Original join date: 11/23/2004
Eclectic Connoisseur of all things written, drawn, or imaginatively created.
I could nitpick a bit (for example the Liberals were one of the two main UK parties for a couple of hundred years and often formed government, only losing influence in early 20th century. And Libdems were in full coalition government with Tories in last 10 years)...but essentially it's true: the first past post system makes it difficult for any minority party (i.e. any party other than Labour or Conservatives) unless the support is concentrated in a few geographical areas.
However, UK politics is a real state of flux now...arguments could be put forward for both main parties imploding in next 10 years.
Probably only substantial area I disagree with you is that I think you are harsh in your view of Libdems ("utterly spineless and ineffectual")… they were minority partners when they formed coalition government with Tories...there was always going to be limited in what influence they could wield. But I think they did a good job overall, particularly in making tax policy a bit fairer, and slowing down rate of economic cuts Tories wanted to make.
But...your view is the one most Brits agree with...my view is definitely a minority one in UK.
Last edited by JackDaw; 07-26-2019 at 04:07 AM.
Yeah, I was mainly talking about the post-1945 period.
Agreed, mainly over Brexit. In a way, the longer things go on, the greater the risk that Labour or Tories split. Even a no-deal Brexit is likely to stop the risk of splits within the main UK parties, I think, but no-one wants to take the blame for that one.
Oh, I'm sure they managed to make the Tory government a little nicer, but they didn't gain a single big success, and more importantly weren't seen doing a single big success. What happened to the LibDems is largely similar to what happened to the Greens in Sweden during the last election here, as they had joined the Social Democrats in government. They managed some things (especially where they aligned with the more progressive elements of the Social Democrats or the Left Party), but they were utterly unused at power politics and had to publically give in on some of their more valued policy positions. They were not punished as hard as the LibDems, but still suffered very badly.
Last edited by kjn; 07-26-2019 at 05:33 AM.
«Speaking generally, it is because of the desire of the tragic poets for the marvellous that so varied and inconsistent an account of Medea has been given out» (Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History [4.56.1])
There is a black splinter group that follows many of the same tenets - the Dallas shooter was part of that. While he wasn't part of say...the Bundy group, he was part of the overall movement, which by the nature of what they believe isn't very unified.
If the white nationalists are the extreme fringe of the right, and antifa is the extreme fringe of the left, sov cits are the extreme fringe of libertarian beliefs. While mostly white, it isn't exclusive.
Last edited by Gray Lensman; 07-26-2019 at 09:18 AM.
Dark does not mean deep.
Aren't they the ones who are obsessed with whether or not your name is spelled in capital letters on your Social Security Card?
Some nonsense about people being tricked into contracting away their sovereignty.
I'd have to go research it at this point. It's hard to retain information that is essentially gibberish.
Where does that put the LaRouche people?If the white nationalists are the extreme fringe of the right, and antifa is the extreme fringe of the left, sov cits are the extreme fringe of libertarian beliefs. While mostly white, it isn't exclusive.
I don’t think Brexit is main danger for Labour..in fact I think the chaos Brexit is inflicting on the Tories is the only thing that gives Labour a chance of survival. The party’s handling of complaints from its own Jewish members has been abysmal, the Deputy Leader (Tom Watson) is in open rebellion against the leader (Jeremy Corbyn), and many of the party’s own MP’s hold their leader in comtempt. I say all that as a long term Labour supporter.
The Lib Dem’s demanded..and got..a referendum on Proportional Representation (to replace first past the post system). I don’t see what more they could have done..the system could not be changed without permission of UK electorate (no party had gone into the preceding general election on that basis).
The referendum on proportional representation was held in 2011, and motion for change was heavily defeated. (I actually voted for proportional representation..but was in minority, as often happens.)
Beastie's Cartoons of the Week:
"Always listen to the crazy scientist with a weird van or armful of blueprints and diagrams." -- Vibranium
If republicans and Fox News are going to continue to call Democrats Communist then the left needs to start labeling Trump, McConnell and co. as fascists. It’s far closer to the truth.
There came a time when the Old Gods died! The Brave died with the Cunning! The Noble perished locked in battle with unleashed Evil! It was the last day for them! An ancient era was passing in fiery holocaust!
Nadler has requested Grand Jury documents for review. This includes witness testimony, evidence, and items referred to other body's of investigation. This will be a larger scope than the Mueller Report covered and give them the full Mueller report.
The HJC plans to represent to the court that it is considering bringing forth articles of impeachment against the POTUS. It is couching the request in purely constitutional terms (say hello to the Article I powers to recommend and to act upon such proposed measures in good faith)."In a significant escalation, Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York, the Democratic chairman of the committee, said at a news conference that the application to the court would declare that the panel needs access to Mr. Mueller’s grand-jury evidence — such as witness testimony — to decide whether to recommend articles of impeachment against the president.
Because Department of Justice policies will not allow prosecution of a sitting president, the United States House of Representatives is the only institution of the federal government that can now hold President Trump accountable for these actions.”
Once this is done, if the HJC gets the evidence it seeks, the committee at least will have to launch an impeachment inquiry to test that evidence. If it doesn't, the committee will be guilty of misrepresenting itself to the courts, which the courts do not like at all. Meaning both the Rs and Ds on the HJC will be facing impeachment or at least censure themselves. This is a big roll of the dice.
Nadler also roped in Barr and the DOJ by telling the court that the DOJ and WH stonewalling left the HJC no other choice than to ask formally for the Grand Jury material.
Pelosi also said separately:
Nadler's motion and Pelosi's remarks strike me as the result of serious re-negotiations within the Democratic House caucus. Pelosi seems to have freed up Nadler to move on the Grand Jury material. Also, several prominent Rs left the D's caucus meeting, signaling that the GOP is beginning to schism."Democrats are seeking to enforce subpoenas in court for certain documents in their investigation, as well as testimony from witnesses, all of which the administration has not complied with. This includes requests for six years of the president's tax returns. “Everybody has the liberty and the luxury to espouse their own position and to criticize me for trying to go down the path in the most determined, positive way,” she said. “Again, their advocacy for impeachment only gives me leverage.”
I guess the question will finally be answered is Trump a calculating genius or a crooked fraud?
https://www.newsweek.com/have-democr...-waver-1451372
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...shion-n1035051
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/...idence-1436846
https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/26/polit...ury/index.html
Last edited by BeastieRunner; 07-26-2019 at 01:07 PM.
"Always listen to the crazy scientist with a weird van or armful of blueprints and diagrams." -- Vibranium
Hmmmmmm, I thought Mexico was paying for this?
BREAKING: Supreme Court clears way for Trump administration to tap Pentagon funds for border wall construction
Opinions may vary in quality.
My big article on Mariko Tamaki's Hulk & She-Hulk runs, discussing the good, bad, and its creation.
My second big article on She-Hulk, discussing Jason Aaron's focus on her in Avengers #20.
Where's that like button when you need it?
On another note, has anyone been watching former Trump friend and frequent MSNBC guest Donny Deutsch's Saturday Night Politics show? I find it better sometimes to watch his show to get a sort of summary of the week's shenanigans. Last's week's panel was very interesting. The theme was people that were either Trump friends or those who worked closely with him over a period of years. The guests included Barbara Res, who worked for Trump for 18 years, Anthony Scaramucci, Sam Nunberg, Omarosa and one other long time friend whose name escapes me. I just found it funny to see Omarosa's claws come out when one of the topics of the night was "Where's Ivanka"? She does have a knack for laying low when Daddy is at his worst. All the older acquiantances of Trump repeated that Trump had no part in raising the children he had with Ivana.