Hard to escape the conclusion that this interview is just part of a Better Together, Daily Record-fuelled "Get Salmond" last ditch initiative, doomed to failure as all the others have been. That's because they're based on three false premises, i.e.
1. All YES supporters like Alex Salmond.
(They don't - large blocks of them don't want him as a leader of an independent Scotland - but they recognise the main reason they will have a choice at all on the future of their country is Alex Salmond - and they'll vote YES).
2. Alex Salmond is unpopular.
(He's not - his popularity rating are higher than any other Scottish or UK leader, and higher than most EU leaders)
3. The YES campaign's success is totally down to Alex Salmond.
(It's not - it's down to hard core, passionate commitment across of range of political parties, organisations and individuals, all working dynamically in a wide range of initiatives and grassroots organisation for a YES vote.)
Given that something upwards of 45% of Scots say they are No voters at the moment, it would be a minor miracle of at least 32% of them didn't like Alex Salmond.
But if Better Together really believe that the undecideds and No voters contain 32% who are only held back from voting YES by a dislike of Alex Salmond, then they have real trouble in River City!
What the increasingly desperate faux concern addressed to the First Minister to change his style is based on is a transparent attempt to knobble a style that has been spectacularly successful.
Posts
Thanks for that link Peter.
ReplyDeleteOur FM is a smooth operator and fended off Sally M with ease. Very much an asset to the 'Yes' campaign in the months leading up to the Referendum.
You're welcome, David.
Deleteregards,
Peter
Peter, the point's been made elsewhere, but why did SM/BBC waste this opportunity to task the FM over the important issues facing Scotland and not just push their own tiresome agenda to try and hole him below the waterline?
ReplyDeleteDoes AS need to be like some Willie Wonka? Do we most of all need a politician who's 100% for Scotland and nothing else? You bet we do.
This was a waste of an interview - it was hell-bent on puncturing the FM, but failed even with their anti-English football question. Is it any wonder Prof John Robertson doesn't even have time to take a coffee of a morning, he has so much anti-rubbish crap to collate thanks to the good old media.
So, job tried and failed Sally/BBC - not much to shout about there was there? When are you all gonna get a reality check, wake up and smell the flowers - the BBC's sinking like a stone and it won't surface again.
Thanks, Barontorc.
ReplyDeleteAs always, I concentrated on rebutting the content, not ranting against the BBC, although as my comment shows, it was a pursuit of a BetterTogether/Daily Record agenda. It was also, in fairness (a concept that flies out of the window with some YES supporters when the BBC is discussed) necessary for Sally Magnusson (under BBC Charter) to balance her robust and detailed questioning of the PM on the same issue of personality the night before.
It was not wasted airtime, for the simple reason that the FM took control of the interview and the agenda and made the point he wanted to make, effectively and trenchantly.
Thanks for posting.
regards,
Peter