JonH comes home wrote:

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I wonder were the Democrats will end up re Biden - I have to say there is no way he should be President for 4 more years, so i hope they find a way of persuading him to accede and let someone else take the Democrat nomination. Who doesnt really matter to me, just that Biden cant stand

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 It is always difficult to verify the specifics of behind-the-scenes political manoeuvring, but there have been some concerns raised about the Biden administration potentially stifling competition within the Democratic Party. This was an allegation also made about the Clinton administration.

One example that has been cited, is the way in which progressive candidates were largely overlooked in key Cabinet positions and other high-level appointments. Many progressives and younger Democrats were disappointed that figures such as Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders were not chosen for prominent roles in the administration, despite their popularity and influence within the party.

Additionally, there have been reports that the Biden campaign actively coordinated with other candidates to drop out of the race in order to consolidate support behind Biden and prevent a potentially contentious and drawn-out primary process. This could be seen as a way of subtly squashing potential competition within the party.

However, it is important to note that every administration engages in some level of strategic manoeuvring to consolidate power and influence within the party. While there may be some parallels between Clinton's alleged actions and those of the Biden administration, it is ultimately up to the Democratic Party and the American public to hold their leaders accountable and ensure that voices from all corners of the party are heard and respected.

Bob in Spain wrote:

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Here is JD Vance at the National Conservatism conference, claiming that the first truly Islamist country to get a nuclear weapons could be the UK, after Labour's election victory.

twitter.com/AdamBienkov/status/1813084295780790773

Going to be an interesting international dynamic if Trump gets in.

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Sadly, I don't think there's any "if" about it, Bob.    

Jack Kessler's views set out in today's Evening Standard news e-mail - all the grammatical errors his & his alone:

Growing up, my Dad would frequently remind me that football is 'a passing game'. Which sounds obvious, except my introduction to the sport was mid-1990s, pre-Wenger Arsenal, and so the concept of passing to your own side had to be pointed out to a small child.

In the same way, politics is a team game. This is sometimes remarkably well disguised by naked ambition and self-serving leaks, but you see it all the time. When a member of the same party calls Tories "scum" or says something racist, you will often hear colleagues say words to the effect of 'I wouldn't use that language'. This is intended to create distance without actually condemning the comments.

Speaking of which, it has emerged that Donald Trump's pick for vice president, J.D. Vance, 'joked' at conservative political conference last week that Britain under Labour had become the first 'Islamist country' to acquire nuclear weapons. Now, Vance says a lot of things. In a 2016 article for The Atlantic, the future Ohio senator described Trump as "America's Hitler". But I'm more interested in the UK government's response.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Angela Rayner said that Vance had said "quite a lot of fruity things in the past before deploying this classic of the genre, that she did not "recognise that characterisation" of the country she serves as deputy prime minister.

Bad taste and factual inaccuracies aside, this was a power move by Vance. He knows that no US ally can publicly condemn his language - or at least do so without risking a full-blown diplomatic incident. It is low-key humiliation, one that Britain and the West will have to get used to, should Trump return to the White House.

These sorts of comments may not carry the same geopolitical heft of a Trump announcement that the US will no longer adhere to Nato's article 5 or that he will commence withdrawal of all American forces from East Asia. Nevertheless, it may soon be the task of every government minister appearing on local radio to thread the needle. To gamely swallow latest indignity or insult hurled at the British people without sounding like a total supplicant.

Try it at home if you like. Suppose your boss said something false and mean-spirited about you or your partner. Would you push back, or let it pass? If you were tempted by the former, what if your job were slated for possible redundancy and your pre-Truss-mini-Budget mortgage deal was set to expire?

It is the job of any British prime minister to remain on good terms with the American president, whether you're Tony Blair finding a way to be best mates with both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, or Theresa May enduring a running commentary on her Brexit deal from Donald Trump. If the polls are right, Sir Keir Starmer will soon be spending the next few years gritting his teeth on behalf of a nation.

I've little time for the uncharismatic Starmer, none whatsoever for Red Rayner & don't get me started on that plonker, Lammy.

Helen40 wrote:

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I don't really follow politics - and certainly not Trump, but was wondering, has Biden pulling out increased or decreased Trump's chances?

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 I think the polls are showing that Kamala Harris has a better chance of beating Trump than Biden did, but Trump is still favourite - sadly.

indiana wrote:

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Bob in Spain wrote:

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Helen40 wrote:

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I don't really follow politics - and certainly not Trump, but was wondering, has Biden pulling out increased or decreased Trump's chances?

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 I think the polls are showing that Kamala Harris has a better chance of beating Trump than Biden did, but Trump is still favourite - sadly.

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 Yes, the betting has also tightened a bit. Though Trump is still showing as about a 62% to 38% favourite.

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 A few months to go, so fingers crossed. I wonder if it'll be like our election when hardly anyone turns up as they don't want either side to get in!

Bob in Spain wrote:

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Helen40 wrote:

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I don't really follow politics - and certainly not Trump, but was wondering, has Biden pulling out increased or decreased Trump's chances?

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 I think the polls are showing that Kamala Harris has a better chance of beating Trump than Biden did, but Trump is still favourite - sadly.

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The thoughts of a professional pollster & political analyst on Harris's prospects of victory, as published in today's Times.  Interesting closing paragraph:

As for Trump, he may want to think about his attack lines against his opponent, especially if they can and will be construed as sexist by his critics. It is fairly clear that Trump does not like or respect Harris, and it is equally clear that he does not hold back when he dislikes someone. All this means we are likely to see the most negative campaign in the history of American politics. Let the war begin.