“If he (Obama) wins, the operative word is detachment..”
Gonzo gave his immediate reaction to Barack Obama’s speech late last night but it’s also worth reading Micky Kaus’ suitably sceptical take at Slate
“A little flat, and not just because of it’s now-required State-of-the Union laundry-list passages”
Meanwhile Máirtín points to an Irish Echo report from a couple of days ago on the reaction by some to Obama’s suggestion that a US envoy to Northern Ireland was no longer required – as previously noted by Brian.
“I’m Shocked, I really am,” veteran Democratic activist Brian O’Dwyer said. “The stupidity of it, that somehow the idea that it is all over (in Northern Ireland) and there is no need for an envoy; this of all things. Irish American is most proud of the fact that it obtained an envoy, O’Dwyer, a prominent supporter of Senator Hillary Clinton during the Democratic primaries, told the Echo. [] “It’s hard for me to fathom how anyone who knows anything about Ireland would say this. This is a signal that the U.S. government will detach. If he (Obama) wins, the operative word is detachment,” O’Dwyer said.
The US involvement here has been mapped out in detail previously and I added some thoughts on the wider view here. And in answer to Máirtín’s question about John McCain’s position on a US envoy to Northern Ireland
John McCain is committed to maintaining the special U.S. envoy for Northern Ireland and that commitment has been enshrined in the 2008 Republican Platform.
Of course, previously, McCain has intervened here personally.. And in related news “Senator John McCain has selected Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate, according to [US] Republican [Party] sources.” Reports here and here. And an Insta-note
Comments (71)
I would hardly call it flat. Surely he managed to set up some nice message rebutting McCain and tie in with the average American better. Lets the polls decide.
It’s how Micky Kaus saw it, Jer.
But read the whole thing.
re US VP candidate Alaska Gov Sarah Palin:
I’ve felt up to now that the presidential race was too close to call. This is a brilliant choice by Sen McCain.
Palin is a Pentacostal (I love their rocking church music), believes that Creationism should be taught alongside Evolution (the DUP will love her), is anti-abortion (the RCs will love her) – and puts her money where her mouth is with four children, including a son headed for Iraq.
OC
Second…
OC ,
‘This is a brilliant choice by Sen McCain.’
It’s actually an admission of how desperate his candidacy is becoming . He knew that with Romney , Giuliani , or Pawlenty on the ticket he was a definite loser . This is a big ‘gamble ‘ for him . With McCain now 72 Americans will pay a little more attention to the VP pick than in recent elections . And when the choice comes down to a possible President Joe Biden or President Sarah Palin -even Republicans know who is going to win that one .
The ‘pentecostalism ‘ and her other views re abortion and gay marriage place her well outside the american mainstream apart from the south and parts of the West like Utah and Nevada , Idaho and her native Alaska.
No McCain -8 years is enough – and ‘trickle down economics ‘ does NOT work .
Sarah Palin will have her few days of fame and then it’ll be back to the economy , health care and the failure of the ‘compassionate conservatives ‘ of the neo con nut jobs who have led the USA into the present econnomic and foreign policy mess .
re Sarah Palin
I just read that she has FIVE children, the last born recently with Downs Syndrome.
Her husband is part Native American.
Greenflag:
I still say that the race is too close to call, but if I was so sure of the results, I would have already placed my wager.
As to your tone, all I can think of is “Weaned on a pickle.” At least they are green.
Can’t use the economy anymore greenie, the facts speak for themselves.
Say (and type) healthcare a million times…that’ll work.
McCain has shown that Obama has a lot to learn on many subjects, campaigning among them.
OC
‘I just read that she has FIVE children,’
Well what else would you expect from a part Fenian?
Her mother’s name was Sheeran and she’qualifies as ‘irish -american ‘ and also admits to english and german ancestry .
She may have a future in USA national politics given that the Republicans will be routed in both the Senate and Congress in November . She’s young enough to be vying for the top spot for another 20 years . She will gain some national exposure this time out .
But at the end of the day both McCain and Palin are probably the best two picks the Republicans could have made to shore up their coming defeat from being a wipeout ! imo
Bfb ,
Mr John , ‘I voted against an increase in the minimum wage 19 times’ McCain’ is not going to win.
