlike some of his colleagues, Kier hadn't worked alongside and didn't have the same distrust based on experience as Ed Milliband and others.
Excuses excuses
Yes, refute them then, how does Starmer know the contents of Mandeson's private emails to Epstein before the Epstein files were released? Or even his social diary?
I do not think Starmer needed to do so.
He just needed to think. "I am considering appointing someone who is a master of manipulation. Is it me that is being manipulated?"
I’ve heard people make comparisons with the Profumo affair which harrowed Harold Macmillan’s Conservative government in the early 1960s, but this looks much worse. The Epstein files suggest that Mandelson shared extremely market-sensitive government secrets with a convicted foreign paedophile and did so almost in real time.
I am sure Sir Keir knew nothing of this at the time he gave Mandelson his fifth high-profile act in public life by making him the UK’s ambassador to Washington. But what he did know is quite enough to damn the prime minister in the eyes of most Labour MPs. The many who think he ought never to have touched Mandelson with a barge pole are angrily vindicated. Those who went along with the appointment at the time, buying Number 10’s argument that he would be an artful Trump whisperer, now feel like fools.
Questions about the prime minister’s judgment are daggers to the heart of what was supposed to be the Starmer brand. His primary pitch to both party and country has been as a trustworthy and serious man with a decent moral compass. He would find it easier to endure this storm were it an exceptional lapse. What makes it more corrosive is that it fits with a pattern of rotten decision-making which has made him spectacularly unpopular. “We have systematically gone about offending everyone,” groans one former cabinet minister who once counted himself a fan… “No drama Starmer” has turned out to be a soap opera as lurid as the Tory one that preceded it.
It is not difficult to find Labour MPs ready to call this “the beginning of the end” or to suggest that his removal has become a question of “when, not if”. It is harder to find Labour MPs with a plausible account of how this happens in the immediate future. Banjaxed though he is, it is likely that Sir Keir will stagger on for a while yet. Should this ultimately do for him, it will be a further irony if the first world leader brought down by the Epstein scandal is a British human rights lawyer who never met him.
A good article by Rawnsey and a wonderfully ironic end sentence!
Banjaxed is a new word to.me...even spellchecker doesn't seem to know it.
'Destroyed' but I dont know where it originated
From Gemini: The term began appearing in Irish literature in the 1920s and 30s. A famous early use is in Seán Ó Casey’s 1924 play Juno and the Paycock, where a character says someone "made a banjax o’ th’ Will".
The Oxford English Dictionary notes that it was "perhaps originally Dublin slang".
It was later popularized in the UK and beyond by the late Irish radio DJ Terry Wogan, who used it frequently on BBC Radio.
Does anyone know why so many of the best PB posters have left the site over the last few years? I'm thinking of people like Antifrank/Alistair Meeks, SouthamObserver, Richard Navabi, Fitalass, etc. I just think it's sad and regrettable that they're not here anymore.
I was sorry to see Antifrank and David Herdson leave PB, both regularly contributed very insightful and imformative must read regular articles. And I also miss SouthernObserver, Richard Navabi and HurstLlama as well as that ancient old Jacobite rogue JackW who was always teasing us all tried to guess his identity. Sadly I have not been posting as much since Christmas due to ill health.
There doesn't seem to be such a big pool of cross party contributors these days, and definitely not enough much needed cross party female contributions to add more spice to a broader robust debate across a range of political issues. I still also miss the contributions from the SNP supporting poster Marcia, such a lovely lady and always a pleasure to debate with her on back in the days when we both posted here regularly and before that Indy Referendum tribally turned Scottish political discourse toxic across social media.
I hate to say it and I know I am not going to be popular, but lads, some nights/weekends on here its like reading the equivalent of watching what I call Fitaloon's and our sons beloved mens shed TV programmes on the documentary channels. And now more than twenty years on from when I first started posting on here I hit the big 60 recently, and I am now officially calling myself the Scottish grumpy female equivalent of MalcolmG!
