Guest MattP Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 I would say that using the term 'scraping the barrel', in association with that, is probably insulting to barrels. Sex worker of the year 2013 Priceless! It actually just happened, watch it on the Iplayer later. 45 minutes into the Daily Politics. She actually stood in Stroud in the by-election on a pro-pornography platform, she's now considering standing in Brighton (obviously) although she says she doesn't want to hurt the Green party who she (obviously) also supports.
Darkon84 Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 It actually just happened, watch it on the Iplayer later. 45 minutes into the Daily Politics. She actually stood in Stroud in the by-election on a pro-pornography platform, she's now considering standing in Brighton (obviously) although she says she doesn't want to hurt the Green party who she (obviously) also supports. My god, I'll get round to that later on then, I need to witness this! My initial thoughts were that she would be from London or something, not Stroud! That's an absolutely beautiful part of the country and have always said I'd like to move back to the area some day, after living there for a few years (well, Cheltenham to be exact). Brighton..... ah now that sounds like somewhere that'll be more receptive!
Guest MattP Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 Here she is with her trophy. (According to ger Twitter she's also still on the game if anyone wants a pop?) Sadly she has lost the award this year to a rent boy from London called Josh Brandon, who moved to London four years ago with dreams of becoming a model and a celebrity. Soon after his arrival he began working as a gay escort. He says his parents know what he does and he thinks they are "secretly proud of him". http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25464578 I look forward to his appearance on Question Time. (edit, she didn't lose it, he won the male version of the award, I presume this year's winners will be announced in the Queen's speech in the interests of diversity)
Darkon84 Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 Sounds like a Hollywood blockbuster in the making!
davieG Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 It actually just happened, watch it on the Iplayer later. 45 minutes into the Daily Politics. She actually stood in Stroud in the by-election on a pro-pornography platform, she's now considering standing in Brighton (obviously) although she says she doesn't want to hurt the Green party who she (obviously) also supports. She'd win it lying down.
Rincewind Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 From the Daily Mail so it must be true. But as someone will no doubt point out it is an old study so right wingers will dispute it. I do to some extent given who members of thee likes of BNP and UKIP are made up of. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2095549/Right-wingers-intelligent-left-wingers-says-controversial-study--conservative-politics-lead-people-racist.html
Guest MattP Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 Just caught up from last night - Brand really did look like a lost child in an adult conversation. But, the fact he is even getting as far as QT says a great deal about the state of UK Politics. Yes he is very much one trick pony regarding big banks and business, but what he says is factual to a large extent - why are these matters being put to one side and shadowed by immigaration debate. As he says himself, he is a comedian come activist, nothing more. Are we really in that much of a state that Clarke Carlisle, Joey Barton and Russell Brand are now worthwhile voices for political debate? This post deserves a special mention, surely the only one on FT repped by me, Webbo and Rincewind. If you can draw as wide a demographic as that you should stand!
MooseBreath Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 Pretty good analysis of the left = intelligence thing here http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2097652/Does-low-IQ-make-right-wing-That-depends-define-left-right.html I particularly liked this part: "...a study by the economist Bryan Caplan, an economist at George Mason University in Virginia, who found that smart people tend to think like economists, being in favour of free trade, globalisation and free markets and against protectionism and state intervention in industry. This matches other findings that show that IQ correlates not with left-wing thinking as such, but with classic Enlightenment liberalism. So a smart person (all else being equal) will probably be in favour of capitalism generally, and free-trade in particular. He or she will distrust state intervention in the markets, probably be suspicious of welfarism and deeply dislike protectionism, union closed-shops and tariffs. The smart person will believe that the have-nots should be encouraged to become haves by dint of their own labours and by the levelling of economic playing fields, NOT by taking money off the haves and giving it to them." Obviously i'm intelligent enough to realise that some of the reason why I like it is because it basically describes my views and then tells me I'm super intelligent for holding them, but even taking account for my vanity, it seems quite accurate to me.
Captain... Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 Brand is a bit of a tit, but he is tapping into the disillusionment/disinterest of the youth towards politics. That should really be his default position bringing up bankers bonuses in a discussion on immigration is just daft. Both issues need addressing but they aren't related. The most sensible thing he said all night was when asked should people vote and he said give them something to vote for. This is where Farage is winning he is giving people something to vote for there is very little difference between blue and red at the moment, they are two sides that have both become moderate versions of what they used to stand for too scared to actually do anything radical just minor tinkering and a whole lot of politicking and bluster. Whilst I don't agree with Farage and UKIP on a policy level I do think they are raising the level of political discourse in a way that the lib dems never did. Farage in particular is shaking things up for the better, but he has to be careful he doesn't get embroiled in the Punch and Judy politics and start to sound like one of them. I just wish there was a credible alternative on the left there must be someone out there better than Nick, Ed or Russell.
