"a springtime of victorious dwarves"

What about the National Elf Service?

Tom Cairn argues that the heirs of the nationalists of the 19th century are the British nationalists who enforced and widely exported their model of large nations with large markets in which the old industrial economy could prosper.

In a talk as part of the Edinburgh Lectures series, introduced by First Minister Alex Salmond, Mr Nairn explained that globalisation is a stimulus for a new type of nationality-politics
, which is less about nationalism in its past sense that "the emergence of new, smaller communities of will and purpose, the nations of a new and deeply different age

"The broader picture remains unmistakeable: a springtime of victorious dwarves, one might say. No more convincing illustration of globalisation's new sliding scale' can be imagined. And with equal ease, anyone can see Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland queuing up to claim their places."

Are there any socialists left in Scotland?

a springtime of victorious dwarves

This party has become a joke.

Scunnert wrote:
Do the SNP under Salmond represent the interests of the Scottish People or the Global Corporate Elite ?

Self-determination for the Scottish kelpies, hobgoblins, elves, trolls, hobbits, orcs, Jeddi Knights, Wee Frees and faeries - irrespective of class or creed.

Wardog wrote:
Read Tom Nairn's full lecture text here.... I wonder if Douglas Fraser will regurgitate this on his skewed 'independent' blog...... http://tinyurl.com/2 pnqud

Vronsky wrote:

a springtime of victorious dwarves

Solves the problem of a national anthem - we can have 'Gnome on the Range'

Grassy Knollington wrote:
On the topic of victorious dwarves, it seems we were right about Gordie and Ming and the attempt at a pact to thwart the SNP, the following is from this mornings Hootsmon. GORDON Brown held two secret meetings with Sir Menzies Campbell during last year's Scottish election campaign in an attempt to forge a new Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition and keep the SNP out of power, it emerged last night. The then Chancellor tried to get the agreement of the former Lib Dem leader for an anti-SNP coalition – even though neither politician had the power to make such an agreement. The secret meetings, held behind the backs of their respective Scottish parties, were disclosed in Sir Menzies' autobiography, which was released to the press last night. In Menzies Campbell: My Autobiography, Sir Ming describes how he met Mr Brown twice in Edinburgh during last year's election campaign – once on Easter Sunday and once on election day itself, when it was clear that the SNP was ahead in the polls and heading for victory. On both occasions, Mr Brown asked for a new Labour-Lib Dem coalition as he did not want the SNP to control the Scottish Executive and its £30 billion budget. Sir Ming told Mr Brown that, although he was also against an SNP-led devolved administration, he could not decide coalition policy, as that was in the hands of the party's Scottish leader, Nicol Stephen. Jack McConnell, the then Scottish Labour leader, was not invited to the meetings, and Sir Ming gives the impression that Mr Brown was operating without the knowledge or approval of the Scottish Labour leadership. News that Mr Brown was working behind the scenes to forge an anti-SNP coalition will infuriate Nationalists and embarrass Scottish Labour leaders, particularly as Mr McConnell made it clear after the SNP won last year's election that Alex Salmond would be given the chance to form a government. Sir Ming writes that Mr Brown first called him at home on Easter Sunday last year to ask for a discreet meeting. He states: "Like me, he was anxious about the possibility of the SNP governing in Scotland, our own backyard. Was there common ground between Labour and the Lib Dems to tackle the SNP together? He made a number of suggestions. I told him I would have to discuss them with Nicol Stephen. "He then raised possibilities for a new coalition between the Lib Dems and Labour on the assumption that the two parties had enough seats jointly to form a government." Sir Ming writes that this was difficult for him as such decisions were for Mr Stephen. As the election campaign drew to a close, Mr Brown was in touch again. Sir Ming writes: "We met at the same discreet place as before. Throughout the campaign, the polls had put the SNP ahead of Labour. Was there scope for an arrangement between our parties? "What would be the consequences for Scotland and our parties if the SNP used the £30 billion Scottish Executive budget to build support for independence over the next few years?" Sir Ming also explains how the Scottish Lib Dem leadership team met at his Edinburgh home the night after the SNP's victory to eat pizza and decide what to do. "After two hours, we packed away our pizza boxes and any possibility of a coalition deal with the SNP," he writes in the book, published next week by Hodder & Stoughton. Sir Ming also reveals that both he and Tavish Scott, the Lib Dems' election campaign manager, were against an SNP-Lib Dem coalition, but a deal with Labour was still a possibility. Mr Brown contacted Sir Ming the next day. Sir Ming writes that he had to be "circumspect" as he was not supposed to "muscle in" on Scottish party affairs. By the time Mr Scott went on BBC Scotland's Politics Show the following day, all forms of coalition had been ruled out for the Lib Dems, which is what Mr Scott then announced.

Rodmac wrote:
Scunnert,

Give us some examples of why this party is a joke as compared, say, to the opposition parties.

