[Andrew Mandelbaum]

Siham,
So sorry to hear that you are feeling displaced in your home. It makes sense as I suppose that is exactly their intentions. But of course it is your home and will remain so. This is an extension of your community and people here will of course be glad to know any way they can be supportive if something come up. I know you are mostly just sharing the gut experience that many are feeling here watching all this but in your city do you have a network of folks around to connect with as well? I don't know Florida well but I know some folks that do know the networks of solidarity there. What town are you in, unless you don't share that in public, which is fine. I think resistance is beginning to become very organized on this and please remember that you are surrounded by good people who are awake and listening.

[Brian Allgar]

Originally Posted by Charlie Southerland

Honestly Brian, I didn't think your silly question merited comment. I didn't want to irritate you with that fact. Proving my point, once again, you pick and choose what I say, ignore the relevance of it and try to twist it into something else altogether. I'm used to that tact as well. You should try something different, a different approach would be most welcome.

Charlie, my comment was purely factual - or do you only like "alternative facts"?

Here's the simple fact, Charlie. Trump's list of banned countries doesn't include any of the countries with which he has business dealings. All of the 9/11 terrorists came from those countries.

Your reply above doesn't in any way address that simple and well-documented fact. It merely supplies more Charlie-obsessed blather. My point was about Trump. Your reply was, as usual, about Charlie.

[Brian Allgar]

Originally Posted by Charlie Southerland

I, for one, find it impossible for Trump to separate business from government. Is that a bad thing? It remains to be seen.

That's exactly the kind of conflict of interest that is illegal. You really think it's OK for him to run the USA in order to further his own business interests, which are not necessarily (and in many cases absolutely not) those of the country?

Those are grounds for impeachment - but foul as he is, I hope not, since the result would be the even more disgusting Pence as President.

[John Whitworth]

Nigel why do you say Theresa May is the 'British' PM? She is the British PM. Or is your Scots 'thing' showing?

[Andrew Mandelbaum]

Originally Posted by John Whitworth

Nigel why do you say Theresa May is the 'British' PM? She is the British PM. Or is your Scots 'thing' showing?

Right to the important part of Nigel's post. All that stuff about refugee deportation, weapon sales, and Holocaust remembrance was just a side issue.

[Nigel Mace]

Spot on in your last, Andrew, with reference to John's priorities.
Let us stay with yours and with those of Siham, which are painfully reminiscent of the fear and uncertainty felt by our EU and other non-UK residents and many minority groups, ethnic and religious, after the 'so-called' 'Brexit' vote on 23rd June. We've already seen the hatred and violence which such political nostrums encourage and unleash - and, I'm afraid, the auguries are not all good.

However, for the information of non-UK members, let me explain.
The intended sneer quotes were in error. They should have enclosed both the words 'British' and 'PM'.
The first becasue May's title to democratic legitimacy in Scotland simply does not exist. Her party has precisely 1 MP out of 59 Scottish MPs.
Her title to democratic legitimacy in Britain also does not exist as she occupies the position without having been elected to it, even by the members of her own party, who simply shooed her into office when all other candidates had withdrawn.
Her title to democratic legitimacy for the whole 'Brexit' fiasco also does not exist in Scotland, which voted by a 24% majority, and in every electoral area, to remain in the EU. And - before John brings up the result of the last Scottish Independence Referendum, which, unlike the EU one was binding not advisory - the 10% majority achieved by the pro-UK side was (among other matters) on the basis, argued for by her party, that only a 'No' vote would preserve Scotland's place in the EU.
That, all other considerations apart, is why we do not feel in any way bound now by its result.

[John Whitworth]

Nigel, it doesn't really matter whether you feel bound by the result or not. You are. Scotland is not a sovereign state. You had a referendum on that, if you remember. Churchill became PM without being voted in at an election. So did Major. So did Brown. Your sneers at Theresa May are beneath contempt.

My priorities are, as ever, for my country's interest.

[Gail White]

This is fascinating. Thanks for the list, Andrew.

[Charlie Southerland]

FYI, Brian, the list you mention was already approved by Congress and Obama before Trump was elected. He had nothing to do with it. The news media will do anything to besmirch Trump or anyone else regardless of the facts as long as an R is attached to their name. I suppose you could move to impeach the past congress and the last president. Oh wait, I forgot you live in France. I love watching you guys chew your own foot off over this kind of silliness. It is clear where the media stands. It ain't with Trump. You own the fake and alternative news right along with them. Enjoy.

[Nigel Mace]

Some - I hope most - may take pleasure and comfort in the following....

A Scot's Lament fur her American Fellows
(Oan their election of a tangerine gabshite walloper)
by
Lorna Wallace of Kilmarnock
Winner of the Dunedin Libraies and Dunedin Burns Club's Robert Burns Poetry Competition
The poem was written before Trump's inauguration.

America, aw whit ye dain?!
How could ye choose a clueless wain
Ti lead yir country? Who wid trust
A man sae vile?!
A racist, sexist eedjit
Wi a shite hairstyle?

Yet lo, ye votit (michty me!)
Ti hawn' this walloper the key
Ti pow'r supreme, ti stert his hateful,
Cruel regime.
A cling ti hope that this is aw
Jist wan bad dream.

But naw, the nightmare has come true,
A curse upon rid, white an' blue,
An' those who cast oot Bernie
Must feel sitch regret
Fur thinkin' Mrs. Clinton
Was a safer bet.

So noo we wait ti see unfold
Division an' intolerance, cold;
A pois'nous bigotry untold
Since Hitler's rule
As the free world' s hopes an' dreams
Lie with this fool.

Alas, complainin' wullnae change
The fact this diddy has free range
Ti ride roughshod ow'r human beings
That fall outside
The cretinous ideals borne of
His ugly pride.

Awch USA, we feel yir woes
An' pour oor wee herts oot ti those
Who ken this oarange gabshite isnae
Who they chose,
But jist sit tight;
Trump's cluelessness
Will time expose.

Fur sittin' there beside Obama
Efter the election drama,
Trump looked like reality
Had finally hit:
Aboot the role of president
He knew Jack shit.

Poutin', glaikit through this farce,
His mooth wis pursed up like an arse,
His Tangoed coupon glowin' like
A skelped backside.
Despite all his bravado
Trump looked keen ti hide.

Let's therefur no despair an' greet,
Or see this outcome as defeat.
Let's wait an' watch this bampot
Flap his hawns an' squirm
When presidential pressures
Crush him like a worm.

Hawd oan ti values you hold dear,
Don't let this numpty bring yi fear,
His chants of hatred don't speak fur
The human race.
Love will endure despite this
Oarange-faced disgrace.

So USA, in ma conclusion,
Know we Scots feel your confusion:
We are also chained ti those
Not of oor choosin' .
Stand firm fur unity will break
Through Trump's delusion.

Her own performance can be found here - http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/new...nd-competition