As an American-British citizen, I will do my best to explain.
Unlike in the US, Britain has the Queen as head of state. Her cabinet is chosen by Parliament, rather than her choosing it. Parliament is controlled by parties. The party able to form a government (ie have enough votes to their legislation through) is the party which fills the posts of government. The Prime Minister is the leader of whichever party can do this. Britain has a first past the post, winner take all system like the US. So the British people vote for their MP and then it depends on which party he or she supports. The main parties are Labour, and the Conservatives. There are also minor parties in parliament like the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Nationalists. Northern Ireland have their own parties (some which traditionally vote with the Conservatives, some with the Labour, Sinn Fien never take their seats as they refused to swear allegiance to the Crown). A party or person can only govern as long as they have the support of the majority.
There are all sorts of rules governing when elections can be called and if the Queen needs to intervene. For example she can prevent a prime minster from calling an election, if she believes someone else has enough votes to form a government. The rules are the Lascelles Principles. This explains them (not behind a paywall) https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/lascelles-principles-boris-johnson-sacked-prime-minister-the-queen-explained-348761 (If you have seen the first series of the Crown, you know who Lascelles was -- George IV's private secretary)
Now hopefully, you are ready:
Boris is notorious for skating on detail. He went to Eton and his self-confidence knows few bounds. He has made some serious missteps.
1. When everyone was locked down, No 10 Downing Street decided the rules did not apply to them and threw various parties. One such party was on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral. So while the Queen sat in mourning, they were busy drinking, having smuggled wine bottles in. Other people like my MP, Guy Opperman obeyed the rules. Opperman and his wife lost their twin daughters to stillbirth and Guy was unable to be there because of lockdown rules. Guy was also in Government and had served under 3 prime ministers. (He is a good MP for the most part).
2. Boris's wife Carrie is notorious for meddling. Among other things, she enable a flight of rescued dogs to leave Afghanistan in preference to other flights. Yes they fund raised to hire a private jet, but there were a limited number of slots and aircraft. Dogs before people is not a good look.
3.When partygate erupted, Boris barely clung on. Under the rules of the 1922 Committee there can be only one attempt to unseat a Conservative leader every 12 months. The 1922 Committee controls the Conservative party in that it runs leadership elections etc. They make the rules. The Conservatives have the habit of offing their leader as they do want to survive as a party.
Several MPs quit the government as they did not want to deal with Boris and the way he runs things. There is a convention that you can't vote against the government or the leader if you are in government. If you want to, you need to be on what is called the Back Benches.
4. To fill a vacancy in the whips' office (the whips are the MPs who hold the dirt on the other MPs in order to keep them in line and voting for the government). Johnson appointed the gloriously named Chris Pincher. It turns out Pincher by pincher by nature (and he was inclined towards men's bottoms). Johnson knew Pincher was a pincher and didn't care. He lied that he didn't know and then it turned out he also lied about meeting a Russian oligarch while he was serving as Foreign Secretary for an off the record briefing at the height of the Salisbury Poisonings.
5. These revelations caused various ministers to resign, starting with Rishi Sunak and Savid Javid. The resignations built momentum. Johnson sacked Gove, surely one of the most politically astute snakes around as Gove was plotting against him. More resignations.
6.Yesterday, even my MP Guy Opperman who is a good weather vane had had enough and resigned. Johnson has promised to go once the 1922 Committee have arranged for a new leader -- he suggested about October.
7. 4 months is a long time in politics. No one trusts Johnson. One reason he wants to stay apparently is that he and Mrs Johnson are about to throw a lavish party to belatedly celebrate their wedding (Johnson's 3rd) on 30 July. Everything has already been ordered -- flowers, food, wine. £150,000 treehouse.
8. Johnson has promised to be a caretaker Prime Minister. If he was serious about going, Dominic Raab the Deputy could have done the job. Johnson has appointed a *new* caretaker cabinet to keep things ticking over. The 1922 Committee with its new executive is meeting over the weekend to set the rules for the leadership contest. Some people think it may be a much shorter contest and Johnson could be out before 30 July (and then no party for the missus). It is all very wild and woolly but very British at the same time.
