Alistair Carmichael memo leak and inquiry: should he resign?

[Ghostrider]

With the greatest respect GR, what is it that you're doing to bring about the revolution you speak of?

 

I'm assuming that not voting and criticising folk online who are trying to make at least a small difference can't be the sum total.

 

I never said I wanted or intended to bring about a revolution, only that I can see the benefits of one and wouldn't oppose one.

 

Unlike religious bods and other sundry "do-gooders", I don't believe in  "one true way" and go around stuffing my beliefs down people's throats and attempting to "save" them. I see that as a very short-sighted and distasteful technique.

 

Rather I just express my opinion, the reasons why I hold it, and leave it up to people to do with as they will. I don't mind whether they agree with me, or continue to swallow hook line and sinker what I believe is bull from folks with vested interests in maintaining the status quo, its their funeral. I'm quite happy to sit pretty on the furthest fringes of society I can get myself put on, and let as much as possible of it all pass me by.

[Ghostrider]

I think it was EasyJet.

 

I would have throught Whitehall would have jumped at the chance to send their spooks right in there.

[Ghostrider]

He added: “There is no greater sin that an MP can commit than to lie to his electorate.”

 

Except, Carmichael arguably wasn't an MP when he did it. Parliament was dissolved two days earlier, with no Parliament in existence one cannot be a Member of Parliament.

 

Splitting hairs, yes, but if you're gonna hang a man, lets at least do it on the facts.

[Ghostrider]

The result of not voting is that someone would take control, regardless. Then you will enjoy your revolution and anarchy, then they would do precisely what they wanted to and there would be no reason for complaint. The alternative to not voting is voting, voting for the person, party or system you believe to be best and then you can at least say, "I tried my best."

 

 

 

 

Defeatist much? Why must it be "someone" who takes control, and "they" would do what they liked. what's wrong with "us", "we", "you", or "I"?

 

I disagree completely that "there would be no reason for complaint", regardless of who is in charge and whatever the system there is always reason to complain if you don't like what they're serving up. Although I can see where you're coming from in light of your stance that power can only be in the hands of some vague "they" and you've have no part in controlling it.

 

If voting in the current political system is "Doing your best", then its no wonder we have the shambles we have. Personally I feel voting is hardly worth doing, as there's so much more a person could do, if they had the motivation and dedication to do it.

[JustMe]

I can certainly understand Danus thinking that had Alastair's involvement in the leaked memo been know before election day then perhaps he would have got more votes and Alastair less maybe leading to a different result.  But all that is in the past and it is certainly not the first time a defeated candidate has believed that if a fact had been known before the votes were cast then they would have won.

 

If Alastair had been the source of the memo then yes he would have been guilty of telling a blatant lie just before a tightly fought election and he should certainly resign.  But this is not what happened.  The memo seems to have been written by some civil servant and all Alastair did was authorise one of his people to leak its existence to the media.  Poor judgement certainly but a matter for resignation?.  I think not!.

 

Perhaps the question ought to be about the person who wrote the memo and their suitability for continued employment?.

[George.]

 

The result of not voting is that someone would take control, regardless. Then you will enjoy your revolution and anarchy, then they would do precisely what they wanted to and there would be no reason for complaint. The alternative to not voting is voting, voting for the person, party or system you believe to be best and then you can at least say, "I tried my best."

 

 

 

 

Defeatist much? Why must it be "someone" who takes control, and "they" would do what they liked. what's wrong with "us", "we", "you", or "I"?

 

I disagree completely that "there would be no reason for complaint", regardless of who is in charge and whatever the system there is always reason to complain if you don't like what they're serving up. Although I can see where you're coming from in light of your stance that power can only be in the hands of some vague "they" and you've have no part in controlling it.

 

If voting in the current political system is "Doing your best", then its no wonder we have the shambles we have. Personally I feel voting is hardly worth doing, as there's so much more a person could do, if they had the motivation and dedication to do it.

 

 

If you haven't taken the time or made the effort to vote then it is very much an "Us and them" situation. If you take the few minutes that it costs to put your vote in, it immediately becomes "Us" or "We" as you are then joining in. If you don't join in then then you're not part of the game. 'Nuff said.

 

For another persons thoughts on Alistair Carmichael, read My Friend Alistair Carmichael by Craig Murray, just blogged yesterday. 

