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Thread: The Clown Circus

  1. #61
    I can't get over how much political capital they're investing in defending this muppet.

    At the end of April, I feel like the Tories had built up a fair bit of public goodwill. Undeserved, because of their disastrous lack of action and general indifference through February and March but the public's memory is short, and during this period they were making decisions which were broadly correct and Boris was sick, which got them a lot of sympathy because everyone had forgotten it was very likely he got sick because of his deep personal stupidity and inability to take basic precautions.

    Then, the official figures are revised to include care home deaths and suddenly we have one of the worst if not the worst death-toll in Europe, and then a muddled and largely pointless revision to the lockdown rules randomly sending people back to work and suddenly they're looking shaky but I would say at this point people are still more on their side than not. Then, the Cummings story broke and then they double, triple, quadruple down on defending him, burning their popularity, credibility, cornavirus strategy, everything just to keep this mediocre pseudo-intellectual adviser in post. It's mental.
    When the sky above us fell
    We descended into hell
    Into kingdom come

  2. #62
    They think they're protecting themselves.
    "One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."

  3. #63
    Quote Originally Posted by Aimless View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Ominous Gamer View Post
    ℬeing upset is understandable, but be upset at yourself for poor planning, not at the world by acting like a spoiled bitch during an interview.

  4. #64
    What's the betting that it'll never be an "appropriate time" to a.) compare excess death figures and b.) perform a retrospective on the government's handling of the virus?

    a.) because as long as one country doesn't report "well enough" they'll claim there's no point in any comparisons
    b.) because the focus has to be on the economic recovery (not Brexit; they won't make a big deal of that anymore)

  5. #65
    Quote Originally Posted by RandBlade View Post
    Yes, he's shamefully ignorant of a very burdensome legal restriction that has been in place for about as long as he's been in public office.
    "One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."

  6. #66
    Durham Police have confirmed that Cummings isolating in Durham was not a breach of the regulations.

    They're saying the Barnhard Castle trip "might" have been but they'd have needed to speak to him and get more information to determine that, and since that would be a too "minor" breach they're not investigating it further.

    I wonder how many people who've spent the last week blasting Cummings for breaching the regulations with his trip to Durham are going to have the good grace and humility to admit they were wrong.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ominous Gamer View Post
    ℬeing upset is understandable, but be upset at yourself for poor planning, not at the world by acting like a spoiled bitch during an interview.

  7. #67
    Quote Originally Posted by Aimless View Post
    Yes, he's shamefully ignorant of a very burdensome legal restriction that has been in place for about as long as he's been in public office.
    There are plenty of regulations that are in place and considering this one came into effect before he came into office and he never voted for it and its not been an issue since, one can understand him having higher concerns. Like the subjects he's actually dealing with or voted for. Kudos to any politician too who has the humility acknowledge where their knowledge isn't 100% rather than bullshitting.

    People who come to this country under the proviso they have no recourse to public funds do so in full knowledge they have no recourse to public funds. So be it. No harm there, their choice and if they wish to come on that proviso I think they should be very welcome. No point afterwards whinging about it. And I think its entirely appropriate that unusual funds that have been granted like the job retention scheme etc are an exemption to that and are still available for those with that proviso.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ominous Gamer View Post
    ℬeing upset is understandable, but be upset at yourself for poor planning, not at the world by acting like a spoiled bitch during an interview.

  8. #68
    Quote Originally Posted by gogobongopop View Post
    What's the betting that it'll never be an "appropriate time" to a.) compare excess death figures and b.) perform a retrospective on the government's handling of the virus?

    a.) because as long as one country doesn't report "well enough" they'll claim there's no point in any comparisons
    b.) because the focus has to be on the economic recovery (not Brexit; they won't make a big deal of that anymore)
    By this time next year we will be able to but any comparisons will be hard to make anyway. We've learnt so much about this, as we discussed in the COVID thread when Lewk was moronic enough to try to compare US states to suggest that urban states with Democratic Governors have done a bad job while rural states with GOP Governors have done a good job, that is preposterous. As I said in that thread in reply to that idiocy, you can not compare Smallville to Metropolis. Urban density, demographics etc all affect this. Any reasoned comparisons need to be like-for-like, eg London with Paris and New York etc

    But yes the focus should be on the economic recovery by then, that is what is going to matter more. The COVID death toll looks like being comparable to some bad flu seasons like the Hong Kong Flu - bad but could have been worse. The economic damage is going to be catastrophic and recovering is going to be a Herculean task.

    Brexit we can discuss in the Brexit thread but the transition period 100% must not be extended.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ominous Gamer View Post
    ℬeing upset is understandable, but be upset at yourself for poor planning, not at the world by acting like a spoiled bitch during an interview.

  9. #69
    Quote Originally Posted by RandBlade View Post
    They're saying the Barnhard Castle trip "might" have been but they'd have needed to speak to him and get more information to determine that, and since that would be a too "minor" breach they're not investigating it further.
    Better people than Cummings have already had to resign over similar "minor breaches".
    When the sky above us fell
    We descended into hell
    Into kingdom come

  10. #70
    Quote Originally Posted by RandBlade View Post
    Durham Police have confirmed that Cummings isolating in Durham was not a breach of the regulations.

