Comments on Scottish Unionist: Magnanimity, CyberNat style

One interesting phenomenon in newspaper blog-land ...

2008-11-09T16:07:00.000Z

One interesting phenomenon in newspaper blog-land was that after the result, a fair number of moderate unionist-leaning types popped up, made a sensible comment or two and then disappeared.

It looks to me like there are a lot of sensible people who "lurk" on those boards, reading but not being bothered enough to chip in. Shouldn't be surprised because that used to be me.

Of course the nutter Nats immediately accused the new faces of being me and/or AM2 in disguise. And of course I and AM2 are the same person, and I'm only writing this in a vain attempt to show that I'm not.

I used to live down the road from Salmond's mother...

2008-11-07T19:07:00.000Z

I used to live down the road from Salmond's mother.

Fair enough, any political party experiencing this sort of upset is unlikely to say just how badly they misread the situation. But, considering his sheer indecent glee after Glasgow East - which the dour Brown is most definitely not showing here - or the jeering of Alexander at Holyrood, it is difficult to feel any professional sympathy.

The Tallest Man in Lilliput has just found a new island.

Alec: Nicola Sturgeon is no stranger to misinforma...

2008-11-07T18:57:26.248Z

Alec: Nicola Sturgeon is no stranger to misinformation.

Scotleag: Miaow! I don't think I've ever seen a picture of Salmond's wife, btw. Is this her? ;-)

Nicola Sturgeon was a picture on TV trying to deny...

2008-11-07T18:46:00.000Z

Nicola Sturgeon was a picture on TV trying to deny that the Dear Leader had ever claimed they were going to win this one when there are vast acres of cyberspace covered with his assertions that they would do just that.

Richard Thompson will be along to tell us that it was merely the Reporting Scotland anchor I heard saying he'd said the Snuppies had been saying "yes we can" a decade ago.

Hint, considering the experiences of blacks within the USA, the election of one to Potus is wonderful. Nothing Scotland experiences within the Union comes close. Sheesh, next you'll be casting your beady eye to Norway in a parody of Jante's Law.

Or, as the woad-wearers might put it:Remember, rem...

2008-11-07T16:42:00.000Z

Or, as the woad-wearers might put it:

Remember, remember the sixth of November
Glenrothes's treasonable Scots
The Nats see no reason
Why Glenrothes treason
Should ever be forgot

I suggested earlier, in response to SU's post asking whether the bubble had finally burst, that it was best to await the outcome of this election before coming to judgment.

Fair to say now that not only has the bubble burst so has the balloon (face). Nicola Sturgeon was a picture on TV trying to deny that the Dear Leader had ever claimed they were going to win this one when there are vast acres of cyberspace covered with his assertions that they would do just that.

And hark at the Dear Leader himself today, in one breath "accepting responsibility" for the defeat and in the next - to paraphrase SU on the 'brick for brick' post - greeting that those nasty Labour big boys were horrid to him and his candidate.

Earthquake? If this is how Alex Salmond makes the earth move then I feel sorry for his wife.

Oh, is Malc one of those juju psephologists? Damn...

2008-11-07T14:31:00.000Z

Oh, is Malc one of those juju psephologists?

Damn, the result was in at 0104 hrs? I could have stayed up!

No doubt I've opined about the Quebeckers who consistently elect a nationalist party, and then decline full independence. I agree with him that the SNP looks to becoming the party of opposition here, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

After Glasgow East, I was speechless, but then laid the responsibility at the door of Labour tacticians and policy makers... not the stupidity of the voters. Apparently, the bookies had Labour at only an one in five chance last night. I heard Salmond (whom my a-political mother dislikes and thinks smug) issuing one of his veiled threats that when Scots start feeling the pain of jobs loses they'd realize how clever he is: you mean, like Glasgow East or the Holyrood elections did before this became an issue?

So, let's enjoy it. And, as if it couldn't get any better, look at the LibDems!

Malc: As if!Alec: Malc's analysis is here. His liv...

2008-11-07T14:15:29.627Z

Malc: As if!
Alec: Malc's analysis is here. His live blog post was good too.

What is your analysis, Malc?(And, of course I mean...

2008-11-07T13:28:00.000Z

What is your analysis, Malc?

(And, of course I meant that "it is inconceivable that a large part *did* *not* came from here".)

Oh dear. I hope my analysis doesn't fall into thi...

2008-11-07T11:51:00.000Z

Oh dear. I hope my analysis doesn't fall into this category.

And to think that there are others removed. What i...

2008-11-07T11:32:00.000Z

And to think that there are others removed. What in the name of all that's decent did they say?!

Granted these are merely headcases with a keyboard...

2008-11-07T10:47:00.000Z

Granted these are merely headcases with a keyboard, but there are also filth. Utterly undemocratic and whose rhetoric is based on division and consider cannot comprehend any Scot disagreeing with them (because those who do ain't 'real' Scots), or as ignorant and craven.

On the matter of the election, two days ago Salmond was telling us that the SNP had been using the Obama line ten years ago! No you can't, at least until you grow up a bit.

The crazy economic situation has doubtless helped, with Brown doing a good job of un-tangling the position (he helped tangle the economy into). But a few observations:

... incumbent parties can always be expected to loose majorities during by-elections, no matter what the climate. So, seven thousand retained from 11 is bloody good;

... Labour received a plurality of the popular vote;

... the SNP's vote did, indeed, go up by five thousand, yet the combined looses for the Tories (that lovely boy, Maurice Golden) and LibDems went down by far. The psephologists will be along to do their juju magic, but it is inconceivable that a large part came from here;

... if Salmond hadn't been so face-smackingly smug I wouldn't now be finding his bad grace so hilariously confused. Where has the Calvinist humility gone?