General News Thread

[foxfanazer]

That David Coote sentence is an absolute disgrace. He wasn't just in possession of child porn he actually made it. This country is the pits

[Wymsey]

13 minutes ago, foxfanazer said:

That David Coote sentence is an absolute disgrace. He wasn't just in possession of child porn he actually made it. This country is the pits

Thought he 'just' downloaded it, so not necessarily 'created' it - but, agree, the sentence seems lenient.

Edited 8 January by Wymsey

[Tuna]

 

[Guest]

36 minutes ago, foxfanazer said:

That David Coote sentence is an absolute disgrace. He wasn't just in possession of child porn he actually made it. This country is the pits

Obviously still incredibly grim stuff but I think "making" in this case means downloading it i.e. "making" a copy of it. While I have to imagine there's a reason it's referred to in that way, it does seem pretty misleading.

[foxfanazer]

21 minutes ago, Guest said:

Obviously still incredibly grim stuff but I think "making" in this case means downloading it i.e. "making" a copy of it. While I have to imagine there's a reason it's referred to in that way, it does seem pretty misleading.

Yeah I wasn't aware of that. Strange wording in that case but as you said still grim and should be punishable by more than a 9 month suspended sentence 

[Tommy G]

15 minutes ago, foxfanazer said:

Yeah I wasn't aware of that. Strange wording in that case but as you said still grim and should be punishable by more than a 9 month suspended sentence 

3 years for a nasty tweet and 9 months suspended sentence for being a nonce. Make it make sense 

[foxfanazer]

Just now, Tommy G said:

3 years for a nasty tweet and 9 months suspended sentence for being a nonce. Make it make sense 

Worrying times mate. Think we'll be seeing a lot more vigilante justice

[leicsmac]

Governor Walz has been excellent throughout this whole sorry business, I will say. Perhaps someone the Dems could look at for 2028?

[Detroit Blues]

26 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Governor Walz has been excellent throughout this whole sorry business, I will say. Perhaps someone the Dems could look at for 2028?

He's currently embroiled in the Minnesota childcare fraud scandal, which Trump & Fox News has done their best to taint him with, even though it occurred before his time, the state basically turned over the investigation to the FBI and fully cooperated. But the mere association with the fraud made him pull out of running for re-election for Governor. 

 

He's not out the running for a federal position, but I think he is trying to take one for the team so someone else can run without easily being propagandized against. 

[MC Prussian]

48 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Governor Walz has been excellent throughout this whole sorry business, I will say. Perhaps someone the Dems could look at for 2028?

Deary me. Tim Walz, the man who has the backbone of a fruitfly.

Made a fool of himself during the elections, poor running mate to a poor Democrat candidate.

 

With Walz in charge, Minnesota changed the state's flag to something that's not too far off Somalia's. Speaking of Somalia, see the post above.

Yes, some of the fraud started before he took office in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, but it's still on him for failing to address it. It's now 7 years and counting, and he's done nothing about it. In fact, it's gotten even worse.

Edited 8 January by MC Prussian

[MC Prussian]

2 hours ago, Md9 said:

It’s crazy that within half hour of it happening all of maga went full on attack that she deserve it because she is a raging left lunatic that tried to kill him with his car with out even knowing what fully went on. Noem tried saying he had been ran over and in hospital when he didn’t and walked  away from it on camera. No sympathy for the lady that died no calling for calm just all out trying to stir stuff to cause more chaos instead of dealing with the situation in any kind of decent manner 

Depends on whom you consider the instigators to be.

To me, it does look like paid/orchestrated anti-ICE protests, at least in parts.

 

And we do have a precedent in the state of Minnesota – remember the "mostly peaceful" protests following the death of George Floyd?

Edited 8 January by MC Prussian

[leicsmac]

20 minutes ago, Detroit Blues said:

He's currently embroiled in the Minnesota childcare fraud scandal, which Trump & Fox News has done their best to taint him with, even though it occurred before his time, the state basically turned over the investigation to the FBI and fully cooperated. But the mere association with the fraud made him pull out of running for re-election for Governor. 

 

He's not out the running for a federal position, but I think he is trying to take one for the team so someone else can run without easily being propagandized against. 

Ah yes, the "brown people might be doing some bad things so we'll indulge in our bigotry by tainting them all and extend that to the governor as well, because he ran against us last time" scandal, I remember now. Appreciate the reminder.

 

Think Newsom is too divisive, so it seems a pretty open field. It's a shame Booker isn't in the picture again.

