Election 2015/Shetland Times

[Ghostrider]

My unionist comment referred to Tom Morton.

 

I wasn't aware Mr. Morton or any of his various pseudonyms had posted on this thread.

[Suffererof1crankymofo]

Danus was born in Dundee, and studied Politics and African Studies at the University of Sussex. He went on to study Public Administration in Chicago and has a Masters in Education from Aberdeen University.

He trained as a teacher in Scotland, and in later years worked in various schools abroad, including Israel and Kenya.

He run a small charity twinning Scot an Kenyan schools and is Trustee and Chairman of Shetland Arts.

Danus lives in Lerwick where he retains an involvement in a family farming business.

He has previously been a candidate for both the Liberal Democrats and the Labour Party but joined the SNP in 2008.

Danus is separted with 3 adult children.

 

^ No mention of Eton but it can't be all that given the spelling and grammatical errors - did he play truant?

[hjasga]

 

My unionist comment referred to Tom Morton.

 

I wasn't aware Mr. Morton or any of his various pseudonyms had posted on this thread.

 

 

Perhaps wrongly assumed comments regarding Mr Skene's lineage were drawn from Mr Morton's recent letters to the Shetland News. 

 

 

 

You say people won't visit the SNP website and I agree, but it was one example of Mr Skene being perfectly open about things you claimed he had not. I think you were being dishonest or at best ignorant of his campaign work, but I'll leave it at that as I doubt bickering over it will do any of us any good. 

[Ghostrider]

I think you were being dishonest or at best ignorant of his campaign work, but I'll leave it at that as I doubt bickering over it will do any of us any good. 

 

I may well be ignorant of Mr. Skene's campaign work, but whose fault is that other than Mr. Skene and his campaign team?

 

If a candidate wants my vote, it is wholly up to that candidate to work for it, not for me to have to go forth and seek out and research the available candidates to find one I feel I can support.

 

I've had one leaflet stuffed through my door, giving me a very brief overview of the candidate's and party's policies. That tells me albeit vaguely what I'd be voting for if I voted for him, but tells me nothing about who I'm voting for to follow through on them.

 

What happened to good old personal level political promises like, "I undertake to represent my constituents to the best of my ability.....", "I will make myself readily available to me constituents to discuss issues of concern to them....", "I have experience in yadda, yadda...." etc. Not a dickie bird.

 

Maybe I'm just getting really old, and such things are beneath politicians these days.

Edited May 5, 2015 by Ghostrider

[hjasga]

 

I think you were being dishonest or at best ignorant of his campaign work, but I'll leave it at that as I doubt bickering over it will do any of us any good. 

 

I may well be ignorant of Mr. Skene's campaign work, but whose fault is that other than Mr. Skene and his campaign team?

 

It may well be his fault you haven't heard more, but if you haven't heard from his campaign, I don't understand how you can feel placed to make such sweeping claims about what he has or has not mentioned in the running of that campaign. 

 

(I realise I've returned to bicker after saying there was little point bickering. I clearly lack willpower.)

[Ghostrider]

It may well be his fault you haven't heard more, but if you haven't heard from his campaign, I don't understand how you can feel placed to make such sweeping claims about what he has or has not mentioned in the running of that campaign. 

 

Not to put too fine a point on it, but it is irrelevant what someone may have said somewhere, if nobody heard them say it.

 

I can only form an opinion and comment on the portion of his campaign that has been successful in reaching me. Why would I suspect his campaign has extended to more than that? That would be a bit like looking for the pound coin someone had dropped, without knowing if anybody had dropped one, would it not?

 

What he may have "mentioned" somewhere, sometime, somehow is hardly the point when it comes to putting oneself's forward as a candidate, I'm sure in his 70 years he's "mentioned" many things, probably forgotten many of them too, and as many of them would as likely to be a hinderance as a help to him if someone reminded the public of them now. What does matter IMHO, is publicity in the here and now to convince as many as possible he is the "best man for the job". Which brings me back to that infamous leaflet, which tells me he stood unsuccessfully as a Liberal (Not LibDem as incorrectly stated) candidate in '83 and '87, (no mention of the unsuccessful candidacy for Labour in '74 though - why?) was an independent Councillor "in the 80's", runs a "farming business" (whatever that constitutes), briefly was a civil servant, and has been a teacher (of what, we're not told). Other than that, and the fact its reasonably widely held knowledge locally of his involvement with the SAT, I, and most of the folk I'm talking with know nothing more about him than Adam's house cat.

 

People can only comment on what they have been told, and if more has been said about someone or something that could potentially sway public opinion on them, but it hasn't reached its target audience, its down to a failure in communication in putting it out there, not the public's failure to go and look for what may or may not happen to be lying around to be found.

