Thursday, November 08, 2007
“Very good Martin. Now please get on and produce some results”
Martin McGuinness’ statement in the Irish Times (subs needed) this morning is remarkable in one respect only: the fact he doesn’t say anything. Most of it comprises a complaint about people not speaking to him:
“I think I have a far better working relationship with Ian Paisley than Mark Durkan or Séamus Mallon ever had with David Trimble. I think that grates on them, it hurts them that the DUP and Sinn Féin have managed not just to get this government up but run it properly in a fashion that can deliver for the people.”
The latest PA report carries Alasdair McDonnell response:
“Many people would have been much more interested in hearing about his priorities for government, or his view of the challenges facing the people of the North, and how he intends to address them.
“The appointment of a Victims Commissioner, or a strategy for a shared future perhaps but no, instead we get party political posturing and pointless anecdotes.“Martin McGuinness has spent the last six months telling anyone who will listen how well he is getting on with Ian Paisley.
“Very good, Martin. We get the message. Maybe you should have tried it years ago.
“Now get on with producing some results.”
Mick Fealty @ 04:34 PM
<aside>Are there any ‘slaves’ in the Office of the FMDFM? Who wipes the grins from the CB faces?
Posted by on Nov 08, 2007 @ 05:50 PMyes martin off course you are geting on with paisley.
i am sure he just loves you. and why wouldn’t he. Sure Martin you are just as unionist as paisley is.
Posted by on Nov 08, 2007 @ 05:52 PMBelguim has been without a government for 150 (ish) days and their world hasn’t ended. If we have a government that does nothing because of its’ construction, our world won’t end either.
Posted by on Nov 08, 2007 @ 06:08 PMAh yes! That lovely pair Trimble and Mallon made such an impact that they got fired. Surprised that McDonnell wants to remind us of that.
Posted by on Nov 08, 2007 @ 06:22 PMVery disappointing.
Not one hard question asked of McGuiness in this colour piece, he might as well have got one of the party faithful to pen it.It is well known by every journalist that both the DUP and SF hate the “Chuckle Brothers” tag, but he’s even allowed to claim he doesn’t mind it.
Posted by on Nov 08, 2007 @ 07:25 PMI was able to access that piece, Mick, and I don’t have a subscription.
Posted by on Nov 08, 2007 @ 07:29 PMFrom tiocfaidh ár lá to Chuckle Brother. Viva the revolution and all that…
Posted by on Nov 08, 2007 @ 08:52 PMSorry, remind me what all those lives were lost for, Martin?
Posted by on Nov 08, 2007 @ 09:03 PMFrom tiocfaidh ár lá to Chuckle Brother
a mark durkan one liner
mark, is he is still about then ?
Posted by on Nov 08, 2007 @ 09:18 PM‘Sorry, remind me what all those lives were lost for, Martin?’
And Ian. This was a double act, violence and intransigence. Maybe we and the 3000+ will get our joint OFMDFM apology soon.
Posted by on Nov 08, 2007 @ 10:37 PMThe great play which McGuinness makes of his good relationship with Paisley is interesting. The closeness of this relationship seems to be a matter of considerable concern and indeed disgust in significant sections of the unionist community especially amongst traditional DUP members and supporters.
DUP members and supporters have in the past suggested that the “love in” would quickly fade away. That both McGuinness (and Paisley) seem to continue to trumpet it is surprising as it combined of course with the lack of much in the way of constructive decision making and the allegations of sleaze may be dangerous to SF and especially to the DUP.
Posted by on Nov 08, 2007 @ 10:42 PMI never thought I would say this, but I am very impressed by the SDLP these days. Ever since they decided to stop enslaving themselves to the onward march of the Shinners, they are really starting to shine.
It’s a shame they wouldn’t cross over to the opposition, they’d do a sterling job. We need more of the kind of directness and straight talking that we heard from Alistair McDonnell.
Turgon, well said. They said it wouldn’t be a love-in, but a work-in. I’ve seen very little work being done lately.
Posted by on Nov 08, 2007 @ 10:50 PMThank you Comrade.
I am begining to wonder if the current coalition may be begining to loose support. I am of course extremely biased on this (indeed am I not biased on everything?).
I was chatting to a good friend tonight whom I have not spoken to for a good few weeks. He is very much a UUP supporter as are his family. He did eventually come to a slightly more pro DUP position (though I doubt he could ever have voted for them) but he and they are now disgusted with the hypocrisy of the DUP and Paisley and of course the sleaze and inaction.
