Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

TANKER

The Labour party don't support your views , so why are you voting for them in the GE

Trying to get a ballance:


"Volunteers for Spanish Civil war"

Between 1936 and 1939 over 35,000 men and women, from over 50 countries, left their homes to volunteer for the Republican forces. More than 2,300 of these came from Britain, Ireland and the commonwealth, of whom over 500 were killed


How many returned to UK or how many were more villainous before or after the exploits in Spain I don't know.

But I have a "feeling" that the rhetoric from the the government and media has stimulated more "adolescents" to react by "signing" up for the excitement of taking part in a "unfair" war. (Which side is fair, I haven't a clue, neither do some juvenile "revolutionaries".)

Not thinking that the 30s and 2010s equate, or that the dangers are of a similar order, but there are similarities.

I think sometimes a few less uninformed sounds bites would be beneficial and would encourage fewer to obtain fame and fortune.

(But with media set up, ratcheting up emotions for their own profit, it will be "grin" and bear it.)

I wonder if there is anybody producing plastic mementos for yesterday yet?

There are around 2.7m Muslims in the UK. If 1,000 have gone to Syria, that is about 3 hundredths of one percent. As I said a tiny number. That leaves around 99.9% plus who would know nothing about it

Labour lead at 1

Latest YouGov / The Sun results 7th January - Con 32%, Lab 33%, LD 7%, UKIP 15%, GRN 7%;

I see that UKIP is not gaining any support. More likely they will lose it as the GE approaches.

Greens not a major party, rules Ofcom


Regulator says party has not 'secured sufficient support in previous elections and current opinion polls'


Nigel Morris
Deputy Political Editor


Thursday 08 January 2015



The Greens reacted angrily today after Ofcom ruled they did not have enough support to be treated by broadcasters as a “major party” at this year’s general election.



Qualifying for "major party" status would increase the number of political broadcasts the Greens could make during the campaign, as well as guaranteeing coverage on television and radio bulletins.

The broadcast regulator’s decision will also undermine the party’s demands to be included in any televised leaders’ debates in the run-up to 7 May.

Ofcom said it believed Ukip, which topped the poll in last year’s Euro-elections and won two parliamentary by-elections, should be added to the major party list.



More: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/greens-not-a-major-party-rules-ofcom-9965215.html

The difficulty the "protective services" have in UK and Europe, is that many of the said "terrorists" or virgin "terrorists" have ethnic communities similar to themselves to blend into.

BUT, the same was for the IRA , Unionist or Loyalists in Northern Ireland and the problems to a large degree settled. (Old scores occasionally rising to the surface, needing to be resolved.)

The settlement was partially due to "war fatigue", resolution of economic abuse of the catholic work force in certain areas and more equality of expectation of rights and expectancy.

The "war festered on for over a century, until rights were recognised.
=-=-=-=

I can understand what the wishes and desires of the masses taking part in ISIS and Al qaeda are, but not really sure what are the "real" drives of those orchestrating those instigating the action.

That is more difficult to address.

Just thoughts!

Just heard, Cameron is trying to duck TV debates.

Coward!

Cameron won't do debates as configured. If UKIP are in debate then he wants the Greens. He sees UKIP as a rival and the Greens as a rival to Labour so including both would be fair. If not then he will not attend.

crappy excuse for greens barely register
however, incumbent is always likely to be on a hiding to nothing, but sometimes a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do

He is weaving and ducking.

He has taken fright of Wee Alex.

Majority will see him a brass necked coward, the icon of the torrid party!

Ps.

He can't hide behind Angela skirts.

She wears trousers.

8-}

perhaps he could hide up wee eck's kilt ..... could then prove the story or otherwise

I hope Alex will have eaten a bowl of Ham and Bean soup.

Cameron has said that he is also just as happy for there to be no debates.

What is he wishing to hide from?

He isn't hiding from anything Fred, these TV debates are an utter waste of time and prove nothing. If you remember during the last session of TV debates Nick Clegg was reputedly Joe public's darling and look what a little weasel he has turned out to be. If you watched the press conference yesterday with Cameron and Merkel do you honestly think for one minute that Miliband could be so articulate and assured in such circumstances?

TV debates are an utter waste of time and prove nothing

wouldn't disagree, except unfortunately or not, political leaders are judged as much by their image and presentation as the content of their policies and performance ...... michael foot and ronnie reagan are classics at opposite ends of that spectrum

I would like to see Cameron without loaded question and speaking "off the cuff" and especially with the wee laddy.

But I suppose he was picked as a PR man and has to have his mantras off by heart!

Strange how he wanted TV debates when in opposition.

of course one does in opposition for one can rattle and rubbish to your heart's content and have little or nothing to lose