Coronavirus Thread (Off Topic, Politics) (32 Viewers)

[Astute]

Hahaha and yet another rant about Macron.

My wife now admires Macron. Didn't think much of him at first as she didn't hear much good about him. But she realised how militant the French are when the school children were allowed to go on strike as it is their right.

The biggest thing to change her mind was when he thanked the militant French for mainly keeping to the rules imposed on them.

 

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[Sick Boy]

I did Latin and Greek at school, in the intervening 25 yrs I've yet to find any practical use for what I learned- let alone thinking it might qualify me to become Prime Minister. As for doing it university, thats not intelligence, thats rote learning loads of things that you will never, ever have any real use for.

Actually I still remember bits now- puella est territus per lupus- the girl was shit scared of a wolf

Yeah I agree, i don’t see the point, personally...I just like to remind them that Italian is essentially a dying language, winds them up every time.

 

[CCFCSteve]

I'm going to amend my view- has there ever been a government with such a lack of Emotional Intelligence (EQ)? Very basic definition- knowing what emotion to use & how to conduct oneself at any particular time in order to convey leadership, knowledge & assurance no matter what actual knowledge might be.

One thing I'd say about Boris- he has high EQ. He patently knows very little, but he has the ability to engage people and get them on side. Not all, but big swathes want this guy to talk to them.

How can you say that, especially when Hancock produced a new badge yesterday ?!!

Johnson’s ability to engage etc indicate he’s got a bit more emotional intelligence than (most) other members of the cabinet... maybe it was a pre requisite for appointments.

Unfortunately I think it’s something that’s lacking across a lot of the political spectrum

 

[SkyBlueDom26]

Can now do up to 35k tests a day if needed

 

[Ring Of Steel]

Can now do up to 35k tests a day if needed

Coventry City have capacity to get about 132 points per season.

Meaningless bullshit.

 

[Astute]

I did Latin and Greek at school, in the intervening 25 yrs I've yet to find any practical use for what I learned- let alone thinking it might qualify me to become Prime Minister. As for doing it university, thats not intelligence, thats rote learning loads of things that you will never, ever have any real use for.

Actually I still remember bits now- puella est territus per lupus- the girl was shit scared of a wolf

Vox nihili best describes Boris and his statements.

 

[Ian1779]

An inept government got voted in because an inept opposition didn't have a clue what to do for the best.

The worse thing is if we pull out of the aftermath of the virus and do OK Boris might be seen as some kind of hero.

I just hope Starmer is up to showing Boris for what he is. And that the Labour infighting stops. Get both and we should get a Labour government. Miss one and we won't.

It saddens me to say that I don’t think he can deliver. He sounds like a mouthpiece for Blair. His comments yesterday about publishing an exit strategy were followed up today by The Blair Institute floating their newest think-tank piece of exactly the same thing.

And before anyone starts giving it about Blair winning 3 elections - I know he did but he jumped once he knew people saw through him.

Really happy to be wrong though!!

 

[Astute]

Yeah I agree, i don’t see the point, personally...I just like to remind them that Italian is essentially a dying language, winds them up every time.

At least the word pizza will survive.

 

[Astute]

It saddens me to say that I don’t think he can deliver. He sounds like a mouthpiece for Blair. His comments yesterday about publishing an exit strategy were followed up today by The Blair Institute floating their newest think-tank piece of exactly the same thing.

And before anyone starts giving it about Blair winning 3 elections - I know he did but he jumped once he knew people saw through him.

Really happy to be wrong though!!

Not the fault of Starmer that someone copies what he says.

It seems to me that he won't be able to win over many who only want a leftie in charge. Seems some would prefer another Tory government than to back Starmer. Yet when you ask them who would they prefer to Starmer they don't have an answer.

 

[skybluetony176]

haha, correct.

isn’t he fluent in 3-4 languages and can speak well in 2-3 others. Again, appreciate people aren’t fans (some for good reason) and I’m not suggesting he’s a genius, but not sure he can be classed as stupid hence my original comment

Wasn’t this just a speculative story in the express as they tried to promote the he’s more intelligent than Rory Stewart line? I remember reading something about it during the leadership contest and I’m sure it’s just speculative based on his colourful ancestry. I think English, French (to Eaton level) plus a Flemish dialect of French as he briefly lived there is the length of it.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Agree with this SBD but think it’s common across politics. I can never understand how people don’t want to admit theyre wrong and/or say sorry. 9 out of 10 people would respect individuals more for it and probably more likely to trust/support them in future

As I've later qualified it is more to do with positions of power rather than political leaning BUT it has spread from a right-thinking mentality which has largely been based on privilege and class. "I'm higher class than you so I therefore must be right. And if I'm right I have nothing to say sorry for".

I agree they'd get more respect overall (I think) but at the same time would it increase their likelihood of being (re)elected? The opposition would constantly use it to remind people they make errors. So if the opposition won't admit to failings you can't either. You might respect them more but would people vote for them more given that they've admitted they can be wrong? Given how often people get re-elected even after huge mistakes suggests not accepting blame is a good strategy for winning elections and no-one is going to test the theory out just in case.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

It saddens me to say that I don’t think he can deliver. He sounds like a mouthpiece for Blair. His comments yesterday about publishing an exit strategy were followed up today by The Blair Institute floating their newest think-tank piece of exactly the same thing.

