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Political Banter and Debate Thread
https://www.beexcellenttoeachother.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10024
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Author:  Kern [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 6:10 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

More likely than to enter a formal coalition, particularly if those entering government were aware that they had only main task to achieve (pause or revoke Brexit). These aren't normal times, and the existing extent of cross-party working suggests that such an agreement would be possible.

Author:  MrC [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 6:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Kern wrote:
More likely than to enter a formal coalition, particularly if those entering government were aware that they had only main task to achieve (pause or revoke Brexit). These aren't normal times, and the existing extent of cross-party working suggests that such an agreement would be possible.


I really hope you're right, and the current situation is indeed anything but normal. Whatever that means. It certainly means PM Boris as of today, everyone knew it was coming but I'd been hoping it was all a dream. A bad one. Nightmare. Aaaargh!
As an expat I tend to limit the extent to which I stick my big nose in when it comes to UK politics. After all, we're shielded from it over here, but my family and friends are not. I've done my bit for Indy, talked my relatives into voting Yes in 2014 (of course, they might have just told me that to shut me up), joined the you-know-what and donated to the Dug etc. My personal take on the situation is that something has to happen now, something other than begging for "permission", but I have no idea what the clever strategy is. It just feels like we're at the last chance saloon, and if it can't be done now, then when?

Author:  Kern [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 7:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

I'm taking comfort form the fact that the day will come when Mr Johnson leaves office as a despised failure. All being well, that should come sooner rather than later.

There's a caveat that if he lives up to his reputation as a serial liar and betrayer, sees the way the wind is blowing, and plumps for "revoke" then he'll be seen as having one heck of a redemention ark. But I think there are safer bets.

Where in Germany are you? Love the country; really should head back there someday.

Author:  MrC [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 9:08 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Kern wrote:
I'm taking comfort form the fact that the day will come when Mr Johnson leaves office as a despised failure. All being well, that should come sooner rather than later.

There's a caveat that if he lives up to his reputation as a serial liar and betrayer, sees the way the wind is blowing, and plumps for "revoke" then he'll be seen as having one heck of a redemention ark. But I think there are safer bets.

Where in Germany are you? Love the country; really should head back there someday.


Yeah, you should, lots of options over here. As I mentioned to Zoidberg, we're in Freiburg, not a big city or anything (my wife just said it's a bit like Cambridge, dunno, never been there, I'm more familiar with Coatbridge) but well worth a look. Plus it's relatively close to the Swiss and French borders, so plenty to see and you're also more than welcome to drop by if it's on your way, one of us is bound to be around. Or if you need any tips, just ask.

The one thing that seems 100% certain about Johnson is he'll always act in his own interests. What I can I can take comfort in is the thought that he is uniquely capable of fucking things up, so maybe he's a blessing in disguise? (a very good disguise).

Author:  Grim... [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 9:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Cologne is my favourite place in the world, I think.

Author:  DavPaz [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 9:58 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Grim... wrote:
Cologne is my favourite place in the world, I think.

Glad you spelled that correctly

Author:  Satsuma [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 10:28 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

My lasting memory Cologne was the sheer volume of wasps around every bin.

Author:  Grim... [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 10:54 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

DavPaz wrote:
Grim... wrote:
Cologne is my favourite place in the world, I think.

Glad you spelled that correctly

I didn't, it's Köln ;)

Author:  Cras [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 10:55 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Ham knuckle and potatoes was something I approved greatly of.

Author:  Grim... [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 10:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

A "barrel" being an unit of beer measurement you can order at the bar was something I approved greatly of.

Author:  MrC [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 12:25 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Grim... wrote:
DavPaz wrote:
Grim... wrote:
Cologne is my favourite place in the world, I think.

Glad you spelled that correctly

I didn't, it's Köln ;)


I don't believe it (read that with a Victor Meldrew voice), Grim.. beat me to the smart-arse response AND found the Umlaut on a UK keyboard...bastard!

Author:  Cras [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 12:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Phones are exceedingly helpful for umlauts

Author:  NervousPete [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 12:30 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

MrC wrote:
Yeah, you should, lots of options over here. As I mentioned to Zoidberg, we're in Freiburg, not a big city or anything (my wife just said it's a bit like Cambridge, dunno, never been there, I'm more familiar with Coatbridge) but well worth a look. Plus it's relatively close to the Swiss and French borders, so plenty to see and you're also more than welcome to drop by if it's on your way, one of us is bound to be around. Or if you need any tips, just ask.

The one thing that seems 100% certain about Johnson is he'll always act in his own interests. What I can I can take comfort in is the thought that he is uniquely capable of fucking things up, so maybe he's a blessing in disguise? (a very good disguise).


I've been to Freiburg! Some beautiful mountains and a narrow gauge (possibly) railway, a mountain lake with an amusing name and cool trams! Also an Irish pub. Visited a friend there in my twenties. Played my first euro-boardgame Thurm und Taxis, about the 18th century Barvarian postal service.

I doubt my thoughts on Johnson and his *cough* incredible mandate need mentioning, so I just wanted to chime in with cheery recollection.

