Blackmail, Bluster and Batshit Bonkers - Trump Thread #153

[Spandauer]

Enough already.

Previous thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5472639-who-are-they-kidding-its-oil-oil-oil-baby-trump-thread-152

What's that old quote about the after effects of the US civil war that was posed in the 1960s? "It's too early to tell yet"?

It was a Chinese diplomat on a visit to Paris in 1968.

Reporter: "What is the Chinese view of the French Revolution ?"
Diplomat: "It's too soon to tell"

However the mundane truth is that it's actually a mistake due to a mistranslation. When "French revolution" was translated the diplomat thought it was about the contemporary unrest in Paris (where students were staging protests).

Whilst I prefer the myth, knowing facts hasn't killed me so far.

This isn't to say China takes a different perspective on life. They are comfortable with projects that take decades in a way 4-year government countries aren't.

Oh purh-lease

At the current rate it might not make February. It's only the 28rh, still 3 days to go!

Well this is the whole point of the "teaming" technique in politics, isn't it?

Don't have individual views on individual issues: you're in my team now, and I'm telling you the team position on this new unrelated issue, so you're to have this position.

Teaming isn't new – I remember well a Northern Ireland friend telling me joking-but-not-joking that they hadn't needed to think about their position on abortion: Catholics were anti-abortion, therefore (Protestant) friend was pro-choice.

But teaming has been turbo-charged by algorithm-controlled internet feeds: "if you liked that, then watch this next."

(Of course the algorithms don't just feed you more of the same; often they bombard you with the exact opposite in order to try to change your position.)

This may be accompanied by Twitter-storms designed to apply pressure.

So what's going on here is a consequence of teaming. Duffield has retained her independent thoughts on the issue of US federal agents murdering people in the street – but doesn't want to upset the team. She may continue to resist the team pressure, or cave and change her position.

Well, Starmer is in China now, Finland and Ireland have just left. China have just announced they will be closer to Russia. And China have stopped all Chinese flights to Japan.

Canada done a deal with China and Trumped yelled 100% tariffs.

On top of that, Uncle Xi has purged his top General. And it's the start of Chinese New Year. Usually at CNY the Party only allows good news.

Something in my bones says Xi is going to do something. And it will be Trumps inaction that will make the news. I suspect it will be to do with Japan. Something for State Media to celebrate.

(CNN) - The fast-growing measles outbreak in South Carolina is now the largest in the United States since the disease was declared eliminated in this country more than two decades ago.

@cnn.com
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/27/health/largest-us-measles-outbreak-south-carolina

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I’m sorry, @SerendipityJane, I’d be grateful for an explanation when you say: "the non-FWR thread about the bike ride”. I can’t work out what the acronym stands for and I have no idea which bike ride you mean. I’m sure it must be very simple, but I don’t understand it, as I find I’m not firing on all cylinders the closer it gets to my 70th birthday.

I’m clearly completely off my game today, as I don’t understand what the exchange you quote means, either, @wallaw. I’d appreciate it if you have time to explain it to me!

As best I can figure out, Martina Navratilova must have said something about Alex Pretti being murdered. Martina, Graham and Rosie Duffield seem to be allies on trans issues. Graham must have responded that he didn't see it as murder, and seems to be suggesting looking at the tweets of some conspiracy theorist (about Obama, MN leadership and paid protestors or something). Rosie has responded that she sees it as being murder, but respects that Graham sees it differently.

I mean, I think @PerkingFaintly is right, but surely if you see something with your own eyes, you don't have to respect someone's right to deny what you've seen? You can presumably still agree on other things.

Although, I also clicked through the link, and Linehan had reposted this. I would be very uncool with my MP aligning with him. She can still have her views, but I'd say this is someone she might want to part ways with.

(FWR=Feminism and Womens Right forum)

Here is the non-FWR version of the thread. Bonkers as you will very quickly see. However the OP also posted the same thread in FWR - presumably assuming they were their "team". I take the fact that MNHQ allowed it to stand as a duplicate means they tacitly agree with something.

As the thread progresses you will see some posters are solely interested in naked men in public with erections. And this is probably a good time to remember MNHQ rules on troll hunting

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5481682-naked-bike-ride-protect-our-children

I haven't read that thread. I don't have the right equipment to answer definitively, but I have ridden a bike a fair amount and I have to say, arousing is the last adjective that comes to mind about the experience.

In the footage being shown, after being sprayed Rep Omar takes after the guy. No diving or cowering for her! I love her "Don't fuck with me" attitude and courage.

Thanks @walllaw

So just for the record, your screenshot is of Lineham reposting a post by a user with the handle Pericles @ PerryALPHA

Pericles' post has of a photo of Pretti and says: "He died doing what he love the most: trying to prevent rapists and pedophiles from being arrested."

This is an interesting thing to say given we're all still waiting for the full data from the Epstein files; and ICE were sent to Minneapolis by the sex offender POTUS who recently moved his friend Maxwell the convicted child sex trafficker to a nicer prison.

Almost as if Pericles is projecting.

[edited as mixed up @walllaw & @SerendipityJane ]

FWIW Mr Platner is not part of the 'gun lobby'. In fact, he's a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Maine. He's a lobsterman, harbour master, and military veteran.

He's been endorsed by Sen Bernie Sanders.

Graham posts horrendous stuff these days, very pro-MAGA hard right tweets.

Since your post mentions paedophiles, rapists, and the Epstein Files I thought this was a good time to post this:

Thanks for all the explanations. I’ve just realised that at least part of my confusion comes from my having thought Graham Linehan and Gary Lineker are one and the same person.

On a slightly different note, I see there is seemingly a bit of worrying going on as to the chances of Reform winning the next UK election and Farage being made PM. I have a general idea of Reform vis a vis MAGA but I haven't really delved deeply into their manifesto. So if my UK friends can tell me:

On a scale of 1 to 10 compared with US politics with 1 being 'left leaning' Democrats* and 10 being MAGA Republicans, where does Reform fall?

On the same scale with 1 being Obama and 10 being Trump where does Farage fall?

(I sound like a pollster, so I'll say "I thank you for your time")

*I'm not saying UK liberals are the same as US Democrats, I know there are a lot of philosophical differences. I'm just trying to get some sort of 'baseline' without having to delve into Reform websites too deeply.

I think best way to describe Farage and his ilk is as a sad Trump wannabe. Full of hatred and bitterness and the architect of the shit show that was Brexit.

Here’s an AI summary of their key policies:

• Immigration: A "freeze" on non-essential immigration, creating a new department for immigration, and implementing a "one-in, one-out" system. They advocate for stricter rules for foreign workers, including higher salary thresholds, and ending illegal immigration via small boats.
• Energy & Environment: Scrap all net-zero subsidies and environmental levies to lower household bills. They propose to accelerate oil and gas licenses in the North Sea and repeal the ban on fracking.
• Economy & Tax: Increase the income tax threshold to £20,000, cut corporation tax, and eliminate VAT on energy bills. They propose reducing "wasteful" spending by £50 billion, according to BBC.
• NHS & Public Services: Radical NHS reform to eliminate waiting lists within two years, featuring tax relief for private healthcare providers. They also propose to abolish the House of Lords.
• Culture & Society: "Anti-woke" agenda, including banning "transgender ideology" in schools and reforming the Equality Act to remove diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) roles, notes BBC.
• Legal & International: Withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and replace it with a British Bill of Rights, say BBC and the Institute for Government.

So not too far off from MAGA then.

True dat!
(According to my internal calendar, I think you'll find it's actually January 78th 😉)

New thread here
www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5482659-whatever-atrocity-is-next-trump-thread-154

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