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Books
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A Political History of the Two Irelands competition…
Tweet It’s not often we get free things to give away to our readers, but courtesy of Palgrave Macmillan we have a nice paperback copy of Brian M Walker’s excellent history of partition of the island and how identities shifted in both the north east and the south and west: as most of the territory [...] read our review »
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O’Toole’s New Republic – unfinished business or just a dream?
Tweet More as a trailer than a review – as it’s out on Thursday– I draw attention to Fintan O’Toole’s latest polemic “Enough is Enough – how to build a new Republic“. Fintan has been promoting the book vigorously on this side of the water, on Radio 4’s Start the Week and here at greater [...] read our review »
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The Imperfectionists (Tom Rachman) – an insight into a newspaper that’s maybe not so fictional
Tweet ‘news’ is often a polite way of saying ‘editor’s whim’ Given the shift from print to online and e-ink, maybe Tom Rachman’s The Imperfectionists was a suitable first first book for me to finish reading on the Kindle. Considering the economic pressures on the newspaper industry, his novel perhaps captures the spirit and soul [...] read our review »
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Comment on Team Jasil – that’s John and Basil – say: “Get off your backsides and vote for people that are trying to make a difference”
on 12 May 2013 at 6:59 pm
“Jasil’s target electorate is people who are soft unionists but not quite soft enough to switch to Alliance. How many of these people are there ?”
Comrade, I think the DUP had actually started to gain traction with some softer unionists pre 2011 Assembly election – the size of their vote in North Down & recovery in East Belfast would support that.
I’d imagine a lot of the soft/middle class DUP/UUP vote has been left extremely pissed at their conduct since 3rd December and may well find their 1 in ‘Jasil’s’ box next time.
You may find it hard to believe but Alliance do frustrate a cross section of the population with their arse constantly on the fence on a few issues, notably the Union and gay marriage to name but a few. Basil and John have at least made their mind up on the union and to an extent on gay marriage, which should play well in Lagan Valley considering Alliance’s record on Lisburn City Council and Trevor Lunn’s stance!
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Comment on Ulster Presbyterians and the endurance of principle…
on 11 March 2013 at 7:51 pm
@danielsmoran …
“I wonder what the ancestors ‘the independent people’ would make of their descendants clinging on to their colonial masters for the subsidy. They wouldn’t be too impressed.”
No no no Gerry said there is no subsidy, its all an illusion constructed by the British to keep usuns onboard with the master plan. And we all know Gerry always tells the truth.
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Comment on If Adams is a prisoner of his own past, can he provide a future for Sinn Fein?
on 1 February 2013 at 10:48 pm
Lol at the Shinner brigade coming out in force because they can’t seem to get their head round the fact their fellow ‘country-men’ in the South don’t accept any form of shit from their politicians. Not for the first time and definitely not the last either I suspect. I look forward to Sinn Fein’s fight for survival with an electorate were-by tribalism won’t bring in votes. When economic prosperity returns to the South Sinn Fein will be sent back to the doldrums with nothing other than outposts in Border counties.
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Comment on SDLP chooses Patsy McGlone to contest Mid Ulster…
on 26 January 2013 at 8:32 pm
“Now hold on there. An error of judgement in supporting the naming of a play park nor policy as regards political prisoners does not make a party pro-terrorism. infact during the heat of the troubles and though campaigning for reforms, the SDLP did not advocate physical force”
Haha. ‘Error of Judgement’ The equality commission had already made a judgement. This constituency contains a town home to a prison officer who was recently murdered by republican terrorists. Trying to vindicate them via early release, or recognize dead ones as if their actions were something to be proud of won’t cut ice with Prods west of the Bann who generally aren’t as forgiving of that shit as their Eastern counterparts.
