Tuesday, October 17, 2006
DUP offensive on McGuinness…
Interesting line from Anthony McIntyre, who thinks all the cards now reside with the DUP. In particular he believes that Martin McGuinness has been picked out for particularly rough treatment in the run up to St Andrews, in order to push Sinn Fein to abandon the idea of having a former IRA member as Deputy First Minister. If they are successful, Catriona Ruane seems to be his tip for the top.
Mick Fealty @ 03:12 PM
Great piece.
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 03:25 PMThe Sinners may have been banking on it all along. Suggest the DUP’s worst nightmare and someone like Ruane would be a much less bitter pill for the DUP to swallow.
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 03:29 PMHow does this tally with SF having made such a big deal about seeing the end of political policing before any deal can be made, and being Ruane the most high-profile member of the party to have openly admitted that the CRJ schemes are an SF creation?
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 03:32 PMThis is fantasy. SF won’t give it up, not least because it is impossible to sell.
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 03:36 PMCatriona Ruane wonderful though she is would not be next in line even if anything happened to Martin McGuinness.
That would be Gerry Kelly I would suggest. It’s hardy worth the DUP’s while trying to bring that switch about.
The old saying “a paper never refused ink” needs to be updated for blogs.
A keboard can’t say no to fingers?
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 03:38 PMI disagree with AM on strategy, but his analysis of the current state of play is absolutely bang on. Shameful actions by shameless people indeed.
And shafting the children over academic selection. No principle is safe with these people. History will surely judge you for the traitors to our martyyrs that you are. Are SF leadership paycheques going to be issued directly from the new north down spook bunker?!
SF make concession after concession to the DUP in order to be allowed to administer a degree of British rule. Disgusting.Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 03:49 PMJust goes to show how far out of the loop McIntyre is dropping. Catriona’s a nice lady with a lot of obvious talent and intellect but she’s not even on the Ard Chomhairle. Any replacement for McGuinness would need to be a lot more hard-boiled with well established form for putting up with unionist brickbats e.g. Pat Doherty, Gerry Kelly, Alex Maskey or Conor Murphy.
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 03:54 PMEven the mainstream press and leading politicans in the South thought the Ingram allegations were nonsense and had no hesitation in saying so.
Where does this stuff come from and can I get on the payroll? Well - on second thoughts, maybe not!
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 03:55 PMdarth
What are you saying? You find Martin McGuiness more attractive? Fair enough.
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 03:59 PMMick
I have to believe unionists aren’t as daft as to believe that such a strategy could oust McGuiness?Think carefully about what McIntrye is suggesting: in order to make unionists feel more comfortable, Sinn Fein should shaft their own leadership? Why stop there? Couldn’t we give up supporting Irish unity, welcome the Brethren onto Garvaghy Road and drape the union flag from every lamp post on the Falls Road???
This is a rather shallow piece by McIntyre. I’m sure he only pulled Ruane’s name out of the hat because it suits his own agenda of ridiculing certain figures within Sinn Fein. Whilst Catriona Ruane is a very able, articulate and intelligent spokeswoman, it would be very doubtful that she would be propelled into such a position of leadership within the party.
But on the substance of the matter, this logic is indicative of a flawed analysis which somehow sees unionist sensitivities as the pivotal focus upon which the peace and political process should be developed.
It is the very repudiation of this analysis which has led to Sinn Fein’s ascendant position within nationalism in the six counties.
Republicans are hardly likely to cede any such wishes to unionists. Targeting McGuinness in a personal or political capacity will only bolster his reputation and credibility (just look back to what unionist attacks did for his reputation as Education Minister!)
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 04:08 PMNot the greatest analysis I’ve seen. Catholics have been engaging with and joining the police increasingly so staying out was not an option; now kneecapping is passé.
And having large numbers of Catholics in the police, with knowlege of what the English spooks are up to, didn’t disadvantage Mick Collins.
Taigs were kept on a short rein in the RUC; that organization knew what happened to the RIC. I figure the Shinners figure that, on balance, it’s time to move into the tent.
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 04:10 PMSinn Fein seem to showboat their new up-and-coming stars before foisting them into the limelight.
Kitty has been off the radar now for a while. Maybe her Danny Morrisin-esque appearance in the vicinity of those three Colombian tourists before they went walkabout has tainted her in the eyes of the Southern electorate. Since the Colombians found that trapdoor back home she seems unusually quiet
What about that big chunky fellah with the jowlers that seems to have an open invitation on Hearts & Minds though??
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 04:11 PMIf a witch-hunt to get Martin McGuinness is to succeed, then mainstream Republicans will decide his fate based on Sinn Fein policies moving away, at remarkable speed, from their traditional socialist roots.
In this senario Martin McGuinness could the scapegoat, or should that be the “Scap- goat”
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 04:11 PMWhether it’s Ruane or not is beside the point. It can’t be Mary Lou because she is not an MLA nor will be one; it can’t be the others suggested here because they carry the same baggage McGuinness does - their IRA past. Most likely won’t be de Brun because she has had her bite at the apple. Adams has other plans. Gildernew, Ruane, have a high enough profile. Ruane has been at Adams side in the press pack. Not a hard leap to make.