 

1 minute ago, MC Prussian said:

Deary me. Tim Walz, the man who has the backbone of a fruitfly.

Made a fool of himself during the elections, poor running mate to a poor Democrat candidate.

 

With Walz in charge, Minnesota changed the state's flag to something that's not too far off Somalia's. Speaking of Somalia, see the post above.

Yes, some of the fraud started before he took office in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, but it's still on him for failing to address it. It's now 7 years and counting, and he's done nothing about it. In fact, it's gotten even worse.

See above.

[leicsmac]

2 minutes ago, MC Prussian said:

Depends on whom you consider the instigators to be.

To me, it does look like paid/orchestrated anti-ICE protests, at least in parts.

 

And we do have a precedent in the state of Minnesota – remember the "mostly peaceful" protests following the death of George Floyd?

I'm not sure that excuses skipping due process and going straight to the extrajudicial bullet through the head. Unless the ready made excuses regarding a capital threat apply and "she had it coming", clearly.

[MC Prussian]

4 hours ago, leicsmac said:

I was speaking in generalities when I referred to experts, given this subversion of truth to the gobbiest speaker happens in many other places, and with many other consequences, than here. 

 

And yes, reputable from the point of view that they are more likely to be taking the truth than a random in a comment section, given historical evidence.

I'm sorry, but they can, they do, they have and they will. All of those. 

 

There's a reason witness evidence alone is (the vast majority of the time) not enough to secure a conviction in court when the burden of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt. 

 

"Blocked their path" = "happened to be in their way". That's the same unless you're a fan of semantics imo. 

 

And while I agree it's likely best for someone to not get in the way of US law enforcement for exactly this reason, that doesn't make the system where innocent people are killed and no one answers for it because of ridiculous and cowardly justifications in any way right, and nor does it mean that system cannot or should not change. 

 

Because all we have right now is a system where those with something on their mind can don a uniform and kill at will anyone who happens to get in their way as long as they can say (and provide the flimsiest possible pretence that) they were acting in self defence. 

We're not even at the court stage yet. I've seen at least one other witness statement that corroborates that comment.

 

If I'm not mistaken, you're one of the biggest proponents of semantics. "Blocking one's way" isn't the same as "happening to be in their way", and you know that. As per witness statements, she was blocking the ICE agents' path deliberately, and wouldn't move.

Innocent people? She wasn't innocent, she was obstructing the law. At that point, you've become a criminal and you're facing charges. The more you resist, the worse it gets.

 

ICE is acting on the government's behalf, their agents don't just "don a uniform" and shoot people for kicks. Otherwise, we'd have heard plenty of similar stories from all across the US.
However, ICE agents have been attacked and received death threats.

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/09/22/despite-1000-increase-assaults-ice-officers-governor-newsom-signs-unconstitutional

Of course, that's the US government, so I'd take that 1000 percent spike with a pinch of salt.

[MC Prussian]

11 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Ah yes, the "brown people might be doing some bad things so we'll indulge in our bigotry by tainting them all and extend that to the governor as well, because he ran against us last time" scandal, I remember now. Appreciate the reminder.

 

Think Newsom is too divisive, so it seems a pretty open field. It's a shame Booker isn't in the picture again.

 

See above.

Minnesota was already under investigation by the Biden administration, so how's that?

And Newsom may have the looks – given the fact he's run California into the ground, ruined tons of businesses during the pandemic whilst doing the opposite of what he was preaching, and handled the state's recent crisis very badly, he's a dud.

California has seen a net exodus of people recently, taxes are crippling, infrastructure is falling apart, DEI hires ruining all levels of state and city government (see Los Angeles or San Francisco for reference).

People choose to live in places such as Texas or Florida instead.

 

But as far as the Democrats, not a lot of worthy other contenders around.

Which says a lot about the Democrats.

Edited 8 January by MC Prussian

[leicsmac]

9 minutes ago, MC Prussian said:

We're not even at the court stage yet. I've seen at least one other witness statement that corroborates that comment.

 

I'm sure that you have. I'm also sure that they and all others like it could well be entirely fabricated.

 

And even if they're not, see below.

 

9 minutes ago, MC Prussian said:

 

 

If I'm not mistaken, you're one of the biggest proponents of semantics. "Blocking one's way" isn't the same as "happening to be in their way", and you know that. As per witness statements, she was blocking the ICE agents' path deliberately, and wouldn't move.

Innocent people? She wasn't innocent, she was obstructing the law. At that point, you've become a criminal and you're facing charges. The more you resist, the worse it gets.