    They're saying the Barnhard Castle trip "might" have been but they'd have needed to speak to him and get more information to determine that, and since that would be a too "minor" breach they're not investigating it further.

    I wonder how many people who've spent the last week blasting Cummings for breaching the regulations with his trip to Durham are going to have the good grace and humility to admit they were wrong.
    Yeah, so, he broke the rules with the family birthday day out to Bernard Castle.

    Anyone he takes their kid out for a 1.5 hour drive to "test their eyesight" isn't an appropriate person to be advising the PM of the UK. But that's irrelevant because the whole thing is a whopping fat lie anyway.

    I wonder if those people who claimed he never broke the rules will have the good grace and humility to admit they were wrong.

  11. #71
    Quote Originally Posted by RandBlade View Post
    There are plenty of regulations that are in place and considering this one came into effect before he came into office and he never voted for it and its not been an issue since, one can understand him having higher concerns. Like the subjects he's actually dealing with or voted for. Kudos to any politician too who has the humility acknowledge where their knowledge isn't 100% rather than bullshitting.

    People who come to this country under the proviso they have no recourse to public funds do so in full knowledge they have no recourse to public funds. So be it. No harm there, their choice and if they wish to come on that proviso I think they should be very welcome. No point afterwards whinging about it. And I think its entirely appropriate that unusual funds that have been granted like the job retention scheme etc are an exemption to that and are still available for those with that proviso.
    This may be one of the most disgusting and stupid things you've said this month.
    "One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."

  12. #72
    This track and tracing lark. Anyone know how the tracers get people's contact data? And anyone know how the recipient of a call is going to know it's genuine?

    What's to stop a group of scallywags going through the phone book, claiming they're from the government's track and trace scheme?

  13. #73
    Quote Originally Posted by Aimless View Post
    This may be one of the most disgusting and stupid things you've said this month.
    It's on par with how Lewk argues, just a different subject matter.
    Faith is Hope (see Loki's sig for details)
    If hindsight is 20-20, why is it so often ignored?

  14. #74

  15. #75
    Quote Originally Posted by Aimless View Post
    This may be one of the most disgusting and stupid things you've said this month.
    If you want to argue with it then argue with it. Give a reason why Tony Blair was wrong to introduce that rule. Or considering I said it's appropriate COVID19 measures are exempt from that rule then explain why I'm wrong on that.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ominous Gamer View Post
    ℬeing upset is understandable, but be upset at yourself for poor planning, not at the world by acting like a spoiled bitch during an interview.

  16. #76
    Quote Originally Posted by gogobongopop View Post
    This track and tracing lark. Anyone know how the tracers get people's contact data? And anyone know how the recipient of a call is going to know it's genuine?

    What's to stop a group of scallywags going through the phone book, claiming they're from the government's track and trace scheme?
    The number will come from a verifiable contact number and you can check online with a QR code for security purposes.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ominous Gamer View Post
    ℬeing upset is understandable, but be upset at yourself for poor planning, not at the world by acting like a spoiled bitch during an interview.

  17. #77
    I hope that info is made very, very clear to everyone.

  18. #78
    Quote Originally Posted by RandBlade View Post
    If you want to argue with it then argue with it. Give a reason why Tony Blair was wrong to introduce that rule. Or considering I said it's appropriate COVID19 measures are exempt from that rule then explain why I'm wrong on that.
    Omfg you odious nincompoop the issue is that Johnson is so fucking clueless that he doesn't know what NRPF—an extremely important policy of great importance to the lives of tens of thousands of people in the UK, even more so since it began to be more dickishly applied under May's tenure as Home Secretary—is, and what it entails. The fervor with which you defend the ignorance of Dear Leader is impressive but also pathetic.
    "One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."

  19. #79
    Ditto. Plus they're saying they'll never ask for bank etc details too.

    Sad that whenever anyone does anything like this there'll always be someone who tries to take advantage.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ominous Gamer View Post
    ℬeing upset is understandable, but be upset at yourself for poor planning, not at the world by acting like a spoiled bitch during an interview.

  20. #80
    Yikes

    Boris Johnson isn’t fit to lead

    Danny Kruger, formerly Johnson’s political secretary and now the MP for Devizes, has – perhaps inadvertently – done the country some small service. In a note sent to newly-elected Tory MPs, Mr Kruger has reportedly advised his colleagues that ‘calling for Dominic Cummings to go is basically declaring no confidence in [the] prime minister.’

    Well, yes, indeed. That is the point.

    Because, in the end, this is not a story about Dominic Cummings but, rather, one about the Prime Minister. Even if we concede the possibility that he has not fully recovered from his own recent illness and, by making that concession, are tempted to afford him a greater measure of the benefit of the doubt than is traditionally granted to prime ministers, it remains mightily difficult to construct a coherent defence of the Prime Minister’s recent actions.