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 04:43 PMWhat complete and utter nonsense!!
There is not a mission that is going to happen or would ever happen. The leadership would not even contemplate it and the membership and grassroots would not accept it.
This deal is going to be hard enough for the leadership to sell without that albatross around its neck.
As has aleady been said on this board Catriona, while an able and affable representative and Republican, is not next in line to Martin. That space is occupied by Conor Murphy, Alex Maskey, Gerry Kelly etc.
If AM really believes this nonsense then his condition is worse than orignally thought.
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 04:49 PMChris
‘This deal is going to be hard enough for the leadership to sell’
I’ll stick my neck out and say they wont attempt too - having assessed reaction they will attempt to back away from this dealPosted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 04:57 PMLOL
Is this from the Portadown News or the Kevin Myers school of fiction?
Utter bullshit.
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 04:58 PMNow we know it will happen!
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 04:59 PMNow we know it will happen!
Why is that?
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 05:03 PM“Never believe anything until it has been officially denied.” I think the reaction on this thread is good confirmation, lol.
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 05:11 PMIf it’s true, as baby doc was touting a couple of weeks ago, that McGuiness is an MI5 operative, surely he must have already taken the oath of loyalty to the Crown.
So, what’s baby doc’s problem now?Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 05:21 PMThat members of SF on this thread are rejecting McIntyre’s suggestion because Ms Ruane was not next in line within the party’s pecking order amused me, What are you saying guys, it is not ability, suitability etc for the job what matters, but where you stand in the SF oligarchy that matters. Me thinks you will have to do better than that to convice us that AM is up shit creak with this.
In any case this is not about Ruane, surly the meat of this is whether the DUP intend having some fun shafting MM at the expense of the British government. Whether they actually manage to achieve this is not the point. For in all probability either outcome will give this legs media wise. Which is perhaps a reason why Adams may feel it might be better if MM does not stand for this position after all.
Chris D wrote,
“But on the substance of the matter, this logic is indicative of a flawed analysis which somehow sees unionist sensitivities as the pivotal focus upon which the peace and political process should be developed.”Chris D, you will have to run this one past me again. If the SF leaderships logic in giving consideration into supporting the PSNI, the courts and entire legal system etc, is not to appease unionist politicians and thus the British government ,so that SF can get back into government in the north east, what is the purpose?
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 06:10 PMChris I for one could accept your comment - -
‘There is not a mission that is going to happen or would ever happen. The leadership would not even contemplate it and the membership and grassroots would not accept it.’
- - were it not for the fact that it was said about decommissioning.
Read the Blanket piece and it seems to say little about what Sinn Fein’s response would be to such a move. Merely says a few would be uneasy. Nothing new in that. After Fred and Denis nerves have been frayed. Certainly the DUP move on academic selection was to hurt Martin. And because they hate Martin so much why wouldn’t they try to undermine him by spreading malicious rumours that he is an agent? It does not mean they would get Ruane as DFM simply because SF are likely to tell them where to go. That wouldn’t stop them wanting it. DUP voters will accept powersharing easier if it involves Catriona rather than Martin.
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 06:20 PMChris,
I have no clue as to the relative strengths of Ruane V Maskey etc. But there is one universal political rule which usually holds true - the anointed one rarely wields the crown
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 06:21 PMMick Hall
The purpose is to further the party- and republicanism’s- political objectives at this time.
Policing was always going to be resolved in a manner which led to republicans endorsing a new policing structure- that much was always made clear by Sinn Fein.
The DUP demand for Sinn Fein moves on policing in return for a return of the political institutions provides the former with some form of political cover to cross its Rubicon, but in reality republicans- and their communities- will stand to benefit from moves on policing when the time is right.
Meanwhile, expect to see the DUP rolling from side to side as it comes to grips with its first political compromise. The type of blundering rhetoric and grandstanding on display today was a repeat of Trimble’s early- and oft-repeated- mistakes.
The big difference, however, is that there is no one left to out-maneouvre Paisley within unionism. Bob McCartney, Jim Allister and I suspect many more may publicly grumble, but whose going to go to the wall for these individuals?
Unionism at a grassroots level has moved on; loyalist paramilitaries, who provided a de-stabilising edge for the anti-Agreement unionists in the immediate years following on from the Good Friday Agreement, have been effectively demilitarised by their British masters.
Whereas Trimble’s gaffes and blustering provided ammunition for the galvanised Paisleyites in the post-GFA era, no one is left to ‘out-do’ the Big nay-sayer of them all.
If the DUP are actually the ones pushing for McGuiness to move aside to provide them with some cover, then that illustrates how little they understand the political party they are going to have to share the OFM/DFM office with for the forseeable future.
Posted by on Oct 17, 2006 @ 06:26 PM
