March 29, 2019

Brexit : Ken Clarke on Brexit hangovers and amendments

Interesting interview, but from 24 min mark on what has caused this, which will resonate in the US.

March 28, 2019

Conaway demands Schiff resign, Schiff gives him his answer....all kicking off at the House Intel

Committee right now

https://www.c-span.org/video/?459258-1/house-intelligence-committee-examines-russian-election-interference-tactics&vod

March 24, 2019

ABOUT LAST NIGHT #459 - Craig Ferguson

I really enjoyed this podcast where Craig shoots the breeze with the guys.

March 22, 2019

Brexit : Just weeks from mayhem as EU sets ultimatum for UK

Just weeks from mayhem as EU sets ultimatum for UK

Threat of a no-deal Brexit remains very much alive. European leaders growing increasingly frustrated as political chaos in Britain raises risk of no deal. Chancellor Merkel said if there was a no-deal Brexit there would have to be a hard Border in Ireland

The threat of a no-deal Brexit remains very much alive after the EU’s superpowers wrangled over setting a point of no return for British Prime Minister Theresa May.

The UK’s exit from the European Union will not now happen in seven days’ time after a two-tier delay was eventually agreed. Mrs May now has until May 22 to plan an orderly Brexit if she can finally get support for her deal next week. However, should the House of Commons reject it for a third time the UK would only have until April 12 to decide whether to crash out or begin preparations for holding European Parliament elections.

Mrs May was shut out of a meeting of EU leaders last night as they rowed over how to stave off a cliff-edge scenario. Germany’s Angela Merkel argued for flexibility while French President Emmanuel Macron took a hard-line stance. During a private meeting, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told Mrs May that it is now the UK’s responsibility to end the uncertainty. Speaking to German journalists, Chancellor Merkel said if there was a no-deal Brexit there would have to be a hard Border in Ireland. “We’re trying to avoid that,” she said.

snip

Over the course of the evening, France and Belgium are understood to have argued for the UK to be forced out of the EU before a May 9 summit in Romania, to celebrate the "renewal" of Europe. This led to the option of an unconditional extension to April 12, the final date on which the UK can opt to take part in European Parliament elections. It will then be up to Westminster to decide to either crash out or take part in those elections in order to get a longer extension. Mrs May wants to avoid a longer extension at all costs as it raises the chances of her being bounced into either a second referendum or even a general election.

The news for the prime minister wasn't much better back in London, where MPs were still furiously arguing over the next steps. Remain-supporting ministers were reported to have told Mrs May they are prepared to resign unless she offers a free vote on a backbench move to prevent the UK leaving without a deal. A cross-party group of MPs is today expected to table an amendment to force her to accept a longer extension to Article 50 if her deal fails.

The amendment, to be put to the vote next week, will mean that parliament, rather than the prime minister, will take control if Mrs May's deal is again defeated in the House of Commons.

March 20, 2019

Brexit : No Deal Brexit takes a step closer

Today,

May has sent a letter to Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, requesting a 3 month extension of the Brexit Departure Date.

Tusk responds saying she CAN have a limited extension to the end of May, PROVIDED the UK Parliament votes to pass the Withdrawal Agreement. I don't think May was expecting that proviso.

For the Brexiteers in Parliament, they've reacted with glee, as they see an opportunity to exit on March 29 after all.

What we are left with now is brinksmanship. where utter stupidity will see the UK crash out. Who will blink first ?


https://twitter.com/eucopresident/status/1108399947278237696

The development comes exactly 1,000 days after the referendum of 23 June 2016, which delivered a 52%-48% majority for leaving the EU.

The EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has warned that Brussels will want a good reason to grant a long delay to Brexit.

In an apparent reference to options like a second referendum, general election or cross-party consensus, he said that a lengthy extension "needs to be linked to something new ... a new event or a new political process".

Any request for extra time is subject to unanimous approval by leaders of the remaining 27 EU states at a meeting in Brussels tomorrow.


https://twitter.com/eucopresident/status/1108402377768529922

February 24, 2019

"Are you telegraphing here that the FBI opened an investigation into Attorney General Sessions?"

Please...please, let it be so !!!

https://twitter.com/FiringLineShow/status/1098317595785220096