Enthusiasm counts for a lot in politics, but good judgment counts for more.

Independence hardliners are full of the former but traditionally a bit light on the latter.

In evidence, I give you the latest wizard strategy from a group of SNP activists. Somewhere deep in the glens – I’m picturing a tartan-clad huddle round a campfire, whisky bottle changing hands and Kenny MacAskill observing from the shadows – they’ve cooked up a plan for Scotland’s liberation.

As reported in The Herald, a group of local parties believe that if a majority of voters back pro-independence parties in the list vote next year, then it should count as a mandate to start independence negotiations with the UK Government.

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The proposal has been rejected for debate at the SNP conference, so now activists are furious with John Swinney.

You can imagine Swinney’s private sighs. This? Again? He has responded publicly that he “doesn’t agree” with the proposal and that a similar idea “didn’t break the log jam” previously.

His subtext is clear: read the room, people. This is not the moment. This is not the way. You can’t push Scotland to independence by gaming the process.

Actually, the problem runs deeper than that, as Swinney has acknowledged since becoming leader. People have to want........

© Herald Scotland