Advertise
-
Books
-
Hearing the Other Voice from the Grave: Why Should we Listen to David Ervine’s Stories?
Ed Moloney’s Voices from the Grave: Two Men’s War in Ireland has received considerable attention in the press and in the public realm since its publication earlier this year. Although the book relates the experiences of the Provisional IRA’s Brendan Hughes and the PUP/UVF’s David Ervine, much of the discussion has focused on Hughes’ stories [...] read our review » -
Help me with the West Wing: Essential viewing or Party Political Broadcast?
Having somehow managed to avoid watching a single episode of the widely praised West Wing TV series I was delighted to discover the entire Box set in my Christmas stocking – and with enough spare time over the holidays to give it a good lash. But with 10 episodes of the first series under my [...] read our review »
-
Of the Old North and other Vanished Kingdoms..
I’m currently trawling through Norman Davies’s fabulous new tome – “Vanished Kingdoms” – Five stars in the (London) Telegraph’s review from Ben Wilson: All the nations that have ever lived have left their footsteps in the sand,” writes Norman Davies. “The traces fade with every tide, the echoes grow faint, the images are fractured, the human [...] read our review »
-
Comment on “…republicans are in a rather worse position than the SDLP”
on 29 January 2010 at 8:01 pm
Mic
Lads, do you read Brian Feeney for balance? No, you read him for insight.
So “insights” from the last two days:
– Getting involved inn the IRA was really because you wanted to screw children / your mum / open wounds
– SF and their voters are entirely driven by hatred of Prods
Perhaps you’d be better picking insights from these articles with a scalpel and not a shovel? Or generally adding some value rather simply dumping things here?
And no, Mick, I’m convinced you are a Tory because your sympathies don’t appear to tilt anywhere else, and they do appear to tilt in a fashion that sympathises with even the most ludricrious positions. Not much symapthy with SF; they are in default.
How are you voting in the next election, by the way?
Go to comment
Comment on Secret talks on Unionist Unity hosted by the Orange Order, before Hatfield…
on 29 January 2010 at 4:19 pm
Pete
It does?
Yes. Anything else?
Go to comment
Comment on Secret talks on Unionist Unity hosted by the Orange Order, before Hatfield…
on 29 January 2010 at 4:17 pm
Mick
So let me turn your question around and ask you what did SF do other than try to spin May 08 into a deadline that they had nothing to do for?
Did you miss the supporting the police? And coming out an very publicly criticising the dissidents? I seem to recall MMG getting an award from somewhere……
In fact, they did a shitload more for Unionist confidence than the DUP, which is probably why MMG gets at least a tiny bit fo respect form taht quarter.
SF made it abundantly clear that they couldn’t live with no P&J devolution. People are now complaining it’s come to the logical conclusion fo that.
If the timeline was totally meaningless, Mick, why have it in the document? You set expectations. What is its purpose? Answers on a postcard please.
Go to comment
Comment on “…republicans are in a rather worse position than the SDLP”
on 29 January 2010 at 4:10 pm
Seymour
Right now, the SDLP should be “all guns blazing” attacking the Shinners for their threats to bring down the Executive at a time when evidence is emerging that the majority of Northern Irish people from both communities want Power Sharing to be a success.
They can do that, and they’ll get tanked. Attackign SF does not prove you are any better at wringing progres sout of the DUP. It doesn’t indicate that you have any of your opwn ideas. And attack dog politics can be a big turn off. It would be minimal help to the SDLP.
Go to comment
Comment on “…republicans are in a rather worse position than the SDLP”
on 29 January 2010 at 3:36 pm
Apparently the evidence for SF voters fanatically hating Unionists is, um, voting SF.
Second, it makes the asusmption that current arrangements are the end game and immutable, which seems to be the MSM view but oddly they seem to believe Scotland could withdraw form the Union under the irght conditions.
Third, SF or anyone else is perrfectly entitled to pull the plug if there is anythign they can’t live with. That is entirely within the negotiated agreements. Also brinkmanship is a strategy with diminishing returns, but it is a perfect valid tactic.
Go to comment
Comment on “They’re unprofessional with what they’re doing.”
on 28 January 2010 at 10:56 pm
Fitz
Its humourous, but strikes me as a quote taken out of context or otherwise managled.