[Urabug]

Alistair Carmichael is a professional politician who should have known better and will now find it very difficult if not impossible to get the support he requires to remain in his post.

 

Alistair however has parliamentary experience which most of our SNP representives in Westminster lack, and this I think has to be considered.

 

If we have a builder doing a job for us who beats up his wife,this would be very wrong but most of us would let him carry on with the job, because he was experencied with what he is doing . 

 

The point is Alistair made an error of judgement in this case on a trivial matter which has been blown out of context. Who really cares what Nicola said!

 

DO WE REALLY WANT TO SEE THE SNP IN FOR SHETLAND / ORKNEY

[George.]

The point is Alistair made an error of judgement in this case on a trivial matter which has been blown out of context. 

 

The point is not that Carmichael made an error of judgement. The point is that he is a liar and has finally admitted that. Massive difference between an "error of judgement" and an outright lie.

Edited May 25, 2015 by George.

[Urabug]

Yes George,if he had been lieing about something more important,but something some "tart" has supposingly spluttered to, what some French guy or something like that! 

 

 

Let common sense prevail! Give him a clip alang the lug and tell him no to do it again

[JohanofNess]

I do wonder would all this outrage be as vitriolic if Carmichael was sitting on a 9k majority.

 

Sharks sense blood in the water they're going to come take a nibble.

[George.]

Yes George,if he had been lieing about something more important,but something some "tart" has supposingly spluttered to, what some French guy or something like that! 

 

 

Let common sense prevail! Give him a clip alang the lug and tell him no to do it again

 

Yes, let common sense prevail. Let him hand in his notice, as he should have done in the first place. He has had to admit to being a liar although he did do his best to ignore the fact that the truth about him was out in public view.

 

 

I do wonder would all this outrage be as vitriolic if Carmichael was sitting on a 9k majority.

 

Sharks sense blood in the water they're going to come take a nibble.

 

Carmichael expected the usual majority that he has enjoyed for the last fourteen or so years. Things change and he hoped to get away with what he was up to, regardless. He lied about what he had done and if there was any chance of him getting a 9k majority he wouldn't have done it in the first place.

[JohanofNess]

 

Carmichael expected the usual majority that he has enjoyed for the last fourteen or so years. Things change and he hoped to get away with what he was up to, regardless. He lied about what he had done and if there was any chance of him getting a 9k majority he wouldn't have done it in the first place.

 

 

Kind of contradict yourself from the first sentence to the third. Either he was expecting to win with a healthy majority or he wasn't. More likely he played his dirty trick as a national card than a regional one. He probably did assume he would get back in, sticking the doubt in the mind of Scottish electorate was to try and help his colleagues who were on a shooglier peg than he was.

[Scorrie]

I do wonder would all this outrage be as vitriolic if Carmichael was sitting on a 9k majority.

 

Sharks sense blood in the water they're going to come take a nibble.

 

Yup. None of the SNP orcs would working themselves up into a lather at all as they'd have nothing to gain from it.

 

As I said earlier: 'Tis all cynical manipulating for an ulterior reason.

[Ghostrider]

If you haven't taken the time or made the effort to vote then it is very much an "Us and them" situation. If you take the few minutes that it costs to put your vote in, it immediately becomes "Us" or "We" as you are then joining in. If you don't join in then then you're not part of the game. 'Nuff said.

 

 

http://slackbastard.anarchobase.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/votenobody-e1371373671195.png

 

http://www.unrestmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/we-lose.jpg

 

 

I have no intention of playing their "game", what we need it a whole new game.

Edited May 25, 2015 by Ghostrider

[Ghostrider]

Yup. None of the SNP orcs would working themselves up into a lather at all as they'd have nothing to gain from it.

 

As I said earlier: 'Tis all cynical manipulating for an ulterior reason.

 

Exactly, and a witch hunt/lynch mob occupies no higher moral ground than a spreader of mistruths in my book. They're as bad as each other.

 

I'd suggest we take both Skene and Carmihael and dump them on the Fair Isle, if Carmichael reaches Kirkwall by swimming and/or walking first, he wins, if Skene reaches Lerwick first by swimming and/or walking first he wins.

 

My sincere apologies to the folk of the Fair Isle for the trauma of having to put up with both characters at once, but shoving Carmichael off Sumburgh Head and Skene off the Point of Sinsoss and leaving them to get on with the same task did seem to be expecting a little too much of them.

Edited May 25, 2015 by Ghostrider