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ForteanJo

Listed below are comments made by ForteanJo between Friday, 13th November 2009 and Monday, 23rd November 2009.

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Under pressure 5:58pm on 23 Nov 2009 #11 - "Still no answer around as to why Salmond persisted in chasing the power to implement a 3% increase in both standard and higher income tax rates...

...when he already had the power to hike up the standard rate, which would have raised 80-90% of the revenue.

Was he really interested in replacing council tax or was he just after another fight with Westminster?"

So you can't see the difference between replacing an existing tax and imposing an entirely new one. Are you really that blind or are you just talking your usual nonsense?
'Just say no' 11:20pm on 22 Nov 2009 #421 - "Nothing in calling something trite indicates it is false"

Ah, I think we're involved in a wee bit of two nations divided by a common language. I took mrbfaethedee usage of trite to coin a rhyme to mean rhymes with trite as in "I smell trite!" That usage would certainly be a comment on a falsehood.
'Just say no' 8:58pm on 22 Nov 2009 #407 - "My previous comment regarding miscalling anyone you wish still stands - you can write a book and people choose to buy it, but it is still covered by the laws of libel."

Oops, pushed to the post button a bit early. As to regards your point about libel, it would perhaps be more accurately described as defamation, a crime which does not carry the defence that the claim is accurate or truthful.
'Just say no' 8:51pm on 22 Nov 2009 #407 - ""Saying that using it indicates a lack of vocabulary is trite, to coin a rhyme ;)"

But true!!"

Mmm, I don't think I'm being pedantic to point out it can't possibly be both. It's either trite (in the rhyming sense) or it's true, it can't be both. To claim it can be both does not, perhaps, demonstrate a limited vocabulary but it does demonstrate a limited comprehension of the vocabulary in use.
'Just say no' 10:48am on 22 Nov 2009 #326 - "I hear that MSP Jack McConnell, erstwhile Scottish Labour First Minister, future Baron McConnell of Wishaw and High Commissioner to Malawi (in waiting), has decided that he will NOT retire at the next election but will again enter the fray in Motherwell & Wishaw.
Ah...the future had looked so rosy when he negotiated with Gordon Broon for all those rich rewards in return for stepping down as leader in favour of wee Wendy..."

Although I can't completely suppress a wee chuckle at yet another example of Labour completely dumping on somebody who sacrificed themselves on Labour's behalf (hope your taking note, BT), this could be a fascinating battle if, as expected, old Skeletor loses his Westminster seat and decides to throw his hat into the ring at Holyrood. McConnell vs Murphy vs Gray. Scottish Labour will tear themselves apart!
All to play for? 5:13pm on 14 Nov 2009 #125 - "the media would slaughter the SNP in the press. It certainly would come across as "vote for us or we send the boys round"."

I take it you belive all those "SNP are anti-Glasgow" headlines weew completely imaginary then? The media already slaughtered the SNP. Might as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb, as the saying goes.

"And how is the SNP favouring Glasgow? What is your evidence? "

Glasgow gets more spending per head of population than anywhere else in Scotland. That is a matter of public record. Aberdeen gets the least spending. Equalise the spending, that's all I'm calling for. Not spend less per head in Glasgow than anywhere else, just don't spend more. Some would call that fairness. Many unionists call it fairness when debating the Barnett formula so why not here?

"The SNP want to raise Scotland up. You don't do that by neglecting parts of it simply because they do not vote for your party."

You don't do that from the opposition back benches either. The SNP need to learn to pick their fights. There are some areas where they will never win. They should concede that and spend their resources in areas where they can win.
All to play for? 07:19am on 14 Nov 2009 #82 - "I've been following these blogs for 2 years now, and your post quite simply scrapes the bottom of the barrel. A disgrace."

See my response to Neil's post. Give me your answers to the same questions. Then you can pass criticism.
All to play for? 07:17am on 14 Nov 2009 #77 - "That is one of the worst posts I've ever seen. Can you imagine the reaction if the SNP were suicidal enough to try this tactic?"

What do you find objectionable about it, Neil? How can it be a suicidal tactic when the people of these constituencies will vote labour regardless? All I'm calling for is for the SNP to stop favouring Glasgow and equalise the funding across other parts of Scotland. Are you claiming Glasgow is a special case that deserves more money than elsewhere?
All to play for? 07:13am on 14 Nov 2009 #72 - "Your post along with Rev Campbell is precisely why the SNP didn't win. Insulting the electorate is not the way forward. "

Well you can show me the sentence/paragraph where I did insult the electorate or accept that, as usual, your criticisms are more about things in your own head rather than in reality.

"Your point re Monklands is particularly poor. So if an area doesn't vote SNP they should be denied public services?"

It is a fact that Labour policy was to close the casualty unit and, if we had a labour government at Holyrood there would now only be two units in Lanarkshire and Monklands wouldn't be one of them. That's what the people of Airdrie voted for and I know believe that's exactly what they should have got. Or do you go along with the thinking that what people vote for should be irrelevent?

"When the SNP were in opposition they used personal attacks and negative campaigning regularly. "

I'm sure, then, you can cite some examples to illustrate your argument. Or perhaps you can't.

"So perhaps we can look forward to someone actually campaigning on the real issues and choices we face inthe future, although I wouldn't bet on it."

I don't think this campaign will change any established practices, at least in Glasgow/Lanarkshire. As others have pointed out - when questioned directly, many weegies would vote labour regardles of what labour actually do (or don't do). I'm sorry, these people deserve ridicule and I understand why many on these boards (and elsewhere) choose to do so.

The SNP have tried to be the bigger man, the better man, throughout. It has gained them nothing and many, like yourself, don't even acknowledge their attempts. So why bother? People are happy enought with the dirty tactics exibited by Labour and they seem to work. So go with them.
Conserve available resources and use where voting intentions can be influenced, not squander them in arears where the red rosette in king.
All to play for? 10:41pm on 13 Nov 2009 #51 - "The SNP can't persuade these people, no matter who they choose for leader, so there's no point cutting their noses off to spite their face. They will have to achieve their aims despite such voters, not by persuading them."

Yep, totally agree, Rev. The result was not entirely unexpected but is still disappointing. But the SNP should accept that Glasgow/North Lanarkshire is largely a lost cause and stop chasing these votes. In fact, I'd go further than that and, following BT's argument, actually teach these voters that not only is their vote meaningful but comes with consequences. Labour have labelled the SNP as anti Glasgow so start with that. Reduce the funding Glasgow gets and spend the money in constituences where there is a chance of gaining votes. If we look at past elections, I thought the SNP had been magnaminous when they saved the casualty unit at Monklands, despite the people of Airdrie voting for Labour who blatantly stated they would close the unit. It has gained the SNP nothing and the majority of people in Airdrie would still vote Labour. I now think the SNP were wrong and should have let the casualty unit close. Your vote has consequences.

What can the SNP lose? Labour, and by extension the media, including the BBC, have accused them of being anti-glasgow. If they simply stopped giving Glasgow preferable treatment, the money saved could be used elsewhere, in constituencies where voters can be persuaded to vote for someone other than the muppet in the red rosette.

On an aside, now that Bain is secure (for the next 6 months at least), has there been any update on the East Coast line, or are the Westminster government at least having the decency to wait until the campaign slogans are cold before announcing that Glasgow will no longer be part of this service?

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