    There is little escaping an obvious reality: this is a prime minister without clothes. The country can see this, even if cabinet ministers and Tory MPs pretend not to. He is what he is and he is not up to the job. In sunnier times this might not matter so very much but these are not the best of times and, right now, a significant portion of the Prime Minister’s responsibilities are wrapped up in his ability to inspire confidence. He is the captain of the ship and voters are entitled to think he is paying attention.

    No such reassurance has been forthcoming. On the contrary, the manner in which the Prime Minister has sought to dismiss any and all concerns about Cummings’s behaviour has further undermined already fragile confidence in his government’s handling of this crisis. There is nothing to see here and the little people should know it is time to ‘move on’.

    The prime minister should really watch his tone. His government’s response has turned a story into a scandal. A better, more empathetic, Downing Street regime would have appreciated the need for contrition at this moment. Instead the government has doubled-down on arrogant dismissal. As is so often the case, a notional demonstration of strength and resolve actually reveals the deep weaknesses at the heart of this government. It has a majority in the House of Commons but public confidence is palpably waning.

    Again, Mr Kruger unwittingly shows us how. In his note to colleagues, he argues that ‘BJ and DC together are why we won the 2019 election and them together is the only way to GBD [Get Brexit Done], level up the regions and fix Whitehall - the only things which will win us the next election too. An arguable minor infraction of lockdown rules is totally secondary to that.’

    But no mere advisor should ever be thought indispensable and any prime minister so wholly dependent on a single advisor, no matter how brilliant he or she may be, is a weak one. If Boris Johnson cannot function without Cummings he is not qualified to be prime minister. The price of defending Cummings is admitting Johnson’s inadequacy.
    "One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."

  21. #81
    LOL. Silly nonsense.

    Boris can function without DC but why should he? DC is good at what he does and is a strength, Liverpool can play without Mo Salah but why should they?
    Quote Originally Posted by Ominous Gamer View Post
    ℬeing upset is understandable, but be upset at yourself for poor planning, not at the world by acting like a spoiled bitch during an interview.

  22. #82
    Quote Originally Posted by RandBlade View Post
    Durham Police have confirmed that Cummings isolating in Durham was not a breach of the regulations.

    They're saying the Barnhard Castle trip "might" have been but they'd have needed to speak to him and get more information to determine that, and since that would be a too "minor" breach they're not investigating it further.

    I wonder how many people who've spent the last week blasting Cummings for breaching the regulations with his trip to Durham are going to have the good grace and humility to admit they were wrong.
    Uh-oh...

    "One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."

  23. #83
    The Telegraph are wrong, they misquoted Durham Police.

    As for the socialist barrister, all his/her What Ifs are irrelevant. None of those Ifs happened.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ominous Gamer View Post
    ℬeing upset is understandable, but be upset at yourself for poor planning, not at the world by acting like a spoiled bitch during an interview.

  24. #84
    Quote Originally Posted by RandBlade View Post
    LOL. Silly nonsense.

    Boris can function without DC but why should he? DC is good at what he does and is a strength, Liverpool can play without Mo Salah but why should they?
    Mo Salah is a football player. Cummings is the PM's advisor who flouted his own govt's lockdown rules, and gave the public bullshit excuses with no indication of contrition.
    "One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."

  25. #85
    He didn't break the flout the rules. His action that sparked the controversy was within the rules as Durham Police today confirmed.

    As for the minor secondary issue raised, the Police said he "might" have broken the rules but it was too "minor" to warrant further investigation so we'll never know.

    Non-story, move on.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ominous Gamer View Post
    ℬeing upset is understandable, but be upset at yourself for poor planning, not at the world by acting like a spoiled bitch during an interview.

  26. #86
    Quote Originally Posted by RandBlade View Post
    The Telegraph are wrong, they misquoted Durham Police.

    As for the socialist barrister, all his/her What Ifs are irrelevant. None of those Ifs happened.
    No LewkBlade, the statement from Durham police, though it is confusingly worded, shows that the police considers the trip to the castle, as it has been described, as an action that was in violation of lockdown rules. This is apparent from the statement if you regarded it as a whole rather than piecemeal in your usual birdbrained manner, and I believe others hold the same view:

    "One day, we shall die. All the other days, we shall live."

  27. #87
    "He only broke the law a little bit, and anyway he didn't get caught" is... not a great defense.
    When the sky above us fell
    We descended into hell
    Into kingdom come

  28. #88
    The bigger issue is that he lied about why he took the trip to Bernard castle.

    Just more lies.

  29. #89
    Gogo, he might not have lied.

    It is also possible that he's incredibly dim.
    When the sky above us fell
    We descended into hell
    Into kingdom come

  30. #90
    Yarp, that be the bigger issue.

    He's either a liar or incredibly thick. Neither are suitable attributes for an advisor of the PM.

    I personally don't think he's thick. I think he's probably a genius.

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