Robinson ups the ante
Breaking news... The Belfast Telegraph is selling hard the story of deepening crisis in the Executive, although as I type, nobody else seems to have picked up this latest twist. Peter Robinson’s charge is constitutionally a serious one, that the Regional Development minister SF’s Conor Murphy breached the code of office by failing to bring a ” massive” regional strategy to 2025 before an Executive meeting.
“Mr Robinson said he wanted an immediate Executive meeting to deal with the issue before it becomes a matter for the courts.”
In political terms, it’s clearly a straight challenge to Sinn Fein to come in or get out. Quite a gambit. Yet how does it square with yesterday’s story of a meeting with SF next week to try to settle the whole Executive crisis? And why is Robinson flanked by party colleagues meeting the Independent Monitoring Commission today, if not to obtain their views on IRA compliance? Forcing a crisis or calling Sinn Fein’s bluff? We shall see how the news is analysed in the coming hours and days.
What’s the DUP’s next move if Sinn Fein fails to respond?
Dead obvious to me and I’m surprised no one has mentioned it!! This is all about the toughening up of the DUP for the poxy Fermanagh Council By Election. All you MLA’s that are crapping yourselves about having to earn an honest crust in the real world again, or having to exist on your disability allowance should keep your nerve. It will all get back to normal once the electors out in the sticks have had their fun and the DUP can get back to duping withour the imminent threat of having to face the dreaded ballot box. Its just a storm in a Fermanagh teacup!!
interested
Allow me to paraphrase Sammy Mc’s
“if you are trying to redress the balance of propaganda – then fair enough – but with Pete Baker soley talking of SFs difficulties then I think you are safe enough on Slugger on the Police and Justice issue.”
Translation – Can’t address the detail of what is actually being evidenced.. so.. Whatabout?!?!
*Cue psychotic thrashing around*
Again.
Oh.. Cynic.
And a touch of the Sammy Mc futuring.
Perhaps Sammy Mc it’s time, again, for more fair gaming?
Rooster and Brian – I’m no lawyer either but there are a few points here you’ve missed – alleging that MMG murdered people *is* libelous unless Rooster can back up those assertions which of course he cannot.
Rooster AFAIK libeling the anonymous is difficult but in your case I doubt possible since you have little in the way of reputation behind your name and apart from that you probably have libeled MMG.
Brian, I’m not sure of your exact role in the slugger setup but I don’t think its possible to distance yourself from threads that easily. The argument that you just start a conversation is all well and good but when you have been alerted to a problem (and you have in fact commented on this issue in the thread) you can’t really claim to have no responsibility for it. If you think Rooster could write those same things in a newspaper comments page then that’s fine (although a bit worrying) but we all know he couldn’t and someone has to take responsibility for it.
qubol,
legally do you reckon its ok to call Robbo a (former) paramilitary as he wore a red beret and funny glasses and may have been waving a stick around in the air in the middle of the night in County Cavan?
par·a·mil·i·tar·y (pār’ə-mĭl’ĭ-těr’ē)
adj. Of, relating to, or being a group of civilians organized in a military fashion….
Could be Sammy, could be.
qubol
Charges of this nature have been made frequently against MMG and he has not contested them. His acknowledged role in the past makes that inevitable. Statements, such as “If I have had the opportunity to kill every single British soldier that was on the streets of Derry I would have killed every single one of them without any difficulty whatsoever.” – while they don’t amount to murder, would clearly undermine any claim of total innocence. He would never make such a claim anyway and he can look after himself. In a way his comparative candour is to his credit. I don’t defend invective, it tends to cloud rather than enlighten but I can’t offer you any satisfaction on this one. By commenting in blogs, you risk being offended, the downside. Freedom of expression and wide access is the essence of the thing, the upside. I can only say to you now, you’ve made your point, I suggest you let the hare sit. Rooster, if usually pays not to rub salt in a wound.and it isn’t very attractive to read either. If I had that Ghostbusting gun I’d sometimes be tempted to use it.
Brian, relying on the inaction of the libeled as a defense against charges of libel isn’t the best idea I’ve ever heard. As to the MMG quote you printed, this is irrelevant he wouldn’t have to prove innocence but Rooster/You would in effect have to prove guilt. big difference.
MMG can undoubtedly look after himself but you’re missing the point. This isn’t about free speech nor is it about me getting offended. In letting these comments slide you not only open yourself (you/slugger/rooster) to legal challenges but you’re either sending out a message that the rules of the blog don’t matter or worse they only matter when you want them to.
This whole thread barely contained one accurate statement. It was just a collection of (mostly) those of a Unionist mindset spouting forth complete garbage for their mutual consupmtion. The premise was not accurate and the comments are so far from political reality that most people who commented just plain made fools of themselves.
This has to be the most embarrasing thread unionists ever created on this site. Because they are so wrong and so unable to see it I worry for everyone over there.
Republicans: people who can say with a straight face that Murderin’ Mart hasn’t. Grow Up. And Brian, thanks for not finding me ‘attractive’. You’ll understand how I’d prefer to keep things that way.
“The premise was not accurate and the comments are so far from political reality that most people who commented just plain made fools of themselves. This has to be the most embarrasing thread unionists ever created on this site. Because they are so wrong and so unable to see it I worry for everyone over there. ”
Oh don’t worry so much USA. The Unionists here are quite capable of taking care of themselves. Indeed, that is one of the issues giving SF problems at the moment.
As for ‘not one accurate statement’, well, that’s a matter of perspective. My perspective is that SF are in touble over Policing and Justice because they have over promised, under negotiated and misled their constituency. Also, this has shown that, without Jonathan Powell’s guidance and support, they ain’t that good. To borrow his phrase, the children are in danger of falling on their noses.
That doesnt make me happy becasue I want to see the system work but the sad ‘political reality’ is increasing evidence that it can’t work in the current dispensation. Nothing at all of any signifigance is happening in Government. Nothing is being decided. There are no agremenets. Government isnt governing. Parties seem inacpable of negotiating or doing real politics.
This is all leading to a growing mood that its poinless even trying. When Gerry then threatens to collapse the Executive if he doesnt get what he wants most people look at it and say ‘so what?’ How, they wonder, will they even notice?
Rooster
>>I would point out, it *is* actually possible to libel the anonymous.< <
Really? How would that work? And even if that were possible(LOL) I would hold this to be veritas;
>>you have little in the way of reputation behind your name< < - qubol @ 12:25 AM
>>would clearly undermine any claim of total innocence<<
Ahhh but Brian ma auld China, he doesn’t have to prove any claim of total innocence, this is(or should be) presumed until shown otherwise. However I have been round this block before, it is de rigueur on this site to allow sustained vitriolic defamation of MMcG. Hiding behind the excuse that he doesn’t pursue these matters partly because it would be hard to prove that his reputation was lowered in the eyes of others because of said defamation, chiefly due to his past activities. This does not make him a murderer, although it does help to shine a light on how certain matters are viewed on this site.