Author:  MrC [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 12:43 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

NervousPete wrote:
MrC wrote:
Yeah, you should, lots of options over here. As I mentioned to Zoidberg, we're in Freiburg, not a big city or anything (my wife just said it's a bit like Cambridge, dunno, never been there, I'm more familiar with Coatbridge) but well worth a look. Plus it's relatively close to the Swiss and French borders, so plenty to see and you're also more than welcome to drop by if it's on your way, one of us is bound to be around. Or if you need any tips, just ask.

The one thing that seems 100% certain about Johnson is he'll always act in his own interests. What I can I can take comfort in is the thought that he is uniquely capable of fucking things up, so maybe he's a blessing in disguise? (a very good disguise).


I've been to Freiburg! Some beautiful mountains and a narrow gauge (possibly) railway, a mountain lake with an amusing name and cool trams! Also an Irish pub. Visited a friend there in my twenties. Played my first euro-boardgame Thurm und Taxis, about the 18th century Barvarian postal service.

I doubt my thoughts on Johnson and his *cough* incredible mandate need mentioning, so I just wanted to chime in with cheery recollection.


You're very welcome Pete, not so sure about the railway, been here for years, should have noticed it by now. The amusing name you're thinking of might be the Titisee. There's definitely an Irish pub in the middle of town, can't remember the name, but I don't drink these days.

That was a lovely post, btw, much appreciated by both of us. Was the "incredible mandate" a euphmism for...oh, you know

Author:  MrC [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 12:47 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Cras wrote:
Phones are exceedingly helpful for umlauts

Are all the mods smartypants these days. And am I allowed to say that? What do you mean "stand up next to ze wall" Surely y...

Author:  Grim... [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 12:52 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

I just remember alt+0246. The only other one I know by heart is alt+0179 (and - by extension - 0178) so I can correctly write Alien³.

Author:  MrC [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 12:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Can someone have this guy arrested, he's clearly insane?

Author:  devilman [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 12:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Grim... wrote:
I just remember alt+0246. The only other one I know by heart is alt+0179 (and - by extension - 0178) so I can correctly write Alien³.


I always found alt+171 handy for ½

Author:  MaliA [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 12:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

https://twitter.com/Steven_Swinford/sta ... 9123005442




Fucking hell.

Author:  MrC [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 12:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

I'll probably get into trouble now, but what the hell.

Author:  Kern [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 14:01 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Cummings! Disgraced-by-the-House-of-Commons Dominic Cummings! Oh god.

Suddenly the out-of-schedule electoral roll survey my local authority sent round last week makes sense. Election September or November?

Author:  Kern [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 14:07 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Grim... wrote:
I just remember alt+0246. The only other one I know by heart is alt+0179 (and - by extension - 0178) so I can correctly write Alien³.


My mechanical memory for these things, honed during A-levels, only extends as far as keyboards with numberpads.

Author:  Kern [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 14:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Kern, in August 2018 wrote:
My current holiday reading is Grimson's Prime Ministers by Andrew Grimson. It's a collection of short biographies of every Prime Minister from Walpole onwards, each accompanied by a caricature by the Observer's Martin Rowson. Very easy to dip in and out of, and a spur to find out more about some of the lesser known tenants of Number 10.

Favourite line so far:

Quote:
Lord Goderich [1782-1859; PM 1827-28] could not stand the strain of being Prime Minister. At moments of crisis he tended to burst into tears


I've just remembered that I didn't actually finish this book. I should probably make amends, but perhaps omit the final chapter. Still, I'd forgotten about old Goderich. By the sounds of it, a more honorable man than Mr Johnson.

Author:  Kern [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 15:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

UK currently free-wheeling.

Let's just enjoy this moment.

Author:  Kern [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 17:02 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

I hate the new regeneration. Bring back the previous one!

Author:  Squirt [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 17:28 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

The PM wrote:
And next I say to our friends in Ireland, and in Brussels and around the EU: I am convinced that we can do a deal without checks at the Irish border, because we refuse under any circumstances to have such checks and yet without that anti-democratic backstop.


Good luck with that, Mr Johnson.

Author:  Grim... [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 17:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

"... and yet without that anti-democratic backstop" what?

It's like he just stopped mid-sentence.

Author:  Kern [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 17:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

He also doesn't understand that the backstop is there just in case an arrangement can't be made. As someone who I don't remember once said: "Useless. Cretinous. Moron".

Author:  Kern [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 19:01 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Just switched over to R4 and heard the newsreader say "Prime Minister Boris Johnson". I suppose I need to get used to this, quick.

Giphy "reality sucks":
https://media1.giphy.com/media/iDTl0Y9wxFPSbSW1Ur/giphy-loop.mp4

Author:  MrC [ Wed Jul 24, 2019 19:25 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Grim... wrote:
"... and yet without that anti-democratic backstop" what?

It's like he just stopped mid-sentence.

Don't forget those pesky anti-democratic elections, in case one of those happens. And those anti-democrtic voters, damn them.

Anyone willing to take a bet on "FAKE NEWS!" coming into fashion in the next week or two?

Author:  Kern [ Thu Jul 25, 2019 8:02 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

I was surprised to see Jo Johnson in the Cabinet. So much for the great anti-Brexit hero of last winter.

