When Trump was elected (and I voted for him), I thought: Worst case, how much harm could he really do.
Needless to say, he has exceeded my expectations.
So we learn that it does in fact matter that one votes and for whom one votes.
However, I still feel sure – anything is better than Hillary.

Posted by: jared | Jul 23 2019 12:56 utc | 4

But will he bury the 2nd British Empire, that where over 40% of Eurodollar clearing settlements are made, the City of London? Without skimming this the UK would be ever so poor.

Posted by: Yozza Hughes | Jul 23 2019 12:59 utc | 6

Boris actually is not a stupid man. He is also well educated. He is however very arrogant and ambitious. I can’t see him having the political cunning to deliver a decent Brexit, e.g. one that the leave vote wants. Time will tell.
It will be interesting to see how he rows back on his insults to Putin and smoothes over the tensions with China and Iran. Somehow though I think that it’s highly ‘un’likely…

Posted by: Beibdnn. | Jul 23 2019 13:09 utc | 8

Johnson is the result of May’s treachery regarding Brexit. If he can get the UK out of the EU, he is a hero regardless of the cost.

Posted by: bob sykes | Jul 23 2019 13:13 utc | 10

If he delivers brexit on october 31st, with no deal, it aint gonna end well and hes toast. If he doesnt deliver brexit on october 31st, hes toast anyway, because hes failed his biggest task. CONCLUSION: Hes toast.

Posted by: Hermius | Jul 23 2019 13:26 utc | 12

Look on the bright side, He is Benny Hill’s Bastard Son, which is kinda like a Jesus on the British Isles. Really, have you ever been to London and walked down most streets. When I was there I thought, “Wow, the inbreeding on this Island has really had some adverse consequences.” When you look at Boooris and Theresa and all the other Prime Ministers of Great Britain you see those pesky Genes just running wild. That’s on the surface, what is going on deeper inside the Noodle???? Pray for Humanity…

Posted by: TickTock | Jul 23 2019 13:33 utc | 14

Anything them furriners in other countries can do, the good old US of A can do better. I am referring of course to that Grand Poohbah, Generalissimo of Bone Spurs, President Chief Kaiser and lastly the 45th President of our esteemed republic (soon to become the American Empire), Donald J. Trump! Yesseree folks! Emperor Donald the First will show them uppity furriners a thing or two. Why he just might touch-off World War III. How’s them apples! Them brits may have a political clown and them Ukrainians have a TV show comedian as heads of state, but here in the good ol’ US of A our clown is not just a mere joke. He’s certifiably crazy!

Posted by: GeorgeV | Jul 23 2019 13:40 utc | 16

I am in favor of Brexit because it further isolates one of the core global private finance centers of the world.
This will leave the rest of the EU to wake up and join the China/Russia axis within the next year or sooner.
The face of empire as a ship of fools is complete now, eh?
Too bad for all the suffering to come because of these fools and the social sickness they front……some learning is hard I guess.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Jul 23 2019 13:56 utc | 18

Just consolidating what should’ve happened in July 2016, when Cameron resigned.
Theresa May is the British Chernenko: a last, desperate attempt to preserve whatever was left of the status quo ante that should’ve never happened.

Posted by: vk | Jul 23 2019 14:06 utc | 20

Great! Hopefully he will now start Brexit once and for all but I wouldnt hold my breath it would actually be realized.

Posted by: Zanon | Jul 23 2019 14:27 utc | 22

There has not been a separate British empire for many decades. There is but one empire it is transnational. The “deep state” of intelligence agencies of the 5 eyes work together serving one master the Global Power elite. Just look at the amount of activity of MI6, GCHQ through the “Integrity Initiative” planting spies in the Sanders campaign and Halper in the Trump operation.
Last year a huge new “intelligence” facility was opened, not in the US but in the headquarters of the German fiefdom called the EU.
As we can see from events the US (imperial HQ) sense W. Bush announced the policy of a “Global war on terror” no longer recognizes the principal of sovereignty and has rejected the Westphalia agreement. The empire does not recognize any sovereignty other than its own.
It’s just this simple, the oligarchy have a pot of commingled capital amounting to over 50 trillion. The US, its vassal and servant, owes them 22 trillion. Who do you think has the real power?
In 2008/9, when the gov and the banks sat down the banks simply said you can bail us out or we will see to it that no Social Security checks will go out.
Sure, there is a Treasury Department with some residual power but it is just a thin vial over the reality that the global financial system is privately owned – the 14 biggest banks the “14 families” have far more influence on the dollar than the Treasury does. The private system of central banks managed by the BIS (Bank of International Settlements) and its “financial stability board.” The system operated entirely for imperial interests which are above concern for any individual “nation” and don’t forget, the US is a nation also and is subservient to the global power elite.

