Thank you Bear for so beautifully expressing what it feels like to witness
decent voters boot out the baddies. The absolute joy and relief of the crowds of people celebrating in Budapest is shared by so many people today - I imagine especially in Ukraine.
Excellent piece. Let's hope this begins to sweep across nations, turning the dial down on nasty right wing politics and the nasty little men who propagate them across the world. Also, do share the vid of the flag waving and ABBA singing if you change your mind.
It's so nice to hear a bit of joy in your voice after the last depressing article. Power to the people, and let's hope this starts a world wide domino effect - now wouldn't that be wonderful! I laughed a lot at this one, you have such a delightful turn of phrase, which exactly matches mine. Love you dear, darling Bear 🐻 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈✌️
Well, PHEW! is about as far as I'm going right now.
The new lot aren't exactly wonderful...
Although the idea that Trump sending best wishes & his sidekick probably pushed the new government into the much desired super-majority (they're at just under 70% of seats, the super-majority kicks in at two thirds, and Vance's visit cost them 3%) is particularly enjoyable.
Also worth celebrating, of course, is that MattGPT is probably not going to get his £10k a month any more. O dear, what a shame. There may be some "independent think tanks" closing down, too, as their funding evaporates.
Keep those fingers crossed that come the elections in May, the sound of bursting balloons full of fetid politicians' ego gas is heard throughout the UK...
"He was the man who showed the reactionaries around the world that you didn’t need tanks in the streets to hollow out democracy - all you needed were captured institutions, a compliant media eco-system, a rigged electoral framework, a semi-permanent state of cultural panic and enough rhetoric about sovereignty and the threat of civilisational collapse to make cruelty and, at times, outright malice, sound like common sense and policy."
Which is pretty much where we are at in the UK, isn't it? Farage has been running this playbook for decades. Ever since he decided that the Conservative Party wasn't going to go for his brand of xenophobia (although enough of them now seem happy enough to join him that Reform is now basically the BSC (Bat Shit Crazy) wing of the Tory party. Next up, Senedd, ScotGov and local elections.
The PR in Wales and Scotland will hand Reform enough seats for them to continue their claim to be in the ascendancy. Local Elections? Kent and Worcester are looking like poster-boys for keeping clear. Durham is, surprisingly, looking vaguely rational. Given that it is Darren Grimes' patch (sorry, not an image to conjure with, considering his alleged past indiscretions), that is quite an achievement.
What will be interesting to see now is how those authorities cope with having gone for the lowest possible council tax increases whilst simultaneously promising significant improvements in key services. Will their reputation withstand robbing Peter to pay Paul? Can Durham's Reform councillors meet their goals of significantly increasing SEND investment with the limited financial resources they have at their disposal?
We still have the threat of civilisational collapse to contend with, courtesy of Trump's decision to improve on Iran's offer to partially block the Strait of Hormuz by FULLY blocking the Strait of Hormuz. You have to admire the logic that suggests increasing pressure on the Global Economy is a way to win friends and influence people!
I would like to share your optimism, though. I thought you raised some valid points yesterday, enough to prompt a lengthy response (sorry), even by my standards. This is definitely a ray of hope. The question now is whether it is possible to bootstrap this into a global response to the new brand of right-wing populism that has emerged over the last few decades. You know, the brand that makes the likes of Schicklegruber and Mussolini look like rank amateurs with limited ambitions.
Still, I am pulling for your version of future outcomes. Let's hope we'll be able to hoist a tankard or two to the dent in Reform's pride next month. As the old Proverb says: "Pride goeth before a fall, and a haughty spirit before destruction." Farage and his acolytes are definitely prideful, not to mention having a superiority complex that can be seen from Jupiter with the naked eye.
I did giggle in a somewhat deranged fashion last night when I saw the news that Orban had conceded (translation: had his arse handed to him on a plate).
And I shall be borrowing 'gatvol', please and thank you.
I'm delighted too for Hungary, though I know very little about Magyar & what I do hear makes him sound like not really my cup of tea. We'll see.
As for Reform, I have been pleased to see their 'inevitability tour' stutter somewhat lately. What worries me though is this country's tendency to take on the stupid idea that's been rejected elsewhere & run with it. I'm thinking of course of Brexit, which if we remember started out as *Grexit* - the idea that Greece would leave the EU over it's economic woes. Greece saw sense, but all of a sudden it was us doing the stupid thing.
Now Hungary ousts Orban, Italy pushes back at Meloni, the far right generally seems to be getting at least slightly smacked down.....will we again ride the stupid train right into a scenario everyone else has rejected?
" I’m not going to go running naked through the streets of London waving an EU flag and singing ABBA at the top of my lungs," - Oh, please do - then we will have another news article to cheer us up!
Shame about not waving the EU flag or singing ABBA though 😉
Thank you Bear for so beautifully expressing what it feels like to witness
decent voters boot out the baddies. The absolute joy and relief of the crowds of people celebrating in Budapest is shared by so many people today - I imagine especially in Ukraine.
Resistance is never futile. Hungary proves that.
