Trump Is Dead
Given the time of the year, and the run up to Labor Day / the end of the summer holidays, the news cycle does tend to dry up. Indeed, part of the reason that the death / murder of Princess Diana made such an impact in 1997, is that it occurred at the time of the year which second only to the period between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, is the quietest time for news. Only a celebrity death can really make an impact, as it did on Christmas Day 2016, with the death of George Michael.
So where are we with the “death” of President Donald Trump? It is clearly a story that many would like to be true, and given the political bias of most journalists, would love it to be true. That said, if it were true it would rather like the press conference of Richard Nixon in 1962, where journos would “have no one to kick around” or at least defame, on a regular basis. Unfortunately, for lefties / Democrats, alleged abused women, feminists, non-smart people, people of colour, pro LGBT lobbyists, environmentalists, beneficiaries of USAID, the Fed Chairman, the Fed, the Judiciary, would be assassins, and the rest of a list too lengthy to contemplate, it would appear that The Donald is still alive. He has even been spotted heading out to the golf course. Not to be buried under the 18 hole, but actually to play. It may be a dull game. But it is rather difficult to play if you do not have a beating heart, as Bing Crosby found out. So instead, rather than having shuffled off this mortal coil, it would appear that the US President is very much alive and kicking. As opposed to say, Paul McCartney, who has been on the back foot, so to speak, since 1966 when the “Paul Is Dead” conspiracy started.
“Rayner is no hypocrite; she’s the embodiment of British aspiration”
In just over a year, we have now had three iconic moments from the Labour government. The first was Sir Keir Starmer’s first blink and you missed it visit to Southport. The second was Chancellor Rachel Reeves doing what we are all doing over our finances currently – crying, in the House of Commons, and the third Angela Rayner bobbing about on a dinghy in the English Channel with a vape in her mouth. According to one of the best Guardian articles The Telegraph has published the article of Michael Mosbacher, of which the title is in inverted commas above this paragraph. The gist of what the article has said is that the Deputy PM should be commended on her sensible tax avoidance, switching primary residence, as well as her meteoric rise from humble beginnings to be where she is now. This is difficult to disagree with, at least, superficially. But alas the natural progression of the “anyone can” philosophy of public life, is that one day we shall have someone born in a stable, with no education, no aptitude, and no shame, leading our country. By definition, they will be better than someone who is bright with all the advantages in life. This could very well happen and turn out to be true. However, the Guardian part here is the issue. It is that of identity politics. This is by definition a socialist/Marxist/Communist concept, in the manner of inverted snobbery. In public life, and especially now, we need the best people for the job, not the ones who’s CV’s that happen to be the most fashionable at the moment.
The Mounjaro Price Spike
It may be bad enough that those of a certain weight have to inject themselves weekly, in order to get to the 20% body weight loss number, without pretty much having to do anything else. But at midnight tonight the price of this wonder drug for the middle aged middle classes is going to effectively double in price. The culprit is actually that beacon of free trade and free enterprise, President Donald Trump. In fact, it could be argued that the initial say £120 a month starter dose for the tirzepatide maker was too cheap in the first place. This is given how effective it is, and how much fatties / gluttons et al, save in terms of the food and drink they would otherwise have eaten, but subsequently do not really feel the need for.
What is perhaps or more interest is that for those who are near to Giant Haystacks proportions, the NHS will see its price for those in most need who are prescribed the drug stay the same. While this may at first glance be a cue for everyone to put on as much weight as possible to qualify for a free dose, it may turn out that even without the discount from Eli Lilly to mitigate part of the price rise, users may decide that this drug is simply too good to stop. True one can shift to the competition, or simply go cold turkey. But it will be interesting to see how much of a drop off for Mounjaro there is when the new prices kick in from September 1? One suspects that the price spike will simply be swallowed.
