We’ve noted on numerous occasions previously that one of this site’s prime functions is merely to remember things – to serve as a repository of fact which can be referred to when politicians or the media try to mislead people about what happened in the past. It was a thought we were struck by again on reading The Times this morning.
Because as we beheld Kenny Farquharson’s account of the SNP’s manifesto launch, and how its emphasis on the word “RE-ELECT” was unfamiliar and “very different” to their last Holyrood manifesto launch, we were sure that wasn’t how we recalled it.
While we’re on the subject of Ruth “line in the sand” Davidson of the Ruth Davidson No Surrender To The SNP Anti-Referendum Party making U-turns, we thought we might remind you of another one, this time from rather more recent history than 2011.
Just nine months ago, apparently Ms Davidson’s view was that “it would be wrong for the Tories to stand in the way” of another referendum “if the SNP gets a democratic mandate from the public”.
Sounds like a firm, resolute commitment to democracy and the incontrovertible right of the people of Scotland to determine their own destiny. Stirring stuff. We approve.
Kezia Dugdale gave an interview to Good Morning Scotland earlier today that viewed from above would probably look rather like the runway at Baghdad Airport in 1991.
If we tried to pick out all the individual bomb craters in one post, readers’ eyes would glaze over long before the end. So we’re going to have to do it in bits.
Sometimes the world’s random turns throw up a charmed piece of timing. That was the first tweet that I read on 19th September 2014, sitting on the side of the bed, eyes burning, wondering what on Earth I could possibly do with a day for which I’d bought champagne, but which broke my heart before dawn.
I’d resisted Twitter for a while, then fallen in love with it, weirdly comfortable with the disembodied voices of strangers. Small phrases, 140 characters: at its best, little postcards that made me smile, laugh or think.
For whatever reason, that tweet cut through, its arrival perfect to give me a virtual shake. I’d tell the writer – if I knew who they were – that I managed to carry out half of their instruction to us hollow-eyed, political orphans that day, though I failed miserably for a while on the first bit.
Today we should have become independent. We’re not, and it’s not okay, but since I don’t think we can ignore the power that time and timing can possess, and since words are all I’ve got, I’d like to tell you a story.
We don’t normally ask you to watch videos as long as this, readers. (Although at 4m 22s it’s still not War And Peace.) As a rule the key part of any TV discussion can be boiled down to a few seconds, but this one needs to be taken in at a bit more length.
It happened on last night’s Question Time from Dundee, and was already 10 minutes into a discussion about whether there might be a second independence referendum and what might trigger it, in particular the prospect of Scotland voting to remain in the EU in June but the rest of the UK voting to leave, dragging Scotland out forcibly.
At that point, host David Dimbleby made an inexplicable intervention, abandoning his position as supposedly neutral moderator to pluck a “fact” out of thin air with which to attack the SNP’s John Swinney. Here’s what unfolded.
Mark Beggan on Two Men Unalike: “Don’t forget your stab vest.” Mar 2, 00:04
Dee Dubya on Two Men Unalike: “Every time one of these stories comes up I feel more and more that they are taking the p. Deliberately…” Mar 1, 22:56
Geri on The Tactics Of Suicide: “Hi Twathater. I hope yer well. Aye, I’ve had a nice break, ta x” Mar 1, 21:27
Alf Baird on Two Men Unalike: “Cultural Imperialism theory is not that difficult to comprehend. The ultimate aim of cultural imperialism is to remove and replace…” Mar 1, 21:25
Geri on The Tactics Of Suicide: “GM I dunno why Stu allows them to infest his site. They’re clearly not here to add anything to each…” Mar 1, 21:24
Geri on Two Men Unalike: “Aye, remember the “lead don’t leave” bullshit? Just more of their lies. It must be shit being a Yoon. The…” Mar 1, 21:14
GM on The Tactics Of Suicide: “You and yes pals think you can act as site moderators of acceptable political opinion? FUDS. Paid troll brits setting…” Mar 1, 20:36
Mark Beggan on Two Men Unalike: “Iranian news reporting that their leader “had drunk the sweet pure draught of martyrdom” Now available in cans at your…” Mar 1, 19:56
Mark Beggan on Two Men Unalike: “Big Satan and Little Satan go together like Rock and Roll. Clap if you agree.” Mar 1, 19:33
agentx on Two Men Unalike: “” Alba bosses have insisted the pro-independence party is “financially insolvent” after being urged to contest the Holyrood election or…” Mar 1, 18:35
TURABDIN on Two Men Unalike: “The media photos of the Madboy of the Western World, with custom patriotic headgear, has the vengeful look of a…” Mar 1, 18:34
Hatey McHateface on Two Men Unalike: “Thanks, lorncal. No, I didn’t see Clarkson’s take on it. I’ll see if I can find it.” Mar 1, 18:15
agentx on Two Men Unalike: “https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/crowdfunder-request-alliance-to-liberate-scotlan This is the correct link.” Mar 1, 18:06
Hatey McHateface on Two Men Unalike: “You’re at it again, sam, spouting stats with no context to allow interpretation. Literacy in which language?” Mar 1, 18:05
Mark Beggan on Two Men Unalike: “He has spent the last five years spouting the same crap. Week in and week out. Never changing dribble hungarily…” Mar 1, 17:59
Young Lochinvar on Two Men Unalike: “Dot B under the spotlight again for tipping the wink to pen pal “Honest” John over Tricky Nicky’s investigation status..…” Mar 1, 17:27
sam on Two Men Unalike: “In education the Scottish gubmint for aw its faults seems to be doing better than England’s labouring gubmint. https://www.jrf.org.uk/uk-poverty-statistics/education That’s…” Mar 1, 16:59
sarah on Two Men Unalike: “www.crowdfunder.co.uk for Alliance to Liberate Scotland Holyrood 2026 – target is £10,000 for all the campaign materials etc etc. Spread…” Mar 1, 16:52
lorncal on Two Men Unalike: “I know I probably shouldn’t have, but I did laugh out loud at that, H. McH. Have you read Jeremy…” Mar 1, 16:08
Hatey McHateface on Two Men Unalike: “Generous, Geri. No question about that. But the crowdfunder can’t use your number two.” Mar 1, 16:05
Hatey McHateface on Two Men Unalike: “Sure, Alf, but only a few more weeks until we can all vote for this to be swept into the…” Mar 1, 16:00
Hatey McHateface on Two Men Unalike: “Dinna ye tak ony lip frae God, Northy. It’s ye that tells Him, nae the ither wuy roond.” Mar 1, 15:43
Alf Baird on Two Men Unalike: “As well as public bodies, universities etc and the NHS being “the most trans-captured organisations in the entire UK” it…” Mar 1, 15:41
Hatey McHateface on Two Men Unalike: “James, ye need tae read fit happened tae Onan. Nae day like the Sabbath fir opening the Guid Book. If…” Mar 1, 15:39
Hatey McHateface on Two Men Unalike: “One step back, Mark. I’m first.” Mar 1, 15:30
Hatey McHateface on Two Men Unalike: “Any boady mind “Hello, I’m Julian and this is my friend Sandy”? Innocent times they were.” Mar 1, 15:27
Young Lochinvar on Two Men Unalike: “J Good point!” Mar 1, 15:10
Confused on Two Men Unalike: “M&S Food Hall last night, getting some of those spicy breaded chicken things. Past the checkout, the news stand -…” Mar 1, 13:59
Sven on Two Men Unalike: “I see your “Toodle-oo the noo, the noo agin, agin…fir noo” and raise you one; “Hello, Farewell, Hello”. Kürt Vonnegut.” Mar 1, 13:58
