Slugger O'Toole

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Latest comments from Nordie Northsider (see all)

Nordie Northsider has commented 193 times (0 in the last month).

1. Comment on Adams apology worse than no apology at all…
   on 30 January 2013 at 5:26 pm

   Sherdy – you’re right about the damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t aspect of this but it’s hard to deny that Adams has a credibility problem. When he denies involvement in the IRA no-one, simply no-one, believes him. That basic mismatch between what Gerry wants people to believe and what everyone actually does believe is absolutely corrosive to his credibility and to Sinn Féin’s.

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2. Comment on Is Heaney right when he talks about us having ‘caste politics’?
   on 30 January 2013 at 11:05 am

   There is a certain kind of Northerner resident in the South who, eager to fit in with the ambience of boredom that surrounds all things Troubles-related, likes to declare that he or she is above all that tribalism. In fact, that’s why they had to get out and good riddance to all of it.

   I’ve never much liked that attitude. It’s a pose, for one – a pandering to a not very admirable ‘nothing to do with us’ anti-historical attitude, trying to pass off ‘I don’t give a shit’ or ‘please don’t think I’m like THEM’ as an enlightened political position. Heaney’s statement came very close to that.

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3. Comment on Polls: Is Sinn Fein becoming a first stop for government disaffection?
   on 28 January 2013 at 1:00 pm

   Coming to this one a bit late. What surprises me about SF’s Border Poll campaign is that there are so many other things they could be doing to increase their support and effectiveness in the South. Only yesterday the Constitutional Convention voted to suggest giving the vote to 16 year olds. That would massively benefit SF and they should be backing it with as vocally as they can. But what are the headlines in relation to SF’s involvement in the Convention? An article criticising them for not sending anyone more high-powered than two Senators and an Assemblyman http://www.independent.ie/national-news/sinn-fein-accused-of-snubbing-new-constitution-body-3368195.html

   Ok, that’s the Indo, and Fionnán Sheahan is blind to the symbolism of having an elected member from the North take part. Even so…

   I remember talk about SF instigating a campaign to persuade unions to stop funding the Labour Party. I haven’t heard anything more about it since.

   It strikes me that are any number of opportunities for SF to further themselves as the anti-establishment choice. I’m not sure that they will take them.

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4. Comment on David Ford: Ideological differences not being handled inside the SDLP…
   on 28 January 2013 at 11:53 am

   In trying to win votes from Nationalists the Alliance Party is up against cultural perception as much as ideology. Most Nationalists don’t see their side of the argument as being sectarian and so feel no compulsion to support a party whose main pitch is non-sectarianism.

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5. Comment on Border Poll: On the one road, maybe the wrong road, on the road to god knows where?
   on 18 January 2013 at 2:20 pm

   My view is that this campaign will damage SF in the Republic, re-inforcing their image as a ‘one-issue’ party and giving opponents who accuse them of economic naivity even more stones to fling at them.

   Some commentators have said that this is about scooping up the traditional Nationalist vote in the Republic. I’m not sure that there is such a thing any more. Even if there is, Sinn Féin probably have it nailed down already.

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6. Comment on “In Ireland, it is not in our culture to eat horsemeat and therefore, we do not expect to find it in a burger…”
   on 16 January 2013 at 10:18 am

   I’m surprised those burgers have 29% meat content of any description.

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7. Comment on A Northern Ireland that cannot govern itself will always be brittle and unstable
   on 15 January 2013 at 3:13 pm

   “SF has undoubtedly been knocked back by the recent Census data and the Opinion Polls showing a vast majority of NI people wishing to remain within the UK.”

   No offence, JimmyMac, but any Shinner I’ve talked to has been grinning like a Cheshire cat over the census results. You may argue that have no business to, but that’s another matter.

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8. Comment on The First Shades of God (Jamie Bryson): unremarkable theology, but an insight into the mind of the protest-organiser
   on 8 January 2013 at 9:52 am

   “I have no problem with Bryson getting a roasting on Nolan on the issues around the protests, but the sneering at his lack of intellect and writing skill is just bullying.”

   No it isn’t. When someone makes the decision to publish and promote his work in the public domain, he or she is inviting criticism. Even more so when the author is a would-be ‘leader of men’.

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9. Comment on Willie Frazer sabre-rattles at north Belfast rally, claims “1.5 billion (pounds) given to the IRA to keep them content.”
   on 7 January 2013 at 4:43 pm

   It was inevitable that Willie would have a leading role in the Union flag protests after his brave stand against Italian tricolours: http://www.u.tv/news/IRA-HQ-claim-over-schools-Italian-flag/a415e119-9230-4265-b9d5-a16348618fac

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10. Comment on What was your sporting moment of 2012?
    on 21 December 2012 at 3:54 pm

    Cityman, paddywack, what I wrote was a bit tongue in cheek ‘ not that I’m bitter, but…’

    In fact, I don’t begrudge City their moment any more than I begrudged Blackburn Rovers their day in the sun. Kings for a day, just like City.

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