I was watching This Week on the BBC last night, and Andrew Neil teased John Nicolson that the SNP had given up campaigning for Independence, and never mentioned it any more. I have known John since student days, and much respect him. He is a very professional man and put in a very professional performance on the show. He can be relied on, despite his arch asides, to follow a party line.
How did John reply to the charge that the SNP had stopped campaigning for Independence? Did he reply, “No Andrew, we remain fully committed to the goal of Independence and that is our number one priority.”?
No.
He said “we have to respect the decision of the electorate”, a line taken straight from Nicola Sturgeon.
The problem with this is that it is exactly the Blairite line. Liz Kendall argued in effect that the electorate voted Tory, so Labour have to be Red Tories to respect the electorate.
It is a trite phrase. Nobody would argue you should disrespect the electorate. But it then elides into a distortion. To respect the verdict of the electorate means to accept your loss on this occasion and the processes of the state proceed on that basis, without any attempt to subvert the democratic decision. It does NOT mean the losing side had to change its beliefs, go quiet, or stop campaigning ready for the next time.
Since the referendum I have spoken on many stages in favour of Independence across Scotland, under the aegis of a whole variety of organisations only a minority of which are anathema to the SNP. Yet it occurs to me that of all the distinguished people I have shared platforms with, I have not witnessed a single one of the SNP’s MPs argue for Independence. To my certain knowledge they have declined many invitations to do so.
The SNP instead is setting out its stall as a kinder and more efficient manager of the governmental institutions of Scotland within the UK. It is elevating managerialism into a cult. Forget Independence and admire John Swinney’s figures. This is reinforced by another managerialist subtext, “the only organised opposition at Westminster.” Opposing the Tories is undoubtedly a good thing. But all this is symptomatic of the SNP becoming over-comfortable within the governmental institutions of the United Kingdom. All the energy expended pointlessly on the glorified local council powers of the Scotland Act while our country is dragged into yet another neo-con war against the will of the Scottish people.
When the media were promoting a narrative of potential ill-behaviour by new SNP MP’s, Tommy Sheppard famously declared “We have not come to act up, but to settle up!” What precisely have the SNP MP’s done that showed a scintilla of desire to “settle up” and end the Union? Where are the Parnellite tactics? A more honest declaration would be:
“We have not come to settle up, but to settle in!”
John Nicolson was led on to discussing his prospects of re-election last night, in response to a joke about Michael Portillo’s defeat. Andrew Neil gently reminded him he was not meant to want to be in Westminster long term. I am willing to bet a million pounds with anybody that the SNP structure is already giving more thought to defending its Westminster seats than to ending the union before the next Westminster election. I think deep down everybody reading this will find they believe that too.
Leadership loyalists will respond with a) more managerialism – we run the country better blah blah blah – and b), the argument that the SNP has to entrench in power before trying again for independence and win trust by – more managerialism. Oh OK, that’s actually the same argument. They don’t have another one.
The problem with this is gravity. In politics no party remains at the heights of popularity forever. Events take their toll. I suspect that what Nicola agreed with Dave this week about extending the extreme surveillance state to Scotland will be a little wave of erosion once we get told of it. The SNP will, regardless of anything I think or write, sweep the Holyrood elections. But that will likely be the high point of their absolute dominance of Scottish politics.
Let me put it this way. It is definitely a possibility that the coming real domination of both MPs and MSPs will never happen again. If the SNP do not even try to use that dominance to deliver Independence, then what is the point of the SNP?
Oh sorry, I forgot. They manage the institutions better, and are an effective opposition at Westminster. That apparently is the point. But not what I joined for.
Turkish president Erdogan, must be pulling his hair out, for everytime he supplies Daesh with tanker trucks to ship back stolen Syrian oil to Turkey, Russian fighter jets blow them up.
Russian satellites have been tracking what Putin called a “living pipeline” which consists of hundreds of tankers trucks, from Syria to Turkey.
Erdogan claims that the oil that reaches Turkey is then destroyed, if you believe that, then you’ll also believe, that Santa comes down your chimney.
@DomesticExtremist
Exactly. The vote in the Ref was 45% YES and 55% NO, and if the SNP went on and on about Indy Ref 2, that’s what it would be next time – at most. In fact I’ve seen a few YES voters post that they wouldn’t vote in Indy Ref 2 if it was too soon, so it could be lower.
What’s needed instead of the insane “tractor” line, or NO voters being too stupid (thy’re not), is to find common ground, acknowledge that many people will (rightly) put themselves and their families first, and by that common ground work slowly and surely towards a confidence in people to vote YES.
And that’s clearly what the SNP’s game plan is. Currenly it’s about 50-50, and moving in the right direction.
“They say that Stalin died of a stroke.
People do, you know.”
_______________
Yes they do, they also say Lenin died due to a stroke, as for Stalin, they also say he was a good friend of Picasso.
