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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Another debate, another victory for Hillary

SystemSystem Posts: 11,019
edited October 2016 in General

imagepoliticalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Another debate, another victory for Hillary

The CNN/ORB instant post debate poll gives it to Clinton by 52% to 39%https://t.co/MYRI389v8l pic.twitter.com/33cNuEO7xK

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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,964
    Glorious first!
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,964
    Cheque is in the post, TSE :)
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    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 31,979
    edited October 2016
    Second? Like the Tory tonight!
  • Options
    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 38,993
    RobD said:

    Glorious first!

    I'd give that 6 out of 5. Speedy, but rather unoriginal. :)
  • Options
    RobDRobD Posts: 58,964

    RobD said:

    Glorious first!

    I'd give that 6 out of 5. Speedy, but rather unoriginal. :)
    I'll admit it, it was canned!
  • Options
    IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,274
    edited October 2016
    Sixth like UKIP, falling fast
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    Interesting to cross reference Clinton's No Fly Zone section with Boris Johnson's " Kinetic " comment. War in Syria could be a domestic issue in the UK by next summer.
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    Indeed Hilllary is now a shoo in, just as the Libdems are in Witney (innocent face)
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    RobD said:

    Glorious first!

    I'd give that 6 out of 5. Speedy, but rather unoriginal. :)
    You get banned for being speedy.
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    ToryJim said:

    Just read that Hollande piece, my word I knew he was staggeringly inept but that's a different ballgame.

    I can't find anything he said with which I disagree. So he said Islam has a problem. You think that's electoral suicide? Pardon the pun.
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    Indeed Hilllary is now a shoo in, just as the Libdems are in Witney (innocent face)


    Yep. Remain was a shoo in too :O
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    It's telling Trump's performance was so bad the use of " Hombres " and the Roe vs Wade repeal prediction haven't even registered. Yet.
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    ToryJimToryJim Posts: 3,410

    ToryJim said:

    Just read that Hollande piece, my word I knew he was staggeringly inept but that's a different ballgame.

    I can't find anything he said with which I disagree. So he said Islam has a problem. You think that's electoral suicide? Pardon the pun.
    Well we can all cherry pick to our prejudices but in toto nothing good comes of that series of interviews.

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    david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 17,419

    Pong said:

    ToryJim said:
    Very good.

    The polling tells the story. As Nate Silver notes, on the eve of the first presidential debate, Clinton led by 1.5 points. Before the second, she was up by 5.6 points. Before the third, she was winning by 7.1 points.

    I did notice Clinton kept calling Trump 'Donald' (which apparently he loathes) - but Donald kept calling Clinton 'She'.....as if he couldn't bear to utter her name.....
    Trump is actually ahead or tied in three of the latest polls.

    Be careful what you look for.
    You think Trump will win the popular vote?

    I don't think he will.

    I'm prepared to back that up with real money.

    Evens, up to £25k.

    ?
    Silly sod: why on earth would I take Evens on Trump when I can get at least 4/1?

    That aside, my point is that people see what they want to see. On balance I reckon Trump will lose but I don't see the foregone conclusion that some others do, and that's based on polling as well as other reports.

    Remember how cockahoop and cocky Remainers were right up to the night of the result? They were convinced to the point of arrogance.
    There was an abundance of both evidence and reasoning to suggest that Leave might win e.g.

    - a majority of polls in June had Leave ahead
    - the expectation was that Leave would benefit from a big turnout (or a very small one).
    - Remain's campaign was dreadful

    By contrast, the evidence and reasoning in the US all points to Hillary:

    - nearly all VI polling puts Hillary ahead
    - Trump's approval ratings are far worse
    - state polling reinforces the national trend
    - Trump is still playing to the base and not seeking to gain independents or women
    - Relying on new voters in a pre-existing format is an extremely tough ask (c.f. EURef)
    - Early voting is taking place now, hard coding current opinion into the results
    - Trump's character won't allow him to change tack
    - The GOP is distancing itself as much as possible to mitigate damage; they expect him to lose

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    When Democrats attack Trump over Putin I remember the Reset Button which Clinton gave Russia in 2009, a clear misjudgement which I understand Clinton now regrets. Basically, nobody has clean hands here.
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    david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 17,419

    Trump is actually ahead or tied in three of the latest polls.

    Be careful what you look for.
    I love unintended irony.
    Don't be patronising David, you're better than that.

    My point was a betting one. All my best bets have been the ones where I stripped out my desires and wants. Bet from the head, not the heart.
    "Bet from the head not the heart" is sound advice. If anything, I tend to overcompensate.

    But I'm sorry; to say "Be careful what you look for" at the same time as posting "Trump is actually ahead or tied in three of the latest polls" does at the least suggest selective vision.

    FWIW, the better comparison would be with GE2015, when the Tories outperformed all the polling but one firm (ICM?) consistently gave them leads of 3-6, which while still short, looked at the time like a methodological error. In fact, they were closest to being on the ball.

    However, in that election, the subsidiary data suggested that there might be something wrong with the top line; in this one, it reinforces the impression that they're in synch.
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    IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,274

    Indeed Hilllary is now a shoo in, just as the Libdems are in Witney (innocent face)


    Yep. Remain was a shoo in too :O
    ...Based on polling models that assumed wwc turnout would be low, when actually it was high. In the US it's the other way round; models already assume a higher turnout amongst Trumpers. Of course turnout can always be higher still, but the margin for a surprise appears much lower.
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    nielhnielh Posts: 1,307
    I'm tempted to put a small bet on trump. Clinton is the likely winner but because of the volatility and unpredictability trump certainly has a good chance.
    Trump at 6/1 is ok value
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    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    Pong said:

    ToryJim said:
    Very good.

    The polling tells the story. As Nate Silver notes, on the eve of the first presidential debate, Clinton led by 1.5 points. Before the second, she was up by 5.6 points. Before the third, she was winning by 7.1 points.

    I did notice Clinton kept calling Trump 'Donald' (which apparently he loathes) - but Donald kept calling Clinton 'She'.....as if he couldn't bear to utter her name.....
    Trump is actually ahead or tied in three of the latest polls.

    Be careful what you look for.
    You think Trump will win the popular vote?

    I don't think he will.

    I'm prepared to back that up with real money.

    Evens, up to £25k.

    ?
    Silly sod: why on earth would I take Evens on Trump when I can get at least 4/1?

    That aside, my point is that people see what they want to see. On balance I reckon Trump will lose but I don't see the foregone conclusion that some others do, and that's based on polling as well as other reports.

    Remember how cockahoop and cocky Remainers were right up to the night of the result? They were convinced to the point of arrogance.
    There was an abundance of both evidence and reasoning to suggest that Leave might win e.g.

