RISE NOW AND BE A NATION AGAIN !

Give the guy a wee break eh
It,s been long established practice in many areas of life and politics to quote others and,,,
Others statements in support of your own viewpoint
I have found some of his published quotes to be quite informative

Its not his use of other's statements to support his viewpoint that is the issue. Its the fact that he does not want to, or is incapable of giving a viewpoint beyond vote Yes and we got that at the start of the thread. Simply posting other peoples' views without comment as to why those views are supported by you or the reasoning that you take from those views in support of your position leads to the suspicion that you are following blindly with no questioning of the rationale behind that choice. That's OK, it is the way many people make up their mind on matters of politics, but it is not a great advert for the cause he appears to support. Blind unquestioning faith is not sufficient to persuade me that the Yes cause is worth risking my future for.
 
Bennysdad that's my feelings entirely I promised myself I wouldn't make any more comments but you have inspired me. What you said is true I've have had enough of listening to bigots I wonder why anyone would want the break up of our society that has been such a fabric of my life and my families life My relatives in Caithness Edinburgh Peterhead Eyemouth Yorkshire Northumberland and Yorkshire, strangers to each of each other!!! No Way I'll put up with Westminster because that is not what I'm about we are all a family in these British islands not just individual pieces in some jigsaw.
 
Its not his use of other's statements to support his viewpoint that is the issue. Its the fact that he does not want to, or is incapable of giving a viewpoint beyond vote Yes and we got that at the start of the thread. .......................

Perhaps he has been tasked with the low cost promotion of the "Yes" campaign by a political entity. He and scores or even hundreds of others are signed onto assorted forums pushing the interests of the Yes campaigners.

A kind of desperate low cost battle for hearts and votes. It certainly wouldn't be a Yes without such efforts and probably won't even with them. Toddy is a pawn in an army of forum posters.
 
Lord Robertson is a special advisor to BP PLC :augie

Oil sales world wide are historically conducted in US Dollars ?... not Sterling !!!


So whether we use the pound Sterling or any other pound format even groats ...it will be finalised in balance to US Dollars ...so in reality ? ..one could say it would be preferential to have in this instance a currency less than current Bank of England Pound Sterling ..since then you revenue balance from income based on Scottish Currency v US $ ..would be greater ?
BP North Sea activities are only a minor part of BP worldwide interests ..can we assume that BP demand and conduct their international activities in ONLY Pound Sterling ?
With BP's current track record, they should keep quiet about parading their demands ,,, with the damage suite payments and other legal situations in the pipline to hit them ,..they may need to go begging instead of bragging to retain any decent financial income revenue

Hence why is he talking rubbish

Saorsa :scotsman
 
Give the guy a wee break eh
It,s been long established practice in many areas of life and politics to quote others and,,,
Others statements in support of your own viewpoint
I have found some of his published quotes to be quite informative

I think for forum needs to be careful or it will have an online bullying case to deal with :eek:

Consistent/repeated behaviour influencing to force a point of view.

Toddy's a bully :rolleyes:
 
Bennysdad that's my feelings entirely I promised myself I wouldn't make any more comments but you have inspired me. What you said is true I've have had enough of listening to bigots I wonder why anyone would want the break up of our society that has been such a fabric of my life and my families life My relatives in Caithness Edinburgh Peterhead Eyemouth Yorkshire Northumberland and Yorkshire, strangers to each of each other!!! No Way I'll put up with Westminster because that is not what I'm about we are all a family in these British islands not just individual pieces in some jigsaw.

+1 :thumb

Don't forget its strongly rumoured that EU would like the break up of the UK, I think they see us as a thorn in it's side at times. Divide and conquer!
 
Derek Bateman on a Bob Dudley today....

A really good read as always from DB

Bob bob bobbing along
by derekbateman
When you work in 80 different countries as diverse as Angola, Egypt, Iraq and Mozambique, Mexico, Brasil, Azerbijan, Russia and Indonesia, it’s easy to see why you’d be worried about a change of regime in Aberdeen.