I can see why Ken is disappearing. There appear to be some still playing Pink Floyd backwards to try to uncover more secret messages, and others badly in need of a detox and I don’t mean food.
Habbakuk: “People do, you know.”
Now now, RoS is helpfully educating us – aren’t you grateful to be treated to his great wisdom so generously (and regularly) here?
Do they have a trial of the facts even when the alleged protagonist has shuffled off, Janner style?
RoS
If I were a ConspiraLoon I’d say that Lenin – who was financed, as any reader here will recall, by certain financially powerful New York J***s (we have this on the authority of Mr Goss, no less) – was in fact eliminated, using poison, by that other financially powerful group of New Yorkers collectively known as the “Rockefellers”.
He was just the victim of a titanic battle between two rival groups of filthy capitalists!
I’m sure some nutter has written a whole book – or even books – on it. Perhaps one of our regulars could give us the title and author?
Glenn_uk
“Now now, RoS is helpfully educating us – aren’t you grateful to be treated to his great wisdom so generously (and regularly) here?”
_________________
I am and I do appreciate RoS greatly for his wisdom and guidance = but that is as nothing to my admiration for him as one of this blog’s greatest humorists. Unintended humorists, of course.
I’m not sure if this is Habba or Anon1…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSxuXQCEC7M
(Warning: children and Margaret Thatcher worshippers might find the above scene disturbing)
I Helped Create ISIS
By: Vincent Emanuele
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/I-Helped-Create-ISIS-20151218-0016.html
Glenn_uk
To be fair to RoS, I must say that you can on occasion rival him for sheer lunacy in your pronouncements.
One essential difference, however, is that those posts of RoS’s usually have their part of (unintended) humour (he’s a comic without knowing it), whereas those of yours do tend towards a certain greyness.
Well I must say it’s good to be appreciated, even if my fan club laughs at me instead of with me.
I could retort with some sort of condescending witticism, but hey it’s almost Christmas.
Habba, I could, if I want, post your IP addresses here, with a full trace on them.
Instead, and related, here’s a rather curious story that broke this week…
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/isis-twitter-accounts-tracked-back-to-department-of-work-and-pensions-a6775096.html
“If I were a ConspiraLoon I’d say that Lenin – who was financed, as any reader here will recall, by certain financially powerful New York J***s (we have this on the authority of Mr Goss, no less) – was in fact eliminated, using poison, by that other financially powerful group of New Yorkers collectively known as the “Rockefellers”.”
_________________
A rather pathetic attempt at poisoning the well.
If I let you away with that, I might as well let you deny Operation Gladio, or Operation Northwood.
Just goes to show, manipulative persons are easiest to manipulate. A nearly neutral assessment of Habbakuk’s modest intellect spurs more than a dozen lonely halloos into the void. Harness that frantic status anxiety and you could light up London.
The SNP has come to the same conclusion as the Scots generally. The prospect of independence, of actually taking responsibility for one’s own affairs, is an uncomfortable one. Avoiding any substantial change while getting paid to complain about how victimised you are is much more appealing.
Meanwhile the coalition backed Daesh and FSA, and not to offend anyone the “moderates” must be taking a right bashing in Syria, by Assad, Iranian, and Russian forces.
Twenty foreign ministers have gathered to try and arrange a ceasefire and hopefully broker peace. The UN Security Council is expected to adopt the proposal.
Hopefully the Western Zionist led coalition won’t steam roller Syria, and replace Assad with a kiss-ass puppet, that will allow the usual suspects to asset strip Syria, amongst other diabolical deeds.
The idea of Scotch independence within the EU and NATO is total silly bugger bollocks.
The EU is a driving force for global integration and the human rights agenda which trumps the right of national self determination.
The human rights agenda grants equal rights to everyone over your local affairs, which is to say, it grants every Syrian refugee or Islamic extremist the right to migrate to the Island of Bute, without regard for the wishes of the local population. And it grants every Indian, Esquimo, Pakistani and Australian aboriginal the right to migrate to Glasgow or Edinburgh, without regard for the wishes of the local population. Moreover, it grants anyone from anywhere the right to migrate to Glasgow or Edinburgh and agitate for Islamification, cannibalism, genital mutilation, head chopping, head-flattening, neck-stretching, poylygamy, and partial birth abortion, and the placing of bags over womens’ heads in the name of multiculturalism and inclusiveness.
Scotch separatism is a globalist scam driven by Soros agents and all the other NWO scum with the object of destroying the UK, a powerful geopolitical entity capable of preserving its own independence, while driving the Scots into total assimilation by the undemocratically governed European Union of which they will be among the most insignificant, ignored and ridiculous members.
