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Post by lens on Oct 14, 2022 17:48:30 GMT
Meanwhile Elon Musk is doing the Kremlin's dirty work for them by now warning he will cut off access to his Starlink internet satellites unless the US Government pays for it, this coming from the world's richest man. A bit harsh? He's funded Starlink access (via SpaceX) from the start, without even being asked and at a lot of expense - a lot, lot more than most other wealthy people have done. Wouldn't it be better to ask what many other (often secretive) very rich individuals may want to do as their share? Hardly surprising he's not prepared for such a big commitment to be open ended and funded by SpaceX? And whilst on paper Musk may be wealthy, it's largely tied up as "paper wealth" - nowhere near the same as having a sum in a bank account. |
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Post by crossbat11 on Oct 14, 2022 17:58:38 GMT
I want to have a pint of whatever pjw1961 has been drinking. Probably Braintree IPA Super Strength.
That was some dream he had there.
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Post by leftieliberal on Oct 14, 2022 18:09:53 GMT
Meanwhile Elon Musk is doing the Kremlin's dirty work for them by now warning he will cut off access to his Starlink internet satellites unless the US Government pays for it, this coming from the world's richest man. A bit harsh? He's funded Starlink access (via SpaceX) from the start, without even being asked and at a lot of expense - a lot, lot more than most other wealthy people have done. Wouldn't it be better to ask what many other (often secretive) very rich individuals may want to do as their share? Hardly surprising he's not prepared for such a big commitment to be open ended and funded by SpaceX? And whilst on paper Musk may be wealthy, it's largely tied up as "paper wealth" - nowhere near the same as having a sum in a bank account. The same Starlink that is destroying professional ground-based astronomy because of the satellites reflecting the sunlight in the hours after dark and before dawn. When he started putting them into orbit he did nothing to reduce the reflections until the scientists started complaining. Even now they are a serious problem. The picture on the article shows just how bad it is. Musk is plain irresponsible. spacenews.com/astronomers-renew-concerns-about-starlink-satellite-brightness/ |
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Post by hireton on Oct 14, 2022 18:13:57 GMT
And the Tory psychodrama continues:
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neilj
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Post by neilj on Oct 14, 2022 18:22:45 GMT
More from the SavantaComRes poll
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Post by johntel on Oct 14, 2022 18:33:59 GMT
steamdrivenandy - "Even the lady who who bred our bearded collie has posted a plea for a general election on her FB page. One of the most unpolitical people I know." That's some weird lady.I've met a few women with odd sexual preferences, but never bearded collies. you'd better put the the details on the dedicated thread for that sort of thing |
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Post by mandolinist on Oct 14, 2022 18:38:01 GMT
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Post by mandolinist on Oct 14, 2022 18:39:55 GMT
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Post by lens on Oct 14, 2022 18:41:57 GMT
A bit harsh? He's funded Starlink access (via SpaceX) from the start, without even being asked and at a lot of expense - a lot, lot more than most other wealthy people have done. Wouldn't it be better to ask what many other (often secretive) very rich individuals may want to do as their share? Hardly surprising he's not prepared for such a big commitment to be open ended and funded by SpaceX? And whilst on paper Musk may be wealthy, it's largely tied up as "paper wealth" - nowhere near the same as having a sum in a bank account. The same Starlink that is destroying professional ground-based astronomy because of the satellites reflecting the sunlight in the hours after dark and before dawn. When he started putting them into orbit he did nothing to reduce the reflections until the scientists started complaining. Even now they are a serious problem. The picture on the article shows just how bad it is. Musk is plain irresponsible. spacenews.com/astronomers-renew-concerns-about-starlink-satellite-brightness/You can't have the argument both ways - and it's not just Starlink constellations that affect astronomy. If you think Starlink is bad and shouldn't have been deployed, then realise that would mean such aid couldn't have been given to Ukraine. Many new technologies come with pros and cons - the pros for Starlink mean reliable data communication in parts of the world where it would previously have been impossible. Which is more important? But the astronomy argument is different to your other point, that he "is doing the Kremlin's dirty work for them" - when in fact he has provided tens of millions of dollars worth of vital aid over the last six months to the Ukrainian war effort. So why single him out over all the other extremely rich people who have done *nothing*? And "plain irresponsible"? He is unarguably a controversial character, but via Tesla has single handedly kick started the move to electric cars - one of the biggest single moves towards helping reduce carbon emissions. Controversial, yes - "plain irresponsible", no. |
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Danny
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Post by Danny on Oct 14, 2022 18:42:08 GMT
Actually, it was Hunt as LOTO, Starmer as PM. Now, call me Nostrodamus.