Previously the UUP got so far away from their supporters that they failed to realise they had lost so much support. It is too early to suggest that is happening to the DUP but again you begin to wonder. I will sleep a little happier in my cave in Ballymenastan tonight. Though of course even if a fall in DUP support occurs there is no guarentee it will allow us to come out of the caves and capture Kabulfast. Still I can dream the dream of the prodiban victory.
Posted by on Nov 08, 2007 @ 11:13 PMTurgon - I’m still astonished at the Afghan dye in the Book of Kells - did u really have a secret Lapis Lazuli mine at Devonsish ?
Posted by on Nov 08, 2007 @ 11:27 PM“move over martin, we’re only startin’”
west belfast, a few years ago…Posted by on Nov 09, 2007 @ 08:06 AM“"move over martin, we’re only startin’”
west belfast, a few years ago…”Are you sure? I saw it on a wall in the Markets. Maybe it was in both places - the one in the Markets was done by the YMH though.
Posted by on Nov 09, 2007 @ 08:25 AMTurgon,
My assessment is still based on the election which happened at a time when it was obvious what the DUP’s plans were. The results suggested then that most unionists are begrudgingly supporting the DUP, given that it is the only credible show in town, and I think they want to see where it is going to go; and I don’t think that has changed much. But I agree that the executive needs to start showing that it is here to do business.
Regarding the UUP, there are a lot of problems, but above all they regarded their vote as a certain thing and they never thought they would have to actually do any work to hold onto it. They have no “machine”. The DUP on the other hand have an expertly run, very slick PR engine. DUP elected representatives have a reputation for getting stuff done, and I think you’ll find that a lot of their votes are coming from soft unionists supporting them on the back of their solid constituency work.
Posted by on Nov 09, 2007 @ 09:07 AMYMH Young Mcdonald Henry…
Posted by on Nov 09, 2007 @ 09:14 AMTo me the SDLPs attitude to the current executiive just smacks of jealousy.Until they lose their attitude that they are better than Sinn Fein they wont be able to challenge them in the polls.
Posted by on Nov 09, 2007 @ 09:26 AMMartin is having rings run around him. It’s embarassing. He’s delighted with himself cos he is friends with Paisley and kept busy writing letters to Burma.
In the meantime, Robinson runs the show without challenge.
A sad episode
Posted by on Nov 09, 2007 @ 09:30 AMNot really Urquhart. I think thats what you like to think rather than what actually is going on. Anyway - does anyone mind? We have peace and relative prosperity and our govt for the most part is working well. Unionists cannot stand that McGuinness is working withh Paisley and has such a high place in govt. The old Stormont that suited them so well isnt coming back. Even Pailsey has accepted this, they should too.
Posted by on Nov 09, 2007 @ 09:51 AM<aside>Comical Marty to see ‘Santa’ Klaus today.
Posted by on Nov 09, 2007 @ 10:12 AMour govt for the most part is working well.
In what respect? Honestly. Here’s my opinion on how well it’s working: they haven’t succeeded in doing anything other than thart which is acceptable to both tribes. They haven’t as yet tackled anything controversial other than, possibly, the classroom assistants strike which hasn’t been an astounding success.
Meanwhile the posturing involving the sickening characters sitting around going on about how fantastic everyone is and getting their photographs taken together goes on so everyone can think wow, they’re talking to each other. Bollocks to that, they should be fighting and arguing and getting things done. Pissing people off with unpopular decisions while fighting their corner on other issues. Prioritising, that kind of thing.
Instead we’ve got a smoke and mirrors show and we’ve yet to see if the whole thing can float, or will it sink without trace as soon as the bickering gets started? I for one would like to see them get on with it, so we can find out.
Posted by on Nov 09, 2007 @ 10:26 AMAquifer
“This was a double act, violence and intransigence”
Bad politics, however woeful, do not equate to a genocidal murder campaign.
Gum
do you really think that “government” is being run from OFMDFM?
Comrade Stalin
“But I agree that the executive needs to start showing that it is here to do business.”
I would contend that most unionists are just happy to get on with making the mortgage repayments regardless of the executive gets up to. In fact, the less government we have the better all round so if glorious inactivity produces stability and prosperity then well & good.
Posted by on Nov 09, 2007 @ 10:39 AMBonar -
of course not, but I have no problem with the happy faces all roound. We have a hge image problem to overcome and if Paisley and McGuinnes smailing and working together is what the world sees when it looks in then I think its a good thing.
I do think their relationship is imporant for good govt, and that those that say Robinson is running the show are just uninforned. Important, yes; personally running the whole operation, obviously not.
Posted by on Nov 09, 2007 @ 11:46 AM