Ironic you mention Men’s Sheds. I looked to possibly join one locally as it sounded a worthy thing for men to get together, and can talk about issues. The two local to me are run by women !!
This board since I first same in 2021 has steadily moved towards ‘my side right or wrong’ and a lack of tolerance of views that the majority posters don’t align with. Be it on US politics, again just look at the bullying of William Glenn over his posts during the US election, or be it on U.K. politics.
Hopefully your health picks up.
Going to a PB drinks is quite interesting. Quite a lot of posters I didnt think I would get along with were quite different in person. It changed my online relationships to them afterwards.
Perhaps it is time for another one.
I have no doubt meeting people IRL as opposed to engaging online is a far more rewarding experience.
I think, at heart, most people are fine and reasonable. The overly dogmatic you can just avoid.
Does anyone know why so many of the best PB posters have left the site over the last few years? I'm thinking of people like Antifrank/Alistair Meeks, SouthamObserver, Richard Navabi, Fitalass, etc. I just think it's sad and regrettable that they're not here anymore.
I was sorry to see Antifrank and David Herdson leave PB, both regularly contributed very insightful and imformative must read regular articles. And I also miss SouthernObserver, Richard Navabi and HurstLlama as well as that ancient old Jacobite rogue JackW who was always teasing us all tried to guess his identity. Sadly I have not been posting as much since Christmas due to ill health.
There doesn't seem to be such a big pool of cross party contributors these days, and definitely not enough much needed cross party female contributions to add more spice to a broader robust debate across a range of political issues. I still also miss the contributions from the SNP supporting poster Marcia, such a lovely lady and always a pleasure to debate with her on back in the days when we both posted here regularly and before that Indy Referendum tribally turned Scottish political discourse toxic across social media.
I hate to say it and I know I am not going to be popular, but lads, some nights/weekends on here its like reading the equivalent of watching what I call Fitaloon's and our sons beloved mens shed TV programmes on the documentary channels. And now more than twenty years on from when I first started posting on here I hit the big 60 recently, and I am now officially calling myself the Scottish grumpy female equivalent of MalcolmG!
“ I am now officially calling myself the Scottish grumpy female equivalent of MalcolmG! ”
Does this mean that you require cask strength turnip juice, like @malcolmg ?
Not likely! A nice glass of red wine or a really nice Gin, and when I say that I mean an old school Gin like my current favourite! It still makes me laugh just how popular all the various Gins now produced have become and how it has exploded into such a successful industry today. Back more than 40 years ago I was really struggling to find a spirit and mixer that I liked when I hit 18, no laughing at the back, I am from Scotland and we teenagers were very sneaky! But back then there was only about three well known gin brands on offer at various prices.
But someone suggested I try a Gin and tonic because I complained all the usual spirits and mixers were too sweet for me. Still makes me laugh that I was the only person in my age group of friends drinking gin for a few years before it ever became as fashionable as it has become today. But if you are Gin drinker, definitely try my favourite Seven Croft Gin from a distillery that also produces a higher-proof "Fisherman’s Strength" in Ullapool! There is absolutely no doubt that Scottish Gin distillers are now knocking it out of the park just like our much older whisky distilleries. And its lovely to see some old and once defunct whisky distilleries now being reopened along with new ones and its also seen some of these new whisky distilleries diversifying into producing both whisky and Gin.
A few years ago we spent an amazing day visiting and exploring the the island of Raasay when we were on a great family holiday on the Isle of Skye and we had a lovely afternoon visiting the new distillery there that is producing both their own whisky and gin. If any of you ever visit Skye, don't miss the chance to visit this little hidden gem of a Scottish Island which is such a short trip on the ferry from Skye and make sure you take the road trip to visit Calum's road and the ruined Brochel Castle.
How very convenient. What exactly did they warn him about? I don't believe either him or Rayner on this. At the time Lammy said this "Mandelson had “a wealth of experience in trade, economic and foreign policy from his years in government and the private sector”.
