'What planet are they on?' No respite for UK's Johnson and aide

[vogie]

2 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

More likely win him an oscar.

When did he develop a stammer? Couldn't make eye contact with anyone. Stuck with the prepared script. Failed to answer questions.

 

He is not a public speaker, but in the light of that he gave a well account of himself. I don't know if he developed a stammer as that is probably the first televised public interview he has given and it is not very nice to mention somebody that stammers, it is not a pleasant condition to have.

 

What were the questions he failed to answer?

[Nigel Garvie]

16 minutes ago, vogie said:

He was the mastermind behind Labours attempt to win the GE, he cost Labour their biggest defeat since the 1930s, he took the electorate for fools, they paid the price.

Whereas Cummings was responsible for one of the Tories greatest victories. 

This may be a huge challenge, but try to stay even remotely in touch with reality. The "mastermind" behind Labour in the last GE was Seamus Milne supported by Karie Murphy, in Corbyn's head office, plus Jenny Fornby in the NEC, and Lansman of Momentum. The campaign was basically run by the hard left Stazi wing of the party. (Many of whom are - like Corbyn- Brexiteers as it happens). They sidelined Starmer, who was hardly seen at a LP national level. You do read newspapers/etc don't you?

 

I would certainly agree to credit Cummings with reptilian cunning, but the truth is a blind wombat would have succeeded in that job, Labour destroyed themselves. The personal unpopularity of Corbyn was a huge factor.

[Logosone]

7 minutes ago, vogie said:

That's the British press for you, they were after his head, they didn't even squeeze one of his pimples.

Cummings answered every question put to him and when he was interrupted never once did he say "can I finish" he did what was best for his wife and child and never once put anyone else in danger.

I think his performance will have won him a lot of friends last night, of course not the 'skin him alive brigade'

I greatly admire the British press.

 

Because they always pursue the truth, relentlessly and in the end, in the UK press, the truth comes out.

 

I don't know why this is so, why the British have this but France, Germany, Italy, Spain, do not, but the British press is, to me, the best in the world.

 

You see it right across the board, it was not just Paxton, Snow, it's almost everyone, politicians never get an easy ride, they always get a robust and hard ride. The papers tell you every detail. As they should. Not so in Europe or Asia.

 

But also, while Cummings looked like a shy, scared rabbit, he did have the courage to take questions. Perhaps he had no other choice. But it's to his credit that he allowed questions and faced the press. 

 

Now people can make their own mind up. It looks like rules about lockdown will generally be ignored going forward, as the SAGE adviser said, people adhere to them not for themselves but out of a feeling of shared responsibility. Cummings claiming special priveleges will destroy this sense of 'being in it together'. And clearly the UK never was, scientific advisers, government advisers ignored the rules. And that's just those that got caught. The British public is not stupid, they won't sacrifice for people who don't do the same for them.

[vogie]

5 minutes ago, Nigel Garvie said:

This may be a huge challenge, but try to stay even remotely in touch with reality. The "mastermind" behind Labour in the last GE was Seamus Milne supported by Karie Murphy, in Corbyn's head office, plus Jenny Fornby in the NEC, and Lansman of Momentum. The campaign was basically run by the hard left Stazi wing of the party. (Many of whom are - like Corbyn- Brexiteers as it happens). They sidelined Starmer, who was hardly seen at a LP national level. You do read newspapers/etc don't you?

 

I would certainly agree to credit Cummings with reptilian cunning, but the truth is a blind wombat would have succeeded in that job, Labour destroyed themselves. The personal unpopularity of Corbyn was a huge factor.

For once would it be possible for you to reply to a post without your usual patronization.

 

This may be a huge challenge, but try to stay even remotely in touch with reality.

 

You do read newspapers/etc don't you?

 

Why are your posts all written in the style of Citizen Smith and why all this anger all the time.

 

 

[hotandsticky]

14 minutes ago, Logosone said:

I greatly admire the British press.

 

Because they always pursue the truth, relentlessly and in the end, in the UK press, the truth comes out.

 

I don't know why this is so, why the British have this but France, Germany, Italy, Spain, do not, but the British press is, to me, the best in the world.

