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Count Binface

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Re: Count Binface

#201

Post by prohobo »

dofm wrote: post #185
prohobo wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I lived in London for six years starting just before Brexit, so I watched this exact confidence up close. The British public "knowing" Farage is damaged is not new, it's not justified, and it doesn't do anything except make people feel better on social media. I'm pretty sure that just like every other backhanded attempt to squash the populists, this will backfire. I can't know that of course, but I'm pattern-matching…

He is noticeably more damaged now, believe me. Everyone thinks this election was at least a stupid idea and it is his stupid idea designed for his personal benefit. You are right that it could backfire, but to give you a much longer and more analytical answer, here is the picture as Farage understands it and why he did what he did: - Farage is the leader of an insurgent party with the ability to command national medi…

This is all from the perspective of people who already oppose Farage, though. Supporters will zealously reframe everything as illegitimate attack. Soft skeptics will notice the establishment's overreach.

I agree this might be a normal political tactic on paper, but that's irrelevant when you're dealing with populism. The entire game is tribal framing. To anyone outside the anti-Farage coalition, this just looks like the establishment closing ranks, and that's more recruiting material for him.

What I can see happening here, at best, is maybe Farage stepping away if the pressure gets too much. But then you risk him getting replaced by a more angry figurehead who will use Farage's downfall as evidence of the "hatred and dirty politics" of the establishment.

Re: Count Binface

#202

Post by pjc50 »

logifail wrote: post #119

Neither Binface nor Farage have any answers for the problems the UK appears to be facing; this election feels like something specifically designed to create material for viewers of Have I Got News For You[0] to laugh at. From The Atlantic: "The [UK's] output per person is now only just above that of Mississippi, America’s poorest state - and that slight lead is only achieved thanks to London. Outside the capital, in…

Why is the life expectancy for Mississippi significantly lower than the UK? https://www.mylifeelsewhere.com/compare/mississippi-usa/unit...

Re: Count Binface

#203

Post by dofm »

Twey wrote: post #173
dofm wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Goodness, if Tuberville is average then the USA is in much worse shape than it realises. Mullin, like MTG, has some political instincts and some facility with the parliamentary process, as it turns out, and I almost feel bad about putting him in the same category as Tuberville, but he is not a smart guy. Don’t get me wrong, we have many mediocre politicians in the UK, but few like these guys at the parliamentary leve…

But we are importing this model now in Boris Johnson and Farage. As far as I can see Farage is doing exactly (a British spin on) the GWB strategy: despite having a pretty classical private-school upbringing he's created a ‘bloke from the pub’ character that is much more relatable to the lower classes, and it seems to be working pretty well. It was really interesting to me to see BoJo's take on it, which was similar b…

I don't know if Boris ever faked being unintelligent or faked being a man of the people. Or being a bloke from the pub, actually.

He did fake being a buffoon, of course, but he was doing that long, long, long before Trump. He is terrifically intelligent and obviously absurdly well-educated, he's just a liar and a sociopath.

Indeed his chosen buffoonish, winging-it character hints at that, because buffoon is the easiest comic role to play if you have very little empathy. It blunts all the qualities that would make him unbearable. His buffoon routine was helped by him being very authentically clumsy across all domains both physical and intellectual, and it helped him manage that too. The upper-class twit aspect couldn't be avoided so he doubled down on it from early on.

(He has his brother and sister to thank for humanising him, and his father to blame for his worst impulses)

Farage is definitely playing at Trumpism, and he has the cruelty aspect nailed down, but he lacks the ability to clown, doesn't he? He's fundamentally sour-faced and nasty.

Re: Count Binface

#204

Post by Nursie »

gadders wrote: post #156
Nursie wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Net Zero is not the cause of high energy costs in the UK. The cause is international al energy costs, a way of setting the benchmark price per unit against the most expensive power, and tax. Clean, renewable power is a way out of the mess.

How do international high energy costs single out the UK and make our energy costs the highest? >>Clean, renewable power is a way out of the mess. Yes, can't wait until it exists.

> How do international high energy costs single out the UK and make our energy costs the highest?

Because of the marginal energy pricing scheme in use, which pays for all generation as if it were the most expensive. That and taxes etc. The UK energy market needs reform, blaming the Net Zero effort is ... well it's just wrong.

Re: Count Binface

#205

Post by pjc50 »

teamonkey wrote: post #64
stavros wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand what this is, can someone explain? Clacton seems to be a town in the UK, are they campaigning for mayor? What's the relevance, why is Farage even involved?

