Comment posted Current council coalition seeks to impose future political management by newsroom.
Now that’s a thought. It might have to be a masked ball or, more modestly, a hoodie do.
Recent comments by newsroom
- SNP meeting on Monday may be testing time for mega-coalition proposal
We’re not going to do a ’20 questions’ routine but, to let local politicians off the hook, it’s not any of them.
And we’re now taking a vow of silence. - First Minister’s choice not to condemn mob behaviour proves Farage point
Criticising behaviour – like Nimbyism [a worthy target], should not necessarily require tying it to a party or a group, although if there is good evidence why it belongs there, there is every reason to relate the two.
When you say: ‘Only in a very small number of occasions would I condone taking protest to the point of physical intimidation and I reserve that to some of the most significant ‘upheavals’ in modern times (examples being the fight against apartheid and the civil rights movement in the US) – even then there would be a line I, personally, couldn’t step over.’ – this is wholly understandable but using violence to protest against it is contradictory. I can never get playwright John Arden’s line out my head on this one: ‘You can’t cure the pox by further whoring.’
Civil disobedience is a very attractive and effective expression of disaffection but people are quite resistant to considering it.
Lynda - Arctic Convoy navies celebrated at Loch Ewe as surviving veterans receive Arctic Star medal
Email Jacky Brookes of the Russian Arctic Convoy Museum in Wester Ross: info@russianarcticconvoymuseum.co.uk (Russian Arctic Convoy Museum)
She will be glad to hear from you and of your father.
If you go to this webpage: http://www.veterans-uk.info/arctic_star_index.htm
- you will find an Application Form for the Arctic Star on it.
Alternatively, you can phone: 08457 800 900 and take it from there.
You will be able to get a posthumous medal for your father for his Arctic Convoy service – and although, painfully, he will never have known of it or seen it, he earned it and the medal will be very important to your family. - First Minister’s choice not to condemn mob behaviour proves Farage point
We have people in Community Councils in Argyll who are on the record as not wanting ‘people of low incomes’ in their area. And those will be people of a variety of political persuasions. The socialist NIMBY is not a rare bird.
It is unsafe to give representational status to the fringe adherents of any cause – and that is why the cause itself – any cause – must be clear about what it finds acceptable and what it does not.
The need for the formal, official representative of a country to be clear on matters like this is even greater – and it sets the bar.
How would Mr Salmond react to the same treatment the mob offered Mr Farage in Edinburgh?
It was sudden and unexpected.
It began with an invasion of the pub he was in.
It was intimidating – the mob crowded tight in, creating a real pressure.
The shouting and the abuse was literally ‘in his face’.
There was no way through nor any offered.
It would be surprising if the First Minister were not to feel equally shaken by such an experience – and very surprising if he had effectively condoned it as gleefully afterwards.
Personally, I’m not afraid of much – but the pressure of shouting bodies, the level of unreason, the aggression – with no signals that this might not turn to physical aggression… I wouldn’t have run but I would have been worried for my safety and I would have had no certainty as to the outcome.
The police clearly had reason to take a quite extraordinary series of measures to protect Mr Farage.
One of these was locking him in a pub for his own safety.
That meant that they were uncertain of their ability to protect him against a violence they, who were present – clearly felt was a potential development.
I feel – on good evidence – that Tony Blair did more damage than anyone to the political life of this country, to its expectation of honesty in those who govern, to its essential democracy and to its security – and that he has blood on his hands: of untold thousands of innocent Iraqis, of Dr David Kelly, of those who died in London in the bombings of 7th July 2005. I feel the most profound contempt for him.[And Nigel Farage has nothing of this level of gravity on his record.]
But I would act to protect Blair were he to be the butt of anything like this – because I do not wish to be implicated either in what he has done or in any primitive lynch mob response to it.
The best punishment for the attention-seeking and egotistical Blair is to pay him no attention. He is not an homme serieux.