    - a majority of polls in June had Leave ahead
    - the expectation was that Leave would benefit from a big turnout (or a very small one).
    - Remain's campaign was dreadful

    By contrast, the evidence and reasoning in the US all points to Hillary:

    - nearly all VI polling puts Hillary ahead
    - Trump's approval ratings are far worse
    - state polling reinforces the national trend
    - Trump is still playing to the base and not seeking to gain independents or women
    - Relying on new voters in a pre-existing format is an extremely tough ask (c.f. EURef)
    - Early voting is taking place now, hard coding current opinion into the results
    - Trump's character won't allow him to change tack
    - The GOP is distancing itself as much as possible to mitigate damage; they expect him to lose

    A pretty good summary.

    To me the value looks to be in areas that go against trend. Ohio and Iowa for Trump, but also Georgia and Arizona for Clinton. Possibly also some value in a Clinton landslide too, Dems take Alabama...

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    Trump is actually ahead or tied in three of the latest polls.

    Be careful what you look for.
    I love unintended irony.
    Don't be patronising David, you're better than that.

    My point was a betting one. All my best bets have been the ones where I stripped out my desires and wants. Bet from the head, not the heart.
    "Bet from the head not the heart" is sound advice. If anything, I tend to overcompensate.

    But I'm sorry; to say "Be careful what you look for" at the same time as posting "Trump is actually ahead or tied in three of the latest polls" does at the least suggest selective vision.

    FWIW, the better comparison would be with GE2015, when the Tories outperformed all the polling but one firm (ICM?) consistently gave them leads of 3-6, which while still short, looked at the time like a methodological error. In fact, they were closest to being on the ball.

    However, in that election, the subsidiary data suggested that there might be something wrong with the top line; in this one, it reinforces the impression that they're in synch.
    Yep good points.

    I just wonder, that's all. Two or three polls e.g. the LA Times tracker have consistently shown the race as much tighter: in fact they tend to have Trump ahead or tied. They could be completely wrong and probably are.

    It reminds me of 1992 when only one poll IIRC on the eve of election got it anywhere near correct. Following the majority of polls is only right if the majority of polls are right.
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    JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901
    Either way we're going to miss a Obama. Damn the 22nd amendment.
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    nielh said:

    I'm tempted to put a small bet on trump. Clinton is the likely winner but because of the volatility and unpredictability trump certainly has a good chance.
    Trump at 6/1 is ok value

    Unfortunately he is only at 4-1 which isnt worth it alas. Seems the bookies, stung by Brexit and Leicester are being cautious.
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    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,653
    FPT,

    As if one presidential candidate self destructing was not enough to be going on with.....Hollande:

    Friends in the Socialist Party, still hoping Mr Hollande might have a decent shot at a second term in April, are flabbergasted at the president's verbal carelessness. They fear it has already undermined his nascent campaign.

    Others are more blunt. For more than one commentator, the book - called appropriately A President Should Not Say That - is little less than an act of "political suicide".

    "How do you manage to turn your camp into a field of ruins, fill your friends with despair and your enemies with rejoicing, and weaken your own position just a little bit more?" asked Le Monde.

    "Francois Hollande has found the recipe."


    http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37702917
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    A sure sign of Libdems winning here
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    MonksfieldMonksfield Posts: 2,203
    Jonathan said:

    Either way we're going to miss a Obama. Damn the 22nd amendment.

    Agree. It's been great having someone with a bit of gravitas in the WH. Obama's reputation will grow with distance.
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    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    A sure sign of Libdems winning here
    By elections without any polling and in such a febrile political environment are not nailed on.
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    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,585

    FPT,

    As if one presidential candidate self destructing was not enough to be going on with.....Hollande:

    Friends in the Socialist Party, still hoping Mr Hollande might have a decent shot at a second term in April, are flabbergasted at the president's verbal carelessness. They fear it has already undermined his nascent campaign.

    Others are more blunt. For more than one commentator, the book - called appropriately A President Should Not Say That - is little less than an act of "political suicide".

    "How do you manage to turn your camp into a field of ruins, fill your friends with despair and your enemies with rejoicing, and weaken your own position just a little bit more?" asked Le Monde.

    "Francois Hollande has found the recipe."


    http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37702917

    The best quote:
    "Imagine burying your grandmother when she is still alive; that's roughly the ambience at party HQ," said another.
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    rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 53,985

    A sure sign of Libdems winning here
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunfermline_and_West_Fife_by-election,_2006

    Was 1.02 as the returning officer got up to speak.
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    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,585
    Root gone.
    We might just lose a test to Bangladesh.
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    Has Trump promised to impeach Obama yet?
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    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,277
    Jonathan said:

    Either way we're going to miss a Obama. Damn the 22nd amendment.

    I think Obama has been disappointing as President but in the mirror he is going to acquire FDR like status. Normal, civilised, rational, not paranoid, capable of speaking in sentences, bordering on honest (for a politician natch), just outstanding really.
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    Has Trump promised to impeach Obama yet?

    He referred to the " Obama regime ".
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    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,277
    I take it Witney is counting this morning? Lazy sods.
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    nunununu Posts: 6,024

    Dave Wasserman – Verified account ‏@Redistrict

    In 2012, 59.2% of GA's registered voters were white. Today, it's down to 57.2%. For 1st time, Gwinnett Co. electorate is majority nonwhite.
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    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,277
    Nigelb said:

    Root gone.
    We might just lose a test to Bangladesh.

    Not looking good is it? But England do bat long. A decent partnership would still keep them in the game.
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    Nigelb said:

    Root gone.
    We might just lose a test to Bangladesh.

    Didn't happen when Dave was PM.

    I blame Brexit and Theresa May
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    PongPong Posts: 4,693
    edited October 2016
    DavidL said:

    I take it Witney is counting this morning? Lazy sods.

    If they're already counting votes, then we've got some serious electoral fraud going on!
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    nunununu Posts: 6,024
    Dave Wasserman ‏@Redistrict
    In 2012, 55% of registered voters in Gwinnett County, GA were white. In 2016, just 49% are. It really could go blue: http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/clinton-trump-vote-maps-2016/
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    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,277
    Pong said:

    DavidL said:

    I take it Witney is counting this morning? Lazy sods.

    If they're already counting votes, then we've got some serious electoral fraud going on!
    Good point. God, still got to get through Thursday. Thought I had done that.
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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,926

    nielh said:

    I'm tempted to put a small bet on trump. Clinton is the likely winner but because of the volatility and unpredictability trump certainly has a good chance.
    Trump at 6/1 is ok value

    Unfortunately he is only at 4-1 which isnt worth it alas. Seems the bookies, stung by Brexit and Leicester are being cautious.
    He is longer on Betfair
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    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 38,993
    To my mind, there's a bigger question than who wins the presidency. It's whether America can stop the rot.

