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LOL Cat, I can't disagree with that one!

Hence the idea of a civil war being metaphorical, and relating to the fight for the Republican Party now. The Trumps are not going away though. Ivanka has hinted she may run in 2024 and aspire to be the first female president (although Biden may step aside to give Harris that honour at some point of course). There is no question that Trumpism has radicalised parts of the Rupublican Party, but they as a party have to decide what to do about it. Winning elections is going to be increasingly difficult if they do not reach out to a range of ethnic groups.

mrwb Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Can't expect store staff to take customers on and > force them to wear a mask. They can ask them, what > if they say "no"? Shops can refuse entry to a person without a mask. Several big chains (who tend to have security staff on their doors, have now said they will be doing that.

Psychopathy is a rare disorder and can't be measured without a string of evaluations by a clinical psychologist. Narcissism however is far easier to observe and often is part of psychopathy. Trump gave some comments to the media today, after staying holed up for a week, in which he is effectively defiant and doubling down on what happened. The man is living in an alternate reality in his own head and that plays into the alternate realities being promoted by too many people on the fringes of his base. That is the issue here. How fit is someone like that to hold office? Anyone arguing he is fit to hold office should really think about what they are endorsing there.

This article pretty much nails the problem.... https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/21/can-american-democracy-survive-donald-trump

keano77 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ..Keano, do you really think Trump is the only > president that has struggles in the Senate and > Congress?... > > No. Why do you ask me that question? I never > suggested he was I asked the question because you seem to be under the illusion that the flack faced by Trump was any different to any President before him. It isn't.

Someone gave me this analogy yesterday. When Henry II lost his temper on hearing of Thomas O Becket's return from exile to cheering crowds and delivered a tirade that included lines like 'What miserable drones and traitors have I nurtured and promoted in my household who let their lord be treated with such shameful contempt by a low-born clerk!', lines that caused four devoted hothead knights to seek out and murder Thomas Becket ('Where is Thomas Becket, traitor to the king and the kingdom?'), who was at most fault? Words from leaders matter. They can have devastating consequences. Now here is the difference. In the aftermath, Henry II, accepted his words incited the murder, and made a public act of penance, visiting the priest's tomb and giving it Royal approval. Not a word of contrition from Trump however, not even for the police officer that was murdered.

TheCat is absolutely right about trials in the court of public opinion. The legal system will decide who should be charged and what with, following proper investigation. But as KK says also, dumbing this down as though it was just some frat party that got out of hand, is equally dangerous. People died, and that also needs proper investigation. Keano, do you really think Trump is the only president that has struggles in the Senate and Congress? Politics is not a fun sport. It is brutal and opportunistic even at the best of times. Undermining is what all oppositions do. Obama was no different or have you forgotten the attacks on his legitimacy too, some of which Trump himself waded in on by the way, because the truth is that Donald Trump is not a very nice guy. As KK says, the number of people who vote for a party doesn't necessarily legitimise what the leader stands for. 70 million is just under a third of eligible voters in the USA. A good number of those voters are people who always vote Republican no matter who leads.

There was no doubt around the guy that took the speaker's podium. He was photographed carrying it in the Capitol Building and he put it on Ebay. He is a carpenter by trade apparently. Clearly valued the cut of the woodwork lol Just to add though, I am sure that most of the people who entered the building really didn't think they were breaking the law or would be rounded up and charged afterwards. The people who killed a Police Officer with a fire extinguisher, probably didn't march up there intending to murder a Police Officer, or those who seriously crushed another. I am sure the woman who was shot dead didn't think she was going to die trying to get into the main chamber. It is the disconnect from any idea of consequence for those however many minutes or hours of madness, that is hard understand. It reminds me of when people rioted and looted for days after the shooting of Mark Duggan. Hundreds were traced and charged and mostly made examples of. I suspect the same will be true here.

There are actually very few conditions that would render a person exempt. Most people not wearing masks have no reason for exemption. But while there is no requirement to get written proof or certification, the policy is unenforceable. My view is that if a store is not taking reasonable steps to limit the chances of viral spread, don't shop there.

Some will get more serious charges than others I would think. Just walking in through an open door is not the same as smashing it down. Only those at the front smashed it down, if you get my drift. The guy who took the speakers podium however, did then go and list it on Ebay. So I guess he can be charged with theft as well lol.

Newsnight last week talked to a haulage spokesperson who explained that export paperwork that took an hour before we left, now takes about five hours. Even if that is an exaggeration, it still signals an increase in costs that have to be passed on somewhere.

