Salt n Vinegar

So, what you are saying is that there IS a chance then...

Can't think why... He's one of their most vocal supporters.

As I understand it, the NRA banned guns from their conference. Kind of odd that they seemingly trust the average Joe in the street more than they trust their own members.

You're surely not suggesting that the Republicans in congress don't have empathy or sympathy for the victims of mass shootings? Why, as they sit there in their churches, I'm sure they think of little else. Anyway, the voters get the politicians they vote for. As long as the electorate are content to vote for these anti-gun control politicians, they are actually more guilty than the politicians who are only doing what their voters seem to want.

Just as well that Ministers aren't responsible for the actions of civil servants... oh, no, wait a minute...

That's fine as long as there's also moves made to start up the "Tartan Gonk Protection League" to help those suffering from mental torment arising from the verbal diarrhea that emanates from the wider gammonrati.

True enough, but sympathy without action amounts to nothing of substance. I dare say that the Republicans in the senate have had sympathy for the victims of mass shootings.

I think the issue is that when folk think they are praying about something they are under the impression that they are "doing" something. The only conceivable benefit is that they are making THEMSELVES feel better. It's obviously up to the American electorate, but I'm pretty sure that those in favour of gun control would prefer millions more votes for candidates favouring gun control than 10 times that number sending utterly pointless thoughts and prayers.

Ah yes, "the happiest days of your life" as authority figures used to call them.

The absurdity of the "thoughts and prayers" BS can be pretty easily spotted. When has anyone ever heard one of these disaster charity appeals on TV ask for viewers "thoughts and prayers" and not mention money? Why is it, that in any situation where some form of actual action is required, thoughts and prayers are not mentioned? Paul O'Grady seems to want cash for the cats and dogs at Battersea; oddly, thoughts and prayers never come up. Trump didn't ask his supporters for thoughts and prayers when he lost the election. Politicians seemed pretty keen on a vaccine when covid started. Maybe prospective Republican candidates should just ask their supporters for thoughts and prayers and tell them to keep their cash in their pockets?

They should do a duet. The world needs something to remove from the record books the present holders of the "Worst Recording in History" award, presently held by Arthur Mullard and Hylda Baker since 1978 for the track "You're the one that I want". (Warning.... Those of a nervous disposition should not under any circumstances research that 1978 abomination.)

You think that everyone hates "us" now? If we beat Ukraine this week the UN will vote to nuke us from orbit.

I don't subscribe to the particular conspiracy theory, but if they run out of jubilee tea towels, they could try to source Jurassic Park ones to issue instead.

Eddie Izzard did a bit in one of his stage shows where the meek weren't inheriting the Earth or anything very much so they got tooled up "Lock and load! What do we want? The Earth! When do we want it? Now, motherf#(kers!"

I agree but would you trust the current government to produce it?

It's also fair to mention that it's not exactly unknown for teachers to go off the rails. The idea of young folk being in "a relationship" with a teacher who has a gun opens up possibilities that are probably better left to the imagination. FFS I had teachers who couldn't be trusted with a blackboard duster and pieces of chalk... Are we looking forward to the next 'logical' step? Presumably that's the widespread arming of Priests, Ministers, Rabbis, nuns etc during religious services.

Interesting concept, this arm the teachers thing. Police officers, whose main concern is law and order, seem to be reluctant to intervene in school shooting in case they get shot, but teachers, whose main job is education, are expected to steam in.

Very disappointed at the apparent inaction from Tory sympathisers. I think they are letting us all down by not explaining why this is the very point in time to expect lower standards from politicians.

Here's a suggestion. It should be eff all to do with the Prime Minister, or the Cabinet for that matter, what the Ministerial Code contains. It should be "the people" that set the rules under which Ministers act. The present situation is like having folk awaiting trial determine sentencing policy and getting their mates to vote for it.

True, true. It can't be easy raising a family when you're wondering where your next country estate or small island group is coming from.

I'm sorely tempted to write to the Psychiatrist in a State in Scotland to ask if, as "Scotland's man in the Cabinet", he honestly believes that this is the moment to weaken the Ministerial Code but as the response would probably rave incoherently about vaccines, Brexit, the Jubilee, flags, "Currygate, Captain Hindsight, ferries and trains, and not answer the bl00dy question, I probably won't.

The North (of Lewis) won't bend the knee, surely!

Well, that's us plebs told! If we in power misbehave... Youse can all eff off!

My perception is that because there's not much leaking of possible names, it could be someone quite senior.... (Please, please, please let it be a particularly tall, lanky, bespectacled streak of piss whose name rhymes with peas-hogg)

No doubt her Maj will have cardboard cut-outs of street urchins and homeless adults round her banquet table in a demonstration of solidarity! Gawd bless 'er!