Slugger O'Toole

foreigner resident in norn ironlad since 1979 "There is only way to look at a politician. Down." am a single parent and single minded. influences? mark twain, hl mencken, gore vidal, arethea franklin, james brown likes? italian food, tennessee sippin whiskey, opera, loud rock n roll dislikes? nayce people, senior civil servants and their zipper lickers, provincial chickenshits on an ego trip

Latest comments from wild turkey (see all)

wild turkey has commented 472 times (0 in the last month).

1. Comment on And the most racially intolerant country is…
   on 17 May 2013 at 10:28 pm

   “A southern racist will let you live close as long as you don’t get uppity, a northern racist will let you get uppity as long as you don’t live close”.

   Kevinstrino, i grew in a suburb of new york during the 50s and 60s. As I recall, the liberal line at the time was ‘ i don’t mind a negro buying the house next door. as long as doesn’t move in’

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2. Comment on “Win a weekend break for two in Londonderry”
   on 4 May 2013 at 8:11 pm

   ‘I wonder if the competition is legal? It says only residents of ‘Great Britain” are eligible to enter ….’

   better yet, for those who are bi-polar, one can go to Derry, the other to Londonderry. and everyone is content.

   given the proven track record of the city to hustle external funding on the legacy of troubles and tragedy, it’s been Fat City for decades.

   … and now for some kulture

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2ke-b8_hHU

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3. Comment on Political Drama: What Drama?
   on 24 April 2013 at 10:51 pm

   ‘Given the legal sensitivities around this case all comments have been suspended…’

   we are left in suspense. well, i guess that is drama in a way.

   Mr Joe, the serious point i was trying to make is the that players in the game here, and their associated zipper lickers (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern ?) do not possess the dignity and depth to in any way be associated with drama. comic books? perhaps.

   i remember staying with my grandfather as a young boy listening to the election returns of the 1960 presidential election on the radio! during the evening, and yes after a couple of beers and shots, started to reminiscence with some pride about voting for FDR and his vote that day for JFK.

   Maudlin? yep. those days are and never comin back. but they never existed here in northern ireland and definitely do not exist now.

   ‘Romantic Ireland is dead and gone. It’s with O’Leary in the grave;

   so, hence no drama. after thirty plus years resident in the north i remain surprised that the national enquirer never had a stringer in belfast .

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4. Comment on Political Drama: What Drama?
   on 24 April 2013 at 9:37 pm

   well here is a genuine piece of political drama. direct from Slugger no less.

   http://sluggerotoole.com/2013/04/24/gerry-adams-saving-my-political-skin-is-no-consideration-whatsoever-in-any-of-these-matters/

   in classical greek drama the protagonist is one of over reaching ambition who eventually meets their demise. whilst we, the chorus, stand in the off wings with some awe. and often pity.

   but given the allegations, and horrific impact on the young woman, in this particular instance awe and pity for the protagonist is off the table.

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5. Comment on Political Drama: What Drama?
   on 24 April 2013 at 11:58 am

   “Is it because we don’t find our politics interesting enough, or are we too cynical even to watch politicians?” he asked.

   ah, could it be a bit of both? aside from the annual and ongoing hillbilly feuds re: flegs. parades. commemorations etc. etc. regional politics is singularly lacking in drama. if i recall correctly, the word drama derives from the greek word for ‘action; ‘to do’ or ‘to act’. numerous posts on slugger have addressed from different perspectives the lack of action, the lack of ‘doing’ at stormont. so not much to get interested then, is there.

   given the overwhelming number of players, MLA’s, Spads, a relatively immense PR operation and the associated accoutrements of administration that appear to exist not to act but to exist, and to maintain meaningful employment for 100s (or 1000s?) of gifted and talented individuals who have foregone lucrative careers in the private sector to serve the public and civic good, yeah a bit of cynicism might kick in.

   and finally, for your consideration Mr Ulster, try this political fantasy on for size. the american patriots decisively win the revolution. the british see the writing on the wall. Westminster, becomes a regional assembly of the greater american empire. The founding fathers do draw up a written constitution and bill of rights.
   hey presto, all of a sudden the UK has a written constitution and a bill of rights.
   The British royal family is stood down,given an attractive redundancy package and retires to a lovely mansion on the shores of Cultra. American largesse includes the construction of an impressive ‘Queens highway’ from Cultra to the edge of Donaghadee pier. local loyalists can march it into perpetuity.