 

You see it right across the board, it was not just Paxton, Snow, it's almost everyone, politicians never get an easy ride, they always get a robust and hard ride. The papers tell you every detail. As they should. Not so in Europe or Asia.

 

But also, while Cummings looked like a shy, scared rabbit, he did have the courage to take questions. Perhaps he had no other choice. But it's to his credit that he allowed questions and faced the press. 

 

Now people can make their own mind up. It looks like rules about lockdown will generally be ignored going forward, as the SAGE adviser said, people adhere to them not for themselves but out of a feeling of shared responsibility. Cummings claiming special priveleges will destroy this sense of 'being in it together'. And clearly the UK never was, scientific advisers, government advisers ignored the rules. And that's just those that got caught. The British public is not stupid, they won't sacrifice for people who don't do the same for them.

 

 

I 'liked' your post because you made some very good points. I don't share your love of the British Press (or any other for that matter). For too many years sensationalism has driven the actions of the press and there is always an angle to any story - the press are polarised and I rarely see 'balanced reporting' of an event. Politicising Coronavirus is abhorrent. 

[Logosone]

11 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Monsters? No. Cretins? Definitely.

 

These muppets (and I include the media scrum in that) were probably all tweeting #bekind a few months ago after Caroline Flack took her own life. Look at them now trying to make this guys life unbearable. Total hypocrites.

 

I didn't see much social distancing going on when they circled him going about his daily business. Maybe they should resign for breaking the guidelines? You think they will? 

The media was doing its job. They have to find out the truth in situations like this.

 

Cummings is very well paid, has a great pension and never has to worry about a restaurant table, a little media scrutiny is an accepted price for the fame and money.

 

The guidelines always were a nonesense. But Cummings helped to draft them.

 

Surely if he himself breaches those guidelines it is understandable there is media interest in this.

[hotandsticky]

1 minute ago, Logosone said:

The media was doing its job. They have to find out the truth in situations like this.

 

Cummings is very well paid, has a great pension and never has to worry about a restaurant table, a little media scrutiny is an accepted price for the fame and money.

 

The guidelines always were a nonesense. But Cummings helped to draft them.

 

Surely if he himself breaches those guidelines it is understandable there is media interest in this.

 

 

 

My only disagreement with you is that it goes beyond "interest"

[Logosone]

3 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

I 'liked' your post because you made some very good points. I don't share your love of the British Press (or any other for that matter). For too many years sensationalism has driven the actions of the press and there is always an angle to any story - the press are polarised and I rarely see 'balanced reporting' of an event. Politicising Coronavirus is abhorrent. 

The thing about sensationalism and party camps, and yes the press are polarised it's true, is that, in the UK at least, this seems to balance out. I think the press should be like that. It should be tough, and pursue in all detail. A little entertainment is okay as well. But you also see unbelievably sharp and intelligent analysis from the UK press, both from the Telegraph, Daily mail, and from the Guardian and Spectator, from the Independent.

 

Do I think some of the questions put to Cummings were stupid? Of course I do. That woman going on about did you bend the rules, yes it was a bit silly, polarised too, and yes, better questions could have been asked, like when the second guy tried to nail him down on 'did you go anywhere else'.

 

But overall, the British press did its job, it pursued until the truth came out. Do you think Cummings would have told the truth without a strong British press pursuing him and the prime minister? I don't think so. This story would never have seen the light of day in Germany.

 

I also think the media critique had a great effect on illucidating the weaknesses of scientific advice in the UK. 

 

The British press has served the British public very well indeed. I think it is one of the best things about Britain and it is the gold standard the European press should adhere to. Overall the European press is weak, meek and deferential by comparison.

[Logosone]

11 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

 

My only disagreement with you is that it goes beyond "interest"

Well, yes, that is the case, it is a frenzied, partisan, pursuit of a very robust nature.

 

Perhaps only that is why the truth comes out. 

 

Perhaps that is why the British press is so good. 

 

The journalists work like British footballers play football, wild and passionate. In journalism it works. 

 

Penalties, not so much.

[Rookiescot]

37 minutes ago, vogie said:

He is not a public speaker, but in the light of that he gave a well account of himself. I don't know if he developed a stammer as that is probably the first televised public interview he has given and it is not very nice to mention somebody that stammers, it is not a pleasant condition to have.