Closer to Newry and Armagh, the SDLP have also shot themselves in the foot come the next assembly election. Protestant’s voting down the paper was key to them gaining a second seat here – they got quite close in 2011, and Conor Murphy’s recent recruitment demeanor could have potentially been a catalyst for such a drive – all up in smoke now …
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Comment on Border Poll: On the one road, maybe the wrong road, on the road to god knows where?
on 18 January 2013 at 4:13 pm
” an unelected British overlord having the final say whether Irish people can vote themselves out of the union with Britain. That’s a backstep from what was agreed in the GFA.”
Ehhh. No. That’s exactly what was agreed to in the GFA. That’s what a majority voted for, that’s how it will be.
The time for a border poll is when Nationalists reach 50% in the assembly. For now, your efforts would be better spent searching for that extra 10.2% there needed for that. That’s probably 2020 unless Unionism can find capable leaders between now and then. I’m resigned to the 2020 option otherwise.
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Comment on “I will work tirelessly with all parties to build a truly shared future for Northern Ireland”
on 3 January 2013 at 12:55 am
“But hey bring up the stupid thing a SF mayor done, that excuses everything.”
Glad you agree it was stupid. But come on. It’s like you said earlier – “It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that winding people up in this place leads to trouble on the streets”
Removing the flag for nationalists may be about equality – but that’s not what it means to others – many won’t see it that way. I’m interested in why there was no proposal to put a tri-colour alongside the union jack, or raise a civic flag? What do you think of this?
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Comment on “I will work tirelessly with all parties to build a truly shared future for Northern Ireland”
on 2 January 2013 at 11:45 pm
It didn’t take a leaflet to raise a rabble after the Army cadet incident! Do you honestly believe all would have passed off quietly without incident otherwise? – If the leaflet didn’t raise a rabble the media would have!
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Comment on “I will work tirelessly with all parties to build a truly shared future for Northern Ireland”
on 2 January 2013 at 11:17 pm
rabble rouse? Unless that leaflet said go burn your local Alliance office out, try to kill police and block roads you’re barking up the wrong tree mate.
Moderate? That doesn’t mean I’m not going to engage nationalists when they’re talking sh’te and acting the bunch of hypocrites as Comrade has highlighted above!
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Comment on “I will work tirelessly with all parties to build a truly shared future for Northern Ireland”
on 2 January 2013 at 10:39 pm
This is going no where.
Never mind first … I’m going to fully invoke Godwins law here ….
The Nazi’s were democratically elected too
How’d that work out?
“What’s your line on the whipping up of emotion with 40,000 leaflets”
It’s propaganda, something all political parties engage in to motivate an electorate. What’s the difference between it here and in this example – http://twitter.yfrog.com/h8cwbskj
gallog,
It was a vote of confidence in someone who I believe has potential. That’s like saying no-one in SF has a clue about economics just because the party leader happens to be a dumbass on the subject.
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Comment on “I will work tirelessly with all parties to build a truly shared future for Northern Ireland”
on 2 January 2013 at 9:34 pm
Let’s cut to the chase do you think the elected representatives on BCC have the right to make this decision and if not why not.
Yes of course they are. If they are also entitled to accept responsibility for the aftermath – As one Belfast trade leader quipped on TV after the first week of protests, “Who’s idea was it to bring such a sensitive issue to the fore in the weeks leading up to Christmas?”
Do you think a BNP led group called the United Protestant Voice has the right to bring mobs onto the street to oppose the decision?
Peacefully yes – to otherwise argue is fascism. When roads are blocked and police injured such organisation is liable for its actions.
And when Pete and Mike called for a unionist forum did they not mean to include those causing the mayhem in the streets, imagine your disgust if SF and THE SLP announced a Nationalist forum which included the Dissident republican terrorist groups.
As far as I’m aware this forum has not included UVF/UDA – otherwise point me in the direction of a link and I’ll happily tell you. But if it does and in turn ends street protests is that not a good outcome or are you happy for the mayhem to go on? Like wise, if such a nationalist forum stopped attempts on police officers lives, then yeah by all means go ahead set one up.
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