Can this be politically motivated? Smear campaign?...
Be interesting to hear Scotia’s & Franklys thoughts on this..
Accusations of a conspiracy/smear campaign just seem ludicrous and potentially threatens to make targets of the people who felt strong enough to go to the police over this. That the arrest and charge has come entirely within the Scottish police (devolved power) and Scottish judicial system - forever unique and independent of the judiciary of the rest of England - only makes such a claim of 'conspiracy' look even more ridiculous as to plunder deep into the abyss of ignorance and touching stupidity.
I've made my views clear on Salmond, I've never liked him and I still don't. A talented politician for sure - his ability to drag socialist Scotland and fuse it with the more conservative/rural parts of Scotland (not so unlike Blair's electoral strategy) is the blueprint by which all political parties in Britain should aspire to. As much as I hated it, that 2011 Scottish Parliament election victory was something incredible and in history (should Scotland become independent) it will probably be seen as one of the most important dates in the nation's history. It was a critical juncture in the development of devolution and Scottish independence. But as I said I've always disliked the man as I see him as something of a bully and narcissist. Like all narcissists he likes to take control of the narrative as he proved today - never missing the opportunity to blow hard into a tv microphone. Control is everything for those type of individuals.
And for people thinking that such an arrest will have a negative effect on the independence question, well that is ridiculous as well. He is yesterdays man - why else would he be presenting a cheap chat show on a news channel? This is a man who has no political career anymore and he very much lives in Sturgeon's shadow in terms of influence and power - what purpose and threat does he carry to Sturgeon let alone a UK establishment? Since she became FM she's been a breath of fresh air by comparison. I think we've seen in the last couple of years, probably the only politician in Britain that has been consistent on the Brexit question. And I certainly don't doubt Sturgeon's integrity in the same way I did with Salmond. After all, Sturgeon was the person whose principles came ahead of everything else and opened up Scottish Government investigations on him back in the summer. The independence movement, like all large movements, are bigger than any one individual. It's heavily dependent on what Sturgeon does of course but it long ceased being dependent on Salmond's own political strength.
And as for those on the other side of the independence argument, I've seen articles from unionist publications taking glee from today's news salivating over a so called SNP 'civil war' between Sturgeon and Salmond. But that is tasteless and nothing could expose the depravity of certain sections of the press more than making political capital over something as serious as attempted rape and sexual assault. But then again, are any of us surprised?
Just to go back to my point at the top, Salmond isn't a victim of a conspiracy. If people think he was then ask yourself why this didn't come before the referendum? Why not after he became SNP leader in 2004? Why not before Harvey Weinstein...oh hang on. That's it. At the end of the day, he's just another establishment figure who could potentially be brought down by the MeToo movement in an era where women are now confident enough to come forward and testify against those men in power who aggressively abused and corrupted that power. It could take down Salmond and be sure there are far bigger names that it will take down in future.
« Last Edit: Jan 24, 2019 08:22:26 pm by Frankly, Mr Shankly »
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