Bush is the most unpopular sitting President since Richard Nixon and McCain’s chance has evaporated after the last 8 years of mis management -poor decision making -reckless pursuit of war as foreign policy – and an unbelievably corrupt Bush administration . And on the very day of McCain’s nomination Americans will be treated to a very public court seesion for Jack Abramoff the now in jail Republican lobbyist who spilt the beans and had a four Republican aides and Republican Congressman/Senator outed and who is now preparing to spill some more beans in order to have his jail sentence reduced .
Compassionate ‘conservatives ‘ my arse . From Ken Lay to Haliburton to Blackwater to Jack Abramoff to Cheney’s hoodlums this administration is by far the worst in recent American history
Obama and Biden represent a better future for America and it’s people -and the people know it .
Increasing the minimum wage hurts the lowest income sector. Well known and proven. Open your mouth wider and see if you can get both feet in.
The media here is disgustingly biased in favour of Obama. McCains hardly mentioned at all. Its political correctness gone mad and a its a good thing no-one here will be voting for him.
Bfb ,
‘Increasing the minimum wage hurts the lowest income sector.’
And also ensures they can’t ever afford health. Keeps them poor – and the prisons full -now 3,000,000 and counting . Make sure they have to work at 2 or 3 jobs to make a living wage and that way not only will they have no time to find out who it is who is screwing them but with any luck they won’t have time to vote either .
Bush in his own words describes perfectly the Republican Party
‘Our enemies are innovative and resourceful , and so are we. They never stop thinking about about new ways to harm our country and our people and NEITHER DO WE ! ‘
Once the fundamentalist terrorists knew what they up against in George Bush they very soon realised that left to himself and his neo con cronies Bush , Cheney , Rumsfeld et al were only too capable of harming the USA worse than any Middle East fundie could ever hope to
“It’s hard for me to fathom how anyone who knows anything about Ireland would say this.’
O’Dwyer is being melodramatic . In the ‘investment’ sense Northern Ireland will not benefit from an Obama win -in fact many multinationals may start to lose some of their ‘tax benefits’ from their overseas investments .McCain is more status quo on US overseas investments (and armies abroad to protect those investments ) rather than in the USA .
President Cheney will not be amused .
And now I read that the Iraqi Government (The USA’s only Mid East ally worthy of the name ) has signed a 3 billion dollar oil agreement with the Chinese.
Greenflag
Rather than offering statements on your ideology, it would be more conducive to the discussion if you were to present an argument.
Preferably evidence-based.
Greenie….
As soon as the minimum wage goes up..out with the high school kids in with the illegal mexicans.
It’s about time you agreed with me.
BfB,
Ah the old minimum wage classic “Don’t give the poor better wages it’ll only hurt them.” How about trickle up economics for a change? More people with more money buy more things and stimulate the economy. “It’ll never work” you cry, “it’ll eat into profits/share holder dividends for the top five percent of Americans well before the market is stimulated”. What will they do? How will they live?
Karlos,
Maybe because there’s nothing to say. Same old/Mc Cain old
These arguments are not grounded in fact.
You socialist, liberal, knuckleheads do not make the difference between facts and your blowhard, knowitall, opinions..
Due to unintended effects, a law can achieve the opposite of its supporters’ intentions. The minimum wage is such a law. It is intended to reduce poverty, but it does not. Instead it encourages teenagers to drop out of school and reduces low-income workers’ future job prospects and earnings. Good intentions are not enough. Congress should not pass a destructive minimum wage hike that will harm the most vulnerable American workers.
The voices clamoring for a minimum wage hike are getting ever louder. Proponents argue that the current wage level does not provide an adequate incentive for work. Also, they argue that an increase in the minimum wage will have only a very minor impact on jobs. These arguments are not grounded in fact. The impact of raising the minimum wage has been studied since its inception. All credible research has come to the same conclusion: raising the minimum wage hurts the poor. It takes away jobs, keeps people on welfare, and encourages high-school students to drop out. Policy makers should be clear on the consequence of higher minimum wages.
BTW xMillions watched obie speech last night, as many as an American Idol final show. In fact the same people…how many voters do you think were in that crowd?
