Turgon

I have blogged about Alex Kane’s Newsletter columns before. The latest is another excellent analysis from a unionist perspective.Kane states that Robinson will have difficulty moving away from Paisley’s shadow and amongst other things cites the “Chuckle Brothers” about which Robinson did nothing. However, I would submit that allowing Paisley to do this may have helped Robinson to look distinctive, different and more acceptable to the harder line elements in his party which may have been traditionally suspicious of him. …

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A quality piece of spinning here from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. I mentioned previously that in June 2007 Michael McGimpsey announced the following targets for waiting times in our NHS: • 13 weeks for a first outpatient appointment • 13 weeks for a diagnostic test • 21 weeks for surgery. As I went on to explain these targets were modified in January (downgraded) and turned from targets into aspirations which were as follows: • Reduction …

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Despite the recent reduction in the “love in” the DUP and SF may have reached a deal on the number of councils. According to the BBC, a deal is imminent on reducing the number to 11. SF had wanted 7, some of the other parties 15. We do not have finalised information on what the exact boundaries will be though I see the Impartial Reporter is reporting that Omagh and Fermanagh will merge. The final decision on the boundaries will …

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As Pete has noted The Assembly and Executive Review Committee have failed to reach an agreement on the devolution of policing and justice powers: no surprise there. The DUP claim to have negotiated a “triple lock” and the ability to veto devolution of policing and justice. Dodds has also stated that his party will not be “bullied” into accepting P+J devolution. This raises two interesting points: Firstly, if as the DUP tell us, one of their great achievements has been …

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A few days ago one of our regular commenters, Pancho’s Horse; asked me to analyse the current situation from a Republican perspective. At the time I though that it might be an interesting intellectual challenge but I have tried to look at this sort of thing before and have been attacked by republicans for not understanding. Anyhow here goes again. Complaints should also be directed to Pancho’s Horse. For those who complain my blogs are too long a brief summary: …

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It appears that Dawn Purvis the leader of the Progressive Unionist Party aka terrorist apologists has held a meeting with leaders of some of the alphabet soup. According to the Belfast Telegraph the latest in a series of meetings took place two Wednesdays ago. At it the “special relationship” between these two organisations was discussed. They may be going to have an amicable divorce? The report contains these gems: “I see it just as people living in the past,” one …

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Apparently some physicists at times search for a grand unifying Theory of everything. All encompassing theories or solutions are of course also the realm of the conspiracy theorist. Despite the imminent demise of the Great Leader there remain a number of problems facing the Chuckle Coalition up on the hill; even after all the dust has settled over commemorating Ms. Farrell etc. longer term problems remain. One of these centres around the devolution of policing and justice. SF has been …

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Dr. Paisley has proclaimed that he did indeed “Smash Sinn Fein” and that they are no longer true republicans because they are part of the British government. He has also explained his apparently quite close working relationship with Martin McGuinness. Peter Robinson has waded into the fray defending Paisley’s legacy, something which is maybe a touch ironic in view of recent events? A case of a Brutus hiding behind Mark Anthony’s speech? A real pity Dr. Paisley had not been …

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Harry Patch is, I believe the last surviving British soldier who fought in the trenches in the First World War; there is also a surviving 111 year old, Henry Allingham who fought at Jutland. The Poet Laureate Andrew Motion has written a poem in Mr. Patch’s honour, he talks about this commission here. I will put the poem below the fold:The Five Acts of Harry Patch ‘The Last Fighting Tommy’ by Andrew Motion I. A curve is a straight line …

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Former SF MLA for Fermanagh / South Tyrone: Gerry McHugh, has opened a new office in Enniskillen with support from a number of others (see Impartial report). McHugh is reported as saying he has been in discussions with Pat McNamee and Jim McAllister. He says he has been “linking up with [other] groups to pool ideas to create a joint approach to the main political issues both locally and nationally and to further the Republican agenda in a political and …

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Clearly there has been a huge amount of discussion surrounding Dr. Paisley’s imminent departure from his post as First Minister. One vitally important matter which has not been adequately discussed here on slugger is Dr. Paisley’s hat. Dr. Paisley’s hat wearing is discussed in detail on The Politics Show website. I have to admit that despite being a TUVist I am also a fan of his hats. We are not talking about woolly ones here but proper ones with brims …

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Amid the general eulogies and accolades being given to Dr. Paisley now he is standing down there have been dissenting voices; Jim Allister has decried Paisley’s legacy. In the Impartial Reporter (you need to register but it is free) Ivan Foster gives an interview about Dr. Paisley. Whilst personally, despite my religious views, I come at anti agreement unionism from a secular position and would not share all of Rev. Foster’s other views either; I find his analysis of how …

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It seems that the Assembly government in Wales is to make hospital car parking free by 2011; though if one looks at the small print some hospital car parks seem to be run by private sector companies on long leases and as such presumably will continue to charge. Elsewhere in the UK Scotland seems set to cap charges at £3 per day. England seems disinclined to follow suit. I am unsure but I think the here in Northern Ireland the …

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So how to analyse today? A very difficult question: I have no doubt many will have their own answer. I also have no doubt that my analysis will change over the next number of days. Still let us look at today. From the perspective of an anti agreement unionist (who does actually want “fenians about the place” contrary to some people’s view of me); is it “Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this son of …

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Just heard it on BBC news: Paisley is to resign as first minister after the investment conference. The BBC website reports him as saying that: “I came to this decision a few weeks ago when I was thinking very much about the conference and what was going to come after the conference.” He also said that it was up to the DUP who replaced him: “This is not the Church of Rome. This is not Apostolic succession and I have …

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After relatively few recent public pronouncements; Adams has delivered his speech at the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis. He is being reported as saying that he has concerns that power sharing could collapse. He has urged the DUP to stand up to those he believes are in its ranks but opposed to the current dispensation. Mick has indirectly mentioned the DUP annoyance below.Adams has also amusingly announced what looks to me like unionist engagement mark 2. Since Mr Adams seems to …

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Many cultures and societies have frightening non specific things they fear. Societies we now rather condescendingly call “primitive” are full of stories of frightening monsters which frequently needed to be appeased; usually by the sacrificing of virgins and such like before a hero confronts and defeats them. The minotaur from Greek mythology is a case in point. The people of Easter Island seem to have built massive statues to appease some unknown potentate. In the Anglo Saxon poem Beowulf (no …

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According to a report in Omagh’s Ulster Herald the Western Health Trust is considering ending 24 hour laboratory services at Omagh hospital. As the report correctly observes this would severely restrict the ability of the hospital to look after acute admissions especially after hours. This move appears to have been due to the Trust’s concerns about safety and also problems regarding compliance with the European Working Time directive. The suggested solution of “point of care” testing equipment is as the …

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Newspeak was the official language of Oceania in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty Four. One of Oceania’s slogans was “War is Peace.”Currently there are a number of problems facing the Chuckle Coalition up on the hill. The devolution of policing and justice, demanded by SF, but rejected for the moment by Paisley and various other DUPers. The debacle of the Dromore by election and the apparent concern in some DUP circles about the chuckling added to the demise of Paisley junior …

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I have avoided blogging on Kenya for a while. I was hoping to blog some sort of possible solution and analyse it. Thus far, however, none has been forthcoming. There have been a series of negotiations between the President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga. The bones of an agreement seem to be there with power sharing and Mr. Odinga becoming Prime Minister. The failure to agree is complex problem. One problem is that the post of PM does …

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