Sunday 23 October 2011

RANDOM THOUGHTS...

As  a Scotsman, with an "auld alliance" kind of feeling for France, I was sorry to see the Coupe du Monde go by a whisker to New Zealand. C'est dommage! On the other hand, well done the All Blacks. It's been a long time coming guys. Enjoy!


From Inverness the prime minister, David Cameron, was being told by first minister, Alex Salmond, to butt out and mind his own business over the referendum. Interestingly, in Brussels he was being told the same thing by Napoleon Nicolas Sarkozy over the €uro. Funnily enough many of his own MPs are saying exactly the same to him over the question of the EU vote. Now Mr Cameron, Munguin's Republic respectfully suggests that you get on with your job and sort out the UK's bloody mess... and butt out of other people's business.


Foxy was warned about Werritty by MI6, we learn today. For pity's sake. He was told by his private office, he was told by the permanent secretary, and he was told by MI6 that there was a security breach. Why did the prime minister not know? And if he did know, why did he not act? Because he is weak and vacillating? Because didn't want Fox outside the tent? Because he thought that if he gave Fox a sufficiently long rope he would hang himself? Well he has; but it really looks bad that the prime minister allowed this risk for so long.


Philip Hammond has been throwing his newly found weight about. Promoted only last week from English transport blokey to the new Foxy, he has taken it upon himself to warn Tory MPs that if they defy the three line whip on a referendum on Europe they will be punished. Six of the best and no jam rolly polly for 4 weeks? Actually they will miss out on chances of promotion and could find themselves deselected in the boundary changes. Hmmm! There are 60+ of them, so that's a lot of deselecting, but I thought that the constituencies, many of which would see the EU at the other end of the world from England,  chose the candidates. Maybe the Tories aren't as democratic as the SNP.


Am I the only one that isn't surprised by President Karzai's  commitment to be on the side of Pakistan in the event of a war with America (which would doubtless mean Britain too). As Karsai is stepping down after his term of office is finished, to spend more time with his money, it hardly seems important what he thinks about anything. But is there seriously anyone who would have expected Afghanistan to be America's best buddy? It really doesn't work like that.


Talking of America, it seems that the lovely Michelle Bachmann's campaign to be Republican candidate for the presidency has come unstuck, yet again. It's been a funny old campaign which leads they eyes of the world to the Snows of New England, as Danny (our man in America) always describes the first primaries. There seem to have been a shed load of favourites who, once they opened their mouths and proved what dummies they were, rapidly became unfavoured. Ms Bachmann is one of these. The darling of the far (and I mean F A R, loonie, nutty, religious right) was up there for a while, and Obama must have been whooping with joy. She was as unelectable as the Emperor of Japan. But she, like the rest, bombed after a short while. Now it seems her campaign team in New Hampshire has resigned, and first she denied it, then had to admit it. She'd have  made a fine president! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/44997837#44997837 

Pics: (1) We haven't won the Rugby World Cup for a long time, but we dance good, huh! (2) Awa an' mind yer ain business: Il vous faut se taire, posh boy! (3) Fox on the run. (4)  House master Hammond laying down the law and bringing back the cane. (5) What's that you say? A couple of million to be on your side? Make it three and it's a deal. More bent than the Vatican Bank is the lovely President Karsai. (6) The candidate from Iowa, Michelle Madman.

12 comments:

  1. "Philip Hammond has been throwing his newly found weight about. Promoted only last week from English transport blokey to the new Foxy, he has taken it upon himself to warn Tory MPs that if they defy the three line whip on a referendum on Europe they will be punished."

    All economic problems in Europe are partly caused by a lack of deeper integration, not the presence of it.

    Thus, punish mercilessly anyone defying the 3 line whip.

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  2. Dean..

    I'll give you a few questions and would appreciate it if you wouldn't reply with a question or a diversion.

    1. The EU accounts haven't been signed off for 15 years. Do you think an investigation should be carried out to root out the fraud ?

    2. How do we get rid of Barroso if we think he's doing a poor job ? Ditto Von Rumpey, Ashton , Kinnock's etc

    3. Our 3 'leaders' all promised a referendum on an EU in or out vote. Do you think it's right that they are now having a 3 line whip to make their MPs vote against this motion on Monday ?
    Bearing in mind that many MPs got elected on their commitment to a referendum.

    4. Do you think it's right that commissioners in the EU get their job as a thank you from their respective leaders rather than being elected ? bearing in mind the power they have to affect all of our lives.

