“in truth it is a victory for everyone..”
Newton Emerson gave his answer to Turgon’s question in the Irish News yesterday
The end of the Stormont stand-off has left only one question behind. Namely, what the hell was that all about? The arrangements announced with great fanfare this Monday are indistinguishable from the DUP’s position before the stand-off began. There is still no date for the devolution of policing and justice powers and there is no mention of the Maze, academic selection or an Irish language act. Even the likelihood of side-deals on these issues has been thrown into doubt, with the SDLP proposing its own Irish language bill. It looks like a defeat for Sinn Fein. However, in truth it is a victory for everyone. Except Gerry Adams.
Or, as I put it previously, it’s back to St Andrews and the need for public confidence – without the claims of commitments to an unenforceable deadline. “Rejoice, rejoice”, indeed.
except no-one is talking about St.Andrews, they’re discussing modalities, structures, legislation, finance, appointments and so on.
Practical matters are taking the fore now that theoretical matters are settled.
(Electricity, not gravity) peteb !
“Namely, what the hell was that all about?”
Hardly the first time that question’s been asked.
“Namely, what the hell was that all about?”
Thats an easy one. It was about knocking the DUP into line in the shape of SF denying them the chance to do anything at all at Stormo and making it clear that they would pull the plug if the DUP did not move on Police with the only other option for the DUP being – in Dodsy’s view Direct Anglo Irish Rule. Their triple lock was as much value as Robbo’s “serious consequences” ie feck all as they were always going to cave in to pressure.
Hope that has cleared it up for you and Newton.
ps Why start another thread when Turgon has still got effectively the same one going.
Tip:You should also learn something from Turgon’s style as he presents both sides of the arguement rather than just the one that he himself believes in.
“indistinguishable from the DUP’s position before the stand-off began”
Yes
“it is a victory for everyone”
Yes
“except Gerry Adams”
Yes
The really interesting question is, what game has Gerry been playing here and why?
As the architect of this peace process within SF, slowly and painfully dragging it forward towards peace over so many years why, at this defining moment when they were making peace directly with their neighbours rather than through the Brits and the Irish, was Gerry suddenly seen as the block to the process, seen as part of the problem, not the solution?
Was this a strategic or tactical choice? Or is he just losing his touch, are things moving on too fast?
Sammy, etc,
The SF-DUP master plan here is that republicans are deluded into believing that their great leadership has once again saved the day – despite all evidence to the contrary. That’s certainly fine by me.
i see sammy mcnally has re-emerged from his own back passage and clearly has been smoking some of that primo weed again!
Now we will never know if spiders can be trained to sort tiny screws in space!