 

What were the questions he failed to answer?

He does not have a stammer. The condition was faked. Along with the fairy tale script he was reading.

OK here are a few questions I would want answers too. Why could he not self isolate at home? He has family and friends in London. He is also Johnsons chief advisor. If he phones people stuff will get done for him. So why did he not do that?

 

Why does his account and his wifes account of events differ? He claims his son was with other family members. She claims their son was giving Cummings drinks like a real little trooper. So she is admitting the kid was with them.

 

How many times did they stop on the journey north to Durham? 

 

How many times did he leave the house when he was supposed to be isolated and where did he go?

Durham police should be studying CCTV footage to ascertain the truth behind that. 

 

Why did he drive with impaired eyesight? Its like someone drunk thinking I will drive 30 miles to see if I am sober enough to drive 250 miles?

[vogie]

2 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

He does not have a stammer. The condition was faked. Along with the fairy tale script he was reading.

OK here are a few questions I would want answers too. Why could he not self isolate at home? He has family and friends in London. He is also Johnsons chief advisor. If he phones people stuff will get done for him. So why did he not do that?

 

Why does his account and his wifes account of events differ? He claims his son was with other family members. She claims their son was giving Cummings drinks like a real little trooper. So she is admitting the kid was with them.

 

How many times did they stop on the journey north to Durham? 

 

How many times did he leave the house when he was supposed to be isolated and where did he go?

Durham police should be studying CCTV footage to ascertain the truth behind that. 

 

Why did he drive with impaired eyesight? Its like someone drunk thinking I will drive 30 miles to see if I am sober enough to drive 250 miles?

I see now, you are actually asking why didn't the journalists ask those questions, he answered all the questions put to him last night, if you want to make your own questions up that is entirely up to you. Dom can only answer questions that has been put to him.

 

1 hour ago, Rookiescot said:

More likely win him an oscar.

When did he develop a stammer? Couldn't make eye contact with anyone. Stuck with the prepared script. Failed to answer questions.

 

 

[sammieuk1]

Its a relief to know he did not put his wife and son in danger by road testing his eyes for half an hour it could now be part of the highway code ???? 

[JonnyF]

41 minutes ago, Logosone said:

The media was doing its job. They have to find out the truth in situations like this.

 

Cummings is very well paid, has a great pension and never has to worry about a restaurant table, a little media scrutiny is an accepted price for the fame and money.

 

The guidelines always were a nonesense. But Cummings helped to draft them.

 

Surely if he himself breaches those guidelines it is understandable there is media interest in this.

No, the media is not doing it's job, it is trying to hound him out of his position since the London Metropolitan mainstream media is predominantly Remain Left wing and he is a Tory Brexiteer.

 

They know he was the architect of Brexit and also of the Tory landslide victory. They know the government will be weaker without him so they are trying to remove him. It is politically motivated and is essentially trial by media, with them acting as judge, jury and executioner.

 

It is not the job of the media to force individuals out of their jobs because they are of a different political persuasion to the organizations that they work for.

[PETERTHEEATER]

The man is a poorly dressed slob  and should be sacked for that reason alone. Is it any wonder BJ is losing credibility by using this hobo as an advisor!

[shackleton]

Have to agree he has to go 

No good telling others to follow the rules then break them yourself

Waiting to see if the NHS doctor does what he says and resigns 

Expecting a lot of people to now flaunt the rules saying if it's good for him then the same for me 

[BillStrangeOgre]

1 hour ago, flossie35 said:

Nonsense. Lots of parents stuck to the rules. Cummings can't even stick to the rules about how advisers should behave. He's dangerous - some sort of fascist plant trying to turn the UK into trumpland. See P Cadwalladr.

Personally, i'd do whatever it takes to protect my child. A neighbour of mine in the UK has a daughter, a single parent with 3 toddlers, who couldn't charge her electric vehicle the cable was broken. My neighbour had a spare and drove a round trip of 90 miles to give it to her daughter through the kitchen window. 

My guess is there are millions of people in the UK in the past couple of months who had to make similar choices

[Rookiescot]

20 minutes ago, vogie said:

I see now, you are actually asking why didn't the journalists ask those questions, he answered all the questions put to him last night, if you want to make your own questions up that is entirely up to you. Dom can only answer questions that has been put to him.