Guest MattP Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 What about Charlotte Rose mate? Sex worker of the year 2013.
Filbert Walker Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 Russel brand has just spoke for a minute and said **** all. ... But the women love him.... i think he's slept with more women than Leicester city scored goals last season....
Captain... Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 What about Charlotte Rose mate? Sex worker of the year 2013. Last year's successes mean nothing you should know that. Where is a girl named Jack when you need one?
Webbo Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 What about Charlotte Rose mate? Sex worker of the year 2013. How's that judged?
MooseBreath Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 Brand looked very nervous to me. Almost on the edge of tears at one point and no sign of his amazing vocabulary, even stuttering over simple words on a number of occasions. I get the feeling for him it was an exercise in damage limitation, like he wanted to show he was willing to stand up and be criticised while always being mindful to restrict the amount of criticism anyone could throw at him. No doubt he'll be back to producing much more aggressive rehearsed YouTube videos soon enough. The same could be said of Farage, although to a lesser extent. He seemed to hold back and present only his more moderate views. I think if you'd have removed all historical knowledge of who he is and what he has said in the past and based your opinion only on what he said last night, you wouldn't have been able to tell much about his political persuasion. Maybe what we learned from last night is that even if you put a crazy left wing wannabe rock star and a time-trodden old school conservative together, when it comes to the crunch they're both still essentially status-quo supporting boring moderates. And if that's the case, maybe that's the way it should be after all. Comfort zones are boring but that doesn't make them bad.
Guest MattP Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 Last year's successes mean nothing you should know that. Where is a girl named Jack when you need one? Just been sacked from Sainsburys after an ill advised tweet. A piece on her in the Mail last week, she's actually called Melissa Monroe but changed it to Jack by deed poll just to show how lesbian she is. So a girl named Jack is actually just a girl named Melissa. How's that judged? I dread to think.
Guest MattP Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 Good point that Moose. Farage was very reserved, probably bearing in mind a huge audience was watching and reading the Guardian yesterday they seemed to think it was like another Nick Griffin scenario. Probably sensible all round, Brand as you say, it's easy when you've got all week to work on an act and check it before you upload, very different when challenged in the flesh.
Rincewind Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 She actually gives good advice on living on a low income. If you read her story on how she started, she was struggling to manage and decided to sell everything in her home then went to the local supermarket and bought stuff from the knock down section at the end of the day. She then cooked something for her son with nothing for herself. She has qualifications but gave up work to look after her son rather than fend him off to child minders. She started to post her low cost recipes on her blog and it took off from there. She has at least some knowledge on how difficult it is for some to live on low income because she has had to do it herself. Her recipes are supposed to be quite healthy too. So that cannot be a bad thing and held against her. The tweet she posted was her own personal opinion and posted in her account and nothing to do with Sainsbury's which was not named or implicated in it.
Voll Blau Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 Brand's cop-out answer when that bloke challenged him to stand for election says it all about him. The guy says some stuff I agree with occasionally but he's completely gutless and off his rocker if he thinks not voting is the answer to political apathy in this country. The only two to come out of QT looking good last night were the Times journo and Dimbleby for keeping things on track.
Guest MattP Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 Some nice dressing up of the story there Kenneth. From my reading she left a 38,000 a year job with the fire brigade for her 'right' to raise her child on benefits, now she's makes a living out of moaning about austerity on a laptop. Being a lifelong lesbian it was one hell of an effort to get impregnated, some more cynical minds may think it was planned. Although it still chuckles me to read her blog, I mean how many Guardian readers have to live on ten bob a week?
