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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2024 21:15:56 GMT
When I got past the You Tube labyrinth of various video clips, and, yes, I really did locate the T20 highlights first before finding the Marr video, I discovered that the content merited some serious thought and comment. I have to say first though, that your introduction to it - " Just when you get used to cautious, cardboard cut out election mascot Starmer, up pops Marr with this" , didn't really encourage me to think that serious thought and debate was in prospect, but I persevered and it was well worth my while. Thanks for bringing the piece to my intention. I don't know if you read my posts very much, but if you do, I think you would have discovered that I'm often saying, far less eloquently probably, what Marr is saying here about Starmer. There is an article of faith involved in thinking that his radicalism will manifest itself much more in government than in opposition but I think Marr's argument for thinking that it will is compelling. Firstly Stammer's backstory is very different from most politicians and it suggests a commitment to public service and a recognition of the role of an enabling state that is heartfelt and sincere. Borne out by what he's done in his career and how he's lived his life too. Secondly, as Marr points out, and I believe too, such is the scale of the task that will face him if and when he becomes Prime Minister, that he will have no choice but to explore radical solutions to our deep-seated social, political and economic problems. To get into power though, he's making a Faustian pact with expediency in order to win the next election. It seems to be working but the devil side of the pact is that it exposes him to charges of emptiness and tediously uninspiring caution and timidity. It would appear, as Marr says, that this approach will endure until he wins power for Labour. He's ruthless and determined in terms of winning that prize. Not for him, but for his party and the country he wants to change, I suspect. I'm in the school of thought, as I think Marr is too, that Starmer is right about this safety first strategy and is judging the political culture of this country correctly. Put another way, he's spotting, and plotting, the only route that has ever existed for Labour to take and to win. Wilson and Blair navigated it many times; very few other Labour leaders ever have. Different political eras have their own idiosyncrasies and there is no identical template; history never repeats itself absolutely. But the yellow brick road involves giving people permission to vote Labour. That's the key That permission comes, I think, not from generating wild enthusiasm, but from reassurance and credibility. Once permission is granted, it's surprising how far you can then run with the ball once in power. So Marr agrees with you. Fair enough. |
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pjw1961
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Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
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Post by pjw1961 on Feb 9, 2024 21:22:27 GMT
Mercian Voting age was reduced to 18 in 1969. The first general election to see its use in 1970 resulted in Ted Heath replacing Harold Wilson. Still gerrymandering IMO. It would be interesting to see a breakdown of voting by age group. I looked for one but couldn't find it, but I think most people would accept that youth are likely to be more left-wing. It was a policy originally advocated by David "Screaming Lord" Sutch. He stood in the 1963 Stratford (on Avon) by-election and in the 1966 GE in Huyton against Harold Wilson for the "National Teenage Party" and in the 1970 GE in Chelsea for the "Young Ideas Party", all this being prior to MRLP. |
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pjw1961
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Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
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Post by pjw1961 on Feb 9, 2024 21:28:52 GMT
Surely if you are going to weight votes by age it makes more sense to do it by remaining life expectancy, so that decisions are taken that will make life sustainable in the long term.
UK male life expectancy is currently about 81, so an 18 year old man would get 63 votes, a 75 year old man would get 6. I would let those of 80 and above keep their one vote.
Boy would parties ever tailor their policies toward the young. We might actually get some serious green action at last.
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oldnat
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Post by oldnat on Feb 9, 2024 21:29:35 GMT
the Tory candidate is a well-known local figure who runs a family-owned garage which has been in the ward for over 100 years
It probably also helps that he doesn't have 'Conservative' anywhere on his website or social media. I can't see this kind of strategy getting very far for the party in the general election.