Here is a more balanced overview of the situation. COVAX is the arrangement that will be offered to all governments struggling to fund/ procure for vaccination programs. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/03/palestinians-excluded-from-israeli-covid-vaccine-rollout-as-jabs-go-to-settlers

Quite KK. If Hamas started putting the welfare of the people they govern first over ideological hatred then maybe the vaccine would get to their people at the same rate as the rest of the world. But no-one ever wants to discuss the role of Hamas in any of this. Edited to add, that there are going to be many examples of wealthier countries getting vaccines first, while poorer countries wait. That is the context in which to have this conversation, over singling out Israel.

Sorry but I ask you again, who is the government of Gaza? It is Hamas. Have they made any effort to procure vaccine? Either by direct ordering, asking for help from neighbours or aid organisations? While there is much to criticise Israel for, given that they ARE vaccinating Palestinians that come under Israeli healthcare, you are bending the truth.

That statement he put on the POTUS twitter shows he is not backing down. Even if they impeach him so that he can't stand again in 2024, there are his kids or some other stooge he can push. I suspect Trump is not going anywhere, but will become like Alex Jones, someone existing in the social media shadows, creating his own media platforms and causing as much mayhem as he can. It is going to be a rough ride for America I fear.

Trump now permanently banned from Twitter.

Well is Hamas responsible for the procurement of vaccine for its people or not? Why are they not procuring vaccine? Israel is vaccinating Palestinians that are in Israel and fall under the responsibility of Israel healthcare systems which are semi-private anyway, so it is just not true to argue that they are prejudicing Palestinians per se.

The irony for me is that those who buy into conspiracy theories like Q-Anon, espouse the idea of a deep state etc. But when you look at the photo above, you see who that deep state really is. It is politicians, some of whom they bat for, and media outlets, like Breitbart (Raheem Kassam and great defender of Tommy Robinson in that photo too), and wealthy businessmen that bankrolled Brexit etc etc. The whole thing is a con. They are the swamp.

Ah you may be right. Now they are building a wall around Capitol Hill for the inauguration. How ironic!

Just to say that we seem to be getting mail again now. Had post two days running after weeks of nothing. Still waiting on some things but looks as though sorting is starting to happen.

A different perspective. https://www.thejc.com/comment/opinion/is-israel-discriminating-against-palestinians-with-vaccine-1.510338

KidKruger Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The only action against Trump has been by social > media orgs withdrawing access for a few hours. > The tinsel-haired twot should be dragged-out now > and taken to jail, hopefully with a ?medical > emergency? on the way. Reports from those with an ear to the Whitehouse say that Trump is in a deteriorating rage. The problem is the same as it has always been in that no-one dares to stand up to him. He still has executive powers for the next two weeks, including his hand on the nuclear button and while banning him from all social media cuts him off from his base, it isn't enough. Apparently he has released a statement promising a peaceful transition to Biden while still maintaining the election was stolen from him. There is no contrition from him there, or any understanding of the significance of what his words at that DC rally caused. As for the security arrangments around the Capitol Building, that also raises some serious questions. That would be akin to an angry mob climbing the gates of Parliament and forcing their way into the main chamber. How was that even able to happen? Trump is the leader of a cult. To invoke the 25th requires Pence calling cabinet to do it. These are the people who have stood by Trump all along, so I do not think they will do it.

Pence has unfollowed trump on Twitter, so I think any idea of a pardon can be forgotten, and is co-operating with Congress to move things forward. It would appear that Pence has taken over charge of the federal government without consulting Trump. Twitter has also deleted three of Trump's worst tweets, namely the ones where he doubles down on the violence he so clearly incited today, and they have locked his account for 12 hours, clearly unable to trust him to tweet sensibly. The woman who was shot, has died. Her death has to lie at his feet. One by one, Republican senators are distancing themselves from him and those two Senate seats up for grabs have gone to the Democrats, giving Harris the deciding control over the Senate. Trump is finished. Congress will certify Biden overnight. It is over. Melanie Trump's Chief of Staff has also resigned after tonight's events. The only question now is if congress will need to invoke the 25th Amendment to spare America of a last tow weeks of madness.

KidKruger Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > After winning these two seats (if that even > happens), it?ll be a 50/50 House from what I > understand with VP Harris having deciding-vote > power. > Unfortunately, due to the majorities required > (and, you?d have to suspect after Republican > behaviours this last few months) it will be > exceeding difficult to push change through. So the > Biden administration may be hugely crippled in its > ability to achieve as much as it intends. > For example, the ?Dirty Dozen? digging their heels > in. > Complete disaster for the US 😭 This is true for pretty much every President though. Even if both houses are won, that usually flips at the mid terms. Obama once said it was impossible to ever get anything done and that the only power a President really has is that of executive orders. This is why very little ever changes, no matter which party is in the White House.