Will Truss call an election this PM?
I thought that. If it's just too embarrassing or too difficult to elect another leader, just make the Chancellor the real head. I wonder what Charles and Truss will talk about when neither is running the country? |
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steve
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Post by steve on Oct 14, 2022 18:55:07 GMT
64% think Liz Truss should resign.( Including the majority of Tory supporters)
8% think she should stay as leader.
61% think there should be a general election.
@pgmcnamara exclusively reveals the results of a poll of more than 2,000 voters by Find Out Now, which was conducted after Liz Truss' press conference.
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Post by crossbat11 on Oct 14, 2022 19:23:18 GMT
64% think Liz Truss should resign.( Including the majority of Tory supporters) 8% think she should stay as leader. 61% think there should be a general election.@pgmcnamara exclusively reveals the results of a poll of more than 2,000 voters by Find Out Now, which was conducted after Liz Truss' press conference. That's a very large percentage of respondents thinking that there should be a General Election. It's the button that I think Labour should keep pressing now too. In the past, voters tended to say that the last thing they wanted to solve political issues was more politics. Less is more was always the assumption. You've been given the job, get on with it, so to speak. Think our friend Brenda in Bristol. Not another one she said. The media swooned on her. She speaks for Britain thought the Daily Mail. She probably did too at the time. But this poll suggests otherwise now and it could be a bit of a time bomb under the ever shape-shifting Tory Party. No matter how thick the next lipstick application, this thing is still going to look like a bit of a pig to voters now. If Labour can play this tune, and there appears to be a large and growing audience who will sing along with it too, then I think the democratic legitimacy of "Tory Government and PM Mark V", whatever the reinvention, be it a shiny Mr Sunak, or slippery Mr Hunt at the helm, is not going to really wash, even if they seem slightly more competent and things improve a bit. Voters will be thinking that they want a chance to choose another government. They'll feel increasingly cheated the longer their wish is denied. Yep, that should be Labour's game now. The voters want a General Election not another pantomime scenery change. |
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Post by RAF on Oct 14, 2022 19:24:05 GMT
A bit harsh? He's funded Starlink access (via SpaceX) from the start, without even being asked and at a lot of expense - a lot, lot more than most other wealthy people have done. Wouldn't it be better to ask what many other (often secretive) very rich individuals may want to do as their share? Hardly surprising he's not prepared for such a big commitment to be open ended and funded by SpaceX? And whilst on paper Musk may be wealthy, it's largely tied up as "paper wealth" - nowhere near the same as having a sum in a bank account. The same Starlink that is destroying professional ground-based astronomy because of the satellites reflecting the sunlight in the hours after dark and before dawn. When he started putting them into orbit he did nothing to reduce the reflections until the scientists started complaining. Even now they are a serious problem. The picture on the article shows just how bad it is. Musk is plain irresponsible. spacenews.com/astronomers-renew-concerns-about-starlink-satellite-brightness/ Both points are valid. Musk has tried his best to help. Musk also often doesn't think things through before he acts. |
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Post by jib on Oct 14, 2022 19:27:50 GMT
64% think Liz Truss should resign.( Including the majority of Tory supporters) 8% think she should stay as leader. 61% think there should be a general election.@pgmcnamara exclusively reveals the results of a poll of more than 2,000 voters by Find Out Now, which was conducted after Liz Truss' press conference. That's a very large percentage of respondents thinking that there should be a General Election. It's the button that I think Labour should keep pressing now too. In the past, voters tended to say that the last thing they wanted to solve political issues was more politics. Less is more was always the assumption. You've been given the job, get on with it, so to speak. Think our friend Brenda in Bristol. Not another one she said. The media swooned on her. She speaks for Britain thought the Daily Mail. She probably did too at the time. But this poll suggests otherwise now and it could be a bit of a time bomb under the ever shape-shifting Tory Party. No matter how thick the next lipstick application, this thing is still going to look like a bit of a pig to voters now. If Labour can play this tune, and there appears to be a large and growing audience who will sing along with it too, then I think the democratic legitimacy of "Tory Government and PM Mark V", whatever the reinvention, be it a shiny Mr Sunak, or slippery Mr Hunt at the helm, is not going to really wash, even if they seem slightly more competent and things improve a bit. Voters will be thinking that they want a chance to choose another government. They'll feel increasingly cheated the longer their wish is denied. Yep, that should be Labour's game now. The voters want a General Election not another pantomime scenery change. There's not much chance of a GE before the sands of Parliamentary time forces one. Summer 2024. The current lot won't want to be looking for new employment just before Christmas. They'll be pretty ruthless to Truss though. |