Absolutely!
Excellent piece. Let's hope this begins to sweep across nations, turning the dial down on nasty right wing politics and the nasty little men who propagate them across the world. Also, do share the vid of the flag waving and ABBA singing if you change your mind.
Dear Bear, a very good morning. People versus power has a long way to go but it’s hope for the first time in a long time. Best wishes.
Im gleeful today!!
It's so nice to hear a bit of joy in your voice after the last depressing article. Power to the people, and let's hope this starts a world wide domino effect - now wouldn't that be wonderful! I laughed a lot at this one, you have such a delightful turn of phrase, which exactly matches mine. Love you dear, darling Bear 🐻 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈✌️
Well, PHEW! is about as far as I'm going right now.
The new lot aren't exactly wonderful...
Although the idea that Trump sending best wishes & his sidekick probably pushed the new government into the much desired super-majority (they're at just under 70% of seats, the super-majority kicks in at two thirds, and Vance's visit cost them 3%) is particularly enjoyable.
Also worth celebrating, of course, is that MattGPT is probably not going to get his £10k a month any more. O dear, what a shame. There may be some "independent think tanks" closing down, too, as their funding evaporates.
Keep those fingers crossed that come the elections in May, the sound of bursting balloons full of fetid politicians' ego gas is heard throughout the UK...
"He was the man who showed the reactionaries around the world that you didn’t need tanks in the streets to hollow out democracy - all you needed were captured institutions, a compliant media eco-system, a rigged electoral framework, a semi-permanent state of cultural panic and enough rhetoric about sovereignty and the threat of civilisational collapse to make cruelty and, at times, outright malice, sound like common sense and policy."
Which is pretty much where we are at in the UK, isn't it? Farage has been running this playbook for decades. Ever since he decided that the Conservative Party wasn't going to go for his brand of xenophobia (although enough of them now seem happy enough to join him that Reform is now basically the BSC (Bat Shit Crazy) wing of the Tory party. Next up, Senedd, ScotGov and local elections.
The PR in Wales and Scotland will hand Reform enough seats for them to continue their claim to be in the ascendancy. Local Elections? Kent and Worcester are looking like poster-boys for keeping clear. Durham is, surprisingly, looking vaguely rational. Given that it is Darren Grimes' patch (sorry, not an image to conjure with, considering his alleged past indiscretions), that is quite an achievement.
What will be interesting to see now is how those authorities cope with having gone for the lowest possible council tax increases whilst simultaneously promising significant improvements in key services. Will their reputation withstand robbing Peter to pay Paul? Can Durham's Reform councillors meet their goals of significantly increasing SEND investment with the limited financial resources they have at their disposal?
We still have the threat of civilisational collapse to contend with, courtesy of Trump's decision to improve on Iran's offer to partially block the Strait of Hormuz by FULLY blocking the Strait of Hormuz. You have to admire the logic that suggests increasing pressure on the Global Economy is a way to win friends and influence people!
I would like to share your optimism, though. I thought you raised some valid points yesterday, enough to prompt a lengthy response (sorry), even by my standards. This is definitely a ray of hope. The question now is whether it is possible to bootstrap this into a global response to the new brand of right-wing populism that has emerged over the last few decades. You know, the brand that makes the likes of Schicklegruber and Mussolini look like rank amateurs with limited ambitions.
Still, I am pulling for your version of future outcomes. Let's hope we'll be able to hoist a tankard or two to the dent in Reform's pride next month. As the old Proverb says: "Pride goeth before a fall, and a haughty spirit before destruction." Farage and his acolytes are definitely prideful, not to mention having a superiority complex that can be seen from Jupiter with the naked eye.
I did giggle in a somewhat deranged fashion last night when I saw the news that Orban had conceded (translation: had his arse handed to him on a plate).
And I shall be borrowing 'gatvol', please and thank you.
Every single word! Thank you Bear
I'm delighted too for Hungary, though I know very little about Magyar & what I do hear makes him sound like not really my cup of tea. We'll see.
As for Reform, I have been pleased to see their 'inevitability tour' stutter somewhat lately. What worries me though is this country's tendency to take on the stupid idea that's been rejected elsewhere & run with it. I'm thinking of course of Brexit, which if we remember started out as *Grexit* - the idea that Greece would leave the EU over it's economic woes. Greece saw sense, but all of a sudden it was us doing the stupid thing.
Now Hungary ousts Orban, Italy pushes back at Meloni, the far right generally seems to be getting at least slightly smacked down.....will we again ride the stupid train right into a scenario everyone else has rejected?
WAKE UP AMERICA- GET TRUMP OUT!!!
WAKE UP UK - DONT LET FARTRAGE IN!!!
Another great word!!!
" I’m not going to go running naked through the streets of London waving an EU flag and singing ABBA at the top of my lungs," - Oh, please do - then we will have another news article to cheer us up!
a delightful feeling that the tide is starting to turn...
A hope filled piece, and thanks for introducing gatvol.
I suspect that Farage’s enthusiasm for Trump’s excursion to Iran will be what does him in at the next election.