Meanwhile in Ukraine

[Dimron]

12 hours ago, Casino said:

I really hope he does

But if he does, i hope he has a plan to get us back very close to the EU cos sulky bollocks is gonna throw a fit

Europe is becoming a busted flush.

20% of the German vote went to the AfD who view the Ukraine conflict as an internal matter and recognise the annexation of Crimea against EU policies (and most others). They would also push for an exit referendum if and when...

[Cheese]

24 minutes ago, Dimron said:

Europe is becoming a busted flush.

20% of the German vote went to the AfD who view the Ukraine conflict as an internal matter and recognise the annexation of Crimea against EU policies (and most others). They would also push for an exit referendum if and when...

80% didn't vote for AfD...

Anyway, looking at the Election map, they might as well rebuild that wall.

[Zico]

1 hour ago, Dimron said:

Europe is becoming a busted flush.

20% of the German vote went to the AfD who view the Ukraine conflict as an internal matter and recognise the annexation of Crimea against EU policies (and most others). They would also push for an exit referendum if and when...

also interesting when you see what the youth voted for

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/25/how-afd-the-left-won-the-german-youth-vote

also interesting that I read that now the CDU need to form a coalition but aren't intrerested in forming one with AfD

very fragmented however you look at it

I expect many western european countries are the same but ultimately will come together to shun the far right

[tomski]

1 hour ago, Cheese said:

80% didn't vote for AfD...

Anyway, looking at the Election map, they might as well rebuild that wall.

Was always gonna be that split. German reunification has been a bad do in so many ways. East was swallowed by the west and after 35 years the fact this is still evident is fairly sad. 

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

 

[Dimron]

3 hours ago, Zico said:

also interesting when you see what the youth voted for

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/25/how-afd-the-left-won-the-german-youth-vote

also interesting that I read that now the CDU need to form a coalition but aren't intrerested in forming one with AfD

very fragmented however you look at it

I expect many western european countries are the same but ultimately will come together to shun the far right

I'd imagine Trump will have something to say about how the AfD have been "anti-democratically" sidelined although 20% of the population have voted for them and they came second... I recall Nick Clegg went with the Conservatives because they came second although they were against the Lib Dem Principles.

[Winchester White]

1 minute ago, Dimron said:

I'd imagine Trump will have something to say about how the AfD have been "anti-democratically" sidelined although 20% of the population have voted for them and they came second... I recall Nick Clegg went with the Conservatives because they came second although they were against the Lib Dem Principles.

I thought the Tories got the most MPs but not a majority, hence 3rd place Lib Dems joined to form the coalition?

[Dimron]

4 hours ago, Cheese said:

80% didn't vote for AfD...

Anyway, looking at the Election map, they might as well rebuild that wall.

And 71% didn't vote for the Christian Democrats!

Must be something in the culture/mindset of the previously soviet states... they probably respect and "need" hard line authoritarianism... something similar happened in Ukrainian elections in 2010

[Dimron]

4 minutes ago, Dimron said:

I'd imagine Trump will have something to say about how the AfD have been "anti-democratically" sidelined although 20% of the population have voted for them and they came second... I recall Nick Clegg went with the Conservatives because they came second although they were against the Lib Dem Principles.

I stand corrected... must pay more attention, especially now dementia is looming... but my point remains

[Spider]

Looking to the future

Do we all think Putin will stop any expansionist plans elsewhere once his Orange lapdog gives him the ground he’s gained in Ukraine?

Georgia, Moldova/Transnistria, the baltics. Putin won’t have any plans there?

[Ani]

We are at what seems like a pivotal time in terms of traditional alliances. I am glad that European leaders are trying to build bridges with the US but are not going in with their pants pulled down by Trump. 
 

Across the West there are communities that have been left behind, it started with Thatcher and the mining villages but no Government since has done anything to address the genuine grievances these people feel. Of course it is fed by groups looking to grow their own influence. The sad thing is that the people coming along say they looking to fight the establishment are just a different bunch of millionaires (billionaires ?) with their own self interest at heart, Trump, Musk, Farage , Tice etc etc . 
 

Can the West recover ? Probably but it needs Politicans to be brave enough to change the traditional boundaries without selling out. Will Starmer be praised for increasing defence spend or criticised for cutting aid budgets ? 
 

 

[London Wanderer]

7 minutes ago, Ani said:

We are at what seems like a pivotal time in terms of traditional alliances. I am glad that European leaders are trying to build bridges with the US but are not going in with their pants pulled down by Trump. 
 

Across the West there are communities that have been left behind, it started with Thatcher and the mining villages but no Government since has done anything to address the genuine grievances these people feel. Of course it is fed by groups looking to grow their own influence. The sad thing is that the people coming along say they looking to fight the establishment are just a different bunch of millionaires (billionaires ?) with their own self interest at heart, Trump, Musk, Farage , Tice etc etc . 
 

Can the West recover ? Probably but it needs Politicans to be brave enough to change the traditional boundaries without selling out. Will Starmer be praised for increasing defence spend or criticised for cutting aid budgets ? 
 

 

Aye I’ve heard similar from other sources too.

 It’s a very good point.

[Spider]

5 minutes ago, Ani said:

We are at what seems like a pivotal time in terms of traditional alliances. I am glad that European leaders are trying to build bridges with the US but are not going in with their pants pulled down by Trump. 
 