Why the Benny Hill theme tune? It is a suitably ridiculous theme for the ending of the government. Hugh Grant, along with many others knew that the news media would be doing interviews outside Parliament as that is where they do them. The man who is always there protesting about Brexit with songs, obliged to the delight of many. The British public do enjoy seeing the Great and the Good being brought down a peg or three. And many many people are v angry at the high handedness of Johnson.
If I may add one overlooked but interesting story—
Dutch farmers are in full revolt mode over the government’s climate change action that would force 30% of farmers out of business. Think Canadian truckers, only with manure.
With the threat of global food shortages, is now a good time to indulge the religion of climate change?
'Self-defense is illegal in New York: A man jumped behind a bodega counter in West Harlem and attacked the guy working the register, Jose Alba. The bodega worker fought back with a knife, killing his attacker. Manhattan’s progressive DA put Alba in Riker’s, arraigned on a second degree murder charge, and set bail at $250,000 (lowered now to $50k after protests). The lesson: Self-defense is illegal. If you’re being attacked, you need to take it. "
Is there a legal defense fund for Mr. Alba? This is madness.
Note to Alvin Bragg - Do you really think you can keep doing things like this without consequence?
Truly these Soros funded prosecutors have turned the world upside down. First, they need to be replaced. Second, they need to feel real consequences for their actions. Third, and most important, their puppet master needs to be stripped of his citizenship and deported. Best destination - Hungary, where Orban will know what to do with this destructive fiend.
I love TGIF. Thanks for offering an anchor of sanity in a sea of madness.
I loved this line: "Americans are overwhelmingly good and moderate people who agree with each other on a lot and yet are forced to be represented by parties that play to our extremes."
That's what brought me here. When I finally realized, after the last election, that I was being played for a fool and determined to get out of the echo chamber. Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi were among the rescue crew.
Gavin Newsom running adds in Florida must be one of the most out of touch actions US politician has done in 10 year. California Dems simply don't want to understand why people are leavening Dems run states in drows. Its like they are having "Marie Antoinette Moment" every second day and are completely severed from the reality.
Cali used to be called Golden State for a reason. Vibrant economy, beautiful scenery, opportunities used to bring people to move there. Today, when you say California, people think all insanity that is happening there, homeless on every corner, parks that look more like open drug markets than public spaces, legalized crime, constant brake ins into cars, businesses, crackheads roam streets like zombies, beaches full of used needles. And what is worse, by every passing day, after every failed policy, Dems decide to go even more crazy and adopt even more woke policies even more higher taxes.
Why in the right mind would anyone want to move to such place? Yes salaries are great but thanks to years of NIMBY-ism home prices and rents are exorbitant. And when we add all issues mentioned above, choice is easy and sadly it is not in California's favor.
Worse thing is, that Cali could be fixed. NYC was fed up with crime filth and other issues that were plaguing it in 1980, they elected Rudy Giuliani who in several years managed to turn the ship around. Sadly, since then Dems managed to reverse large part of progress that was made.
Sadly voters in Cali seem not to be bothered with insanity that is happening there. Only thing that makes me happy, is that everything that is happing in Cali, is fault of Dems, since they have been ruining every level of the government for decades now, so there is no way to blame Republicans.
On the other hand, what worries me are the Cali transplants, that move in other well run states, and then like zombies try to implement same woke polices that they are escaping. Isn't definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?
Of all the insanity chronicled this week, Nellie, you missed one of the most bizarre: Senator Elizabeth Warren wants crisis pregnancy centers shut down because they don’t promote, champion, and agitate for abortion. All hail the Queen of Cognitive Dissonance.
Sorry Nellie. Your headline writer needs to be sacked. Given the Newsome bit and the quote from AOC at the end, you missed the greatest lede in the history of journalism (or at least TGIF):
I live in a suburb of MPLS,or Murderapolis as it's being called these days. Ilhan was booed off the stage IMO because she was a ranter of defund the police and look where we are now. Crime is rampant in our city...out of control. She's a hypocrite and interestingly, nothing has been mentioned in our local news media about the incident.
