Recent posts

#71

Off the Record / Re: Football (Soccer) Thread

Last post by FunkMonk - April 25, 2024, 03:13:19 PM

Thats a fair assessment yeah. We are also an entitled bunch.

I'm talking mainly when we were finishing midtable and the club seemed listless and we were 15th midway through the season.

But yes still won an FA Cup in that period 

But I think in another sense arsenal fans like to exaggerate the poor state of the club back then because it makes the last few seasons seem more significant. And also other clubs like to refer to Arsenal now as a model for pulling themselves out of mire. See Chelsea and the new executives at Manchester United.

#72

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by Sheilbh - April 25, 2024, 02:51:26 PM

Wonder if the SNP might split

Yeah I was thinking that - Harvie's making an explicit pitch that it's time for SNP members and MSPs to consider whether they're in the party that can deliver "progressive" independence or if their values should take them elsewhere. Especially as they're saying the SNP are now appeasing "the most reactionary forces in the country". But also I've been really struck at just how personal and strong the Greens' attacks on the SNP have been today - I think they maybe have an opportunity to become the "left" independence party.

At the same time you've got Salmond's Alba lurking (I still think Salmond is too toxic but maybe not).

Also very funny how angry the Greens are that Yousaf announced this before the Greens' emergency conference to vote on whether to end the coalition - which seems a bit daft but...

#73

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by The Brain - April 25, 2024, 02:49:43 PM

We clearly aren't talking about the Muslim world here though. We are talking about in the west.

If we exclude the Middle East from a discussion about Israel then things get kinda weird.

#74

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by Gups - April 25, 2024, 02:44:49 PM

Wonder if the SNP might split

#75

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by Sheilbh - April 25, 2024, 02:38:44 PM

Scottish Greens have also said they'll support the no confidence motion in Yousaf's government. So unless he can find some extra MSPs to back him, that'll be it given that he's only got a minority.

It's not happened before, but the process (in the Scotland Act) is that if the government loses a vote of confidence the First Minister has to offer his resignation. There's then 28 days in which to fill the role of First Minister (i.e. for a majority to be formed). If they can't fill the role then there's an extaordinary general election.

#76

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by Josquius - April 25, 2024, 02:37:05 PM

The Palestinians do have a right to self government, and maybe they'll get it when they stop fighting.  We weren't going to bring up the German right to self-determination in 1945."

Yeah sure. The Palestinians are the problem. They just need to stop resisting whilst their lands get seized then they'll definitely get their country back.
And you can absolutely guarantee getting every single one of millions of people to behave is possible.

Out and out traditional Nazis?  No, way more people oppose the Jews a right to a country than that. More people oppose Jews breathing than that.

I notice you keep dodging the awkward question here.
Why do zionists do expecially have a right to a country that they can seize bits of another people's wouldbe country at will?

For people who oppose the Jews the right to a country I would write down "The Muslim world".  They make up the majority of the anti-Zionist population.  Some do recognize that Israel is stronger than they are and can't be immediately destroyed, but few recognize that Jews have a right to self determination like any other country.  I could add a multitude of others such as those who believe in anti-colonialism and a large number of Communists, but most of the people who are so interested in Israel that they identify themselves as "anti-zionist" aren't primarily interested in criticizing the Israeli judicial system.  They want the whole thing gone.

We clearly aren't talking about the Muslim world here though. We are talking about in the west.

And no. I recognise you watch incredibly one sided sources on this topic but there's a lot more nuance to criticism of zionism than that.

#77

Off the Record / Re: Football (Soccer) Thread

Last post by Sheilbh - April 25, 2024, 02:26:01 PM

... As an arsenal fan or as a fan of another team?
As I don't think arsenal have ever been at that level in their entire history (though could be wrong digging back to before anyone on the board was born sort of times)

I have sometimes found Arsenal fans a bit annoying/taken the piss.

There was definitely a period when they acted as if there was no worse fate than to be an Arsenal fan at a time when they were basically playing lovely football and in Europe every season

#78

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by Razgovory - April 25, 2024, 02:25:52 PM

The Palestinians do have a right to self government, and maybe they'll get it when they stop fighting.  We weren't going to bring up the German right to self-determination in 1945.

Out and out traditional Nazis?  No, way more people oppose the Jews a right to a country than that. More people oppose Jews breathing than that.

For people who oppose the Jews the right to a country I would write down "The Muslim world".  They make up the majority of the anti-Zionist population.  Some do recognize that Israel is stronger than they are and can't be immediately destroyed, but few recognize that Jews have a right to self determination like any other country.  I could add a multitude of others such as those who believe in anti-colonialism and a large number of Communists, but most of the people who are so interested in Israel that they identify themselves as "anti-zionist" aren't primarily interested in criticizing the Israeli judicial system.  They want the whole thing gone.

#79

Off the Record / Re: The China Thread

Last post by Sheilbh - April 25, 2024, 02:23:45 PM

Saw a headline recently (I think it was in Danish media, or maybe Reddit) that the EU was saying that China has to open up its internal markets for public contracts and make them more equal, or Europe will close their market to Chinese competitors. Not completely sure where it sits in the spectrum of "someone advocating for it" vs "this is what we are doing now, with real resolution" or somewhere in between with some degree of "this is a real signal that should be taken seriously and it might actually happen."

My guess is it won't happen because for China it's a strategic interest.

In Europe, I think that journalist describes Germany's position pretty well - I'd add the comments from big German businesses including that they're doubling down on China or don't want sanctions on Chinese EV production (either because they don't view subsidies as uncompetitive, or because they fear retribution). Macron gave his second big speech at the Sorbonne on his vision for Europe today, as ever a mixed bag. But he's got a trip to China coming up so said the EU "must show that it is never a vassal of the US and that it also knows how to talk to all other regions of the world" which has been interpreted as aimed at China. There's some member states who want to take a hard line but many more who are closer to the German position or don't really want confrontation.

And Europe is far more economically interlinked with China than the US - so in fairness it's going to be more difficult for Europe economically (just like Russia) and it's tough to see the other routes for growth. But also those are consequences of policymakers.

Again just a guess, but I'd say some people are probaby pushing for it (the Baltics, Czechia, probably some of the Scandis) but it'll end up with a complaint to the WTO.

So Blinken has arrived in Shanghai and the Chinese have been a little bit cold. No red carpet, and Blinken was met by a lower level official (maybe from the Shanghai government?).

I think the official (from what I could tell basically the civil servant in charge of North America in the MFA) is definitely a snub.

Less sure on the red carpet - I could be wrong but I feel like that's more a thing for heads of state/government or if you're making a big grand gesture. I've seen foreign policy people saying that it isn't a big deal though. So it could be a snub, it could be signalling "normal working visit by a foreign minister".

#80

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by viper37 - April 25, 2024, 02:12:57 PM

That said... isn't it kind of academic at this point? Is there any real chance that Trudeau is going to step down?

Not a chance.

He will be pushed out or he will lose the election.

According to Liberal insiders, what they're aiming at is going into the election with Trudeau, let him lose, then replace him with their favorite candidate. 

Could be Carney, could be someone else too.