And before anyone starts giving it about Blair winning 3 elections - I know he did but he jumped once he knew people saw through him.

Really happy to be wrong though!!

Take the best of Blair together with the best of a more 'traditional' Labour ethos, and you'd have a winner.

 

[Ian1779]

Not the fault of Starmer that someone copies what he says.

It seems to me that he won't be able to win over many who only want a leftie in charge. Seems some would prefer another Tory government than to back Starmer. Yet when you ask them who would they prefer to Starmer they don't have an answer.

I don’t agree - lefties will support him if it’s clear that their movement is not marginalised for the right of the party. The right of the party that brought us immigration mugs, abstention on austerity and welfare.

Since 2015 the right have done nothing but try to harm Labours chances... where are their ideas, their vision for a transformative future? All the good ideas (and some bad ones too) have come from the left. They’ve just spent their time bitching, moaning and now apparently sabotaging. It was the right of the party that wanted to pursue the PV nonsense, Tom Watson famously coming out saying not backing the PV would kill Labours chances on 2019. It was so out of touch with what people wanted.

Starmer needs to get on top of this report - kick a bunch of people out of the party and show proper leadership. If he does it then he will get the support of the left IMO.

 

[CCFCSteve]

Wasn’t this just a speculative story in the express as they tried to promote the he’s more intelligent than Rory Stewart line? I remember reading something about it during the leadership contest and I’m sure it’s just speculative based on his colourful ancestry. I think English, French (to Eaton level) plus a Flemish dialect of French as he briefly lived there as the length of it.

I can’t recall, I thought it’s pretty common knowledge that he had a decent grasp of a few different languages.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

They're much better off not being funded by the government. In times of Austerity can you imagine some of the first things that would have funding cut? The ones above would no doubt be very high up the list.

Tell that to the people that struggle to fundraise enough to keep them afloat (pun unintended). Wouldn't stop them getting extra donations in as well. You make them part of the emergency infrastructure so people don't question it. Fire, police, ambulances etc also see drastic funding cuts during austerity but should they become charity funded instead? Or is it just for years of having them there we've come to expect them to be paid for.

 

[clint van damme]

Not the fault of Starmer that someone copies what he says.

It seems to me that he won't be able to win over many who only want a leftie in charge. Seems some would prefer another Tory government than to back Starmer. Yet when you ask them who would they prefer to Starmer they don't have an answer.

he needs to distance himself from Blair or he'll never win over "many who only want a leftie in charge".
He has to unite the factions within the party, he won't do it, no one will do it, if they're seen as been too close to either group.

Not only that but if he's considered too close to Blair he'll also be considered too pro Europe and that won't help him at all.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Not only that but if he's considered too close to Blair he'll also be considered too pro Europe and that won't help him at all.

tbh, we really have no idea how that'll be playing out in four years' time.

On the timescale as originally set, it might even have been to his advantage to be pro Europe. As we are now... who knows!

 

[fernandopartridge]

he needs to distance himself from Blair or he'll never win over "many who only want a leftie in charge".
He has to unite the factions within the party, he won't do it, no one will do it, if they're seen as been too close to either group.

Not only that but if he's considered too close to Blair he'll also be considered too pro Europe and that won't help him at all.

The factions is a myth. There aren't factions, there is a Labour Party the left of which extensively campaigned for a labour gov whilst the right did the opposite, all down to ideology. The only faction is these arseholes.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

I did Latin and Greek at school, in the intervening 25 yrs I've yet to find any practical use for what I learned- let alone thinking it might qualify me to become Prime Minister. As for doing it university, thats not intelligence, thats rote learning loads of things that you will never, ever have any real use for.

Actually I still remember bits now- puella est territus per lupus- the girl was shit scared of a wolf

Latin is useful for things like law and parliament. But they only use it due to a. a bit of tradition and b. puts 'normal' people off trying to elbow their way into a system they like having control of.

Of course the simple way to ensure people understand (and arguably thus respect) the law is to write it in the language(s) the country mainly uses rather than archaic ones.

 

[Astute]

Take the best of Blair together with the best of a more 'traditional' Labour ethos, and you'd have a winner.

Spot on.

Too many people are worried what would happen if a left wing government got voted in. It isn't left wing Labour but just left wing.

Personally I am usually safer the more right wing we are. But I don't want right wing. And millions of people fall into this category. We need those who are central or slightly right leaning to feel safe. Give them any reason to worry and their vote is lost.

I have never voted Tory and never will. But I understand why many do.it is these floating voters we need to appeal to.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Can now do up to 35k tests a day if needed

Yet another quote attributed to a 'Downing Street Spokesman' - who is it? Who is accountable for this?

 

[clint van damme]

tbh, we really have no idea how that'll be playing out in four years' time.

On the timescale as originally set, it might even have been to his advantage to be pro Europe. As we are now... who knows!

