Comments on: A legitimate complaint, or case of bullying from the top? http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/ Conversation, politics and stray insights Sun, 27 May 2012 03:59:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: John K Lund / Lllamedos / Suchard http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-308591 John K Lund / Lllamedos / Suchard Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:05:57 +0000 #comment-308591 Surely with all the Brass they are all taking from the British taxpayers the Dup and Sein Fein could consummate their joined at the hip love in by buying both the Belfast Telegraph and the News Letter and promoting themselves. Perhaps the wee curly headed ginger can tell all the people who want to enjoy the continuity of the Union that they should vote for their sister party the UDUP and; likewise The Swiss Roller could encourage all nationalists to vote Sein Fein. They then if they are remotely successful form a combined one party Little Ulster Republic whilst still triple jobbing. Hissing Sid Robinson must be getting mildly pissed off if in the unlikely event that La Diane gets all the European dosh as well and overtakes him and Cruella the homophobe in the winning of The Gravy Train Stakes, Really rivetting stuff. Grant you the UDUP could employ McPoison,Whelan and Draper that hopefully unemployed team of modern day Goebells to edit their suggested joint venture with Sein Fein. Hell its a bloody hard world this true democracy people with differing view points practicing Free Speech it really pisses you off. Surely with all the Brass they are all taking from the British taxpayers the Dup and Sein Fein could consummate their joined at the hip love in by buying both the Belfast Telegraph and the News Letter and promoting themselves. Perhaps the wee curly headed ginger can tell all the people who want to enjoy the continuity of the Union that they should vote for their sister party the UDUP and; likewise The Swiss Roller could encourage all nationalists to vote Sein Fein. They then if they are remotely successful form a combined one party Little Ulster Republic whilst still triple jobbing. Hissing Sid Robinson must be getting mildly pissed off if in the unlikely event that La Diane gets all the European dosh as well and overtakes him and Cruella the homophobe in the winning of The Gravy Train Stakes, Really rivetting stuff. Grant you the UDUP could employ McPoison,Whelan and Draper that hopefully unemployed team of modern day Goebells to edit their suggested joint venture with Sein Fein.
Hell its a bloody hard world this true democracy people with differing view points practicing Free Speech it really pisses you off.

]]> By: Scooby http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-308419 Scooby Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:36:30 +0000 #comment-308419 Comrade, I was hardly suggesting anybody here had suggested that the Belfast Telegraph couldn't print what it wanted. My comments were directed at OFMDFM and had nothing to do with you. "We do not want to fetter freedom of the press but by the same token we do not expect to see a campaign ostensibly about creating jobs being used to deginerate and undermine the Executive and Assembly." They 'expect?' To me, that is OFMDFM telling the media what to do. Quite frankly, I think I'll be the judge as to whether the Assembly has done a good job in creating jobs. Not Robinson and McGuiness. Comrade, I was hardly suggesting anybody here had suggested that the Belfast Telegraph couldn’t print what it wanted. My comments were directed at OFMDFM and had nothing to do with you.

“We do not want to fetter freedom of the press but by the same token we do not expect to see a campaign ostensibly about creating jobs being used to deginerate and undermine the Executive and Assembly.”

They ‘expect?’ To me, that is OFMDFM telling the media what to do.

Quite frankly, I think I’ll be the judge as to whether the Assembly has done a good job in creating jobs. Not Robinson and McGuiness.

]]> By: DC http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-308364 DC Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:48:12 +0000 #comment-308364 CS, why can't you just admit that wee P Robinson is a <i>parvenu</i>? CS, why can’t you just admit that wee P Robinson is a parvenu?

]]> By: Comrade Stalin http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-308352 Comrade Stalin Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:40:42 +0000 #comment-308352 <I>Quite frankly I find this letter disturbing. Why on earth are our leaders getting involved with what the media print?</I> Because they feel that their work is being misrepresented. Isn't that obvious ? <I> They have no right to tell the Media what to print or to imply that they shouldn’t print a story.</I> Except they aren't, they are complaining about the way that the paper is sensationalizing certain details at the expense of others. <I> The Belfast Telegraph can do what it wants. </I> Nobody has said otherwise. <I> If it wants to print stories that are negative about the Executive then it should have the right to.</I> Nobody is denying that. <I>If Gordon was to write a letter like this to any media outlet then he’d be vilified and rightly so. </I> Tony Blair at least has gone on record with his opinion of media coverage. Not sure about Brown, but I wouldn't be surprised. Other figures in his government have complained about coverage by bloggers which is close to the same thing. Quite frankly I find this letter disturbing. Why on earth are our leaders getting involved with what the media print?

