Lord, Hear our prayer?
What's Plaid's position on the row about whether the bilingual record of proceedings in the Assembly - its version of Hansard in parliament - should be maintained?
They've just passed an emergency motion which says Plaid "is strongly of the opinion that the intention of the Assembly Commission not to translate in writing speeches from English into Welsh made at Assembly plenaries is unacceptable and Conference calls on the Commission to reverse its decision".
Now we know, though it seems some key and senior figures disagree - and I'm not talking about the Presiding Officer, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas here. It's only 'certain kind of nationalists' who set such store by this sort of thing, said one - a delegate who won't have applauded that particular motion which sailed through conference.
The loudest burst of applause heard so far? I think it's fair to say it was for Angus Robertson, the SNP's parliamentary leader, over his defence of the Scottish government's decision to free Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi - the "Libyan bomber". They liked it a lot. Scottish democracy, said Mr Robertson had grown in stature. More applause.
They liked this line too:
"At the next Westminster election we need to elect a record number of Plaid and SNP MPs to form what I'm calling a Celtic Bloc, a block on cuts and services like the NHS, a block on financial attacks on the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Governments and a strong force in Parliament that stands up for the real priorities and values of people in Wales and Scotland".
Quid pro quo for such a warm reception? Did I hear him drop in a 'think different?' On message or what?
I'm Betsan Powys, BBC Wales' political editor. I'll be blogging the inside track on 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~23~RS~)
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Betsan.....?
"....At the next Westminster election WE(?) need to elect a record number of......"
I must have missed the time when the electorate was turned over to Plaid Cymru.
I suggest the party is informed that is it US WHO DO THE ELECTING, not a bunch of no marks, has beens, and wannabee's with a nationalist agenda to follow.
I further suggest that 'pride cometh before a fall', and 'counting chickens'...... often leaves the enumerator with a glob of egg on his face.
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The loudest burst of applause heard so far, in support of the release of a convicted terrorist.
Shame on every one of them who supported a despicable act by the SNP.
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Scottish Policy, as supported previously by all parties, was to release terminally ill prisoners when they are near to death so they can die with their families. Should they have made an exception? Should not a justice system also have mercy as part of it?
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No justice for the 270 people murdered then, there we differ.
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Of course the Wag proceedings should be translated into both Welsh and English.
This is Welsh political history in the making and should be recorded as such.
If it is a matter of cost then the WAG should 'open source' the proceedings, I'm sure that there are plenty of literate Welsh speakers out there who would be more than willing to translate small portions of the transcripts (a wikiWAG).
We all need to be involved with the WAG, Welsh speakers, English speakers and Bi-linguals in order to make it more representative of the people who live here.
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The idea that a 'Celtic Block' can put a stop to cuts on services when the National Debt is heading north of 100% of the National Debt is hilarious.
Or would be if it was not so serious.
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Betsan:
What's Plaid's position on the row about whether the bilingual record of proceedings in the Assembly - its version of Hansard in parliament - should be maintained?
The going rationale is that they want to changed the rules and, they want to changed the record regarding the language...
=Dennis Junior=
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The justice is that he was jailed. And like all who are jailed in Scotland on the point of death he is released into the care of his family for his last days. Compassion and Justice can go together. I take it you condem all such releases?
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#9
I think the logic is flawed, it is the victims that deserve compassion, not the perpetrators.
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Stony #10
Agree - this man should not have been released.
However a full investigation into his conviction should have been carried out years ago - there are valid questions to be answered, and he may have been innocent.
But unless an appeal found his conviction improper he should stay in jail.
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#11
I agree, the judicial appeals process is the place for justice, not a politicians desk.
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10. TheStonemason
Vengeance over compassion eh!
Just because someone was convicted by 3 judges with no jury, thats not justice in anyones eyes even in the flawed democracy that we are forced to live in.
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The expression you were obviously searching for is "compassion for the victims".
The judges were Scots if I remember correctly, in very difficult circumstances, but that's not an excuse; you might think of the 270 people falling to earth as their aircraft was destroyed.
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So Stoney - do you agree with your party leaders that the record of the Assembly proceedings should be bilingual?
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You know how I feel about language, indifference, it's all a storm in a teacup.
I just don't believe that our own "Daffy Duck" couldn't have predicted the reaction.
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I suspect that all the angst (for and against) over the release of al-Megrahi is little more than speculation. We have very little idea of what went on behind the scenes and what was extracted (and more to the point, what will be extracted by the barrel load) in return for his return. Diplomacy and populism exist in dualistic worlds at the best of times.
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Proceedings in the Welsh Assembly should obviously be available in Welsh. Why is the Commission being so shortsighted? Could they not predict the reaction? For a saving of £250,000 is it really worth it? I think the whole Assembly would be better employed ensuring that our grant from London isn't cut as drastically as is being floated around.
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Re 10
Wasn't it the Tories who started talking to the IRA in secret, whilst denying it in public? My only point is that I doubt that the Tories can claim to be whiter than white on these matters.
I haven't seen much change in the way Libya do 'business' - there is certainly no more democracy, and they seem to have no less human rights abuses. Yet the Tories seem to be just as keen as Labour to jump into bed with them. Not much compassion for the families of the passenger of that flight being shown there!
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#19
Wrong thread I think.
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Re 20
Not at all.
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20
Very much the right thread.
After all, do we see the fringe elements within the Conservatives demanding the abolition of Stormont? Of course not - violence seemingly pays, which is a pretty horrific reflection on 'expedite' politics.
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