All that matters is that the prime minister has the confidence of the House of Commons. Of course, unless someone in a safe seat can be found to be booted upstairs so Mr Johnson can take his seat, his position becomes very unstable and the parliamentary party might want him out anyway.
Last PM who wasn't in the Commons at appointment was Hume.
Last PM who wasn't in the Commons at appointment was Hume.
(you did ask).
Obligatory:
Giphy "bears":
https://media3.giphy.com/media/x4bWE4pS66NEPZR9G1/giphy-loop.mp4
Obligatory:
Giphy "bears":
https://media3.giphy.com/media/x4bWE4pS66NEPZR9G1/giphy-loop.mp4
Finally had a Tory leaflet through my letterbox. Was so angry about the candidate's repeated use of the prime minister's first name and "we need to get Brexit done" I immediately tore it up and chucked it in the recycling.
I probably should email her about the "we want to stop those dastardly courts and MPs stopping us" bit in the manifesto and the border in the Irish Sea, but I can't find a pithy way to phrase the questions and remain civil.
Looking for the positives, at least we both agree on the hospital on the Banbury, and I'm open-minded on the expressway.
I might just watch the exit poll next week and if it's anything other than a hung parliament turn the TV off, disconnect my router, and get very drunk.
I probably should email her about the "we want to stop those dastardly courts and MPs stopping us" bit in the manifesto and the border in the Irish Sea, but I can't find a pithy way to phrase the questions and remain civil.
Looking for the positives, at least we both agree on the hospital on the Banbury, and I'm open-minded on the expressway.
I might just watch the exit poll next week and if it's anything other than a hung parliament turn the TV off, disconnect my router, and get very drunk.
Kern wrote:
the "we want to stop those dastardly courts and MPs stopping us" bit in the manifesto and the border in the Irish Sea.
Which, on reflection, are two very novel proposals for the Conservatives and Unionists to have.
zaphod79 wrote:
https://twitter.com/matt_dathan/status/1199644811155984384
Apparently that could have been the Russians.
https://www.reddit.com/r/redditsecurity ... on_reddit/
Finally got my Tory Leaflet! Shame about the proof reading.
Maybe he means the sandals.
Even so, still wrong.
Even so, still wrong.
Grim... wrote:
zaphod79 wrote:
https://twitter.com/matt_dathan/status/1199644811155984384
Apparently that could have been the Russians.
https://www.reddit.com/r/redditsecurity ... on_reddit/
Cold War MOAR COLDAR.
Too cynical?
Edit: probably I should have made a 1981 reference instead.
A while back I realised that my local library subscribes to an online newspaper service, meaning I can procastinate at work read or skim papers from across the globe from my desk. Getting the Irish, Canadian, and US take on our predictment is refreshing, and I can never tire of the priorities of local papers.
Today's Torygraph headline complains that Corbyn could "win" without gaining a seat, and how just a few thousand people in a few constituencies could swing it. They don't, however, follow this argument through and start questioning whether the electoral system itself is broken. Good to learn that Brexit and Johnson are both wonderful things, however.
Today's Torygraph headline complains that Corbyn could "win" without gaining a seat, and how just a few thousand people in a few constituencies could swing it. They don't, however, follow this argument through and start questioning whether the electoral system itself is broken. Good to learn that Brexit and Johnson are both wonderful things, however.
Did my postal vote. It can all GTFF. Can't be arsed even thinking about it. Going to be years more Torycuntery, country is fucking ruined. "but it's Corbyn's fault", we'll hear. Fuck. Off.
The other week I wrote to the Tory candidate asking how new checks and paperwork between Britain and Northern Ireland would make intra-Union trade easier.
We now go live to my special political inbox:
Giphy "tumbleweed":
https://media1.giphy.com/media/ilqOZJ87kZKPxecpTG/giphy-loop.mp4
We now go live to my special political inbox:
Giphy "tumbleweed":
https://media1.giphy.com/media/ilqOZJ87kZKPxecpTG/giphy-loop.mp4
About an hour before polls open, and I have none of my usual election day excitement. I would probably rather attend a have-a-go-trepanation party this evening than watch the results.
Might vote in the early evening, after work and either before, after, or in-between pub.
Might vote in the early evening, after work and either before, after, or in-between pub.
