Politics is a shadowy business. For every big, popular announcement there is countless more arm-twisting deals and nefarious conversations driving the bigger picture forward.
The phrase “that’s Politics” can cover any number of sins.
And it is this shield of general acceptance that I think Alex Salmond can use to great effect given the calls for him to “come clean” over his discussions with Donald Trump’s team.
I think everyone knows how much Alex wants this investment for Aberdeen and his own constituency. Are we really going to think less of the man if he pushes the rules to the absolute limit to get the “correct” result?
I respect Martin Ford’s decision, the councillor who had the casting vote that ultimately knocked back the proposal. He made a difficult call when others would have been weak and not stuck to their principles. But to knock back so much investment and the promise of so many jobs in an area where fishing problems have caused havoc on whole communities? I think you’d be crazy to send Donald Trump home to think again.
I have a particular pride in seeing Alex Salmond fight for Scotland. And if he has to bend the rules to do so then so be it.
Crisis? What crisis?
7 minutes ago
4 comments:
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"And if he has to bend the rules to do so then so be it"
This sound suspiciously like 'the ends justify the means', a philosophy used to justify all sorts of pernicious policies, by tyrants the world over - and by petty thugs, too.
I too think the Aberdeenshire Council is mad to turn away this investment, but if it was a valid decision taken by a properly constituted policy-making committee (as appears to be the case) then it seems to me that there will have to be very good reasons to overturn it.
I don't like the policies of the SNP, although I have no dislike of Salmond - he is a very clever man who is proving himself to be a superb strategist and is probably more moderate than some of his supporters, even if I dislike intensely his core intention for my country. Whatever I may think of him, I doubt very much that Salmond would bend (or be allowed to bend) any rules - I would not consider it helfpul to suggest that someone I supported (as you seem to support Salmond) was likely to act in such a way. Are you trying to turn yourself into the David Abrahams of the SNP - lol?
I will be interested to see how this whole Trump scenario pans out - he will for sure get his development and it is highly likely it will be a major success (because I don't think he gets involved in things that are likely to fail), but if it is some other more welcoming area that derives the benefit, then so be it!
I'm learning Spanish at the moment so thanks for that crescenet. You could be calling me all manner of things under the sun but until I get my dictionary out I'll never know.
And Bill, I would say that in some instances the ends absolutely justifies the means. Just because that phrase can be applied to petty thugs and tyrants does not in any way necessarily mean that Salmond is guilty by association.
A little bit of misplaced 'post hoc ergo propter hoc' perhaps.
You're right though, I probably wrote in so much haste that I was reckless in even suggesting that Alex had broken the rules. I guess that's one luxury of not being a party councillor or press researcher in this blogging land, the freedom of speaking my mind.
So of course I haven't the faintest idea if Alex either did or did not break any rules but it wouldn't really bother me if he did is perhaps the point I should have made.
I can assure you though Bill, whatever happens, if you were able to see my bank balance it would confirm it, I am far too poor to be the David Abrahams of any party!
A little bit of misplaced 'post hoc ergo propter hoc' perhaps.
- yes, I saw that episode of the 'West Wing', too! ;)
To be serious for a moment, I take your point, but profoundly disagree. We are seeing the consequences of just such a philosophy for life unravelling in the US at present when the view I and others have been expressing for some years that the present US Administration has engaged in 'torture' in its efforts to combat terrorism is being painfully exposed and increasingly accepted. Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld also thought that the ends justify the means. It is becoming clearer by the day that the tide of opinion in the US is, and not before time, coming to realise the drawbacks of such a utilitarian approach when confronted with the cold hard reality of what has been done in their name and the consequences it is having in the US's international relations.
I don't agree with Salmond's ideas for Scotland's future, but he is far too canny an operator, I tend to believe, to fall into the trap of the false logic which the phrase 'the ends justify the means' encapsulates - in my opinion.
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