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DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#191301: Jun 1st 2017 at 10:32:10 AM

Can someone tell me who Nigel Farage is?

The head of the British UKIP (UK Independence Party), the main person behind the Brexit Push (Who immediately resigned from the party after it passed), and someone who aided Trump in 2016 (Though I forget exactly how).

MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#191302: Jun 1st 2017 at 10:34:28 AM

His current pet project is dividing California into west and east California.

3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
#191303: Jun 1st 2017 at 10:41:15 AM

Nigel Farage is someone who got himself elected into the EU Parliament (because he lost 8 times trying to get into the UK one) on a platform of wanting the UK out of the EU, cheerfully took every cent from the EU he could while lying his ass off to get what he wanted.

He's an arse of epic proportions.

This is him, within the EU parliament

edited 1st Jun '17 10:45:08 AM by 3of4

"You can reply to this Message!"
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#191304: Jun 1st 2017 at 10:42:36 AM

[up] So, just like almost everyone else in Parliament?

New Survey coming this weekend!
3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
#191305: Jun 1st 2017 at 10:45:56 AM

You know a bell curve? He's that shallow end of the 'bad' end of the curve when it comes to Parliament

See this

edited 1st Jun '17 10:47:40 AM by 3of4

"You can reply to this Message!"
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#191306: Jun 1st 2017 at 10:45:58 AM

@Link: I am wary of that idea because a) it will probably overstretch the party (big tents can only become so wide) and b) I want to have some serious proof that they'll be loyal voters in Congressional elections, considering that Republican congressfolk is the big source of inept policies.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Wyldchyld (Old as dirt)
#191307: Jun 1st 2017 at 10:49:56 AM

Nigel Farage's response to the claims should be quite familiar to Americans:

Nigel Farage 'doubts' FBI Trump probe claim

In a statement entitled "fake news", Mr Farage said: "In response to the Guardian article, it has taken me a long time to finish reading because I am laughing so much.

"This hysterical attempt to associate me with the Putin regime is a result of the liberal elite being unable to accept Brexit and the election of President Trump.


Does that mean the Russians were in some form involved in the British mess as well?

There have been rumours circulating for a year about possible Russian involvement in the Leave campaign. MPs (one in particular) have periodically tried to raise the issue in parliament about whether or not an investigation to verify or clear the rumours is being done, but they keep getting shut down by the government.

Can someone tell me who Nigel Farage is?

Nigel Farage was the face of Brexit. The guy who got working class people on his side because he was always pictured in the pub with a pint of beer. So, obviously he's an ordinary bloke who understands ordinary people. (Reality: he comes from a family of stock brokers and is very wealthy. He's just really good at PR among a certain age-group of people — Baby Boomers, who are the age-group that carried the Brexit vote.)

He became the face of the extremely right-wing UKIP, whose sole reason for existence was to get the UK out of the EU. He lived happily off an EU MEP salary (and continues to do so), but UKIP really struggles to survive without him - he built it, and it collapsed when he left as its leader.

He's known Steve Bannon and Jeff Sessions for years (longer than he's known Trump). He did some speeches during the Trump campaign in support of Trump, and the Brexit campaign in the UK was led by some of Trump's campaign managers, resulting in the two campaigns being extremely similar in process and content.

As a result, the Brexit result was seen as a bellwether for the US election results because of the shared campaign staff (and that is indeed what happened).

Nigel Farage and Trump are like-minded and like-sounding individuals. Trump caused some diplomatic waves around the inauguration for 'suggesting' to the UK that Farage needs to be the UK's ambassador to the US. Farage is not a Westminster politician, nor does he work in any diplomatic capacity. And the UK already had a US ambassador.

As you can imagine, Trump's suggestion went down like a lead balloon.

There is at least one other person very important to the Leave campaign, who also has close ties to Trump's group. There has been no indication the FBI has any level of interest in them, but given the FBI now appears to be interested in Farage, it'll be very interesting to see if that other person eventually ends up also being cited as a 'person of interest'.

Anyway, yes, the FBI interest in Farage is not surprising but does potentially have large ramifications for Brexit.

So, just like almost everyone else in Parliament?

Farage is about as 'normal' to British politics as Trump is to US politics — and for very similar reasons.

edited 1st Jun '17 11:14:06 AM by Wyldchyld

If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#191308: Jun 1st 2017 at 11:45:38 AM

@191185

Actually, it's more along the lines of "These hippies want to put the needs of the 'environment' over the needs of the people!"

Without realizing that for most, they're one and the same, best expressed with this strip from the creator of Scandinavia and the World.

"You're fucking yourself over big time and won't be missed."

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
Proglottid Since: Mar, 2010
#191309: Jun 1st 2017 at 12:07:16 PM

The difference between Farage and Trump is that Farage actually had the gall to jump ship the moment everyone realized they launched face-first into deep shit, while Trump can't even begin entertaining the idea or else he can't sleep at night

LinkToTheFuture A real bad hombre from somewhere completely different Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
A real bad hombre
#191310: Jun 1st 2017 at 12:32:13 PM

Looks like we're out of Paris.