There have been a few, both on here and the original UKPR, who talked about retaining the link between candidates and constituencies. Even though many people are not well-enough informed to vote for the person rather than the party. Campaigning without overtly putting the party name anywhere (other than the legally required small print) would seem to be testing the theory that "most" voters prefer the person over the party. Whether it works is another matter. |
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pjw1961
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Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
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Post by pjw1961 on Feb 9, 2024 21:43:37 GMT
I have a feeling the turnout at the next GE may well be in c60%. Arguably none of the Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem or SNP parties are doing much to inspire anyone at present; even the Greens are in a bit of a mess. In particular a lot of Tory inclined voters may just decide to sit that one out. Time will tell. As to local by-elections, I don't set any store by individual ones at all. For example the Crewe result wasn't much fun, but I am hardly panicking over a result on a 16% turnout. However, when Mercian was looking for his 'Dutch auction' discussion I did wonder if I could persuade him and you to do one on local government by-elections and see if a consensus could be achieved.  Happy to oblige if someone starts an appropriate thread (so they show some commitment ). I just need to get batty signed up and I'll set up the thread. I can imagine it would attract an avid audience. Blood sports generally do |
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Post by steamdrivenandy on Feb 9, 2024 21:53:52 GMT
I see that according to Mr Putin's reading of Russian history it would be OK for Normandy to invade us to re establish their rule, or maybe even the Italians.
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pjw1961
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Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
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Post by pjw1961 on Feb 9, 2024 22:02:49 GMT
I see that according to Mr Putin's reading of Russian history it would be OK for Normandy to invade us to re establish their rule, or maybe even the Italians. The slight problem with going back to Oleg the Wise for your claim is that he was a Varangian, i.e. one of the Norse, or Viking if you prefer, settlers those eastern lands. Therefore by his own logic Putin should resign and hand over his empire to the Swedes. |
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steve
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Post by steve on Feb 9, 2024 22:04:58 GMT
 "Rishi Sunak paid effective tax rate of 23% on £2.2m income last year" That's nice so the same rate as his cleaner and pool attendant! |
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oldnat
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Post by oldnat on Feb 9, 2024 22:08:12 GMT
pjw1961
"I have a feeling the turnout at the next GE may well be in c60%. Arguably none of the Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem or SNP parties are doing much to inspire anyone at present; even the Greens are in a bit of a mess."
Low turnout does seem a distinct possibility. As for "the Greens" being "in a bit of a mess", that may depend on which Green Party in the UK you are referring to.
I gather there is some turbulence in the Green Party of England & Wales : the Green Party of Ireland (in its NI region) made a brief appearance in Stormont in 2007, but then lost its seats and shows little sign of resurgence. The Scottish Green Party, on the other hand, continues to show slow, but steady, improvement in polling and results - on the basis of the Ipsos poll, BBS suggests that they might win Hillhead in the next UK GE.
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Dave
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... I'm dreaming dreams, I'm scheming schemes, I'm building castles high ..
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Post by Dave on Feb 9, 2024 22:20:51 GMT
Yougov - getting there Dave 😀 Labour lead at 25 points in latest YouGov poll for The Times CON 21 (-2) LAB 46 (+2) LDEM 9 (=) RefUK 12 (=) GRN 7 (+1) Fieldwork 7 - 8 February One more big push Neil. Heave … 🙂 |
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pjw1961
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Post by pjw1961 on Feb 9, 2024 22:22:48 GMT
pjw1961
"I have a feeling the turnout at the next GE may well be in c60%. Arguably none of the Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem or SNP parties are doing much to inspire anyone at present; even the Greens are in a bit of a mess."
Low turnout does seem a distinct possibility. As for "the Greens" being "in a bit of a mess", that may depend on which Green Party in the UK you are referring to.
I gather there is some turbulence in the Green Party of England & Wales : the Green Party of Ireland (in its NI region) made a brief appearance in Stormont in 2007, but then lost its seats and shows little sign of resurgence. The Scottish Green Party, on the other hand, continues to show slow, but steady, improvement in polling and results - on the basis of the Ipsos poll, BBS suggests that they might win Hillhead in the next UK GE. It was indeed the E&W party I was alluding too. Unfortunately the Scottish Green Party have no realistic Westminster prospects at present under FPTP. In that respect at least the E&W Party are better off. |
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Post by alec on Feb 9, 2024 22:42:28 GMT
Meanwhile, climate scientists are quietly tearing their hair out at the remarkable indifference shown by governments and society in general to the steady stream of data that is pointed to rapid, irreversible and catastrophic climate change occurring on a far more rapid timescale than anyone previously imagined - www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/09/atlantic-ocean-circulation-nearing-devastating-tipping-point-study-findsEvery day brings more grim news, and this one rings some of the loudest alarm bells. While the study suggests that the collapse of the single biggest climate circulatory system on the plant would unfold over a century or so, the speed that this would disrupt global climate systems is such that adaptation would not be possible. We're really not far at all from a civilisation ending level of climate change, but, well, what the fuck. Taylor Swift's on tour, so who cares? |
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Post by mark61 on Feb 9, 2024 22:51:31 GMT
It is I suppose one of those awkward political contradictions that the SNP which purports to be a progressive Political force spends more of its energy attacking Sir Keir than it does the Prime minister at least on this board anyway. I think the worst possible result for the SNP and the cause of independence would be a successful Labour Government.
