Indyref 12 - keeping the ball rolling

[flippinada]

Hope everyone doesn't mind, I'm to keep the discussion going. As you were folks :)

I don't think so Fontella. This was a West of Scotland political meeting so such action as was taken was as I understand it both specific and direct.

Fontella, that's excellent!

specific and direct

"Specific and direct" -

Isn't it shocking that it takes the Spanish Minister for Europe to speak with more clarity on the EU membership issue than anyone in Scotland? He got it absolutely right btw. All of this is very basic stuff and the only one who has suggested it might not be correct is AS and one academic, but no-one actually working for the EU or responsible for its decision-making.

Admittedly, Prof Tomkins tried to before the Scottish Parliament Committee, but the Chairperson wouldn't let him finish.

Ugh. Is this what it's coming to? So depressing...

Basically what you were saying one night.

There's some bloody funny comments on that Mail article. Laughing my head off here. Someone refers to 'President King Salmond the First.'

I dunno why but that cracked me up. Still laughing now.

I think all this is getting to me ...

"Bit off topic but what will an independent Scotland do for national security and intelligence? Is GCHQ going to be shared too?"

Google things like UKUSA. No, GCHQ cannot be shared easily, because of the nature of it's underpinnings. No reason why intelligence sharing cannot take place (as it already does between friendly nations). No idea if Scotland is planning either an intelligence or security service, but it does want a Defence Force (which together with police/special branch might carry out all those functions)

And would Scotland be in NATO? Saw one of their leaders on the news today saying Scotland would have to apply for entry, but UK's membership unaffected whichever way the vote goes. Still can't quite reconcile 'get rid of Trident' with 'let's join a nuclear military alliance'

cedric

oops Alex

Alex Salmond claims we'd be in Nato. From the White Wish List

"Following a vote for independence in 2014, the Scottish Government will notify NATO of our intention to join the alliance and will negotiate our transition from being a NATO member as part of the UK to becoming an independent member of the alliance. Scotland would take our place as one of the many non-nuclear members of NATO."

and

"Scotland’s security will be guaranteed as a non-nuclear member of NATO, with Scotland contributing excellent conventional capabilities to the alliance"

What ... I don't belong to facebook so when I click on it I just get the 'sign up' thingy.

What does it say? What's happened?

Night all. Sleep well.

It's a pretty unpleasant show of heckling at a no meeting by yessers. I think it's George Galloway they are heckling. Nasty.

Well, he's technically correct in that not all NATO members actually have nuclear weapons themselves. Bu he's being very misleading, as NATO is fundamentally a nuclear alliance with three members (US, UK, France) holding (and paying for) those weapons on an 'attack on one is an attack on all' nuclear shield for all members.

It's the assumption that "we'll be in" that gets me. Does he think we'll be negotiating with ourselves?

I can't see the video but this mail article mentions the event, I think:

Pro-union Respect MP George Galloway said hundreds of No supporters had faced an ‘ordeal’ as they entered, adding: ‘We are not less Scottish than those saying yes.’ Several Yes campaigners were ejected after attempting to break up the meeting.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2757093/Stand-bullies-No-supporters-urged-Alex-Salmond-accused-failing-stand-against-mob-outside-BBC-headquarters-Glasgow.html

I'm not logged in to FB so I couldn't see it either I'm afraid. I'm assuming it was general vitriol?

As I said before thank God for secret ballots.

Now now ladies, we would not want to be accused of whipping each other in to a frenzy of fear

Indeed. That would be dreadfully negative.

One of the many surreal things in this is how well George Galloway seems to be coming out of it.

I've heard several unlikely people (one a stock broker!) comment very favourably on his performance in the debates.

One of my husband' s partners took his Yes voting daughters to the Usher Hall debate hosted by Galloway and they are both now no.

How did he get involved in the first place?

I am scared !

And that was a mob at the BBC.

George Galloway just did it off his own back.

He won't ally himself to the No movement because he doesn't agree with them and doesn't want to be part of any movement, he doesn't want to ally himself with WM cos he hates Tories - but he thinks this is wrong for Scotland and he's gone off, on his own on the 'Just Say Naw' tour. He says he's Scottish, he's got an opinion, he thinks it's wrong .. and he's going to talk and if people want to come and see him, they will.

Lots of stuff on youtube. I watched a whole live appearance he did in Dundee maybe (or wherever it is he was born - sorry) and I have to say he was bloody good. Everything he said made perfect sense to me.

I also watched that footage of when he gave it to the US Senate Committee back over the Iraq business - ripped them a new arsehole he did - and he was superb. Great orator - one of the best. I also watched him make mincement out of Hitchens .. and that took some doing - because Hitchens could run rings around most opponents.

I know he gets a helluva lot of stick but whatever you say about Galloway, he's true to himself and by Christ can that bloke talk a good argument.

Gives you an interesting insight into the experience of people in some other countries doesn't it? Go forth and vote! (It's a secret ballot after all.)

Here's Galloway's speech to The Spectator back in June

Audio only - 8 minutes, so you can listen while you read/type.

Unionists frequently lament the lack of passionate figures on the Better Together campaign, able to take on Alex Salmond. Thankfully, there is at least one such person — George Galloway. His nine minute speech at last night’s Spectator debate is one of the most forceful and convincing arguments we’ve heard so far against Scottish Independence.

Galloway starts at 44.45: