Election Year or Fear!

[Ram Pant]

PS - I don't think that it's a given that the midterms will actually take place...

[swaledale]

Indeed, I'm one of those who believe that there is but one Law and it applies to everybody in full. Position and wealth shouldn't shield folk. Even more so when the crime is as horrendous as the seks trafficking involved in the Epstein circus.

A US Court ordered full and unredacted release by last December. Roughly half released and heavily redacted. Contempt od Court charges for all responsible. That's the Law, even in Trump's America. Although they do seem to be moving rapidly to Trump's Law aka his mood of the day. He has broken the Constitution, the Law, as have many of his fellow MAGA rulers. Only a handful of people seem to have the guts to stand up to him. Tech companies, Law firms, Universities, broadcasters have all bowed down to the bullying. The sooner he's gone or the midterms take away his power, the better. Better for the USA and better for the world.

Absolutely and is a prime example of what "good germans" means. Its those people who don't raise objection, who in some cases actively enable or at the very least don't offer any resistance, the businesses that consider the bottom line rather than any moral stance, the politicians who sit back and allow illegal and immoral actions, the people that keep their heads down, think well Trump isn't after me, isn't affecting me, who ignore whats happening to the other guys, the officials that participate rather than objecting. An illicit regime can only prosper with its enablers.

Fortunately there are numerous examples in the US of people who are taking a stand, from officials who ahve resigned thie rposts rather than carry out the Trump regime's orders, the people of Minesota who have organised ICE watch and protested, the media that have not bowed down to Trumps bullying and pressure and indeed media figures like Jimmy Kimmel who have taken a robust stance even when their livelihood is at risk.

[Trickytreesreds]

I don?t resent your role at all, although, by your own admission, it seems to be confined to what warrants a ?stickie? these days.

What I object to is your hypocrisy and lack of evenhandedness. If you?re a moderator then act like one and moderate?we all know that you and Swale don?t get on but you, imo, instigate at least as much - probably more - in the way of ?fall out? as he does and yet others, who?s views you seem to share, appear to cause offence with impunity.

You can?t have it both ways, Andy. Your ?cloak of moderation? as you call it resembles only the ?Emperor?s new clothes?. You?re either a moderator or Tricky in disguise.

**** me, I?ve had a sabbatical with my very busy timetable here and only a few posts in, the old bile and irritation still grinds doesn?t it?
I?ve been reading only a few posts and come to the conclusion, that Swale is Starmer in disguise trying to turn DCM into the CCCP, of comply and submit, or else.

BTW, I gave your hero 12 months didn?t I? Circumstances saved him, . He?s a complete ****, spineless, compulsive liar and about as patriotic as a cockroach.

Still, to know I live rent free in your head , amuses me no end.

https://youtu.be/6Ejga4kJUts?si=HzuarAHs-9YOYySJ

[ramAnag]

**** me, I?ve had a sabbatical with my very busy timetable here and only a few posts in, the old bile and irritation still grinds doesn?t it?
I?ve been reading only a few posts and come to the conclusion, that Swale is Starmer in disguise trying to turn DCM into the CCCP, of comply and submit, or else.

BTW, I gave your hero 12 months didn?t I? Circumstances saved him, . He?s a complete ****, spineless, compulsive liar and about as patriotic as a cockroach.

Still, to know I live rent free in your head , amuses me no end.

https://youtu.be/6Ejga4kJUts?si=HzuarAHs-9YOYySJ

We’ve all moved on. Please feel free to do the same.

[SithHappens]

Trump posting openly racist content involving the Obamas.

How does he get away with it.

Should be out of a job tomorrow.

[ramAnag]

Trump posting openly racist content involving the Obamas.

How does he get away with it.

Should be out of a job tomorrow.

Words fail me. Been described in the U.S. as a ‘vile, unhinged and malignant bottom feeder’ and a ‘stain on American history’…can only agree.

[swaledale]

Trump posting openly racist content involving the Obamas.

How does he get away with it.

Should be out of a job tomorrow.

He gets away with it because of those with the power to stop it enable him. Same with all the other **** he posts or says. Its ironic that hardly any US press mention his rambling incoherent and often contradictory, never mind false speeches he makes, given the bile that was directed at Biden.

I do see the day when he overeaches himself, he nearly did with Greenland (or as Trump said Iceland) and his wonderfully intuitive, deep thinking and sensible MAGA base turn against him.

[Andy_Faber]

Absolutely and is a prime example of what "good germans" means. Its those people who don't raise objection, who in some cases actively enable or at the very least don't offer any resistance .

That?s an interesting broadening of that phrase to be a personal perception, which I can now understand. So my use of ?good Germans? would include, but not be confined to, those who condone antisemites currently flying the Palestinian flag as much as you in the past have suggested about white English misappropriating the St George flag.

[swaledale]

That?s an interesting broadening of that phrase to be a personal perception, which I can now understand. So my use of ?good Germans? would include, but not be confined to, those who condone antisemites currently flying the Palestinian flag as much as you in the past have suggested about white English misappropriating the St George flag.

Its not a broadening of the phrase actually, that is what the "Good Germans" did, they passively accepted what Hitler did and indeed many voted for him, they ignored the distasteful acts, the rhetoric about "others" being to blame, the openly racist policies or the violence and murder, as long it didn't affect them..at least not initially. Think of the businesses that happily went along with him as it was good for their balance sheet, the same principle applies.

