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tyrone_taggart has commented 123 times (31 in the last month).
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Books
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Do Words Matter?: Book Review of Political Discourse and Conflict Resolution – Debating Peace in Northern Ireland
I share many of the concerns of Andy Pollak, whose recent post ‘My Response to the Slugger Begrudgers’ zeroed in on the ‘relentless flow of negativity’ of some Slugger commentators. Pollak’s post was largely concerned with the medium of the blog. Indeed, I think the anonymity of the online world encourages extreme discourse and allows [...] read our review »
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Christopher Hitchens, 1949 – 2011
Writer Christopher Hitchens has died aged 62. He was as contrary as he was brilliant. Here is a brief In Memoriam from Vanity Fair (his outlet of choice since 1992) and, here, a longer tribute from his friend Christopher Buckley Stanley in The New Yorker. Better, perhaps, though to post one of Hitchens’ own writings in [...] read our review »
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The ANC, the IRA and the rise of influence of the left within Sinn Fein…
World by Storm has a nice piece up on the IRA’s role in helping MK, the armed wing of the ANC, in the 1980s. In particular he sees a strange alchemy at work there: …if one can think of a clearly legitimate contemporary struggle it was that against apartheid and it is to the credit [...] read our review »
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Comment on Enda won’t debate Gerry who in turn won’t debate Micheal on the Treaty…
on 10 May 2012 at 10:50 pm
Mick Fealty
“Though, if I were Gerry I think I’d be a great deal more comfortable with Enda (since they both fairly weak on detail) than Micheal…”
Micheál Martin is strong on Europe and would be better than Enda. He has already been up on TV and made his points. With the broadcasting rules that require both sides get 50 per cent of airtime FF is starting to look like Team Martin. Debating with Mary Lou/Joe Higgins/ on TV3 may have given him the opportunity to get his point across but it also made him a cabinet member in the debate rather than a leader.
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Comment on Enda won’t debate Gerry who in turn won’t debate Micheal on the Treaty…
on 10 May 2012 at 8:48 pm
” Why won’t Gerry met Micheal?”
He said he would. He just more important people to be included in the debate. Thus placing Michéal Martin as a bit player. Pearse Doherty would always be available if Michéal needs someone to talk with.
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Comment on Enda won’t debate Gerry who in turn won’t debate Micheal on the Treaty…
on 10 May 2012 at 7:02 pm
Did TV3 not invite both Mr Adams and Mr Kenny? If Mr Kenny cannot debate with Adams then God help him.
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Comment on Austerity is a dish Ireland will almost certainly have to eat, hot or cold…
on 10 May 2012 at 11:48 am
“But Germans are different, they are industrialists.”
No they are not “different”! There Govermant may have acted in a different way than the Irish Goverment did and that is all.
You could make a cultural argument arround how people react to situations due to events such as the “Famine” and “Hyper inflation”.
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Comment on Europe’s Super Sunday Provides Few Clear Answers So Far
on 7 May 2012 at 6:40 pm
thedissenter
“The Party (Priate) cannot be ignored”
I have been watching German TV and they have got a lot of coverage.
My German is not great so I am only getting the general thrust of the news reports.
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Comment on The red tide returns – Labour win big in Wales.
on 6 May 2012 at 7:34 am
Dewi
Thank you for the link.
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Comment on The red tide returns – Labour win big in Wales.
on 5 May 2012 at 6:22 pm
Malcolm Redfellow
“Pray define “won” in that context.”
The biggest part of the “victory” for the SNP is people are talking about the 2 big parties in Scotland. Scottish Liberal Democrats need to change things quickly.
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Comment on UK lacks a ‘broader, stabilising and federalising political project’ (or any defence against Scots Independence)…
on 4 May 2012 at 2:27 pm
Drumlins Rock
“Labour becoming the Party of the Union again.”
The Conservatives are now an English/Welsh party.
In order to campaign in Scotland the Labour party will have to move with the electorate there. The idea of “devo plus” and other cunning ploys by Labour is still driving the UK apart.
“Douglas Alexander has suggested that his party could embrace what’s known as “devo plus”. Unlike “devo max” (an option rejected by Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont), which would grant Holyrood full fiscal autonomy, devo plus would leave pensions, VAT and national insurance in Westminster’s hands. But it would give Scotland contol of income tax, corporation tax (which the SNP would significantly reduce) and most welfare spending”.
http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2012/03/devo-spending-powers-scotland
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Comment on Peter takes charge while Martin appeals to the British for help
on 1 May 2012 at 8:12 pm
Bigger Picture
I will let others judge your spinning on Martins words.
You clearly do not even have a clue when the words was spoken.
You clearly think that there is no way it will ever happen.
I have a simple question in light of your view. Which powers if granted to Scotland short of full Independence the DUP would not want to have for Northern Ireland?
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Comment on Peter takes charge while Martin appeals to the British for help
on 1 May 2012 at 7:09 pm
Bigger Picture
“It was said at the time of devolution and referred to devolution.”
In other words you do not know and are only speculating what you think the words meant. Can you even point to any quote from Ian Paisley in which he felt that no more powers should be given to the NI executive when he became first minister? I cannot think of any politician who when taking office said they would not take more powers if it was possible.
Martin Mc Guinness:
“As Ian Paisley said to me when during our first meeting, ‘Martin, we can rule ourselves, we do not need these direct rule ministers coming over here telling us what to do’.
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