Off Topic News & Current affairs

There were 'scattered' demonstrations by far-right Trump supporting groups outside some State Capital buildings on Sunday afternoon according to the BBC News website, but none of the events led to violence or rioting...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2020-55699533

Some extremists had been advised online by their groups not to attend, as their protest targets were 'police traps'.
Presumably this is their way of saying there were enough police present to maintain law and order (as in prevent mobs of masked, gun-toting foot-soldiers from ruling the streets, storming buildings and trashing them).

Happily, the result was that this Sunday before the new President is inaugurated - recognised as a potential flashpoint - passed off largely peacefully with no more loss of life. A given in the wake of any other US election for well over a century, but a cause for relief this year.

The next flashpoint is less than 72 hours away though, and sadly it is less likely to pass off so quietly.

 

An American commentator made the point that once you are committed to believing a lie it means disbelieving everything else. I'm not sure if these people are all extremists, they are largely people who believe Trump's Big Lie about fraud. Maybe you could say they have been radicalised.

 

I'm not Boris' biggest fan.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55723167

But there must be few things more satisfying for a Prime Minister who won a General Election, than the squeaky sound of criticism from an ex-Prime Minister who actually lost her majority at one, when she thought she was being clever at the time.
Credit to Theresa May for stepping up when the Coward Cameron jumped overboard. But she hardly distinguished herself in her days as PM.

 

I understand one of the things President Trump is proud of, is that the United States did not start any new wars during his administration.

A measure of unintended irony there, from the man who has gone to war on his own Parliament.
And endangered the peaceful transition of power in his own country.

 

Look at events in Russia to see what happens when a crook runs a country with unlimited power.

 

Step one today in an effort to return some sort of normal stuff in the US with the signing in of Joe Biden, But this will take an age to heal - the fact that while the conspiracy theories have travelled on nothing more than word of mouth, and so many people consider the 'Steal' to be proven even though no evidence has turned up, and nearly every court case has been thrown out simply shows how bad things are currently. The Trump cult is ongoing, nad he is muttering about starting his own political party, which should really throw the GOP into full blown panic mode, as they will be essentially split in two. The problem is, do they try and keep the nutters on board by following the Trump bus over the cliff of paranoia, or try to unite over the next year or two. Difficult to predict, as even their congressmen and women are divided.

 

If the GOP sees sense at last they will vote for impeachment, so that the donald can't ever run for public office again.

 

One line Trump has not crossed yet - he hasn't tried to pardon himself for anything.
He's got just a few hours left...

Some lawmakers have speculated that such a pardon would not be valid anyway, as nobody can be a judge in their own case.
It would give the lawyers something to chew on if he does try it though...

 

David Cole with another thoughtful piece, this time on the counter-productive results of continued MAGA demonstrations:

https://www.takimag.com/article/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-a-maga/

Once again, I recommend it.

 

Like another of yours I read, it was indeed an interesting read, though some of the analysis he offered needed a bit of incoherence (the MAGA's did some of this s#it because of a lack of oxygen as they held their breath waiting for the Trump victory was probably an exaggeration, but following it by saying their natural habitat was Qanon conspiracy tales suggested they were always a crazy bunch, and Pence failure to flip the election simply triggered their natural madness.

Anything happening in the US today?

 

David Cole writes in the way that Paul Foot used to, getting his point across whilst offending as many people as possible.

His starting point was never to be complimentary to anybody on the left, and his comment that IQs fell to the levels of those on the left is obviously tongue-in-cheek, but his main argument that the right is being destroyed in the eyes of the public by the madness of a few is, I think, on the money.

 

Nothing of importance happening in the US today, but there is breaking news of an explosion in Madrid. Any details available your side?

 

Woody Guthrie's This Land is your Land a great choice for Jennifer Lopez to sing at the inauguration. It was originally entitled God Blessed America, as a protest against Broadway's God Bless America.

 

Springsteen does an emotional introduction to it on his live triple album - calls it "the greatest song ever written".

 

It's a great song, no doubt about it. There were a few years between Woody starting it and the final version. Other versions of his songs worth listening to: Ry Cooder's Vigilante Man, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez singing Deportees.

 

Talking of great songs and inaugurations

 

Here's a WeTransfer link to some bits and pieces you might enjoy. https://we.tl/t-8hUawR6sTN

It's some originals and a few covers. Anybody else who likes Woody Guthrie is welcome to download it as well.

 

No, just watching the news now. Three dead, one disappeared, and the building shattered but haven't heard why yet. They still haven't cleared the snow from over a week ago so they are having quite a time of it there.

 

Just reported as a gas explosion whilst a boiler was being repaired.