Westministenders: Another Thread, another Shit Show. Its Trump Week

[RedToothBrush]

That is all.

Just logged into twitter seen what trump has said (dead cat) and I'm logging off again for a while.

It's interesting...trying to figure out if acceptability depends on which foreign country is visiting, or if it's to do with who they have private meetings with or the combination.

-So it's not ok for Erdogan, Orban , Putin, Xi Jinping to come on an official state visit and refuse to meet Corbyn but to have secret meetings with the ERG and Faragit?

-It's ok for Trump to come on an official state visit and refuse to meet Corbyn but to have secret meetings with the ERG and Faragit? Could he also meet Tommy Robinson?

-It would be ok for Macron or Merkel to come on an official state visit and refuse to meet Corbyn but to have secret meetings with the ERG and Faragit? But they could not meet Tommy Robinson?

I'm confused now. All I know is I don't like Trump having secret meetings with ERG numpties. I also bet a U.K. prime minister would not be allowed to secretly meet with agitating factions in the US during an official visit.

Of course, it doesn't fit the narrative...
I wonder if we're heading for the Years & Years scenario in which one of the characters goes "well, we're certainly not European! Our bosses are American, our culture is American!" Just before the US uses Trident to nuke China. Hilarious but dark.

Although, as long as we don't get an ERG PM (still unsure that we won't, mind) Trump meeting them could all be a good distraction. If he meets all of the people who won't be anywhere near power at any rate. His shunning of JC could backfire and if (fingers crossed) Labour gets a new leader I would predict a big surge for Labour at any new GE. Trump wouldn't have even entertained that so all of his hard work and the bum licking the ERG are doing would be in vain. I don't personally think we will have a GE until after we No Deal, but even so...it just depends what Fox has signed us up to. But then, surely that is covered under not binding a new government? Which makes me wonder when indeed we will get a GE - 3 years?

@songs yes I found that line very apt. The whole show is similar to Black Mirror which has been a bit too scarily accurate about futuristic events!

Anyone have an accumulator ?

No comment.

It's interesting...trying to figure out if acceptability depends on which foreign country is visiting, or if it's to do with who they have private meetings with or the combination.

Its nationalism. One of the key components of Brexit and Trump's success. Brexiteers see the European "project" as eroding the identity of nation states. They scream foul about lack of sovereignty but don't see the double standards when Trump eyes up the NHS.

Borrowed from Wiki, about the status of Puerto Rico.
{As with any non-state territory of the United States, its residents do not have voting representation in the federal government. Puerto Rico has limited representation in Congress in the form of a Resident Commissioner, a delegate with limited voting rights in the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and no voting rights otherwise.[51]}

I wonder if this is what some have in mind for the UK?

Then refused to meet Corbyn
The notable absence of our regular Leavers on these threads failing to criticise Trump's behaviour is telling.

Why on earth would Donald Trump agree to meet Jeremy Corbyn, knowing that Corbyn was leading a protest against him and refusing to attend the state banquet?

I know the many criticisms of Corbyn, but he has an official leading national role.
Then why is he acting like a student?

Generally, I can't stand Trump - but I agree with him on this - Corbyn is,
"from where I come from, somewhat of a negative force."

Overall, I'm loving the spectacle of the whole trip - the palace, the bling, the red, white and blue, the Winston Churchill hat they gave Trump, even the Trump baby blimp (when it was flying).

Overall, I'm loving the spectacle of the whole trip - the palace, the bling, the red, white and blue, the Winston Churchill hat they gave Trump, even the Trump baby blimp (when it was flying).

Lets hope patriotism pays the bills when Brexit hits the economy full force. Glad you enjoyed the elites dining out at tax payers expense though.

I've said this before but if we're going to end up in the US sphere we should at least negotiate something similar to freedom of movement (The least they could offer after raiding our economy). Bet they won't though.

Glad you enjoyed the elites dining out at tax payers expense though.
I glad our Royal Family are a fascination around the world, even if we don't appreciate them at home - great for tourist revenue and British made products.

The US constitution is a manual on how to build a country. The mechanism for territories to become states is well mapped out. (Not bad for 30 pages. My cars manual is 300 pages, and I still can't fold the mirrors in)

However the UK would need to dump the Queen, and provide a written constitution that was compatible and subservient to the US constitution (as all state constitutions are). Ultimate entry requires a majority in Congress, plus presidential approval.

I'd imagine we'd end up the Commonwealth of England (I think "Britain" would clash with some historical events ....). Virginia is also a Commonwealth, so we wouldn't be alone.

Once we're a state, we'd get to send quite a few representatives - certainly more than California. But only two senators. We'd also need a Governor. And a state bird and tree. And to pledge allegiance to the flag in school, daily. And learn an anthem that celebrates the Continental Army kicking the Brits out of America.

Presumably all UK citizens around the world at the time if subsumption would automatically become US citizens. With all the tax liabilities that involves.

Incidentally, it's hard not to note that pulling closer to the US is pulling even further away from the Commonwealth.

Whatever happened to the Brexiteer claims that Brexit was to allow the UK to move closer to the Commonwealth ? Surely they weren't a crock of shit ? Tell me it's not true ?

(Which also makes me wonder about those stunning trade deals Liam Fox managed to pull off against all odds. Could they be compromised by a bigly US trade deal ?)

I glad our Royal Family are a fascination around the world, even if we don't appreciate them at home - great for tourist revenue and British made products.

The Roman Empire is of great fascination and useful to Italian tourism also. It manages to do this without the Roman Empire being in operation.

Whatever happened to the Brexiteer claims that Brexit was to allow the UK to move closer to the Commonwealth ? Surely they weren't a crock of shit ? Tell me it's not true ?

It went the same way as the "Norway style deal". Brexit is a trojan horse for disaster capitalism. Wrap it up in patriotism and the useful suspects will buy it.

I'm glad

(goes off to refresh meaning of "vassal state" )

This popped up on my feed ...

Queen wins again

{I've said this before but if we're going to end up in the US sphere we should at least negotiate something similar to freedom of movement}

Well the demands to check all SM accounts for the last 5 years to get a USA visa isn't a promising start.
If you have ever criticised the USA that would probably rule you out (so that will be most 'remainers' then).

The Roman Empire is of great fascination and useful to Italian tourism also. It manages to do this without the Roman Empire being in operation. You know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Whatever happened to the Brexiteer claims that Brexit was to allow the UK to move closer to the Commonwealth? Surely they weren't a crock of shit? Tell me it's not true?

We've already thought of that;

March 2019 - UK and South Africa to co-lead initiative on digital trade, aiming to boost Commonwealth trade to $2tn

www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-south-africa-to-co-lead-initiative-on-digital-trade-aiming-to-boost-commonwealth-trade-to-2tn

They scream foul about lack of sovereignty

I think they must vaguely think that the USA is part of the British Empire. History does not appear to be the Leavers strongest suit.

We've already thought of that;

Yes, but Trump also said that the UK could only have one deal - with the US. All trade with the rest of the world would have to be on US terms.