Wednesday 4th November 2020

Post by **refitman** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 7:44 am

Morning all.

Post by **adam** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 7:59 am

Last post from yesterday

Despite Trump's current leads Wisconsin and Michigan are still being talked about at 538 as moving to Biden. With them and Arizona and Nebraska District 2,and with Trump winning Maine District 2,then Biden will reach 270 without Pennsylvania (or NC or Georgia for that matter).

Arizona now formally projected for Biden.

RogerOThornhill · Post by **RogerOThornhill** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 9:26 am

Morning all.

This is excellent news.

University of London cleaners win 10-year outsourcing battle

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2 ... ing-battle" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It follows the insourcing of porters, receptionists, post room and audio visual technicians by the university administration earlier this year. The University and College Union which represents 120,000 academics and support staff was among the organisations joining the boycott. It is the latest victory for the IWGB union which has emerged in recent years to represent precarious workers on short contracts and in gig jobs, who are not normally unionised. It has also challenged the business models of Uber, Deliveroo and other courier companies.

But it needs political will to continue to push for the likes of Serco to be excluded from government contracts and I can't see that happening yet.

Post by **adam** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 10:48 am

Wisconsin and Michigan appear to be falling into place - Nevada close but uncounted postal ballots expected to make it safe for Biden - and those three would be 270.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 10:54 am

Then again Trump declared "victory" a few hours ago, so........

(Laura K, no less, was pretty appalled about that)

gilsey · Post by **gilsey** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 11:41 am

AnatolyKasparov wrote:Then again Trump declared "victory" a few hours ago, so........

So far, the MSM seems to be doing a good job of ignoring him.

ABC News
@ABC
·
3h
Chris Christie on Pres. Trump's election remarks: "I talk tonight... as a former U.S. Attorney. There's just no basis to make that argument tonight. There just isn't."

"I disagree with what he did tonight."

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 11:47 am

Good morning, everyone.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 11:59 am

Before I look at any news I've got to tell you something. I'd unintentionally missed some of your posts on yesterday's thread in the early evening. Splendid work, all of it. I'd like to hide in those posts forever reading nothing more. That hermetic urge may pass with the sipping of more mocha.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 12:01 pm

It is now obvious that the Republicans have lost the popular vote, and by significantly more than in 2016. Which makes that seven of the last eight POTUS elections.

GetYou · Post by **GetYou** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 12:03 pm

Scrap the electoral college.

This is a real nailbiter. Thanks to everyone who stayed up last night and posted here.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 12:13 pm

Betting markets now have Biden as clear favourite, Trump was as low as 1/4 on at one point this morning.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 12:14 pm

GetYou wrote:Scrap the electoral college.

This is a real nailbiter. Thanks to everyone who stayed up last night and posted here.

I'd hoped I'd slept long enough to get me past the nail-biting stage

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 12:22 pm

US election 2020 live: Biden has narrow lead over Trump in Wisconsin as result awaited
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/liv ... ws-updates" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 12:27 pm

This disagreeable state of affairs is second only to a Trump re-election

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 12:30 pm

I don't remember US presidential elections being this fraught

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 12:43 pm

citizenJA wrote:I don't remember US presidential elections being this fraught

2000 surely?

In fact, arguably every one since then with the exception of 2008 has been a bit of a nail-biter.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 12:57 pm

AnatolyKasparov wrote:
citizenJA wrote:I don't remember US presidential elections being this fraught
2000 surely?

In fact, arguably every one since then with the exception of 2008 has been a bit of a nail-biter.

I'm overwrought, not the election

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 1:00 pm

Johnson again awful at PMQs today, and conspicuously failing to criticise Trump's power grab when invited to by Starmer.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 1:23 pm

Good morfternoon.

Still the best coverage I've seen -

[youtube]iwRA-dtub7Y[/youtube]

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 2:09 pm

AnatolyKasparov wrote:Johnson again awful at PMQs today, and conspicuously failing to criticise Trump's power grab when invited to by Starmer.

