Nationalist bunkum hype in Scotland

Nationalist bunkum hype in Scotland

Everyone seems to be jumping on the bandwagon at present on tv, political debates and so on about the "rise of the SNP" in the forthcoming Scottish Parliament Elections in May. This rise and fall of the SNP is as regular as the sun coming up

The pundits tell us that the Scottish National Party may be the largest party in the chamber ousting Labour to second place. The SNP claim if that happens they will then put a referendum to the people about independence.And so? This is political waffle.

The Labour crowd could only form a government at present with a coalition using the Liberal Democrats(3rd place behind the Conservatives). The SNP would never get the chance to get a plebiscite through the parliament in Edinburgh because the Conservatives are deeply Unionist, Labour won't support it and neither will the Liberal-Democrats. Even the support of the handful of Greens or SSP will mean nothing. So the others will simply vote it down and the SNP will not have aenough to get anywhere.

We have heard all this before of course. "Scotland Free in '93" an so on. It's one big yawn.

Anyway polls in Scotland also show that at least half the population are not impressed by what goes on in Edinburgh. The same crowd of second rate politicians would still be there if we were independent so it's all a lot of great yak created to get viewers and circulation.

I along with a legion of Scots will go out and vote for one of the "Unionist" parties because they will still outvote the SNP - always.

Scotland will remain British......

Originally posted by string:

So dissolution of Britain is dissolution of my country, not the reversal of some unimportant treaty. Yes Scotland would survive, but be porer for it, as would England, and I would have lost my nationality.

I don't think Scotland would be significantly better off, nor significantly worse off, in the case of a separation, nor do I think the Scot-free UK would be. The difference would be small enough that I wouldn't see the advantage, on the other hand it is also fairly simple and risk-free. Unless Mel Gibson were to start an irregular army there is no risk of a civil war, nor would there be implicit conflicts to plague the two countries for years to come, the border for instance is fairly much settled. The divorce might be burdensome, but it will be bureacratic, which is the best form of suffering. Of course all this is pure and idle speculation, the only way to know for sure would be to make it happen, which isn't too likely.

Many Czechs were bewildered by becoming Czechs and not Czechoslovaks as they used to consider themselves, but they got over it eventually.

Originally posted by string:

On coffee - I have mentioned this before on these forums, but not in the present company I think.My (Danish) father-in-law once confided in me his recipe for a good coffee.

Step 1: You put a small coin into a cup and you pour coffee carefully in until you can't see the coin.
Step 2: Then you pour in snaps, not too carefully,until you can see the coin again.

Ah, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karsk">karsk</a>.

Originally posted by jax:

Ah, karsk.

Hilarious. I like this particularly:

A common saying about karsk is that it is made it by placing a coin at the bottom of a cup, then pouring coffee until the coin can no longer be seen, and then adding moonshine until the coin is yet again visible. Some variations also include that moonshine is added until the coin dissolves. A common joke goes "You put a coin on the table. Then you drink moonshine until you can't see it, then you drink coffee until you can see it."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/oct/10/scottish-independence-social-union

Scotland is closer to independence now than at any stage since the Treaty of Union in 1707. Together with a growing number of people in Scotland, I welcome this development as genuinely exciting and look forward to the benefits of self-government with enthusiasm.

Oh the Guardian that wonderful beacon of mush. Opinion polls are of course whatever one consituency of opinion wants or doesn't want. If the polll for independence goes up then the Guardian willsmugly think that is it. However the general feeling is that the main opposition party, Labour has been doing a bad job so the rise of the SNP. However I would remind that when in tomces to National UK Elections where IS the SNP? At the last General Election that arrogant, cocky Salmond told us to expect a raft of SNP gains. I am still wondering what happened then? They only have a small clutch of seats. Scots get sentimental about well, Scotland. Even a roadside car-wash facility stuck a St Andrew's saltire up to fuel that mawkishness.

