Bertie Posted October 26, 2025 Posted October 26, 2025 (edited) 9 hours ago, bolty58 said: Do you know anything of the recent history of Venezuela (Hugo Chavez/Nicolas Maduro)? People have been getting out in droves. I was with one in Spain only 10 days ago. Won't go home until the militant lefties have been removed by whatever means. The fact that it is Jeremy Corbyns valhalla should be enough to convince you that something has to happen to sort it. Could be a very wealthy country. Instead a poverty stricken shit hole thanks to communist ideology. As usual though, the leader and his cohorts enjoy extraordinary luxury. Needs liberating and The Don might just be the man. Yep - their country is in a mess, and Maduro is a bad ‘un. Fwiw watched the recent Michael Palin travel program - not high brow political analysis I know, but gave a good feel to the troubles (& potential) in the country. Regime change would be fine by me. The problem I have is that there a dozens of countries like Venezuela around the globe, run by despots, screwing economies and regular folks. Does one country (in effect one man) have the right to decide unilaterally which one(s) to go after? Does the US have the right and legal justification to do this militarily (as opposed to building global consensus and pressure through political and economic means)? If they ignore rules-based international order then what’s to stop anyone doing so? You could get any tinpot dictator with any trumped up reason attacking any country. Anarchy. I also happen to think (which won’t be a surprise) that Trump doesn’t have an ounce of compassion or empathy in his body. He won’t be going this for the right reason (for the Venezuelan public). No, as a malignant narcissist it will only be for personal gain as per the previous suggestions. The guy is a bigger danger to world peace than Maduro. Edited October 26, 2025 by Bertie Quote
Dimron Posted October 26, 2025 Posted October 26, 2025 14 hours ago, Winchester White said: That isn't global politics then. That is their politics and it has moved on from them dinosaurs. Dinosaurs with launch codes Quote
Dimron Posted October 26, 2025 Posted October 26, 2025 2 hours ago, Bertie said: Yep - their country is in a mess, and Maduro is a bad ‘un. Fwiw watched the recent Michael Palin travel program - not high brow political analysis I know, but gave a good feel to the troubles (& potential) in the country. Regime change would be fine by me. The problem I have is that there a dozens of countries like Venezuela around the globe, run by despots, screwing economies and regular folks. Does one country (in effect one man) have the right to decide unilaterally which one(s) to go after? Does the US have the right and legal justification to do this militarily (as opposed to building global consensus and pressure through political and economic means)? If they ignore rules-based international order then what’s to stop anyone doing so? You could get any tinpot dictator with any trumped up reason attacking any country. Anarchy. I also happen to think (which won’t be a surprise) that Trump doesn’t have an ounce of compassion or empathy in his body. He won’t be going this for the right reason (for the Venezuelan public). No, as a malignant narcissist it will only be for personal gain as per the previous suggestions. The guy is a bigger danger to world peace than Maduro. Says everything when the leader of the opposition is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. South America is almost on Trump's doorstep and in the main affiliations are still up for grabs between US, Russia and China Quote
frank_spencer Posted October 26, 2025 Posted October 26, 2025 Yup his ballroom definitely isn't going to interfere with the existing Whitehouse. Quote
Zico Posted October 26, 2025 Posted October 26, 2025 17 minutes ago, frank_spencer said: Yup his ballroom definitely isn't going to interfere with the existing Whitehouse. interesting to see how it's being paid for as well Trump has said the new 90,000 sq ft ballroom is going to be “paid for 100% by me and some friends of mine”. Now the world’s CEOs have a wonderful opportunity to prove just how friendly to Trump they are. A list of donors including Apple, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft and Google have already lined up to contribute to the project. Defense contractors including Lockheed Martin and Palantir – who seem to know a thing or two about reducing beloved buildings to rubble – are also reportedly funding the project. Quote
Winchester White Posted October 26, 2025 Posted October 26, 2025 3 hours ago, Dimron said: Dinosaurs with launch codes Fully agree with you there, they are a game changer. Quote
bolty58 Posted October 26, 2025 Posted October 26, 2025 2 hours ago, Bertie said: Gavin Newsom is so good at this…… 👏 Newsom may as well hang up his boots. Kamala is running again Quote
royal white Posted October 26, 2025 Posted October 26, 2025 (edited) Folk over here having a whinge about the Don spending a couple of hundred million on the White House. Meanwhile our Parliament building is going through a 20 billion refit 😂😂 Edited October 26, 2025 by royal white Quote
Bertie Posted October 26, 2025 Posted October 26, 2025 7 minutes ago, bolty58 said: Newsom may as well hang up his boots. Kamala is running again Unbelievable isn’t it. No self-awareness. No idea why she thinks it would be different second time around. Might be a good politician and a decent person - I’ve no idea - but not an electable leader in the US imho. Quote
Tonge moor green jacket Posted October 26, 2025 Posted October 26, 2025 2 minutes ago, royal white said: Folk over here having a whinge about the Don spending a couple of hundred million on the White House. Meanwhile out Parliament building is going through a 20 billion refit 😂😂 An interesting debate this. Use public money and it's a waste. Use private money, and it's mates etc that just want to buy favours and preferential treatment. Folk bitched when a private doner paid to have no 10 (or was it an adjacent flat) decorated. Same would have bitched had they used tax payers cash. Can see arguments both ways, but it becomes a no-win situation. On the face of it though, it does seem a bit of historical vandalism to the Whitehouse! We'll have to see what the end result is. Quote