The best response to UKIP and MR Farage, if you are opposed to their politics, is not to vote for them.
Lynda - Walsh to lead all but Lib Dems, Conservatives and George Freeman
No – not speculation – otherwise we would have said so.
But this is not a done deal.
It has to go for approval to an SNP meeting tomorrow [Monday].
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I smell blood…
WONDERFUL!!!
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Crazy She-Vampire-Bat!
Last days in the bunker moving the non-existent divisions around. Only four days now until the good guys tanks are parked on the castle lawn. I wonder if they will find any interesting skeletons in the ruins of the doomed Administration?
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Not so much a question of “if” Dougie, more a question of “how many” hehehe
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Reminds me of ‘the Grand Old Duke of York’ – an army that’s marched up a hill can get marched down again – particularly if the Grand Old Duke of York is no longer in command of the troops.
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I’m not familiar enough with some of the procedural stuff relating to this story – how can the current Administration tie the hands of the new one? If they vote now to ‘recommend’ the retention of the Executive Committee, can a new ruling group not simply ignore the recommendation after the election, if they want to?
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So, the Council pass a motion recommending (ie not binding) a structure to the incoming council and Newsie spins it “which tries to imposes the status quo ” and starts foaming at the mooth again.
There is no story.
Settle down dears – still 3 days to go….
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So why d’you think Dick Walsh pushed through his amendment spiking what seems to a very rational proposal, Simon?
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They might have been better employed checking on the lifeboats.
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Tim !!! I’ve told you before – stop thinking for yourself!!!
Jist rage against the cooncil!!!
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Robert, given that “the Executive had set up [the Short Life Working Group]* to review the matter of political management arrangements” it seems only reasonable that the Council comes to a decision on the matter before it is dissolved.
An incoming Council of whatever hue need of course take no notice of the recommendation – regardless of the nonsense spin Newsie tries to put on it. But by ensuring the Council voted on it Cllr Walsh was ensuring also that his admistration concluded on a bit of business that it had set up.
Everything else about this story is just so much froth and some who should know better are getting their knickers in a twist over nothing at all other than Newsie’s over-wrought and cooncil-conspiracy-ridden imagination..
Hope that helps
* my brackets
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Simon, I find myself in the odd position of thanking you for answering my question. I will try not to let it happen again
Are you feeling nervous about the future?
Have a nice evening!
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Tim, why would I be nervous mate? I’m not employed by the Council, I’m not a councillor, not standing for election nor a member of a political party. What have I got to be nervous about?
It’s those who are making fairly rash predictions and stupid promises that are nervous and they might yet end up with egg on their faces. And post-election I guarantee Neurotic Newsie will either a) be praising the electorate for their good sense or b)dammning them for their stupidity….
I will have a good evening thanks Tim – you too
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The motion to continue meets all of Simon’s points about concluding a piece of business. So why should Cllr Walsh and his Coalition feel any amendment necessary.
It was just infantile politics for the Trinity knew that no opposition member could recommend the proposals to any future administration.
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James is right. This was just petty and a waste of everyone’s time. The paper should have never been submitted as an agenda item.
What the Council should have been doing (as others have) is pulling together some different models of governance delivery and then presenting these options to the administration (whatever its make up) after the election.
This is the stuff of school playgrounds.
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“Tim, why would I be nervous mate? I’m not employed by the Council, I’m not a councillor, not standing for election nor a member of a political party.” – Simon
Well if thats the case, bearing in mind all the inside info you have, begs me to ask, are you Sally bin Loudon’s husband then?
I asked before and now I hope you have had a chance to read through the snash from the candidates, so who are you voting for?
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James, ‘infantile’ is being unable to muster enough votes to win a vote and then whining about it afterwards.
Have you thought that mibbie Tricky did it – just because he could??
CSB – don’t be a silly-crazy – no. As to who I shall vote for – well having read various leaflets, party pamplets (including absolute tripe from one candidate) and listend bored out my skull to a snp advocate – I shall be voting Independent.