The SNP can get away with much in the Scots Parliament but when you watch the tv proceedings you would be better watching a re-run of Dallas. The Edinburgh Parliament is full of second raters and ex-Councillors. Polls have also indicated that most Scots who bleat about their granny's hame don't even take much interest in the local parliament by all accounts. Alex Salmond has went out of his way to create friction with Westminster so he can boast "see the way Scotland is treated?". You would think they own the flag and country but they don't. He led them years ago into a Genral UK Election saying "Scotland free by 83". They just keep changing the year. It's a bit like US Republicans thinking anyone outside of their corner is a traitor! Salmond is also delaying the referendum as long as he can and use things like the Commonwealth Games and anything else he can get close to as a boost. So I couldn't care much about Holywood (Local Parliament) it is the National Elections that are the key.

The SNP can do well in local politics but they have failed to break thorugh where it counts. Many Scots voted SNP because they weren't extreme but sneakily adopted a populist stance. Somehow it thinks that if we were independent we would not suffer the international banking criss. How daft is that one? Two of Scotland's main banks are wrapped up in that one! You don't hear them using Ireland as a benchmark now as they used to. For my money the majority of Scots don't want independence and what the other parties have to do is have leaders who are more strident in the Union. Iwas one fo the 20% of Scots who voted against a Scots parliament because it has been an expensive taking shop, cushy salaries and perks as i expected.

Me? A proud Scot but also proud to be British and I will go to my grave with the Union Flag on the box!

Scotland will remain in the Union.

Originally posted by rjhowie:

Me? A proud Scot but also proud to be British and I will go to my grave with the Union Flag on the box!

Soon? what a relief...

Originally posted by rjhowie:

Me? A proud Scot but also proud to be British...

Originally posted by Belfrager:

Originally posted by rjhowie:

Me? A proud Scot but also proud to be British and I will go to my grave with the Union Flag on the box!

Soon? what a relief...

Not nice, sir.

Originally posted by jbrothernew37:

Not nice, sir.

Don't worry, the dead will rise from the grave and speak for him...

Originally posted by Belfrager:

Originally posted by rjhowie:

Me? A proud Scot but also proud to be British and I will go to my grave with the Union Flag on the box!

Soon? what a relief...

i'm sure a few female admirers of great rj would want your head for that!

Originally posted by johnogaziechi:

i'm sure a few female admirers of great rj would want your head for that!

You are correct, sir. Why, Howie's contingent of female admirers grows by the day. The man can't walk down the street without all the women stopping to admire him!

Thanks for your commentary, rjhowie.

Originally posted by Sanguinemoon:

The man can't walk down the street without all the women stopping to admire him!

Yes, amazing things happens in virtual reality... dreamland... Scotland...

Originally posted by Sanguinemoon:

You are correct, sir. Why, Howie's contingent of female admirers grows by the day. The man can't walk down the street without all the women stopping to admire him!

Thats because of the kilts, the ladies just can't get enough of 'em.

Well I'd hardly want the flag of johnogaziechi's practising-to-be-a-failed-State would I? Heavens if we had left them as they were in the old days they would still be dancing about in their leafy min-skirts as a kilt alternative or boiling each other in pots. Or Portugal - where's that? (assuming it doesn't vanish soon in a weleter of debt and handouts) or lapses back into it's traditional one-party rule?. Doubt if many could identify it's flag unlike mine. And anyway I have no intention of letting you lot off for a time to come so you can self conratulate your wonderful self-assessments and would-be intelligence!

It also sems that there is a brain-dead memory situ here as I requre to remind the hoi-polloi who post here that I NOT Highland. That my ancestors fought against the kilts and Jacobites and proud of that (and that Glasgow to a man were the same). So instead of noting my detailed submission the lessers club together to go on satirical bents because what I say is beyond their grey cells. I make an exception - Frenzie did note that I fully answered the Scottish situation. Rumble on as I have no intention of going anywhere and when I do the flag is ready and a really good marching flute band to lead the procession with my lodge as guard of honour. You lot will go off and no-one will know the difference! As for women you lot should wear green. On Monday I take a long time admirer out for lunch ad a day trip and on Wednesday a young women who thinks I am cuddly material. I accept my role in life no matter the envy!