It's a curious line to walk in such situations, as obviously everyone wants to give the impression (or outright state) that they had their doubts about the decision, but they have to know that there will be public statements from them saying otherwise.
It is not impossible such claims are true, people might have given warnings but then once the decision was made they were good little soldiers and advanced the approved lines, but that doesn't really help since it is an admission they lied to push a party narrative. Which often happens I'm sure, but you don't want to be caught out doing so.
To be fair to Lammy (what!?) the quote that @cyclefree cites is absolutely true. It doesn’t mean that he is the right person for the job or that Lammy was keen on his appointment
Hammy is about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike, however the ashtray would make a better PM.
A lot of hindsight judgmentalism going on here. The UK isn't a surveillance state, Mandeson's social diary and private communications weren't public from 2010 onwards until the Epstein files were released. So the full extent of his involvement wasn't known He got fired in September when it first began to leak, prior to that it was his previous form in govt he could be judged on and 2008-10 he appeared to have behaved until the emails to Epstein were released last week. It was a mistake to appoint him clearly, but unlike some of his colleagues, Kier hadn't worked alongside and didn't have the same distrust based on experience as Ed Milliband and others.
maybe if young but you cannot tell me "top" barrister Toolman was not around and aware of the multiple times he was sacked for money and other stuff throughout his career
Interesting the ladies on the Trevor Phillips programme are incandescent that this is all about men acting as if they are the victims from Mandelson, to Blair, Brown, Starmer and in the US
They reminded viewers it is the female victims who are wronged not an international mans club
Ahem ...... as I have been saying.
"Phallic drift": The powerful tendency for public discussion of female issues to drift, inexorably, back to the male point of view.
NYT: FBI agents equipped with a signed warrant prepared to document blood spatter and bullet holes in Renee Good's SUV received orders to stop, including from Kash Patel.
The fear? "a civil rights investigation would contradict Trump’s claim that Good “violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer” who fired at her as she drove her vehicle."
Can the head of the FbI obstruct justice? Genuine question surprisingly!
Edit: I mean be charge with rather than do it; of course he can do it
Yes, but Trump would pardon and then reinstate him so why bother?
But isn’t it just a senior policeman using his judgement about resource allocation?
NO, with Trump's hand up his arse working him it stinks
Does anyone know why so many of the best PB posters have left the site over the last few years? I'm thinking of people like Antifrank/Alistair Meeks, SouthamObserver, Richard Navabi, Fitalass, etc. I just think it's sad and regrettable that they're not here anymore.
I was sorry to see Antifrank and David Herdson leave PB, both regularly contributed very insightful and imformative must read regular articles. And I also miss SouthernObserver, Richard Navabi and HurstLlama as well as that ancient old Jacobite rogue JackW who was always teasing us all tried to guess his identity. Sadly I have not been posting as much since Christmas due to ill health.
There doesn't seem to be such a big pool of cross party contributors these days, and definitely not enough much needed cross party female contributions to add more spice to a broader robust debate across a range of political issues. I still also miss the contributions from the SNP supporting poster Marcia, such a lovely lady and always a pleasure to debate with her on back in the days when we both posted here regularly and before that Indy Referendum tribally turned Scottish political discourse toxic across social media.
I hate to say it and I know I am not going to be popular, but lads, some nights/weekends on here its like reading the equivalent of watching what I call Fitaloon's and our sons beloved mens shed TV programmes on the documentary channels. And now more than twenty years on from when I first started posting on here I hit the big 60 recently, and I am now officially calling myself the Scottish grumpy female equivalent of MalcolmG!
Naturally one regrets the loss of top class contributors but twas ever thus on PB. People come and go, and as they do so the character of the site changes like a slowly turning kaleidoscope. Like you, I could make a long list of people who I miss. I'd start with Benedict White, and that really is going back a long way to the time when the Tory Herd was a thing.