I really don't see how an association with Blair can help him.
The name has too much baggage. Look how Johnson distanced himself from Thatcher when he thought it was prudent to do so, subtly so he could always go back, but for now distanced himself all the same.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Can now do up to 35k tests a day if needed

Shouldn't require the 'if needed' - of course they're bloody needed!

Still way less than halfway towards their target but they have got a couple of weeks left to reach it.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Wasn’t this just a speculative story in the express as they tried to promote the he’s more intelligent than Rory Stewart line? I remember reading something about it during the leadership contest and I’m sure it’s just speculative based on his colourful ancestry. I think English, French (to Eaton level) plus a Flemish dialect of French as he briefly lived there is the length of it.

Doesn't Rory Stewart speak loads of languages?

 

[clint van damme]

The factions is a myth. There aren't factions, there is a Labour Party the left of which extensively campaigned for a labour gov whilst the right did the opposite, all down to ideology. The only faction is these arseholes.

the problem is the right of the party aren't going anywhere. I said it before, but I have to question why anyone who thinks Miliband or Burnham are too left wing just doesn't join the Tories.

But Labour won't win an election with all this infighting going on, the Tories can do it, but Labour can't. Maybe that's the whole idea.

 

[Ian1779]

the problem is the right of the party aren't going anywhere. I said it before, but I have to question why anyone who thinks Miliband or Burnham are too left wing just doesn't join the Tories.

But Labour won't win an election with all this infighting going on, the Tories can do it, but Labour can't. Maybe that's the whole idea.

Tory plants...

 

[Astute]

he needs to distance himself from Blair or he'll never win over "many who only want a leftie in charge".
He has to unite the factions within the party, he won't do it, no one will do it, if they're seen as been too close to either group.

Not only that but if he's considered too close to Blair he'll also be considered too pro Europe and that won't help him at all.

That is why his job is so difficult. People having a go at him from all directions yet they have no evidence of him doing any wrong. Should he spend all his time and energy trying to sort out the problems in the Labour party or should he be able to spend his time and energy going on the attack against the Tories?

It is starting to look as though he is in a no win situation. And there is nobody capable behind him ready to take over. So people either get behind him or we are going to have the Tories.... and maybe Boris in charge for a long time again.

 

[David O'Day]

Can now do up to 35k tests a day if needed

So it's not even a capacity issue it's just a competency issue.

Not a good look

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

 

[skybluetony176]

I can’t recall, I thought it’s pretty common knowledge that he had a decent grasp of a few different languages.

I’ll see if I can find the article about the Express article. Sure it was just speculative based on his great great great great grandad was Russian, another was Turkish etc etc. Seem to remember if you read the headline it gave the impression he talks loads of different languages but in reality it was talking about his heritage. It was at the same time Rory Stewart was getting column inches about being multilingual and how intelligent he is.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

the problem is the right of the party aren't going anywhere. I said it before, but I have to question why anyone who thinks Miliband or Burnham are too left wing just doesn't join the Tories.

But Labour won't win an election with all this infighting going on, the Tories can do it, but Labour can't. Maybe that's the whole idea.

Yep, it's a big problem and it's not going away. Neither with give leeway to the other to fight the bigger 'enemy'.

They seem so diametrically opposed the two should split, but they can't do that as it will just guarantee Tory govt virtually in perpetuity. We've already got left vote split between other parties like Green, Lib Dem (although they also take as many votes from the right) as well as things like SNP/PC so to add even more division in would be a disaster.

 

[SkyBlueDom26]

870 deaths today

 

[Ian1779]

870 deaths today

Maybe it’s the Bank Holiday info coming through... let’s hope the trend over the week will settle off.

 

[chiefdave]

Can now do up to 35k tests a day if needed

Meaningless when those on the frontline are saying they can't get access to testing. Will be interesting to see how many tests are being done compared to the claimed capacity. As we're still short on the number of tests a day needed should be at or near 100% usage of capacity.

 

[David O'Day]

Maybe it’s the Bank Holiday info coming through... let’s hope the trend over the week will settle off.

Why that is band on trend for where they seem to think we are.

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[chiefdave]

It saddens me to say that I don’t think he can deliver. He sounds like a mouthpiece for Blair.

Not the fault of Starmer that someone copies what he says.

There's a theory doing the rounds, although doesn't seem to be much in the way of evidence to back it up, that the reason Starmer is so reluctant to say who is backing him is down to their links to Blair. More than likley rubbish but when that mindset exists it would probably be a good idea if he distanced himself from Blair.

Starmer needs to get on top of this report - kick a bunch of people out of the party and show proper leadership. If he does it then he will get the support of the left IMO.

Think this has made him look weak. Nobody suspended while an investigation is carried out and he seems as concerned about the source of the leak as its contents.

That is why his job is so difficult. People having a go at him from all directions yet they have no evidence of him doing any wrong. Should he spend all his time and energy trying to sort out the problems in the Labour party or should he be able to spend his time and energy going on the attack against the Tories?

Was anybody on the Labour members call last night? Looking on social media it seems he said something about not being critical of the government which, when their making such a mess of the current situation, seems an odd stance to take. Would like to know exactly what he said though if anyone had access to it. Could very well be something that's been taken out of context.