Originally posted by rjhowie:

Or Portugal - where's that? (assuming it doesn't vanish soon in a weleter of debt and handouts)

Says the non-existent country, waiters of English masters... and desperately desiring to keep on serve them...

Ho ho. That's funny coming from a wee backwater that is in the shadow of Spain. The Scots were such good administrators they ran the Empire. You've got to depend on other countries viz the EU to keep you afloat so the EU is your master boyo!

Originally posted by rjhowie:

Ho ho. That's funny coming from a wee backwater that is in the shadow of Spain.

Ho ho. That's funny coming from a wee backwater that is in the shadow of England.

Originally posted by rjhowie:

The Scots were such good administrators they ran the Empire.

And where is that empire now?

And where is America that beacon of freedom, democracy, rights and a good life Macallan? Full of corporate power, greed, homelessness, hypocrisy, mass unemployment, caused international momentary fiasco, people always having to fight for rights enshrined in that bit of paper called a Constitution. If any country doesn't like America it will be infiltrated or laid siege to or invaded. You lot are so much a bunch of frightened jellies you have bases everywhere to "protect America". Ralk about always scoring an own goal?! And in another direction when you look at Scots who travelled just look how many of them became Presidents or as Scots or Scots-Ulster. Hell we even had to help you lot.

Originally posted by rjhowie:

And where is America that beacon of freedom, democracy, rights and a good life Macallan? Full of corporate power, greed, homelessness, hypocrisy, mass unemployment, caused international momentary fiasco, people always having to fight for rights enshrined in that bit of paper called a Constitution. If any country doesn't like America it will be infiltrated or laid siege to or invaded. You lot are so much a bunch of frightened jellies you have bases everywhere to "protect America". Ralk about always scoring an own goal?! And in another direction when you look at Scots who travelled just look how many of them became Presidents or as Scots or Scots-Ulster. Hell we even had to help you lot.

You mean scots turned america into the corrupt corporate kleptocracy you keep bitching about?

Originally posted by Macallan:

Originally posted by rjhowie:

And where is America that beacon of freedom, democracy, rights and a good life Macallan? Full of corporate power, greed, homelessness, hypocrisy, mass unemployment, caused international momentary fiasco, people always having to fight for rights enshrined in that bit of paper called a Constitution. If any country doesn't like America it will be infiltrated or laid siege to or invaded. You lot are so much a bunch of frightened jellies you have bases everywhere to "protect America". Ralk about always scoring an own goal?! And in another direction when you look at Scots who travelled just look how many of them became Presidents or as Scots or Scots-Ulster. Hell we even had to help you lot.

You mean scots turned america into the corrupt corporate kleptocracy you keep bitching about?

Well, somebody had to do it. You don't think we coulda managed that by ourselves, do you?

Now you really are like a blinkered carthorse on this one mjsmsprt37! Considering that it was much of the Irish who created the corruption and that includes Chicago. There was often friction between Italian and Irish gangsterism in the States. Just look at any big population centre with a history of Irish extraction and look at it's history in that negative sphere inclduing police departments. And wasn't it Cardinal Cody of Chicago who was suspended by the Pope before John Paul for dodgy stuff and control (and to be investigated)? And when that Pope died rather suddenly within about 6 weeks or so there was Cody waiting for John Paul with a wee box and a financial present as his investigation had been halted. Scots Presbyterian gangs? Nope. No such tradition, we got on with progress, building and giving you Presidents. Many of the inventions we all take for granted these days like phones, tv, metalled roads and much more were from Scots and Scots immigrants. Not a constructive world where you can find a great list of such from the Irish tradition.

Originally posted by mjmsprt40:

Originally posted by Macallan:

Originally posted by rjhowie:

And where is America that beacon of freedom, democracy, rights and a good life Macallan? Full of corporate power, greed, homelessness, hypocrisy, mass unemployment, caused international momentary fiasco, people always having to fight for rights enshrined in that bit of paper called a Constitution. If any country doesn't like America it will be infiltrated or laid siege to or invaded. You lot are so much a bunch of frightened jellies you have bases everywhere to "protect America". Ralk about always scoring an own goal?! And in another direction when you look at Scots who travelled just look how many of them became Presidents or as Scots or Scots-Ulster. Hell we even had to help you lot.