I feel completely flat. It’s not even as if I’ve reached the point where I don’t have the tiniest shred of hope, (though it is the tiniest), but my overwhelming hatred of Johnson and this government just eclipses that’s SO much that the noise blocks out any alternative. And I’m pretty sure there are people we all know that will be voting blue today, and I feel sick at that. I think I know a handful that will be, and who live in some of the poorest and most deprived areas of the country. I’ve spoken openly to my family about it, and am heartened by their responses, but none of us live in Tory areas.
That said, we’ve been a Labour constituency since we moved here, but I’ve seen a few places say that it’s one of the 15 key constituencies where non-Labour supporters will have to vote red to secure, though the margin hasn’t been narrow in the past. Maybe because our MP is Keith Vaz’s sister?
That said, we’ve been a Labour constituency since we moved here, but I’ve seen a few places say that it’s one of the 15 key constituencies where non-Labour supporters will have to vote red to secure, though the margin hasn’t been narrow in the past. Maybe because our MP is Keith Vaz’s sister?
15 hours until I say "Corbyn's fucked it", pour a larger glass of wine and stare at the ceiling in silence
I don’t think Corbyn has messed this up. It’s not him. He’s far (far) from perfect, but who, in this current political mess, could fight against the combined forces of a popular media that is so outrageously content to print pure fabrication, a country half whipped up into a nationalistic xenophobia, the combined forces of Trump and Putin wanting a wet sock to lead the UK, the cult of personality that Johnson is head of, and what is now the *real* actual problem with the internet in the willingness to share and believe such misinformation.
Civic duty performed.
Wife and eldest son have voted (eldest son also acting as a proxy for his brother ).
I will vote after work
I will vote after work
I don’t think I’ll be watching the results tonight. I used to find a perverse excitement in it, but the way people, poor people, are treated now is cruel. Seeing deprived areas going blue is too horrible. And I hate the stupid face to be first to declare (is it Sunderland? Newcastle?) Count them carefully, more important than quickly.
Mimi wrote:
I feel completely flat. It’s not even as if I’ve reached the point where I don’t have the tiniest shred of hope, (though it is the tiniest), but my overwhelming hatred of Johnson and this government just eclipses that’s SO much that the noise blocks out any alternative. And I’m pretty sure there are people we all know that will be voting blue today, and I feel sick at that. I think I know a handful that will be, and who live in some of the poorest and most deprived areas of the country. I’ve spoken openly to my family about it, and am heartened by their responses, but none of us live in Tory areas.
I get this Mimi. I totally do. What I feel I've lost the most over the past three years is my sense of empathy or general understanding of other people in this country. I tend to be an optimist, believing that 98% of people are genuiely decent - honest, loving, want the best for their families. People might not share my outlook or values or agree with me, but on the whole the aim (wanting the best for the country) is still there. Naive, I know, but probably a good foundation for healthy relationships. I also accept that people don't tend to follow politics or political issues as closely as I do, and on the whole if other things give you joy and a short news clip on the radio is your only contact, than fine. They're happy or if not happy just trying to survive and that's important.
What I've been struggling with is how things that seem so blatantly obvious to me just aren't registering to others, or if they do they are just discounted (eg the idea that Brexit can be "done" in one short action, like paying off a bill online or booking a train ticket, and that even assumes that we know and agree on what Brexit actually is; Mr Johnson's utter disregard for any sense of truth and his open racism and misogony).
In short, I'm just not being wowed by the emperor's awesome garb, but instead am repulsed by his hairy moobs.
And yet, Labour are poised to do rubbishly, again, despite having policies that are, they claim, pretty popular. Seems to make more sense to have to changed the mind of one person than the views of several million. It should have been done ages back. Still, he will get his Brexit, and retire after a short period after a narrative has been built and it can appear to be on his terms. The stupid, stupid, twat
The worst thing about election day is the news coverage. Nothing happens all day but the media still treats it like a frigging high speed car chase.
"Now over to Brian in Stockport with some breaking news!" Cut to picture of old lady clutching a dog wearing a Brexit Party rosette.
"Now over to Brian in Stockport with some breaking news!" Cut to picture of old lady clutching a dog wearing a Brexit Party rosette.
I was thinking about the upopularity of Mr Corbyn this morning. Best I could come up with is that in part it might be the mirror of what I feel about Mr Johnson. If you are naturally Conservative/Labour-inclined, to drift over to another party takes some psychological difficulty. It takes a lot to get over your biases.