Across the West there are communities that have been left behind, it started with Thatcher and the mining villages but no Government since has done anything to address the genuine grievances these people feel. Of course it is fed by groups looking to grow their own influence. The sad thing is that the people coming along say they looking to fight the establishment are just a different bunch of millionaires (billionaires ?) with their own self interest at heart, Trump, Musk, Farage , Tice etc etc . 
 

Can the West recover ? Probably but it needs Politicans to be brave enough to change the traditional boundaries without selling out. Will Starmer be praised for increasing defence spend or criticised for cutting aid budgets ? 
 

 

Trump has America's military and economic might behind him. And he knows it.

Beyond that, quality politicians and statesmen see the bullshit and empty, undeliverable promises he makes.

 Putin knows the next 4 years are probably make or break for him and the Soviet legacy he covets. If he can set Trump against the west for a while, he can set about fulfilling his dream of claiming back more of Mother Russia.

If Western leaders can encourage Trump to focus on his golf course and sacking everyone who works for the US civil service, they may have a chance to keep Putin in his box.

 

It's best that Trump just fucks off and chomps down on big macs until 2029 and lets the grown ups deal with everything;

[gonzo]

13 minutes ago, Ani said:

We are at what seems like a pivotal time in terms of traditional alliances. I am glad that European leaders are trying to build bridges with the US but are not going in with their pants pulled down by Trump. 
 

Across the West there are communities that have been left behind, it started with Thatcher and the mining villages but no Government since has done anything to address the genuine grievances these people feel. Of course it is fed by groups looking to grow their own influence. The sad thing is that the people coming along say they looking to fight the establishment are just a different bunch of millionaires (billionaires ?) with their own self interest at heart, Trump, Musk, Farage , Tice etc etc . 
 

Can the West recover ? Probably but it needs Politicans to be brave enough to change the traditional boundaries without selling out. Will Starmer be praised for increasing defence spend or criticised for cutting aid budgets ? 
 

 

Lurches to extremes is what happens when normal working class folk don't get listened to and neglected.

 

 

[boltonboris]

On 24/02/2025 at 12:26, Sweep said:

Farage will eventually be done for similar as well, I have little doubt about that

I thought all this was just common knowledge to be honest. Trump also accepted money from Russian invest.. sorry, donors for his first election campaign in 2016

He was also helped out by the Russian government in 2008 after his business empire collapsed for the 2nd time - He received large quantities for over-valuated real estate.

The Tories have done the same. Bojo in particular. The Labour party probably have as well.

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

4 minutes ago, boltonboris said:

The Tories have done the same. Bojo in particular. 

Lord Lebedev of Siberia

[Sweep]

1 minute ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Lord Lebedev of Siberia

I'd forgotten about him, that was/is all very odd

[boltonboris]

19 hours ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

 

"If you believe that, it's ok with me" - Just sat there barefaced telling reporters that Macron is lying. I noticed he started fidgeting when he said frozen Russian cash could repay for the loan... I wonder how much the Russians have promised the Cult leader in rebates for restoring it all..

It's clear by the look on Macron's face, that he's quite comfortable, as he should be, running rings around him in a room. It's when everyone else has left and Donald gets embarrassed and picks up his phone, when he starts getting 'tough'

[gonzo]

The Don always did well in those live debates with Crooked Hillary and the likes.

He was more like a stand up comedian than politician.

He wouldn't stand a chance with proper politicians in PMQs or similar where folk could screw him down and make him answer.

I'd love to see him in a room with all the EU leaders.

[boltonboris]

2 minutes ago, gonzo said:

The Don always did well in those live debates with Crooked Hillary and the likes.

He was more like a stand up comedian than politician.

He wouldn't stand a chance with proper politicians in PMQs or similar where folk could screw him down and make him answer.

I'd love to see him in a room with all the EU leaders.

With the worlds eyes watching and not just a Fox news crew, people could so so so easily set traps for him to walk into and show him up. That's what makes him so dangerous. He'll just try and lie his way out of it and his lies then become the truth to the cult

[Winchester White]

40 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Lord Lebedev of Siberia

How that was ever allowed is beyond comprehension.

But Boris then went full circle and is 1000% behind Ukraine. I wonder if the Russkies reneged on a deal or something?

[boltonboris]

Just now, Winchester White said:

How that was ever allowed is beyond comprehension.

But Boris then went full circle and is 1000% behind Ukraine. I wonder if the Russkies reneged on a deal or something?

Just no longer needs them.. Their money's all tied up and he can't take it

[Spider]

35 minutes ago, gonzo said:

The Don always did well in those live debates with Crooked Hillary and the likes.

He was more like a stand up comedian than politician.

He wouldn't stand a chance with proper politicians in PMQs or similar where folk could screw him down and make him answer.

I'd love to see him in a room with all the EU leaders.

“I’ve got a note from my Mum that says you all smell”

 

[Dimron]

1 hour ago, gonzo said:

The Don always did well in those live debates with Crooked Hillary and the likes.

He was more like a stand up comedian than politician.

He wouldn't stand a chance with proper politicians in PMQs or similar where folk could screw him down and make him answer.

I'd love to see him in a room with all the EU leaders.

He'd just throw a wobbler and take the US Chequebook home.

It's all about funding... no bucks, no fucks lads

[Farrelli]

3 hours ago, gonzo said:

Lurches to extremes is what happens when normal working class folk don't get listened to and neglected.

 

 

I think lurches to extremes happens when democracy breaks down.  There are many reasons for that. People are then conned into thinking the alternative radical party are going to make their life better.  The classic case is Germany post First World War when they were faced with so much war debt and hyper inflation so it was easy to blame Jews and stir up hatred. So many parallels with today which is scary.