The site goes through its phases, but it has always been light on female contributors. This is no doubt connected to its betting origins. Although we miss the late Plato and the combative Snowflake I should say there are thankfully more women posters now than there have ever been. There are still not enough though, so may I entreat you personally to stick around. There is less misogyny and locker room humour than there used to be but there's still plenty of room for improvement, and I say that as a serial offender. The contributions of Cyclefree and your good self are a helpful corrective.
Sixty, eh? I hadn't realised you were one of the youngsters. Here's to many more years of Fit contributions.
Just finishing my whisky before bed. Two random comments on tonight's musings:
1. It must be terribly frustrating to his opponents that Starmer, and all his cabinet, are still in place and that the press is having to rely on gossip as to what's going to happen.
2. I want to stick up for HYUFD: even if one disagrees with some of his opinions, he is by far the most loyal out-and-out Tory in the entire PB village; to question his loyalty to the true Tory cause is sacrilegious.
I disagree
If he was he would support Kemi
I don’t think that he doesn’t support Kemi
He’s just one of those people who gets tied up in knots in data analytics about today and doesn’t have the ability to lift his head from the numbers to form his own judgement about the future
Good morning
I agree
Morning Big G. On the whole Kemi, Tory, May elections, the future thing.... i spend a lot of time perhaps pointlessly poring over data points ftom local by elections and the like to fill my time. It seems to me fairly clear that statistically it does not look like May 26 will be anywhere near as bad as May 25 for the Tories in England - fewer councils to defend, the local organisations seem better organised and funded, they have London which should be relatively OK results wise and Reform won't look as dominant (tories will be hoping to outpoll them there too). Scotland they ought to be able to at least match their previous low point of 2011 or close to and Wales they just have to take the inevitable massive hit and hope Labours implosion takes the headlines. So, unless they underachieve badly from that expectation things will be 'improving' from the bottom and any challenge would be seen for what it is - reginacide for the sake of it
I still predict that Kemi Badenoch and her far more recent charismatic media savvy performances in the House of Commons and in the UK news media and far more indepth policy offers are now becoming Nigel Farage's and Reform's worst nightmare. Hence their current attacks aimed at her and the Conservatives rather than the current Labour government despite all their difficulties. Kemi's impressive performances and stature is growing among the political media classes as quickly as it has done in her personal polling in recent months. Nigel Farage is looking a bit tired and long in the tooth with his usual protest tropes without any significant well thought out and hard hitting policies to back it up.
And more importantly, Kemi Badenoch is a full time working leader and MP in the House of Commons and Nigel Farage is not and its now beginning to show as it did with that shambolic vote which saw his newest defecting recruits accidentaly rebelling on the two child cap vote.
Hi Fitalass Her improved performances and ratings will, imo, turn into votes when minds focus rather than expressing grrrrrrrrr in polls - this May and the GE for example
It would be ICONTHEIVABLE!! to enforce not paying Mandelson. He is Of The Elect (not Elected). His Golden Goodbye is a Human Right.
If you failed to pay, it would suggest he was just another employee. Just like the 99%, not the 1%
Next you’ll be suggesting that he can’t have some non-executive directorships, chair a think thank or two and get a job advising the government!!
These arseholes always look after their chums with our money. Bring out the tumbrils.
Unfortunately, the Tumbril Delivery Project for Scotland has been stuck in development longer than the ferries were. The latest attempt costs £234 million a copy. It lacks wheels.
They are relatively hopefully that a revised design can be delivered in 6 years time.
Tracks are better than wheels anyway. Otherwise you’d have a vibrating tumbril
Does anyone know why so many of the best PB posters have left the site over the last few years? I'm thinking of people like Antifrank/Alistair Meeks, SouthamObserver, Richard Navabi, Fitalass, etc. I just think it's sad and regrettable that they're not here anymore.
I was sorry to see Antifrank and David Herdson leave PB, both regularly contributed very insightful and imformative must read regular articles. And I also miss SouthernObserver, Richard Navabi and HurstLlama as well as that ancient old Jacobite rogue JackW who was always teasing us all tried to guess his identity. Sadly I have not been posting as much since Christmas due to ill health.
