Ah, irony.  You’ve got to love it.  I’m back in the hotseat this week, and we begin with everyone’s favourite political party – the Lib Dems – and a round-up of their conference.

LID DEM CONFERENCE

So, with that out of the way…

Just kidding.  The Liberal Democrat conference marked a first for the Scottish blogosphere, with Lib Dem footsoldier Stephen Glenn providing a live feed on each day’s action.  He also found time to comment on their youth wing – Liberal Youth Scotland – and the discussion of the ban on gay blood donation.  And, I am assured, he still had plenty time to drink.

Bernard Salmon also gave his thoughts on the blood ban discussion, the economy and Tavish Scott’s speech.  Political Dissuasion makes a return to blogging to agree with the Lib Dem Conference that independence should be “killed off” – for the moment while Richard Thomson is amused that the Lib Dems should talk for so long about something they think shouldn’t be talked about.  The Grumpy Spindoctor reports the SNP’s response…

Caron comments on the Lib Dem Conference broadcast – which she thinks misses out on a key issue (social housing) and laments the fact that she had to enjoy it from the comfort of her own home (get well soon!).  Justified Spinner thinks there were more Lib Dems (and indeed, Scottish Labourites) who stayed away from conference than actually went.  And no, he wasn’t there either.

POLLS AND THE POPE

Away from the Lib Dems and onward to (less) important matters.  Jeff paints the latest polls as a disaster for the SNP, Yousuf celebrates a major boost for Labour while James speculates on a future government if the poll were to be replicated in an election.

The Pope’s comments about condoms “aggrevating” the problem of HIV/AIDS have been met with varied reactions.  I present (what I think is!) a balanced piece and give my own view while Stephen is slightly more scathing in his analysis.  There are some who think the Pope makes sense on the issue, as this comment demonstrates.

ALL-WOMAN SHORTLISTS

After Brian Taylor’s piece citing the tensions in Airdrie & Shotts over the proposed imposition upon the local Labour party of an All-Woman Shortlist to replace John Reid as Labour candidate in the constituency, Will points out why it shouldn’t be necessary while Yousuf defends the principle and the discussion on my own piece raises some interesting points, dominated, as it is, by male voices.  Does this point to a lack of interest in politics among women or simply a lack of opportunity to get involved?  Or is it simply a reflection of my predominantly male readership?  I suspect the latter…

Jeff takes on the issue in this piece and is (fairly harshly, I think) accused of misogyny and sexism for suggesting that candidates should be selected on merit only.  Will comes to his defence in a second piece, arguing against AWS, which brings the circle back round to the start of the discussion.

Got to love politics – mass discussion, little agreement, no action.

ELSEWHERE:

Suitably Despairing compares the seagull problem to World War II.

Big Rab composes an ode to Fred Goodwin.

Ideas of Civilisation has an idea to improve our schools.

Lallands Peat Worrier on Margaret Curran no longer writing Labour’s 2011 manifesto.

Holyrood Watcher on slopping out.

Jeff & Subrosa on a quiet FMQs.

Advanced Media Watch on whether ex-pat Scots should be allowed to vote in Scottish Parliament elections.

The Steamie thinks the Big Lebowski is the Scottish Minister for Transport.

Will Patterson answers 20 questions on blogging.

And some of the jokes on Jeff’s piece about the proposed “Cow-Fart Tax” (I kid you not) will have you groaning until we do this again next week.

That’s it for this week.  Tune in again same place, probably about the same time, where Will Patterson is back in the editing seat.  Let him know if you have any suggestions for inclusions, by either filling out the wee boxey thing on the right or by emailing scottishroundup@gmail.com.  Arrabest!

Afternoon all! Or indeed, “mornin’” or “evenin’” depending when you are reading this. As part of the “Best Political Team in the Blogosphere” the privilege of writing this week’s round-up has fallen to me. I’ll try not to screw up too badly.

With the bells ringing out for Christmas it is no surprise that bloggers have been a bit quieter this week. However, there’s still plenty going on…

The Scotsman’s new blog “The Steamie” featured some fun stuff this week, and it is proving a popular addition to the blogosphere. However, Stephen Glenn is a bit miffed as he seems to have been ignored in his attempts to join their blogroll!

Scottish Tory Boy kicks off the campaigning on his blog… no, not for the election (next year?) but in support of attempts to get Jeff Buckley’s version of Hallelujah to top the charts for Christmas.

Music of a different sort, as Hamish Macdonnell tells us how four MSPs took to the stage at the Labour Christmas bash to perform as Boyzone… no doubt actually better than the real thing. And still on the music theme, James at Two Doctors laughs at the Scottish Government for confusing Caledonia with… Catalonia.

Ewan Aitken agrees with Brian Taylor on the principle behind directly elected health boards. He is, however, sceptical about the need for them. Ideas of Civilisation and Will Patterson add their thoughts.

Despite taking an extended holiday in South-East Asia, Jeff manages to find the time to defend the SNP’s record in reducing the number of Quangoes… while back in Scotland, Richard Havers considers the potential sale of Edinburgh Airport and the impact it will have on customers.

David Maddox spots a “left field” motion from everyone’s favourite eccentric MSP while Crap Holyrood Chat has another one from the one-man-motion-machine that is Kenny Gibson.

Westworld takes a pop at Labour MSP Mary Mulligan for what he thinks is Crap Holyrood Chat. Stephen Glenn has more on the story.

Also this week:

Scott at Love and Garbage questions the legal system

Calum Cashley “speculates” on why Labour have moved out of John Smith house.

Yousuf rubs his hands at a new poll which he thinks brings plenty festive cheer to Labour in Scotland… but looks like leaving the Lib Dems with only coal in their stockings.

Holyrood Chronicles bemoans the lack of tradition upon Royal Mail’s stamps… pointing out that two men dressed as women are no Santa and Rudolf.

Bernard Salmon points out Lib Dem attempts to harness the “YouTube generation” and calls on leader Tavish Scott to start his own blog. He’d certainly be a welcome addition to the Scottish blogosphere.

And as one new blog might be in the pipeline, another falls to that other mistress we bloggers call “life”. Mark McDonald announced his (hopefully short) break from blogging at Granite City. The birth of his (excellently named!) son and his council duties have taken over his time. I’m sure I speak for the whole blogosphere when I say “Haste Ye Back!”

And I guess that’s your lot for the week. There will be no round-up next week with Christmas on the go, but Will Patterson will be your host on January 4^th. As usual you can nominate posts by emailing scottishroundup@gmail.com or completing the wee form on the right.

Merry Christmas and all the blogging best for 2009 from the Scottish Round-up team!