In addition to the other comments it’s worth pointing out that MPs are not allowed to resign. They’re elected by the people. They can be moved into another public service role, and there are ceremonial roles designed to ‘shelve’ MPs, but other than that, criminal acts and incapacity, they can’t actually stand down. Starmer is resigning as Prime Minister, he is not resigning as an MP. This is why the other parties see…

> ceremonial roles designed to ‘shelve’ MPs

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_stewards_of_the_Chilte...

It's hardly unprecedented for an MP to resign. What is almost unprecedented is immediately standing for election again: it's not a revolving door, you're supposed to fuck off and stay out. Especially not to pre-empt an investigation into your conduct. It is indeed a farce.

Re: Count Binface

#206

Post by pjc50 »

karel-3d wrote: post #115
edent wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's no such thing as a "legal name" in the UK. For example, Boris Johnson's first name isnt actually Boris - that's just what he goes by.

Huh that's new. I knew you guys don't have any official government ID (and that it was an issue in Blair era) but I didn't knew you don't even have legal names.

This is gradually getting tightened by the database state for all the usual reasons (hostility to immigrants and trans people); you can get away without ID as long as you don't want to work, claim benefits, rent a house, buy one, or have a bank account. Other than that, you're fine.

Re: Count Binface

#207

Post by [deleted] »

wizzwizz4 wrote: post #129
lambdaone wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

His birth name, and I believe still his legal name, is Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson. But he is "commonly known as" Boris Johnson, so that's what can go on the ballot paper, although his full name must still go on the registration documents. Count Binface is in the same situation.

Since he gave up his US citizenship in 2016, I don't think he's subject to a jurisdiction where "legal name" is a meaningful notion. Ultimately, this means his first name is whatever he says it is (provided that he isn't lying): you'd have to ask him. Supposing that his answer changes depending on the social context, then both "Alexander" and "Boris" would be valid answers for "what is this person's first name?". Cou…

[deleted]

Re: Count Binface

#208

Post by gpderetta »

MarcScott wrote: post #34
stavros wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand what this is, can someone explain? Clacton seems to be a town in the UK, are they campaigning for mayor? What's the relevance, why is Farage even involved?

Very briefly: Farage received a "gift" of £5M. He didn't tell parliament about the gift, which breaks the rules. MPs or campaigning MPs need to declare gifts and donations, as there are strict rules on who you can receive money from. The media found out about the "gift", and Farage was going to be investigated. He resigned as MP for Clacton, which stops the investigation and triggers an election. I think his plan was…

> This is the country that voted to name a research vessel Boaty McBoatFace

And "Killing in the Name" as Christmas song of '09, to spite the usual X-factor shoo-in.

There is a chance that more entertainment is yet to come from Clacton.

Re: Count Binface

#209

Post by gadders »

Nursie wrote: post #204
gadders wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do international high energy costs single out the UK and make our energy costs the highest? >>Clean, renewable power is a way out of the mess. Yes, can't wait until it exists.

> How do international high energy costs single out the UK and make our energy costs the highest? Because of the marginal energy pricing scheme in use, which pays for all generation as if it were the most expensive. That and taxes etc. The UK energy market needs reform, blaming the Net Zero effort is ... well it's just wrong.

And paying people to not generate electricity

But essentially there no countries with high renewables and low energy cost: https://nypost.com/2025/05/07/opinion/cheap-solar-and-wind-i...

Re: Count Binface

#210

Post by pjc50 »

ayaros wrote: post #87

I have so many questions... I wonder how the legalities of this work. If people write in "Count Binface" or if that's the name on the ballot, then if he wins, does that mean Jonathan David Harvey (the actual name of the guy who plays him) is elected? Does Count Binface count as an alias? If not, he required to use that name while in office - or more precisely, is he not considered a member if he goes by his own name?…

There's slightly more controversy about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_Manivannan , who is perfectly calibrated to annoy the maximum number of rightwingers: nonbinary immigrant on a temporary visa with a one-letter chosen name.

There are (fortunately) very few rules on who's allowed to be an MP. The public are supposed to be the ultimate arbiter. The rule against being elected while in prison was only introduced after Bobby Sands MP, for example. Otherwise the rules seem mainly concerned that you're not bankrupt or holding an ineligible state office.

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance-candidates-a...

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