Saturday, February 09, 2008

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1. “Because there is a major review of local government underway which is likely to reduce the number of councils to 15 and delay the elections by a year or two; also, local electoral boundaries are disgracefully out of date and need reviewing.”

   And because boundaries are undemocratic we’re we’re going to extend the tenures of our undemocratically elected councillors by two years and disrupt a four year cycle that goes back four decades? Funny kind of improvement to our democracy.

   Re the RPA, the first 7 council proposal wasn’t much more than a merger of existing boroughs (although a golf course somewhere near Dundonald was ceded to Belfast). A corresponding merger of the councils would make more sense than putting off elections until after the changes are investigated, proposed, agreed and implemented.

   Unless wards are divided between different new councils there’s not much of a problem.

   Pounder;

   “selling his soul”?

   How so? What principle is he forgoing?

   Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 04:49 PM

2. Gum,

   Idealogically opposite?

   The SDLP and FF?

   How so?

   One’s a christian democratic/liberal, constitutional nationalist party with romantic but peaceful republican attachments...and the other’s.....

   Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 04:54 PM

3. Sammy,

   You shouldn’t really say things that out loud. The official reason you knocked those doors in Nov was to build a profile and relationship for your party. ;o)

   Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 05:40 PM

4. The problems of Foyle are unique to Foyle, nor are they capable of being easily solved by whole governments, never mind one MP

   So why would Martina be able to make the difference she so outlandishly claims that she can?

   Of course she can’t. But she is a politician, of course she’ll say she can!

   Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 06:28 PM

5. Twinbrook - in your non answer to my direct question (how have SF delivered on job creation -as you say they have?) you say you dont deal in generalities.

   Only when it suits you though. Earlier you gave us a grand list of generalities in setting out SF’s achievements in west Belfast.

   So where is the evidence of their role in job creation please?

   (interesting that in your next whine you claim mass unemployment to be one of the problems in the area. Your guys really musn’t be all that good at the old job creation then.....)

   Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 06:57 PM

6. in comparison to the activities of the stoops when they had the seat at Westminster and when without the presence of SF in any form at council level.....the stoops had a clear field day and did squat all for the people of West Belfast…

   SF`s record speaks for itself…

   why else are they continually elected regularly out polling the dwindling sdlp…

   maybe SF knocks on every door and forces the electorate to vote!!!!

   Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 07:21 PM

7. Sorry Twinbrook but again you haven’t answered the question. Earlier on this thread you wrote, “I`ve seen their work in action, job creation, more accountable policing.”

   I am simply asking what work you have seen from SF on job creation. Your failure to answer speaks volume about you and your political heroes.

   We’ll leave it at that then.

   Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 08:06 PM

8. >If Martina Anderson isn’t a threat to the last wall of the crumbling SDLP empire why is the
   >party running around Derry like headless chickens trying to keep up with her, any gamblers >out there get the bets on now when the odds are good

   Aye, we’re all pissing ourselves after she took ten thousand to Belfast in her cavalcade and yet managed to fit them all into a minibus. She has no chance. Martin ran away, Mitchell ran away. Martina is irrelevant. Only one party could possibly take over Foyle from the SDLP and it isn’t SF.

   Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 09:26 PM

9. I would have thought that Martina Anderson would be a very strong candidate for Foyle?

   Surely the good people of Derry are all for her “Unionist Outreach” programme? Is that not pretty evident, considering the demographic shifts within that city over the past 3 decades?

   Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 10:04 PM

10. I’ve tried hard not to say it all day but screw it:

    Did Sammy have a he’s not the only gay running for village council moment?

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 10:16 PM

11. Idealogically opposite?

    The SDLP and FF?

    How so?

    The SDLP still claim to be a party of the left, whose policies are rooted in a social conscience. Whether that is true or not is an argument for another thread. My point is that this is hardly a description of Fianna Fail. While FF will be all things to all men at election time they have nothing in common with the supposed shiboleths of the SDLP.