Lord Palmerston
“The SNP has come to the same conclusion as the Scots generally. The prospect of independence, of actually taking responsibility for one’s own affairs, is an uncomfortable one. Avoiding any substantial change while getting paid to complain about how victimised you are is much more appealing.”
I think you have reached and understood the crux of the issue there.
Now that Lord Janner has sadly passed away I think certain people who were so insistent that his dementia diagnosis wasn’t genuine have apologies to make.
RobG
19 Dec, 2015 – 6:16 pm
I Helped Create ISIS
By: Vincent Emanuele
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/I-Helped-Create-ISIS-20151218-0016.html
______________
Thank you for posting that link, Rob.
This, guys, is essential reading. Consider it as good as a post from Craig and lets understand what is being said.
And what is being said is far deeper and wider than just ‘War is brutal’. Which it is, but that sounds like a cliche when you read this.
This one single article is worth a million of the blinkered Mary’s million posts.
The US of A is the most violent nation on earth.
For God’s sake Stop each and every fucking War and NO MORE WAR.
The hopeless Type Zero Civilisation we are. And you, who call yourself a human being are nothing more than clueless medieval man. Life is sacred but what a petty little affair we have made of it.
And, whatever your reason, you don’t look into who we are, God forsaken fools.
_________
Just look at all the shit that passes for comments here. Where is there Intelligence/Wisdom?
Excuse me, do people die of dementia? I am willing to be educated by a fervent J * * supporter.
What is so sad about a pervert biting the dust?
What has “dementia”* has to do with his death? That is if the old bastard indeed is dead and not another one of Kenny boy Lay burial is underway?
Your loyalties to the tribe and all that may have dulled your sense that somehow does not mean the rest of the world is addled brain and stupid as your goodself!
*Unless you are contending that the old kiddy fiddler and director of etc. forgot to breath and holding his dementia responsibility for that eventuality.
Thanks Fedup, I hadn’t noticed the word ‘sadly’ deliberately inserted by the Bitchy Troll.
“Now that Lord Janner has sadly passed away I think certain people who were so insistent that his dementia diagnosis wasn’t genuine have apologies to make.”
____________
Try telling your shit to a victim.
What goes around comes around
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/lord-janner-criticised-justice-system-for-excusing-alleged-nazi-war-criminal-who-had-dementia-but-10183717.html
No bullshit RoP report today, someones slipping.
“The human rights agenda grants equal rights to everyone over your local affairs, which is to say, it grants every Syrian refugee or Islamic extremist the right to migrate to the Island of Bute, without regard for the wishes of the local population.”
We haven’t time to be bothering with middle eastern families with nowhere to stay for the night it’s Christmas.
When they come to arrest you – and don’t think they won’t. You may have done absolutely nothing wrong, be completely innocent…just maybe isolated and alone in the wrong place at the wrong time (or even the right time)….you have several choices.
1. Run…if you are very fast.
2. Stand Still – Face Them – and Say I have Done Nothing Wrong..why are you arresting me?
3. Stand Still and Tell Them To Fuck Off.
It doesn’t matter if you are 15, or 65
If all your Family and Friends have run off, or you were just alone, and don’t have any Family or Friends…then you are in big trouble..Just another victim in jail.
Who is going to Release You? A witness…who you didn’t know..who bravely comes forward and says The Truth – don’t bank on that…chances are you are screwed.
They let me go – 3 times I made the right choice.
We live in a Fascist Police State….so be nice to the police.
They have got a crap job too..and would rather arrest a criminal…but they’ve got their job sheets to complete..and need enough ticks in the box (arrests) to get Their Christmas Bonus.
Tony
Alcyone, if interested you can find a speech, given a few years back, by Iraq war veteran Vincent Emanuele here…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeywFJ8sXoY
“We haven’t time to be bothering with middle eastern families with nowhere to stay for the night it’s Christmas.”
____________________
Millions of families have been made homeless by the self appointed emperors going by the name of Nato or the UN. They go where they please and do what they want. They decide who possess what weapons and which state need a regime change.
Their lingua franca is money and they use their finanicial establishments such as the IMF and World Bank to break a countries economy.
The US are the main agitators, swanning around the globe causing mayhem in order to prop up their currency and economy. The UN is complict, and basing it’s headquarters in New York, that does it no favours.
Your beloved Westminster government has backed the US in many invasions in the Middle East from Iraq to Libya, and now Syria, which has created millions of refugees. The UN killed more people in Iraq with its sanctions, than the coalition forces put together.
Nato and the UN are also complict, and indeed turn a blind eye to the plight of the Palestinian people at the hands of an occupying force. I see no Nato country declare war on Israel, as the likes of Britain did when Hitler occupied Poland.
The UN and Nato are a sham they’re effectively just a group of nations bullying and hectoring smaller nations for profit. In the process they create countless orphans and refugees. In days gone by it would’ve been dubbed an extortion racket.