I don't like Mr Johnson in part because his behaviour and attitudes sums up a lot of what I most dislike about the political right. It might be that he's also a modern St Francis of Assissi and hugs small animals in his spare time, but this is completely lost amongst all this shit. Similarly, small c-conservative floaters look at Magic Grandpa and whilst there might be a lot of good in what he says, that will be lost amid all the other baggage he has. So to be a credible opposition leader, you have to make it easy and welcoming for people to approach your ship.
I don't like Mr Johnson in part because his behaviour and attitudes sums up a lot of what I most dislike about the political right. It might be that he's also a modern St Francis of Assissi and hugs small animals in his spare time, but this is completely lost amongst all this shit. Similarly, small c-conservative floaters look at Magic Grandpa and whilst there might be a lot of good in what he says, that will be lost amid all the other baggage he has. So to be a credible opposition leader, you have to make it easy and welcoming for people to approach your ship.
DavPaz wrote:
The worst thing about election day is the news coverage. Nothing happens all day but the media still treats it like a frigging high speed car chase.
"Now over to Brian in Stockport with some breaking news!" Cut to picture of old lady clutching a dog wearing a Brexit Party rosette.
"Now over to Brian in Stockport with some breaking news!" Cut to picture of old lady clutching a dog wearing a Brexit Party rosette.
On the other hand, I'm painfully aware that with Brexit and the election and the general poor shape of the country, I'm missing out on a lot of world news. The ongoing fall from grace of Aung San Suu Kyi is the only non-Trump thing that comes immediately to mind today.
DavPaz wrote:
Civic duty performed.
You took your library books back on time?
Kern wrote:
DavPaz wrote:
Civic duty performed.
You took your library books back on time?
Tutted at a queue jumper
My obligatory election day anthem is Frank Turner's "Love, Ire, & Song" (Youtube), in particular the rousing ending:
Quote:
So come on, let's be young, let's be crass enough to care.
Let's refuse to live and learn, let's make all our mistakes again, yes.
And then darling, just for one day, we could fight and we could win,
And if only for a little while, we could insist on the impossible.
Let's refuse to live and learn, let's make all our mistakes again, yes.
And then darling, just for one day, we could fight and we could win,
And if only for a little while, we could insist on the impossible.
Both Donna and I are in marginal seats, so there is a modicum of empowerment on the go here. I've had to convince D to vote labour from her usual lib dem though, as they haven't got a chance in her constituency.
https://twitter.com/lukeunabomber/statu ... 6198646784
Edit - apologies, still haven't mastered tweet embedding.
A few lads selling Es at Levenshulme polling station at 730 am
— I KNOW (@lukeunabomber) December 12, 2019
Canny
Edit - apologies, still haven't mastered tweet embedding.
Edited: Fixed embedding
I have voted. I feel this may be the last time I bother.
Mimi wrote:
I feel completely flat. It’s not even as if I’ve reached the point where I don’t have the tiniest shred of hope, (though it is the tiniest)
I'm with you on that. And it's the tiny shreds of hope that reel you in and set you up for a nasty fall. I have trouble maintaining a sense of perspective at the best of times, and now I find myself clutching at tweets saying there is hope of a hung parliament because the tories are only five points ahead in the latest polls, and letting myself believe that this it not only possible, but that it absolutely must happen, or all is lost (very similar to how I felt about applying - unsuccessfully - for a job recently - still not over that, but that's another story).
The alternative, of having to look for positives about another five years of Johnson as PM, veers between unremittingly bleak, and utterly impossible.
1997 was the first general election I was old enough to vote in. This one feels like the absolute polar opposite, in terms of hope, possibility, and expectation.
I'm planning to stay up and watch the results, as long as I can stand it, along with a diet of whisky, crisps and fingernails.
Take the ?s=20 off.
Mr Chonks wrote:
Take the ?s=20 off.
Thank you!
DavPaz wrote:
The worst thing about election day is the news coverage. Nothing happens all day but the media still treats it like a frigging high speed car chase.
"Now over to Brian in Stockport with some breaking news!" Cut to picture of old lady clutching a dog wearing a Brexit Party rosette.