 

Frankly, if a propspective politican cannot succeed in making sure the maximum number of their electorate possible have the maximum relevant (to them) information readily available to them when being asked for their vote, what kind of indictment is that of their potential success at being a worthwhile politician if elected.

[hjasga]

 

It may well be his fault you haven't heard more, but if you haven't heard from his campaign, I don't understand how you can feel placed to make such sweeping claims about what he has or has not mentioned in the running of that campaign. 

 

Not to put too fine a point on it, but it is irrelevant what someone may have said somewhere, if nobody heard them say it.

 

I can only form an opinion and comment on the portion of his campaign that has been successful in reaching me. Why would I suspect his campaign has extended to more than that? That would be a bit like looking for the pound coin someone had dropped, without knowing if anybody had dropped one, would it not?

 

What he may have "mentioned" somewhere, sometime, somehow is hardly the point when it comes to putting oneself's forward as a candidate, I'm sure in his 70 years he's "mentioned" many things, probably forgotten many of them too, and as many of them would as likely to be a hinderance as a help to him if someone reminded the public of them now. What does matter IMHO, is publicity in the here and now to convince as many as possible he is the "best man for the job". Which brings me back to that infamous leaflet, which tells me he stood unsuccessfully as a Liberal (Not LibDem as incorrectly stated) candidate in '83 and '87, (no mention of the unsuccessful candidacy for Labour in '74 though - why?) was an independent Councillor "in the 80's", runs a "farming business" (whatever that constitutes), briefly was a civil servant, and has been a teacher (of what, we're not told). Other than that, and the fact its reasonably widely held knowledge locally of his involvement with the SAT, I, and most of the folk I'm talking with know nothing more about him than Adam's house cat.

 

People can only comment on what they have been told, and if more has been said about someone or something that could potentially sway public opinion on them, but it hasn't reached its target audience, its down to a failure in communication in putting it out there, not the public's failure to go and look for what may or may not happen to be lying around to be found.

 

Frankly, if a propspective politican cannot succeed in making sure the maximum number of their electorate possible have the maximum relevant (to them) information readily available to them when being asked for their vote, what kind of indictment is that of their potential success at being a worthwhile politician if elected.

 

 

This is nonsense. Mr Skene's charity background and previous candidacies have been mentioned in various places, including all our local media. It isn't hidden away. You said in the initial post he had, "apparently forgotten to inform the electorate" - this is a complete mistruth. While you're welcome to say he should do more to reach you, you can hardly criticise him because you haven't been paying attention to what coverage there has been.

[Ghostrider]

This is nonsense. Mr Skene's charity background and previous candidacies have been mentioned in various places, including all our local media.

 

Which proves you're still not getting my point. Not everyone has the internet, not everyone hears local radio, not everyone buys the Times.

 

The only information Mr. Skene, as Danus Skene, SNP Candidate for the Orkney & Shetland seat in Parliament has pro-actively ensured I have been provided with in an attempt to gain my support, is that contained in the leaflet that was put through my door.

 

The local media will print/broadcast whatever it sees fit, he has no power over that, they can choose to print or omit whatever they like, and like all media, have some sort of bias one way or another and need to be taken as found, with a very large pinch of salt. As I said, its is not my job to go forth and seek the information, its up to each candidate to sell themselves as attractively as they possibly can.

 

Its just advertising, with the candidate as the product. Why would I trust anything Mr. Skene says when he omits to mention anything about such a big part of himself the person, any more than I'd trust anything an advert selling a car said, when it omitted to mention whether it was in running order or not.

 

Transparency is the key, its lacking. If it weren't it would be common knowledge all the key points of Danus Skene the man for the last 70 years, and where he's headed for the next few. An MP is public property, we don't want a pig in a poke, we have plenty of them already, and unless we know who Danus Skene the man really is as best we can, that's what we will get.

Edited May 5, 2015 by Ghostrider

[hjasga]

 

This is nonsense. Mr Skene's charity background and previous candidacies have been mentioned in various places, including all our local media.

 

Which proves you're still not getting my point. Not everyone has the internet, not everyone hears local radio, not everyone buys the Times.

 

The only information Mr. Skene, as Danus Skene, SNP Candidate for the Orkney & Shetland seat in Parliament has pro-actively ensured I have been provided with in an attempt to gain my support, is that contained in the leaflet that was put through my door.

 

The local media will print/broadcast whatever it sees fit, he has no power over that, they can choose to print or omit whatever they like, and like all media, have some sort of bias one way or another and need to be taken as found, with a very large pinch of salt. As I said, its is not my job to go forth and seek the information, its up to each candidate to sell themselves as attractively as they possibly can.

