Steven P

So, Trump is cutting funding to PBS. Is this because he can, or is this because it has a slight left wing bias (though if you ask the Republicans, it is a massive left wing bias, it is not). Like all dictators, control the media, control the political narrative. Only those with something to hide want the media under their thumb. And in other news... he is after suing The New York Times.. if he cannot control them directly, then he can force compliance with law suits. Why do I mention this? Well direct parallels with the UK and the moves to sell off Channel 4... control the media... Note that in the UK both ITV and Channel 5 have a bias to the right of politics... Channel 4 would follow suit... the same that PBS would have to do. If I was Trump though, I would be sneaking in a load of changes while the world is looking at the Epstein story "this week is a good week to bury bad news" Donald Trump Cut Funding To PBS, And Now This "Arthur" TikTok Is Going Viral For Breaking The Internet's Heart UK.YAHOO.COM "from a foster child that had no structure or love growing up. thank you for helping raise me into who I am."

We could do bamboo!

He's in one of these somewhere:

Read the list again, now if your neighbour had committed these crimes, would you still buy him a pint in your local?

Severn Trent water? Yes they don't rely on reservoirs as much - was in the news this morning - as Eggs is saying, but they haven't had a hose pipe ban for 30 years either.

In politics there is always a move underway to replace the leader, might be the case now as you say that in the US that move has put in all the pieces they think they need to succeed. My view is that if JD Vance takes over mid term, he will be the incumbent at the next election - in US politics that makes him the favourite. I can't remember the rules, if he takes over mid term, does he still get 2 more shots at being elected again (ie, the rest of this one, plus 2028 and 2032?)

Not at all Gareth. This is going to upset you, me listing all his sex crimes again, but I don't think I have ever included 'sleeping with children' as one of them as you seam to be inferring that I did: Jean E Caroll - Rape - or in the state of New York, judge said legally not a rape but to the man in the street, it was rape. Junior Miss World, Miss World, Voyeurism -"I own the pageant, I can and do walk in on the changing rooms at will" or words to that effect Admitting sexual assault "You can grab them by the pussy" Of his own daughter: She is beautiful, but I don't know yet if she will have great boobs Of Epstein: Complicit in Epsteins crimes from his silence of the man "who likes them young" I think that is most of the list. There is no rage, but maybe time to wake up and face the facts that when it comes to sex crimes, your US based hero is no saint.

One thing that narcissists hate is their support turning against them... so from last week and Trumps determined messaging of "move on, nothing to see here" to this weeks messaging of "going to get the courts to release their information". If the leader of the free world is so easily swayed by public opinion then he is not in charge, the baying mob is in charge.

Yup, that is a good analogy as far as I understand it - anyone can apply to work on a tree regardless of ownership - happens all the time "Tree Surgeon, can you sort this tree" "it has a TPO" "OK, can you deal with that then sort the tree" "OK" The rest as above is about the boundary, and sadly sounds like it has gone past a civil conversation and you might need a legal letter sent to clarify the boundary, and perhaps another stating if the neighbour touches the tree that would amount to trespass and criminal damage.

When this thread as started in April I took some cuttings - similar idea to you, put in a bucket of water for 6 weeks or so till they sprouted decent roots and planted out - most are still going strong but they have a lot of summer competition (brambles, weeds, grasses...). Expecting them to be about 1m tall next summer.

Curious isn't it.... though is this the twattering that Musk retracted? Wal street journal hasn't done that with its article yet.

What do you think Trump is guilty off by the way? I know you have religiously read all my posts, so it won't have escaped your attention that with regards to the Epstein files, I don't believe Trump was named as sleeping with children, said all along his crime is not reporting what he knew and witnessed. This allowed Epstein to continue to (use his wealth and influence) to rape more children.

Talking ages of consent here as the line to cross or not (note Prince Andrew - she was 'legal' in the UK, but not the US). I would go with that, that nothing is coming out about Trump sleeping with children but he knew about and is complicit in Epsteins crimes by his silence.

Waffle? Your post is saying exactly what I said: "The world’s most powerful man is using his office to punish journalistic organisations that won’t follow his orders or who report critically on his policies. Donald Trump’s actions against the press include bans, lawsuits and hand-picking his own pool of reporters. "

The silt will only be what, 1/2m to 1m deep? after that you are back to the old surface level so I guess if you can do something with the silt, dig through it you can increase capacity using what was the old surface level.... but cost and rewards... a few million deepening / widening a reservoir could be spent repairing leaks, not sure which would have the bigger success. Dredging of course can only go as far as the exit pipes from the dam else is useless

Reading this this morning, it reckons that he has threatened many journalists / publications, those that have gone to court Trump has never won a case, many others have settled out of court - often after government pressures to do so rather than on the strength of the same. Not sure what the issue is - I haven't read the article, but everyone knows they were best friends at the time fell out after a real estate deal (rather than Epstein ***king children), it is reasonable for a friend to send another a birthday card.