    There are big problems in the US at the moment. Without getting all SeanT over this, it's still the greatest country in the world, but other countries are yapping at its heels, wanting its place.

    The problem is that Americans cannot agree on what the problems are, yet alone the solutions. They just have a nagging feeling that their rightful position is being threatened.

    America being usurped by China and/or others is not inevitable. China itself faces significant problems. But America is being thrust forwards by inertia, not leadership. And four or eight years of Trump or Clinton won't fix this. Neither have the capability of bringing the country together.

    I doubt their broken political system will allow such a leader to reach a position where they could do any good. Their political system is utterly broken, and the last system you would choose if you wanted real democracy.

    Having said all that, I have little doubt that Trump would accelerate the rot. As such, Clinton is the best choice for America. Which in itself is a symbol of their malaise.
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    Has Trump promised to impeach Obama yet?

    He referred to the " Obama regime ".
    Representative democracy only works when people are better off this year than they were last.

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    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,942

    A sure sign of Libdems winning here
    By elections without any polling and in such a febrile political environment are not nailed on.
    Does febrile have a meaning that I didn't know about?

    2. When my side are losing, badly, and I don't want to accept that there might be a cause (e.g. rampant Europhilia) for this.

    :)
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,983
    Good morning, everyone.

    Mr. Abroad, I forget who it was (perhaps Polybius) but someone said something along the lines that democracy became mob rule when the electorate realised they could simply vote themselves largesse taken from the wealthy.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,983
    F1: Brawn's comments on Wolff, Lauda and Lowe fleshed out a bit more here:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/37708335
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    edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,150

    To my mind, there's a bigger question than who wins the presidency. It's whether America can stop the rot.

    There are big problems in the US at the moment. Without getting all SeanT over this, it's still the greatest country in the world, but other countries are yapping at its heels, wanting its place.

    The problem is that Americans cannot agree on what the problems are, yet alone the solutions. They just have a nagging feeling that their rightful position is being threatened.

    America being usurped by China and/or others is not inevitable. China itself faces significant problems. But America is being thrust forwards by inertia, not leadership. And four or eight years of Trump or Clinton won't fix this. Neither have the capability of bringing the country together.

    I doubt their broken political system will allow such a leader to reach a position where they could do any good. Their political system is utterly broken, and the last system you would choose if you wanted real democracy.

    Having said all that, I have little doubt that Trump would accelerate the rot. As such, Clinton is the best choice for America. Which in itself is a symbol of their malaise.

    The population of China is over 4 times the population of the US. America being usurped by China and/or others is inevitable.
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    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,277

    To my mind, there's a bigger question than who wins the presidency. It's whether America can stop the rot.

    There are big problems in the US at the moment. Without getting all SeanT over this, it's still the greatest country in the world, but other countries are yapping at its heels, wanting its place.

    The problem is that Americans cannot agree on what the problems are, yet alone the solutions. They just have a nagging feeling that their rightful position is being threatened.

    America being usurped by China and/or others is not inevitable. China itself faces significant problems. But America is being thrust forwards by inertia, not leadership. And four or eight years of Trump or Clinton won't fix this. Neither have the capability of bringing the country together.

    I doubt their broken political system will allow such a leader to reach a position where they could do any good. Their political system is utterly broken, and the last system you would choose if you wanted real democracy.

    Having said all that, I have little doubt that Trump would accelerate the rot. As such, Clinton is the best choice for America. Which in itself is a symbol of their malaise.

    As an interested outsider I think that the gerrymandering of the voting system has a lot to do with it. There are just far too many safe seats in Congress. This results in the threat always coming from your left for Dems and your right for the GOP. It makes moderates vulnerable, it makes bipartisanship (otherwise known as betrayal) impossible and it forces even sensible politicians to ramp up the rhetoric to 11.

    This has progressively made the country ungovernable and deeply divided. It also means the choices for President tend to play to the base of their party rather than reaching out. Clinton tried to run a pretty centralist campaign and it meant that she could not shake off someone as daft as Bernie for months. Trump didn't and that is one of the reasons he is going to lose.

    We have the same problem here to some extent. Safe seats are fundamentally undemocratic and destabilising.
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    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 35,836

    To my mind, there's a bigger question than who wins the presidency. It's whether America can stop the rot.

    There are big problems in the US at the moment. Without getting all SeanT over this, it's still the greatest country in the world, but other countries are yapping at its heels, wanting its place.

    The problem is that Americans cannot agree on what the problems are, yet alone the solutions. They just have a nagging feeling that their rightful position is being threatened.

    America being usurped by China and/or others is not inevitable. China itself faces significant problems. But America is being thrust forwards by inertia, not leadership. And four or eight years of Trump or Clinton won't fix this. Neither have the capability of bringing the country together.

    I doubt their broken political system will allow such a leader to reach a position where they could do any good. Their political system is utterly broken, and the last system you would choose if you wanted real democracy.

    Having said all that, I have little doubt that Trump would accelerate the rot. As such, Clinton is the best choice for America. Which in itself is a symbol of their malaise.

    The biggest problem is that most Republicans and Democrats regard their opponents as subhuman.
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    edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,150

    Trump is actually ahead or tied in three of the latest polls.

    Be careful what you look for.
    I love unintended irony.
    Don't be patronising David, you're better than that.

    My point was a betting one. All my best bets have been the ones where I stripped out my desires and wants. Bet from the head, not the heart.
    "Bet from the head not the heart" is sound advice. If anything, I tend to overcompensate.

    But I'm sorry; to say "Be careful what you look for" at the same time as posting "Trump is actually ahead or tied in three of the latest polls" does at the least suggest selective vision.

    FWIW, the better comparison would be with GE2015, when the Tories outperformed all the polling but one firm (ICM?) consistently gave them leads of 3-6, which while still short, looked at the time like a methodological error. In fact, they were closest to being on the ball.

    However, in that election, the subsidiary data suggested that there might be something wrong with the top line; in this one, it reinforces the impression that they're in synch.
    Also ICM was and is a very good pollster with an excellent track record, which is definitely not true of the LA Times or Rasmussen.
  • Options
    john_zimsjohn_zims Posts: 3,399
    @CarlottaVance

    'FPT,

    As if one presidential candidate self destructing was not enough to be going on with.....Hollande:

    http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37702917



    Wait for all the screams of 'racist' from the left when they read his comments about immigrants & Islam,surprised we haven't heard from Corbyn and Momentum aren't already doing a demo outside the French Embassy.

