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Don't insult my intelligence. I've got two degrees myself, one in History and Politics and an M.A. in History. I don't throw my education around, it's not necessary to do so. I'm perfectly aware of Godwin's Law and assumed that would be the thing to pick up on. I do not expect American democracy to crumble overnight, but if you think everything is tickety-boo with US institutions at this moment in time, then I would suggest you look a bit closer. Public trust in their institutions is at an all-time low, misinformation is rampant. The divide between left and right has been larger before but the animosity and distrust that both sides feel towards each other is worse than it's been in years - remember in other significant crises like Watergate, even the majority of Republicans believed Nixon was guilty. The partisanship that emerged in the 90s with Clinton and Gingrich has been ramped up by perceived, or real, injustices, particularly since the 2008 financial crash. In 2008, Obama was elected and Palin was unleashed onto the national stage. In 2010, the Tea Party became a political force. By 2012, Birtherism was a thing, despite Obama releasing his entire birth certificate. In 2016, Trump won the Republican nomination and then the presidency. In 2020, Trump supporters refuse to accept the result of the election and storm the Capitol Building. Trump isn't disappearing any time soon. Is that not a pattern? He'll have plenty to say post-presidency, whether that's with his TV Network or wherever. His supporters won't disappear, because this isn't just about Trump. It's about QAnon, it's about anti-vaxxers and coronavirus. It's about all these myriad of reasons why people feel violated or disenfranchised. You're right, the United States will most likely survive. It is a 'very resilient country with a strong democracy and strong institutions'. But it still had to fight a Civil War 150 years ago (the flag of the secessionists made it into the Capitol Building for the first time in history today). It also survived the 1960s, but not without the death of a President, a frontrunning candidate and 2 iconic civil rights leaders. I wouldn't consider that a particularly stable democracy. I sincerely hope that this is the watershed. The dying of the light. The point where those who have been ambivalent about Trump and his antics draw the line and say 'no more'. But the fact it got to this point is itself damning. I wish I could just laugh it off and dismiss it as you do. But haven't we laughed off enough in the past decade plus and ended up at this point?

Agree with a lot of what you say on here but I do wonder just how much longer people need to calm down and there's nothing to see here. The President of the United States has instigated a riot that has resulted in the occupation of the Legislature of the United States and the death of a woman. Biden may well be inaugurated as expected but these people and their anger doesn't just disappear overnight, particularly when the exiting President is still encouraging them and feeding their paranoia.In October, the FBI arrested men plotting to kidnap the Governor of Michigan and put her on trial for treason. Today, armed gangs have been seen outside the count in Georgia for the two Senate Special Elections, causing state election officials to evacuate. This is not normal and it shouldn't be dismissed. The Munich Beer Hall Putsch was similarly ridiculous and unsuccessful, but the long term consequences were dire.

Gerald Ford. (Succeeded both Spiro Agnew as vice president and Richard Nixon as president when they respectively resigned).

They are clearly no more than some random twats. The problem is there could be millions of random twats in the US and one of them is even president, so thath starts to be dangerous.

And there was a great wailing and gnashing of teeth - how many others (cos I'm outing myself here) have a DDP joker riding on this pick?

He has announced his latest MMI scan shows a significant reduction in the tumour.

A son's grief! When he says "last night" obvs means January 6. And it wouldn't be time travel, it would be a "happening," baby!

I go looking for vaguely thematic movies with sufficiently famous cast to be certain to obit, with the probability of dying being more or less a tertiary consideration. Which definitely shouldn't be a winning strategy, nor have done as well as it did in the first round.

Is he Jewish?

Trumps Twitter account locked for 12 hours. The Twitter account of a President. Locked. TWITTER. ACCOUNT. PRESIDENT. LOCKED. Not a 12 year boy. Not a homophobic middle aged fat basement dweller. No. DONALD. THE FUCKING PRESIDENT. TRUMP. Thank you Twitter. But keep it locked forever, please? Source:

Not a name I suggested but it seems that a certain illness has put an end to her acting career: https://www.abendblatt.de/kultur-live/article230484722/Filmfest-Hamburg-Rainer-Werner-Fassbinder-Kino-Film-Margit-Carstensen.html

Well within the previous 5 or so months at least. Tom tends to do things from home now anyway, both for covid and also because of his age (and previous health issues).

You and me both, Book And likely a few others. 7 Jan, and there's Covid...

The Vice President takes over.

Regardless of political opinion it should never come to this

When the truth about Jimmy Savile came out, people didn’t go about saying “Well, Gary Glitter doesn’t look so bad now does he?”

Oxtail soup. Next!

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/horseracing/13663631/goldikova-dead-16-breeders-cup-mile-legend-passes-away/ Goldikova, three-time Breeder's Cup Mile winner, four-time Prix Rothschild winner and winner of 14 group one races has died at 16. There are two two-time winners of Breeder's Cup Mile (horses) alive, Wise Dan and Da Hoss. Da Hoss is also the oldest winner of the competition alive.

I wasn't sure if he really qualifies, but Hancock's Half Hour bit part actor Laurie Webb, who also played the poacher Ollis in The Three Doctors (Doctor Who) is still alive, born 1924.