There doesn't seem to be such a big pool of cross party contributors these days, and definitely not enough much needed cross party female contributions to add more spice to a broader robust debate across a range of political issues. I still also miss the contributions from the SNP supporting poster Marcia, such a lovely lady and always a pleasure to debate with her on back in the days when we both posted here regularly and before that Indy Referendum tribally turned Scottish political discourse toxic across social media.
I hate to say it and I know I am not going to be popular, but lads, some nights/weekends on here its like reading the equivalent of watching what I call Fitaloon's and our sons beloved mens shed TV programmes on the documentary channels. And now more than twenty years on from when I first started posting on here I hit the big 60 recently, and I am now officially calling myself the Scottish grumpy female equivalent of MalcolmG!
Ironic you mention Men’s Sheds. I looked to possibly join one locally as it sounded a worthy thing for men to get together, and can talk about issues. The two local to me are run by women !!
This board since I first same in 2021 has steadily moved towards ‘my side right or wrong’ and a lack of tolerance of views that the majority posters don’t align with. Be it on US politics, again just look at the bullying of William Glenn over his posts during the US election, or be it on U.K. politics.
Hopefully your health picks up.
Going to a PB drinks is quite interesting. Quite a lot of posters I didnt think I would get along with were quite different in person. It changed my online relationships to them afterwards.
Perhaps it is time for another one.
I've never met any PBers IRL.
A lucky escape for the rest of you.
I met the lady who was right about Trump first time and Hurst Llama. I can't reemmber her id. Financier helped her iirc
How very convenient. What exactly did they warn him about? I don't believe either him or Rayner on this. At the time Lammy said this "Mandelson had “a wealth of experience in trade, economic and foreign policy from his years in government and the private sector”.
It's a curious line to walk in such situations, as obviously everyone wants to give the impression (or outright state) that they had their doubts about the decision, but they have to know that there will be public statements from them saying otherwise.
It is not impossible such claims are true, people might have given warnings but then once the decision was made they were good little soldiers and advanced the approved lines, but that doesn't really help since it is an admission they lied to push a party narrative. Which often happens I'm sure, but you don't want to be caught out doing so.
To be fair to Lammy (what!?) the quote that @cyclefree cites is absolutely true. It doesn’t mean that he is the right person for the job or that Lammy was keen on his appointment
Hammy is about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike, however the ashtray would make a better PM.
A lot of hindsight judgmentalism going on here. The UK isn't a surveillance state, Mandeson's social diary and private communications weren't public from 2010 onwards until the Epstein files were released. So the full extent of his involvement wasn't known He got fired in September when it first began to leak, prior to that it was his previous form in govt he could be judged on and 2008-10 he appeared to have behaved until the emails to Epstein were released last week. It was a mistake to appoint him clearly, but unlike some of his colleagues, Kier hadn't worked alongside and didn't have the same distrust based on experience as Ed Milliband and others.
Excuses excuses
Yes, refute them then, how does Starmer know the contents of Mandeson's private emails to Epstein before the Epstein files were released? Or even his social diary?
Private emails are not private.
After bouncing through multiple servers, there are many, many copies. Unencrypted.
Since the telegraph was invented, the security services keep an eye on communications. The points at which the internet leaves and enters the country figure in this, especially - they are remarkably few.
This is why conditions for allowing Starlink in the U.K. include all UK traffic being “landed” at a satellite comms facility *in the Uk*
The security services keep a copy of every email they can find. And have done this for many decades.
They then share this under the 5 eyes agreements. Which mean we get copies of what US intelligence has snaffled, as well.
So the government had the emails. In a nice searchable database. Was it searched?
Mandelson’s finances would be searchable for the clearance for this job. Were they searched?
Does anyone know why so many of the best PB posters have left the site over the last few years? I'm thinking of people like Antifrank/Alistair Meeks, SouthamObserver, Richard Navabi, Fitalass, etc. I just think it's sad and regrettable that they're not here anymore.