Author:  Trooper [ Thu Jul 25, 2019 8:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

No Rory. Is he the only candidate that didn't get a post?

Author:  Kern [ Thu Jul 25, 2019 8:12 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

He doesn't come across as a fan of Mr Johnson in the interviews I've heard.

To be honest, were it not for Brexit and in a different dimension, I'd want him in government or as Tory leader. Comes across as very thoughtful, and his willingness to admit errors and failings is refreshing.

Author:  myp [ Thu Jul 25, 2019 8:22 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Trooper wrote:
No Rory. Is he the only candidate that didn't get a post?

Hunt

Author:  Trooper [ Thu Jul 25, 2019 8:28 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Mr Chonks wrote:
Trooper wrote:
No Rory. Is he the only candidate that didn't get a post?

Hunt


:D of course, just shows how memorable he is!

Author:  Hearthly [ Thu Jul 25, 2019 8:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Kern wrote:
He doesn't come across as a fan of Mr Johnson in the interviews I've heard.

To be honest, were it not for Brexit and in a different dimension, I'd want him in government or as Tory leader. Comes across as very thoughtful, and his willingness to admit errors and failings is refreshing.


His 'full disclosure' interview with James O'Brien is superb. He's far too sane, intelligent, and thoughtful to be leader or in the cabinet though, unfortunately.

He also explicitly ruled himself out of serving in a Johnson cabinet because he won't advocate for the possibility of No Deal.

It's a great interview, I respectfully recommend taking the time to listen to it.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/ja ... interview/

EDIT - They are also available as Podcasts, just search for 'Full Disclosure' in your podcast application of choice.

Author:  Findus Fop [ Thu Jul 25, 2019 10:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Trooper wrote:
Mr Chonks wrote:
Trooper wrote:
No Rory. Is he the only candidate that didn't get a post?

Hunt


:D of course, just shows how memorable he is!


Hunt got a post, Defence, but turned it down.

Author:  MrC [ Thu Jul 25, 2019 11:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Can't blame him (not for that, at least). Must really sting coming in second to Boris

Author:  myp [ Thu Jul 25, 2019 11:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

MrC wrote:
Can't blame him (not for that, at least). Must really sting coming in second to Boris

It’s because he wanted to stay as foreign sec and Johnson said no.

Author:  MrC [ Thu Jul 25, 2019 12:06 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Don't see that that contradicts anything I wrote. And look at the current appointments, much scarier than Hunt. Probably.

Author:  Hearthly [ Thu Jul 25, 2019 13:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Astute analysis of Johnson's possible plan.

https://twitter.com/syrpis/status/1154286327699005440


?

Author:  Trooper [ Thu Jul 25, 2019 13:18 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Labour will fuck up any chance of remaining in the UK, by non-commitally kinda going for the remainers in an unclear and undefined way, which will split the remain vote between labour and libdem, giving BJ the GE win.

Author:  Warhead [ Thu Jul 25, 2019 13:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Satsuma wrote:
My lasting memory Cologne was the sheer volume of wasps around every bin.


1. Wear a different cologne.

2. Don't hang around waste bins.

Author:  Kern [ Fri Jul 26, 2019 17:23 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Shot of the week in the Friday pub is 'Prime Sinister':

Creme de la Cassis, Kahluna, and Jameson's.

£2 (no, really).

Author:  Squirt [ Fri Jul 26, 2019 17:26 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

I cannot imagine that tasting at all good.

Author:  Kern [ Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:48 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

The real news regarding the result of last night's Brecon by-election is that the Saviour of the Human Race came fifth.

Author:  Cras [ Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:55 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

Kern wrote:
The real news regarding the result of last night's Brecon by-election is that the Saviour of the Human Race came fifth.


...The Pink Lady?

Author:  Kern [ Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:58 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

She invented medicinal compounds. Most efficacious in every way.

Author:  Curiosity [ Fri Aug 02, 2019 11:41 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

And still beat UKIP!

So, Johnson’s majority is now 1, even including the DUP.

There’s got to be someone really tempted to defect to the Lib Dem’s or to go independent...

Author:  Kern [ Fri Aug 02, 2019 13:01 ]
Post subject:  Re: Political Banter and Debate Thread

If Mr Johnson goes for an early election, there's a very short window when Parliament returns to actually do it before 31st October. I'm not entirely certain he could muster the requisite 2/3rds majority to do so. Labour might go along with it, but others such as The-Party-That-Formerly-Known-as-ChangeUK-That-Was-Formerly-Known-As-The-Independent-Group or the scattering of non-aligned ex-Tories would be happy to vote themselves out of a job.

More likely would be a vote of confidence, which, if lost, gives a fortnight of mayhem before ending a Parliament. A national government might be possible in such a circumstance, but only if a suitable leader could be found. If nothing is resolved and Parliament dissolves itself, we might find ourselves falling out of the EU during an election campaign.

I'm also not entirely sure if the reporting requirements under the recent Northern Ireland Act take precedence over the dissolution procedures under the Fixed Term Act.

I'd wish everyone a good summer but I'm looking at the exchange rate and weeping.

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