So it’s nothing to do with fat-cat profits then BfB. I see now. Thank you. I’m officially no longer a knucklehead. You’re only trying to encourage the poor for their own good through low wages. Hunger’s a quare sauce and all that. I see now paying Americans a living wage will only encourage other Americans to move their businesses to China, so they should just be grateful and suck it up.
fat-cat profits?
Deaf, dumb, and blind…useful idiot.
Facts, man..just the facts…
Buzz words and shiny, spinny things don’t work outside of mommys basement…..
I don’t see any facts BfB just assertions such as giving the poor more money will interupt their education. And of course there has been no corporate raping of America that’s why your useless idiot’s approval is so high. All you’ve got is assertions and name calling BfB which means ya got nothin.
GF:
“Well what else would you expect from a part Fenian?
Her mother’s name was Sheeran and she’qualifies as ‘irish -american ‘”
Just to show how much I’ve learned since finding this blog:
Is she a Catholic Fenian or a Protestant Fenian?
Latchee
My post #19 speaks for itself.
Continue to whistle up the drainpipe.
Your moonbat days are numbered.
Get that Bush lied Al Queda died t-shirt out for one last lap.
“Increasing the minimum wage hurts the lowest income sector. Well known and proven.”
Neither “well known” or “proven”. Indeed nonsense.
“Is she a Catholic Fenian or a Protestant Fenian?”
Pentecostal
Two points:
1- This is an election to the presidency of the US and Northern Ireland really wont be a factor.
2- The issue is not whether there is an ‘envoy’ to hear SF and the DUP bickering but whether there is a President who has a world view, cares about global issues such as the environment and security and is willing to use US diplomatic clout where it is needed rather then going to war with everyone.
But then maybe we prefer people who like triggering crisis in this part of the world?
Dewi
When the Lord was handing out brains, you thought he said trains, and took two tin ones.
Don’t let the facts get in the way of your prejudice.
OC ,
‘Is she a Catholic Fenian or a Protestant Fenian?’
Does’nt and won’t matter in this election . Neither will the NI issue or whatever is left of it. Not until the jaffa heads and provos start shooting each other on a decent scale in the streets of NI anyway . At the mere mention of NI the rest of the UK , Ireland and the USA already reach out to turn off the switch .
A fact or two Bob
Bob? Is that bfb’s name?
Anyhow
That numptie has came away with a few crackers in his time, less articulate than Harry but just as slavish to those crazy neo-con principles of USA uber alles.
Anyhow, I live in an area that has witnessed the benefit of the minimum wage. More people working means that less of my money is going to pay for them and their families. Although the government does tend to spend it on one or two foreign wars more than I’d like. The reason that more people are working is that the minimum wage allied with various tax credits allows people the freedom to work and contribute whereby before it just wasn’t worth their while. Thus the poverty cycle continued, I could point to many families that were 3 generations on the dole without any education or hope. Many have now changed their lifestyles, through work they meet people from a variety of areas, people with different outlooks on life.
All are richer for it.
Bob from Boston Eoghan.
Stunning!
Same old/McCain met this woman once and is willing to offer her up as president when he croaks.
numptie. (Australian) Drunken aboriginal woman available for sex with all comers
Get off the fence.
Do ya like me or not?
Bob from Boston Eoghan.
Currently living in West Palm Beach…:-)
Bob
You are great entertainment. A bit of a nut-job but in a homely kinda kill em all way. Anyhow numtie is a Glesga term of affection for the slightly afflicted. Hence in that great comedy show Rab C. Nesbitt, Jamesy Cotter reports to the authorities that Rab’s brother has escaped from the lunatic asylum. Using the immortal words;
“Hello Hen, ah’d like tae report an escaped numptie!”
Of course a like ye. And having lived in Oz for near 9 years numptie is not a term I ever heard there.
“Numpty” not “numptie,” Bob.
West Palm Beach, eh? Isn’t that where right wing American nationally syndicated radio ranter Rush Limbaugh always bought his drugs — literally? Where he was arrested for “doctor shopping” in his search for more and more prescription painkillers?
I knew some of your posts sounded familiar.
Still, I’ve got to give you props for one thing, Bob.