I was sorry to see Antifrank and David Herdson leave PB, both regularly contributed very insightful and imformative must read regular articles. And I also miss SouthernObserver, Richard Navabi and HurstLlama as well as that ancient old Jacobite rogue JackW who was always teasing us all tried to guess his identity. Sadly I have not been posting as much since Christmas due to ill health.
There doesn't seem to be such a big pool of cross party contributors these days, and definitely not enough much needed cross party female contributions to add more spice to a broader robust debate across a range of political issues. I still also miss the contributions from the SNP supporting poster Marcia, such a lovely lady and always a pleasure to debate with her on back in the days when we both posted here regularly and before that Indy Referendum tribally turned Scottish political discourse toxic across social media.
I hate to say it and I know I am not going to be popular, but lads, some nights/weekends on here its like reading the equivalent of watching what I call Fitaloon's and our sons beloved mens shed TV programmes on the documentary channels. And now more than twenty years on from when I first started posting on here I hit the big 60 recently, and I am now officially calling myself the Scottish grumpy female equivalent of MalcolmG!
“ I am now officially calling myself the Scottish grumpy female equivalent of MalcolmG! ”
Does this mean that you require cask strength turnip juice, like @malcolmg ?
Not likely! A nice glass of red wine or a really nice Gin, and when I say that I mean an old school Gin like my current favourite! It still makes me laugh just how popular all the various Gins now produced have become and how it has exploded into such a successful industry today. Back more than 40 years ago I was really struggling to find a spirit and mixer that I liked when I hit 18, no laughing at the back, I am from Scotland and we teenagers were very sneaky! But back then there was only about three well known gin brands on offer at various prices.
But someone suggested I try a Gin and tonic because I complained all the usual spirits and mixers were too sweet for me. Still makes me laugh that I was the only person in my age group of friends drinking gin for a few years before it ever became as fashionable as it has become today. But if you are Gin drinker, definitely try my favourite Seven Croft Gin from a distillery that also produces a higher-proof "Fisherman’s Strength" in Ullapool! There is absolutely no doubt that Scottish Gin distillers are now knocking it out of the park just like our much older whisky distilleries. And its lovely to see some old and once defunct whisky distilleries now being reopened along with new ones and its also seen some of these new whisky distilleries diversifying into producing both whisky and Gin.
A few years ago we spent an amazing day visiting and exploring the the island of Raasay when we were on a great family holiday on the Isle of Skye and we had a lovely afternoon visiting the new distillery there that is producing both their own whisky and gin. If any of you ever visit Skye, don't miss the chance to visit this little hidden gem of a Scottish Island which is such a short trip on the ferry from Skye and make sure you take the road trip to visit Calum's road and the ruined Brochel Castle.
Last time I was in Edinburgh, there was more gin than scotch being pitched everywhere. Seemed like that across Scotland. Picked up a couple of bottles of interesting stuff in Stirling.
It would be ICONTHEIVABLE!! to enforce not paying Mandelson. He is Of The Elect (not Elected). His Golden Goodbye is a Human Right.
If you failed to pay, it would suggest he was just another employee. Just like the 99%, not the 1%
Next you’ll be suggesting that he can’t have some non-executive directorships, chair a think thank or two and get a job advising the government!!
These arseholes always look after their chums with our money. Bring out the tumbrils.
Unfortunately, the Tumbril Delivery Project for Scotland has been stuck in development longer than the ferries were. The latest attempt costs £234 million a copy. It lacks wheels.
They are relatively hopefully that a revised design can be delivered in 6 years time.
Tracks are better than wheels anyway. Otherwise you’d have a vibrating tumbril
The reverse actually. Tracked vehicles have terrible problems with vibration and noise unless well designed.
I’m sure H&S would block usage of a tumbril that might damage the hearing of the occupants.