Dimron Posted October 26, 2025 Posted October 26, 2025 1 hour ago, royal white said: Folk over here having a whinge about the Don spending a couple of hundred million on the White House. Meanwhile our Parliament building is going through a 20 billion refit 😂😂 Said it many times.. sell it off to Alton Towers, make it a tourist attraction with holograms of Churchill, Cromwell and Guy Fawkes. Spend the money on a purpose built parliament next to the NEC with living quarters Quote
frank_spencer Posted October 26, 2025 Posted October 26, 2025 1 hour ago, royal white said: Folk over here having a whinge about the Don spending a couple of hundred million on the White House. Meanwhile our Parliament building is going through a 20 billion refit 😂😂 Not pulled down a third of it to build something new after saying it'll all be left untouched though have we? Not arsed about him building a ballroom plenty of presidents have added things to the Whitehouse over the years. The bullshit and bluster around it is what deserves calling out. Had he said the entire East wing of the Whitehouse would have to be pulled down from the start he would have faced more resistance to his plans. Quote
royal white Posted October 26, 2025 Posted October 26, 2025 2 minutes ago, frank_spencer said: Not pulled down a third of it to build something new after saying it'll all be left untouched though have we? Not arsed about him building a ballroom plenty of presidents have added things to the Whitehouse over the years. The bullshit and bluster around it is what deserves calling out. Had he said the entire East wing of the Whitehouse would have to be pulled down from the start he would have faced more resistance to his plans. Do you really give a shit? And no we’ve not pulled a 3rd of Parliament down yet spending is going to cost 20 Billion (yes that’s a B ) Quote
frank_spencer Posted October 26, 2025 Posted October 26, 2025 Just now, royal white said: Do you really give a shit? And no we’ve not pulled a 3rd of Parliament down yet spending is going to cost 20 Billion (yes that’s a B ) It's just another example of how you can't trust a word Trump says. As for our HoP I'd have thought. £20bn could build about 4 new ones, how they've agreed to spend that much is bizarre. Quote
Winchester White Posted October 26, 2025 Posted October 26, 2025 4 minutes ago, royal white said: Do you really give a shit? And no we’ve not pulled a 3rd of Parliament down yet spending is going to cost 20 Billion (yes that’s a B ) Fully agree with you on this, ludicrous money. Quote
frank_spencer Posted October 26, 2025 Posted October 26, 2025 After some research there has been no agreement on refurbishment plans for parliament. Moving everyone temporarily out is estimated to cost between 7-13 billion and be the quickest method. The longest and most expensive option is trying to work round folk whilst they're still in there and could cost 22bn across up to 70 years. https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/new-search-for-palace-of-westminster-design-team-set-for-2026 Quote
royal white Posted October 26, 2025 Posted October 26, 2025 2 minutes ago, frank_spencer said: After some research there has been no agreement on refurbishment plans for parliament. Moving everyone temporarily out is estimated to cost between 7-13 billion and be the quickest method. The longest and most expensive option is trying to work round folk whilst they're still in there and could cost 22bn across up to 70 years. https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/new-search-for-palace-of-westminster-design-team-set-for-2026 So I’m sure we will all agree it will probably be a lot more. Think HS2 Quote
Winchester White Posted October 26, 2025 Posted October 26, 2025 2 minutes ago, frank_spencer said: After some research there has been no agreement on refurbishment plans for parliament. Moving everyone temporarily out is estimated to cost between 7-13 billion and be the quickest method. The longest and most expensive option is trying to work round folk whilst they're still in there and could cost 22bn across up to 70 years. https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/new-search-for-palace-of-westminster-design-team-set-for-2026 Someone's making some serious wedge from that. Quote
frank_spencer Posted October 26, 2025 Posted October 26, 2025 (edited) 2 minutes ago, royal white said: So I’m sure we will all agree it will probably be a lot more. Think HS2 Oh yes it'll be more than the estimated amount we can't seem to deliver massive projects in this country without going way over budget. Spending around £2m a week to maintain the place as it is isn't sustainable so something needs doing Edited October 26, 2025 by frank_spencer Quote
athywhite1958 Posted October 27, 2025 Posted October 27, 2025 22 hours ago, Winchester White said: Fully agree with you on this, ludicrous money. So which of the Labour hierarchy's friends/relatives will get the contracts for completing said refit?: Quote
Winchester White Posted October 27, 2025 Posted October 27, 2025 1 minute ago, athywhite1958 said: So which of the Labour hierarchy's friends/relatives will get the contracts for completing said refit?: Not sure this is a party thing to be honest, it was down for a refit years ago. Quote
athywhite1958 Posted October 27, 2025 Posted October 27, 2025 46 minutes ago, Winchester White said: Not sure this is a party thing to be honest, it was down for a refit years ago. That is fair enough but who is going to select the contractor's? Quote
Winchester White Posted October 27, 2025 Posted October 27, 2025 3 minutes ago, athywhite1958 said: That is fair enough but who is going to select the contractor's? Dunno pal, but you can bet your life the big ones will be all over it. Quote
gonzo Posted October 27, 2025 Posted October 27, 2025 It's almost like there might be a tender process Quote
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