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Brexit

Westministenders: Its the waiting that kills you

987 replies

RedToothBrush · 05/11/2020 19:22

Just waiting.

Talks between Frost and Barnier still unresolved issues. There are rumours but 'all without evidence' (the new in phrase on BBC news tonight) that the UK is waivering.

Less that two months to go.

And there is the small matter of what happens in the US than might influence events.

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AuldAlliance · 07/11/2020 11:21

Thanks to all, esp RTB.
I agree that Biden knows he's got a very rough time ahead. Which is already a sea change from the orange one's ignorance and arrogance. I do like Kamala Harris. (Or Kama Larees, as a French journalist called her yesterday: took me a while to twig.)

A compare and contrast PPE-related exercise for you all here:

Mass CV testing in Liverpool
Mass CV testing in Slovakia

FlouncingBabooshka · 07/11/2020 11:32

@HoldMyLobster

As an American, all I really want Joe Biden to do is not be Trump.

Just for a while, it would be so wonderful to not have a Trump in power.

Loved Biden's response when asked 'are you the antithesis of Donald Trump?'

'I sure hope so'

DGRossetti · 07/11/2020 12:24

At the end of the day - for better, for worse - a countries leader is an advert for that country to the rest of the world. And if you aren't terminally thick, you can separate that element of their existence, from their politics.

So although I despise David Cameron politically for a constellation of reasons, I think it's fair to say that as he travelled abroad, I felt happy he was representing the UK. Unlike our present Prime Minister who is an embarrassment whenever he appears next to grown ups. If there has been a silver lining to Covid, it's been to keep such incidents to a minimum.

Same for Mrs. Thatcher. Generally despicable politician. But at least when she was abroad you could feel a tinge of pride in being British.

So applying that particular metric to Trump ... the man has been a cringeworthy disgrace to one of the most culturally diverse and intellectually leading countries in the world. He was a joke before he was elected and rather than the position of POTUS making him statesmenklike, he reduced the position of POTUS to one of ridicule.

All Biden has to do is be a great advert for the US. Just like That's what I do ! Obama.

I'm not saying we should elect leaders based on what the rest of the wold thinks. I'm saying that when you have elected a good leader for your country, the rest of the world notices.

In other news ...

Very quiet on the roads today. Clearly lockdown 2.0 has had an effect. Not complaining though. It's been a gloriously sunny, crisp day. Eerily almost the same as I recall the first Saturday of the first lockdown. So now I'm convinced it's March.

Price of fuel has come down too. Which is nice.

No queuing into Sainsburys which seemed as busy as last week. But couldn't see any obvious shortages. They had everything on our list.

DGRossetti · 07/11/2020 12:31

Curious to see that it's apparently possible to see where the Blitz hit from todays poverty ...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-54834759

Towns and cities in England which suffered high casualty rates from World War Two air raids are now likely to be places with high levels of child deprivation, say researchers.

(contd)

DGRossetti · 07/11/2020 12:54

Seems my library angel is on form ...

Westministenders: Its the waiting that kills you
ListeningQuietly · 07/11/2020 13:04

I wonder how Trump will cope with the occasions on which he will be required to appear for the rest of his life
as a former President
(he gets paid for ever so he has to do the assigned tasks)
snigger
things like deaths of other former presidents : Carter is very old now

QueenOfThorns · 07/11/2020 13:06

Interesting that you’ve found it quiet on the roads, DGR. While doing the school run the last two days, I hadn’t noticed any difference at all in the volume of traffic, but it might be related to the time at which I’m going out. Everything showed up in my online grocery order this morning as well (pasta and loo roll weren’t on the list).

DGRossetti · 07/11/2020 13:11

@ListeningQuietly

I wonder how Trump will cope with the occasions on which he will be required to appear for the rest of his life as a former President (he gets paid for ever so he has to do the assigned tasks) snigger things like deaths of other former presidents : Carter is very old now
He's also "Mr. President" forever.

Someone, somewhere recently told a story about being at a Whitehouse event with Carter, the Bushes and Clinton - "Mr. President ?" gets answered in chorus ...

Emilyontmoor · 07/11/2020 13:33

I think it's fair to say that as he travelled abroad, I felt happy he was representing the UK

Perhaps you should ask the people who were on the receiving end of the representation. It was a common theme in Chinese media that he consistently othered China and treated it like the Daily Mail /Telegraph stereotypes, from representing it as a threat of nuclear war in the election debates on. The greatest indignation was when he tried a Daily Mail pleasing soundbite by saying he had been told by Chinese officials not to wear the remembrance poppy on a visit. Vince Cable who was also on the visit said there was no such instruction, and Chinese social media erupted on the lines of why would we object to a symbol of respect for the war dead, and a wish for a similar symbol for their own . Ironically the Daily Mail comments also erupted on the lines of how tactless it was in view of the Opium wars, though that was not actually an issue for Chinese people who can tell the difference between a Flanders poppy and an opium brick.

He was a cartoon public school arrogant Englishman abroad. Not an unusual look but not a foregone conclusion. One could imagine Rory Stewart managing to escape the stereotypes.

Of course it was the same arrogance that did for him in 2016.

Emilyontmoor · 07/11/2020 13:37

I am playing Beyoncé and Motown and dancing with those Philadelphians. Funny isn’t it how those against Trump and Brexit party and dance in their protests and those who support them are so cross all the time.

pointythings · 07/11/2020 14:35

Did the food shop this morning. Roads much quieter than last week, supermarket also quieter - it was rammed last week!

Last time lockdown compliance was good here, nothing to suggest it won't be the same this time - but our COVID rates are and always have been low.

ListeningQuietly · 07/11/2020 15:06

No shit sherlock
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54840747
over 6000 comments Grin
Ursula says "We took stock of the negotiations with UK Prime Minister BorisJohnson today. Some progress has been made, but large differences remain especially on level playing field and fisheries. Our teams will continue working hard next week. We will remain in close contact in the next days."

HesterThrale · 07/11/2020 15:18

Trump’s announced a press conference at 4.30pm (British time) today.
Calling it a ‘lawyer’s press conference’. I’m guessing it won’t be him conceding graciously then.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/us-election-results-live-trump-biden-news-b1666356.html

mobile.twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1325087011464749056

ListeningQuietly · 07/11/2020 15:20

I hope that PA call it while he's speaking Grin

RedToothBrush · 07/11/2020 16:26

CNN just made the call.

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RedToothBrush · 07/11/2020 16:28

BBC just called it.

Not announced on air but numbers just updated

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ListeningQuietly · 07/11/2020 16:28

HELLO fat lady

prettybird · 07/11/2020 16:29

Just came on to say CNN had called it Grin

RedToothBrush · 07/11/2020 16:29

Told you so!!!

(ooo that felt good)

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prettybird · 07/11/2020 16:30

And in advance of Trump's "lawyers press conference" Grin

pussycatinboots · 07/11/2020 16:33

Well done Red, and Mr Red - where would we have been without his math(s) over the last few days.

Cheers everyone 🍾

prettybird · 07/11/2020 16:36

The Orange Baby still won't concede though.

RedToothBrush · 07/11/2020 16:38

@pussycatinboots

Well done Red, and Mr Red - where would we have been without his math(s) over the last few days.

Cheers everyone 🍾

The same place. Just hope its help steady a few nerves at least.
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FlouncingBabooshka · 07/11/2020 16:40

After four days of near solid CNN coverage I missed the announcement by three minutes Grin

Anyone else watching CNN finding themselves moved to tears by the words of Van Jones?

durgha · 07/11/2020 16:40

Unlurking to say "Cheers, yah beauty!" and thanks to Red for all the threads.