Today my newspaper, the @ObserverUK, published it's position on this election. Please read. It's bang on, on every point re all parties. And it's message is bang on too: do whatever is necessary to stop Johnson and the wretched Tories getting a majority. https://t.co/wxjoZrw0kq
— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) December 8, 2019
General election 2019: Labour vows Budget 'to end austerity' in first 100 days https://t.co/akTiS7j4r6
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) December 8, 2019
British Jews pack Parliament Square to protest against anti-Semitism ahead of the General Election. Hard to imagine scenes like this prior to 2015. pic.twitter.com/8rtoy48YaL
— James Bickerton (@JBickertonUK) December 8, 2019
Westminster Voting Intention:
CON: 45% (+2)
LAB: 31% (-2)
LDM: 11% (=)
BXP: 4% (+1)
GRN: 2% (-2)Via @Survation, 5-7 Dec.
Changes w/ 26-30 Nov.— Election Maps UK (@ElectionMapsUK) December 9, 2019
Tories seriously talking up their chances of winning Leigh & sounding like they mean it; Labour seriously talking up their chances of winning Wycombe & sounding like they mean it. Remember, the key faultline in British voting behaviour is now age, and that will redraw the map.
— Gerry Lynch (@gerrylynch) December 9, 2019
It really would be the greatest story in modern General Election history. After everything that Boris Johnson has said, it would poetic for a young Muslim man to dethrone him in his own constituency
Anti-Tory voters of Uxbridge – unite! #GetBorisOut https://t.co/xs8CRXZ0y5
— Jack D 🌹 (@JackDunc1) December 8, 2019
So the latest LucidTalk poll shows Claire Hanna is ahead of ELP in what is a two horse race. Also shows DUP slightly ahead of Alliance in North Down. Eastwood slightly ahead of McCallion in Foyle. Dodds hanging on by his fingernails in North Belfast. https://t.co/qT8KpOMRUY
— Jamie Kennedy (@JkUmisma) December 8, 2019
Will there be checks between Great Britain & NI? @BBCRealityCheck verdict: Some goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain will have to be checked even if they are staying in Northern Ireland.#GE19 #GE2019 https://t.co/Pa23l5HCiZ
— Darran Marshall (@DarranMarshall) December 8, 2019
It’s not hard. Vote Conservative if you think you’re being deprived of the life you think you deserve by people who have even less than you do. Don’t vote Conservative if you think you’re being deprived of the life you deserve by people who already have way, way more than you do.
— James O'Brien (@mrjamesob) December 8, 2019
In Britain’s "appalling" election, voters in the middle don’t like either Boris Johnson or Jeremy Corbyn https://t.co/a501VpfvCz
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 8, 2019
***
TRUMPWORLD
In SNL cold open, world leaders gossip about Trump like schoolchildren in the NATO cafeteria https://t.co/FLZrfiUEng
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 8, 2019
President Trump's former Russia ambassador says Vladimir Putin is "probably joyful" about claims of Ukraine meddling in 2016 election https://t.co/Ng4S5fgja2 pic.twitter.com/0cottRweck
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) December 9, 2019
“‘Barr has believed for a long time that the country would benefit from more authoritarianism,’ said Stuart Gerson, who worked in the Bush Justice Department under Mr. Barr.”
Bonus loathing points: he has a “longstanding relationship with Laura Ingraham.” https://t.co/38nM55GMht
— Kurt Andersen (@KBAndersen) December 9, 2019
If the House were going to forget about political tactics and impeach Trump strictly on the merits, how many articles of impeachment would there be?
My answer is eight. Here they are: https://t.co/BBUycBPsMv
— David Leonhardt (@DLeonhardt) December 9, 2019
You mean the election he's actively trying to rig? https://t.co/oqWTGXOTQ5
— Jesse Wegman (@jessewegman) December 8, 2019
Been thinking a lot about why Trump will survive impeachment when Nixon didn’t. For 20+ years Fox News (and rightwing talk radio) has told GOP voters that Democrats are evil. As lawless as Trump is, Republicans believe Dems are worse. That’s the power of propaganda.
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) December 8, 2019
Finally… no words
American Nativity 2019. United Methodist Church in Claremont, CA. pic.twitter.com/tnAV0bRiwI
— Nathaniel Stinnett (@NCStinn) December 8, 2019
***
WORLD
The path to a U.S.-China trade deal could still get a lot rockier, @davidfickling writes https://t.co/Cmk0iucpTp via @bopinion
— Bloomberg Next China (@next_china) December 9, 2019
If you read nothing else today…
A quite extraordinary and moving story. 'Lovers in Auschwitz, Reunited 72 Years Later. He Had One Question.' https://t.co/2AwaNb0T9I
— Lawrence Freedman (@LawDavF) December 8, 2019
Why we have the EU. https://t.co/RGtkqwi3hP
— Benjamin Haddad (@benjaminhaddad) December 8, 2019
Meanwhile in today’s world…
Sort of proves a point. pic.twitter.com/a8ss9RDVqu
— Slow News Day (@SlowSlownews) December 7, 2019
Best video of 2019 makes a late entry https://t.co/11EQA0Viu4
— Wʏɴᴛᴇʀ Mɪᴛᴄʜᴇʟʟ (Rᴏʜʀʙᴀᴜɢʜ) (@wyntermitchell) December 8, 2019
But hey, a nice story for the run-up to Christmas… How will it end?
Exchanged pleasantries w/ a tall, well-spoken, bespectacled man in a queue @WaterstonesYork yesterday who I should have asked to go for a drink. 🤓📚☕️ It was on the 1st floor at around 3. Are you out there fellow book-lover? (There’s a possibility I’ve watched too many rom-coms)
— Toria Emily (@Toria_Morris) December 8, 2019
Finally…
Caroll Spinney, legendary puppeteer behind Sesame Street characters Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, has died at age 85. https://t.co/Cbj5ultrQq
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 8, 2019
BREAKING: René Auberjonois, prolific television actor best known for his roles in Boston Legal, Benson and Star Trek, has died at age 79. https://t.co/4bT7cQTQia
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 8, 2019
The Overnight Note 