Political Banter and Debate Thread

MaliA · **Posted:** Thu Nov 26, 2015 11:46

I think so, but the drawback is you'd need a pool of cash to bankroll it each time, and capital gains may bite. I think not being able to put hands on £25k+ at shortish notice could be tricky for many. I would be tempted with the back to back terraces around here as there are fewer rooms, but SPQR could kick in.

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5156

Senatus populusque romanus?

MaliA · **Posted:** Thu Nov 26, 2015 11:55

markg wrote:

Future Warrior wrote:

Rents have dropped in my area.

Do you find that happens a lot?

L-lol

Kern · **Posted:** Thu Nov 26, 2015 12:56

Dr Zoidberg wrote:

Senatus populusque romanus?

I was quite pleased that in St George's Hall in Liverpool some of the decor contains 'SPQL' motifs. Less pleased that I had to explain this to the friends I was with.

MaliA · **Posted:** Thu Nov 26, 2015 13:28

Dr Zoidberg wrote:

Senatus populusque romanus?

Small profit quick returns.

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5156

Thanks. Hadn't heard that acronym before.

DBSnappa · **Posted:** Thu Nov 26, 2015 13:41

Dr Zoidberg wrote:

Thanks. Hadn't heard that acronym before.

Technically speaking it's an abbreviation. An acronym has to form a word and SPQR isn't a word.

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16560

Yes it is, it's pronounced spkwer.

myp · **Posted:** Thu Nov 26, 2015 13:59

DBSnappa wrote:

Dr Zoidberg wrote:

Thanks. Hadn't heard that acronym before.

Technically speaking it's an abbreviation. An acronym has to form a word and SPQR isn't a word.

Actually it's an initialism. An abbrev. is a shortening of an existing word.

Malc · **Posted:** Thu Nov 26, 2015 14:06

you can abbreviate more than one word though. So I think DBSnappa was still correct, just not as precise as your refinement.

myp · **Posted:** Thu Nov 26, 2015 14:08

Malc wrote:

you can abbreviate more than one word though. So I think DBSnappa was still correct, just not as precise as your refinement.

Abbreviating words down to single characters is either an acronym or an initialism, depending on whether you can pronounce it as a word or not.

Malc · **Posted:** Thu Nov 26, 2015 14:08

Wikipedia seems to contradict itself several times:

Quote:

An abbreviation (from Latin brevis, meaning short) is a shortened form of a word or phrase. It consists of a group of letters taken from the word or phrase. For example, the word abbreviation can itself be represented by the abbreviation abbr., abbrv. or abbrev.

In strict analysis, abbreviations should not be confused with contractions, acronyms, or initialisms, with which they share some semantic and phonetic functions, though all four are connoted by the term "abbreviation" in loose parlance.[1]:p167An abbreviation is a shortening by any method; a contraction is a reduction of size by the drawing together of the parts. A contraction of a word is made by omitting certain letters or syllables and bringing together the first and last letters or elements; an abbreviation may be made by omitting certain portions from the interior or by cutting off a part. A contraction is an abbreviation, but an abbreviation is not necessarily a contraction. Acronyms and initialisms are regarded as subsets of abbreviations (e.g. by the Council of Science Editors). They are abbreviations that consist of the initial letters or parts of words.

myp · **Posted:** Thu Nov 26, 2015 14:10

Seems pretty clear to me. We are both right, although I am more right.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

Future Warrior wrote:

DBSnappa wrote:

Dr Zoidberg wrote:

Thanks. Hadn't heard that acronym before.

Technically speaking it's an abbreviation. An acronym has to form a word and SPQR isn't a word.

Actually it's an initialism. An abbrev. is a shortening of an existing word.

You're an initialism, you foetid, unspeakable, turgid, unbearably rank ejaculate with a rancid, rotten, inferior oratorial ranking

(Struggled a bit at the end there)

myp · **Posted:** Thu Nov 26, 2015 14:14

Cras wrote:

Future Warrior wrote:

DBSnappa wrote:

Dr Zoidberg wrote:

Thanks. Hadn't heard that acronym before.

Technically speaking it's an abbreviation. An acronym has to form a word and SPQR isn't a word.

Actually it's an initialism. An abbrev. is a shortening of an existing word.