Los Angeles wrote:

Scunnert Truly Scunnert

This party has become a joke.

That was a short love affair. You are sooo fickle.

I believe keeping water in Scottish hands is still the outlook. Mind you, with a minority government the (water) pressure is always on to compromise something to get something else.


.

First I was a "rabid flag waver" then I was a "cybergnat" shortly followed by "internet Vermin" , NOW I`m a "Dwarf"

Grassy Knollington wrote:
On the topic of victorious dwarves, it seems we were right about Gordie and Ming and the attempt at a pact to thwart the SNP, the following is from this mornings Hootsmon.

GORDON Brown held two secret meetings with Sir Menzies Campbell during last year's Scottish election campaign in an attempt to forge a new Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition and keep the SNP out of power, it emerged last night.
The then Chancellor tried to get the agreement of the former Lib Dem leader for an anti-SNP coalition – even though neither politician had the power to make such an agreement.

The secret meetings, held behind the backs of their respective Scottish parties, were disclosed in Sir Menzies' autobiography, which was released to the press last night.

In Menzies Campbell: My Autobiography, Sir Ming describes how he met Mr Brown twice in Edinburgh during last year's election campaign – once on Easter Sunday and once on election day itself, when it was clear that the SNP was ahead in the polls and heading for victory.

On both occasions, Mr Brown asked for a new Labour-Lib Dem coalition as he did not want the SNP to control the Scottish Executive and its £30 billion budget.

Sir Ming told Mr Brown that, although he was also against an SNP-led devolved administration, he could not decide coalition policy, as that was in the hands of the party's Scottish leader, Nicol Stephen.

Jack McConnell, the then Scottish Labour leader, was not invited to the meetings, and Sir Ming gives the impression that Mr Brown was operating without the knowledge or approval of the Scottish Labour leadership.

News that Mr Brown was working behind the scenes to forge an anti-SNP coalition will infuriate Nationalists and embarrass Scottish Labour leaders, particularly as Mr McConnell made it clear after the SNP won last year's election that Alex Salmond would be given the chance to form a government.

Sir Ming writes that Mr Brown first called him at home on Easter Sunday last year to ask for a discreet meeting. He states: "Like me, he was anxious about the possibility of the SNP governing in Scotland, our own backyard. Was there common ground between Labour and the Lib Dems to tackle the SNP together? He made a number of suggestions. I told him I would have to discuss them with Nicol Stephen.

"He then raised possibilities for a new coalition between the Lib Dems and Labour on the assumption that the two parties had enough seats jointly to form a government."

Sir Ming writes that this was difficult for him as such decisions were for Mr Stephen.

As the election campaign drew to a close, Mr Brown was in touch again. Sir Ming writes: "We met at the same discreet place as before. Throughout the campaign, the polls had put the SNP ahead of Labour. Was there scope for an arrangement between our parties?

"What would be the consequences for Scotland and our parties if the SNP used the £30 billion Scottish Executive budget to build support for independence over the next few years?"

Sir Ming also explains how the Scottish Lib Dem leadership team met at his Edinburgh home the night after the SNP's victory to eat pizza and decide what to do. "After two hours, we packed away our pizza boxes and any possibility of a coalition deal with the SNP," he writes in the book, published next week by Hodder & Stoughton.

Sir Ming also reveals that both he and Tavish Scott, the Lib Dems' election campaign manager, were against an SNP-Lib Dem coalition, but a deal with Labour was still a possibility.

Mr Brown contacted Sir Ming the next day. Sir Ming writes that he had to be "circumspect" as he was not supposed to "muscle in" on Scottish party affairs.

By the time Mr Scott went on BBC Scotland's Politics Show the following day, all forms of coalition had been ruled out for the Lib Dems, which is what Mr Scott then announced.

Duns Scotus wrote:

"a springtime of victorious dwarves"

What about the National Elf Service?

Observer wrote:
How exactly do we opt out of global capitalism then ? Most people like what capitalism brings them - I say that somewhat despairingly so don't shoot the messenger - what they want is for it's worst excesses to be controlled and to gain something out of it. I think Tom Nairn understands that. Crying stop the world we want to get off isn't really an option here.

Most people like what capitalism brings them

Scunnert wrote:

Observer wrote: How exactly do we opt out of global capitalism then ? Most people like what capitalism brings them - I say that somewhat despairingly so don't shoot the messenger - what they want is for it's worst excesses to be controlled and to gain something out of it. I think Tom Nairn understands that. Crying stop the world we want to get off isn't really an option here.

Observer, I've noticed you don't see many options in life. To present globalisation us an unstoppable force I think is a mythology put out by the WTO and their apologists. I think Scots should consider their options regarding there relations with the wider world and not allow vested interests to determine this and present it as unavoidable and a fait accomplice.