Posted by: Babyl-on | Jul 23 2019 14:55 utc | 24

Faux BoJo sings ‘The Great Pretender’
Destined to become a classic.

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Jul 23 2019 15:08 utc | 26

= 🙂 🙂 =
I can imagine this sketch: (Bojo impersonator)
quote:
Lift the ban on foxhunting, Tally Ho! Lower taxes for my friends, in arduis fidelis! Deliver Brexit, Do or Die! Tarrifs nought, qui audet adipiscitur!
(waves goblet of red and pulls a kipper out of his pants somewhere)
buses…buses!… National Health, shore it up, no spaffing money up or down the wall, oh my hobby, that hobby ..painting buses on boxes errr ?
(straightens, fakey serious mien)
Britain can be will be energised a will WILL make the way We will rise up and believe in self-achievement negativity is banned, banished, Britannia Rules the Waves, Merit will win out!
(in French with a fake plummy Brit accent)
Je suis la personne idéale pour faire comprendre à Michel Barnier que la menace de no-deal est absolument sérieuse, à 100 pourcent il n’y a qu’a..
————————————
Bojo moved to Brussels when he was 9, his father worked for the European Commission. He speaks v. good French, with a ++ second from Oxford, Classics, his Latin is pretty good, and I have read (no idea?) he manages Classical Greek masterfully (i have none so didn’t include quotes.)

Posted by: Noirette | Jul 23 2019 15:13 utc | 28

@ Thomas | Jul 23 2019 15:06 utc | 25
That’s because Putin and Xi (and some others) are in fact leaders, making rational decisions for the benefit of their nations.
Those others are just figureheads – ability is not so important as reliability and entertainment value.

Posted by: jared | Jul 23 2019 15:24 utc | 30

I was expecting Theresa May to release Grace 1 before the new Prime Minister takes office. She still has a few hours left.

Posted by: Petri Krohn | Jul 23 2019 15:26 utc | 32

It’ll be interesting to see if BoJo can fake solemnity and diplomacy as convincingly as Trump can when in the company of other national leaders. I’m confident that Zelenski, being an actor, will be able to make it look easy.
There’s a sort of precedent for this switch to comedy-based leadership.
I half-remember that when Ronnie Raygun offered himself as a candidate for POTUS, he answered the critics of his lack of experience by asserting that he had played many leadership roles during his movie career – making him the superior candidate.
And the sheeple bought it!
It seems that this is the dawn of a new “Anything’s Possible” era.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Jul 23 2019 15:33 utc | 34

There is more to Bojo than meets the eye, but just one question in the UK that has to be answered, and that is obviously Brexit. It has to be done, it has become a theme and not a reality, and it will not stop being a theme until it is accomplished. People are very tired of it as a theme, it stands in the way of any proper reorganisation, and it is being used to play off different sides to the detriment of all. The most dramatic change it would bring is to have our politicians more accountable to the public, the rest is exaggerated, and sure to be exaggerated in future as well.
I hope he is up to it, he has a lot of support in that direction.

Posted by: gzon | Jul 23 2019 15:38 utc | 36

@4
I´m always amazed how easy it is to make people accept that they have no choice but pest and cholera.

Posted by: Bronco_Kulitschka | Jul 23 2019 15:48 utc | 38

Someone has to tell this irresponsible idiot (and his advisors) who unfortunately is the current elected president of United States. That idiot, have you ever thought who are neighbors of Afghanistan that you threat to nuke and wipe them off the map, presumably to win in days a two decades war in Afghanistan which admittedly you have so far lost. Afghanistan’s near neighbors include four declared nuclear nations of Russia, China, Pakistan, and India , and a threshold nuclear nation of Iran, can this idiot and his supposed Military can predict what reaction will see from Afghanistan neighbors. Who is he threatening, Iran alone just downed a 200 Mil drone of yours and captured a ship of your closest ally? Wasn’t this action a “bring it on” moment, assholes.

Posted by: kooshy | Jul 23 2019 15:50 utc | 40

I was expecting Theresa May to release Grace 1 before the new Prime Minister takes office. She still has a few hours left.
Posted by: Petri Krohn | Jul 23 2019 15:26 utc | 32
Perhaps it was the opposite – she did detain it, while she had few days left.