You mean scots turned america into the corrupt corporate kleptocracy you keep bitching about?

Well, somebody had to do it. You don't think we coulda managed that by ourselves, do you?

Now it all makes sense. I bet those dastardly scots are also responsible for the CIA, NSA and HAARP
When was the last time scotland was hit by an earthquake?
See what I mean...

We were builders with Prebyterian honesty where we went. Unfortunately you lot couldn't be too fazed with that and along with the fighting and oft corrupt Irish (history of many big city police corruptions) went off in a greedy path. Odd the cities were essentially better places beflre the Irish mobs descended. And as for Scotland not getting earthquakes I reckon you lot get so many tornadoes for being such a let-down after the Revolution. Deserved punisment mind you.

Originally posted by rjhowie:

Hell we even had to help you lot.

I was young, but I seem to recall that...it was called WWII, wasn't it? God save "we"!

Yeah but like WW1 you took your damn time.

Scot Free: Is Scotland's Independence from the U.K. Inevitable?

What would an independent Scotland look like? Alex Salmond, Scotland's nationalist First Minister, sits in the formal reception room at his official residence, Bute House in Edinburgh, and quickly recites his list.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2098598,00.html

Salmon peddles the idea that Scotland is "ruled by the English" aka "ruled by London". Unfortunately many have swallowed that nonsense, including non Brits who at least can be excused their ignorance. Scotland has not been a "colony" of England, it is a true Union. In that context, Salmon is nothing less than a traitor to the UK.

That is the case string. Salmond (not Salmon though he is fishy) is arrogant, self-opiniated, and so full of himself. If you aren't SNP he makes that out to you being almost non-Scottish or some kind of betrayer. It is high time the Unionist parties took him by the jugular. On the rare occasions I watch that joke of a parliament in Edinburgh on tv he is there so cock sure of himself and do you know what he never like the others ever addresses the speaker.

Somehow if we were independent we would ride out the economic waves surfing the world. Now how damn stupid is that. He is for the Euro but would have a referendum. And bang up to date the hypocrisy of the Nationalists has been brough into the open. The SNP government gives grants to various religious groups amongst others especially if community operating. Since 2007 it has given £1,200,000 to Muslim groups and foundations. Compare this to only £147,814 to Christian ones. Given that 65% of the population regard themselves as Christian and the Muslims are only 1% it is a bit out of kilter. Even the homosexuals who make up just over 1% get 10 times the Christians who attend church in hundreds of thousands. Even more telling is that for the last years the SNP has been courting the Muslim vote and their grandees attending Muslim dinners along with drumming up support. The leader of one Muslim foundation that received big money just happened to be an SNP candidate at the last election. Salmond's number 2 also happens to represent a Muslim are of Glasgow.

So while it accuse others of hypocrisy it overlooks it's own. When it was challenged on these financial figures the only answer got was that they helped all religious groups workig in the community. That is obviously not the answer for an imbalanced misuse of publim money that cannot be justified. Several years ago it was th RC vote he was after. bu he fell foul of Kid Salmond who got roasted by that Churches heirachy, One wonders who next/

Now he isa trying to fiddle wording for a refernedum and miscalled a professor in Cambridge University. Salmond wanted 3 questions and said this man agreed but the man came out anf was abit pout that his name was drawn in and that it was a downright lie. The expert was advising a simple two choice "yes" or "no".Hints were aksi made about sharingt he cost of militarywith the UK government in a seperated section! How;s that one for trying to jump on the back of the English to pay for Scots defence?!

Originally posted by Frenzie:

Scot Free: Is Scotland's Independence from the U.K. Inevitable?

I doubt it. Northern Ireland joining the Republic at some point is, though.

I don't think that Scotland will be independent. Many will vote SNP as a local protest and the incompetence lately of the main opposition. But just look what happened to the SNP at the UK Elections last year. Nowhere.