 

 

And that justifies taking her life with no accountability for it?

 

10 minutes ago, MC Prussian said:

ICE is acting on the government's behalf, their agents don't just "don a uniform" and shoot people for kicks. Otherwise, we'd have heard plenty of similar stories from all across the US.
However, ICE agents have been attacked and received death threats.

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/09/22/despite-1000-increase-assaults-ice-officers-governor-newsom-signs-unconstitutional

Of course, that's the US government, so I'd take that 1000 percent spike with a pinch of salt.

In number, and yet.

 

The point is that by the logic being expressed here, that is a possible indulgence that they could engage in. In this case, they may (emphasise may) have engaged in it already.

 

7 minutes ago, MC Prussian said:

Minnesota was already under investigation by the Biden administration, so how's that?

And Newsom may have the looks – given the fact he's run California into the ground, ruined tons of businesses during the pandemic whilst doing the opposite of what he was preaching, and handled the state's recent crisis very badly, he's a dud.

California has seen a net exodus of people recently, taxes are crippling, infrastructure is falling apart, DEI hires ruining all levels of state and city government (see Los Angeles or San Francisco for reference).

People choose to live in places such as Texas or Florida instead.

 

But as far as the Democrats, not a lot of worthy other contenders around.

Which says a lot about the Democrats.

Were they having their entire childcare budget withheld by the Biden administration, as well?

 

Can't say that I agree with the criticism of Newsom here, but as per above he's already too divisive a figure anyway, so fair enough.

 

Interesting thing though, even though the inference here is that the Dems are rather stuck, they're still the bookies favourites to win in 2028. Strange times.

 

[leicsmac]

6 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

 

And that justifies taking her life with no accountability for it?

 

 

Well, Vance certainly thinks so, if the current news is any judge.

 

Also the FBI bringing things in-house and getting out the whitewash.

[MC Prussian]

2 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

I'm sure that you have. I'm also sure that they and all others like it could well be entirely fabricated.

 

And even if they're not, see below.

 

And that justifies taking her life with no accountability for it?

 

In number, and yet.

 

The point is that by the logic being expressed here, that is a possible indulgence that they could engage in. In this case, they may (emphasise may) have engaged in it already.

 

Were they having their entire childcare budget withheld by the Biden administration, as well?

 

Can't say that I agree with the criticism of Newsom here, but as per above he's already too divisive a figure anyway, so fair enough.

 

Interesting thing though, even though the inference here is that the Dems are rather stuck, they're still the bookies favourites to win in 2028. Strange times.

 

"Could be entirely fabricated". Just like the protests in Minneapolis then?

I stated the ICE agent in question would face an internal investigation/review. How's that for "no accountability"?

 

Most of your arguments are very strange, as they are utterly hypothetical. What if this happens, what if that occurs?

Who knows?

 

You're a master of deflection. The fact that Minnesota was already under investigation by a Democrat government just flies over your head. And it's right back to TDS.

Of course you won't agree with the criticism of Newsom, because it's hard to argue with facts that run opposite your world view.

 

Which bookies? They haven't even put a candidate or candidates forward. With the Republicans, we know it's going to be Vance. Trump won't run again. And that's a good thing.

[MC Prussian]

Just now, leicsmac said:

Well, Vance certainly thinks so, if the current news is any judge.

 

Also the FBI bringing things in-house and getting out the whitewash.

You're now starting to quote yourself.

[leicsmac]

2 minutes ago, MC Prussian said:

"Could be entirely fabricated". Just like the protests in Minneapolis then?

I stated the ICE agent in question would face an internal investigation/review. How's that for "no accountability"?

 

 

After which he will no doubt end up either back on duty or behind a desk with a full pension. Might even get a good wedge from a GoFundMe from concerned citizens. 

 

Accountability.

 

4 minutes ago, MC Prussian said:

Most of your arguments are very strange, as they are utterly hypothetical. What if this happens, what if that occurs?

Who knows?

 

 

One of my questions wasn't hypothetical and deserves an answer. Do you or do you not think that the death of Renee Good was justified? It's a reasonably simple yes or no question.

 

5 minutes ago, MC Prussian said:

 

You're a master of deflection. The fact that Minnesota was already under investigation by a Democrat government just flies over your head. And it's right back to TDS.

Of course you won't agree with the criticism of Newsom, because it's hard to argue with facts that run opposite your world view.

 

 

Coming from someone with considerable expertise and truly impressive command of language and evasion in that area, I'll happily take that as a compliment, ser. Like clearly recognises like.