Because they feel that their work is being misrepresented. Isn’t that obvious ?

They have no right to tell the Media what to print or to imply that they shouldn’t print a story.

Except they aren’t, they are complaining about the way that the paper is sensationalizing certain details at the expense of others.

The Belfast Telegraph can do what it wants.

Nobody has said otherwise.

If it wants to print stories that are negative about the Executive then it should have the right to.

Nobody is denying that.

If Gordon was to write a letter like this to any media outlet then he’d be vilified and rightly so.

Tony Blair at least has gone on record with his opinion of media coverage. Not sure about Brown, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Other figures in his government have complained about coverage by bloggers which is close to the same thing.

]]> By: Scooby http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-308350 Scooby Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:29:10 +0000 #comment-308350 Quite frankly I find this letter disturbing. Why on earth are our leaders getting involved with what the media print? They have no right to tell the Media what to print or to imply that they shouldn't print a story. The Belfast Telegraph can do what it wants. If it wants to print stories that are negative about the Executive then it should have the right to. If Gordon was to write a letter like this to any media outlet then he'd be vilified and rightly so. Quite frankly I find this letter disturbing. Why on earth are our leaders getting involved with what the media print? They have no right to tell the Media what to print or to imply that they shouldn’t print a story. The Belfast Telegraph can do what it wants. If it wants to print stories that are negative about the Executive then it should have the right to. If Gordon was to write a letter like this to any media outlet then he’d be vilified and rightly so.

]]> By: Rory Carr http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-308165 Rory Carr Sat, 11 Apr 2009 19:30:22 +0000 #comment-308165 I don't see how anything sinister is implied in the last paragraph of the letter to O'Reilly. It would make perfect sense to remind an addressee of a meeting already scheduled to discuss an earlier issue which might present the best and earliest opportunity to discuss the matters raised in the letter. In order to impute anything sinister a reader would require to exercise a degree of malignity himself, which is hardly helpful for objectivity. Newspaper editors and propietors are bullied and threatened by government ministers on a regular basis and this letter seems only to be a polite reminder that government effort was not receiving its due coverage. Tony Blair's pet Rotweller, Alstair Campbell would not have been so polite and Sir Anthony would have been lucky to get away with one of the milder Campbell threats to "cut his effin' gizzard out". I don’t see how anything sinister is implied in the last paragraph of the letter to O’Reilly. It would make perfect sense to remind an addressee of a meeting already scheduled to discuss an earlier issue which might present the best and earliest opportunity to discuss the matters raised in the letter.

In order to impute anything sinister a reader would require to exercise a degree of malignity himself, which is hardly helpful for objectivity.

Newspaper editors and propietors are bullied and threatened by government ministers on a regular basis and this letter seems only to be a polite reminder that government effort was not receiving its due coverage.

Tony Blair’s pet Rotweller, Alstair Campbell would not have been so polite and Sir Anthony would have been lucky to get away with one of the milder Campbell threats to “cut his effin’ gizzard out”.

]]> By: Nevin http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-308161 Nevin Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:43:26 +0000 #comment-308161 "an independent investigative journalist)that does not have close ties with some big powerful elite?" Would an independent investigative blogger count, Scaramoosh? Probably not a lot but the <a href="http://nalil.blogspot.com/">Rathlin ferry stories</a> have been followed by a <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/9566606/Rathlin-Ferry-Investigations-Report-searchable">£55,000 government 'whitewash'</a> and, now, an <a href="http://nalil.blogspot.com/2009/03/acting-within-law-eu-style.html">investigation by the EU Commission</a>. Very little of this has appeared in the pages of the Belfast Telegraph so perhaps 'lobbying' is having some effect. “an independent investigative journalist)that does not have close ties with some big powerful elite?”

Would an independent investigative blogger count, Scaramoosh? Probably not a lot but the Rathlin ferry stories have been followed by a £55,000 government ‘whitewash’ and, now, an investigation by the EU Commission. Very little of this has appeared in the pages of the Belfast Telegraph so perhaps ‘lobbying’ is having some effect.

]]> By: Mickhall http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-308151 Mickhall Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:40:22 +0000 #comment-308151 ‘take their lumps’ It sounds like something a mafia don might say to his sidekick. ‘take their lumps’

It sounds like something a mafia don might say to his sidekick.

