Rayvin

Richard Burgon has just proposed that the party put forward a new pledge that Labour members can veto military action by any future Labour government

Fair enough. I've just missed railing about politics for a couple of weeks and am now over-eager Although I have to concede, there's a general world-weariness in me about all these things now. I fully expect Trump to win this no matter who he goes up against, because the world just sucks.

The strong opinion I put forward = the Democrats will lose if they fuck around with the electoral process and disenfranchise large numbers of left wing voters in the process. I actually do feel I know a fair amount about that particular issue Or are you thinking I'm making a strong case for Sanders. If so, you misread. I said I hoped for him. Is that too strong? I have a slight tendency towards him. Still too much? Gun to my head, if really forced to answer, I think that maybe, I could possibly get away with thinking that overall, all things considered to the best of my ability, that Sanders is possibly, at least in the current lay of the land, the right person to go up against Trump. I think that's the best I can do ewerk. Sorry.

I agree with the last bit in theory, haven't seen any evidence to support the first bit myself - plenty of evidence last time out that he would have beaten Trump but I do concede the picture has changed now. And I'm not saying he should win. I'm just not especially impressed by the determination of the establishment democrats to shithouse their way to someone that they "think" can win. Ultimately I'll take anyone who isn't Trump - but a non-Sanders candidate who wins through the non-transparent machinations of the Democrats won't win either. If they want their centrist hero to win, he (or she, not sure where Warren places on the spectrum) has to win it fairly. If they don't, Trump will destroy them - partially because people who think like me will just give them the finger. Partially because it will make them look more corrupt than he is.

That video made me die inside.

As ever, I'm hoping for Bernie Sanders. I assume you prefer the guy who no one seems to care for very much who is only running because he was the second to a greater man, or the other guy who was involved in the development of an app which appears to have obfuscated an electoral process, and who has received fewer votes than Sanders, but who has somehow come out ahead. I think you're safe. The democrats will choose the unthreatening option irrespective of what the membership wants. And then we just have to hope that all the young people that such shithousery deters, aren't refusing to vote in sufficient numbers that Trump wins. I do concede he would be more palatable to the centrists though Well, I think so. I haven't actually seen any data on that.

Nothing matters anymore. People are too partisan, to emotionally invested in their side of this bloody culture war that it just doesn't matter. We just have to hope they put it right in November.

Am surprised how long it took for an Italian to score in the PL tbh.

I got 7 I'm terrible at these things.

You could get the train up as far as Kyle which then reduces your drive to up to 1 hour depending where on the island you go. But yes, Skye is largely the end of the world in some respects I think if you're in a holiday cottage rather than camping, maybe midgies aren't too bad anywhere really. You can stay indoors during peak bloodfeast (dusk). Ultimately if you're in a valley near water it's going to be bad though.

Skye. No midgies, they just get blown off the island. Cottage rentals are bread and butter up there but do it quickly cos August is tourist season and people start booking a year in advance these days. From Glasgow it's probably a 4 hour drive - you'll need a rental car to get around the island though. I'd recommend the northern end of the island as it's a bit wilder. Only downside of your chosen time of year is that the weather will be variable. May is the time to hit the highlands and Skye from a weather perspective, at least in my experience. It'll also be full of tourists, but they'll generally just hit the hotspots.

You lot too mate, gave a really good account of yourselves. Good game to watch if nothing else. And the Oxford lads we've had on here in and around the two games have been canny. Far better showing than their PL level counterparts. Thought your fans were in good voice too, for the most part. Good luck with the season ahead. Do us a favour and secure a playoff spot ahead of a certain other team you've got down there

ASM clearly decided in extra time there, that the only person who was going to win this game for us was him. Wasn't interested in passing, especially after the Atsu fiasco - knew he couldn't rely on his teammates to deliver anything, so made it happen himself. Credit to him. As a football club, as much as I'm pleased we won, that we managed to get ourselves into a situation like that is laughable.

There isn't an answer for Labour this time out. As I've said many times, there was no conceivable victory for Labour no matter who was in charge. And while Brexit looms large, we're still going to be shafted irrespective of who is in charge. Starmer is the best bet for me for the same reason that Corbyn was. If we're going to lose anyway, I'd prefer to die on my feet than on my knees. And he supports freedom of movement, so he gets my vote.

I think they're probably serious about it. It's realistically the only thing they've got going for them at this point and broadly speaking, fits the wider trends taking place elsewhere. Maybe they can be given pause if Trump can be deposed. We might have to hang all of our hopes on the US elections at this point.

The Tories now moving away from globalism and towards isolationism (Trump style).

The tweet replies to that post show why were fucked IMO. No one cares about truths or facts anymore - each individual comes up with their own bullshit about why something has happened, in this case exonerating Johnson, irrespective of how insane their point is. I don't know what we're supposed to do about these people, seriously. I really struggle to have any respect for people who lie to themselves and then poison the well for everyone else.

Yep. 100%. But because that looks like we're being "soft", people don't go for it. What's needed instead is to lock them up forever, or better yet, have them shot. It's this basic inability to properly appraise facts and reality that leaves us so exposed in so many areas.

Thinking about that Man Utd link through - I don't know exactly what they'd cost but I'd imagine it would be well over £1bn considering all the 'commercials' at which they excel. And they're currently a top half team struggling to get into Europe, with a squad full of overpaid superstars who can't play well together. Turning that ship around is going to cost another considerable outlay. Turning it around to the point of challenging for the title, we're talking probably another billion. Frankly, the difference in spend between what it would take to turn us into title winners, compared to Man United, IMO, is not hugely pronounced. It's certainly less than whatever the difference in sale price between the two clubs would be. I don't think they'll be looking at Man United as an option over and above us unless money really is no concern at all - if money is a concern, we're the far better choice.

I always find statements like this to be kind of amusing. It's certainly possible, I grant you, that the Saudi Arabians are looking at buying two football clubs whose valuations are miles apart. But I wouldn't say it's likely. It would cost them something like £2bn to take Man United. And yet they're considering that over a £350m deal for a separate club in the same league. Yeah it's possible, but it's kind of like being torn between buying a Ferrari and a Corsa. It doesn't really make any sense.

Lengthy relegation is indeed the most likely way to get this over with. Depressingly. I'd prefer it to 5 more years in the lower reaches of the PL though, with Ashley in charge.

I've generally not had a dog in this fight but I've not been while Ashley has been here save for one game a couple of years back as a special occasion. In the end, yes Ashley doesn't need the fans to make the club tick over. That's true. But it's not a good look for his brand if we stay away. And I do tend to believe that if ALL the fans stayed away for even just 3 or 4 games, the whole regime would fall apart. It would probably make world news ffs, such a stunning statement it would be. I mean at some point Ashley has to accept that the purpose of the football club is to entertain. If the stadium has more away fans than home fans, it's hardly living up to that. Players would find it challenging, many wouldn't join us. Sustained effort would see us relegated. He gives away free tickets because he knows this. Also because it creates divides between the fans, picket line style. As Tom says, divide and conquer. Personally, I believe we should be working to jettison that fat bastard no matter what it takes, no matter who laughs at us for staying away, or accuses us of not being proper fans, or if we get relegated past fucking Sunderland. This club is bigger than that petty bullshit, and Ashley has been choking it to death for a decade.

Fair enough. I guess Klopp did a good job with him then.

I'm curious I guess - Don't pay a lot of attention to other club's games. What is it that Henderson does so well? I always think of him as a water carrier.