Mailwatch(ed) Forum

The Weeping Angel wrote:Over on Bluesky they're kicking Starmer for attacking Farage in a speech instead of governing.

Morons. At least Starmer's over here, Farage is over in Vegas at some Bitcoin grift-fest.

Dalem Lake wrote: ↑Thu May 29, 2025 2:18 pm

The Weeping Angel wrote:Over on Bluesky they're kicking Starmer for attacking Farage in a speech instead of governing.

Morons. At least Starmer's over here, Farage is over in Vegas at some Bitcoin grift-fest.

Surely not?

'Fraid so...

Dalem Lake wrote: ↑Thu May 29, 2025 2:18 pm

The Weeping Angel wrote:Over on Bluesky they're kicking Starmer for attacking Farage in a speech instead of governing.

Morons. At least Starmer's over here, Farage is over in Vegas at some Bitcoin grift-fest.

Stephen Bush here is a prime example here



Starmer in his speech pointed out that Farage would be as damaging as Liz Truss, which is bad, as you should govern instead.

There's this weird idea about governing, that it's like playing a really tricky shoot-em-up which requires your absolute concentration and focus, and any deviation (be it making a speech or having a poo) condemns you to crash and burn.

Andy McDandy wrote: ↑Fri May 30, 2025 6:20 am There's this weird idea about governing, that it's like playing a really tricky shoot-em-up which requires your absolute concentration and focus, and any deviation (be it making a speech or having a poo) condemns you to crash and burn.

And as for having dinner with the family on a Friday...

Attacking the party who are in the lead in the polls is “boosting” them apparently.

If you talk about them, you're boosting them by granting them publicity.

If you don't talk about them, you're ignoring the elephant in the room.

If you talk about something entirely unrelated to them, you're blind to reality.

Political journalism is very much like sports fixing - you decide the winner in advance.

Dalem Lake wrote: ↑Thu May 29, 2025 2:18 pm

The Weeping Angel wrote:Over on Bluesky they're kicking Starmer for attacking Farage in a speech instead of governing.

Morons. At least Starmer's over here, Farage is over in Vegas at some Bitcoin grift-fest.

Reform UK to accept donations via Bitcoin

During an appearance at the Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas, where he was introduced as a “UK presidential candidate”, Farage said: “As of now, provided you are an eligible UK donor … we are the first political party in Britain that can accept donations in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.”

Andy McDandy wrote: ↑Fri May 30, 2025 9:21 am If you talk about them, you're boosting them by granting them publicity.

If you don't talk about them, you're ignoring the elephant in the room.

If you talk about something entirely unrelated to them, you're blind to reality.

Political journalism is very much like sports fixing - you decide the winner in advance.

They get plenty of free publicity.
Some from overseas kingmakers who feature them in their media products.
Some from established broadcasters who ought to know better.

Andy McDandy wrote: ↑Fri May 30, 2025 9:21 am If you talk about them, you're boosting them by granting them publicity.

If you don't talk about them, you're ignoring the elephant in the room.

If you talk about something entirely unrelated to them, you're blind to reality.

Political journalism is very much like sports fixing - you decide the winner in advance.

In the case of Stephen Bush if you don't like the govt just say it's wrong and everyone will lap it up.

I suppose this will be dismissed out of hand in certain corners

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... le-changes

Rachel Reeves is preparing to announce billions of pounds of extra spending for areas outside south-east England at next month’s spending review, after rewriting Treasury investment rules.

The chancellor will unveil the extra capital spending after a review of the Treasury’s green book, which determines how officials calculate the costs and benefits of a scheme.

Critics say the rules are biased in favour of more economically productive areas of the country, and Reeves has promised a review to be published on the same day as the spending review.

The announcement, revealed by the Times, comes as ministers look for ways to combat the threat of Reform UK in the “red wall” of seats in the north and Midlands, which were won by the Conservatives in 2019 and taken by Labour last year. Those areas are likely to be hit by reduced departmental spending, which Reeves will also lay out at the spending review.

Does every decision have to framed in terms of Reform? It’s not like they didn’t change the rules months ago to allow for this.

The logic of this reporting is Vote Reform, they force the Government to do good shit.

Is that down to the reporting, or do you think this is the government's thinking?

I don't think Tubby is suggesting that Labour want people to vote Reform.

I was referring to this being done by the government because of Reform.

I see that Stop Some Wars have piped up

https://www.stopwar.org.uk/article/pres ... ce-review/

The reality is that Russia’s economy is roughly the size of Spain and Putin is vastly outnumbered militarily by NATO powers. He has barely occupied 18% of Ukraine and poses no threat to Warsaw or Berlin, let alone London.

Ha ha ha ha.

What's the biggest power in NATO? Any developments there recently that might call into question the readiness of that power to defend Europe?

The Green Party are waffling pretty spectacularly too.

Green party urges government to boost aid spending as means of avoiding international conflict
The Green party has described the strategic defence review as too militaristic, and urged the government to focus more on development. In a statement, Ellie Chowns, who speaks on defence matters for the party in the Commons, said:

Security is not just based on arms expenditure and threats, but on real leadership that uses diplomacy and development too. There must be a real commitment to an international order based on human rights, equality and genuine cooperation.
To avoid the horrors of war and armed conflict, we need to look at the deeper causes of insecurity, including poverty and climate breakdown. This is why the Green party strongly supports the restoration of the international aid budget to at least 0.7% of GNI. And we will continue to argue that real patriotism means ending UK-made weapons or components being sold to dictators, human rights abusers or for use against civilians anywhere in the world.
The prime minister has talked up the boost to jobs and the economy through increased defence expenditure, but there are many more jobs to be created in the clean, green - and peaceful - economy, a sector growing four times faster than the rest of the economy. This is where the government’s focus for investment should b

Teddy Roosevelt's comments on speech volume and stick ownership come to mind.