 

 

OK what about the other points I raised?

Avoiding them?

[stevenl]

9 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

No, the media is not doing it's job, it is trying to hound him out of his position since the London Metropolitan mainstream media is predominantly Remain Left wing and he is a Tory Brexiteer.

 

They know he was the architect of Brexit and also of the Tory landslide victory. They know the government will be weaker without him so they are trying to remove him. It is politically motivated and is essentially trial by media, with them acting as judge, jury and executioner.

 

It is not the job of the media to force individuals out of their jobs because they are of a different political persuasion to the organizations that they work for.

Yes that is why daily mail and telegraph are asking questions of Cummings'and Johnson, because they're staunch remainers and hate the Tories.

[evadgib]

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

I can imagine the type of neighbours he has. 

 

Guardian reading, Europhile Labour voters. Virtue signallers, desperate to help the media in their quest to be judge, jury and executioner of the evil Brexiteer.

 

Same as Boris' neighbours. Sniveling little panty sniffers, huddled up in the dark recording a domestic argument through the walls and then selling it to a tabloid newspaper ????.

 

Pathetic specimens. The mighty Dominic Cummings will soar above them all like an eagle, amused at the rats scurrying around beneath him looking for scraps.

Seen yesterday:

 

- A mobile cinema c/w giant speakers blaring propaganda in his street, an act not seen since the yanks were trying to evict ol' Pineapple-Head from his vatican refuge in Panama.

 

- A string of 'Karens' yelling abuse at DC each time he runs the gauntlet to or from his car, all on camera & with not a plod in sight. 

 

- Alistair Campbell waxing lyrical, despite his own role In the Bliar Govt (WMD, 'Sexing up' files leading to the death of Dr David Kelly etc)

 

- Morgan as above, but in his case there's footage of him being extremely evasive under oath while being grilled over his involvement into criminally accessing a murdered child's phone, creating the illusion (to plod & her parents) that she might still be alive.

 

MSM should take a damn good look at themselves....

Edited May 26, 2020 by evadgib

[Chomper Higgot]

3 minutes ago, evadgib said:

Seen yesterday:

 

- A mobile cinema c/w giant speakers blaring propaganda in his street, an act not seen since the yanks were trying to evict ol' Pineapple-Head from his vatican refuge in Panama.

 

- A string of 'Karens' yelling abuse at DC each time he runs the gauntlet to or from his car, all on camera & with not a plod in sight. 

 

- Alistair Campbell waxing lyrical, despite his own role In the Bliar Govt (WMD, 'Sexing up' files leading to the death of Dr David Kelly etc)

 

- Morgan as above, but in his case there's footage of him being extremely evasive under oath while being grilled over his involvement into criminally accessing a murdered child's phone, creating the illusion (to plod & her parents) that she might still be alive.

 

MSM should take a damn good look at themselves....

You missed the other bit:

 

Cummings lying through his teeth.

[vogie]

4 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

OK what about the other points I raised?

Avoiding them?

What other "points" would they be, if you are referring to his "faked stammer" I don't have a Phd in speech therapy so cannot help you there, I doubt that you have one too. Maybe it has something to do with the masses of TV cameras there and being exposed to millions of viewers, would that not make someone who is not used to public speaking a little nervous, I know it would me.

 

[Mavideol]

1 hour ago, vogie said:

That's the British press for you, they were after his head, they didn't even squeeze one of his pimples.

Cummings answered every question put to him and when he was interrupted never once did he say "can I finish" he did what was best for his wife and child and never once put anyone else in danger.

I think his performance will have won him a lot of friends last night, of course not the 'skin him alive brigade'

looking forward seeing BJ/DC reaction when the majority of Brits start to visit their families without respecting social distancing, they will do so based on their "personal assessment on what's best for their families"

Edited May 26, 2020 by Mavideol

[OneeyedJohn]

I tried to watch the video of his explanation from the rose garden at No, but after 20 seconds it was beyond bearable. mealy mouthed p o s 

[Chomper Higgot]

From the UK Government’s published rules:

 

“Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.”

