Rayvin

We should be very grateful for each other IMO, that we have this space to robustly challenge our views

The West said they'd need to submit to an application with the same scrutiny and checks that other countries have to go through, including a functional democratic mechanism. Russia walked away from this because it didn't want to "join the back of the queue like just another small country". The reality I suspect is that they weren't prepared to go through the reform. I am very suspicious of information blaming NATO for all of this given how well Putin has poisoned information within the Western world in general. We know he's hit the right on that front, it is not inconceivable to me whatsoever that he went for the left as well. The Kremlin released a statement literally detailing why they did this - it was to restore the greater Russian empire, a gift that Putin is giving to future generations of Russia. Finally solving the Ukrainian question. When speaking to Western outlets, he talks about the need to push back against NATO - IMO this is because he knows this view will get more sympathy than "I'm empire building". But if that view was accurate, why has Russia not responded to the overtones from Finland and Sweden to join NATO? Why has Russia brought NATO right to its door, justifying every step it has taken, in order to "purge" its presence from Ukraine. If NATO is the reason he's done this, then after years of being a fucking mastermind he's shown himself to be an absolute moron. If it's empire building, then I would suggest that after years of being an egotistical fascist, he has... continued to be an egotistical fascist. The consistency of the latter position is what I think the real justification is.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/08/we-have-already-lost-far-right-russian-bloggers-slam-kremlin-over-army-response The Russian far right blogosphere thinks they've lost. Not saying that means anything but pressure is clearly building from Putin's fellow fascists and genocide enthusiasts.

If Ukraine do manage this - and I am wary of getting carried away here since I just can't really get my head around Russia allowing this to happen - then they are a nation of fucking heroes. To be standing up to that fascist, autocratic, genocidal bellend in the way they have is impressive enough. To think they might actually be able to win would just be incredible. The debt that the west would owe them would not be insignificant. I hope we would see considerable effort in helping them rebuild.

What will Putin do if forced to confront this loss of face?

It is absolutely with Celtic in mind, although I didn't realise the scouse were that opposed to the royals. Suspect the rest of the country would be fine.

Is the sovereign also a citizen, and does that status take precedence over any and all other considerations?

Which newspaper ran that story It's Daily Mail esque and yet they would never cross the cult leaders like that. News of the world? If it wasn't public then I'm not sure it should be a scandal really, deviant though he may be - unless the scandal was the phone tapping which absolutely should have been. Royalty or not it's incredibly low to do that to people.

What the fuck... Why was the world subjected to their scary ass pillow talk?

Sporting events I think are the only reason. Seemed to be 'the done thing' to sing it at Silverstone, the time I went.

Agreed but at least it's not elevating a living person to godhood over and above the rest of us.

I won't sing it Queen or King on principle. Make it Jerusalem or something and maybe.

Missed this and just posted myself but aye, this is some serious snowflake shit from the right side of the aisle.

I have to say mind, I'm seeing a stunning amount of supposedly left leaning people getting caught up in this - very much demonstrates how significant the cultural impact of the institution is in this country. We are born to be ruled over, it's hardwired into our national psyche. There's an almost cult like devotion to this institution.

They're plebs man, they don't matter. The rich elites have just lost one of their own and we have to mourn her on their behalf.

Aye. We'll just have to make do with the extra bank holiday.

As Alex said though, does give us a few extra days to get people back fit.

The Daily Mail is absolutely beside itself. It's like the leader of their whole cult (witting or not) has just abandoned them. "Heartbroken Britain."

Ah, the mackems have found a way to make it about them. Naturally.

As an ardent anti-royalist, I find myself unexpectedly saddened at this news. Not for her as a person, but for the ever present figure she was in society - the symbol of the UK as much as I disagreed with that principle. We enter a new era with absolute chaos and uncertainty for this country. We really are cut loose now - and with the insanity this country has about royals, who knows what lies ahead, or how this might penetrate the national psyche. It feels like bad news, not meaningless news - a further indication of the collapse of this nation. Maybe I'm just being melodramatic though.

Guardian has just published this clip of Blair vs Cameron on this issue which is, honestly, glorious.

It does, for 6 months.

So she wants the UK to be a net energy exporter by 2040... I missed the detail on this though, is that from fracking or nuclear or what? This is, I suppose, a golden opportunity for the Tories to trash conservation laws to push through a big business agenda at a time it might actually have some public support.

All of that said, if she has a rough winter then none of the packaging will matter. If she rides it out, I think it's going to be a battle.

As I said yesterday, we need to remain vigilant because this is a clear change of tack from Johnson - for all this analysis of 'clear blue sky' between Starmer and Truss, it's the consideration of this between Truss and Johnson that we need to be concerned about. By coming out and saying what she believes in, she has potentially wrongfooted Starmer who is still fighting this battle on a field that is not aligned with his own principles. They will sell her as sincere, willing to make tough decisions, and someone who has a vision for how we should move forward. People want a vision, I've been saying this specific line for fucking years. The fact that she is none of those things won't matter - the packaging the media give her will cut through.