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Post by RAF on Oct 14, 2022 19:28:48 GMT
And the Tory psychodrama continues: We may have to run the next UKPR2 PM prediction contest rather differently this time given that the process is unlikely to include hustings or any voting by the rank and file party members. |
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Post by steamdrivenandy on Oct 14, 2022 19:39:11 GMT
And the Tory psychodrama continues: We may have to run the next UKPR2 PM prediction contest rather differently this time given that the process is unlikely to include hustings or any voting by the rank and file party members. I'm sticking with my newly appointed polling adviser Ole Crofters. He got it right last time. Not sure whether that shows canny insider knowledge or an ability to align with the lunacy of Tory party members. |
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Post by RAF on Oct 14, 2022 19:39:57 GMT
That's a very large percentage of respondents thinking that there should be a General Election. It's the button that I think Labour should keep pressing now too. In the past, voters tended to say that the last thing they wanted to solve political issues was more politics. Less is more was always the assumption. You've been given the job, get on with it, so to speak. Think our friend Brenda in Bristol. Not another one she said. The media swooned on her. She speaks for Britain thought the Daily Mail. She probably did too at the time. But this poll suggests otherwise now and it could be a bit of a time bomb under the ever shape-shifting Tory Party. No matter how thick the next lipstick application, this thing is still going to look like a bit of a pig to voters now. If Labour can play this tune, and there appears to be a large and growing audience who will sing along with it too, then I think the democratic legitimacy of "Tory Government and PM Mark V", whatever the reinvention, be it a shiny Mr Sunak, or slippery Mr Hunt at the helm, is not going to really wash, even if they seem slightly more competent and things improve a bit. Voters will be thinking that they want a chance to choose another government. They'll feel increasingly cheated the longer their wish is denied. Yep, that should be Labour's game now. The voters want a General Election not another pantomime scenery change. There's not much chance of a GE before the sands of Parliamentary time forces one. Summer 2024. The current lot won't want to be looking for new employment just before Christmas. They'll be pretty ruthless to Truss though. I agree; there isn't going to be an early GE. Liz will most likely fall pretty soon but assuming a replacement will be annointed, who of the more experienced Tory MPs with top level Cabinet experience would really want the job at this time? It's a poisoned chalice. |
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Post by robbiealive on Oct 14, 2022 19:43:28 GMT
But the astronomy argument is different to your other point, that he "is doing the Kremlin's dirty work for them" - when in fact he has provided tens of millions of dollars worth of vital aid over the last six months to the Ukrainian war effort. So why single him out over all the other extremely rich people who have done *nothing*? And "plain irresponsible"? He is unarguably a controversial character, but via Tesla has single handedly kick started the move to electric cars - one of the biggest single moves towards helping reduce carbon emissions. Controversial, yes - "plain irresponsible", no. It's curious how people on the right are always ready to leap to the defence of v rich people. They act as their Praetorian Guard, although with none of the latter's ability to overthrow them. They revere, almost worship, wealth and the power that goes with it. So Musk has been v clever about making electrice cars & given a 100th of 1% of his wealth to Ukraine. Jolly good. These are achievments we can all respect. But why not praise ordinary people who have been far more generous than someone who has emptied his pockets to make donations. He's not controversial: he's a self-entitled spreader of misinfomation and pro-right, anti-tax propaganda. Why do these super-rich people feel they can sound off about all & sundry. Everything he spouted about Covid was wrong & misleading: yes everything. There is a difference between being contoversial & talking dangerous nonsesne. He feels he can wade into international diplomacy about China, Taiwan & Russia & hold twitter polls on this & that: why? He backs a monster like De Santis (another Covid denier) because the Democrats spread venom & disunity. Ha ha to that one. Oh yes and he makes cars, and spreads the internet, and gave 100th of 1% of his money to Ukraine. Jolly good. Why can't he keep his trap shut in areas where he has no knowledge or finesse. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2022 19:46:53 GMT