As for that distraction about N. Ireland (wish on) that isn't going to happen either. Demographics have been changing.

And now the latest opion poll caried out by TNS BRMD on the issue is interesting.

The long argument has been that the SNP will always have a rough band of 28 to 30% at most. The poll gave 28% for independence. Further to that more powers (which I don''t happen to like) is 33% and those wanting the Parliament to remain as it is is 29%. So that yakker and arrogant sjow-off Salmond has a problem on his hands. He is trying to talk his way to independence when other things show there is a difference on the ground. By the time he gets round to the Referendum he will have bored the majority to death.

Hism latest ploy is a clebration of the 700 years since the Battle of Bannockburn in 2014. I could almost lay bets he will try to jump on that bandwagon as he is going to spend money on that one. Now don't get me worng Bannockburn was a brillaint defeat of the English Army that was bigger and had lots going for it but as would say locally the King Edward got "his melt knocked in" by Robert the Bruce. They were routed. I don't mind a celebration but I sure as H don't want the Scottish Nose Pickers hijacking that for devious ends.

Originally posted by rjhowie:

Hism latest ploy is a clebration of the 700 years since the Battle of Bannockburn in 2014.

Now that does sound silly. "We had a battle against the English 700 years ago, so, uh, we should be independent or whatever." British politics

Originally posted by Sanguinemoon:

Originally posted by rjhowie:

Hism latest ploy is a clebration of the 700 years since the Battle of Bannockburn in 2014.

Now that does sound silly. "We had a battle against the English 700 years ago, so, uh, we should be independent or whatever." British politics

Yup - mind you many do that sort of thing, like invoking the magic words "Tea Party"; there's nothing like lateral associations to stop people thinking about the actual issue.

Originally posted by rjhowie:

Yeah but like WW1 you took your damn time.

Unlike some, we hate to interfere.


Hmmmmm...wonder who that could could be.

We didn't interfere most were of no consequence until we arrived and un-civilised. Thanks for reminding me of the greatness of it all. At least we have a Commonwealth to show for it wheras what has your empire got to it's credit? Your PR has went downhill over the decades because you keep having one war after another and you are losing friends all the time. Small wonder you are like Rome falling apart from within. You cannot afford an empire so give it up. In hindsight that probably won't happen because your too full of yourselves and see the world as your fiefdom. We laid down much good. Compare that to yours. Corrupt, a warmonger continually, destabiliser et al.

You'd never know it from RJ's rants, but the truth is the average American is incredibly isolationist. It's a fact. Given our 'druthers, we'd pull up the drawbridge and tell the rest of the world to figure it out for themselves. Jaybro isn't the only one expressing those kind of feelings, he's just the most vocal about it here on this forum. Given the thanks we get from the rest of the world-- pulling up the drawbridge seems to be the right idea. Oh, yes, while we're at it-- stock the moat with piranha too.

Now if only we could get our fearless leaders to sign on to a more isolationist model.

Originally posted by rjhowie:

We didn't interfere most were of no consequence until we arrived and un-civilised.

Your lot arrived and un-civilized them? Now that explains a lot

Originally posted by rjhowie:

We didn't interfere most were of no consequence until we arrived and un-civilised. Thanks for reminding me of the greatness of it all. At least we have a Commonwealth to show for it wheras what has your empire got to it's credit?

Well, Scots aren't speaking German, for one.

Your PR has went downhill over the decades because you keep having one war after another and you are losing friends all the time.

People have friends; nations don't.

Small wonder you are like Rome falling apart from within.

Things are just fine in Grand Rapids.

You cannot afford an empire so give it up. In hindsight that probably won't happen because your (you're) too full of yourselves and see the world as your fiefdom. We laid down much good*. Compare that to yours. Corrupt, a warmonger continually, destabiliser et al.

You do go on, don't you?

