Why is Johnson's speech at the Munich conference hailed in some quarters, even by some journalists that should know better, as "a major policy speech" with "substance"? I went to read it expecting for once to be pleasantly surprised. Alas! Thread

It is full of the usual misplaced optimism not backed by any serious analysis, jingoism & digs at other EU leaders with transparent, nearly servile efforts to regain favour with the new US administration. A few examples:
The speech starts with the trademark rethorical device beloved of the UK right (whether to attack "woke' culture or pro-EU sentiments): A wildly exaggerated overblown simplistic statement that you then go on to "disprove"
So a dig aimed at Macron for saying NATO needs to adapt to changing circumstances and flattery towards America : "As you’ve seen and heard earlier, America is unreservedly back as leader of the free world and that is a fantastic thing."
Then the self- agrandissements : notice all the "I" & "Global Britain"
Then (irony klaxon), the PM who by mysterious means ensured exclusivity of supply for vaccines manufactured on its territory to the clear detriment of its nearest "friends" (having received vaccines from EU factories when its supply was short) exalts the "flames of cooperation "
👇says the man who pulled his country out of Europe security institutions to the horror of his immediate predecessor making it more exposed to terrorist threat, the same man who casually disregarded (even recently poured oil over) the simmering tensions in Northern Ireland.
Then 👇 pathetic boast: I have got a big one too (hey, Joe, remember all those big defense procurement contracts)
Followed by another Brexit boast & a dig at the (naturally slower more cumbersome) EU. But ask yourself: which sanctions matter more to Putin? EU's or UK's?And which UK party wanted to pull out of the Human Right Convention & threatens to "rewrite" the Human Rights Act?
Then new dig at the EU & pat on Biden's back: this time about the EU/China investment Agreement which 1) merely ensures the same competitive advantages to EU cnies as to US ones 2) includes - contrary to US's arrangements- some leverage due to China's committments slave labour
Britain always had "sovereignty" over its defense policy. The "Transatlantic Quad" was operational & has been much weakened by Brexit. As for the "new resolve" of our European "friends", it has nothing to do with what Britain does or does not do.
Fawning to the point of being obsequious & yet another dig at the EU. Completely ignore the question mark on the health of US democracy raised by recent events.
And finally a clichés ridden conclusion, high on hopes, light on facts
Flattery to the US, sly attacks on the EU (particularly France, our major European defense partner which is at striking odds odds with the supposed aim of the speech ), trademark boosterism, overblown statements on Britain's role, overuse of the word "Britain"
(is NI to be dumped?) , if this is a "great speech" of "substance", what is a poor Johnson's speech? The major achievement is that the sentences hang together & it was blissfully short.

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The GOP got rid of the SCOTUS filibuster so they could jam through three fringy right-wing Alito clones, including one right before the election, but sure thing, bud.

“Uh, actually, they got rid of the SCOTUS filibuster because Harry Reid did it first for something totally different! I am very smart!”

No. Knock it off.

Here’s the thing about the “But Harry Reid...” excuse:

1. McConnell was holding up Obama nominees, some *for literal years* without a vote.

2. Had he *not* done that, Trump would have inherited *even more* vacant seats.
Typically excellent piece from @dsquareddigest The exponential insight is especially neat. Think of it a little like fishing...today you can’t export oysters to the EU (because you simply aren’t allowed to), tomorrow you don’t have a fish exporting business (to the EU).


The extremely small minority of people who known anything about this who think that Brexit will be good for the City make a number of arguments which I shall address in turn...

1. They need us more than we need them. This is a variant of the German carmakers argument. And we know how that went...Business will follow the profit opportunity and if that has moved then so will the business...

And what do we mean by us / we. We’re not talking about massed ranks of Euro investing / trading etc blue blooded British institutions.

Au contraire. We’re talking about the London based subs of US, Asian and indeed European capital markets players...As soon as they think the profit opportunity has moved then so will they...it’s a market innit...

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1/ Here’s a list of conversational frameworks I’ve picked up that have been helpful.

Please add your own.

2/ The Magic Question: "What would need to be true for you


3/ On evaluating where someone’s head is at regarding a topic they are being wishy-washy about or delaying.

“Gun to the head—what would you decide now?”

“Fast forward 6 months after your sabbatical--how would you decide: what criteria is most important to you?”

4/ Other Q’s re: decisions:

“Putting aside a list of pros/cons, what’s the *one* reason you’re doing this?” “Why is that the most important reason?”

“What’s end-game here?”

“What does success look like in a world where you pick that path?”

5/ When listening, after empathizing, and wanting to help them make their own decisions without imposing your world view:

“What would the best version of yourself do”?