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Hello Charles. As usual, so much to take to task in what is an utterly incontinent post. I don't know if it's an image you are fostering but you are increasingly coming across as a puce faced old colonel in danger of blowing a righteously indignant gasket as you strain away. Anyhow, let's disabuse you (again) on the quantumly small chance you will listen. The SNP have heehaw to do with the other two examples of people elected solely on the grounds of popular disconnect between the political mainstream and the electorate. Michael Moore - a vastly more respectable intellect than you - has called this the greatest "f*ck you" in history. That's all there is behind this. There is, as may well become frighteningly apparent with Trump, no plan. That has already become utterly transparent with Brexit. The SNP can't be lumped in there because it is the political mainstream in Scotland and doesn't seem to suffer the same ills as Labour, Democrats et al. It will only do this if and when it has disillusioned it's core support - whether that support is left/ right/ centre is immaterial. It's leaders do not espouse discrimination, bigotry or hatred despite having an independence agenda. One other thing - there are boltholes for "politically illiterate cranks" in Scottish politics but I fear that those wishing to flee to them will have to share with an inconinent old colonel that others stopped listening to years ago. Still, you should enjoy their company.

If the Donald is not already sobered by the fact alone that he is now the president of the mighty United States of America, the thrill and acclamation of the win will fade soon enough. And then he will have to get down to business quickly. Being, apparently, now one of the wealthiest men in the world he has now ...probably... become financially astute enough to at least be able to balance the books on an annual basis. He certainly is smart enough to have taken advantage of the American tax laws to allow him to have avoided paying any taxes at all on his recent past incomes. Now that takes b..lls or some faith in the probable fact that the U S tax systems will still be operating in the same way after many further years. If so this will favour the businessmen of America , like him, and such measures will, feasibly, be encouraged by Donald to enhance the economic prosperity within the country..... I think. Unless, of course his plans already include long term spending strategies that will at least take him up to the next election in four years' time, by which time the fruits of his labour will at least be showing an upward trend in popularity by evidencing some increasing GOOD which will compel the electorate to re-elect him --or the reverse will apply and he may be out on his ear as new , more politically savvy, actors stride upon the stage. Putin: My wife is Ukrainian and says that Mr Vladimir Put-the-boot-in will eat him for breakfast. There is no doubt that , with his KGB connections he is a very well-connected politician who has also survived more then one possible reversal of fortune in his past from which he has escaped unscathed. Like the blowing up of a rival many years ago in which he was alleged to have been closely implicated--an event that directly furthered his upward progression in the political sphere of influence. Externally this is unlikely since Mr Putin's continuous rise in power and prestige relies on deriving economic benefit from an association with the U.S. whose military alone far surpasses that of the Soviet Union in size. It's also my opinion that a dangerous threat may come from China who is building up their military might in an alarming fashion and is already hell-bent or "re-acquiring" the islands off their Eastern coast against the warnings of the USA to stop. In addition, one of the Kremlin's beefs with the West is suggested to lie in the fact that much of the bellicose attitudes of Mr. Putin and his cohorts is engendered because Russia has not been recognised for their power and importance in the International arena and not asked for their opinions etc. when the rest of the world is making political moves. This lies at the root of the daring invasion and take-over of the Crimea against which the Western powers complained mightily but did nothing to stop him and his intervention in Syria. If their talks go well then other countries may be persuaded to at least consider some form of trading agreement with Moscow as desirable.. seeing also a diminution of general world tension with the Russian Confederation as a valuable side effect as well as an economic benefit. Further, the stationing of military might in far-flung places very close to Russia, as is currently underway, only serves to antagonise the Kremlin and is also very expensive to maintain and service with spare parts and supplies. There is an old saying .."keep your friends close and your enemies closer." For me, first impressions are that Mr. DT has a nasty steak in him and so he will not at all like playing second fiddle to the Russian President. But since this is the Donald's first foray into the political arena and concentrated on his business acquisitions etc, these two powerful men might just get along with Vlad the Lad weighing him up very carefully but being gracious enough to convince DT that they have much in common and he appreciates his having been elected and welcomes further talks and so on. I also think that Mr. trump is sharp enough to see that a more favorable climate of reconciliation with the Russians could be very favorable to the USA and to even allow a reduction in armed forces which could reduce his bills for the military substantially. Not to mention the fact that a favorable trade agreement with Moscow could bring not only peace but considerable financial benefits to his bottom line. Russia is a mighty geographical empire but is small indeed compared to the huge economic enterprise and connections of the U.S.A. ESPECIALLY since Putin is a very smart thinker and has selected all the main industrial bosses to run his vital enterprises from those who are highly intelligent, experienced, well-connected and successful people. Russia is also exporting oil (and gas?) in huge amounts through their pipelines to the West via Ukraine and so on. In short they are, one might say, fairly self-sufficient and independent. The main reason, INMHO, for his election is because the public perception of BOTH candidates throughout is one of shocking unsuitability, but in such an important election they just had to vote one way or the other. Phew! What a choice!And they chose a very aggressive, outspoken but perceived to be more honest and open person in Donald, whose business skills far outweighed anything she had to offer, and the USA population wanted work and jobs and Donald promised that. Hillary was also perceived to be far too well connected with the upper echelons of power ( meaning there was unlikely to be hardly any change at all in the White House) and crooked with little regard for either the basic rules or the people to whom she should be accountable. Donald, however, categorically promised many radical changes whereas really she promised nothing at all....except same old, same old.

On a day of madness, hats off to the Buchan Observer for the lead headline on its website - "Aberdeenshire business owner wins presidential election"

It's a great pity that you spoiled what would have been a rare reasonable post by grouping a moderate left of centre party which has been mainstream for half a century and in government for a decade in the same category as the extremists. Whether you agree with their policies or actions and whether you support independence or not, no reasonable person would do so. Whatever ones view, the SNP and what they espouse are neither a passing phase or remotely close to social lunacy.

I have removed nine posts that were nothing to do with the topic. Please keep to the subject as this is an informative post. All the rubbish will end up in general nonsense, horsing about. The next posters to stray from the topic on this thread will find themselves unable to post on Team news injuries and suspensions etc

Absolutely this. I tried to mute one of these regular bores a few weeks back only to find to some reason muting this one in-particular clown wasn't allowed!

So let me get this straight. Other places have naturally dodgy boltholes for politically illiterate cranks but not Scotland. Instead we have the squeaky clean, cuddly SNP. The only difference between the SNP and other crank political movements benefiting from the current global brainstorm is that, unlike Trump, UKIP, the French Front National etc, the SNP claims to be a left rather than a right wing pressure group. It expediently made the transition some years ago when it realised that, in Scotland, left wingery was more likely to assist its sole objective. Nothing to do with ideology - this was pure, cynical political opportunism but it still doesn't detract from well established historical parallels.

I certainly agree with all of the above, but it must be added that what has led to the election of Donald Trump is the very same passing phase of social lunacy throughout the West which has also led the politically illiterate towards kneejerk support for various other crank causes such as UKIP and the SNP. Were it not for this kind of political behaviour, which also manifested itself post-recession/depression in the 1930s, roasters of this kind would never have progressed past their natural status of comedy minorities.