Posted by: Arioch | Jul 23 2019 16:01 utc | 42

Just as Trump perfectly personifies America and Trudeau is the quintessential symbol of Canada-ness, BoJo is the ideal characterization of Britain. It is truly amazing that the western political world has become a caricature of reality.

Posted by: William Gruff | Jul 23 2019 16:13 utc | 44

It seems logically inconsistent for anyone to back Trump’s election but not BoJo’s.
We are getting what we in the US colloquially term a “two’fer” here. They are part of the same package.
With Trump the top and BoJo the bottom, of course.
What’s so funny to me is that pro-Brexiteers didn’t see this “Etonesque” sexual relationship developing well before they voted “Leave.”

Posted by: donkeytale | Jul 23 2019 16:20 utc | 46

@casey#27
The only name I know from the FSB is George Osborn. The 14 families reefers to a joke made by Loyd Blankfine, but he was only half joking. It’s the usual suspects although BNP will now dominate DouchaBank.
But that’s the system more or less, the BIS manages the system of central banks, the FSB reinforces its rules and the privately controlled SWEFT and CHIPS transfer/clearing operations sees all money flows globally and can have powerful influence over them.
The point is that the banks create money not the US or other governments (well about 3% is by gov)
They have 50 trillion in liquid assets which is commingled and the US is 22 trillion in debt – who wins?

Posted by: Babyl-on | Jul 23 2019 16:35 utc | 48

It must never be forgotten that Brexit and BoJo are the products of Tory power games, and that anything is preferable to the Old School elite than Jeremy Corbyn becoming Prime Minister.

Posted by: Roy G | Jul 23 2019 16:42 utc | 50

So, what options do the UK citizenry have until the next general election? IMO, Corbyn encapsulated it well in his two tweets:
“Boris Johnson has won the support of fewer than 100,000 unrepresentative Conservative Party members by promising tax cuts for the richest, presenting himself as the bankers’ friend, and pushing for a damaging No Deal Brexit.
“But he hasn’t won the support of our country.”
And:
“Johnson’s No Deal Brexit would mean job cuts, higher prices in the shops, and risk our NHS being sold off to US corporations in a sweetheart deal with Donald Trump.
“The people of our country should decide who becomes the Prime Minister in a General Election.”
George Galloway on BoJo:
“In this sense Boris Johnson is a throwback to former times – not quite to the 19th century like his aide-de-camp Jacob Rees-Mogg but at least to the middle of the 20th century. On the face of it, Harold MacMillan, the then British PM, was a straight-laced, slightly eccentric upper-class Englishman. That his wife was upstairs in bed, for years, with one of his parliamentary colleagues Sir Robert Boothby didn’t seem to faze him. Or us, but then we weren’t to know about it.
“In deference to the new age, Boris Johnson has skipped the straight-laced bit; he has cuckolded his colleagues, even leaving cuckoos in their nests, has left a trail of lurid love-life stories to make a thriller-writer blush, and will likely bed down in Downing Street on Wednesday night with his 31 year-old girlfriend. But the rest is just the same. Johnson is (or has fashioned himself) as an upper-class English eccentric and will be hoping the deference is not dead amongst 21st century Britons.
“To be fair it should be said that Johnson is as colourful as his predecessor Mrs May was bloodless. He is clever and quick-witted (you get what you pay for at Eton), is well read and is a good writer too (he should be, he is Britain’s most expensive newspaper columnist). Like his hero Winston Churchill, he believes history will treat him kindly because HE intends to write it.”
George will soon be on RT’s InQuestionRT as per his tweet at 5pm BST.

Posted by: karlof1 | Jul 23 2019 16:50 utc | 52

It’s true what they say, ‘You just can’t make this shit up’.

Posted by: Josh | Jul 23 2019 17:04 utc | 54

Standing Ovations – George Carlin style.
jared | Jul 23 2019 13:10 utc | 9

Actually, a sense of humor is a sign of intelligence, I think.
Maybe depends if it’s more Benny Hill or something more Monty Python.

Your thought is both – correct and wrong.
Because that certain sense of humor that signifies intelligence is easily deciphered. A look at the greatest thinker’s findings in this regard will aid.
Humor, that is indeed a reflection of great human intelligence – no matter whether coming from Benny Hill, Monty Python, or Dave Allen – NEVER IS AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS.
There, done. The clown in question is the saddest example for someone who needs to insult and ridicule others in order to elevate himself. That’s neither humor, nor indicative of intelligence.
The greatest Comics of all times became that because they made fun about themselves.
The initial standing ovations are indeed Monty Python style – based on the eternal truism as delivered by George Carlin. I would love to hear his take on all this. John Cleese already left the Isle, correct?

