I am forced to confess that I have discovered yet another gaping hole in my knowledge of English history. Actually, my knowledge has more holes in it than a string vest I once owned! As I believe I told you recently, I have just purchased a book by Richard Aldous entitled "The Lion and the Unicorn: Gladstone vs. Disraeli". Embarrassingly, this has confirmed my ignorance of the history of mid-Victorian England. It does not help that Parliamentary structures of those days are so very different to today. For example, an aristocrat could lead his chosen party from the House of Lords whilst his non-aristo deputy would lead the party in the Commons. Then there is the inherent confusion between the 'Whigs' and the 'Liberals' who appear to be much the same but sometimes differ. At least the Tories are somewhat more coherent but not always. Certainly, party discipline was very much more lax in the 19th century than they are (or are supposed to be!) in the 21st century!
As far as I can tell, the politics of this particular era were simply based on the mutual detestation between Gladstone and Disraeli. They were consumed by a mutual hatred in which policies were virulently opposed not because of what they were but because of who had proposed them. 'To tell truth and shame the devil', I am finding it exceedingly hard to follow the ins and outs of their endless Parliamentary battles. The only thing I have learned is that the current shenanigans in Parliament would not have raised an eyebrow in the 19th century!
Yet another proof of the old saying, "What goes around comes around"!
No matter the epoch there is always a political crisis, and in that eternal context has anything truer ever been said than this? ...
https://youtu.be/6ixNPplo-SU
SoD
Posted by: Loz | Saturday, 28 September 2019 at 20:36
Yes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHFTtz3uucY
Posted by: Bob | Saturday, 28 September 2019 at 21:23
Another good thing about FDR is when Churchill asked for help against Hitler, FDR didn't say something like, "I have a favor to ask, though. Dig up some dirt on Wendell Willkie.":
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroyers-for-bases_deal
The Ukranians should be so lucky.
Posted by: Bob | Saturday, 28 September 2019 at 22:06
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2019/09/prorogues-and-pro-rogues.php
Posted by: JK | Sunday, 29 September 2019 at 01:37
https://dailytimewaster.blogspot.com/2019/09/one-of-best-parliamentary.html
David in Arkianese we'd put it, "That thereun's a goldurned masterpiece!"
Posted by: JK | Sunday, 29 September 2019 at 01:49
Seen on Twitter:
"It's a full court press against Trump, Johnson, Netanyahu. It's like watching some kind of world war break out. Or it could be coincidence."
All three men have things in common.
Posted by: Whitewall | Sunday, 29 September 2019 at 01:53
Bob, I see FDR had 6 kids.
So I guess another good thing about him was he didn't place them in top jobs with his allies on $600,000 a year? Or maybe he did?
SoD
Posted by: Loz | Sunday, 29 September 2019 at 09:19
Looks like the Biden family's impropriety is gonna get the Don re-elected ...
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election/warren-biden-trump-impeachment-latest-2020-race-quinnipiac-polls-frontrunner-a9124731.html?amp
Biden's a liability which Warren can chuck at him on an as-and-when basis, and Warren's a liability with the peeps herself for being too lefty.
You're rubber-ducked me old sunshine!
SoD
Posted by: Loz | Sunday, 29 September 2019 at 10:22
SoD,
I won't defend Biden. There are a lot of things about him worse than his nepotism, which is probably more than cancelled out by Trump having his kids so heavily involved in the White House. I expect he won't get the nomination and will be a non-issue in the election.
Posted by: Bob | Sunday, 29 September 2019 at 15:29