And you??
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Hmmmm, not Sally’s husband… are you actually a bloke? Stranger things have happened lol
Postal vote already away, I voted for:
1. An INDEPENDENT Independent
2. An INDEPENDENT Independent
3, 4, 5, 6 – can’t remember the exact order
7. Danny Kelly
Anyone but Danny
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If the ‘Gay girl in Damascus’ blogger was a ‘mature’ American post-graduate student in Edinburgh, ‘Simon’ could be just about anything.
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But probably not a gay female, American post graduate student in Damascus. For starters “Simon” is rarely mature.
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Gawd you lot are obesssed. Robert you’ve cracked the Damascus gay female one before and trust me it wasn’t near funny the first time either.
“doc” predicatable as ever – trying to make a funny – but obviously that operation he had was a humour by-pass.
Crazy-living up to her name as per…
Still, ah know you’re all excited! Not long to go now – but calm down dears (honestly it’s just like talking to the kids before Christmas….
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csb. that’s brilliant. get the snp to save your school then ignore them at the election. lol!
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Coracle – maybe there is no SNP candidate in Crazy’s area…..
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snp clainm at least one candidate in each ward – are they telling porky pies.
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Simon is wrong. Ken Smith is standing for the SNP in the Lomond North ward.
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Got a lovely leaflet through from Ken Smith last night. He might be third on my list (can’t remember).
Coracle – I’ve said it again and again – I have no political affiliation and I think it was a little more than just the SNP that saved the school
For the record, there is one person standing in Lomond North who deserves my vote more than anyone and thats the one that stood up and spoke out against the closures on the 25th of November 2010 and was unwaivering in his support of Luss Primary School throughout that horrific and tumultous time – GEORGE FREEMAN.
I want to vote for someone who has principles, no matter what the personal cost and who will dogmatically represent the views of the people he represents.
George is my No.1 purely on the commitment he showed to Luss and its primary school.
I think he flippin well deserves it.
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Danny Kelly – 7
Anyone But Danny 2012
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well played csb and arsn – that dumb snp no longer required! if i remember right the snp gave up power to save your school – a third place vote is perfect. what do rest of arsn say about this?
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ARSN aren’t a political group – why would we have an opinion on CSB’s voting choices?
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Yes, I’m an ARSN member – which is a group of parents and community members from across Argyll that have gotten together over a common purpose.
We all have different political views and backgrounds (mine as I have stated on here before was Labour for many years).
The above is my personal view on the candidates in my area and nothing to do with ARSN Coracle, but congrats on the nice try at stirring it.
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Integrity – oh c’mon off it – “ARSN aren’t a political group”.
Of course they are. They might not be a political party but their actions are those of a political group. Gawd’s sake even the advert top right of the For Argyll page says ‘Vote ARSN’!!
Duh!!!!
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Political yes but with a small “p”. What Integrity of course meant was that ARSN is not a party political group. I think the correct designation is that we are a pressure group (and seemingly quite good at pressure too!).
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And I take it from your response you haven’t followed that link Simon?
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Crazy – what link??
And “doc” you doing mind reading as well now??? “What Integrity of course meant…. “
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Integrity and I are twins separated at birth and joined by a symbiotic mental link powered by entangled particles.
Or perhaps it was just obvious.
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Might I suggest that once the election is over Forargyll arranges a Forargyll Lunch for all its contributors this past year (at amodest charge)?
It could be a great bun fight!
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I’d come (and would indeed only charge a modest amount)! “Simon” would need to wear a brown paper bag though (or perhaps more than one…).
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Now that’s a thought. It might have to be a masked ball or, more modestly, a hoodie do.
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BUN FIGHT!!!! Yes yes yes! Simon, you can wear a disguise!
Simon, ARSN’s lovely advert top right, click on it. Should take you to the list.
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You would still recognise him as he would need to come as Hydra.
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