   During the 1840s the irish potato crop fails. a massive import of american grain and foodstuffs is followed up the incorporation of the four provinces of ireland into the american federal union. …. and in series 2…….

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6. Comment on Margaret Thatcher: A deeply qualified encomium…
   on 18 April 2013 at 6:58 pm

   ‘Her son, Mark will carry the Irish gene on to his daughter as she will pass it on to any male child she may have and so ad infinitum’

   the irish gene? i’ve contacted an old high girlfriend who has been involved in one of the human genome projects. she has is not aware of nor has she heard of the irish gene. she does have an understanding of how a claimed knowledge of genetics has informed some political ideologies. but as she is american, afro-american to be precise, and therefore probably not a carrier of the sacred gene, this may explain her ignorance regarding the irish gene.

   perhaps you can enlighten us?

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7. Comment on “nobody has the right to use lamp posts & telegraph poles like a dog marking out territory” #apc13
   on 3 March 2013 at 9:35 am

   ‘As has been said before and will be said again, APNI appears to many to be a small ‘u’ unionist party, unless of course all of these UUP defectors have went agnostic on the constitutional question, just saying, like’

   many many moons ago, at least 200, i was threatened with disciplinary action at work because i had ‘offended’ an Alliance party member. The offence? I maintained that APNI was one of three unionist parties. To wit:

   The DUP wanted the border sealed off with an electric fence and strategically placed , high calibre, watchtowers.
   The UUP would settle for just the fence.
   The APNI wanted to camouflage the fence with tasteful Laura Ashley drapes.

   Don’t get me wrong though, in my experience Alliance people are for the most part decent and well intentioned.

   can i go have some strong coffee and a bloody mary now?

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8. Comment on Anti-abortion farce takes over Assembly
   on 2 March 2013 at 6:10 pm

   ‘Religions are manipulated in order to serve those who govern society and not the other way around. This is a brand-new thought to most Americans, whether once or twice or never bathed in the Blood of the Lamb.

   At any given moment in a society’s life, there are certain hot buttons that a politician can push in order to get a predictably hot response…. It is good politics to talk against sin–and don’t worry about non sequiturs. In fact, it is positively un-American…to discuss a real issue such as unemployment…..’

   from Sex is Politics, Gore Vidal. 1979

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9. Comment on Basil and John need a name for their New Party: Can you help?
   on 28 February 2013 at 1:34 pm

   ‘They need to distinguishes themselves from the DUP / TUV / UUP / PUP / UDP unionist parties and appeal to young and moderate voters.’

   ok Brian2013, how bout SOFTCORP?

   no?

   how bout WASP: (what a) SURPRISE PARTY or maybe just plain old

   Surprise Party.

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10. Comment on Italy’s Five Star Movement – is this what The End of History looks like?
    on 28 February 2013 at 8:21 am

    Gerry

    very impressive analysis, though not the lite breakfast read i was anticipating.
    before any profound comment, i’ll have to re- read some Lenny Sciascia. two quick observations?

    1. ‘ the prospect of Communist-Christian Democrat co-operation with massive popular support was enough to see Aldo Moro murdered by the Red Brigades with equally disturbing groups on the far-right only sorry they didn’t get to him first.’

    ignore the ideological camouflage, in their fundamental adherence to authoritarian practices and structures, the Kremlin and the Vatican were never really far apart.

    2. ‘Beppe Grillo’s Five Star Movement has been propelled into a pivotal position in Italian politics from nowhere by this week’s election. What makes it so useful for examining the nature of the emerging protest parties is its ideological emptiness and unthreatening nature. This is a protest party that promises to change nothing. ‘

    that’s exactly the point. in most European democracies, are the proclaimed ideological differences between major parties of any real import? Do any voters with an IQ over the speed limit assign any credibility to the electoral ‘promises’ made by those parties?

    ciao

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