  • Options
    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 35,836

    To my mind, there's a bigger question than who wins the presidency. It's whether America can stop the rot.

    There are big problems in the US at the moment. Without getting all SeanT over this, it's still the greatest country in the world, but other countries are yapping at its heels, wanting its place.

    The problem is that Americans cannot agree on what the problems are, yet alone the solutions. They just have a nagging feeling that their rightful position is being threatened.

    America being usurped by China and/or others is not inevitable. China itself faces significant problems. But America is being thrust forwards by inertia, not leadership. And four or eight years of Trump or Clinton won't fix this. Neither have the capability of bringing the country together.

    I doubt their broken political system will allow such a leader to reach a position where they could do any good. Their political system is utterly broken, and the last system you would choose if you wanted real democracy.

    Having said all that, I have little doubt that Trump would accelerate the rot. As such, Clinton is the best choice for America. Which in itself is a symbol of their malaise.

    The population of China is over 4 times the population of the US. America being usurped by China and/or others is inevitable.
    All things being equal, the bigger the population, the more powerful the country, but things rarely are equal. China spent 150 years wasting its potential, and may yet do so.
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    Has Trump promised to impeach Obama yet?

    He referred to the " Obama regime ".
    Representative democracy only works when people are better off this year than they were last.

    I don't doubt Clinton's election will accelerate America's political crisis. But for now the centre must hold. So it has to be Clinton. The West has already had one pillar collapse this year with Brexit. We can't afford Contagion.
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    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548
    Mortimer said:

    A sure sign of Libdems winning here
    By elections without any polling and in such a febrile political environment are not nailed on.
    Does febrile have a meaning that I didn't know about?

    2. When my side are losing, badly, and I don't want to accept that there might be a cause (e.g. rampant Europhilia) for this.

    :)
    Febrile in this sense means volatile and over heated.

    In the absence of a NoJam PB contest, I am predicting a safe Con hold, with over 50% of the vote. LDs on 25% and Lab on 12%.

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    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 35,836

    Trump is actually ahead or tied in three of the latest polls.

    Be careful what you look for.
    I love unintended irony.
    Don't be patronising David, you're better than that.

    My point was a betting one. All my best bets have been the ones where I stripped out my desires and wants. Bet from the head, not the heart.
    "Bet from the head not the heart" is sound advice. If anything, I tend to overcompensate.

    But I'm sorry; to say "Be careful what you look for" at the same time as posting "Trump is actually ahead or tied in three of the latest polls" does at the least suggest selective vision.

    FWIW, the better comparison would be with GE2015, when the Tories outperformed all the polling but one firm (ICM?) consistently gave them leads of 3-6, which while still short, looked at the time like a methodological error. In fact, they were closest to being on the ball.

    However, in that election, the subsidiary data suggested that there might be something wrong with the top line; in this one, it reinforces the impression that they're in synch.
    Also ICM was and is a very good pollster with an excellent track record, which is definitely not true of the LA Times or Rasmussen.
    It's a pity that ICM didn't poll Brexit in the last week. I expect they'd have come close.
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    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 38,993
    DavidL said:

    To my mind, there's a bigger question than who wins the presidency. It's whether America can stop the rot.

    There are big problems in the US at the moment. Without getting all SeanT over this, it's still the greatest country in the world, but other countries are yapping at its heels, wanting its place.

    The problem is that Americans cannot agree on what the problems are, yet alone the solutions. They just have a nagging feeling that their rightful position is being threatened.

    America being usurped by China and/or others is not inevitable. China itself faces significant problems. But America is being thrust forwards by inertia, not leadership. And four or eight years of Trump or Clinton won't fix this. Neither have the capability of bringing the country together.

    I doubt their broken political system will allow such a leader to reach a position where they could do any good. Their political system is utterly broken, and the last system you would choose if you wanted real democracy.

    Having said all that, I have little doubt that Trump would accelerate the rot. As such, Clinton is the best choice for America. Which in itself is a symbol of their malaise.

    As an interested outsider I think that the gerrymandering of the voting system has a lot to do with it. There are just far too many safe seats in Congress. This results in the threat always coming from your left for Dems and your right for the GOP. It makes moderates vulnerable, it makes bipartisanship (otherwise known as betrayal) impossible and it forces even sensible politicians to ramp up the rhetoric to 11.

    This has progressively made the country ungovernable and deeply divided. It also means the choices for President tend to play to the base of their party rather than reaching out. Clinton tried to run a pretty centralist campaign and it meant that she could not shake off someone as daft as Bernie for months. Trump didn't and that is one of the reasons he is going to lose.

    We have the same problem here to some extent. Safe seats are fundamentally undemocratic and destabilising.
    I think that's fairly astute. I'd add another factor: money. Spending $6-7 billion on the presidential and congressional races (as in 2012) is not only obscene; it actually prevents good government.
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    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,653
    DavidL said:

    There are just far too many safe seats in Congress.

    Talking of which, had a chance to cast your eye over the new Scottish constituencies?

    Extinction level events for the Tories & Labour?
  • Options
    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,277

    DavidL said:

    To my mind, there's a bigger question than who wins the presidency. It's whether America can stop the rot.

    There are big problems in the US at the moment. Without getting all SeanT over this, it's still the greatest country in the world, but other countries are yapping at its heels, wanting its place.

    The problem is that Americans cannot agree on what the problems are, yet alone the solutions. They just have a nagging feeling that their rightful position is being threatened.

    America being usurped by China and/or others is not inevitable. China itself faces significant problems. But America is being thrust forwards by inertia, not leadership. And four or eight years of Trump or Clinton won't fix this. Neither have the capability of bringing the country together.

    I doubt their broken political system will allow such a leader to reach a position where they could do any good. Their political system is utterly broken, and the last system you would choose if you wanted real democracy.

    Having said all that, I have little doubt that Trump would accelerate the rot. As such, Clinton is the best choice for America. Which in itself is a symbol of their malaise.

    As an interested outsider I think that the gerrymandering of the voting system has a lot to do with it. There are just far too many safe seats in Congress. This results in the threat always coming from your left for Dems and your right for the GOP. It makes moderates vulnerable, it makes bipartisanship (otherwise known as betrayal) impossible and it forces even sensible politicians to ramp up the rhetoric to 11.

    This has progressively made the country ungovernable and deeply divided. It also means the choices for President tend to play to the base of their party rather than reaching out. Clinton tried to run a pretty centralist campaign and it meant that she could not shake off someone as daft as Bernie for months. Trump didn't and that is one of the reasons he is going to lose.