 

Its just advertising, with the candidate as the product. Why would I trust anything Mr. Skene says when he omits to mention anything about such a big part of himself the person, any more than I'd trust anything an advert selling a car said, when it omitted to mention whether it was in running order or not.

 

Transparency is the key, its lacking. If it weren't it would be common knowledge all the key points of Danus Skene the man for the last 70 years, and where he's headed for the next few. An MP is public property, we don't want a pig in a poke, we have plenty of them already, and unless we know who Danus Skene the man really is as best we can, that's what we will get.

 

 

Okay, if I ever run for parliament I'll be sure to write a biography first, and post that through people's doors along with any campaign materials...

[Ghostrider]

^ An abridged version will do.

 

I just don't want a heavily religious person representing me in Parliament, nor do I want a product of the "Old Boys" education network representing me, nor someone with such a fickle political conviction that their lifetime has seen them standing as left, centre, centre, none then left again...and numerous other things, and I would like to think they valued my vote enough to be as honest and open with the public as go to the lengths to ensure as many as possible are informed of these things as early in the campaign as possible. Having to dig such gems up by myself in the final countdown, does everything to fail to endear me in to voting for the person in question.

[Colin]

 

"and in the case of his religious views, his schooling, and his genealogy, largely irrelevant to his politics."

 

Not irrelevant to mine though..  Just in case you can't guess, I wouldn't vote for him because of his "genealogy", "politics" or "religion". 

 

If that stance was at all influenced by views on Mr Skene's genealogy, religion or schooling, it says more of you than him. If you disagree with him on politics, great, so do I, but Mr Morton's pathetic personal attack should have no place in the debate. 

 

Well spotted Sherlock...  Of course it says more about me than it does about him...

 

ME;

Fed up with being "ruled" by people who have the "right" birthright.

Fed up of being "ruled" by people who went to the "right" school/University.

Fed up with being "ruled" by people who spout a particular "religion".

Fed up with being "ruled" by people who have an "agenda".

Fed up with being "ruled" by a "political class" who, in the main, have never done a single days real work.

 

I am also if the opinion that, if voting were to actually change anything then, it wouldn't be allowed...

Edited May 5, 2015 by Colin

[Who Knows]

What's Alistair Carmichael done to upset his leader as it appears Nick Clegg will not be getting on a ferry to Orkney?

 

http://www.libdems.org.uk/battle-bus-embarks-on-lands-end-to-john-o-groats-campaign-finale

 

Surely after travelling all that way and insight of Orkney he not turning back as he has given up on winning this seat?

[paulb]

^ An abridged version will do.

 

I just don't want a heavily religious person representing me in Parliament, nor do I want a product of the "Old Boys" education network representing me, nor someone with such a fickle political conviction that their lifetime has seen them standing as left, centre, centre, none then left again...and numerous other things, and I would like to think they valued my vote enough to be as honest and open with the public as go to the lengths to ensure as many as possible are informed of these things as early in the campaign as possible. Having to dig such gems up by myself in the final countdown, does everything to fail to endear me in to voting for the person in question.

so you really cant vote for Alistair church of scotland elder or tory ruling class. or danus. leaves you a labour man from a union dynasty. or master smyth from we hate scotland party.  

[JustMe]

What's Alistair Carmichael done to upset his leader as it appears Nick Clegg will not be getting on a ferry to Orkney?

 

http://www.libdems.org.uk/battle-bus-embarks-on-lands-end-to-john-o-groats-campaign-finale

 

Surely after travelling all that way and insight of Orkney he not turning back as he has given up on winning this seat?

I always thought that the last minute marathons by party leaders aimed to get some extra votes in seats they should win (or might lose).  Missing out on Orkney and Shetland from the Lib Dem's dash could well mean that the party is confident Alastair Carmichael will win once again.

[Ghostrider]

so you really cant vote for Alistair church of scotland elder or tory ruling class. or danus. leaves you a labour man from a union dynasty. or master smyth from we hate scotland party.  

 

The three main national parties are bankrupt both politically and in ideology, and I'm no socialist. So, you're right, that just leaves one, and I don't care whether its a "we hate Scotland party", as when it comes down to it, all the main national parties hate Scotland equally as none of them supported independence.

 

I don't want to see UKIP in power, I just want to see enough of them in power to drag politics back, kicking and screaming if necessary, further to the right. I'm tired of this muddling along in the middle ground we've had for twenty years, where its nigh on impossible to tell what party anyone belongs to on their personal politics alone, and nothing ever happens.

Edited May 5, 2015 by Ghostrider