"Now over to Brian in Stockport with some breaking news!" Cut to picture of old lady clutching a dog wearing a Brexit Party rosette.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50755053
Fucking nailed it
One of the major decisions I usually face on election day is whether to watch the BBC coverage or try a commercial network for a change. Inevitably I'll hesitate for a while over the remote, then press "1"as usual.
Of course, this time round, I might not make it past the reveal of the exit poll.
Of course, this time round, I might not make it past the reveal of the exit poll.
DavPaz wrote:
DavPaz wrote:
The worst thing about election day is the news coverage. Nothing happens all day but the media still treats it like a frigging high speed car chase.
"Now over to Brian in Stockport with some breaking news!" Cut to picture of old lady clutching a dog wearing a Brexit Party rosette.
"Now over to Brian in Stockport with some breaking news!" Cut to picture of old lady clutching a dog wearing a Brexit Party rosette.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50755053
Fucking nailed it
Yeah, but the Dogs At Polling Stations hashtag has been a thing for a good few years now.
Someone we used to work with just posted this on Instagram. I just don’t understand how you can be on the fence BETWEEN LABOUR AND THE CONSERVATIVES about this point.
I can imagine how you might be ‘my heart says Green but my head says I should vote Labour’, or even Con/Brexit, whatever, but day of the vote and you’re not sure whether to vote Labour or Conservative in a few hours? Just seems so weird.
I can imagine how you might be ‘my heart says Green but my head says I should vote Labour’, or even Con/Brexit, whatever, but day of the vote and you’re not sure whether to vote Labour or Conservative in a few hours? Just seems so weird.
Interesting. Wonder where they got the image from? This is tapping into the "Corbyn is weak on defence" mental prompt.
Although the idea that in a war Mr Johnson would be fighting anything other than paternity suits is quite absurd too.
Kern wrote:
Interesting. Wonder where they got the image from? This is tapping into the "Corbyn is weak on defence" mental prompt.
I doubt it’s anything like that. Knowing them I little I’d say the knew absolutely nothing about defence, but is equating ‘Brexit’ with ‘for our country’ and is torn between being pro-Brexit and also having three kids and having seen for them-self recently the local hospital problems.
I just don’t think they’d have anything like a clue on anything other than the very surface newspaper headlines.
Another person we worked with is running for the Greens.
Another person we worked with is running for the Greens.
Some people will only vote for Labour or Conservative as they see them as the only 2 likely to form a government. Some people will also only vote for the party they think is going to win the whole thing as they want to back a winner.
Yeah, and I understand that thinking. I just can’t quite wrap my head around how you could be split on option of Johnson and the current government, though. I get some people love him, and many despise him, but... I guess it’s just so far from how I feel that I’m trying, but finding it difficult.
I responded to the story (and only they can see) and also put this in my own stories. I put ‘a few people’ to make it seem less targeted, but really it was just one, and it was targeted, but if they really don’t know, and you can help change just one person’s mind? I dunno.
Urgh.
Today is a day. We are having a day.
I responded to the story (and only they can see) and also put this in my own stories. I put ‘a few people’ to make it seem less targeted, but really it was just one, and it was targeted, but if they really don’t know, and you can help change just one person’s mind? I dunno.
Urgh.
Today is a day. We are having a day.
Fighting the good fight Mimi 
Pictures of queues under the #YouthQuake hastag on twitter are making me optimistic and I can't bear it. I was going to plump for cynicism and despair.
I'm just going to stay despairing and cynical. I've not been on the winning side of any vote since forever and I see no reason to change now.
I felt a slight glimmer of hope earlier on too but then I remembered that Labour couldn't even beat Theresa May properly.
There is no hope, only despair.
I want to watch the alternative election night but can't figure out if I'll be able to watch it live on all 4 on the ps 4, has anyone done that very specific thing before?
I want to watch the alternative election night but can't figure out if I'll be able to watch it live on all 4 on the ps 4, has anyone done that very specific thing before?
My Vote has successfully elected 1 person in two elections (Molly Scott Cato for the Greens in the 2015 and 2019 European Elections).
It has never successfully elected an MP or a Councillor or even been on the government's side.
I don't expect that to change this time.
It has never successfully elected an MP or a Councillor or even been on the government's side.
I don't expect that to change this time.
I'm not going to watch election night coverage, because I'd rather watch something a bit more hopeful and cheerful.
Like Threads.
Like Threads.