You're an initialism, you foetid, unspeakable, turgid, unbearably rank ejaculate with a rancid, rotten, inferior oratorial ranking

(Struggled a bit at the end there)

GazChap · **Posted:** Thu Nov 26, 2015 14:21

Malc wrote:

Wikipedia seems to contradict itself several times

Film at 11!

MaliA · **Posted:** Thu Nov 26, 2015 23:32

https://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/chairman-lmao-051

Cavey · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 12:03

I'm in the audience at R4's Any Questions? tonight (if they let me in lulz)

Question to BeexHiveMind: Any ideas of a really good question to ask the panel?

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 12:08

Who's on?

Cavey · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 12:12

Grim... wrote:

Who's on?

From BBC website:

Quote:

Jonathan Dimbleby presents political debate and discussion from the Brooks Building at Manchester Metropolitan University with Financial Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke MP, the Editor of Prospect magazine Bronwen Maddox, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer John McDonnell MP, and Simon Stevens the Chief Executive of NHS England.

So, John McDonnell eh? Oh goody. :metul:

Kern · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 15:44

Cavey wrote:

I'm in the audience at R4's Any Questions? tonight (if they let me in lulz)

Question to BeexHiveMind: Any ideas of a really good question to ask the panel?

'Is it too early to plant my bulbs for spring flowering?'

Cavey · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 15:45

Hmph. (

)

Well, in the absence of any more specific suggestions, I'm going to take the intellectual high ground with "hey Jonathan, what's going on with Labour right now LOLZ?"

I'm sure that'll make the cut.

Edit @ Kern - meh, thanks mate but that's a daft suggestion, those Spring bulbs should've been planted last month!

MaliA · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 15:45

"What lessons in leadership has labour learned, of late"

Curiosity · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 15:46

"Do you think the mainstream media collectively decides the results of general elections more than any other single influencing factor?"

Cavey · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 15:47

MaliA wrote:

"What lessons in leadership has labour learned, of late"

Heh. They've only got a 40 minute slot, man.

Kern · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 15:48

Whose civil war is more newsworthy - Syria's or Labour's?

Should politicians quote more political theory in the Commons?

Does anyone care about the Commonwealth?

I think you should aim for the obligatory unfunny 'funny' question they have at the end but whenever I think about Corbyn's leadership potential I feel sad.

MaliA · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 15:48

"To prevent terror attacks on Britain, especially in times of austerity, why ate we talking about bombing a country half a world away when the closer, more ommediate threat comes from Belgium?"

"Why are we still talking to the Saudis?"

MaliA · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 15:49

"Is george galloway still a thing?"

Kern · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 15:50

'Is Osborne a skillful politician, or an oppurtunistic one?'

Cavey · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 15:52

To be serious for one minute

my question suggestion is "Why aren't the Middle Eastern States, with their huge resources (military and financial), not to mention moral duty and imperative, doing any of the heavy lifting with Isis, as this is their backyard, not ours. We didn't expect Saudi Arabia to sort out Northern Ireland?"

Kern · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 15:53

'Should a leading member of 'Stop the war' be in a position to stop the war, should he stop the war or just stop?'

Kern · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 15:53

Cavey wrote:

To be serious for one minute

my question suggestion is "Why aren't the Middle Eastern States, with their huge resources (military and financial), not to mention moral duty and imperative, doing any of the heavy lifting with Isis, as this is their backyard, not ours. We didn't expect Saudi Arabia to sort out Northern Ireland?"

That's actually a very good question.

Cavey · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 15:55

Kern wrote:

Cavey wrote:

To be serious for one minute

my question suggestion is "Why aren't the Middle Eastern States, with their huge resources (military and financial), not to mention moral duty and imperative, doing any of the heavy lifting with Isis, as this is their backyard, not ours. We didn't expect Saudi Arabia to sort out Northern Ireland?"

That's actually a very good question.

But I'm not sure I've got the guts to ask it, even assuming they'd let me.
Seems to be quite the elephant in the room.

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16560

I agree they could be doing more but I think it's a crap analogy because it can be quite convincingly argued that we had a hand in creating both of those situations.

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 15:59

"Daddy or chips?"

myp · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 16:03

markg wrote:

I agree they could be doing more but I think it's a crap analogy because it can be quite convincingly argued that we had a hand in creating both of those situations.

Also they don't have the white saviour complex that we do (or the military might).