    We have the same problem here to some extent. Safe seats are fundamentally undemocratic and destabilising.
    I think that's fairly astute. I'd add another factor: money. Spending $6-7 billion on the presidential and congressional races (as in 2012) is not only obscene; it actually prevents good government.
    Yes, the desperate need for money over her career has corrupted Hilary and is bound to corrupt any politician with a long career.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,983
    Mr. F, the history of China is of it shattering and coalescing.

    The empire, long divided, must unite. The empire, long united, must divide.

    There are a few potential challenges it faces. Throwing its weight around militarily in the South China Sea and a possible islands clash with Japan will have significant consequences. Will the US et al. stand up to China as it grabs resources from the sea bed?

    It seems too late already.
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    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    To my mind, there's a bigger question than who wins the presidency. It's whether America can stop the rot.

    There are big problems in the US at the moment. Without getting all SeanT over this, it's still the greatest country in the world, but other countries are yapping at its heels, wanting its place.

    The problem is that Americans cannot agree on what the problems are, yet alone the solutions. They just have a nagging feeling that their rightful position is being threatened.

    America being usurped by China and/or others is not inevitable. China itself faces significant problems. But America is being thrust forwards by inertia, not leadership. And four or eight years of Trump or Clinton won't fix this. Neither have the capability of bringing the country together.

    I doubt their broken political system will allow such a leader to reach a position where they could do any good. Their political system is utterly broken, and the last system you would choose if you wanted real democracy.

    Having said all that, I have little doubt that Trump would accelerate the rot. As such, Clinton is the best choice for America. Which in itself is a symbol of their malaise.

    I don't think America can stop the rot. Its hegemony has been in decline for decades.

    We are looking at the flipside of globalisation, where the rich look more like each other whether in London, California, Shanghai and Mumbai, and the mob look like each other too, whether in Ohio or Kyiv.
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    MarkSeniorMarkSenior Posts: 4,699
    Not much liquidity on Betfair at the moment but last prices matched in Witney Con 1.11 and Lib Dems 6.2
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    EssexitEssexit Posts: 1,956
    edited October 2016
    The United States needs a better voting system, AV for example.
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    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,585
    DavidL said:

    Nigelb said:

    Root gone.
    We might just lose a test to Bangladesh.

    Not looking good is it? But England do bat long. A decent partnership would still keep them in the game.
    From here not looking good, as Mehedi and Shakib seem to be picking us apart.
    While every England player has a first class century , I believe, they weren't made in these conditions.

    And England's spinners need a decent total to impose some pressure; without that, they could get hammered.
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    JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 38,993
    Sean_F said:

    To my mind, there's a bigger question than who wins the presidency. It's whether America can stop the rot.

    There are big problems in the US at the moment. Without getting all SeanT over this, it's still the greatest country in the world, but other countries are yapping at its heels, wanting its place.

    The problem is that Americans cannot agree on what the problems are, yet alone the solutions. They just have a nagging feeling that their rightful position is being threatened.

    America being usurped by China and/or others is not inevitable. China itself faces significant problems. But America is being thrust forwards by inertia, not leadership. And four or eight years of Trump or Clinton won't fix this. Neither have the capability of bringing the country together.

    I doubt their broken political system will allow such a leader to reach a position where they could do any good. Their political system is utterly broken, and the last system you would choose if you wanted real democracy.

    Having said all that, I have little doubt that Trump would accelerate the rot. As such, Clinton is the best choice for America. Which in itself is a symbol of their malaise.

    The population of China is over 4 times the population of the US. America being usurped by China and/or others is inevitable.
    All things being equal, the bigger the population, the more powerful the country, but things rarely are equal. China spent 150 years wasting its potential, and may yet do so.
    Indeed. China also faces problems, some of them structural, some of them cultural.

    The UK became a world power by innovating and creating new industries. The US did the same, embracing change and using their massive resources to accelerate it.

    Russia did not innovate as much, and never managed to approach the US in non-military power. China is not innovating much: they are in the perfect place to produce innovative, disruptive industries but they're still mostly coming from the US and the west.

    Take SpaceX as an example. There is no reason China could not have tried to produce a disruptive reusable launcher. Instead, they just copied and improved on what the Russians had done. They've probably spent much more on their program, arguably for less.

    Copying and incremental improvements can only get you so far.
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    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,277

    DavidL said:

    There are just far too many safe seats in Congress.

    Talking of which, had a chance to cast your eye over the new Scottish constituencies?

    Extinction level events for the Tories & Labour?
    Not seen them, just a lot of headlines about Murray's seat disappearing. I am pretty confident that there will be more Scottish Tory MPs in the next Parliament than there is in this one.
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    Ann Coulter sounding relatively restrained (for her) on R4. Worst augury of all for Donald?
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    IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,274
    rcs1000 said:

    A sure sign of Libdems winning here
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunfermline_and_West_Fife_by-election,_2006

    Was 1.02 as the returning officer got up to speak.
    Which, given the number of people in the count who will have known, is quite remarkable.
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    nielh said:

    I'm tempted to put a small bet on trump. Clinton is the likely winner but because of the volatility and unpredictability trump certainly has a good chance.
    Trump at 6/1 is ok value

    Unfortunately he is only at 4-1 which isnt worth it alas. Seems the bookies, stung by Brexit and Leicester are being cautious.
    You can get 9/2 pretty generally and 5/1 on the exchanges. Why would anyone take 4/1?
  • Options
    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,585

    Sean_F said:

    To my mind, there's a bigger question than who wins the presidency. It's whether America can stop the rot.

    There are big problems in the US at the moment. Without getting all SeanT over this, it's still the greatest country in the world, but other countries are yapping at its heels, wanting its place.

    The problem is that Americans cannot agree on what the problems are, yet alone the solutions. They just have a nagging feeling that their rightful position is being threatened.

    America being usurped by China and/or others is not inevitable. China itself faces significant problems. But America is being thrust forwards by inertia, not leadership. And four or eight years of Trump or Clinton won't fix this. Neither have the capability of bringing the country together.

    I doubt their broken political system will allow such a leader to reach a position where they could do any good. Their political system is utterly broken, and the last system you would choose if you wanted real democracy.

    Having said all that, I have little doubt that Trump would accelerate the rot. As such, Clinton is the best choice for America. Which in itself is a symbol of their malaise.

    The population of China is over 4 times the population of the US. America being usurped by China and/or others is inevitable.
    All things being equal, the bigger the population, the more powerful the country, but things rarely are equal. China spent 150 years wasting its potential, and may yet do so.
    Indeed. China also faces problems, some of them structural, some of them cultural.

    The UK became a world power by innovating and creating new industries. The US did the same, embracing change and using their massive resources to accelerate it.

    Russia did not innovate as much, and never managed to approach the US in non-military power. China is not innovating much: they are in the perfect place to produce innovative, disruptive industries but they're still mostly coming from the US and the west.

