Theresa May calls General Election for June 8

[Torchwood]

49 minutes ago, RabidMongoose said:

Assuming it doesnt get used then it provides us with four benefits:

1. When needed we can make deep cuts to the military budget safe in the knowledge that no one will try it on due to our nukes.

2. It allows us to command a certain level of respect from other nations and if the need arises allows us to engage in nuclear blackmail during negotiations.

3. It means we ourselves cannot be nuclear blackmailed.

4. It acts as a deterrent against any tyrants or rogue states that want to attack us.

Then we can envision a whole range of war scenarios where nuking the enemy would be appropriate and fully deserved. From being the victim of a surprise nuclear attack ourselves, to retaliating against mass murder terrorism, or mass murder of Brits by a foreign power, to even punishing for a country invading part of our territory.

And finally, the one all generals are quick to point out which is that we want a broad range of weapons platforms because we cannot predict what will happen or what will be needed in the future.

Wow...so much rubbish in one post.  

 

[Space Commander Travis]

1 hour ago, RabidMongoose said:

Assuming it doesnt get used then it provides us with four benefits:

1. When needed we can make deep cuts to the military budget safe in the knowledge that no one will try it on due to our nukes.

2. It allows us to command a certain level of respect from other nations and if the need arises allows us to engage in nuclear blackmail during negotiations.

3. It means we ourselves cannot be nuclear blackmailed.

4. It acts as a deterrent against any tyrants or rogue states that want to attack us.

Then we can envision a whole range of war scenarios where nuking the enemy would be appropriate and fully deserved. From being the victim of a surprise nuclear attack ourselves, to retaliating against mass murder terrorism, or mass murder of Brits by a foreign power, to even punishing for a country invading part of our territory.

And finally, the one all generals are quick to point out which is that we want a broad range of weapons platforms because we cannot predict what will happen or what will be needed in the future.

Those may well be, hypothetically, desirable situations, but as they're all extremely hypothetical (2 seems to be saying it would enable the UK to behave like North Korea if it wanted to, and (3) and (4) would surely lose their effectiveness if the dangers that we're always told we face are from deranged, irrational and fanatical states that cannot be rationally argued with, wouldn't they? On the whole, wouldn't having a nuclear deterrent seem to be a very expensive luxury when Governments (or Ms. May's, at any rate) are always trying to tell us we have to be Austere and There is No Money to Spare on Anything that might be Actually Useful (except for pouring billions into the NHS, of course)?

[Duke Wellington]

44 minutes ago, Manfred von Dreidecker said:

Those may well be, hypothetically, desirable situations, but as they're all extremely hypothetical (2 seems to be saying it would enable the UK to behave like North Korea if it wanted to, and (3) and (4) would surely lose their effectiveness if the dangers that we're always told we face are from deranged, irrational and fanatical states that cannot be rationally argued with, wouldn't they? On the whole, wouldn't having a nuclear deterrent seem to be a very expensive luxury when Governments (or Ms. May's, at any rate) are always trying to tell us we have to be Austere and There is No Money to Spare on Anything that might be Actually Useful (except for pouring billions into the NHS, of course)?

Get out of it, deterring attack is why there has been no major wars since WW2. Because so many of the major players are nuclear powers. And the cost spread out over its lifetime is good value for money. I recognise there are a few people on the fringes with nuclear free ideals and Corbynite views but trust me, you are getting no well near a majority as you will soon see.

And rightfully so. I dont want someone gambling with my future due to their inability to see threats and potential threats in the world. Because they have their heads in the fantasy clouds letting their ideals get in the way of rational common sense.

Edited June 8, 2017 by RabidMongoose

[keithisco]

22 hours ago, stevewinn said:

Im going for Tory Landslide, which includes seats taken in Scotland, meaning the Tories will have more seats in Scotland than Labour. SNP to lose 4 to five seats. UKIP dead. Lib Dems rigamortis.

Brave man Keith. 

I'll guess.

Tories; 391

Labour; 191

SNP; 44

Lib Dems 5

Plaid Cymru; 3

Greens; 1

UKIP; 0

Others; 15

 

 

I prefer the look of your results Steve, but don't think we will be that lucky....but hope springs eternal

[Space Commander Travis]

33 minutes ago, RabidMongoose said:

Get out of it, deterring attack is why there has been no major wars since WW2. 

