RESOLUTION ON SCOTLAND IN CONGRESS SUPPORTED BY AROUND 6%

The Herald has published a report about a resolution in the House of Representatives in Washington DC.

The heading points out that the resolution has been raised, but they don’t bother to mention the important fact that it was supported by 27 of the 435 Congressmen or women until half way down the story.

Isn’t that quite important? Indeed isn’t it rather embarrassing that they got such a pitiful support for it?

Ming the Mystified

Ming Campbell is dragged out of wherever he is stored these days to lecture us on how many Americans Scottish roots have.  (This might have something to do with the appalling conditions that Scots lived under in the Uk which forced them to leave for somewhere else and the almost certainty of a better life at various stages in our history, and as recently as the post war period. They can be found in Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia too.

Of course Ming is worried about the special relationship, which I’d have thought was likely to be quite safe with the UK, even with Scotland gone. After all the special relationship is about the UK saying yes to whatever America tells it to do, buying its nuclear weaponry from the USA and allowing them to withhold the launch codes. Indeed allowing them to think of it as their own. 

Ming the Magnificentish...

I’m sure that the Uk can do that toadying without Scotland.

Scotland will, I am sure, given the aforementioned close ties with the USA, have a successful but perhaps less sycophantic relationship with Washington, given that it has no aspiration to be a permanent member of the Security Council, or near the top of any other clout waving body.

Campbell goes on to say “"The names attached to this resolution and the positions they held in the Congress makes it clear that this resolution is a serious expression of opinion.”

What? You really would think that he might have had qualms about saying that given that 408 out of 435 of the members of Congress didn’t bloody support the thing. Is he daft?

Jeez, yesterday it was Cilla Black and Bruce Forsyth and today Ming the Mouldy! Give us peace!

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Here is the article for those who don’t have access to the Herald.

 

Munguin's shed or Congress or something important like that

A resolution in support of a "united, secure and prosperous" United Kingdom has been tabled in the US Congress ahead of the independence referendum. The resolution "expresses deep friendship toward the Scottish people" and "respects the right of the Scottish people to make their decision" on the issue on September 18.

It goes on to say: "The House of Representatives believes that a united, secure and prosperous United Kingdom is important for US national security priorities in Europe and around the world."

House Resolution 713 references Winston Churchill and the "special relationship" between the US and UK, and highlights the millions of Americans who have Scottish roots and ties.

It was introduced by Brad Sherman, Democratic congressman for San Fernando, California, on Monday and has attracted support from 27 Republicans and Democrats.

The resolution follows comments from Barack Obama, who previously observed that the UK appears to have ''worked pretty well''.

Speaking at a press conference with Prime Minister David Cameron in June, the US president said that America's interest in the referendum was to ensure it retained a ''strong, robust, united and effective" ally.

Commenting on the resolution, Sir Menzies Campbell, Liberal Democrat MP for North East Fife, said: "Notwithstanding the emotional connection with Scotland which many members of Congress have, there is no doubt that in both Senate and the House of Representatives there is concern at the idea of independence for Scotland and the impact that would have on the UK, which is regarded as one of America's closest allies and with whom we have a unique relationship in the sharing of intelligence.

Brad Sherman: Control yourselves ladies.
Didn't he record Hello Mudda, Hello Fadda?

"The names attached to this resolution and the positions they hold in the Congress makes it clear that this resolution is a serious expression of opinion.

"The signatories have rightly recognised that the decision is for Scottish people alone but following President Obama's previous intervention on this matter there can be no doubt about the level of American concern."

A spokesman for the pro-independence campaign Yes Scotland said: "It's great to know that Scotland has so many friends and admirers, and we know they will all continue to be our friends and admirers after we vote Yes on September 18.

"We're sure that everyone who genuinely has Scotland's interests at heart will be delighted in future years to see a fairer and more prosperous Scotland emerge using the great opportunities of independence to grow our economy and make an even bigger contribution on the global stage."