    I’ve nothing against them merging, I just don’t see how disappearing into FF is a victory for the party.

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 10:35 PM

12. Is Eddie Hanna another result of the Thomas Hogg (DUA Chair) purge?

    Started off this year as a thriving organisation in both social and Student Council context, now they struggle to name half of the original 30+ councillors elected in October who they can say are still members.

    Another major problem the DUA face is the age groups within it, it is dominated enormously by first years therefore leaving them with a lack of political experience which is becoming increasingly obvious in Council.

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 11:14 PM

13. refusal to answer????

    Surely what it highlights is the bogus credentials of someone who is pretending to be from West Belfast in the vain attempt at innuendo and a pathetic attempt at fudging!!!

    Surely if you presume to know the happenings of West Belfast then you would off course be aware of what SF has done?

    So do you admit that in comparison with SF, the stoops record fades…

    constituency work, advice centres, workers on the streets dealing with and working with the community

    compare that with the stoops?

    Now do you also agree that the stoops are a spent force hence the continuing electoral free fall, a non-existent membership,(the reminder in their over 50`s)and a rush to join any party that will keep them afloat and in a job!!!

    As to SF being my heroes....

    When they get it wrong, I`m not slow in voicing my criticism as I`m neither a SF member or do think they are without defect or fault just like all those who serve…

    But what I do gave them credit for...is their tireless work.

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 11:46 PM

14. as a past member of the DUA (just graduated), I have to say all my friends who are still in the DUA are glad thomas hogg is the chairman. they had over 30 students at stormont a week or so ago for a tour apparently-pics on their website as proof.

    the overiding memory of hanna was someone who talked plenty, did very little. and thats what a lot of people in the orange and dup say.

    all the best with him basil.....good job its voluntary!

    Posted by  on Feb 10, 2008 @ 11:51 PM

15. Twinbrook,

    SDLP = Stoop Down Low Party

    SF/IRA/MI5 = Bend over backwards and take the Queen’s shilling while you’re at it party. Scap, DD and now the great one’s chauffeur - that’s job creation for ya!

    Wind your neck in!

    And before you call me a Stoop, I’m not. I just can’t abide by aggressive hectoring fanatics who give republicanism a bad name.

    Posted by  on Feb 11, 2008 @ 12:34 AM

16. That all sounds fine Twinbrook but YOU STILL DON’T ANSWER the question.

    Earlier in this thread you claimed to have seen in person, SF’s work at job creation in west Belfast.

    All i am asking is where did you see this? what form did it take? was it successful?

    and you can’t answer that question, making your ealrier comment patently bullshit.

    Posted by  on Feb 11, 2008 @ 12:36 AM

17. “Now the stoops would want us to forget all the support they gave to the RUC albeit with some reservation but support which flew in the face of the majority of Nationalists, who could not support a political sectarian anti-Catholic force, in league with loyalist death gangs… “

    Don’t even talk about death gangs…
    At least the SDLP weren’t riddled with MI5 and RUC spies.  Which party brought us Patten?  A clue; it certainly wasn’t Sinn Fein.  A few years ago despite the PSNI undergoing dramatic reform it apparently wasn’t ok for SF to join policing boards but last year with nothing of note happening as regards policing as such then it was fine.  Why? Political expediency.  SF play politics with these things, the SDLP bring about change.

    “Isn`t this thread about further defections in the ever decreasing numbers of the SDLP?”

    One defection of a relatively minor figure is no big deal.  Many defections of councillors and even a SF MLA would strike me as more worrying!

    Posted by  on Feb 11, 2008 @ 01:10 AM

18. Re Andrew,

    I think that maybe this just shows that even within integrationist liberalism we still have a split according to geography/community. It seems to me that as a Bangor man, Andrew has just tactically recognized this and has moved to the liberal party which tends to win more votes in his borough.

    If or when FF merge with the SDLP, reintegrate the last remnants of the PD’s and formalise their membership of the European Liberal Democratic and Reform Party, we may have two members of that wider European party active in NI; FF and the UK LibDem aligned Alliance.