* obviously, "good" is in the mind of the fabulist

Originally posted by jbrothernew37:

Originally posted by rjhowie:

We didn't interfere most were of no consequence until we arrived and un-civilised. (Say what?) Thanks for reminding me of the greatness of it all. At least we have a Commonwealth to show for it wheras what has your empire got to it's credit?

Well, Scots aren't speaking German, for one.

Your PR has went downhill over the decades because you keep having one war after another and you are losing friends all the time.

People have friends; nations don't.

Small wonder you are like Rome falling apart from within.

Things are just fine in Grand Rapids.

You cannot afford an empire so give it up. In hindsight that probably won't happen because your (you're) too full of yourselves and see the world as your fiefdom. We laid down much good*. Compare that to yours. Corrupt, a warmonger continually, destabiliser et al.

You do go on, don't you?

* obviously, "good" is in the mind of the fabulist

Oh I do go on Jaybro as your country is up to it's ears in hypocrisy in the realms of rights, freedoms, democracy, economics. There is so much to feed on and now many are realising what the more wide minded and more knowledgeable outside it's borders have seen for years! More of you need to travel more ...to the outside and see what the world sees.

Welcome to the club, sir.

For Old Times' Sake: Iranians Briefly Sack the Embassy of Their Once and Future Satan—Britain
Read more: http://globalspin.blogs.time.com/2011/11/29/for-old-times-sake-iranians-briefly-sack-the-embassy-of-their-once-and-future-satan-britain/#ixzz1fAqqRVGp

On Tuesday, a mob overran the red brick compound on Ferdowzi Avenue that contains the Embassy of Great Britain, shattering windows, burning the Union Jack and fluttering documents out the windows. Iranian state television carried the episode live. Riot police who stood by as the students clambered over the nine-foot walls could be seen rushing to help the intruders ease themselves over on their way back.

Poop happens and the Empire goes ***POOF***

Could have been worse old boy. We can remember the fiasco your empire made of trying to rescue diplomats and using either a wonky helicopter or pilot (or both!) when your embassy was a free-for-all.. Dragged on for ages. Meanwhile we have immediately shut the nutters embassy down. And as for the world's greatest empire going "poof" hope you get snowed in!

What's going on over there?

New research for the IPPR think tank shows that 79% of English voters want Scottish MPs excluded from votes on English-only laws. In a poll published at the weekend by the Sunday Telegraph, ICM found 49% of its English respondents wanted an English parliament, with similar powers to those enjoyed by the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh (with the proportion rising to 58% among those aged over 65). English voters were also slightly keener on Scottish independence than Scottish voters, the same poll showed (though once the margin of error is taken into account, the result was more of a dead heat).

There is what is famously known here as the "west Lothian question Jaybro as it was brought up by Tam Dalziel then the MP from there. He didn't think it was quite right that Scots MP's should be legislating in the UK Parliament for questions that were purely English when English MP's couldn't do likewise with Scotland. Others argued that was more or les tough luck on the English.Big-head and ego maniac, Alex Salmond and his wee sidekick Nichola Sturgeon are both on record as saying that if they got the majority in the Scots Parliament they would bring forward a referendum on the detaching issue. No probs with that however they both said let's have it right away. Their policies at the election didn't say it would be late on in the session and they are doing it deliberately kept to 20114 due to those Commowealth Games in Glasgow and the anniversay of the Battle of Bannockburn. There are Brigadoons up here who will fall for that but I don't see the SNP getting 51%.

Originally posted by Sanguinemoon:

Originally posted by Frenzie:

Scot Free: Is Scotland's Independence from the U.K. Inevitable?

I doubt it. Northern Ireland joining the Republic at some point is, though.

You'd have to convince most of the Protestants & Loyalists who live in Northern Ireland first though. I can't see the sectarian problems there going away in this century. Scottish independence is an inevitability. Next, I think England north of the Watford Gap should become independent.

Originally posted by jbrothernew37:

New research for the IPPR think tank shows that 79% of English voters want Scottish MPs excluded from votes on English-only laws.

I'd wager it was nearer 99%.

Originally posted by rjhowie:

Make sure you don't sleep through independence Howie.

Thank you for your advice bighead.