If your company operates in places where there are dictators, constant changes of government, mass riots, political trials, extra-judicial killings, no free media, mass poverty, public corruption, no rule of law and drug cartels running whole towns and beheading the police, it’s understandable that the prospect of paying less corporation tax to do business in Scotland would freak you. But that’s the view of the fearless buccaneering American go-getter Bob Dudley of BP. Things could get difficult for Bob as he dodges into doorways on Union Street afraid of what calamity independent Scots might visit on him and his company.

And he’s right to be concerned. Remember this is the man who had to sneak out of Russia with unsmiling oligarchs on his tail when a joint venture went wrong. In 2003, he was in business with four Russian billionaire oligarchs. The Russians wanted more bang for their buck and the venture became a fierce power struggle, with BP executives alleging harassment by both the oligarchs and the Russian government. Dudley was sweeping his office for bugs and taking phone calls on his balcony to avoid being recorded. In July 2008, Dudley fled. His visa was set to expire, and it seemed that the Russians weren't keen on renewing. BP was so paranoid at the time that they didn't announce his departure until he was airborne, and refused to disclose his whereabouts. Dudley continued to run the company from his secret location. A Russian court banned Dudley from holding office in the country for two years.

Now that is exactly what I suspect Salmond plans. As soon as we’re independent he’ll muscle in on BP profits, demanding more and bugging Bob’s office and getting Aberdonians to spy on him. No wonder brave Bob is a worried man. Russia is nothing compared to the cold shoulder in Aberdeen where even the seagulls attack to order.

And let’s not forget a genuine tragedy afflicting BP which is, how can I put this, unlikely to occur in the Forties Field… the Amenas gas plant in Algeria was attacked last January by al quaeda and four members of staff and 36 colleagues from partners and contractor companies murdered among them two Scots Carson Bilsland of Bridge of Cally and Kenneth Whiteside of Glenrothes. Doesn’t it ring hollow to you – and shouldn’t it do so to Dudley – for him to talk of uncertainties in Aberdeen and the North Sea when in recent times his company has confronted real, chilling difficulties which cost the lives of his own people in other much more challenging countries?

But Bob of course didn’t really mean that. He was playing politics and when asked at a press briefing about difficulties said he thought that “office costs” would go up. What is he talking about? Will Muriel in accounts demand a pay rise now she’s independent, will the price of rowies go up or will the cleaners demand more time off to go to Pittodrie now that Aberdeen are back up the SPFL? We are not told. But what we are told by Bob in his more lucid chief executive mode is this.

“BP has been given the go-ahead to develop the second phase of the massive Clair Field in the Atlantic frontier west of Shetland as part of a £10bn investment by BP and its partners over the next five years. The latest surveys of the 20-mile long field have also confirmed seven billion barrels of oil equivalent are in the giant reservoir, making it the UK’s largest hydrocarbon resource. Global energy demand is going up, and the world will need 16 million barrels per day more in 2030 than today.”

So that looks like the end of the North Sea adventure for BP then. That investment and his remarks make clear there is no future in Scotland….

No, hang on. Here is Bob again reported by an industry journal. A third phase of the Clair Ridge is mooted (on the back of the £4.5b investment), the Quad 204 project to replace equipment at the Schiehallion field west of Shetland was also significant and BP confirmed plans to bring the Kinnoull field north-east of Aberdeen into production this year.

So what exactly is this prince of businessmen saying? Is he threatening to pull out of the North Sea? Definitely not. But you have to say that his unclear remarks hinting at big decisions ahead after a Yes vote are likely to spook investors who have thus far been reassured by most major businesses and investment financiers that independence offers no immediate threat.

Or perhaps the same businesses and financiers know full well that he is playing a political game which has absolutely no meaning whatsoever for the company and its operations. Indeed, the offer from independence is lower corporation tax and guaranteed industry consultations before any tax changes – to avoid uncertainty.

And where has uncertainty come from previously? Here is a quote from Douglas Fraser, Economy Editor at BBC Scotland: Oil and Gas UK, representing the sector links the sharp drop in production over the past couple of years to tax raids by Gordon Brown last decade and by George Osborne in 2011. Care to comment, Bob?