Just...

fuck everything

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#191311: Jun 1st 2017 at 12:34:09 PM

That settles things than. Anyone who could vote and didn't vote for Clinton owes the human species an apology.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
LinkToTheFuture A real bad hombre from somewhere completely different Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
A real bad hombre
#191312: Jun 1st 2017 at 12:34:40 PM

Apparently the cited justification is that it "frontloads costs onto American workers"

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#191313: Jun 1st 2017 at 12:35:51 PM

Frontload? So they admit that the costs will still exist, but at a later date?

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
fruitpork Since: Oct, 2010
#191314: Jun 1st 2017 at 12:37:34 PM

There's no economic benefit. They're doing it out of spite.

LinkToTheFuture A real bad hombre from somewhere completely different Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
A real bad hombre
#191315: Jun 1st 2017 at 12:40:56 PM

It temporarily hurts in the short term in highly visible places while benefiting everyone else much more quietly. The appropriate solution is retraining, but apparently we want to stick our heads in the sand

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#191316: Jun 1st 2017 at 12:43:05 PM

Well, you need to provide sufficient jobs for the retrained as well. That is not so easy to do.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Wyldchyld (Old as dirt)
#191317: Jun 1st 2017 at 12:57:46 PM

There's no economic benefit. They're doing it out of spite.

There's plenty of economic benefit. It's just that the types of companies that generally get stereotyped (or genuinely are) companies that pursue these policies or work in the relevant industries, are also stereotyped as being Democrat funders instead of Republican funders as well as being rival businesses to Republican donors — in other words, it's a problem for the Republicans on two fronts.

Except it isn't because plenty of Republican supporters - even Trump supporters - have been lobbying Trump to remain in Paris. Even Exxon's shareholders have voted in favour of supporting some climate action (even if it is just to address investor concerns).

Trump just cannot see any benefit to him personally.

edited 1st Jun '17 12:58:08 PM by Wyldchyld

If my post doesn't mention a giant flying sperm whale with oversized teeth and lionfish fins for flippers, it just isn't worth reading.
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#191318: Jun 1st 2017 at 1:00:00 PM

Despite what some belief, the EU parliament does some work. Farage is the kind of guy who is supposed to be in a group working out fishing rights, never turns up to any of the meetings (while getting money for NOT being in Brussels) and then complains that the end-result of said meetings don't suit him. He is the kind of guy who celebrates the UK's "independence day" claiming that they managed to win their "independence" without firing one shot two weeks after a British politician got killed by a crazy Brexit supporter. He is the kind of guy who promises money for the NHS and says one hour after Brexit is official that he never claimed it despite it being painted on a giant bus. And he is the kind of guy who Trump wanted as foreign minister for the US, but thankfully for once the Tories showed at least some spine and gave him an emphatic "NO!".

In short, he is slime, the worst of the worst you'll find in politics. I think he is currently enjoying the good life on his EU pension, leaving it to others to deal with the mess which is Brexit.

Concerning Paris: Not surprised, but a stupid move. The ironic thing is that the US fastest growing sector currently is clean energy sector...now China will most likely take the lead in solar energy, and Germany in Wind energy.

edited 1st Jun '17 1:02:54 PM by Swanpride

LinkToTheFuture A real bad hombre from somewhere completely different Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
A real bad hombre
#191319: Jun 1st 2017 at 1:03:01 PM

Any economic benefits will be greatly offset in the not-too-long term.

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison
CrimsonZephyr Would that it were so simple. from Massachusetts Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
Would that it were so simple.
#191320: Jun 1st 2017 at 1:10:07 PM

America really does have the worst old people. They carried Trump into office. Its because of these decrepit piece of shit Baby Boomers that we're in this situation.

I hope I never become like them.

edited 1st Jun '17 1:10:22 PM by CrimsonZephyr

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#191322: Jun 1st 2017 at 1:15:18 PM

Still, the private sector and some of the states will keep moving on green energy, there's too much money in it.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
LinkToTheFuture A real bad hombre from somewhere completely different Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
A real bad hombre
#191323: Jun 1st 2017 at 1:18:20 PM

[up]This.

I can't believe that the administration and too many Americans can't see the money to be made in green energy.

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison
Luigisan98 A wandering user from Venezuelan Muscat Since: Oct, 2013 Relationship Status: I <3 love!
A wandering user
#191324: Jun 1st 2017 at 1:19:38 PM

[up] They're not seeing the benefit and different of investing of alternate, healthier energies instead of fossil fuels.

And if you ask, I still hold to my belief that this won't symbolize the end of the world, not now, not ever.

The only good fanboy, is a redeemed fanboy.
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#191325: Jun 1st 2017 at 1:23:00 PM

Maybe, but James Buchanan was incredibly awful so I'm not so sure about that.

And if you ask, I still hold to my belief that this won't symbolize the end of the world, not now, not ever.
The world? No. Human life in the world? Probably not. But it could easily cause unimaginable damage and Human suffering, so the lack of apocalypse is hardly an upside.

edited 1st Jun '17 1:23:29 PM by Fourthspartan56

"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji Yang

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