Even the lady who who bred our bearded collie has posted a plea for a general election on her FB page. One of the most unpolitical people I know. What do the bearded collies think Andy? |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2022 19:51:16 GMT
Welcome to my world of gratuitous football references and metaphors, Colin. Belongs to you does it ? Well, he certainly inhabits it more than is healthy for a Middle Lands football supporter. |
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Post by crossbat11 on Oct 14, 2022 19:52:43 GMT
RAF/jib
You miss my point. I'm not saying there will be an election just because most voters want one, I'm saying that Labour should exploit their frustration at their wish being denied.
I actually think that it's in Labour's interests that the Tories stagger on to the bitter end. What I'm saying is that I think Labour have another card to play here by scratching the itch and highlighting the growing democratic deficit.
It's the politics of it that I'm addressing not the likelihood of an imminent election. I agree that is very unlikely but it shouldn't stop Labour repeatedly calling for one. Voters appear to be on their side according to the polling.
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Post by jib on Oct 14, 2022 19:59:39 GMT
RAF/jib You miss my point. I'm not saying there will be an election just because most voters want one, I'm saying that Labour should exploit their frustration at their wish being denied. I actually think that it's in Labour's interests that the Tories stagger on to the bitter end. What I'm saying is that I think Labour have another card to play here by scratching the itch and highlighting the growing democratic deficit. It's the politics of it that I'm addressing not the likelihood of an imminent election. I agree that is very unlikely but it shouldn't stop Labour repeatedly calling for one. Voters appear to be on their side according to the polling. Agree with that. Labour do need to be more active than just that. There was a strong sense of Government in waiting with Labour 1995 onwards, but the messaging was clear throughout that period. The Tories were woeful and seemed to be just marking time to keep Labour out. I can't believe that a Sunak - Mordaunt leadership team could appear to be as incompetent as the current incumbent. I thought she was going to be bad, but this bad? |
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Post by crossbat11 on Oct 14, 2022 20:03:06 GMT
Well, he certainly inhabits it more than is healthy for a Middle Lands football supporter. Talking of Midlands football teams, crofto, did you know that the UK has had three Chancellors since West Bromwich Albion last won a game? |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2022 20:07:37 GMT
I’ve just spent a pleasant afternoon meeting friends in the seat of Rishi Sunak (courtesy Chris from Bournemouth and Wales) taking lovely photos of river reflections (available for viewing on my Facebook page as always.) But what do I find when I return to this fount of wisdom? My name mentioned far too often (I don’t normally mind that) in a negative - indeed I would go as far as to say “bullying” - manner. Shame on those of you involved - though I am happy to see that at least my best chum mercian declined to join in. Anyway, my next leader prediction is NOT a prediction (although a sort of sense of what they won’t do versus what they should do) They need a complete reset and Penny Mordaunt is their best bet by far. BUT….. 1/ That would almost certainly involve sacking most of the cabinet again and ………….2/ They almost certainly won’t want to go for a soppy girl again as they generally like a soppy man (preferably two) in between. (If you see what I mean.) What they will do I have no idea of at all. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2022 20:09:10 GMT
Well, he certainly inhabits it more than is healthy for a Middle Lands football supporter. Talking of Midlands football teams, crofto, did you know that the UK has had three Chancellors since West Bromwich Albion last won a game? As few as that Batty? As you imply - rather surprising figures. |
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Post by crossbat11 on Oct 14, 2022 20:11:15 GMT
jib
"I can't believe that a Sunak - Mordaunt leadership team could appear to be as incompetent as the current incumbent. I thought she was going to be bad, but this bad?"