    5. Do you agree with the formation of an EU Armed Forces, Foreign Service, Poice service and Coastguard service ? If you do will it undermine the sovereignty of the UK ?

    6. Is the Queen still our Sovereign after having allowed powers to be given to the EU via the Lisbon Treaty that undermine her Sovereignty ( ECHR, ECJ, EU Armed Forces accountable to the EU rather than the UK Crown etc)

    October 22, 2011 8:47 PM

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  3. 1. Where there is corrupt behaviour, let justice happen

    2. Barosso is doing a brilliant job

    3. I think a referendum is a distraction, but I don't fear one or necessarily oppose one.

    4. They are elected, by the Parliament of Europe

    5. Yes, and no, it enhances UK sovereignty.

    6. Lisbon doesn't remove the Queen from her ceremonial role as head of the UK armed forces, British member-state.

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  4. Dean...
    Thanks for that. You've confirmed what I thought about you.
    You have tris's mum to thank that I don't go any further.

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  5. I am glad, I don't need or crave your approval or respect.

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  6. Actually, the Eurosceptics are between a rock and a hard place. If they disobey Cameron they have to go back to their Eurosceptic constituencies and explain to them in middle England why they don't actually represent they people they were elected to represent why they didn't have the guts to do so... Are they scared about not getting promotion? Is this a nice cosy job rather than actual representation? If so they might find themselves deselected, boundary changes or none. And of course they have to worry if they disobey the Whips that they will have some unpleasant secret released to the press. Ah, choices, choices... and only £66,000 a year. Terrible.

    I'm not going to go through Monty and Dean's question and answer although Tris's mum thanks Monty for his moderation. She's rather fond of Dean.

    What I will do is ask Dean why, in what way, is democratic choice a distraction? A distraction from what? Other things Cameron is doing? I don't think so. I think Cameron wants distractions from everything important. If we are in so much of a mess, why is he nt simply concentrating on putting this right? Why on earth is he messing so much with education and health in England, spending billions he doesn't have? No, he doesn't want to come out of Europe, but he won't say why except it's in Britain's interests and us stupid plebs are supposed to accept that.

    And I'll just say, Monty, that you're right, the accounts have never been signed off. But which London department has balanced their books? Apparently, within living memory the Home Office hasn't been signed off; the English Health department is so billions in debt, as is Defence. We're talking black holes you could lose Antarctica in. ID doesn't have a clue what happens to the billions it hands out. For all I know it's the same in Edinburgh.

    What did anyone think about the rugby, or old Batman, or Moneybags Karsai?

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  7. 'How is democratic choice a distraction?'

    All I'd say is, there are greater things of importance to focus people on.

    Eurozone needing major overhaul, a stagnant UK economy due to coalition cuts, banking profiteering, energy profiteering ... and SNP verging on ending the UK itself... yeh, I'd suggest there are more important stuff than a referendum on membership of the EU.

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  8. Well, I think, Dean, that a lot of people, particularly in Tory constituencies in the South of England, believe that EU membership is central to a lot of that.

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  9. Tris

    I think you will like this article.

    Like McKenna the FT is usually anti the SNP. Enjoy.

    http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/79585bf6-fe32-11e0-bac4-00144feabdc0.html

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  10. Superb indeed Dubs. He's got the unionists bang to rights there. I feel he was unfair to the Tories, because they did use the last parliament to win concessions for their policies by supporting SNP policies. Labour and the Liberals are well summed up. Well I say that because that is what have all been saying for quite some time.

    Despite what is happening none of the Labour MPs except that ass Harris wants to come and live in Edinburgh and deal with Scottish issues. Oh no, Spud thinks that one day he will be Liam Fox mark 2 and play on the international stage. What was it he said...Anything but Scotland, when he was in government, and moved from the FO to Dover House.

    It's a pity you have to join up to read it though (even if it's free).

    So I'll quote some of my favourite bits. Below. Thanks for pointing it out though. You were right. I loved it.

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  11. OK... I won't because it won't let me cut and paste. Damn.

    OK. You'll just have to join the free site. it's worth it for a read of this article alone.

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  12. Tris

    Sorry I did not realise that the link would cause problems.

    You can access the article via Google Scottish News, the article will open normally and you can cut and paste from it.

    Pity about the problems but the article was too good to miss and for a unionist pretty close to the mark. Happy days.

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