Brexit Update - May Era

Re: Brexit talks are always at a critical point, before they are not critical, on Sunday there were reports that a DEAL had been done, but later No. 10 played it down.  The Cabinet meet tomorrow!

Guardian: Reports " May to face cabinet after Varadkar stands firm on Brexit backstop..Taoiseach’s position could mean UK being tied to EU customs union in long term  "

Lets Get Real:

The EU might have to place pressure on Ireland to back down, from reports it seems that the EU has made concessions, it does not want a no deal Brexit.  The EU has used Ireland to get what it wants out of the talks, the Irish might really think that they count!! If the UK and the EU can get a deal, then Ireland will have to go along, the EU has given Ireland enough money, the Irish owe the EU and the UK. Let's get this EU deal finished, even this geeky blogger is getting tired with the talks. 

Trump and Iran - Trump Era

Sky News: Reports " US vows to be 'relentless' in pressuring Iran after vow to break sanctions..Hassan Rouhani compared Donald Trump to former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein as his military kicked off air defence war games.  "

Lets Get Real:

The 2018 Mid Terms could have an interesting reaction in the field of foreign policy, if the Democrats take the House, they will try to block or roll back the Trump Agenda, thus the Trump Oval might move to foreign policy, that has been the practice in the past.   The Oval Office has more room to ACT in foreign policy and does not need the approval of Congress to ACT.  An American President can go to war without the okay from Congress, the War Powers Act states that a President after a limited time must ask for Congressional support, as in money, but in that time the Oval is in charge.   The Trump Oval might decide to take on Iran, force the Democrats in the House to oppose, make it an issue for 2020.  As someone once said, everything is political. 

Mid Terms 2018 - Update - Trump Era

BBC News: Reports " Race-baiting allegations have mired the homestretch of the US mid-term elections, turning it into one of the ugliest campaigns in recent times.  "

Lets Get Real:

IF the polls are right then the Democrats will take the House, while the Republicans keep the Senate.   In looking at 2020 this might be good for POUTS.  This blog is not interested in what you want to hear, from either liberals or conservatives, it gives you its best review of outcomes.   A Democratic House will have tons of investigations in to the Trump White House, if the Republicans can keep the Senate then they can block most, nearly all Democratic actions, the Democrats will part of the Government machine, they will have to justify their actions and policy , the Democratic nominee in 2020 will have to support a Democratic House.  Thus the fun starts after the election. 

Doctor Who Review - The Tsuranga Conundrum

Doctor Who News: Reports " Doctor Who: The Tsuranga Conundrum was watched by 6.12 million viewers, a share of 29.5% of the total TV audience, according to unofficial overnight figures.  "

Lets Get Real:

This was another great Doctor Who episode, there was a lot of running, the enemy was rather a cute creature who eat everything for food, not people.   The Doctor was challenged at the start of the story for being selfish, ( Good to see the writers challenge the Doctor, did one sense sexual friction between the doomed nurse and the Doctor ).   The companions were given good material, Graham and his step grandson had a few buddy moments with a ( spoiler ) man.  When the Doctor asked one of the companions for a number between 0 and 100, the answer was 51, not good, it was the limit for a bomb.  The new cast and characters work well together, the Doctor does not need to be in every scene, in the past the Doctors had to do most of the heavy work.   At the end the Doctor and a General had to save the day, the Doctor showed her ego when it was mentioned she had a few chapters on heros, she came back and said it was a volume.     Thus excellent show by the regular cast and guest stars, who were given meaty roles.  The one down side is the news that there will be no Christmas special, this Whovian not happy!!

Donald Trump and Migrants - Trump Era

Sky News: Reports " Donald Trump details plan for tougher US entry for migrants..The president said that if migrants "throw rocks at our military" then US soldiers should "consider it a rifle".  "

Lets Get Real:

This is the rhetoric of HATE from POTUS, one can only assume that the White House political operation have given up on the House and want to make sure that they keep the Senate Republican.    This blog is from the hard school of politics, winning, but this is FAR to FAR by a US President.  One can only hope that the US voter rejects the language and supports the Democrats in the House and Senate.   All those that take an interest in US politics seem of the view that the Democrats will take the House, but the Republicans will keep the Senate, in other words the White House can block the House and its investigations.   My ruthless political gut is telling me the House will be a lot closer than people think, ( but then this blog supported HRC through 2016, but placed a £5 bet on Trump winning ) It will be interesting to see if my brain is right or my gut is right on the money. 

The US Mid Terms 2018 - Trump Era

BBC News: Reports " The US mid-term elections in four days' time will help define the rest of Donald Trump's presidency.  "

Lets Get Real:

The general view of those that comment and write about US politics is that the Democrats will take the House and the Republicans should keep the Senate.  POTUS needs to keep the Senate as to block Democrat moves in the House, also if the Democrats try to impeach Trump the Republican Senate can block them.   When the Democrats take control of the House the Trump White House can expect more investigations, more pressure from the left of the Democratic Party to impeach POTUS.   President Trump has stated many times that he is a good businessman, well he will have to deal with Speaker Pelosi, who will be US Speaker for the 2nd time.  A Democratic HOUSE might help Trump in 2020, he can argue that the Democrats have done NOTHING, that the US voter to guard the economic success of the Trump Era should give Trump a 2nd term as President.   The fun starts after next Tuesday/Wednesday morning. 

Hammond and the Big Digital Companies - Budget Update 4 - May Era

Guardian: Reports " Hammond also promised to introduce a special tax on Amazon, Facebook and other digital giants in April 2020 raising £400m a year although he warned that if the Brexit talks collapsed he would have to hold an emergency budget in the spring.  "

Lets Get Real:

Even the LEFT will like the FACT that Chancellor Hammond has announced a special tax on the digital giants, it is about time that they paid more, they are getting far to much profit, some of that could be used for the NHS, Defence and tax cuts.   The left NEVER like Conservative budgets, it will be interesting to see the reaction of the press and the 24/7 news networks.  As I stated with the US, it is the same in the UK, everything is political.  A Budget even more so.   This blog thinks that the Budget will appeal to workers, tax cuts, cuts in beer, a freeze on fuel charges.  Also welfare gets more funds, what is not to like.