It’s Friday again, Nellie Bowles’ TGIF has dropped again, and it’s chock full of comment-worthy items. So without further ado—
Item One! It was Oscar Wilde, I believe, who quipped that youth is wasted on the young. And his shade must be gazing down with a mocking smile as Comrade Congressperson Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez demonstrates how right he was. Look, I’ve got nothing against well-kept nails. But a nail salon appointment as a joyous act of resistance? It says something about the state of American politics that such a fatuous intellectual and moral lightweight is held to be a rising star. But then balloons rise too—basically they’re gasbags.
**Letting Medicare negotiate on some prescription drug prices and capping Medicare patients’ out of pocket costs at $2,000. Good.**
Ms. Bowles, if this measure passes, I challenge you to come back in five years, analyze the outcomes, and determine whether it was actually "good" in any way for the intended beneficiaries or others affected.
Re the NYC bodega assault. To fully appreciate the insanely over-the-top charges against Alba and his treatment by the progressive establishment (like GoFundMe shutting down his fundraiser), we need some of the context in which this is happening. Namely, had the assailant killed Alba and subsequently been apprehended, the same DA that charged Alba with murder would likely have let him go, either with minor charges or perhaps without any charges at all. This seems to be the rule in all of the big Blue-run cities: the law is not enforced against actual criminals, but is applied ruthlessly against generally-law-abiding citizens.
Re the Highland Park shooter. Carlson was very clearly giving his opinion as to _why_ so many young men are so growing up as antisocial, violent, self-loathing monsters. Because severely dysfunctional people like this are generally created, rather than appearing out of nothing as the author appears to suggest. And he seems to fit a rather common profile these days, so there's clearly something going on in society that is creating them. The reasons that Carlson gives seem to be quite plausible contributing factors, so I don't see the reason for the ridicule here.
I wait for this column each Friday. It is the BEST accumulation of meaningful happenings, sagaciously reviewed. Kol Hakavod!
Excellent round up Nellie.
As an American-British citizen, I will do my best to explain.
Unlike in the US, Britain has the Queen as head of state. Her cabinet is chosen by Parliament, rather than her choosing it. Parliament is controlled by parties. The party able to form a government (ie have enough votes to their legislation through) is the party which fills the posts of government. The Prime Minister is the leader of whichever party can do this. Britain has a first past the post, winner take all system like the US. So the British people vote for their MP and then it depends on which party he or she supports. The main parties are Labour, and the Conservatives. There are also minor parties in parliament like the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Nationalists. Northern Ireland have their own parties (some which traditionally vote with the Conservatives, some with the Labour, Sinn Fien never take their seats as they refused to swear allegiance to the Crown). A party or person can only govern as long as they have the support of the majority.
There are all sorts of rules governing when elections can be called and if the Queen needs to intervene. For example she can prevent a prime minster from calling an election, if she believes someone else has enough votes to form a government. The rules are the Lascelles Principles. This explains them (not behind a paywall) https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/lascelles-principles-boris-johnson-sacked-prime-minister-the-queen-explained-348761 (If you have seen the first series of the Crown, you know who Lascelles was -- George IV's private secretary)
Now hopefully, you are ready:
Boris is notorious for skating on detail. He went to Eton and his self-confidence knows few bounds. He has made some serious missteps.
1. When everyone was locked down, No 10 Downing Street decided the rules did not apply to them and threw various parties. One such party was on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral. So while the Queen sat in mourning, they were busy drinking, having smuggled wine bottles in. Other people like my MP, Guy Opperman obeyed the rules. Opperman and his wife lost their twin daughters to stillbirth and Guy was unable to be there because of lockdown rules. Guy was also in Government and had served under 3 prime ministers. (He is a good MP for the most part).
2. Boris's wife Carrie is notorious for meddling. Among other things, she enable a flight of rescued dogs to leave Afghanistan in preference to other flights. Yes they fund raised to hire a private jet, but there were a limited number of slots and aircraft. Dogs before people is not a good look.
3.When partygate erupted, Boris barely clung on. Under the rules of the 1922 Committee there can be only one attempt to unseat a Conservative leader every 12 months. The 1922 Committee controls the Conservative party in that it runs leadership elections etc. They make the rules. The Conservatives have the habit of offing their leader as they do want to survive as a party.
