Gaston de Foix

Yes, 2011 was a good year for those who depended on PR and GRRM for their fantasy fixes. The good news is that in 2019 (and I assume in 2021) there is much more good fantasy out there than there was in 2011. And the meandering pace of WMF (basically it's all a training montage) sort of reconciled me to the thought that not all that much would happen in the Doors of Stone in terms of fully resolving plot points. It will not be the equivalent to the Deathly Hallows.

Thanks. I'll give it a try.

I've been looking for a new book to pick up. Any insights into style/character/prose quality?

Not disputing that but he also seems very invested in his "clean break Brexit". Maybe the idea is to lay low strategically now while BoJo confronts realities of governing/trade-offs required to make a trade deal with EU and then pop back up like a frog faced Cassandra?

As a strategic matter, Farage folding like this seems like a mistake. After pulling out the big guns (having Donald Trump on his radio show touting an alliance etc). the Tories now know they have no reason to make any concessions to the Brexit party in any seats. And I bet they won't. So where exactly will the Brexit party win seats? Is Farage hoping that Boris will refuse to field candidates in Labour Leave seats? Because the Tory electoral strategy is precisely to pick up those seats to counterbalance losses in Scotland.

He could have held up funding through distribution through OMB, much as Trump did with the Ukraine aid, in addition of course to vetoing any appropriations bill if he wanted. And the informal power of the presidency is such that he can effectively prohibit any individual appropriation. You are absolutely right that at the time it wasn't apparent that the right response to norm violations was more norm violations. Obama hoped the fever would break after his re-election. Biden hopes that it will break after Trump is defeated. But we should be able to look at the recent past and learn from our mistakes. Obama's mistake was to rely on his popularity (which at the beginning of his presidency was immense) and his powers of persuasion (which he over-estimated). But right from the beginning of presidency he was unable to keep his promises and people noticed. He and Biden persuaded Arlen Specter to switch parties (thereby guaranteeing a filibuster proof majority in the Senate) but then were unable to help him win the Democratic primary. He sold the House Dems short on climate change legislation and squandered his majority by making them take a controversial vote for nothing. He lost clout in his own party, and generally. Presidents need to be able to govern, in part, by fear, at the very least to preserve the powers of the presidency in response to norm violations/unconstitutional acts.

This may be the sole instance where the question WWTD has some validity. He would put a hold on releasing any appropriations destined for Kentucky transport/pork projects until Mitch called a vote and then litigate the issue in the courts to avoid having to release the funding. You need to respond to norm violation by retaliation. Obama's failure to exert any kind of retaliation or penalty earlier in his administration for other norm violations (Boehner inviting Netanyahu to speak to Congress for example) empowered Mitch to do what he did. There's also the small matter of Obama starting out with 60 Senate seats and losing control of the Senate during his administration through ignoring/mismanaging the Democratic party throughout his administration.

Was Felurian skinny? Also the Kama Sutra bears little resemblance to Rothfuss' fantasy sexposition.

Visiting this space after a while and surprised the debate has shifted to Israel rather than upcoming general election. But q. for everyone in Blighty: what's the mood like? Is the GE still operating as a Leave v Remain or is it about other stuff?

Great review, Wert. I picked up this series on the basis of your review of Salvation and I wasn't disappointed by either volume. A handful of questions though:

Yup. This may just be a misremembering by Rothfuss or a homage. He also sets up a joke with "alements" IIRC.

I agree with this analysis but I wouldn't underestimate the power of Farage's popularity and campaigning skills. Modern media is a crucial battleground and he is very good on telly. Obviously the FPTP system and the close connection most MPs have with their constituencies will counter-balance this but I would expect the Brexit party to pick up a few seats at least.

Here's some optimism from Ian Dunt: https://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2019/10/29/election-2019-remainers-have-one-last-chance For what it's worth, I don't see a Remain alliance coming together. SNP/Lib Dems have fallen in with the government for party political reasons, not the national interest.

Is anyone reading Salvation Lost? I picked Salvation up after a good review by Wert and have thoroughly enjoyed both so far.

In large part, yes. The Daily Mail published these photos purely for the purpose of titillation. If this was a British citizen, they would have been bound by the ECHR right to respect for family life, But the worst of British journalism and American free-speech absolutism has led to her resignation.