In his BBC interview Dudley named two other areas of concerns apart from “office costs”. He was worried about currency. There are two replies to this. First, the Scottish government has never wavered throughout the referendum campaign from its view that it will use sterling. The British have refused to rule it out, although they could. Or they could say it is likely. Either way, this is London’s call and Bob has a direct line to Number 11 so why doesn’t he use it and end his uncertainty? Second, I thought oil transactions were conducted in dollars. I hear there is a move to change that but if it happens it would be by going into the euro (much maligned in the UK) certainly not using sterling. Does Bob really understand his own business?

Then he is worried about EU membership…do you feel like screaming at this imbecilic nonsense? Brussels will only clear it up if asked by London and London refuse to ask - ergo, Bob – demand London clears it up…And if you’re so worried about EU membership what have you said to Cameron about his referendum plan?

Can a man in charge of one of the world’s biggest companies really be so dim-witted about areas which he himself says are crucial to his business? Eh, yes, he can.

He seriously infuriated the waiting oil industry community in Houston at the annual CERAweek conference by failing to read their mood and brushing aside the Deepwater Horizon issue for which the company is on trial in New Orleans. Eleven men died and millions of tons of oil polluted the Bay of Mexico in the BP spill and for which the company is paying out billions in compensation, hitting their profits today. One report said: “He canceled his post-speech press conference, likely because he didn’t want to be asked about the likelihood of settling with the Department of Justice. And in his speech he neglected to speak much at all about the changes that he has wrought during his 2.5 years at the helm of BP. This is too bad, because what the gathered suits would really like to hear from Dudley is a litany of reasons to believe that BP is back, solid, secure, safe.”

So there he goes again…avoiding the key point and running away. When asked to be specific about independence in Scotland he declared himself “against Scotland drifting away”. Does he know something about geology we don’t? Or does he read into Salmond’s statements as an oil economist anxious to work with the industry to secure its future profits and help his country that he somehow is going to become less interested in Scotland’s North Sea bonanza? The sad truth for Dudley is that if a politician had made such weak, unsubstantiated statements they would have been laughed at. But because he carries the mantle of corporate power he is revered and lauded for his courage. Well, not in my house. And I’m not sure how many oil people in Aberdeen will welcome unhelpful vague innuendo about their future.

And here’s a thought to ponder. Why DID he voice those “personal views” yesterday? Try this virtual conversation between a BBC business correspondent and BP’s media man.

BBC: Profits down 30 per cent? Doesn’t look good.

BP: All because of Deepwater Horizon.

BBC: Ah yes, how is the trial and payment of billions in compensation going?

BP: We’d rather avoid that. Can I suggest you ask him a question about independence. He might have something to say.

BBC: Righto! Thanks.

And what is everyone talking about today? What was wall-to-wall on television news? Did you hear that profits were down….or did you hear concerns about independence? Isn’t it interesting just how docile and compliant our media is when a story that fits their agenda is laid before them. And doesn’t it partly explain the imbalance in coverage by the broadcasters…all No has to do is say the world Fear and all intelligence and scrutiny evaporates from our journalists who seem unable to ask the most basic questions. They fall down in front of this guy in gratitude and take him at face value, do as they are commanded, follow his agenda, and are satisfied that journalism has been served. Surely the job is to report what he says and then analyse what he is saying and why is he saying it?

Normally when a businessman strays into politics a correspondent’s antenna would twitch. At the very least he would ask if this was what shareholders expected of him and doesn’t preferring one side over another alienate a market?

I realized overnight why that didn’t happen here. It is because what Bob Dudley was saying fits the bias and agenda of the journalists. Their mindset is that independence is silly, dangerous, anti-English and disruptive of business and here is someone in authority backing up their prejudices. It isn’t that Dudley shouldn’t say it, it’s that the journalists forget their primary duty when reporting it. The coverage today lacked balance but worse, it lacked basic questioning journalism and is turning our debate into Punch and Judy…he says something, she hits him over he head.