 

BTW, a fact is that the Earth is an oblate spheroid and that the Japanese government formally surrendered in World War II on the 2nd September 1945. Viewpoints on how a politician is doing their job tend to be, mostly, matters of opinion. I'm not sure where the opprobrium is coming from there in any case, seeing as we both believe the man to be unsuitable for the top job, just for differing reasons.

 

 

1 minute ago, MC Prussian said:

You're now starting to quote yourself.

And? It's linked to the current debate. You and Vance appear to be of one mind on this one.

[Lionator]

1 hour ago, leicsmac said:

Governor Walz has been excellent throughout this whole sorry business, I will say. Perhaps someone the Dems could look at for 2028?

Walz is a mouldy potato. I don’t know who the Dems nominate at this point. Newsom would probably be the safe bet and probably the one that could beat Vance but I’m not sure they’ll go there. God forbid I can see them going for Kamala again if she wants it. 

[leicsmac]

Somewhat related, Jeremy Bowen with a piece on the international side:

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2wg7437dvo

 

Two particularly apposite paragraphs:

 

"Unlike other interventionist US presidents, Trump does not cloak his actions with the legitimacy, however spurious, of international law or the pursuit of democracy. The only legitimacy he needs comes from his belief in the force of his own will, backed by raw US power."

 

And the last...

 

"The risk is that, if Trump sticks to his course, he will push the world back to the way it was in the age of empires a century or more ago - a world where big powers, with spheres of influence, sought to impose their will, and where mighty authoritarian nationalists led their peoples to disaster."

 

I think that is less of a risk and more of an inevitability.

[leicsmac]

5 minutes ago, Lionator said:

Walz is a mouldy potato. I don’t know who the Dems nominate at this point. Newsom would probably be the safe bet and probably the one that could beat Vance but I’m not sure they’ll go there. God forbid I can see them going for Kamala again if she wants it. 

So has already been stated.

 

I'm not sure either, but I don't think Newsom can carry enough swing votes. They won't go for Kamala again. 

[MC Prussian]

3 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

After which he will no doubt end up either back on duty or behind a desk with a full pension. Might even get a good wedge from a GoFundMe from concerned citizens. 

 

Accountability.

 

One of my questions wasn't hypothetical and deserves an answer. Do you or do you not think that the death of Renee Good was justified? It's a reasonably simple yes or no question.

 

Coming from someone with considerable expertise and truly impressive command of language and evasion in that area, I'll happily take that as a compliment, ser. Like clearly recognises like.

 

BTW, a fact is that the Earth is an oblate spheroid and that the Japanese government formally surrendered in World War II on the 2nd September 1945. Viewpoints on how a politician is doing their job tend to be, mostly, matters of opinion. I'm not sure where the opprobrium is coming from there in any case, seeing as we both believe the man to be unsuitable for the top job, just for differing reasons.

 

 

And? It's linked to the current debate. You and Vance appear to be of one mind on this one.

I see what you're doing with that leading question.

Renee Good obstructed the law, she could've stopped and handed herself in. She didn't. FAFO.

 

It takes a master of evasion to know one, eh?

If Newsom was so fantastic, do you think hundreds of thousands of people would leave his state each year?

https://www.newsweek.com/california-suffers-exodus-over-200000-americans-leave-state-one-year-2004043

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-01-08/californias-exodus-isnt-just-billionaires-its-regular-people-renting-u-hauls-too

He's been in charge for 7 years, and California has seen no improvement. The movie industry is in tatters, too.

When's the last time a ruling governor encountered a recall?

 

And what's with the Vance thing? That's utterly strange.

[MC Prussian]

12 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Somewhat related, Jeremy Bowen with a piece on the international side:

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2wg7437dvo

 

Two particularly apposite paragraphs:

 

"Unlike other interventionist US presidents, Trump does not cloak his actions with the legitimacy, however spurious, of international law or the pursuit of democracy. The only legitimacy he needs comes from his belief in the force of his own will, backed by raw US power."

 

And the last...

 

"The risk is that, if Trump sticks to his course, he will push the world back to the way it was in the age of empires a century or more ago - a world where big powers, with spheres of influence, sought to impose their will, and where mighty authoritarian nationalists led their peoples to disaster."

 

I think that is less of a risk and more of an inevitability.

Ok, so opinions are valid – as long as it's the BBC's.

 

We've had authoritarians for decades all across the world – and we still have. Not much uproar from the BBC with regards to dictators in other parts of the world... In countries, where the population is starving to death.

Edited 8 January by MC Prussian