]]> By: Danny Boy http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-308150 Danny Boy Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:24:53 +0000 #comment-308150 Wow. What the hell was the thought process behind writing that? Here's hoping they 'take their lumps', whatever that means. Wow. What the hell was the thought process behind writing that? Here’s hoping they ‘take their lumps’, whatever that means.

]]> By: Frustrated Democrat http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-308122 Frustrated Democrat Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:20:57 +0000 #comment-308122 All in all not a good week for the DUP/SF axis, expenses, a failure to relook at the budget when the SDLP do, and then this letter. All this coupled to a nasty TV interview where Robinson's mask fell and his true self was revealed to all and not many liked it even amongst DUP supporters . They know they are under pressure and are being found wanting. We need leaders we can respect and trust to solve our problems and in these two we don't have them, they don't even talk in public. All in all not a good week for the DUP/SF axis, expenses, a failure to relook at the budget when the SDLP do, and then this letter. All this coupled to a nasty TV interview where Robinson’s mask fell and his true self was revealed to all and not many liked it even amongst DUP supporters .

They know they are under pressure and are being found wanting. We need leaders we can respect and trust to solve our problems and in these two we don’t have them, they don’t even talk in public.

]]> By: Dave http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-308115 Dave Sat, 11 Apr 2009 09:04:13 +0000 #comment-308115 The last paragraph demands an explanation. You have Gerry trying to extort money from an American company by threatening them with getting New York's Comptroller to illegally blackball that state's investment of its pensions funds in said American company if it doesn't comply with Gerry's demented demands and now you have the other thug in a suit, Martin, making what sounds like equally sinister threats to businesses. Way to inspire investors in your province. Still, elect sociopaths and what do you really expect? The last paragraph demands an explanation. You have Gerry trying to extort money from an American company by threatening them with getting New York’s Comptroller to illegally blackball that state’s investment of its pensions funds in said American company if it doesn’t comply with Gerry’s demented demands and now you have the other thug in a suit, Martin, making what sounds like equally sinister threats to businesses. Way to inspire investors in your province. Still, elect sociopaths and what do you really expect?

]]> By: Pete Baker http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-308103 Pete Baker Sat, 11 Apr 2009 03:58:54 +0000 #comment-308103 Comrade See this subsequent post <a href="http://sluggerotoole.com/index.php/weblog/comments/that-is-a-matter-that-the-speakers-office-should-look-at/">on the detail of that letter.</a> Comrade

See this subsequent post on the detail of that letter.

]]> By: Comrade Stalin http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-308101 Comrade Stalin Sat, 11 Apr 2009 03:52:06 +0000 #comment-308101 I'm re-reading the letter again and noticing this time the point made about the Point of Order. I very specifically remember reading the article they are referring to in the Telegraph and checking it up on Hansard at that time. I came to the same conclusion that FM/DFM have done. This was a very minor exchange, which lasted seconds rather than minutes, during a full day of discussion, and the Telegraph portrayed this giving the impression of politicians wasting time over unimportant details. I still see the complaints presented by FM/DFM in this letter as being largely legitimate. I don't agree that the Executive has been terribly compelling, novel or productive in it's work but they are surely quite entitled to raise an issue if they feel they are being misrepresented. I do not know if FM/DFM have previously written to the editor of the Telegraph about this matter; if they have then it might explain why they are now going to the proprietor. I would, however, agree that the way they have chosen to present those complaints is ham-fisted and potentially counter-productive; and that they have made themselves sound almost machiavellian in the last paragraph. While that is disturbing I don't think it distracts from the issues they are raising. I’m re-reading the letter again and noticing this time the point made about the Point of Order. I very specifically remember reading the article they are referring to in the Telegraph and checking it up on Hansard at that time. I came to the same conclusion that FM/DFM have done. This was a very minor exchange, which lasted seconds rather than minutes, during a full day of discussion, and the Telegraph portrayed this giving the impression of politicians wasting time over unimportant details.

I still see the complaints presented by FM/DFM in this letter as being largely legitimate. I don’t agree that the Executive has been terribly compelling, novel or productive in it’s work but they are surely quite entitled to raise an issue if they feel they are being misrepresented.

I do not know if FM/DFM have previously written to the editor of the Telegraph about this matter; if they have then it might explain why they are now going to the proprietor. I would, however, agree that the way they have chosen to present those complaints is ham-fisted and potentially counter-productive; and that they have made themselves sound almost machiavellian in the last paragraph. While that is disturbing I don’t think it distracts from the issues they are raising.