Maybe not, although it is a very low bar to clear, but did you follow any of the recent Tory leadership campaign? Sunak came across as a say anything to please vacuous slick willie and Mordaunt was was worse than useless. There were very good reasons why Sunak's approval ratings had gone subterranean and why both he and Mordaunt ultimately lost to Truss. Reasons that revolved around their very real inadequacies as politicians. Hunt and Javid were the only two serious candidates in the race if the Tory Party was any longer a serious political party. Which I don't think they are. They gave the country Truss. I rest my case.
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Post by jib on Oct 14, 2022 20:16:59 GMT
jib "I can't believe that a Sunak - Mordaunt leadership team could appear to be as incompetent as the current incumbent. I thought she was going to be bad, but this bad?" Maybe not, although it is a very low bar to clear, but did you follow any of the recent Tory leadership campaign? Sunak came across as a say anything to please vacuous slick willie and Mordaunt was was worse than useless. There were very good reasons why Sunak's approval ratings had gone subterranean and why both he and Mordaunt ultimately lost to Truss. Reasons that revolved around their very real inadequacies as politicians. Hunt and Javid were the only two serious candidates in the race if the Tory Party was any longer a serious political party. Which I don't think they are. They gave the country Truss. I rest my case. Beyond the BBB option, that's all they have. My gut instinct is they're screwed, but it's still 18 months to the election. |
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Danny
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Post by Danny on Oct 14, 2022 20:21:50 GMT
Latest ISW report seems a bit more upbeat than the last. After some dramatic advances, Ukraine seems to be moving more slowly, but there seem to be quite a few reports essentially of disasters for Russian conscripts sent directly to the front line with negligible training. Some reports of mass casualties amongst them, and an example where troops have been ordered to advance and attack Ukrainian lines, of them simply not doing what they were ordered, or just surrendering. So Russians stopped ordering them to attack.
"Russian-language opposition outlet Meduza reported that 19 mobilized men have died before reaching the front since mobilization began on September 21 from causes including suicide, beatings, accidents, overdoses, and untreated medical emergencies.[54] A Ukrainian official circulated a video on October 13 depicting a Russian armored personnel carrier (APC) running over a newly mobilized man as he stood in formation during training."
Seem to be explosions happening in Russia, where presumably Ukraine is retaliating for missiles and drones launched at them from there.
Not clear whether some more professional troops are defending better and holding against Ukraine, or whether Ukraine simply sets up a position and then advances once its ready, giving rise to the pattern of sudden gains.
Russian trucks crossing the kerch straits by ferry not bridge.
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Post by thylacine on Oct 14, 2022 20:27:29 GMT
The question is who will be desperate enough to accept the poison chalice which is now the leadership of the Tory party. Hunt of course is that desperate but has now hitched his cart to the hapless Truss.
Serious contenders may wish to keep their tinder dry for after the inevitable election defeat. Still, the lure of a place in history and to be PM will be strong. In this regard Mordaunt rather than Sunak would be the better unity candidate I feel. A caretaker leader might be easier on the party ,a respected Party figure such as Gove might appeal. The slippery Weasel might finally get his day in the sun.
Such speculation as Robbie would say is probably pointless though. My own hope would be they tear each other apart and consign the party to the history books.
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oldnat
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Post by oldnat on Oct 14, 2022 20:46:31 GMT
My own hope would be they tear each other apart and consign the party to the history books. |
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