This moronic journalism came up last night at the launch of Murray Pittock’s revised book Scotland – the Road to Independence? at Blackwell’s in Edinburgh. There is a growing sense that the combination of outrageous, insensitive, dismissive messages from London government and Labour, the unremitting dependency offensive of No and the parroting of all this by an increasingly mistrusted media is slowly backfiring. It is reaching the end of its worth and is turning in on itself. Nor am I sure that the media is right in assuming that the public is intimidated any more by the garlanded statements of businessman. The banking crisis destroyed the last vestiges of respect for the corporate elite as moral leaders as surely as the expenses scandal did for Westminster politicos. Mr Dudley may be misjudging the Scots, just as he did those Russians, the Texas oilmen and the bereaved families of his dead workers.
:clap:clap:clap:clap
 
Hey Toddy. This is so much easier than trying to engage in debate. And you don't have to think too much.
 

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...It's a bit like a divorce

I like this analogy.

A couple split up as one has got fed up with the relationship. Fair enough.

Then as they start to discuss the separation, the 'fed up' one starts stipulating what the deal will be.

'Fed up' wants to protect the income gained from their side of the family, whilst leaving the mortgage behind, laying claim to the golf club membership and insisting on continued use of the nectar points.

:D
 
All these scare stories come from Better Together parties
Yip the same guys that said it was correct to go to war as the have proof of WMD
Yip the same guys that tell you lies on a daily basis.
Yip the same guys who milk the system second homes duck ponds
Yip the same guys that fiddle expenses
Yip the same guys that clock into parliament then clock out 2 mins later to get £360
Away from a London media bias which tells lies daily and gets disproved daily and is not answerable for it

It's not all about money !

Scotland has a chance to be a more morally and tolerant country rather than the road that Westminster is taking
No nukes
No House of Lords
No illegal wars
No tories
A government voted for by the people.

Maybe then we will get a Scottish Labour party unlike the red tories we have in place just now.
 
Respond to this post by replying above this line New post on Derek Bateman Broadcast

Disgraceful people.
Shadow Defence Secretary, Vernon Coaker says Labour is committed to a Trident replacement and he is confident they will stick to that policy. HE also made it clear that Labour reject the Lib Dem plan to reduce Trident.
 

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All these scare stories come from Better Together parties
Yip the same guys that said it was correct to go to war as the have proof of WMD
Yip the same guys that tell you lies on a daily basis.
Yip the same guys who milk the system second homes duck ponds
Yip the same guys that fiddle expenses
Yip the same guys that clock into parliament then clock out 2 mins later to get £360
Away from a London media bias which tells lies daily and gets disproved daily and is not answerable for it

It's not all about money !

Scotland has a chance to be a more morally and tolerant country rather than the road that Westminster is taking
No nukes
No House of Lords
No illegal wars
No tories
A government voted for by the people.

Maybe then we will get a Scottish Labour party unlike the red tories we have in place just now.

You have missed out parts of the logic.

No nukes or any jobs associated with them
No House of Lords or any other second chamber to review and revise legislation.
No illegal wars or any other sort because we will be reliant on NATO (ie the French and the USA) to defend our interests.
No tories or the jobs and revenue created by their companies.
A government voted for by the people so long as it is socialist.

Maybe you will get Johann Lamont for prime minister and the whacking rise in council tax she wants.

Nice to see some real comment from the Yes side however. Congratulations. You can now expect your post to be cut and pasted by Toddy.
 
All these scare stories come from Better Together parties
Yip the same guys that said it was correct to go to war as the have proof of WMD
Yip the same guys that tell you lies on a daily basis.
Yip the same guys who milk the system second homes duck ponds
Yip the same guys that fiddle expenses
Yip the same guys that clock into parliament then clock out 2 mins later to get £360
Away from a London media bias which tells lies daily and gets disproved daily and is not answerable for it

It's not all about money !

Scotland has a chance to be a more morally and tolerant country rather than the road that Westminster is taking
No nukes
No House of Lords
No illegal wars
No tories
A government voted for by the people.

Maybe then we will get a Scottish Labour party unlike the red tories we have in place just now.

And you honestly don't think Slippery Salmond won't lie to you to get what he desires - you are either naive or deluded or both.:blast
 


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