]]> By: Mark McGregor http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-308090 Mark McGregor Sat, 11 Apr 2009 02:32:49 +0000 #comment-308090 Jimmy, You seem to be seeing something a few of us have noted. It would be interesting to see what other issue they are connecting with their request for more favourable reporting. Jimmy,

You seem to be seeing something a few of us have noted. It would be interesting to see what other issue they are connecting with their request for more favourable reporting.

]]> By: Scaramoosh http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-308086 Scaramoosh Sat, 11 Apr 2009 01:29:35 +0000 #comment-308086 P.S Can somebody name me one independent, objective, Irish Newspaper (or, indeed,if that fails, an independent investigative journalist)that does not have close ties with some big powerful elite? P.S Can somebody name me one independent, objective, Irish Newspaper (or, indeed,if that fails, an independent investigative journalist)that does not have close ties with some big powerful elite?

]]> By: Scaramoosh http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-308082 Scaramoosh Sat, 11 Apr 2009 01:25:26 +0000 #comment-308082 I'd be very interested if somebody were to perform an analysis of who owns what when it comes to the Irish media - North and South. The political leanings of said owners, and the power that they have. The links that exist between those that have been labelled the "cute hoors" and leading journalists would be a good place to start. The stories in relation to the collapse of the Irish economy that have not been run, allegedly, because of close family ties. Those that see the Telegraph as some sort of objective voice of reason, checking the political elite, need to wake up and see the bigger picture that is unfolding before their eyes. Whilst I have no time for the cosy McGuiness/Robinson routine; equally I have no time for a press that is motivated by things other than a search for the truth. I’d be very interested if somebody were to perform an analysis of who owns what when it comes to the Irish media – North and South. The political leanings of said owners, and the power that they have.

The links that exist between those that have been labelled the “cute hoors” and leading journalists would be a good place to start.

The stories in relation to the collapse of the Irish economy that have not been run, allegedly, because of close family ties.

Those that see the Telegraph as some sort of objective voice of reason, checking the political elite, need to wake up and see the bigger picture that is unfolding before their eyes.

Whilst I have no time for the cosy McGuiness/Robinson routine; equally I have no time for a press that is motivated by things other than a search for the truth.

]]> By: Reader http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-308080 Reader Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:45:40 +0000 #comment-308080 New Yorker: <i>Is it a Freudian misprint or a deliberate expression of obeisance to the First Minister? </i><br> If there is any significance to the fact, then it is that McGuinness is de-emphasising the word 'deputy' while leaving FM in place i.e dFM rather than DFM.<br> When Marty gets the hang of fonts then you won't see 'deputy' at all. New Yorker: Is it a Freudian misprint or a deliberate expression of obeisance to the First Minister?
If there is any significance to the fact, then it is that McGuinness is de-emphasising the word ‘deputy’ while leaving FM in place i.e dFM rather than DFM.
When Marty gets the hang of fonts then you won’t see ‘deputy’ at all.

]]> By: New Yorker http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-308074 New Yorker Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:26:59 +0000 #comment-308074 Below his signature the title for McGuinness is printed as "deputy First Minister". Why the lower case "d"? Is it a Freudian misprint or a deliberate expression of obeisance to the First Minister? Below his signature the title for McGuinness is printed as “deputy First Minister”. Why the lower case “d”? Is it a Freudian misprint or a deliberate expression of obeisance to the First Minister?

]]> By: Jimmy Sands http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-308069 Jimmy Sands Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:09:05 +0000 #comment-308069 It was funny up until the last paragraph which reads like a very thinly veiled threat. Of course telling a businessman what a shame it would be if anything happened to his business must bring a rush of nostalgia to them both. It was funny up until the last paragraph which reads like a very thinly veiled threat. Of course telling a businessman what a shame it would be if anything happened to his business must bring a rush of nostalgia to them both.

]]> By: adonis http://sluggerotoole.com/2009/04/10/a-legitimate-complaint-or-case-of-bullying-from-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-308066 adonis Fri, 10 Apr 2009 23:53:52 +0000 #comment-308066 Peter seems to have changed his mind about the Tele recently however - he went out of his way to praise their listing of MPs expenses as "proper and accurate" last week, while berating the nasty Daily Mail and NOW. It's pathetic how our politicians try to bully the media by threatening legal action (no writs ever seem to materialise) and by running of to owners over the slightest criticism. Peter seems to have changed his mind about the Tele recently however – he went out of his way to praise their listing of MPs expenses as “proper and accurate” last week, while berating the nasty Daily Mail and NOW.

It’s pathetic how our politicians try to bully the media by threatening legal action (no writs ever seem to materialise) and by running of to owners over the slightest criticism.

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