Interesting the ladies on the Trevor Phillips programme are incandescent that this is all about men acting as if they are the victims from Mandelson, to Blair, Brown, Starmer and in the US
They reminded viewers it is the female victims who are wronged not an international mans club
"Our first thoughts should be for the victims". This, by Labour defenders, is a way of obfuscating the most serious allegations against Mandelson, namely the treachery of relaying confidential information from Cabinet discussions to American bankers.
How very convenient. What exactly did they warn him about? I don't believe either him or Rayner on this. At the time Lammy said this "Mandelson had “a wealth of experience in trade, economic and foreign policy from his years in government and the private sector”.
It's a curious line to walk in such situations, as obviously everyone wants to give the impression (or outright state) that they had their doubts about the decision, but they have to know that there will be public statements from them saying otherwise.
It is not impossible such claims are true, people might have given warnings but then once the decision was made they were good little soldiers and advanced the approved lines, but that doesn't really help since it is an admission they lied to push a party narrative. Which often happens I'm sure, but you don't want to be caught out doing so.
To be fair to Lammy (what!?) the quote that @cyclefree cites is absolutely true. It doesn’t mean that he is the right person for the job or that Lammy was keen on his appointment
Hammy is about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike, however the ashtray would make a better PM.
A lot of hindsight judgmentalism going on here. The UK isn't a surveillance state, Mandeson's social diary and private communications weren't public from 2010 onwards until the Epstein files were released. So the full extent of his involvement wasn't known He got fired in September when it first began to leak, prior to that it was his previous form in govt he could be judged on and 2008-10 he appeared to have behaved until the emails to Epstein were released last week. It was a mistake to appoint him clearly, but unlike some of his colleagues, Kier hadn't worked alongside and didn't have the same distrust based on experience as Ed Milliband and others.
maybe if young but you cannot tell me "top" barrister Toolman was not around and aware of the multiple times he was sacked for money and other stuff throughout his career
The idea that “The UK isn't a surveillance state” is farcical. We have none of the constitutional road blocks/protections other states have.
The state collects a vast range of information on us. And is very happy to use it, when it comes to The Proles or members of The Outer Party.
Does anyone know why so many of the best PB posters have left the site over the last few years? I'm thinking of people like Antifrank/Alistair Meeks, SouthamObserver, Richard Navabi, Fitalass, etc. I just think it's sad and regrettable that they're not here anymore.
Speaking of which, @fitalass, I asked you on Dec 26 if you could provide a discussant contribution. That would require you to read Draft 12 of the article and provide a comment (about 300 words would be nice). If you can't then that's OK, it's not a problem, but I need to know if you can't.
Hi viewcode, just seen this and I have messaged you.
...and I have just replied, ma'am. Thank you for your reply.
Must be a good chance of some fresh Mandy juice for the Sundays. A few old stories getting dusted off
I am expecting some non Mandy Epstein revelations this weekend.
Political, royal or celebrity?
All three but mostly royal.
So Randy not Mandy?
Yah, but it has the potential to drag in others.
All I'm going to do is post this from 2011.
Last year's Wikileaks disclosures featured an American ambassador criticising the prince's boorish remarks to businessmen during a lunch in Kyrgyzstan, during which he attacked a British Serious Fraud Office investigation into corruption.
His regular trips to Kazakhstan and friendship with Timor Kulibayev, the president's son-in-law, also aroused adverse comment, especially when Kulibayev purchased Sunninghill Park near Ascot, given by the Queen to Andrew and Ferguson following their marriage, for £15m, £3m more than the asking price.
Further doubts were raised about Andrew's position in the wake of a Guardian report about him entertaining the son-in-law of the ousted Tunisian president, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, at Buckingham Palace.
Following the revelations in March, the prince was called in to Buckingham Palace for talks with his mother and government ministers were said to be sufficiently exasperated to cast around for a new job for him.
That's actually quite legitimate criticism of QEII.