I wonder what it is like to be part of such a big tent organisation which throws up such diverse leader Candidates as Ash Regan, Kate Forbes, and Humza Yousaf who in another Polity might variously represent the Conservatives, the Lib Dems or Labour. Is this the concept of 'wheest for Indy' that I have heard about in operation?
I recall a group conversation at work during the Brexit Ref. when to much surprise an Indy supporter declared for Brexit, further discussion revealed that he only took that position as he saw leaving as a catalyst for a further stab at Independence, I thought thanks a bunch!
Tin Hat on!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2024 22:53:40 GMT
A propos of discussions on here earlier, here, in glorious Technicolor, is the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, (I kid you not), being handed her *rse by the BBC's Evan Davis. www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-68250372 |
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pjw1961
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Post by pjw1961 on Feb 9, 2024 22:58:43 GMT
It is I suppose one of those awkward political contradictions that the SNP which purports to be a progressive Political force spends more of its energy attacking Sir Keir than it does the Prime minister at least on this board anyway. I think the worst possible result for the SNP and the cause of independence would be a successful Labour Government. I wonder what it is like to be part of such a big tent organisation which throws up such diverse leader Candidates as Ash Regan, Kate Forbes, and Humza Yousaf who in another Polity might variously represent the Conservatives, the Lib Dems or Labour. Is this the concept of 'wheest for Indy' that I have heard about in operation? I recall a group conversation at work during the Brexit Ref. when to much surprise an Indy supporter declared for Brexit, further discussion revealed that he only took that position as he saw leaving as a catalyst for a further stab at Independence, I thought thanks a bunch! Tin Hat on! SNP supporters split roughly 2/3rds to a 1/3rd in favour of "remain" - broadly similar to the result for Scotland as a whole and to GB wide Labour supporters. If there is a surprise it is Plaid Cymru supporters. www.statista.com/statistics/518474/eu-referendum-voting-intention-by-political-affiliation/ |
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Post by mercian on Feb 9, 2024 23:04:57 GMT
Happy to oblige if someone starts an appropriate thread (so they show some commitment ). I just need to get batty signed up and I'll set up the thread. I can imagine it would attract an avid audience. Blood sports generally do My concept was to see how close we could get to agreement on something by a series of compromises and concessions by each side in turn in a spirit of goodwill. Still we'll see. There could be a bloodthirsty spirit lurking within the Kanalmeister's uniform. |
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Post by steamdrivenandy on Feb 9, 2024 23:16:06 GMT
Batty trained as a commando lock keeper with the CRT NBS (Narrow Boat Squadron).
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Post by mercian on Feb 9, 2024 23:34:43 GMT
Meanwhile, climate scientists are quietly tearing their hair out at the remarkable indifference shown by governments and society in general to the steady stream of data that is pointed to rapid, irreversible and catastrophic climate change occurring on a far more rapid timescale than anyone previously imagined - www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/09/atlantic-ocean-circulation-nearing-devastating-tipping-point-study-findsEvery day brings more grim news, and this one rings some of the loudest alarm bells. While the study suggests that the collapse of the single biggest climate circulatory system on the plant would unfold over a century or so, the speed that this would disrupt global climate systems is such that adaptation would not be possible. We're really not far at all from a civilisation ending level of climate change, but, well, what the fuck. Taylor Swift's on tour, so who cares? We've lived with imminent destruction of civilisation all my life. In the '50s and '60s it was all-out nuclear war and this is again more likely now than for a few decades. I agree that the ocean current change would be devastating because presumably we'd get as cold as Labrador. However as individuals or even collectively there is very little we can do. There are possible technical solutions such as a giant sunshade between us and the sun which I read about recently. As individuals we have 4 choices as I see it. 1) Get very depressed and cry "Doom" like Private Fraser. 2) Keep Calm and Carry on. 3) Join various demos, write to MPs etc. 4) Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. I think you're a 1. I'd like to think I'm a 4, but more likely a 2. |
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oldnat
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Post by oldnat on Feb 10, 2024 0:39:18 GMT
It is I suppose one of those awkward political contradictions that the SNP which purports to be a progressive Political force spends more of its energy attacking Sir Keir than it does the Prime minister at least on this board anyway. I think the worst possible result for the SNP and the cause of independence would be a successful Labour Government. I wonder what it is like to be part of such a big tent organisation which throws up such diverse leader Candidates as Ash Regan, Kate Forbes, and Humza Yousaf who in another Polity might variously represent the Conservatives, the Lib Dems or Labour. Is this the concept of 'wheest for Indy' that I have heard about in operation? I recall a group conversation at work during the Brexit Ref. when to much surprise an Indy supporter declared for Brexit, further discussion revealed that he only took that position as he saw leaving as a catalyst for a further stab at Independence, I thought thanks a bunch! Tin Hat on!