It’s not as though you’ve put a dent in this site’s claims to have an objectively administered “ball not man” rule.
It’s as though you’ve used a shoulder-fired surface to air missile and successfully vapourised it.
Ann Coulter lives down here as well.
She makes mince meat out of your ilk armed only with the truth.
Continue to whine and complain….
It’s the moonbat way…..
Tsk, tsk.
PE
Point taken….
I’ll try to do better….
No Bob don’t change, you’re greatttttttt;¬)
And in truth, the sweeping Euroweeny hippy socialist digs make me laugh.
Pete ,
‘Rather than offering statements on your ideology’
I don’t have an ideology . I’m a pragmatist
. I believe you don’t advance a democracy by making the poor -poorer and you positively endanger a democracy by emisserating the lower middle and middle classes be it in the USA , Germany or anywhere else yes even in NI . By any measurement both those trends have been evident in the USA for the past 20 years and have accelerated under this administration. The war , oil prices and the property bubble melt down have just heightened the awareness of the majority of Americans who see through the Republican cant of ‘compassionate ‘ conservatism and government by ‘faith based ‘ extremists .
These longer term trends will be the main reason imo why the Democrats will win the Senate , the House and the Presidency come November .
Whether Obama /Biden will be able to reverse the slide in the emisseration of middle America and working class Americans and minorities is another story . But on balance they can hardly do a worse job than the present administration .
Hey wait…..
I’m a pragmatist…
Eliminate all your anti-US whining, and non-factual
rants–and 4000 words a post.
And….we’re the same….
Bfb ,
‘As soon as the minimum wage goes up..out with the high school kids in with the illegal mexicans.’
So this is Republican ‘immigration ‘ policy . Keep the minimum wage low so that illegal mexican immigrants will not take the jobs of high school kids . Well how has it worked in practice then?
Has the number of illegal immigrants reduced or increased during the Republican administration ?
In February 2007 the Senate finally passed the bill for a minimum wage increase
BUT it was loaded up with more than $8.3 billion in corporate tax breaks. If their goodies for business weren’t included, Senate Republicans said they would preserve the current poverty wage of $5.15, where it has been stuck for 10 years.
“Republicans are demanding billions in corporate tax breaks in exchange for a $2 bump in the minimum wage. As they play their political games, low-income workers continue to wait for their first raise in a decade,” Gerald W. McEntee said in a released statement.
“Business doesn’t need another break; the working poor do. The American people have spoken on the minimum wage issue. Republican leaders had better start listening to them, or their lopsided November defeat is going to be a preview of what’s to come in 2008.”
The Republican defeat in the November 2006 election will look like a victory when the Nov 2008 election takes place .
PE
That’s what’s great about America…
the numptie grandson of a poor Mayo man who finds himself living large in West Palm beach, after having a ’60s education (MBA by current US public education standards), and more than a few good, hardworking years…able to defend hearth and home, with brilliantly successful, non-affirmative action assisted children…
Like another grateful immigrant success story, Yakov Smirnoff, says.
America, what a country!!
Greenie,
Talk a long walk off a short pier.
>>America, what a country!!< <
So I hear, pity about the Americans though;¬)
>>a poor Mayo man<<
Ah that’s where ye went wrong. Now if only he’d came from Donegal or Antrim like my mob. You might even vote Dem.
Bob – u might want to read the link I posted – it’s quite persuasive. BTW I’m quite a fan of your links – keeps us all in touch with the latest lunatic neo-con thought.
Susan – so strange – I always thought Rush Limbaugh was a girl – live and learn eh.
Dewi
I did read the link you posted and it underscores the fact that you can’t tell a USA from a UK…
They’re different…..
And thanks for all your obama like holier than thou, condescension….It’s so eeeeeeYOU
New Jersey – abstract only
Any evidence from California BfB? – I can only find academically protected stuff.
“pity about Americans”
Easy prince, lets not get started on to misquote Renton’s words to Sickboy, your bonnny wee mob:
“we’re effete arseholes,…the lowest of the low.. the English are merely wankers, we on the other hand are colonised by wankers”
Ann Coultwer Bob?
Didn’t she say she’d vote for Hilery before McCain?