Day: September 24, 2019

Nothing new to see here

benfell

Brexit

Move along, really. Certainly nothing new to see here. Not with the Irish Backstop.[1] Not with Boris Johnson’s proroguing of Parliament[2] Not even, really, with the Supreme Court’s finding that Johnson acted to frustrate Parliament by proroguing it;[3] this is yet another humiliation echoing those administered by Parliament itself[4] of a schoolboy who does not do his homework. And certainly not that the prorogation really was indeed about Brexit despite earlier denials.[5] It might be breathtaking and it might be stunning and it might be pathetic and it might be all of these at once but it’s really nothing new.

If, however, you choose to read one piece, may I suggest Sam Knight’s.[6] Seriously, his writing is exquisite.

Daniel Boffey, “EU’s chief negotiator calls Johnson’s backstop solution ‘unacceptable,’” Guardian, September 23, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/23/eu-chief-negotiator-michecalls-johnson-brexit-backstop-solution-unacceptable

Peter Walker, “Boris Johnson refuses to rule out suspending parliament again,” Guardian, September 23, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/23/boris-johnson-refuses-to-rule-out-suspending-parliament-again

British Broadcasting Corporation, “Supreme Court: Suspending Parliament was unlawful, judges rule,” September 24, 2019, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-49810261

Sam Knight, “Boris Johnson’s Supreme Court Calamity,” New Yorker, September 24, 2019, https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-uk/boris-johnsons-supreme-court-calamity

Danielle Sheridan and Asa Bennett, “Boris Johnson hits back at Supreme Court ruling saying people want to ‘frustrate Brexit’ and ‘stop this country coming out of the EU,’” Telegraph, September 24, 2019, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/09/24/brexit-latest-news-supreme-court-ruling-boris-johnson-prorogue/

Israel

Blue and White, led by Benny Gantz, is agreeing to negotiate with Likud, led by Binyamin Netanyahu, about a possible unity government but not with Likud’s partners while Likud is insisting that its small right wing religious parties are part of the deal. Gantz also insists that Netanyahu personally cannot be part of the deal while he faces expected corruption charges.[7] This is also as it was before.[8]

Times of Israel, “Blue and White, Likud start talks, but can’t even agree who they’re representing,” September 24, 2019, https://www.timesofisrael.com/blue-and-white-likud-start-talks-but-cant-even-agree-who-theyre-representing/

National insecurity

National insecurity is what it took to push Nancy Pelosi to an impeachment inquiry. Which probably really means she conflates Joe Biden with what she calls “national security.”[9] You know what? I couldn’t care less. I mean, seriously, spare me.

Rachael Bade and Mike DeBonis , “House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces formal impeachment inquiry of Trump, says his actions were a ‘betrayal of national security,’” Washington Post, September 24, 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/pelosi-top-democrats-privately-discuss-creation-of-select-committee-for-impeachment/2019/09/24/af6f735a-dedf-11e9-b199-f638bf2c340f_story.html