Go to comment
Comment on SWOTing the parties: Weaknesses of the DUP
on 27 January 2010 at 10:17 pm
– Haven’t really prepared their electorate for necessary compromises
– No real strategy in the event of collapse, unlike UUP
– Blanket blocking of anything SF wants has soldified SF’s support rather than damaged them
– Robinson fundamentally weakened by expenses and Iris scandals, even if he holds on to his position
– Some occassional lapses of discipline and solo runs — a leadership fight might bring divisions to the fore
– They are almost certain to lose seats in any forthcoming Assembly election
Go to comment
Comment on “All tender and effeminate notions must be stilled by a cold and single-blooded passion.”
on 27 January 2010 at 6:34 pm
jtwo
If theyd on’t follow whaty Slugger says, then it doesn’t count or they have it all wrong. See also P&J devolution
Islamic suicide bombers take this diseased sexuality to its ultimate conclusion by turning their very bodies into weapons.
This is so bad I just can’t dignify the rest of it with comment.
Go to comment
Comment on SWOTing the parties: Strengths of the DUP…
on 27 January 2010 at 5:19 pm
Mick
I think you are better divving up generally positives and generally negatives. You’ll have too many threads and too much confusion otherwise
Go to comment
Comment on SWOTing the parties: Strengths of the DUP…
on 27 January 2010 at 5:06 pm
- They can probably tolerate no deal; the Unionist electorate never punish people for saying no.
- Electorate might back them if it looks like they are going to further negotiations
- Leverage, at least while they are the largest Unionist Party: having frustrated SF so far there is a lot left on the table to negotiate
- Some good electoral cycles mean they have a broader spectrum of Unionist opinion than they traditionally did, and a wider bas eof representatives.
- The TUV make them look relatively less extreme
- The UUP seem insistent on repeatedly messing up
- One or two able MPs that could be moved to the Assembly if needed to shore up performance
- Generally decent discipline
- Incoming Tory Government may be more favourable, allowing them to play for time
Go to comment
Comment on Look not to Derry but Lower Ormeau, Clifton Park and Garvaghy for model solutions
on 27 January 2010 at 3:47 pm
Stephen
I know from my many years of watching parades that they are family events where people enjoy meeting up with friends and family they might not have seen for a while whilst enjoying the music and various choices of fast food.
Ah. I love how when anyone is interviewed about the twelfth, they always – always – say “It’s a family day”. Perhaps multiple times.
They do that because they know they are at something with one hell of a lot of baggage that may offend the ketholic neighbours, but they must weigh that up against the prospect of ice cream in a field.
Go to comment
Comment on On the danger of being unprepared for regional politics…
on 26 January 2010 at 10:07 pm
Except that what most of the cross channel correspondents are getting wrong (and who’s going to put them right, since besides Gordon Brown the DUP haven’t a friend left in Westminster to stand up for them), is that by the book, it is Sinn Fein’s problem we’re talking about here not the DUP’s…
Key words highlighted. The problem that has been bugging me since the start of people’s crusade on this, is the inherently Protestant nature of the criticism of SF. Sola scripture, legalistic argument towards what exactly is in the St Andrew’s Agreement. But that is and never has been the whole game. There are a whole heap of other things aroud it that matter; how it plays in the media, what private assurances people have form the governments, brinkmanship, the lot.
SF are gaining traction because they faced down their hardliners and very publicly backed the police when challenged and they’ve carefully ramped up the temperatur eon the issue. The DUP is getting hammered because it strung things out, obfuscated and didn’t prepare its base for the changes it had promised. The dates in St Andrew’s may not have been binding, but they set expectations. So SF have a narrative, and the DUP have “but technically……”.
Personally, i just want this over, so lugger becomes at least 15% less tedious than it has been for at least a year.
Go to comment
Comment on Hillsborough to provide Sinn Fein with a plausible escape from their own dismal Ministerial record?
on 26 January 2010 at 9:52 pm
Nevin
Kensei, I produced a very clear parallel: Nationalists voting for Unionist parties vis-a-vis Unionists voting for Nationalist parties. That hat you’re wearing is obviously too large!!