As to your point about condoning those whom you label antisemites, flying the Palestinian flag. Mm firstly I'd not disagree that there are those involved who do have antisemetic views, but and there is a good deal of smoke and mirrors here, not least promogaulated by a section, but by no means all of the Jewish community, which attempts to smear all those involved in arguing for the rights of the Palestinians and crticising the destruction of Gaza, the illegal settlement of the West bank and not least the killing of circa 70,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children (a figure now reportedly accepted by Israel) as antisemites.

Now one can criticise Israel and not least the current PM Netanyahu, who lets not forget is on trial for corruption for their actions and philosophy, without being antisemetic, unless of course one feels its perfectly appropriate and reasonable to massacre 70,000 in retaliation for 1,700 civilains being killed.

Given that the "good germans" didn't actually wave any flags or protest ether in support of or against the Hitler regime, but passively accepted what was going on and in many cases enabled it to operate, I don't see that your conclusion holds water. In any case even if your assertion that those flying the Palestinian flag were all antisemites was true, which it obviously isn't, condoning or not objecting to such actions isn't the same as not objecting to an authoriatrian regime which is in control and dismantling the democratic institutions of the country one lives in.

As to my reference about those misappropriating the English flag, for their own purposes, I have said I have no problem with them flying the flag, other than it seems to me that their effort and resources might be better spent assisting those within their communities rather than boosting the coffers of the Chinese flag manufacturers and Amazon and undertaking what is basically a performative action with no benefit to anyone.

The "Good Germans" in this case are the people who whilst not openly supporting Reform or other far right parties, either vote for them, on the basis that they at least represent something different or as you said, "why not give someone new a chance" (Though given Reform has recruited many of the worst and least competent ex Tory Mp's into its ranks, that seems rather hollow) or enable them to gain power and influence without serious thought as to the divisive rhetoric that spews from them.

[Trickytreesreds]

. Reform can?t win then?

One minute they are one trick pony, have no experience to form a government, the next they are the Tories in disguise?

There are good and bad MPs in every party. Some of them damned border line bonkers or evil.
However the jibe concerning Tory recruitment is very lame.
The Party has a line of ideals they must all push for. As long as they follow that, then your argument vanishes. The Tories always sang from the same script until about 20 years ago, then it went tits up over time.
Labour? I don?t think anyone has a clue what they stand for anymore, not even Labour.

Reform UK has 963 councilors,
7 MPs,
2 mayors.
Out of all those members, only 21 have left the Conservatives to join reform


Ps Swale.
You said 2 years ago that Reform were nothing and would vanish.

It seems the biggest pool of the electorate disagreed with you. Will you be contacting everyone of them, to tell them that your version of politics is correct? ��

[Trickytreesreds]

We?ve all moved on. Please feel free to do the same.

But haven?t though have you? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😉

[SithHappens]

.Will you be contacting everyone of them, to tell them that your version of politics is correct? ��

I think he's going to ask Patricia Clegg to do it.🤣🤣

[ramAnag]

. Reform can?’t win then?

One minute they are one trick pony, have no experience to form a government, the next they are the Tories in disguise?

Reform UK has 963 councilors,

Happy to agree on the first bit, and just look at the MPs they’ve attracted of late. I mean…Braverman, Jenrick, Rosindell and Zahawi! Hardly the ‘cream of the crop’ are they? All somewhat ‘suspect’ in one way or another, all contributors to the government that left us in a mess in the first place and all highly critical of Farage in their previous political incarnations.

There are approximately 18,600 councillors in the UK. You do the maths. To me it means that less than a thousand represent Reform UK and over 17500 don’t.

[swaledale]

Happy to agree on the first bit, and just look at the MPs they?’ve attracted of late. I mean?…Braverman, Jenrick, Rosindell and Zahawi! Hardly the ?‘cream of the crop?’ are they? All somewhat ?‘suspect?’ in one way or another, all contributors to the government that left us in a mess in the first place and all highly critical of Farage in their previous political incarnations.

There are approximately 18,600 councillors in the UK. You do the maths. To me it means that less than a thousand represent Reform UK and over 17500 don?’t.

Your wasting your effort RA, I reached the conclusion long ago that TTR is incapable of original thought or intelligent analysis. Which is why I have him on ignore. I mean his second sentence above doesn't make sense for a start.

For me, any person who votes for Reform, or considers Farage to be a viable Prime Minister, is either incapable of critical reasoning or has lost the ability to do so.

If one just looks at who is funding Reform, crypto shysters, fossil fuel companies, hedge funders and the like, then the first question that needs to be asked is why?

If one looks at Farage, apart from his any contradictory statements, his praise of Truss's budget, his approval at the time of Mandelson's appointment as US Ambassador, his numerous side jobs earning him £1 million a year in addition to his role as an MP, which all the evidence suggests he isn't fulfilling, hardly spending time in Clacton or indeed the House of Commons then even a half sentient person would perhaps think mm, is this guy a serious politician and is he interested in the life of the average voter.

Anyway, there is 3 years before a GE and a lot can happen in that time and whilst Labour might not be popular, only a fool would think a large proportion of the voting public will vote for Reform.

[SithHappens]

Labour will win the next GE with a vastly reduced majority.