"The SNP" does not comment on this board. Some individuals who support independence do - whether they are members of, or even voters for, the SNP I don't know - or care. By and large, indy supporters are not exercised by the state of governance within England, any more or less than we are exercised by the state of governance within Wales, Ireland or France - other than that the parliament chosen by the (largely English) electorate, on (largely English) matters, then determines crucial decisions affecting Scotland.
I can't speak for other indy supporters, but I have made it absolutely clear that my great preference is for the English electorate to choose to have a government that is more honourable, decent and infinitely less corrupt than the UKGovs that have been in place since 2010, though that is a very low bar to leap. Polling suggests that Starmer will jump that high.
As I have said, previously, it will make little practical difference in Scotland whether we continue to elect the current cohort of MPs from Scotland, who will be ignored by the UK Gov, or an increase in Lab MPs, who will simply conform to Downing St's wishes. In England, it will make sod all difference.
However, in the upcoming UK GE here, the election is not being fought by the Unionist parties (and their media allies) on Westminster issues affecting Scotland (as it should be), but on Holyrood ones, though the choice of that parliament is 2 years away, and MPs are irrelevant to it.
When Starmer, for example, proposes an equivalent to the Scottish Child Payment across the UK, then I might see him and his party as "progressive". Until then, SNP and SGP seem more committed to reducing societal inequality. A decent enough conservative in Downing St would be a great improvement on the current corrupt lot - though not what is required to bring about the progress that is needed. |
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oldnat
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Post by oldnat on Feb 10, 2024 0:47:49 GMT
mercian
"Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die."
While, hopefully, death will not arrive tomorrow, for many of us posting here it will happen relatively soon anyway.
It would probably be useful to our children and grandchildren, if we stopped voting selfishly and chose governments that accepted the imminence of climate catastrophe, and prioritised action to mitigate that.
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Post by eor on Feb 10, 2024 1:09:11 GMT
I wonder what it is like to be part of such a big tent organisation which throws up such diverse leader Candidates as Ash Regan, Kate Forbes, and Humza Yousaf who in another Polity might variously represent the Conservatives, the Lib Dems or Labour. Is this the concept of 'wheest for Indy' that I have heard about in operation? I suspect the experience is similar for members of most major parties - it's less than a decade since Labour had a leadership election between Jeremy Corbyn, Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall; more recently still the Tories had one that included Rory Stewart, Jeremy Hunt and Michael Gove, or if you want to rewind a bit in 2005 they had one with David Davis, David Cameron and Ken Clarke. |
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Post by eor on Feb 10, 2024 2:27:41 GMT
Quite a week across the pond... Trump lost the latest round of his quixotic claim to total legal immunity - in reality a stalling tactic to delay the various criminal cases. He can appeal this one further and surely will for the same reason. Meanwhile the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the attempts by the State of Colorado to block Trump from the Presidential ballot (one of the 14th Amendment cases). Whilst divining a likely judgement from the questions asked in oral arguments can be a bit dicey, in this case it does look pretty clear that the Court is not buying Colorado's arguments. I suggested previously that Trump could have a problem here, if the Court were tempted to let the ruling stand on the basis of States' Rights, as a way to avoid ruling on Trump himself or what an insurrection is or any number of other precedents Roberts in particular would be desperate to avoid. Well it seems from the questioning that they've got an even more direct route in mind - to throw the ruling out on the basis that Colorado simply doesn't have the right to do what it has tried to do. Justices from the right and the left seem aligned on the idea that this part of the 14th Amendment is there so the courts can overrule contentious nominations for federal office made by individual states, not so that one state can use its judgement to veto a national candidacy. If there's five votes for that idea then that's it for the whole raft of 14th Amendment challenges without ever getting into Jan 6th. As for Biden... sheesh. If you're going to call an impromptu press conference to show how totally mentally fine you are then maybe