Southern Nationalism is differnet from Northern Nationalism as a consequence fo partition. Similarly Unionist parties in London are different tot he local ones. Plus in a United Ireland the context is different; is there real prospect of it ever being rolled back? I would guess no due to inertia and the difficult of say extracting Derry or Newry or West Belfast from the new settlement. That may concentrate minds on day to day issues.
May not. Just flying kites, which is all this could ever be at this juncture.
Just love that EU reference and Ireland’s opportunity to vote until it got the right answer – on two occasions.
Had it not been for the economic crisis, Ireland could well have voted it down again. I dislike it t in a short space myself, but there is no reason democratic societies can’t return to a question. No one forced people to vote yes the second time.
The realignment would take place to prevent Unionists acting as power-brokers.
On what grounds?
Go to comment
Comment on Sir Reg Empey: “I am actively working for a brand of unionism that encompasses the entire community”
on 26 January 2010 at 9:33 pm
Cynic2
and allege that he’s lying?
Nope, but I can’t be sure he was bending the truth or not giving full disclosure. He is a politicians, and it wouldn’t be the first time he has been less than frank.
oneill
That sounds like one of those very politenon-denial denials to me.
Go to comment
Comment on Hillsborough to provide Sinn Fein with a plausible escape from their own dismal Ministerial record?
on 26 January 2010 at 8:49 pm
Nevin
Kensei, there’s no way Unionists would be given the power of veto.
No. I don’t believe I suggested anywhere that they would. They would have some constitutionally protected rights though, and votes on things like Europe and th elike they don’t get now.
I suspect there would be a speedy realignment of parties if Unionists were permanent power-brokers in coalitions.
That doesn’t make sense. If Unionists were power brokers, it implies that the big parties are competing for their votes. Unionism have more in common economically with FF and FG than SF does. Given that in the event of a United Ireland, there is realisitically zip chance of it ever being undone, exactly what grounds would parties “realign” over?
So I suspect you are talking through your hat.
I like your equivalent notion of Nationalists here voting UUP, DUP or TUV
Except that isn’t an equivalent comparison.
Go to comment
Comment on Sir Reg Empey: “I am actively working for a brand of unionism that encompasses the entire community”
on 26 January 2010 at 8:44 pm
oneill
That doesn’t answer the question of why it was so strung out. Nor doe sit answer question about what discussions went out over a pact, and there are reports that McCann was unhappy with that in private. Nor does it explain why no effort was made to keep them in the running or give assurances regarding process.
But I’m sure if you are willing to ignore any problems, all will be well.
Go to comment
Comment on Sir Reg Empey: “I am actively working for a brand of unionism that encompasses the entire community”
on 26 January 2010 at 8:09 pm
oneill
The only direct information we have regarding the meeting concerned comes from Parsley and that directly contradicts what Walker and apparently you are alleging.
I am not alleging anything; I was simply loose with my language. I’ll take whatever Parsely says with a pinch of salt
Anyway, I think I’ll concur with Sammy Morse on the other thread:
It’s just coincidence that both your Catholic candidates did this at the same time, and were coincidentally joined by your ex-DUP candidate, at the end of the week when the DUPFUC merger talks leaked? Aye, right.
Go to comment
Comment on Sir Reg Empey: “I am actively working for a brand of unionism that encompasses the entire community”
on 26 January 2010 at 6:47 pm
oneill
Where there not statements from Facebook or Twitter from one of the candidates ont he previous threads. And in any case, if it was simply a matterof timing, he could have expressed regret and encouraged them to come back and keep trying etc.
But please, attempt to spin as you wish. You’ll have a hard time to beat Chekov’s comedy efforts, though.
Go to comment
Comment on Hillsborough to provide Sinn Fein with a plausible escape from their own dismal Ministerial record?
on 26 January 2010 at 6:44 pm
Nevin
Given the nature of coalitions in the Republic, there’s a fair chance they might have outsized importance.
Or they might just vote for FF, FG or Labour.
Go to comment
Comment on Sir Reg Empey: “I am actively working for a brand of unionism that encompasses the entire community”
on 26 January 2010 at 6:18 pm
Kilsally
What has Reg`s membership of the Orange Order got to do with candidates in the UUP? It is quite possible to have theological disagreements with the Roman Catholic Church and other religions and have impartiality and equality with regards candidates religion
It might be unfortunate but it muddies the water when you are part of an explicitly anti-Catholic organsation.
Go to comment