I think probably the USA and USSR's possession of them was the major factor rather than whether or not Britain had them.
Besides, its deterrent value was highly limited in practical terms wasn't it; the Argentinians knew perfectly well that Mrs. Thatcher was never going to even threaten to use them over the Falklands, and that's the kind of military threat that's rather more realistic (not to mention that the current crop of Rogue states are, as our leaders keep telling us, fanatical and irrational and can't be argued with rationally (and terrorism is another matter again, isn't it.) 

[Space Commander Travis]

Don't get me wrong, I very much hope that Ms. May gets back in, so I can sit back and continue to treat the political profession with derision and disdain, rather than having to feel sorry as the media tear poor old Jezzer Corbyn to pieces, which they will of course do right from day one. I do find quite remarkable the number of people here who seem to fervently and passionately support their favoured party as if they somehow believe that returning them in power could somehow make the slightest difference in any way to anything. Let's be honest, Ms. May hasn't done the slightest thing except tell the EU that she'll trigger Area 50 (and that was a foregone conclusion that she'd inherited, wasn't it); she hasn't done the slightest thing else as far as anyone can discern, so why do people still cling to the illusion that their preferred candidate will be able to lead the nation to a brighter tomorrow this time?  

Edited June 8, 2017 by Manfred von Dreidecker

[Essan]

5 hours ago, ouija ouija said:

Okay, the deed is done. I voted for the candidate who was born and brought up in my village. He's Lib. Dem.. I believe that the Conservatives and Labour are as bad as each other. Even though the candidate I voted for is Lib.Dem. he's proved in the past that he will vote against his party if he believes that will be best for our county. Everything he does is for his constituents.  

Well done!   Thats how everyone should vote

 

[Duke Wellington]

To summarise up Corbyn:

1. He wants to give up our weapons so we can all live in happiness and peace with us making friends with everyone. What the moron doesnt get is that maybe, just maybe, there other countries and peoples and groups out there that arent interested in being our friends.

2. He wants to implement loads of socialist policies from re-nationalisation of the railways to pouring money into the NHS. He isn't bothered that we have no extra money to spend. Why? Thats right if you are a middle earner or better he is going to redistribute away a large chunk of your wealth. His socialism is not a win win for British society it is a win lose. And its those who are the main back bone of the economy he is going to hit.

[keithisco]

The vote has been cast... A good Brexit is the only way anything will get funded-yet Corbyn just doesn't get it. A Clean Brexit would be even better from my point of view because it might just stem the flow of hundreds of thousands of techies and engineers who, like myself, left these shores due to uncontrolled immigration and not being able to recognise my own country anymore.  We need to keep all of those that contribute to our economy but as fewer Brits leave then the demand for economic immigrants will reduce. It will take decades probably, but then, nobody thought it would happen overnight 

[stevewinn]

5 hours ago, ouija ouija said:

Okay, the deed is done. I voted for the candidate who was born and brought up in my village. He's Lib. Dem.. I believe that the Conservatives and Labour are as bad as each other. Even though the candidate I voted for is Lib.Dem. he's proved in the past that he will vote against his party if he believes that will be best for our county. Everything he does is for his constituents.  

Like Essan said, this is the way we should all vote, but sadly a large number of people in any given constituency have tribal loyalties to whatever party.

I always tell of the woman who on a Local BBC Radio midday phone in show, she spent nearly ten minutes pulling labour apart,  giving labour down the banks, tore the back out of the labour party, but then finished the call by stating she'll still be voting labour because her Dad did. when the BBC radio presenter asked which way her father will be voting she said he's been dead 25 years.

3 hours ago, RabidMongoose said:

With May I do genuinely believe she will drive through Brexit and keep immigration down. So yes, landslide victory. I say 100 seats to be cautious but yes it could be quite a bit bigger.

 

41 minutes ago, keithisco said:

I prefer the look of your results Steve, but don't think we will be that lucky....but hope springs eternal

Rabid, Keith i got carried away with my prediction, i think the two of you will be closer than me. 

[keithisco]

3 minutes ago, stevewinn said:

Rabid, Keith i got carried away with my prediction, i think the two of you will be closer than me. 

...Reckon the prize will be half a cheese sandwich each down at the local...RESULT!

[bee]

 

 

 

.