don't get suckered into shouting at them in frustration, and definitely don't confuse Egypt with Mexico because they've both got Border Issues at the moment. And those saying "ah well the Prosecutor was a Republican so clearly Biased"... by convention he had to be a Republican because Biden's hand-picked Attorney-General couldn't credibly appoint a fellow Democrat to investigate whether his boss broke the law. Whether this Prosecutor has gone on a bit of an adventure in making his mark on history is fair to question, but also a bit of a tricky path for Democrats whilst trying to argue that all the Democrat Prosecutors going after Trump are the truest of public servants doing their job with utmost impartiality. Nikki Haley is still going - tho the numbers in her home state of South Carolina aren't getting any less ugly ahead of the next primary there. There's not much polling but what there is continues to have Trump ahead by what would be humiliating margins. So either Haley is seeing something to make her *seriously* doubt the polling, or she's just hanging on now in the hope that Trump gets hit by a political asteroid before lack of money forces her to drop out. www.realclearpolling.com/polls/president/republican-primary/2024/south-carolina |
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neilj
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Post by neilj on Feb 10, 2024 7:28:49 GMT
Great tweet, hard to think there will be a better story this week than the "Tory council leader who bragged about trying to kill moles with a blowtorch' getting a peerage 😀
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Post by crossbat11 on Feb 10, 2024 8:04:23 GMT
Great tweet, hard to think there will be a better story this week than the "Tory council leader who bragged about trying to kill moles with a blowtorch' getting a peerage 😀 Political death throes. I hear a yonder fat lady breaking into song. (No, not you, Lemon Lulu 😅😜) |
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Post by crossbat11 on Feb 10, 2024 8:08:01 GMT
colin"So Marr agrees with you. Fair enough." Well, I did get there before him. Marr, Behr, Toynbee, Kettle, O'Brien.....they're all falling in behind me now. Disappointing to see Owen Jones jumping ship though!
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pjw1961
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Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.
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Post by pjw1961 on Feb 10, 2024 8:12:57 GMT
Quite a week across the pond... As for Biden... sheesh. If you're going to call an impromptu press conference to show how totally mentally fine you are then maybe don't get suckered into shouting at them in frustration, and definitely don't confuse Egypt with Mexico because they've both got Border Issues at the moment. And those saying "ah well the Prosecutor was a Republican so clearly Biased"... by convention he had to be a Republican because Biden's hand-picked Attorney-General couldn't credibly appoint a fellow Democrat to investigate whether his boss broke the law. Whether this Prosecutor has gone on a bit of an adventure in making his mark on history is fair to question, but also a bit of a tricky path for Democrats whilst trying to argue that all the Democrat Prosecutors going after Trump are the truest of public servants doing their job with utmost impartiality. Nikki Haley is still going - tho the numbers in her home state of South Carolina aren't getting any less ugly ahead of the next primary there. There's not much polling but what there is continues to have Trump ahead by what would be humiliating margins. So either Haley is seeing something to make her *seriously* doubt the polling, or she's just hanging on now in the hope that Trump gets hit by a political asteroid before lack of money forces her to drop out. www.realclearpolling.com/polls/president/republican-primary/2024/south-carolina "by convention he had to be a Republican because Biden's hand-picked Attorney-General couldn't credibly appoint a fellow Democrat to investigate whether his boss broke the law." - Why does everything in the US have to be party political? Have they not heard of the concept of unbiased neutrality? An eminent lawyer for example, with no history of attachment to either party. Having said that, the end of Biden's press conference was a disaster and really he needs to take the decision to withdraw and let someone else stand for the Democrats. But there seems no chance he will and instead will stagger on to the general election and quite possibly lose to Trump. Not so long ago I was certain Trump couldn't win but, just as in 2016, it seems the Democrats are determined to put forward possibly the only candidate who Trump can beat. Haley will be gone after South Carolina IMO. I have never thought any of the legal actions would stop Trump standing. |
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Danny