    Take SpaceX as an example. There is no reason China could not have tried to produce a disruptive reusable launcher. Instead, they just copied and improved on what the Russians had done. They've probably spent much more on their program, arguably for less.

    Copying and incremental improvements can only get you so far.
    And it is still an open question as to whether they can avoid the middle income trap.
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    TonyETonyE Posts: 938
    If you really want to understand how money corrupts the political system, last night had the story up in lights.

    Hilary, despite being in the Whitehouse during a totally scandal hit 8 years, despite being the author of the failed healthcare reforms of the late 90's, despite a long history of proven dishonesty, despite Benghazi, the Clinton foundation, leaked emails and the lasting smell of Whitewater - is somehow the best candidate democrat money can buy.

    And she's up against a bull headed know nothing businessman with a habit in young women, a loose tongue, sexual encounters of a nefarious nature and the policy experience of a two year old.

    What's worse is that the two year old has the better policies and the dishonest machine politician looks clean by comparison to her odd ball opponent. The world's on its head.

    Neither of them are even great speakers, at least Obama had rhetorical flair.

    (As an allegory - spell check just tried to correct Whitehouse to Whorehouse!)
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    AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670

    DavidL said:

    There are just far too many safe seats in Congress.

    Talking of which, had a chance to cast your eye over the new Scottish constituencies?

    Extinction level events for the Tories & Labour?
    The middle bit of the South of Scotland has managed to get more stupid somehow than DCT already was.

    May as well be renamed "Leftovers"
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    NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,334

    To my mind, there's a bigger question than who wins the presidency. It's whether America can stop the rot.

    There are big problems in the US at the moment. Without getting all SeanT over this, it's still the greatest country in the world, but other countries are yapping at its heels, wanting its place.

    The problem is that Americans cannot agree on what the problems are, yet alone the solutions. They just have a nagging feeling that their rightful position is being threatened.

    America being usurped by China and/or others is not inevitable. China itself faces significant problems. But America is being thrust forwards by inertia, not leadership. And four or eight years of Trump or Clinton won't fix this. Neither have the capability of bringing the country together.

    I doubt their broken political system will allow such a leader to reach a position where they could do any good. Their political system is utterly broken, and the last system you would choose if you wanted real democracy.

    Having said all that, I have little doubt that Trump would accelerate the rot. As such, Clinton is the best choice for America. Which in itself is a symbol of their malaise.

    Yes, good analysis. Inter alia it's a good example of how you can overdo checks and balances, to the point that nobody can decide most things one way or the other.

    The issue is masked by the fact that things are still very nice for most Americans most of the time. The normal American experience is a busy life with friendly neighbo(u)rs, reasonable prosperity and no major threats. So people have a nagging feeling that all is not well, as you say, but it's a minority who are really furious.
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    PongPong Posts: 4,693
    edited October 2016

    nielh said:

    I'm tempted to put a small bet on trump. Clinton is the likely winner but because of the volatility and unpredictability trump certainly has a good chance.
    Trump at 6/1 is ok value

    Unfortunately he is only at 4-1 which isnt worth it alas. Seems the bookies, stung by Brexit and Leicester are being cautious.
    You can get 9/2 pretty generally and 5/1 on the exchanges. Why would anyone take 4/1?
    For consistent winners, betfair commission rises from 5% to 20%. Then from 20% to 50%.

    Then 60%.

    At some point it makes more sense to bet with bookmakers at lower odds, if they'll take your bets.
  • Options

    To my mind, there's a bigger question than who wins the presidency. It's whether America can stop the rot.

    There are big problems in the US at the moment. Without getting all SeanT over this, it's still the greatest country in the world, but other countries are yapping at its heels, wanting its place.

    The problem is that Americans cannot agree on what the problems are, yet alone the solutions. They just have a nagging feeling that their rightful position is being threatened.

    America being usurped by China and/or others is not inevitable. China itself faces significant problems. But America is being thrust forwards by inertia, not leadership. And four or eight years of Trump or Clinton won't fix this. Neither have the capability of bringing the country together.

    I doubt their broken political system will allow such a leader to reach a position where they could do any good. Their political system is utterly broken, and the last system you would choose if you wanted real democracy.

    Having said all that, I have little doubt that Trump would accelerate the rot. As such, Clinton is the best choice for America. Which in itself is a symbol of their malaise.

    I don't think America can stop the rot. Its hegemony has been in decline for decades.

    We are looking at the flipside of globalisation, where the rich look more like each other whether in London, California, Shanghai and Mumbai, and the mob look like each other too, whether in Ohio or Kyiv.
    And the mob in Workington, West Virginia, Wroclaw and Vladivostok have observed that the rich in those places care only about the rich in each others places, and not a fig for the rest; and are starting to vote accordingly.
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    SquareRootSquareRoot Posts: 7,095
    edited October 2016
    RE pollsters/ Labour poll rating/ still too high 29% is fantasy
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    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,209
    Morning all,

    Another fine performance from Clinton. This is so over.
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    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,585
    TonyE said:

    If you really want to understand how money corrupts the political system, last night had the story up in lights.

    Hilary, despite being in the Whitehouse during a totally scandal hit 8 years, despite being the author of the failed healthcare reforms of the late 90's, despite a long history of proven dishonesty, despite Benghazi, the Clinton foundation, leaked emails and the lasting smell of Whitewater - is somehow the best candidate democrat money can buy.

    And she's up against a bull headed know nothing businessman with a habit in young women, a loose tongue, sexual encounters of a nefarious nature and the policy experience of a two year old.

    What's worse is that the two year old has the better policies and the dishonest machine politician looks clean by comparison to her odd ball opponent. The world's on its head.

    Neither of them are even great speakers, at least Obama had rhetorical flair.

    (As an allegory - spell check just tried to correct Whitehouse to Whorehouse!)

    Probably because it's the White House ?
    "Better policies"... the Wall; extreme vetting; winning bigly ... ?
    "clean by comparison" ... really ?

    I'm not a fan of Clinton at all (though I hope she'll prove a competent president), but I can't see that Trump beats her on any metric.
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    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,209

    RE pollsters/ Labour poll rating/ still too high 29% is fantasy

    I wonder if at least a few % of the current Labour vote are people who still like the brand and don't really believe the party will seriously still be presenting Corbyn as leader by next GE.
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    MarkSeniorMarkSenior Posts: 4,699
    Alistair said:

    DavidL said:

    There are just far too many safe seats in Congress.

    Talking of which, had a chance to cast your eye over the new Scottish constituencies?

    Extinction level events for the Tories & Labour?
    The middle bit of the South of Scotland has managed to get more stupid somehow than DCT already was.