Several MPs quit the government as they did not want to deal with Boris and the way he runs things. There is a convention that you can't vote against the government or the leader if you are in government. If you want to, you need to be on what is called the Back Benches.
4. To fill a vacancy in the whips' office (the whips are the MPs who hold the dirt on the other MPs in order to keep them in line and voting for the government). Johnson appointed the gloriously named Chris Pincher. It turns out Pincher by pincher by nature (and he was inclined towards men's bottoms). Johnson knew Pincher was a pincher and didn't care. He lied that he didn't know and then it turned out he also lied about meeting a Russian oligarch while he was serving as Foreign Secretary for an off the record briefing at the height of the Salisbury Poisonings.
5. These revelations caused various ministers to resign, starting with Rishi Sunak and Savid Javid. The resignations built momentum. Johnson sacked Gove, surely one of the most politically astute snakes around as Gove was plotting against him. More resignations.
6.Yesterday, even my MP Guy Opperman who is a good weather vane had had enough and resigned. Johnson has promised to go once the 1922 Committee have arranged for a new leader -- he suggested about October.
7. 4 months is a long time in politics. No one trusts Johnson. One reason he wants to stay apparently is that he and Mrs Johnson are about to throw a lavish party to belatedly celebrate their wedding (Johnson's 3rd) on 30 July. Everything has already been ordered -- flowers, food, wine. £150,000 treehouse.
8. Johnson has promised to be a caretaker Prime Minister. If he was serious about going, Dominic Raab the Deputy could have done the job. Johnson has appointed a *new* caretaker cabinet to keep things ticking over. The 1922 Committee with its new executive is meeting over the weekend to set the rules for the leadership contest. Some people think it may be a much shorter contest and Johnson could be out before 30 July (and then no party for the missus). It is all very wild and woolly but very British at the same time.
Why the Benny Hill theme tune? It is a suitably ridiculous theme for the ending of the government. Hugh Grant, along with many others knew that the news media would be doing interviews outside Parliament as that is where they do them. The man who is always there protesting about Brexit with songs, obliged to the delight of many. The British public do enjoy seeing the Great and the Good being brought down a peg or three. And many many people are v angry at the high handedness of Johnson.
I hope this is clear enough.
If I may add one overlooked but interesting story—
Dutch farmers are in full revolt mode over the government’s climate change action that would force 30% of farmers out of business. Think Canadian truckers, only with manure.
With the threat of global food shortages, is now a good time to indulge the religion of climate change?
'Self-defense is illegal in New York: A man jumped behind a bodega counter in West Harlem and attacked the guy working the register, Jose Alba. The bodega worker fought back with a knife, killing his attacker. Manhattan’s progressive DA put Alba in Riker’s, arraigned on a second degree murder charge, and set bail at $250,000 (lowered now to $50k after protests). The lesson: Self-defense is illegal. If you’re being attacked, you need to take it. "
Is there a legal defense fund for Mr. Alba? This is madness.
Note to Alvin Bragg - Do you really think you can keep doing things like this without consequence?
Truly these Soros funded prosecutors have turned the world upside down. First, they need to be replaced. Second, they need to feel real consequences for their actions. Third, and most important, their puppet master needs to be stripped of his citizenship and deported. Best destination - Hungary, where Orban will know what to do with this destructive fiend.
I love TGIF. Thanks for offering an anchor of sanity in a sea of madness.
I loved this line: "Americans are overwhelmingly good and moderate people who agree with each other on a lot and yet are forced to be represented by parties that play to our extremes."
That's what brought me here. When I finally realized, after the last election, that I was being played for a fool and determined to get out of the echo chamber. Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi were among the rescue crew.
Gavin Newsom running adds in Florida must be one of the most out of touch actions US politician has done in 10 year. California Dems simply don't want to understand why people are leavening Dems run states in drows. Its like they are having "Marie Antoinette Moment" every second day and are completely severed from the reality.