I take comfort where I can - but I was expecting Boris Johnson to be skipping, whistling and being hilariously witty and bumptious around the Commons today, but he wasn't.

AnatolyKasparov · Post by **AnatolyKasparov** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 2:10 pm

And finally.......Biden has taken the lead in Michigan.

It would take a pretty remarkable set of circumstances for him not to win now.

EDIT: looks like Biden has also taken Arizona, the incumbent's path gets still narrower.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 3:09 pm

Mr citizen has secured chocolate provisions.
Please help yourselves.

Sky'sGoneOut · Post by **Sky'sGoneOut** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 3:15 pm

Afternoon people, things are looking rather better than they were last night and I see the Mango Mussolini has thrown his toys out of the pram again.

Willow904 · Post by **Willow904** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 4:03 pm

Afternoon all.

I've been rather busy with stuff so haven't had much time for the news so have mostly just been following the US election through the FTN posts, which have provided a pretty accurate and useful summary, I have to say. So well done, all!

In other news, having rushed around sorting out any last minute pre-lockdown stuff I finally just sat down with a cup of tea only for my watch to fall off, broken strap. I'd normally just get a new strap but I suppose jewellers aren't strictly essential. Can I go a month without a watch, that's the question, or will it drive me barmy?

GetYou · Post by **GetYou** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 4:13 pm

Sky'sGoneOut wrote:Afternoon people, things are looking rather better than they were last night and I see the Mango Mussolini has thrown his toys out of the pram again.

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
·
36m
WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

@didnt_askg
Replying to
@realDonaldTrump
That’s it. That seals the deal. I’ve been an american citizen for 52 years and in all my time of being one i’ve never seen an election this bad. I’ve had enough of it, until you fix this country I’ll be packing my bags to England where they have Marcus Rashford in charge.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 4:31 pm

I'm so tired that I genuinely spent a split second, after reading NBC's "Mitch McConnell holds Press Conference", trying to geographically place the US State of "Press Conference".

Sky'sGoneOut · Post by **Sky'sGoneOut** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 4:41 pm

Willow904 wrote:In other news, having rushed around sorting out any last minute pre-lockdown stuff I finally just sat down with a cup of tea only for my watch to fall off, broken strap. I'd normally just get a new strap but I suppose jewellers aren't strictly essential. Can I go a month without a watch, that's the question, or will it drive me barmy?

Don't you have any sellotape?

Sky'sGoneOut · Post by **Sky'sGoneOut** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 4:42 pm

Biden wins Wisconsin.

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 5:13 pm

Has it been announced somewhere? I've only seen that it WILL be announced, but that was a while ago now.

Post by **adam** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 5:31 pm

Wisconsin - Fewer than a thousand votes left to count and Biden has a c20,000 vote lead - so it looks absolutely fine. Michigan appears to be fine, from what I can read about it. Nevada probably but not as clear (which really does mean 'probably' but not prepared to be confident about anything that doesn't really really deserve it). Penn. apparently looking pretty good for Biden but you need to know a lot more about the detail for that to make sense at the moment and I don't - Trump has a significant lead but Biden's campaign are consistently saying that given what's to come they expect to win. But Penn wouldn't be necessary if Nevada, Wisconsin and Michigan all fall in. Georgia and NC very very probably Trump but not utterly out of the question to spring a late surprise.

Sky'sGoneOut · Post by **Sky'sGoneOut** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 5:38 pm

tinyclanger2 wrote:Has it been announced somewhere? I've only seen that it WILL be announced, but that was a while ago now.

Trump needs to find 20,000 votes from nowhere.

Post by **adam** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 5:51 pm

There's some chatter on 538 that Arizona might have been called early and might still get tighter although I can't see that coming from anywhere other than the Trump campaign - they need to come up with a route to win and without Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada or Arizona they're screwed. But one to be aware of.

Sky'sGoneOut · Post by **Sky'sGoneOut** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 5:55 pm

The 34 Conservatives who rebelled over lockdown legislation.