She signally failed to rein him in and cut his balls off, which meant Andrew was free and untouchable, whilst continuing to create havoc whilst exploiting official UK diplomatic facilities.
Comments
The "radical freedom of speech" party doesn't believe in freedom of speech.
A lucky escape for the rest of you.
He has pardoned drug kingpins, financial scammers, thugs and J6 rioters. Would pardoning a paedophile (for crypto) be a pardon too far?
NEW THREAD
And more importantly, Kemi Badenoch is a full time working leader and MP in the House of Commons and Nigel Farage is not and its now beginning to show as it did with that shambolic vote which saw his newest defecting recruits accidentaly rebelling on the two child cap vote.
He just needed to think. "I am considering appointing someone who is a master of manipulation. Is it me that is being manipulated?"
The Oxford English Dictionary notes that it was "perhaps originally Dublin slang".
It was later popularized in the UK and beyond by the late Irish radio DJ Terry Wogan, who used it frequently on BBC Radio.
I think, at heart, most people are fine and reasonable. The overly dogmatic you can just avoid.
But someone suggested I try a Gin and tonic because I complained all the usual spirits and mixers were too sweet for me. Still makes me laugh that I was the only person in my age group of friends drinking gin for a few years before it ever became as fashionable as it has become today. But if you are Gin drinker, definitely try my favourite Seven Croft Gin from a distillery that also produces a higher-proof "Fisherman’s Strength" in Ullapool! There is absolutely no doubt that Scottish Gin distillers are now knocking it out of the park just like our much older whisky distilleries. And its lovely to see some old and once defunct whisky distilleries now being reopened along with new ones and its also seen some of these new whisky distilleries diversifying into producing both whisky and Gin.
A few years ago we spent an amazing day visiting and exploring the the island of Raasay when we were on a great family holiday on the Isle of Skye and we had a lovely afternoon visiting the new distillery there that is producing both their own whisky and gin. If any of you ever visit Skye, don't miss the chance to visit this little hidden gem of a Scottish Island which is such a short trip on the ferry from Skye and make sure you take the road trip to visit Calum's road and the ruined Brochel Castle.
it was a secret
"Phallic drift": The powerful tendency for public discussion of female issues to drift, inexorably, back to the male point of view.
The site goes through its phases, but it has always been light on female contributors. This is no doubt connected to its betting origins. Although we miss the late Plato and the combative Snowflake I should say there are thankfully more women posters now than there have ever been. There are still not enough though, so may I entreat you personally to stick around. There is less misogyny and locker room humour than there used to be but there's still plenty of room for improvement, and I say that as a serial offender. The contributions of Cyclefree and your good self are a helpful corrective.
Sixty, eh? I hadn't realised you were one of the youngsters. Here's to many more years of Fit contributions.
Her improved performances and ratings will, imo, turn into votes when minds focus rather than expressing grrrrrrrrr in polls - this May and the GE for example
reemmber her id. Financier helped her iirc
After bouncing through multiple servers, there are many, many copies. Unencrypted.
Since the telegraph was invented, the security services keep an eye on communications. The points at which the internet leaves and enters the country figure in this, especially - they are remarkably few.
This is why conditions for allowing Starlink in the U.K. include all UK traffic being “landed” at a satellite comms facility *in the Uk*
The security services keep a copy of every email they can find. And have done this for many decades.
They then share this under the 5 eyes agreements. Which mean we get copies of what US intelligence has snaffled, as well.
So the government had the emails. In a nice searchable database. Was it searched?
Mandelson’s finances would be searchable for the clearance for this job. Were they searched?
I’m sure H&S would block usage of a tumbril that might damage the hearing of the occupants.
The state collects a vast range of information on us. And is very happy to use it, when it comes to The Proles or members of The Outer Party.
The Inner Party less so, it seems.
She signally failed to rein him in and cut his balls off, which meant Andrew was free and untouchable, whilst continuing to create havoc whilst exploiting official UK diplomatic facilities.
Like an mini-me Airfix model of a Borgia Pope.