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Post by Danny on Feb 10, 2024 8:19:53 GMT
You wouldn't happen to be in the 61-70 age bracket would you? 🙂 Btw why do the retired get more votes than the working young? Don't you think things are pretty stacked in their favour already? If we went down such a route I'd say: <21 1 vote if they actually care enough to turn up 21-30 1 vote 31-40 1.25 votes 41-50 1.5 votes 51-60 1.5 votes 61-70 1.25 votes 71-80 1 vote 81+ No vote on the basis that we're voting for the future That gives youngsters a vote on their future, if they can be arsed, allows for increasing knowledge and sense as you age and for declining mental faculties with further age and that the the aged don't have so much of an interest in the future. At 76 I wouldn't be able to vote in the next GE, if I'm still around. Or alternatively give everyone a percentage vote of (100-age) on the grounds those with longest yet to live have the biggest stake in the future of the country. |
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Danny
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Post by Danny on Feb 10, 2024 8:28:03 GMT
Meanwhile, climate scientists are quietly tearing their hair out at the remarkable indifference shown by governments and society in general to the steady stream of data that is pointed to rapid, irreversible and catastrophic climate change occurring on a far more rapid timescale than anyone previously imagined - www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/09/atlantic-ocean-circulation-nearing-devastating-tipping-point-study-findsEvery day brings more grim news, and this one rings some of the loudest alarm bells. While the study suggests that the collapse of the single biggest climate circulatory system on the plant would unfold over a century or so, the speed that this would disrupt global climate systems is such that adaptation would not be possible. We're really not far at all from a civilisation ending level of climate change, but, well, what the fuck. Taylor Swift's on tour, so who cares? We've lived with imminent destruction of civilisation all my life. In the '50s and '60s it was all-out nuclear war and this is again more likely now than for a few decades. I agree that the ocean current change would be devastating because presumably we'd get as cold as Labrador. However as individuals or even collectively there is very little we can do. There are possible technical solutions such as a giant sunshade between us and the sun which I read about recently. As individuals we have 4 choices as I see it. 1) Get very depressed and cry "Doom" like Private Fraser. 2) Keep Calm and Carry on. 3) Join various demos, write to MPs etc. 4) Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. I think you're a 1. I'd like to think I'm a 4, but more likely a 2. You do raise an interesting question. Humanity is not going to go extinct because of global warming. I doubt we will lose technology. Just a few billion might die, which in the long run should solve the climate change problem by shrinking our population to fit the still available resources. Spending all that money to look good trying to stop covid, which didnt even work, but then letting the really big crisis just unfold to kill billions when actually there was a solution. |
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steve
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Post by steve on Feb 10, 2024 8:30:04 GMT
crossbat11 ""So Marr agrees with you. Fair enough." Well, I did get there before him" Is that in terms of blind optimism. Good luck with that. If it works out I can be pleasantly surprised you'll just have I told you so☺
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steve
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Post by steve on Feb 10, 2024 8:43:35 GMT
"by convention he had to be a Republican because Biden's hand-picked Attorney-General couldn't credibly appoint a fellow Democrat to investigate whether his boss broke the law."
Except it doesn't work like that Kenneth Star who investigated Bill Clinton was a republican, Patrick Fitzgerald who investigated abuse under George W Bush was a republican, James Comey who investigated Hilary Clinton was a republican, Robert Muller who investigated the traitor was a Republican and attorney General Merrick Garland( independent) , who should be a supreme court judge but his appointment was blocked for over a year by Republicans appointed Robert Hur, who did the hatchet job on Biden while exonerating him is a Trump appointed far right republican .There was no requirement to appoint him special Counsel or publish the speculative sections of his report.
There appears to be a pattern here.
Republicans investigate republicans and republicans investigate democrats.
Only Special counsel Jack Smith isn't a republican, he's an independent having previously served as a special prosecutor in th e international court in the Hague.
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