    May as well be renamed "Leftovers"
    New boundaries good for Lib Dems in NE Fife and especially Edinburgh West . Edinburgh South a 3 way marginal which probably favours Labour with tactical Unionist votes , Conservatives hurt in D and G but perhaps still favourites . Berwickshire Roxburgh and Berwickshire their best bet .
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    ChrisChris Posts: 11,121
    nielh said:

    I'm tempted to put a small bet on trump. Clinton is the likely winner but because of the volatility and unpredictability trump certainly has a good chance.
    Trump at 6/1 is ok value

    Doesn't it become very difficult to estimate what is good value beyond a certain point?

    538's three models are currently showing Trump's chances at 12-15%, which is smaller than the betting markets imply. I wouldn't have much faith in the numerical accuracy of those models, but I'd have even less faith in a gut feeling that the figure should be 5 or 10 percent higher.
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    I hope Moeen Ali has bought a lottery ticket.

    He's been involved in more reviews in this innings than Shane Watson manages in an entire Ashes series
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    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,115
    Loving how Hillary single-handedly brought in Bin Laden.

    Is she also taking responsibility for the rise of ISIS on her watch?
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    ChrisChris Posts: 11,121
    TonyE said:


    (As an allegory - spell check just tried to correct Whitehouse to Whorehouse!)

    If that had happened to Donald Trump, he'd probably used it in a political slogan!
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    AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670

    Alistair said:

    DavidL said:

    There are just far too many safe seats in Congress.

    Talking of which, had a chance to cast your eye over the new Scottish constituencies?

    Extinction level events for the Tories & Labour?
    The middle bit of the South of Scotland has managed to get more stupid somehow than DCT already was.

    May as well be renamed "Leftovers"
    New boundaries good for Lib Dems in NE Fife and especially Edinburgh West . Edinburgh South a 3 way marginal which probably favours Labour with tactical Unionist votes , Conservatives hurt in D and G but perhaps still favourites . Berwickshire Roxburgh and Berwickshire their best bet .
    Berwickshire is a nailed on Tory gain barring a Lib Dem Lazarus impression.
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    SlackbladderSlackbladder Posts: 9,704
    john_zims said:

    @CarlottaVance

    'FPT,

    As if one presidential candidate self destructing was not enough to be going on with.....Hollande:

    http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37702917



    Wait for all the screams of 'racist' from the left when they read his comments about immigrants & Islam,surprised we haven't heard from Corbyn and Momentum aren't already doing a demo outside the French Embassy.

    Sounds like he's demob happy...
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    NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,334
    By the way, I've settled back in Notts, and I've just been selected as Labour candidate for Eastwood on the County Council - a former Labour stronghold which the LibDems took during a period when Labour locally was having serious personal difficulties. My argument at a personal level will be that having an energetic county councillor who knows the ropes at every level wouldn't be a bad thing.

    It's in Broxtowe borough, though just on the edge of my former constituency, so I'm a reasonably familiar figure there and know the town pretty well: I used to live nearby. It's part of the new Broxtowe and Hucknall constituency which Anna Soubry is likely to contest if the boundary changes go through, but for the time being it's part of Gloria de Piero's constituency.

    I have no idea how it will turn out, but it'll be good to be back in harness. The County Council is an interesting one politically as Labour won a majoity of 1 last time. First regional BBC TV interview is tomorrow.
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    CD13CD13 Posts: 6,351
    Mr Jim,

    "Well we can all cherry pick to our prejudices but in toto nothing good comes of that series of interviews."

    Because Hollande has said what he thinks? Sad, but a testament to the state of politics. Truth is bad, prevarication is good.

    Jezza may be a complete bonehead but his saving grace used to be his honesty (not so much now). That's what started the surge.

    Trump's another one in that category.

    In a way, I admire Hollande more now (admittedly from a low base). And it may chime more with the French electorate than you think.
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    dr_spyndr_spyn Posts: 11,287
    Swindon Labour councillor leaves, joins Tories. Changes mind goes back with tail between legs.

    http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2016-10-19/swindon-councillor-defects-to-conservatives-after-5-months-with-labour/

    Perhaps by the weekend he will have become a Lib Dem.
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    foxinsoxukfoxinsoxuk Posts: 23,548

    To my mind, there's a bigger question than who wins the presidency. It's whether America can stop the rot.

    There are big problems in the US at the moment. Without getting all SeanT over this, it's still the greatest country in the world, but other countries are yapping at its heels, wanting its place.

    The problem is that Americans cannot agree on what the problems are, yet alone the solutions. They just have a nagging feeling that their rightful position is being threatened.

    America being usurped by China and/or others is not inevitable. China itself faces significant problems. But America is being thrust forwards by inertia, not leadership. And four or eight years of Trump or Clinton won't fix this. Neither have the capability of bringing the country together.

    I doubt their broken political system will allow such a leader to reach a position where they could do any good. Their political system is utterly broken, and the last system you would choose if you wanted real democracy.

    Having said all that, I have little doubt that Trump would accelerate the rot. As such, Clinton is the best choice for America. Which in itself is a symbol of their malaise.

    I don't think America can stop the rot. Its hegemony has been in decline for decades.

    We are looking at the flipside of globalisation, where the rich look more like each other whether in London, California, Shanghai and Mumbai, and the mob look like each other too, whether in Ohio or Kyiv.
    And the mob in Workington, West Virginia, Wroclaw and Vladivostok have observed that the rich in those places care only about the rich in each others places, and not a fig for the rest; and are starting to vote accordingly.
    The rich (such as Trump or Farage) are very good at pitting the steelworkers of Ohio against those of China, the builders of Essex vs those of Poland. It is when the workers realise that they have more in common with each other than they do with their masters...
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    TonyETonyE Posts: 938

    To my mind, there's a bigger question than who wins the presidency. It's whether America can stop the rot.

    There are big problems in the US at the moment. Without getting all SeanT over this, it's still the greatest country in the world, but other countries are yapping at its heels, wanting its place.

    The problem is that Americans cannot agree on what the problems are, yet alone the solutions. They just have a nagging feeling that their rightful position is being threatened.

    America being usurped by China and/or others is not inevitable. China itself faces significant problems. But America is being thrust forwards by inertia, not leadership. And four or eight years of Trump or Clinton won't fix this. Neither have the capability of bringing the country together.

    I doubt their broken political system will allow such a leader to reach a position where they could do any good. Their political system is utterly broken, and the last system you would choose if you wanted real democracy.

    Having said all that, I have little doubt that Trump would accelerate the rot. As such, Clinton is the best choice for America. Which in itself is a symbol of their malaise.

    I don't think America can stop the rot. Its hegemony has been in decline for decades.