Adam Afriyie, Peter Bone, Sir Graham Brady, Steve Brine, Sir Christopher Chope, Philip Davies, Jonathan Djanogly, Jackie Doyle-Price, Richard Drax, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Marcus Fysh, Chris Green, James Grundy, Mark Harper, Gordon Henderson, David Jones, Tim Loughton, Craig Mackinlay, Stephen McPartland, Esther McVey, Huw Merriman, Anne Marie Morris, Sir Mike Penning, John Redwood, Andrew Rosindell, Henry Smith, Sir Desmond Swayne, Robert Syms, Derek Thomas, Sir Charles Walker, Craig Whittaker, William Wragg.

Would you take health advice from any of these geniuses?

GetYou · Post by **GetYou** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 6:36 pm

Every time I read his name I think of this.

Sorry if I have infected anyone else.

GetYou · Post by **GetYou** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 6:37 pm

It's still better than watching the football at any rate

Sky'sGoneOut · Post by **Sky'sGoneOut** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 7:28 pm

Pogba really is shit.

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 7:58 pm

What's the score with Michigan/Trump's people suing to stop counting?

Sky'sGoneOut · Post by **Sky'sGoneOut** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 7:58 pm

Well that was terrible and embarrassing, United were an absolute shambles, again.

Ah well, back to watching the slow, lingering death of Trump's presidency.

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 8:00 pm

A sort of year of low spots punctuated by the occasional faster low spot.

Sky'sGoneOut · Post by **Sky'sGoneOut** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 8:18 pm

Here's a link for Fox News.

https://watchnewslive.tv/fox-news-live-stream-usa/

Not exactly ahem legal ahem but I'm not paying to watch it on Youtube.

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 8:22 pm

And Arizona? Anyone got any clarity on that? The stuff in the Guardian appears garbled to say the least. It may be me, but Nate Cohn's 3 tweets appear to be collectively unintelligible.

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 8:24 pm

Willow904 wrote:Afternoon all.

I've been rather busy with stuff so haven't had much time for the news so have mostly just been following the US election through the FTN posts, which have provided a pretty accurate and useful summary, I have to say. So well done, all!

In other news, having rushed around sorting out any last minute pre-lockdown stuff I finally just sat down with a cup of tea only for my watch to fall off, broken strap. I'd normally just get a new strap but I suppose jewellers aren't strictly essential. Can I go a month without a watch, that's the question, or will it drive me barmy?

If you use it daily, it'll bother you not having it. Is it possible to have a watch strap delivered?

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 8:25 pm

Oh - now he's suing to stop counting in Pennsylvania

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 8:26 pm

tinyclanger2 wrote:And Arizona? Anyone got any clarity on that? The stuff in the Guardian appears garbled to say the least. It may be me, but Nate Cohn's 3 tweets appear to be collectively unintelligible.

yeah, I'm glad it's not just me
can't make sense out of it either

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 8:28 pm

tinyclanger2 wrote:Has it been announced somewhere? I've only seen that it WILL be announced, but that was a while ago now.

https://ig.ft.com/us-election-2020/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

tinyclanger2 · Post by **tinyclanger2** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 8:29 pm

For temporary respite:

[youtube]StskEnmH9l8[/youtube]

citizenJA · Post by **citizenJA** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 8:55 pm

Goodnight, everyone.
love,
cJA

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 8:56 pm

Sky'sGoneOut wrote:Here's a link for Fox News.

https://watchnewslive.tv/fox-news-live-stream-usa/

Not exactly ahem legal ahem but I'm not paying to watch it on Youtube.

"Interesting" ads.

Sky'sGoneOut · Post by **Sky'sGoneOut** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 9:01 pm

Even the lawyers on Fox news are saying all the desperate legal shit flinging the Trump campaign are indulging in will gain them nothing and they're steadfastly standing by calling Arizona for Biden.

PorFavor · Post by **PorFavor** » Wed 04 Nov, 2020 9:07 pm

Very clear explanation of how, legal-wise, Pennsylvania got to where it is re the counting of ballots.

Edited to add - but now back to NBC.

PTO