MaliA · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 16:09

Future Warrior wrote:

markg wrote:

I agree they could be doing more but I think it's a crap analogy because it can be quite convincingly argued that we had a hand in creating both of those situations.

Also they don't have the white saviour complex that we do (or the military might).

I think we're keeping them in as the alternative is worse. Also, the states are a bit funny work one another and will not want to interfere as it'll most likely cross religious lines, which'll mess things up for them at home. Saudi Arabia was looked down upon for allowing you the US to use it as a staging post in Gulf War 1, if memory serves, and the whole Sunni/Shia thing won't help that either. Also, they won't take refugees in.

MaliA · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 17:27

This won't end well.
https://twitter.com/helenpidd/status/670267569291583488

A dismaying number of voters I met in Oldham today can't speak English despite living there a decade or more. But they're voting Labour.
— Helen Pidd (@helenpidd) November 27, 2015

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 17:39

MaliA wrote:

This won't end well.

Attachment:

sunshine_ver4_xlg[1].jpg

FEEX

ApplePieOfDestiny · **Joined:** 17th Dec, 2008 **Posts:** 8293

Grim... wrote:

MaliA wrote:

This won't end well.

Attachment:

sunshine_ver4_xlg[1].jpg

FEEX

To be fair, that didn't start well either. Although I guess that only increases the similarities with Oldham.

Grim... · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 21:29

Fuck you, the first 3/4 were brilliant.

Pundabaya · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 5016

'28 Jours Plus Tard' sounds like an excellent film, I think that means '28 Days with a Tard'.

MrChris · **Joined:** 1st Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 30498

Someone moving in with myp?

MaliA · **Posted:** Fri Nov 27, 2015 23:47

But the gift this gives the Tories is bigger than just one day of easy, unopposed headlines. McDonnell’s bow to Mao, like his past praise for the IRA, or Corbyn’s reluctance to stop terrorist murderers or his refusal to sing the national anthem, or Ken Livingstone’s blaming of Blair rather than the killers for 7/7 – all these estrange Labour from large swaths of the British public, including that section of it that once saw Labour as its natural champion.

Curiosity · **Posted:** Sat Nov 28, 2015 6:28

That article is a criticism of the newspapers' reporting of what Corbyn et al does, not of what they actually do, but the journalist seems blissfully ignorant of it.

MaliA · **Posted:** Sat Nov 28, 2015 10:21

Curiosity wrote:

That article is a criticism of the newspapers' reporting of what Corbyn et al does, not of what they actually do, but the journalist seems blissfully ignorant of it.

The inability of Corbyn and his camp to land telling and effective blows on the government is a result of this peculiar brand of politics they are playing. Trying to be too clever. And falling flat every time. Missing the chances to get their messages across because of silly, small choices that are naive at best.

JBR · **Joined:** 2nd Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 3214

I'm not sure even that's quite fair, given the backtrack on tax credits and Saudi prison contracts - did the Tories present any as-effective opposition to the Labour government that we can remember? Described as a failure for those successes to seem bigger stories (than the trivia) to the section of the population disengaged with Labour, though, I couldn't disagree.

Curiosity · **Posted:** Sat Nov 28, 2015 13:30

The media has decided that Corbyn et al are failures. They predicted it and after being embarrassed by his success they will simply not countenance anything else. Corbyn has had some great success and has energised a huge part of the base, but the media are desperate to tell everyone he's a failure, and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I'm not really sure what the Labour supporters who hate Corbyn want.

MaliA · **Posted:** Sat Nov 28, 2015 14:20

Credibility in the leadership and a hope that it can deliver election wins.

Example: Not a news cycle with McDonnel quoting Mao and throwing a book at GO. The headlines should have been about how the tax credits climbdown was to do with GO's own ambitions and pressed that issue.

Example: Corbyn not singing national anthem. Headlines should have been about Tory rebels in the vote.

The shadow cabinet is terrible, too.
Looks like a monkey fucking a football at times.

Cavey · **Posted:** Sat Nov 28, 2015 14:51

Heh. Well, I didn't get to ask any questions but thoroughly enjoyed last night and actually agreed with much of what John McDonnell had to say about Syria (and incredibly was able to tell him so, one to one, at length after the programme and even took a "selfie" of us both, what a true gent and a nice guy!)

I even told him I was a one nation Conservative too; he only flinched very slightly as said it was good we still found common ground

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