Posted by: nottheonly1 | Jul 23 2019 17:19 utc | 56

Jared,
Perhaps you are trying to make the best of a bad lot but there is a big difference between having a sense of humor and being the source of humor. Last I heard 10 Downing Street wan’t an entertainment venue.

Posted by: CD Waller | Jul 23 2019 17:42 utc | 58

Elections are nothing more than rituals to alleviate the masses and give a false sense of self determination, while the real power brokers and manipulators are left unfettered.

Posted by: O | Jul 23 2019 17:48 utc | 60

“Like his hero Winston Churchill(Anglo-Zionist tool Trump precursor)….”

Posted by: O | Jul 23 2019 17:57 utc | 62

@ CD Waller | Jul 23 2019 17:42 utc | 58
My comment regarding humor was meant to be some neutral/optimistic.
However, I think we need to stop being distracted by the superficial and pay more attention to what lie beneath.
Clearly and nearly universally agreed, the great western “democracies” are neither democracies nor great.
It is making people yearn for something other…
…like an authoritarian bureaucracy.
That should fix it.

Posted by: jared | Jul 23 2019 18:02 utc | 64

Brexit is just more political theatre of the absurd to fascinate and entertain the plebes. Whether Britain remains part of the E.U. or ‘exits” is meaningless in regards to the actual composition of the Anglo-Zionist empire.

Posted by: O | Jul 23 2019 18:17 utc | 66

b,
Boris Johnson’s ascension to power in UK is just a clown act in a tragic circus. But a circus nonetheless. A none-story. A nothingburger.
I implore you to stay focused on Jeffery Epstein. That is the real story of our time. One that could bring down AIPAC/Israel and all of its’ spies, the Clintons, Trump, and certain elements of the deep state once and for all, and free US from the shackles of Zionism.
Do not let this story die by way of side shows like the story above and etc.
By Phillip Giraldi from his article http://www.unz.com/pgiraldi/israels-agents-of-influence/
“It’s a big job to uncover Israeli subversion, but somebody needs to start doing it.”
Let it be you. We trust your reporting and I hope you don’t take your eyes off the ball. Forget about BoJo, Russiagate (it is really Israelgate) and Ukraine. Epstein is the story of the ages. One that could change the realm forever.

Posted by: Uncle Jon | Jul 23 2019 18:22 utc | 68

Posted by: Uncle Jon | Jul 23 2019 18:22 utc | 67
Note how just as the Epstein story was gaining steam, Trump easily pulled the spotlight back on himself through racist obnoxious tweets. Playing the role of the heel, much as he did when in actual pro wrestling and reality tv show.

Posted by: O | Jul 23 2019 18:26 utc | 70

Well said Moon of Alabama. Sad times, in fact not sad, deeply deeply worrying times for the UK. A No Deal Brexit on the cards now which will destroy the economy (well Cameron and May have already destroyed the Uk economy this will just collapse it entirely). The promised £10bn tax cuts to the rich will mean the poor will pay for it; anyone on Benefits, who has been made redundant, who is disabled or become disabled, who is homeless, the elderly you name the poor and the vulnerable they will pay for this folly.
Politics, now more than ever in the UK, is a serious business. Whoever the British Sheeples vote for as the next Government will be crucial to its future. For a good, prosperous, hopeful future based on investment in the economy, in jobs, in housing, in affordable housing and transport and of social and economic well-being then it is essential for a Labour Government to be elected. For a UK that is rapidly becoming a poor nation, a Fascist Totalitarian State, of greater austerity against those who are the most poor and vulnerable in society and of a Police State, then the Sheeples will vote for a Tory Government and walk blindly, as they have done already, into Totalitarianism and Fascism. God help us. I actually pray to God every night to prevent this nightmare. Unfortunately, the election of a Charlatan, fraudster, liar, perpetrator of domestic violence and outright Racist, Sexist and contempt and disdain for the poor and the vulnerable, means the latter is where we are going. It is not funny or amusing, it is frightening and a shocking state of affairs and state of the nation who is currently in a deep, deep constitutional crisis.

Posted by: Dissidents_unite | Jul 23 2019 18:38 utc | 72

@29
You may disagree with me on Salvini’s political affinities or where he plans to take Italy but you should at least lay out some sort of counter argument as to why my statement is sanguine or invalid, else it becomes nothing but hot air. A bit like what Salvini is doing while he is making Italy great again *not*.

