JAG

I say, that is a bit harsh, I am sure that he still has in mind "concepts of a plan for healthcare". After all Rome wasn't built in a day, mind you it only took a few days for the Gauls to sack it in 396BC. Mind you the French always were a bit impetuous!

My opinion of Donald Trump is well known here, but I do think it is unfair to refer to Melanie Trump as the "first prostitute". The relationship between them is, to say the least, enigmatic, and certainly money played a part in it. At the time she and Trump "hooked up" she was making her way in the USA, looking to build a career for herself and apparently to provide a secure future, for herself and her parents. She was, willingly or unwillingly sucked into the whole unsavoury business. The offer of the visa and the concomitant relationship with Trump offered her what she was looking for, and she took it. Given his prior record, and his lifestyle she clearly didn't expect it to last as long as it does. I actually feel rather sorry for her - I wouldn't go so far as to say I have a "soft spot" for her, that by many accounts is firmly in her husbands domain, but I do acknowledge that she is trapped, and perhaps humiliatingly so.

No I haven't, and no I'm not.

Between the river and the sea! Which river? Which sea? Umh, umh, someone suggest another slogan...

"They're hosting a nonce down at Buckingham Palace! Christopher Robin has tried to sell Alice!"

I think that everything that can be stripped from him already has been. He is a Prince by virtue of birth, I don't think it is in the power of the King to take that away. Likewise he is Duke of York because he was the second son of the Sovereign. Since he is not allowed to perform any functions in either role, (which must really hurt someone as impressed with himself as he is), then they are empty titles. Any roles which he may have imagined would fall to him when his elder brother became king were placed firmly in the hands of Prince Edward and Sophie when the King made him Duke of Edinburgh. That must really have hurt!

It may come as something of a relevation to you, but those on the left, and even those of us with no specific political identity are often enthusiasts for, and work hard at being quite adept at,"carnal relations" - a wonderfully Victorian expression! Certainly, if Melanie Trump were to drape herself over a piano in that manner in front of me (unlikely but one never knows) then I would attempt to engage with her, (and hopefully at least raise a smile); I certainly wouldn't just sit there looking like a bulldog chewing a wasp! What is more, the politics of gender identity would not concern me, I would be concentrating on that classic "little black dress"!

Quite takes me back to the halcyon days of my youth, when we would sit around the piano in my grandmother's front room - wishing someone knew how to play It!

I'm pretty sure that directly accusing people of stupidity, and of being a brainless fool are in breach of the forum guides?

No, not in the UK, in the US it is criminal. Either way he is technically an ephebophile rather than a Paedophile. Now of course questions remain as to actually how consensual it was - I should imagine the pressure on the girl was enormous. Either way it was deeply unsavoury, absolutely not what would be expected in my ( perhaps pompous) opinion of a Royal Prince and a Royal Duke. That said, as I may have mentioned before, he is a nob. I think it is desperately sad, that despite making a lot of money, the poor girl ended up commuting suicide. Life ruined by a nob. Sometimes I wonder about that too - how many other secrets did she take to the grave - The lord will have mercy on her!

Maybe he has just realised that he can't "rise to the occasion"?

The angry look doesn't suit her, although I must confess that she can still be attractive, scrubs up well if you like; both Gavin Newsom and Justin Trudeau seem to think so, if recent photographs are to be believed! The bloke looks like a fairly standard East Coast plonker!

And today's text is from Paul's letter to the Colossians...

I doubt that the Royal Family are in the slightest bit "rocked". The Royal Family, along with the rest of the population of The UK have long regarded him as an utter nob. With the exception of his late Mother the Queen, who understandably but unfortunately loved and looked after him as her son, they have made it very plain that he is a nob. Stripped of all titles and patronage ( apart from Prince and Duke of York, those are conferred by accident of birth) he will live out his life as a nob, perched in his increasingly run down house in Windsor Great Park. Even the house has no significance other than as an extravagant gaff for a nob who still imagines he is someone. He is toast, has been for several years. It's only when books like this are trotted out, which reiterate what we already know, that he even comes to public attention. Did I mention that he is a nob?

Mrs Trump really ought to be careful going to court. One hears that those ICE chappies are rather keen on hanging around outside the courts, and we know what absolute stickers they are for visa and immigration status being above board! Anyway, I thought that their eyes first met at a bible study session at the Pink Pussycat Club or something like that...

It seems that the conventional "high street banks" (although these days it does seem that most of their activity is based in shopping malls) are the ones continuing to use "Wise". The more "fringe banks" (and let's face it how many of them have "expat" customers) seem to have decided it is not worth maintaining the service.

Umh, the headline on the original post: Thai Human Rights Stalemate: Arrests and Restrictions Worry USA Anyway, never mind, you keep barking up your own particular tree!

I believe that David Lammy (that well known angling aficionado) treated him to a licence - after someone pointed out that neither of them had one! Mind you, I am sure that the British taxpayers paid for It!

The dignity of the office!

We are all, of course, free to choose our own metaphorical "hill to die on" in discussion on this forum, but Donald Trump not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize really is a quite extraordinary choice!

I think I have made my views completely clear, as have several others, on the USA condemning other governments for actions which it is itself indulging in. As for your demands, I don't bother to respond to those sort of binary "yes or no" demands. This is a discussion forum, not some sort of court of law; I (and others) have voiced opinions. It doesn't take the brains of an archbishop to discern my/our views.

Of course it is entirely relevant The US, through this State Department report, is setting itself as the international arbiter in these matters whilst indulging in significant restrictions on liberty, freedoms of speech and arbitrary widespread arrests. It's current regime is also interfering with its domestic press and media, and attempting to dictate to independent academic institutions and of course the individual state government's. A hypocrisy which you are rather underlining by barking demands that we should limit the scope of our discussions and comments as you see fit, and telling us to start another thread. It is about as relevant as you can get!

Entirely relevant. The article is about claims that the US is making about Thailand. It draws attention to the same issues within the US.

So perhaps he should leave the idyllic Cotswolds and bugger off back to the land of the free - taking his Secret Service, excessive motorcade and obtrusive security blanket with him, thus restoring the inhabitants basic liberties. After all our King seems to manage with an (admittedly very smart) car and an unobtrusive escort!

It is not treason if he is not an American. Many of us, "Euro trash" if you like, have a pretty sanguine view of America's long term future.