  1. [1]Karla Adam and William Booth, “Could Boris Johnson’s ‘no-deal’ Brexit break up the United Kingdom?” Washington Post, July 29, 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/could-boris-johnsons-no-deal-brexit-crack-up-the-united-kingdom/2019/07/29/b871ebac-b1e6-11e9-acc8-1d847bacca73_story.html; Daniel Boffey, “However you look at it, the logic of a Brexit backstop refuses to yield,” Guardian, June 24, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/24/however-look-logic-brexit-backstop-refuses-to-yield-irish; Daniel Boffey, “EU’s chief negotiator calls Johnson’s backstop solution ‘unacceptable,’” Guardian, September 23, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/23/eu-chief-negotiator-michecalls-johnson-brexit-backstop-solution-unacceptable; British Broadcasting Corporation, “Irish deputy PM Coveney: No deal Brexit would mean customs checks in Ireland,” July 21, 2019, https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-politics-49062367/irish-deputy-pm-coveney-no-deal-brexit-would-mean-customs-checks-in-ireland; Amanda Ferguson and William Booth, “Northern Ireland’s politicians don’t agree on much. Except that Boris Johnson’s no-deal Brexit would be a disaster,” Washington Post, July 31, 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/northern-irelands-politicians-dont-agree-on-much-except-that-boris-johnsons-no-deal-brexit-would-be-a-disaster/2019/07/31/c209affa-b2eb-11e9-acc8-1d847bacca73_story.html; Peter Foster and Camilla Tominey, “Boris Johnson warned that ‘no deal’ Brexit will require return of ‘direct rule’ in Northern Ireland,” Telegraph, July 26, 2019, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/26/boris-johnson-warned-no-deal-brexit-will-require-return-direct/; Katy Hayward, “Can technology and ‘max fac’ solve the Irish border question? Expert explains,” Conversation, May 23, 2018, http://theconversation.com/can-technology-and-max-fac-solve-the-irish-border-question-expert-explains-96735; Conor Humphries, “Irish PM says hard Brexit would raise issue of Irish unification,” Telegraph, July 27, 2019, https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-ireland-nireland-idUSKCN1UL280; Séamas O’Reilly, “Hard Brexiters’ stance on the Irish border is nonsense – I can tell you, I grew up there,” Guardian, August 7, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/07/northern-ireland-hard-border-brexit-customs; Kate Proctor, “Irish border after Brexit – all ideas are beset by issues says secret paper,” Guardian, September 2, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/02/irish-border-after-brexit-all-ideas-beset-by-issues; Steven Swinford and Henry Zeffman, “Backstop protects stability in Ireland, Macron tells PM,” Times, August 22, 2019, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/find-an-alternative-to-irish-backstop-and-brexit-deal-is-possible-angela-merkel-tells-boris-johnson-dmtfzf9gz↩
  2. [2]Jamie Doward, “Supreme court poised to rule against Boris Johnson, say legal experts,” Guardian, September 22, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/law/2019/sep/22/supreme-court-verdict-boris-johnson-prorogation; Owen Bowcott, “Government declines to rule out fresh prorogation if it loses case,” Guardian, September 17, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/law/2019/sep/17/government-declines-to-rule-out-fresh-prorogation-if-it-loses-case; Danielle Sheridan and Asa Bennett, “Boris Johnson hits back at Supreme Court ruling saying people want to ‘frustrate Brexit’ and ‘stop this country coming out of the EU,’” Telegraph, September 24, 2019, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/09/24/brexit-latest-news-supreme-court-ruling-boris-johnson-prorogue/; Peter Walker, “Boris Johnson refuses to rule out suspending parliament again,” Guardian, September 23, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/23/boris-johnson-refuses-to-rule-out-suspending-parliament-again↩
  3. [3]British Broadcasting Corporation, “Supreme Court: Suspending Parliament was unlawful, judges rule,” September 24, 2019, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-49810261↩
  4. [4]Charlie Cooper, Annabelle Dickson, and Emilio Casalicchio, “Boris Johnson loses control,” Politico, September 4, 2019, https://www.politico.eu/article/boris-johnson-loses-control-brexit/; Deutschewelle, “Brexit: House of Lords approves bill to block no deal,” September 6, 2019, https://www.dw.com/en/brexit-house-of-lords-approves-bill-to-block-no-deal/a-50331382; Heather Stewart and Severin Carrell, “Boris Johnson short of options as rebels vow to secure Brexit delay,” Guardian, September 7, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/06/boris-johnson-short-of-options-as-rebels-vow-to-secure-brexit-delay; Kevin Sullivan and Karla Adam, “Britain may face snap elections after Prime Minister Boris Johnson suffers major loss in Parliament,” Washington Post, September 3, 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/showdown-set-for-the-british-parliament-as-legislators-return-from-summer-recess/2019/09/03/105ecca6-cb6c-11e9-9615-8f1a32962e04_story.html; Kevin Sullivan and Karla Adam, “Boris Johnson suffers two major losses in Parliament, leaving his governing authority and the terms of Brexit in doubt,” Washington Post, September 4, 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/uk-parliament-brexit-vote/2019/09/04/cc934b1c-cb6d-11e9-9615-8f1a32962e04_story.html; Rowena Mason and Owen Bowcott, “John Bercow: I’ll stop Boris Johnson breaking the law on Brexit,” Guardian, September 12, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/12/bercow-warns-pm-not-to-defy-law-on-no-deal-brexit; Sam Knight, “Boris Johnson’s Supreme Court Calamity,” New Yorker, September 24, 2019, https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-uk/boris-johnsons-supreme-court-calamity; Aamna Mohdin, “Boris Johnson ‘sabotage’ letter to EU ‘would break law,’” Guardian, September 9, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/09/boris-johnson-sabotage-letter-to-eu-would-break-law; Reuters, “Johnson prepares plan to legally stop Brexit extension – The Telegraph,” September 8, 2019, https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-parliament-johnson-idUSKCN1VT0SK; Griff Witte and Karla Adam, “A chaotic final night for Parliament leaves Johnson with bleak choices on the path to Brexit,” Washington Post, September 10, 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/a-chaotic-final-night-for-parliament-leaves-johnson-with-bleak-choices-on-the-path-to-brexit/2019/09/10/443a835a-d33a-11e9-8924-1db7dac797fb_story.html; Harry Yorke, “Boris Johnson draws up plan to legally stop Brexit extension if MPs vote against general election,” Telegraph, September 8, 2019, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/09/08/boris-johnson-draws-plan-legally-stop-brexit-extension-mps-vote/↩
  5. [5]Danielle Sheridan and Asa Bennett, “Boris Johnson hits back at Supreme Court ruling saying people want to ‘frustrate Brexit’ and ‘stop this country coming out of the EU,’” Telegraph, September 24, 2019, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/09/24/brexit-latest-news-supreme-court-ruling-boris-johnson-prorogue/; Danielle Sheridan and Asa Bennett, “Boris Johnson hits back at Supreme Court ruling saying people want to ‘frustrate Brexit’ and ‘stop this country coming out of the EU,’” Telegraph, September 24, 2019, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/09/24/brexit-latest-news-supreme-court-ruling-boris-johnson-prorogue/↩
  6. [6]Sam Knight, “Boris Johnson’s Supreme Court Calamity,” New Yorker, September 24, 2019, https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-uk/boris-johnsons-supreme-court-calamity↩
  7. [7]Times of Israel, “Blue and White, Likud start talks, but can’t even agree who they’re representing,” September 24, 2019, https://www.timesofisrael.com/blue-and-white-likud-start-talks-but-cant-even-agree-who-theyre-representing/↩
  8. [8]Jewish Telegraphic Agency, “Netanyahu reaches out to form a government with his rival — and gets rejected,” September 19, 2019, https://www.jta.org/quick-reads/with-final-votes-counted-gantzs-blue-and-white-takes-2-seat-lead↩
  9. [9]Rachael Bade and Mike DeBonis , “House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces formal impeachment inquiry of Trump, says his actions were a ‘betrayal of national security,’” Washington Post, September 24, 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/pelosi-top-democrats-privately-discuss-creation-of-select-committee-for-impeachment/2019/09/24/af6f735a-dedf-11e9-b199-f638bf2c340f_story.html↩