This post was on Twitter a couple of days ago, and has been sent to me:
I agree with Larry the Cat to the extent that he is right to say that there is nothing more Trump could do to suggest he is a Russian asset.
I also think the word agent could be substituted for asset in that comment without difficulty.
In that case, since he acts and talks like a Russian agent, let's get off the fence. Let's assume that is exactly what he is.
So, why does Keir Starmer keep saying he is a reliable friend? What is it that he is missing? And why?
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In computer science there is something called “duck typing”. This is based on the idea that, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and talks like a duck – it’s a duck.
Who knows what hold Putin may or may not have on Trump. But he’s acting like a Russian agent so we should treat him as such.
There has been much analysis about what cunning strategy or plans may be burried in his chaotic, malign, actions. But I think that analysis is wasted. The simplest explanation is that everything he does is designed to palpate his fragile ego, based on prejudice, gut feeling, and a large dollop of ignorance (and, perhaps, blackmail by Putin). In the absence of other information I think it reasonable to assume that this simplest explanation is correct.
As to what Starmer is missing: perhaps he’s oblivious. But if it were me, would I come out and say Trump’s an unreliable ally (even though he clearly is not an ally)? Given his propensity for irrational vindictive behaviour, and given the UK’s dependence on the US, I would not wish to rock the boat. Instead I would be working hard to reduce dependency on the US. Returning to the duck analogy, perhaps Starmer appears to be swimming serenely viewed from above, whilst paddling furiously below the water. I hope so. Or perhaps Starmer is simply oblivious.
Starmer has pinned so much of his identity into being the bridge builder he would have to loose face, quite considerably, if he admitted this.
He really doesn’t like doing that. So he’ll carry on pretending.
“why does Keir Starmer keep saying he is a reliable friend?”
In De Nile. Starmer still thinks he is in 2014 with a president that was deluded (vis-a-vis Russia) but sane. He has a chief of staff (McSweeney) with zero experience of international relations & neither have the willingness to admit that that they are dealing with a fraud, liar, criminal & Russian asset. The only equivelent was Johnson and is Farage. The presense of 30k US military on UK soil is a further complication, ditto the US control of the UK’s “independent” nuclear weapons (& its supply of F35 jets).
Just reading “Get In”. Page 437: &… “in his weaker moments even McSweeney would confide to friends that he knew neither what Starmer thought nor whose advice he had taken”.
What could possibly go wrong? I’m guessing Starmer wants to keep Mango on side. This is an impossibility – even Cummings gave up trying to control “The Trolley”.
Short of significant events occuring in the USA (gentle readers are free to speculate what these might be) – the Uk better get used to dealing with a USA body politic that is both wholly transactional and insane.
Well, Starmer has clearly been provided with all manner of goodies so I suggest that those who have funded him have his ear and can direct his actions at least to a degree
I very much doubt Starmer is not in the loop on whether Trump is or isn’t a Russian asset. MI6 must know, therefore he must know. The problem is that 70% of America’s overseas investment is in our country, and a significant portion of our exports are to the US. Our entertainment industry, service sector, and our defence industry are heavily dependent on the US. Starmer must continue to prostrate himself or risk serious impact on economy. Whatever decisions are to be made, I doubt Starmer and his government will make the right ones.
He’s missing a moral compass.
What is it that KS is missing?
A moral compass
Empathy
A clue about macroeconomics
A clear policy path
Conviction
Shall I carry on!
You could
Is he an android?
@Mike Parr, I bought husband “Get In” as a Valentine Gift, I kid you not! So romantic, me! And he gobbled it up! I rather think he sat up till 2am reading it. I hope to give it a whirl when I’m over all of the complications of 4 tooth extractions – hot salt water rinses etc. Groan.
Today’s tune is The Envoy by Warren Zevon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-xau9j5tOI
Thanks for the Tom Petty song yesterday BTW. We saw him in Birmingham with our daughters (1992). He’s one of only 3 people I’ve ever seen who are/were truly charismatic. The other two being Tim Peake (at a New Scientist Live event) and Jarvis Cocker.
For years/decades now, neoliberal dogma worked out in political, economic and commercial practice, has produced avoidable misery, suffering, illness, inequality, conflict and death. Those primarily affected have been the majority within the poorest countries, and the poorest within all countries, even rich ones.
But now we are in another phase. Because of the greed, cowardice, ignorance, and/or stupidity of our rulers, our existing systems are collapsing, and even the middle class have noticed.Yea, even unto the fourth generation of senior management at the Guardian, and the controllers of the Labour Party, and they are sore afraid.
Unfortunately they are all running on old algorithms. They do not know what to do, and even if they do take action it will not be to protect the most vulnerable but to protect themselves.
Some time ago I mentally prepared myself for survival and hopefully some service in a broken destroyed system, while doing my best to help others and persuade them about what was happening.
Having retired, I’ve concluded that I was ineffective in achieving change, except that we fed a few people, comforted a few people, and persuaded a few people (too few) that things were going badly wrong. But I don’t get depressed about that, I think I did what was possible given my circumstances and opportunities.
Yesterday was the beginning of Lent, and I have started 2 series of studies (produced in 2024) from a Christian organisation working in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Israel & the Occupied Territories – & called Embrace Middle East (formerly the Bible Lands Society).
https://embraceme.org/
One is titled “Days to Lament” and is about being realistic about the pain and suffering around us, and in our own lives too, and using a model for a process of lament such as in Psalm 13
Cry out
Name what is wrong
Make your request
Remember past blessings
Promise (future) praise
and identifying these 4 starting places where we may find ourselves and from which we can then move to action.
Grief
Compassion
Optimism
Restless detachment (being very fed up with our own lack of effectiveness).
The other study is called “Healing and Hope in the one household of God” sharing stories of how people’s thinking can be moved from despair and bitterness towards hope and compassion, when we “walk with those on the margins and those who find themselves facing injustice”.
Because strangely, it is from THOSE PEOPLE that the hope and encouragement flow. I know that because it happens to me day by day. The study carries story after story of hope, compassion and resilience from people at the sharpest end of neoliberal dogma, in the Middle East
“Lament” and “Healing and Hope” are my survival strategy as the TrumpFelon spreads hatred, despair and injustice
I sense that many who come here wrestle with these same feelings, from within our very different personal circumstances, and can feel overwhelmed by anger, depression, cynicism, despair and discouragement. I often am.
Have a self-care strategy, Trump is on the way out.
Many of the towns that suffered worst in the blitz became garden cities as creativity took over from destruction.