    We are looking at the flipside of globalisation, where the rich look more like each other whether in London, California, Shanghai and Mumbai, and the mob look like each other too, whether in Ohio or Kyiv.
    And the mob in Workington, West Virginia, Wroclaw and Vladivostok have observed that the rich in those places care only about the rich in each others places, and not a fig for the rest; and are starting to vote accordingly.
    What happens when they figure out that voting doesn't work any more?
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    david_herdsondavid_herdson Posts: 17,419

    Has Trump promised to impeach Obama yet?

    He referred to the " Obama regime ".
    Representative democracy only works when people are better off this year than they were last.

    Too short-term. People will put up with occasional set backs providing that they're able to blame one side and replace them with another, or will tolerate falling incomes if there's a rationale to it and where they're still able to punish those perceived to be at fault (which might be a current or former government, or some third party e.g. bankers, unions etc. through the political system).

    But if you changed your comment to "Representative democracy only works when people are better off this decade than they were last", then there's much more in it. Even then, I think it takes time to break down but the longer the current system is seen as not working "for me" and where there are enough "me"s, then the greater the chances that people will look outside the democratic box.
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    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,209

    By the way, I've settled back in Notts, and I've just been selected as Labour candidate for Eastwood on the County Council - a former Labour stronghold which the LibDems took during a period when Labour locally was having serious personal difficulties. My argument at a personal level will be that having an energetic county councillor who knows the ropes at every level wouldn't be a bad thing.

    It's in Broxtowe borough, though just on the edge of my former constituency, so I'm a reasonably familiar figure there and know the town pretty well: I used to live nearby. It's part of the new Broxtowe and Hucknall constituency which Anna Soubry is likely to contest if the boundary changes go through, but for the time being it's part of Gloria de Piero's constituency.

    I have no idea how it will turn out, but it'll be good to be back in harness. The County Council is an interesting one politically as Labour won a majoity of 1 last time. First regional BBC TV interview is tomorrow.

    Thanks for the update and good luck in your campaigning. Will PBers be avidly following a Sourby vs Palmer rerun then in next GE?
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    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,942

    To my mind, there's a bigger question than who wins the presidency. It's whether America can stop the rot.

    There are big problems in the US at the moment. Without getting all SeanT over this, it's still the greatest country in the world, but other countries are yapping at its heels, wanting its place.

    The problem is that Americans cannot agree on what the problems are, yet alone the solutions. They just have a nagging feeling that their rightful position is being threatened.

    America being usurped by China and/or others is not inevitable. China itself faces significant problems. But America is being thrust forwards by inertia, not leadership. And four or eight years of Trump or Clinton won't fix this. Neither have the capability of bringing the country together.

    I doubt their broken political system will allow such a leader to reach a position where they could do any good. Their political system is utterly broken, and the last system you would choose if you wanted real democracy.

    Having said all that, I have little doubt that Trump would accelerate the rot. As such, Clinton is the best choice for America. Which in itself is a symbol of their malaise.

    The population of China is over 4 times the population of the US. America being usurped by China and/or others is inevitable.
    Not an historian are you.

    Nothing, on a geopolitical level, is inevitable.
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    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,942
    Glad to see Ali batting up the order.

    Still should be higher, though....
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    IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,274

    DavidL said:

    There are just far too many safe seats in Congress.

    Talking of which, had a chance to cast your eye over the new Scottish constituencies?

    Extinction level events for the Tories & Labour?
    Fewer larger constituencies makes the bias in favour of the largest party more pronounced. Who knew?
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    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,942

    By the way, I've settled back in Notts, and I've just been selected as Labour candidate for Eastwood on the County Council - a former Labour stronghold which the LibDems took during a period when Labour locally was having serious personal difficulties. My argument at a personal level will be that having an energetic county councillor who knows the ropes at every level wouldn't be a bad thing.

    It's in Broxtowe borough, though just on the edge of my former constituency, so I'm a reasonably familiar figure there and know the town pretty well: I used to live nearby. It's part of the new Broxtowe and Hucknall constituency which Anna Soubry is likely to contest if the boundary changes go through, but for the time being it's part of Gloria de Piero's constituency.

    I have no idea how it will turn out, but it'll be good to be back in harness. The County Council is an interesting one politically as Labour won a majoity of 1 last time. First regional BBC TV interview is tomorrow.

    Good luck Nick!
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,983
    Very important question:
    it's 'would behove you well' rather than 'behoove you well', isn't it?
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    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,209
    Mortimer said:

    To my mind, there's a bigger question than who wins the presidency. It's whether America can stop the rot.

    There are big problems in the US at the moment. Without getting all SeanT over this, it's still the greatest country in the world, but other countries are yapping at its heels, wanting its place.

    The problem is that Americans cannot agree on what the problems are, yet alone the solutions. They just have a nagging feeling that their rightful position is being threatened.

    America being usurped by China and/or others is not inevitable. China itself faces significant problems. But America is being thrust forwards by inertia, not leadership. And four or eight years of Trump or Clinton won't fix this. Neither have the capability of bringing the country together.

    I doubt their broken political system will allow such a leader to reach a position where they could do any good. Their political system is utterly broken, and the last system you would choose if you wanted real democracy.

    Having said all that, I have little doubt that Trump would accelerate the rot. As such, Clinton is the best choice for America. Which in itself is a symbol of their malaise.

    The population of China is over 4 times the population of the US. America being usurped by China and/or others is inevitable.
    Not an historian are you.

    Nothing, on a geopolitical level, is inevitable.
    China has enormous economic problems looming.
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,328
    Sean_F said:

    Trump is actually ahead or tied in three of the latest polls.

    Be careful what you look for.
    I love unintended irony.
    Don't be patronising David, you're better than that.

    My point was a betting one. All my best bets have been the ones where I stripped out my desires and wants. Bet from the head, not the heart.
    "Bet from the head not the heart" is sound advice. If anything, I tend to overcompensate.

    But I'm sorry; to say "Be careful what you look for" at the same time as posting "Trump is actually ahead or tied in three of the latest polls" does at the least suggest selective vision.

    FWIW, the better comparison would be with GE2015, when the Tories outperformed all the polling but one firm (ICM?) consistently gave them leads of 3-6, which while still short, looked at the time like a methodological error. In fact, they were closest to being on the ball.

    However, in that election, the subsidiary data suggested that there might be something wrong with the top line; in this one, it reinforces the impression that they're in synch.
    Also ICM was and is a very good pollster with an excellent track record, which is definitely not true of the LA Times or Rasmussen.
    It's a pity that ICM didn't poll Brexit in the last week. I expect they'd have come close.
    ICM basically bottled it.
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