 

What’s not to understand?!

 

 

[Baerboxer]

18 hours ago, delgarcon said:

This will not go away as no doubt journalists will come up with proof of his other lockdown violations. He will have to go.

 

 

If it's proved there were other lockdown violations or if it's proved he violated the self quarantine rule on any trip, then he has to go. He should go as a result of his actions; not as a result of the gutter press hounding him because they don't like him.

 

However, so should the 4 Labour politicians who all violated the lockdown law; without offering any reasonable excuse or apologizing. As elected public servants (555!) they are fully accountable for their actions and most certainly not above the law.

 

The highly hypocritical selective Labour leader, Sir Starmer, has been totally quiet on this.  No surprise their as he clearly thinks politics trumps justice.

Edited May 26, 2020 by Baerboxer

[Logosone]

39 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

No, the media is not doing it's job, it is trying to hound him out of his position since the London Metropolitan mainstream media is predominantly Remain Left wing and he is a Tory Brexiteer.

 

They know he was the architect of Brexit and also of the Tory landslide victory. They know the government will be weaker without him so they are trying to remove him. It is politically motivated and is essentially trial by media, with them acting as judge, jury and executioner.

 

It is not the job of the media to force individuals out of their jobs because they are of a different political persuasion to the organizations that they work for.

One does not exclude the other.

 

It may well be that the great animosity towards Cummings is due to his prominent role in the Brexiteer government. However, that animosity has succeeded in forcing Cummings and BJ to tell the truth. Do you think Cummings would have made a statement like this if the press had not hounded him and BJ? I don't think so.

 

There was some political motivation, sure, but also there was a real riddle which the press had to get to the bottom of. They did.

 

The truth came out. The press did its job. And Cummings did his job, he faced the press, disclosed facts, he was scared as a rabbit, who wouldn't be in his shoes, but he had the courage to face the press questions, he did. He was polite in the face of, yes, some highly emotional and partisan questioning.

 

I don't see the problem here. No harm was done. The press did its job, the truth got out. Cummings is still alive, he's got his job. He's actually managed to engage with the public and become a bit more human.

 

He's helped to give the death thrust in the heart of lockdown, freedom beckons. Everyone's a winner, Dell.

[hotandsticky]

43 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Yes that is why daily mail and telegraph are asking questions of Cummings'and Johnson, because they're staunch remainers and hate the Tories.

 

 

[Baerboxer]

9 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

From the UK Government’s published rules:

 

“Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.”

 

What’s not to understand?!

 

 

 “During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse.” It then lists a series of reasonable excuses:

To obtain basic necessities like food or medicine; to take exercise; to seek medical assistance; to provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person; to donate blood; to travel for the purposes of work or to provide voluntary or charitable services; to attend a funeral of a household member or close family member; to access critical public services; for access arrangements with a child who does not live with one or both parents; for a religious minister to visit their place of worship; to move house where reasonably necessary; to avoid injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm. So the list is not exhaustive - a reasonable excuse might arguably be something that is not on it. It is also important to make a distinction between the law and the guidelines drawn up by the government."

Source BBC.

 

BBC article explaining the real situation. 

 

Of course, as often the real situation doesn't reflect what those with a politically motivated agenda would like it to be. 

[Logosone]

9 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

From the UK Government’s published rules:

 

“Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.”

 

What’s not to understand?!

 

 

Well, that's not quite the full picture, because when the UK published its guidelines it allowed for an exception, which was "reasonable excuse".

 

It did not define "reasonable excuse".

 

Whether Cummings broke the actual guidelines depends on how "reasonable excuse" is defined.

 

Cummings made the case that his situation was "reasonable excuse". 

 

Other have argued that only risk to life would have been reasonable excuse. 

 

It's not clear, because the UK government did not publish clear guidelines.

 

Did Cummings have reasonable excuse? One can argue it to death. Did he break lockdown? He certainly did.

[Logosone]

1 minute ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Of course, as often the real situation doesn't reflect what those with a politically motivated agenda would like it to be. 

Well you asked for the "real situation" before, you asked if he had been at Barnard Castle, and if he had that he should go.

 

Now Cummings has admitted he was at Barnard Castle, do you still feel he has to go?