    If so I’m hopeful that FF-Alliance-Green-Independents becomes a regular coalition in NI politics (as FF-PD-Green-Independents has in the South) - and also that this example encourages FG to take a similar route into NI in coalition with their Christian Democratic EPP partners in the UUP.

    I’d go as far as to say that as our social and economic interests take increasing priority over sectional identity these coalitions seem to me the logical next step.

    So can the Alliance Party zealots hold back on the SDLP “soul selling” attacks please? I’m not sure they’ll do anything but discourage a few SDLP/FF transfers that Alliance should welcome.

    Posted by  on Feb 11, 2008 @ 11:25 AM

19. I would like to clear up a few irregular comments which appear on this blog site.

    Firstly could I say that in regards to a job at stormont. I was greatful of the job opportunity which I was offered, but due to my commitments within my current employment I declined the offer. If anyone wishes to drag this out I can give them a copy of the letter and email which I sent after being offered the job. So maybe the DUP hacks can crawl back into their shell after more lies and retract their comment.

    Secondly I was never a former member of the UUP. I became interested in politics when I was 20 and joined the DUA and the DUP when I came to Queens.
    Once again more misguiding information.

    Thirdly I had no intention of running in a By election in Dromore- Would you not have to put your name forward for consideration first. Yet I know that is maybe not the traditional way of doing things in some branches of the DUP.

    As for those who believe I did nothing at Queens as an elected officer do so out of jealousy as they were unable to stir up enough interest to get elected themselves?? Yes I would admit alot of talking was done but I ask how many DUP MP’s MLA’S and Councillors talked loads and got nothing to show for their time at Queens for the Unionist community. I think many young Protestants remember that night in the Mandela Hall!!!

    Can I say my whole time in office I never once got any support from my party, never a phone call and at one stage was told that I should no take my seat on the executive at Queens as I could not sit with Sinn Fein/ IRA.  My, how times have changed.

    As for the Orange comment I persume you are not an orangeman and are out of touch with the local community, especially in Dromore- maybe a bit like your party.

    I am glad to have made the move to the UUP and look forward to the challenge of rebuilding the party. I looked forward to the challenge at Queens and equally look forward to the massive challenge of helping to rebuild the UUP.

    I believe the comments on this site help cement my comments and decision to move. Its great to have own opinion and ideas, not having to clone myself on senior members of the DUP and no longer playing fiddle to attitude of
    “do as I say and not what I do”

    Posted by  on Feb 11, 2008 @ 12:36 PM

20. Well said Edward.

    Posted by  on Feb 11, 2008 @ 12:51 PM

21. Edward,

    how did the job working for the orange order go during the summer? Much end product?

    Posted by  on Feb 11, 2008 @ 01:08 PM

22. Have to agree with young Edward!

    What shape is the DUA at Queen’s now? Worst it has ever been!

    Within my memory i never remember Unionists loosing the majority on SRC?

    And What else have these young DUPs delivered? very little!

    They should concentrate less on that party job and more on their degrees!

    Posted by  on Feb 11, 2008 @ 01:09 PM

23. roland rat,

    Having seen the end product it went exceptionally well!

    Posted by  on Feb 11, 2008 @ 01:11 PM

24. Edward,

    any mates of mine that went to the mandela hall that night left after an hour pretty disgusted that any refernces to britishness where not welcome. are you not all ‘simply british’ now?

    and one night is all you have to show for your work?

    Ulidian,

    Interesting view on the OO stuff - i’ve had a different persepctive on it from sources.

    Posted by  on Feb 11, 2008 @ 01:22 PM

25. When the big man stands in the pulpit and says certain members of the DUP owe him their ‘soul’ then its time to pension this god off. Also i see he is now using the old UUP soundbite that ‘decent’ people vote DUP.
    Jesus wept!

    Posted by  on Feb 11, 2008 @ 01:25 PM
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