[Space Commander Travis]

Would anyone like to answer my question? what makes any of you believe that Ms. May will lead you into a happier tomorrow? Why do people put this extraordinary faith in politicians that expect you to vote for them? Why do you think she'll do anything other than treat the masses with complete disdain the moment she's got her stamp of legitimacy? She's our only hope for Brexit? what plans does she have for brexit? Anything? Anyone? what plans does she have for combating extremism? Anything? Anyone?  

[CrimsonKing]

Are any of you UK folks truly happy with your choices?Or is it a bit of a damned if you do or don't such as this past US election...

[Duke Wellington]

7 minutes ago, Manfred von Dreidecker said:

Would anyone like to answer my question? what makes any of you believe that Ms. May will lead you into a happier tomorrow? Why do people put this extraordinary faith in politicians that expect you to vote for them? Why do you think she'll do anything other than treat the masses with complete disdain the moment she's got her stamp of legitimacy? She's our only hope for Brexit? what plans does she have for brexit? Anything? Anyone? what plans does she have for combating extremism? Anything? Anyone?  

We dont know that, but comparing the main two options it is far less likely to end up a disaster with her than with him (in my opinion).

[Duke Wellington]

4 minutes ago, CrimsonKing said:

Are any of you UK folks truly happy with your choices?Or is it a bit of a damned if you do or don't such as this past US election...

Nope, we potentially have a decent leader going off how determined she has been so far to abide by her word.

[Space Commander Travis]

Doesn't this picture, on my local paper wbsite front page, seem very appropriate:

"Polling Station & Flea Market": so you can pick up two lots of useless tat at a knockdown price in one go!

[Unusual Tournament]

1 hour ago, RabidMongoose said:

Nope, we potentially have a decent leader going off how determined she has been so far to abide by her word.

May is a decent leader, no doubt about it. She was charged with Brexit and choose fight this election on Brexit and what did the electorate say...? Well according to exit polls... the conservatives will get 314 seats. Well down from the majority that they went into the election with. 

Hung parliament and a review of Brexit. Possibly another referendum or at the least a vote on what Brexit should look like. May has over played her hand. 

Corbyn is the big winner.

[hetrodoxly]

2 hours ago, Manfred von Dreidecker said:

Would anyone like to answer my question? what makes any of you believe that Ms. May will lead you into a happier tomorrow? Why do people put this extraordinary faith in politicians that expect you to vote for them? Why do you think she'll do anything other than treat the masses with complete disdain the moment she's got her stamp of legitimacy? She's our only hope for Brexit? what plans does she have for brexit? Anything? Anyone? what plans does she have for combating extremism? Anything? Anyone?  

It's been said time and time again, she's going to get the best deal she can while leaving the single market, what else can she say? Corbyn (idiot) has already played his hand.

[bee]

 

if the exit polls are accurate we could be in for a shock result -

brexit in jeopardy...?...staying in the single market...?.....keeping the free movement of people ..?

Don't want to take the exit polls as gospel but Teresa May might not even be PM this time tomorrow... 

Boris Johnson's odds of becoming  Conservative leader have been slashed from 20/1 to 5/1 - yikes... 

Ok ---- the night is young

but

.

[bee]

 

Young people influenced by Face Book and social media could be a dominant factor maybe.....?

 

 

 

 

Edited June 8, 2017 by bee

[cyclopes500]

I was a Labour supporter when I was younger. 18-26. Afterwards I understood more about the costs of running a country etc. So I switched to Conservative, later when I noticed immigration and EU was ruining the country I switched to UKIP. Personally I am a supporter of true proportional representation, not first past the post. Under PR UKIP would have won over 80 seats if my maths is correct. I'll work the PR results out once the count is over and put it on the board. Perhaps a few people watching my little space could do the same out of interest and check my maths out for me. Thank you.

[Unusual Tournament]

Boris for PM? Careful what you wish for, bee.

[bee]

6 minutes ago, Captain Risky said:

Boris for PM? Careful what you wish for, bee.

 

Errrr I'm not wishing for that - 

typical of you to twist what I said to that --- 

.

[LV-426]

I still think there'll be a slim Tory majority. Exit polls aren't noted for their accuracy, but hey... who knows!

The worst possible thing that could happen right now is a hung parliament. You could just see the rest ganging up to overthrow the Tories, and leaving us in absolute chaos

Doing other stuff for a couple of hours, but I'll be back later on when the main results come rolling in if anyone else is yawning, crying, cheering or anything inbetween