Westministenders: High Drama at The Ok Coral

[RedToothBrush]

3:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 26, 1881, Tombstone, Arizona.

After months of death threats from the Cowboy Billys, their long simmering feud with the law thing came to a head. The Earp Brothers and Doc Holliday faced the criminals down in a shootout.

Tomorrow's 'sleepover' is starting to feel like the Gunfight at the OK Coral.

The outcome of the real story was three of the outlaws were killed. Another two claimed they were unarmed and ran from the fight. Virgil, Morgan, and Doc Holliday were wounded, but Wyatt Earp was unharmed.

How many Brexiteers can we expect to roll over and resign from the Cabinet and how many will surrender to May and the Pro-Business lobby? ONly time will tell.

Please place your bets for the number of resignations and the number of 'I support the PM' comments.

But don't get too excited. The showdown wasn't the end of the matter.

One of the outlaws who legged it, filed murder charges against the Earps and Doc Holliday. It took them some time for them to be acquitted.

Then Virgil Earp was ambushed and disabled in the arm later that year in December and Morgan Earp was assassinated in March 1882. Wyatt Earp, then thinking he had no other option, went on a personal vendetta to kill the outlaws and then fled the state.

Given the Tory Cabinet and the perchant for stabbing each other in the back and settling personal scores, a repeat of a wild west gun fight, really doesn't sound too wildly off the cards now does it?

Buckle up. Its time to play at Chequers.

I am not likely this quiet Where is gove?

So a Tory faction is splitting into yet more factions

I am dubious of how the meaning of "libertarian" has changed

Coming originally from the US, but now here too:
it seems to be the new (rightwing) buzzword for rightwingers who are authoritarian about everything they want -
no to abortion, no to civil liberties for people of colour, yes to the death penalty, smacking, supporting police violence, private gun ownership …

My mother, however - given those two options - will set fire to the polling station.

My DF can tell you worse stories of candidates "disappearing" .

Philip Davies lambasted colleagues in safe seats who are backing the PM, accusing them of “not giving a stuff” about those in Leave-voting marginals

I lack the skill to pin this with satirical accuracy, but a Tory MP complaining that people are jeopardising his livelihood whilst jeopardising the livelihoods of countless thousands must be worthy of something.

Instead I shall have to prove the link between swearing and low intelligence, and resort to calling him a twat.

Pulling no punches by para 3 .... one view from a respected outsider.

www.nytimes.com/2018/07/10/opinion/boris-johnson-resignation-brexit.html

LONDON — For the second time in three years, Boris Johnson, a politician whose ambition and superficial charm far outstrip his ability, judgment or principles, is destabilizing the British government and threatening the country’s future.

On Monday, Mr. Johnson, in protest against Prime Minister Theresa May’s plans for Brexit, resigned from his post as foreign secretary. Now Mrs. May’s authority, longevity and ability to deliver a Brexit without causing an economic crisis are in question. But further political paralysis seems certain.

Britain is in this mess principally because the Brexiteers — led largely by Mr. Johnson — sold the country a series of lies in the lead up to the June 2016 referendum on leaving the European Union. They did so because neither Mr. Johnson nor his fellow leader of the Leave campaign, Michael Gove, intended, wanted or expected to win.

Quite a lyrical monologue from James o'b here.

again it boils down to - everyone hates Boris.

Instead I shall have to prove the link between swearing and low intelligence, and resort to calling him a twat.

www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/09/27/swear-words-intelligence_n_12213206.html
Intelligent People Use More Swear Words, According To Study

Fucking irony fail

80% of Brexit deal has been agreed - Barnier (Guardian)

Just got off the phone with the car repairers who are dealing with DWs car (although I'm the only driver ..) after a tap from behind on Sunday.

Job is scoped and authorised, and will start as soon as the parts arrive ...

Being me, I asked the agent where the spares have to come from. They said they couldn't tell me, as they deal with nearly all makes and models of cars. However quite a few do come from Belgium which the workshop only knows about when bad weather delays them. They then (unprompted) commented that even a days delay would cripple their business. They simply could not store as many cars for repair at any one time. So fewer cars, fewer staff.

Apparently this particular outfit actually uses the collection and delivery of customer vehicles as part of it's scheduling. So they really are working to a limit.

(Mentioned this to DW who reminded me that even 15 years ago, when a previous car (Vauxhall) needed a part, it was shipped from Germany rather than being kept in storage in the UK. Not a particularly uncommon part either).

80% of Brexit deal has been agreed - Barnier (Guardian)

Nothing is agreed until it is all agreed. - Davies (who cares ?)

Excellent NYT link, DG

"Boris Johnson Has Ruined Britain
“He knows that the verdict of history is about to come down on him — and bury him.”

80% of Brexit deal has been agreed - Barnier (Guardian
I think we're the pawn nation in a proxy 'battle' now.

Boris Johnson Has Ruined Britain

Again, the silence from the Brexiteer camp is deafening. They can't even play to the "plucky little Brits" crowd (if they ever could).

Of course, the NYT is only saying what most of the world has been saying for a while. The main thing is they are doing it in English. Which means Brexiteers can ask someone to read it to them.

Which means Brexiteers can ask someone to read it to them.

80% of Brexit deal has been agreed - Barnier (Guardian)

What has been agreed?

Interesting that the NYT is mentioning Michael Gove too...

What has been agreed To wind up trump.

80% of Brexit deal has been agreed - Barnier (Guardian)

Rejoice! The Sunlit Uplands are at hand!

Contrary to the balance of opinion on this thread I suspect that May will come out of this in a stronger position. The battlelines within the Conservative party are clearly shifting from Remainers vs Brexiters to Remainers + Soft Brexiters vs Hard Brexiters. That means the numbers are shifting in May's favour.

80% of Brexit deal has been agreed - Barnier (Guardian)

".....but given past experience, we know we need to convert what has apparently been agreed into a legal text and get the UK to commit formally to it before we send it round the E27 for ratification"

Red - suggestion for a title for the next thread (although you always come up with brilliant - and prescient - titles):

"Who will polish the turd?"

Tm was never going to come out of this stronger initially. She's spent too long playing the sides off against each other. She needed to stick a flag into some position at some point. Delaying that has caused her this weakening though so I have no sympathy. She may well come out stronger in the end.

www.standard.co.uk/business/margareta-pagano-if-brexit-plan-sells-city-short-it-may-have-to-call-hit-squad-a3883891.html?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1531233757
Margareta Pagano: If Brexit plan sells City short it may have to call hit squad

Meanwhile in China, a sobering account of modern day authoritarianism:
www.alaraby.co.uk/english/Comment/2018/7/9/The-Uighur-Muslim-crisis-is-worse-than-you-think
The Uighur Muslim crisis is worse than you think

I saw another article yesterday which showed kitchen knives being chained and alarmed, to "prevent terrorism"

This is Trump's ideal vision of the future.

Though the more I think about it, it shows how far we've fallen that I'm relieved there is some semblance of a plan.