davieG Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 Russell Brand: Can an outsider challenge the status quo? By Leala PadmanabhanBBC News The comedian who distances himself from the political class was challenged to join it Continue reading the main story Related Stories Question Time Live - As It Happened Minister criticises Russell Brand In one of the liveliest exchanges of Thursday's BBC Question Time, Russell Brand faced an animated challenge from a man in the audience. "Stand. Stand for parliament," he shouted, jabbing his arm emphatically at the comedian and campaigner, who looked somewhat taken aback. "If you're going to campaign, then stand. You have the media profile for it. Do it." Russell Brand originally made his name as a comedian, actor and radio personality but in recent years has developed a serious profile as an activist and campaigner. He has guest-edited the New Statesman, memorably appeared on the BBC's Newsnight with Jeremy Paxman and on Radio 4's Start the Week to expound his views on political issues - capitalism, corporate greed, inequality and taxation - rather than to raise laughs, though the appearances were certainly entertaining. 'Revolution' His latest book "Revolution", published in October, outlines his radical left-wing, anti-capitalist agenda. "Since the financial crash, banker bonuses have exceeded £80 billion," he told Question Time. "George Osborne campaigned to stop caps being placed on banker bonuses at the same time as there were austerity cuts against the poorest among us. "We need to close tax loopholes that are exploited by big corporations. I've got money now, I've seen rich people. There's plenty of money out there, it's just not being distributed. Brand has championed campaigning methods such as direct action and "liquid democracy" "I know where the power is, I know where the money is, I know what I've got to do," he said. But alongside these strong views, and the apparent call to action, is a vehement rejection of parliamentary democracy and traditional political structures. Famously he doesn't vote himself and says he doesn't see any politician in the system worth voting for. In the Newsnight interview he said: "Don't bother voting. Stop voting, stop pretending, wake up, be in reality now. Why vote? We know it's not going to make any difference." There's no doubt that Mr Brand's high profile - he has nearly nine million Twitter followers - gives him a huge public platform. He is successfully exploiting several trends in modern life - the interest in celebrities, the anti-politics mood, and the popularity of social media. 'Positive message' But the man who claims he is merely "a comedian on Twitter" is coming under fire for his rejectionist approach. Jump media player Media player help Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue. Russell Brand criticised Nigel Farage as a "pound shop Enoch Powell" for his views on immigration On Question Time, the Conservative MP Penny Mordaunt told him: "I think you have a huge opportunity, I really wish you'd give people a positive message about voting and engagement in politics." UKIP leader Nigel Farage sought to put clear water between his own anti-establishment stance and that of Russell Brand: "This isn't the way politics is done in this country," he wrote in the Independent after the TV clash. "And I'll be damned if a chest hair-obsessed Hollywood type tries to tell us it is. There's evidently a major choice for people ahead of the general election in May next year." Russell Brand insists there are ways to influence mainstream politics without taking part in it. "Revolution" outlines his support for campaigning methods such as direct action or what he calls "liquid democracy". But he won't give up his status as a high-profile outsider. "I'd stand for parliament but I'm scared I'd become one of them," was his rather meekly-delivered answer to his Question Time challenger. Many in the audience seemed dissatisfied with the response but it seems unlikely the flamboyant firebrand will ever put that claim to the test.
Rincewind Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 Not many but would the Mail employ her and let her voice her views in their publication? What is wrong with a mother wanting to spend time with their child and raise them themselves. There is a better bond than palming the kid off to strangers all day. She may just feel that she can give more love towards her son by spending more time with him. There are plenty of women who want children but not be in a relationship. It is their choice.
The Horse's Mouth Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 I've watched it full now, is Brand back on the gear? look very agitated. I love how when he made his "point" he would swing back in his chair looking like he made the greatest point of the century. I would complain about how much Farage is on these days, but I do find him entertaining.
davieG Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 Not many but would the Mail employ her and let her voice her views in their publication? What is wrong with a mother wanting to spend time with their child and raise them themselves. There is a better bond than palming the kid off to strangers all day. She may just feel that she can give more love towards her son by spending more time with him. There are plenty of women who want children but not be in a relationship. It is their choice. . I have every sympathy for a 'deserted' mother getting support in the absence of a bread winner but having a child without any means of supporting them and yourself is a pretty selfish act and relies on those who pay taxes to support them, do they have a choice?
Guest MattP Posted 12 December 2014 Posted 12 December 2014 Not many but would the Mail employ her and let her voice her views in their publication? What is wrong with a mother wanting to spend time with their child and raise them themselves. There is a better bond than palming the kid off to strangers all day. She may just feel that she can give more love towards her son by spending more time with him. There are plenty of women who want children but not be in a relationship. It is their choice. I have no idea if the Mail would employ her and even less idea why it's relevant. She was on 38k a year, that's not a bad family income at all when topped up with child support, in fact in a proper relationship that would be more than enough to have one of the parents staying at home. Do you not think people should think about whether they are financially capable of raising children before the choose to have them? Should they just pop out as many as they want and expect the public to foot the bill as it's their choice? You seem to think a decision about having children carries as much care and considering as choosing a cricket bat.
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