YoBlair

I would rather know the truth than win an argument.

[YoBlair @Howarrd_Pierce]

Just to give my small band of followers a heads up of where I am politically - so they won't be shocked if I post something they don't like. I strongly suspect a leftist economic stance is the best approach (nationalise natural monopolies (including IT), provide state alternatives to other industries, control finance). I know our US kowtowing Foreign Policy is immoral, usually hypocritical and against our interests. I know environmental breakdown is a real threat and the previous two points make the threat all the more real. Probably/Possibly current modern social mores of narcissistic individualism has bad impacts on the individual and society (but I am getting on, and maybe I just don't like things being different).

[YoBlair @Howarrd_Pierce]

@VZSMO He is getting away with this one far too easily. It is inconceivable that the case of such a high profile person as Savile did not cross his desk of the DPP. But as ever with Starmer, the emails have been 'lost'.

[Media Lens @medialens]

This version is very much closer to the truth:

'The level of personal hostility directed at Jeremy Corbyn deserves scrutiny in its own right. Not because he should be immune from criticism, but because the tone and intensity of the attacks tell us something unhealthy about the state of democratic politics. Corbyn is a conventional political figure. Cautious, legalistic, incremental. He frustrates people precisely because he is managerial rather than messianic. Yet the reaction to him [from corporate media] often goes far beyond disagreement, tipping into visceral hatred more commonly reserved for authoritarians or demagogues.'

[YoBlair @Howarrd_Pierce]

@Anna_Soubry @Keir_Starmer Does it not count that he deliberately and consciously lied through his teeth to win the Labour leadership?

Or maybe you think it's fair game when dealing with left wing people - who don't deserve any rights.

Maybe, you think we need to concentrate all lefties in camps.

[YoBlair @Howarrd_Pierce]

On a personal level Burnham strikes me as mediocre as Starmer.

A big difference is Starmer was mission driven. The mission was to destroy the left in Labour, support Israel and war with Russia. That is, the deep state's missions.

Burnham seems more of a pragmatic politician and can be more easily swayed. The question is who will sway Burnham the most? The public or the deep state.

We'll find out soon enough by whether he'll un-proscribes PA, push through with getting rid of juries and introducing digital IDs and reverse (at least) Starmer's support of Israel and pushing for war with Russia.

I'm not holding my breath.

[YoBlair @Howarrd_Pierce]

@timfarron If you vote Lib-Dem you might as well vote Labour. If you vote Labour you might as well vote Conservative. If you vote Conservative you might as well vote Reform.

They are all the same.

[Hassan Mafi ‏ @thatdayin1992]

Not once has the BBC said "occupied Palestine." Not once.

[YoBlair @Howarrd_Pierce]

No. In every possible respect I think Starmer is an awful man. He's the worst of us.

But am I excited, or even remotely positive, about him going? No.

Burnham will continue clamp down on our freedoms. Still support genocide in ME. And still try to get us into a war with Russia.

[YoBlair @Howarrd_Pierce]

Yes I agree. The way the tide is flowing, war could well break out between 🇪🇺 & 🇷🇺. I know Putin has said 🇷🇺 is no threat to 🇪🇺 and I think that was his original intention. But 🇪🇺 is constantly trying to start a war and eventually 🇷🇺 will take the bait.

Bad news for 🇷🇺 and 🇪🇺 people. Good news for our security state and our MSM as they'll be able to clamp down on any remaining freedoms we have.

[YoBlair @Howarrd_Pierce]

@edouardhusson You're talking my language.

[YoBlair @Howarrd_Pierce]

@andrewfeinstein A quick litmus test will be whether he ends the prescription on PA. Will he abandon the push to No Jury Trials. Will he halt the Digital ID project.

My guess is 'No' to all of them. But time will tell.

[YoBlair @Howarrd_Pierce]

Not Russian and have never been to Russia but I'd imagine the cultural and sporting boycotts sting. Being unable to visit European countries as tourists must also hurt. Ever since Peter the Great (and before(?)) Russia has always seen itself as European.

The economic boycott, however,, on balance, seems to be a positive for Russia.

As I said, I think Putin is constantly pulling Russia's punches in the forlorn(?) hope that Russia and Europe can be reconciled.

In the 1990's Russia held out it's hand to the West in friendship only to be repeatedly slapped in the face.

I would say I have more in common with an ordinary Russian than I do with an American Tech Billionaire or a member to the British ruling class. Most people in most countries are basically the same - wanting a quiet life and not looking to cause unnecessary harm to others. I find the blanket racist hatred against Russians (or against any group of people) appalling. Especially as it's been artificially whipped up.

[YoBlair @Howarrd_Pierce]

A genuine reply, rather than the other hysterical ones:

I disagree. 🇷🇺 would very much want to be part of Europe. Being forced to look East is definitely second choice. This is 🇷🇺's great weakness. If it wasn't for this, Europe would have been flattened by now. 🇷🇺 still dreams of eventually being reconciled with Europe.

[YoBlair @Howarrd_Pierce]

@DanielLDavis1 It's not 🇺🇦 that is effectively doing these acts. It's the West, particularly Europe. European leaders are fine with provoking 🇷🇺 to outright war as they'll be personally safe, in their bunkers, and they'll have an excuse to introduce tyranny.

[YoBlair @Howarrd_Pierce]

@JonathanPieNews I guess he must be gutted there wasn't SM in the 1910s so the government could more effectively clamp down on suffragettes, or the 1950s on gay people, or the 2000s on people who doubted WMDs.

[YoBlair @Howarrd_Pierce]

@AaronBastani When less pressure was put on Iran it elected more liberally minded politicians. When they were ramped up more hardline ones.

Something similar is playing out in Russian where (drumroll) Putin is a moderate holding back a hardline tide.

Sanctions only work on exposed countries.

[YoBlair @Howarrd_Pierce]

@paullewismoney @Moneybox @FelicityHannah I can't say I sorry to see the demise of the BBC. It has become a very dishonest mouthpiece of the deep state (often not the UK state). It is a shame however. If it was truly independent I would welcome it expanding its role to be an answer to US big tech taking over the country

[YoBlair @Howarrd_Pierce]

@sciantificnew Guess you're gutted there wasn't SM in the 1910s so the government could more effectively clamp down on suffragettes, or the 1950s on gay people, or the 2000s on people who doubted WMDs.

[YoBlair @Howarrd_Pierce]

@Jayzsa @RockbottomRo I agree. I can easily starve myself during the day being busy. Even energetic (e.g. gym) busy. But sitting here on my backside watching YouTube or browsing twitter and knowing there's a bag of crisps or a block of cheese in the kitchen I find it almost impossible to resist.

[YoBlair @Howarrd_Pierce]

@OffGuardian0 Hats off! That's a great, evocative analogy;

'They are spouting mushroom heads connected by a vast subterranean fungus.'

[YoBlair @Howarrd_Pierce]

@DerbyChrisW @BBCr4today I would respectfully disagree. I can well imagine Russia being a threat to the UK, but only because we are endlessly provoking them.

The government, and their knuckle dragging supporters here, would be fine and dandy with that as it would be a great excuse to bring in tyranny.