Slugger O'Toole

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Latest comments from Paddy Matthews (see all)

Paddy Matthews has commented 31 times (0 in the last month).

1. Comment on Are the Tories as rattled as they seem?
   on 19 April 2010 at 2:19 am

   @ Sammy Morse,

   Lib Dems 33 Con 32 Lab 26 according to YouGov tonight.

   Have you thought about pushing the “vote for the next Westminster government” line yet?

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2. Comment on Sunshine after the rain
   on 14 April 2010 at 2:58 pm

   http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/00ab4d70-381e-11df-9e8e-00144feabdc0.html

   Ireland fell deeper into recession in the fourth quarter of 2009, with the economy shrinking 2.3 per cent as a result of devastating floods in the west of the country and the continuing decline in building activity following the property market crash.

   Output figures for the third quarter, which had shown a small increase in gross domestic product of 0.3 per cent – prompting predictions Ireland had come out of recession – were also revised downwards to a decline of 0.1 per cent.

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3. Comment on Sunshine after the rain
   on 14 April 2010 at 2:54 pm

   http://www.cso.ie/releasespublications/documents/economy/current/qna.pdf

   GDP at constant market prices:

   2009 Q1: 43,118
   2009 Q2: 43,047
   2009 Q3: 42,659
   2009 Q4: 42,111

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4. Comment on Sunshine after the rain
   on 14 April 2010 at 2:46 pm

   @Mack:

   It’s worth bearing in mind we had positive GDP growth in Q3 2009 (albeit while GNP continued to plummet).

   Except that it subsequently turned out we didn’t.

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5. Comment on Irish newspapers to charge for online content
   on 12 April 2010 at 11:25 pm

   BTW, the BBC might be freely available up to but not beyond the point at which Rupert Murdoch calls in favours with the next British government

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6. Comment on Irish newspapers to charge for online content
   on 12 April 2010 at 11:22 pm

   I think there are a number of flaws with this plan.

   One very obvious problem that I can see with the subscription-only plan in general is that the Irish Times tried it for a number of years and it didn’t pay – at a time when people had more discretionary spending money than they have now.

   A cartel might make the business plan look more feasible, but there is always likely to be someone who’ll break the cartel.

   In any case, the RTÉ News site shouldn’t be much of a threat to what newspapers are supposed to do best – detailed and reflective coverage. What’s there is generally brief summaries of stories – the main draw is that there is audio and video of news coverage available.

   Éamon Ryan should tell Independent Newspapers and the rest of the would-be rent-seekers to get stuffed if he has any balls at all.

   Second – while RTE may appear to be the biggest obstacle to enforcing a cartel like minimum price for news content, that ignores the potential for other commercial entities expanding their southern Irish online news coverage. e.g. UTV, TV3 or Newstalk Radio may take the opportunity to expand their web presence.

   Of course, Denis O’Brien (owner of Newstalk) is a major shareholder in INM. One O’Ligarch may not be much better than another.

   Finally, it is entirely possible that many of eyeballs currently scanning MSM websites will search for more left-field alternatives benefiting blogsites such as Slugger (and increasing the importance of real-time information feeds such as Twitter as a source for stories).

   Frankly, the blogosphere has far too high a notion of its own importance. By and large, it doesn’t break stories of its own accord – it comments on stories that the MSM have broken. What it provides is commentary – often slanted and of variable quality – and all too often an ideological echo chamber into which people can retreat so as to avoid differing opinions.

   Finally, congratulations to cynic2 on managing to drag national identity and the whole British/Irish, nationalist/unionist pissing competition into this discussion. It takes some doing.

   Go to comment

7. Comment on South Belfast Orange and Black call for agreement
   on 12 April 2010 at 12:32 am

   @Kevin Barry:

   I can’t wait to hear the excuse that comes from the Cameroons for standing aside in SB.

   David Cameron worked in PR for Carlton TV in the dim distant. He has no shortage of experience in polishing turds if push comes to shove.

   What I’m looking forward to – if the deal happens – is the 180-degree-swivel, four-legs-good-two-legs-better justifications for it from the advocates of “liberal”, “21st century”, “non-sectarian” Unionism.

   It will give them a break from concern-trolling about what a fine fellow Fearghal McKinney is.

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8. Comment on Unionist unity candidate declared in Fermanagh South Tyrone
   on 9 April 2010 at 6:22 pm

   @Mick:

   It will be a limited pitch, and whilst the political pitch may be Tory the wider pitch will be around communal identity.

   Which is fair enough in politics and war. But that is not quite what Mr Cameron promised in Dec 08.

   More fool anyone who believed him in December 2008.

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9. Comment on Chris Grayling adopts the Adrian Watson policy position…
   on 6 April 2010 at 10:21 pm

   The Estate agent from Gransha Road who can’t even keep his wife in control

   Good to see that forward-thinking Unionism is on offer to the electorate this time round.

   A sneak preview of UCUNF’s next policy meeting:

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS37SNYjg8w

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10. Comment on Lessons from Ireland
    on 5 April 2010 at 9:40 pm

    “Ireland is on the road to fiscal recovery and sustainable growth.”

    Male bovine excrement.

    Reality:

    GDP down 2.4% in the last quarter of 2009 (the GDP “increase” in the third quarter turned out to be a statistical mirage).

    Unemployment revised upwards to 13.3% last month.

    Tax receipts continuing to run 15% below last year’s figures (and significantly below even the Department of Finance predictions from January).

    Just because the Von Mises Bible College wants it to be so doesn’t make it so.

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