Posted by: Alexander P | Jul 23 2019 18:45 utc | 74

Unfortunately, and exactly the same case as for the USA, Boris, as laughable and contemptible as he is, is the ‘least worst’ choice. Jonathon ‘rhymes with’ Hunt would have been even more of a disaster, same as Killary would have been.

Posted by: tspoon | Jul 23 2019 18:50 utc | 76

– Boris Johnson wrote a book called “The Churchill Factor”. Churchill was Johnson’s hero. Neither Churchill nor Johnson will be able to stop the ongoing demise of the British Empire or what’s left of it.

Posted by: Willy2 | Jul 23 2019 18:53 utc | 78

Sir Winston Churchill: Zionist hero
Jews hold strong views about the man honoured by a new statue in Jerusalem
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/sir-winston-churchill-zionist-hero-8277918.html

Posted by: O | Jul 23 2019 18:59 utc | 80

“In the 1980s, Boris Johnson volunteered in Kibbutz Kfar Hanassi in the Upper Galilee. Take that, Bernie Sanders. He has called himself a “Zionist” and said that Israel is a wonderful country which he loves.”
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/global/uk/its-boris-johnson-with-66-calls-himself-zionist-criticized-disproportionate-gaza-bombings-2/2019/07/23/

Posted by: O | Jul 23 2019 19:02 utc | 82

@ 71 dissidents_unite. If you seriously believe that a Labour administration will change anything in the U.K. you are going to extremely disappointed.
They are even more corrupt than the Tories.
Rotherham springs to mind as to their ethical standing. What ever good they could once offer was well and truly buried by Tony Blair and Gordon brown.
Blair and his pal Campbell totally wrecked the political autonomy of the Civil Service as well as corrupting the judiciary.
Labour are shameless in their lies, cheating and in their complete contempt of honest politics in their petty hubris and search for power.
The last 2 generations of Labour M.P’s lack integrity, intellect, courage, honesty and any understanding of democracy.
Rather the bent tories than the disgrace that Labour now represents.

Posted by: Beibdnn. | Jul 23 2019 19:05 utc | 84

Anecdote.
An adult female Londoner when asked for her opinion on PM Boris said:
“It’s encouraging. People are tired of uniformly beige politicians.”

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Jul 23 2019 19:20 utc | 86

@70 O
Always thought professional wrestling provided a good analogy for our current situation. Trump and BoJo (and the nations they represent) do indeed represent classic “heels”. In particular the USA is clearly now a “closet champion” or the “term for a heel in possession of a title belt who consistently dodges top flight competition and attempts to back down from challenges”. What a world we inhabit.

Posted by: Sad Canuck | Jul 23 2019 19:28 utc | 88

The degradation of political elites is a universal phenomenon. Of course, first of all it is noticeable in relation to the Western elites (American, European), but this can also be found in the post-Soviet space (Georgia, Armenia, Moldova etc). Ukraine is generally a special case – real freaks and Nazis in power, the speaker of parliament with the mental retardation certificate, the Attorney General of the country (btw, previously convicted) without a legal education etc.
So I join and also express my condolences to the people of Great Britain.

Posted by: alaff | Jul 23 2019 20:00 utc | 90

definitely a better choice than CHunt

Posted by: nwwoods | Jul 23 2019 20:29 utc | 92

@ Beibdnn. | Jul 23 2019 19:05 utc | 83
Shouldn’t that be Lord Beibdnn to us users of the trades entrance?

Posted by: Formerly T-Bear | Jul 23 2019 21:08 utc | 94

@ 86 Ort, Don’t mind the pleonasm, but english is not my first language. How many do you speak and write flawlessly ?

Posted by: Sol Invictus | Jul 23 2019 21:29 utc | 96

@37 Michael Droy
Great post. Succinct and illustrative of the broader context. As usual, follow the money if you wish to understand the story.

Posted by: Sad Canuck | Jul 23 2019 21:37 utc | 98

@ Sad Canuck | Jul 23 2019 19:28 utc | 87; @70 O
As a corollary to the professional politics/professional wrestling parallel, I offer this vintage (2010) “Onion Sports” article:
“Wrestling Fan’s Comments Alternate Between Admitting It’s Fake, Forgetting It’s Fake”
I’ve been flogging this article intermittently for years without much positive feedback, but I still consider the “wrestling fan”‘s perspective to be a perfect analogy to the way most US residents, including self-identified progressives and leftists who profess to be skeptical/cynical, regard electoral politics.

Posted by: Ort | Jul 23 2019 21:42 utc | 100