There has been a couple of times I looked at the 2 of them, Trump and Vance, and Vance was setting himself up nice to be the tough guy - which appeals to the MAGA voters - noting things like Zelensky, the Greenland trip, a trip to Israel, always at Trumps side in the White house when a foreign leader needs 'taking down', and so on, setting himself up as the successor. He has gone quieter though the last couple of weeks, a bit of distancing. ( I am also reminded of Nicola Sturgeon / Alex Salmond and their independence referendum - there was a point when Sturgeon was at Salmonds side, best pals and supporters, then 'something' happened, Sturgeon distanced herself very obviously, stuck in the knife, and took over... might be a parallel happening here... She denied it of course but I suspect the 'something' was when she learnt of another accusation against Salmond.... curiously Vance has distanced himself when accusations against Trump surfaced... and he is ready to stick in the knife. Best buddies do that in US politics it appears)

Suspect the finances arn't there for that, any tax rise to pay for nationalising - to buy it back again - would be met with tears. Railways are slightly different, nothing to buy back at the end of a rail franchise, just take it onboard but Tories sold off critical utilities wholesale - there is no cheap option - buy out the shareholders, or take them on with the debts if they go bankrupt, lands the UK with a massive bill either way.

You implied it, JohnsonD. A quick edit to avoid your next tedious posts: Read back what you have written in the last week regarding the NHS, and if you cannot see your implications then enrol in a night school for English Comprehension lessons.

Ahh, just wait a few years, Cameron, Johnson et al have nothing on Trump when it comes to low morals.

Use your reading skills, you forgot to read the last part of the question: "Is the NHS failing because of illegal immigrants?" Though this summary might interest you, referencing migrants and the NHS: From: "https://www.health.org.uk/features-and-opinion/blogs/immigration-and-the-nhs-the-evidence" - based on GP registrations and hospital data in England from 2003 to 2006 – found that, in the years following arrival to the UK, migrants used inpatient hospital services around half as much as UK-born residents of the same age and gender. - the same Migration Advisory Committee report on EEA migration from 2018 found ‘no evidence that migration has reduced the quality of healthcare' - Immigrants should not be blamed for the pressures in A&E and other parts of the NHS. The reasons behind these pressures – unsurprisingly – are far more complex: a mix of growing and changing population health needs, chronic workforce shortages, a decade of austerity in funding for the NHS and other public services, and many other factors. What is clear, however, is that the health and care system depends on its international staff to help fix the mess it’s in. and for illegal immigrants, From BMJ: Despite clear NHS guidance, in July 2021, .... findings showing that undocumented migrants face major barriers in accessing primary care with 62% of GP surgeries incorrectly refusing to register patients... most do not register for a GP.. which is hardly overwhelming the system

Talking of cards, news this morning that he was sending cards with drawings of naked women to Epstein... all fake of course.

2nd Trump thing for this evening, I see that Starmer and Bad-Enoch have been trading end of year reports, been a few weeks since I looked at Trumps progress of his big promises: Ukraine... still not stopped, many 24 hours later. The aggressor still not sanctioned. Gaza... Still not a Trump branded golf resort, the Israelis are offering to move it's population to a 'concentration camp' in the south of the country. All hell has not yet broken loose Liberation day... 90 deals in 90 days... he has 1 memorandum of understanding from the UK and no deals. No one is phoning him to make deals and he is too lazy / arrogant to get on the phone to talk to anyone. Migrants.... his expulsions have stalled in much controversy now he has realised that immigrants are actually doing the shitty jobs no one else wants Price of gas at $2.. that one was just a lie Groceries, the word he invented, a beautiful word... prices are not plummeting Release the JFK and Epstein files.. I'll let that one play out. Thinking of elections he did say that his fan base who believed he would release all he branded as idiots. Back to import taxes and some success... to his billionaire pals who he is tipping off for insider dealing type of things... for every billion they made, the workers lost the same Visiting the UK and King Charles... he was well flattered to be invited.. but coming with a slight from UK government when Parliament is on holiday and he can't address them 51st State... Canada... they said no. Greenland... said no.... Panama Canal.... said no Trying hard to find any resounding successes in his second first half year. I don't think there are any. So why is all this note worthy? Well generally where the US goes, the UK follows, if they get away with a leader with no morals you can be sure that we will get one too in a few years time.

Just reading the news, apparently (according to the discussion pieces) Trumpys latest "Coke will be made with real sugar" is smoke and mirrors trying to distract from his besties crimes (not Musk, first bestie, but Epstein, beastie bestie). That's his line, no one told Coke this, and of course the sugar needed will be imported - not enough cane sugar in the US, and so will have import taxes applied. The man gets more bizarre with every dementia ridden twattering he does.

No t jumping to victimhood, but weirdly when the insults come your way up come the gifs of crying babies, but when they come from your keyboard... guess what... 90% don't get responded to. "suck it up buttercup" might be better advice for you to follow.