Cali used to be called Golden State for a reason. Vibrant economy, beautiful scenery, opportunities used to bring people to move there. Today, when you say California, people think all insanity that is happening there, homeless on every corner, parks that look more like open drug markets than public spaces, legalized crime, constant brake ins into cars, businesses, crackheads roam streets like zombies, beaches full of used needles. And what is worse, by every passing day, after every failed policy, Dems decide to go even more crazy and adopt even more woke policies even more higher taxes.
Why in the right mind would anyone want to move to such place? Yes salaries are great but thanks to years of NIMBY-ism home prices and rents are exorbitant. And when we add all issues mentioned above, choice is easy and sadly it is not in California's favor.
Worse thing is, that Cali could be fixed. NYC was fed up with crime filth and other issues that were plaguing it in 1980, they elected Rudy Giuliani who in several years managed to turn the ship around. Sadly, since then Dems managed to reverse large part of progress that was made.
Sadly voters in Cali seem not to be bothered with insanity that is happening there. Only thing that makes me happy, is that everything that is happing in Cali, is fault of Dems, since they have been ruining every level of the government for decades now, so there is no way to blame Republicans.
On the other hand, what worries me are the Cali transplants, that move in other well run states, and then like zombies try to implement same woke polices that they are escaping. Isn't definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?
Of all the insanity chronicled this week, Nellie, you missed one of the most bizarre: Senator Elizabeth Warren wants crisis pregnancy centers shut down because they don’t promote, champion, and agitate for abortion. All hail the Queen of Cognitive Dissonance.
Sorry Nellie. Your headline writer needs to be sacked. Given the Newsome bit and the quote from AOC at the end, you missed the greatest lede in the history of journalism (or at least TGIF):
Dems Fighting Tooth and Nail for 2024
I think I can comfortably speak for all TGIF readers and say, “can you stop by for coffee tomorrow morning?”
I live in a suburb of MPLS,or Murderapolis as it's being called these days. Ilhan was booed off the stage IMO because she was a ranter of defund the police and look where we are now. Crime is rampant in our city...out of control. She's a hypocrite and interestingly, nothing has been mentioned in our local news media about the incident.
Gavin Newsom has started running ads in Florida. I watched the video. I laughed, I cried, I thought it was better than "Cats".
It’s Friday again, Nellie Bowles’ TGIF has dropped again, and it’s chock full of comment-worthy items. So without further ado—
Item One! It was Oscar Wilde, I believe, who quipped that youth is wasted on the young. And his shade must be gazing down with a mocking smile as Comrade Congressperson Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez demonstrates how right he was. Look, I’ve got nothing against well-kept nails. But a nail salon appointment as a joyous act of resistance? It says something about the state of American politics that such a fatuous intellectual and moral lightweight is held to be a rising star. But then balloons rise too—basically they’re gasbags.
Newsom vacationing in Montana, eating at the French Laundry maskless….he’s a democrat. No problem. Rules are for the little people.
**Letting Medicare negotiate on some prescription drug prices and capping Medicare patients’ out of pocket costs at $2,000. Good.**
Ms. Bowles, if this measure passes, I challenge you to come back in five years, analyze the outcomes, and determine whether it was actually "good" in any way for the intended beneficiaries or others affected.
In an AOC inspired act - it’s time for a joyful “resistance” nap. That will show ‘em! 😴😴
Re the NYC bodega assault. To fully appreciate the insanely over-the-top charges against Alba and his treatment by the progressive establishment (like GoFundMe shutting down his fundraiser), we need some of the context in which this is happening. Namely, had the assailant killed Alba and subsequently been apprehended, the same DA that charged Alba with murder would likely have let him go, either with minor charges or perhaps without any charges at all. This seems to be the rule in all of the big Blue-run cities: the law is not enforced against actual criminals, but is applied ruthlessly against generally-law-abiding citizens.
Re the Highland Park shooter. Carlson was very clearly giving his opinion as to _why_ so many young men are so growing up as antisocial, violent, self-loathing monsters. Because severely dysfunctional people like this are generally created, rather than appearing out of nothing as the author appears to suggest. And he seems to fit a rather common profile these days, so there's clearly something going on in society that is creating them. The reasons that Carlson gives seem to be quite plausible contributing factors, so I don't see the reason for the ridicule here.