Minority power in Florida

Slate has a fascinating dispatch from Florida detailing how given the close run thing it was in 2000, how every minority group believes they may hold the keys to a Republican or Democrat Whitehouse. It’s a classic case of how parties wishing to lead in a democracy are compelled to track the changing mores of those they wish to lead. And Mickey Kaus on two unattractive candidates fighting to stay out of the limelight. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of …

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None of the above

It what could be seen as a response to the charge of intellectual timidity, Instapundit Glenn Reynolds peers into the future and sees conflicting, but plausible, scenarios facing a victorious Kerry team – in the process he presents a valid argument as to why he isn’t echoing Andrew Sullivan’s act of contrition for past sins. Pete Baker

Intellectual timidity of the Right…

Andrew Sullivan, who backed Bush in 2000, slams him in 2004:”He hasn’t only been a reckless spender and borrower, he has moved the GOP into the permanent position of the spend-and-borrow party. On domestic issues, he has simply failed to live up to his promise to be a moderate or a uniter”. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest …

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Irish-born British/Iraqi aid worker abducted…

AN Irish-born aid worker, with dual British and Iraqi nationality, has been kidnapped on her way to Baghdad to head up Care International’s operations. UPDATE: Al Jazeera has shown a video of Mrs Hassan being held by an Iraqi group. (Link does not connect to the video, just the story by Al Jazeera, also on BBC.) Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

Bush pulls ahead again…

To borrow a phrase from Adrian Dunbar’s character Mickey O’Neill in Hear My Song, “Did he or didn’t he? Is he or isn’t he? Will he or won’t he?” These are just some of the questions the US Democrats will be asking themselves in the wake of the big three TV debates, as the latest poll shows President Bush move 4 points ahead of their man Kerry.In today’s FT, Philip Stevens reflects on what it could mean to Europe, where …

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Guardian readers ‘advising’ US voters?

Emily at It comes in pints has been spoiling the Guardian’s attempt to get it’s readers to tell US voters how to spend their votes in the presidential race. BTW: The smart money is shifting (slowly) away from a Bush sure thing and getting closer to evens. Slate has only 2 electoral college votes in it. Now might be the time to switch that punt to Kerry? Andrew Sullivan is excited. Mickey Kaus is not so sure. Mick FealtyMick is …

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Towards a pre-emtive foreign policy?

Given the international nature of the discussion and topics here this week, it seems a timely moment to post my report on a debate held in London by Intelligence Squared. The subject: the merit of pursuing a pre-emptive foreign policy. It was a fascinating experience, and used a form I’d love to transfer to a venue in Belfast and/or Dublin on subjects nearer to home.It is easy to forget just how informal public discourse has become in these days of …

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US deports former paramilitaries…

Belfast Telegraph journalist Mary Fitzgerald on the way US anti-terrorism laws have led to the deportation of former prisoners released under the terms of the Belfast Agreement. Much hinges on Immigration judge Rose Peters’s ruling earlier this year that Sean O’Ceallaigh’s conviction for the killing of two British soldiers was ‘purely political’. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest …

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Beheading and the role of video…

David Vance links to a Mark Steyn piece on the killing of Ken Bigley. Regarding public taste and decency it’s right on the edge. It’s not in the least surprising the Daily Telegraph pulled its publication. In parts, it is every bit as offensive as the Billy Connelly quote, which provoked Eilis O’Hanlon’s ire last weekend.But he argues that in the UK and Ireland that we’ve been missing the effects elsewhere of the fate of other hostages. And in particular …

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Bush in cruise control?

For those of you waiting for another big ‘hanging chad’ finale in the US Presidential election, you can relax. According to the latest composite poll in the Washington Post, Bush is shrugging off the slight gains Kerry made after the first of the three set piece debates. Today it stands at 51%-45% in his favour. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is …

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Did Bush wear an ear piece or not…

Just picked this up from David Steven’s etecera blog. It’s all supposition and likely to remain so as it can’t be verified or conclusively refuted after the fact. Kerry has just endured several days of bad press when he pulled a pen out during the debate, and rumour had it was an attempt to consult crib notes. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media …

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Kidnappers have not won proganda war…

Stephen Glover demurs from the idea that the media campaign to release Ken Bigley has been a propaganda victory for the kidnappers. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Leviathan on Israel and Palestine

Leviathan’s back at the Speigeltent in Dublin this Friday at 7pm. Looks like an excellent line up, with a set piece debate refereed by Eammon Dunphy between Israeli comedian and professor of music, Eyal Kless and Palestinian ambassador, Ali Halimeh. Comedy is by Belfast’s Colin Murphy. Anyone in the vacinity with the remotest interest in the question should try and get there! Tickets €15 from www.fringefest.com or (+353) 1850 374 643. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has …

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Bigley’s details sent to Al Jazeera?

Paul Bigley’s phenomenal efforts to acheive the release of his brother Ken seem to revolve around pushing his brother’s Irish nationality. It’s a big gamble, particularly since the kidnappers have said they will still kill him if any of their group are arrested by the Americans in Iraq. It’s persumably also unexpectedly raised Ireland’s profile in the Middle East to unprecidented levels. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on …

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Bigley gets Irish Nationality in absentia…

The Liverpudlian hostage being held in Iraq Ken Bigley has been given Irish nationality. It follows a report from an imam yesterday who suggested the kidnappers would look kindly on an Irishman, but not on a UK citizen. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Glenn Reynolds, a closet liberal?

I’ve long had a suspicion that Neo Con is simply code for Kennedy Democrats frustrated with the slowness of social revolution. It doesn’t exactly prove the premise, but now Glenn’s gone over to the dark (ie: liberal, Guardian-reading) side, I’m tempted to believe it! There’s a great story buried here, for those with the patience to pursue it! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider …

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It hasn’t really happened yet, honest..

Wire writers are amongst the best and most scrupulous in the business, but sometimes the temptation to bend deadlines is just too, too much! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Death of a socialist(ism)…?

Johann Hari interviews Chris Hitchens, one time hero of the international left, who since 11th September 2001 has found it impossible to hold a consistent political line that cuts across a bundle of issues. An excellent and sympathetic insight into an individual whose stance perhaps symbolises the increasing fragmentation of political agendas in what’s left of the ‘West’. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider …

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Gerrymandering US style…

It seems so much a part of Northern Ireland’s recent past that it’s hard to remember that the term Gerrymander originates on the other side of the great sheugh. It was the subject of an excellent piece of radio journalism (sound file) from the BBC last night.The situation appears chronic in the US. In part it’s because all states are under a legal obligation re-draw boundaries every ten years, and that the officials charged with the drawing of the boundaries …

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Internment a good precident for the US?

There’s a fascinating disussion going on over Crooked Timber on whether Internment and the Diplock system might give the US an effective means to deal legally with what it sees as the terrorist threat. It’s based on an original article by Thomas F. Powers (an Irish American?). Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, …

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