Latest posts
Proof that FG will NOT abolish the Seanad.
NEW
Enda Kenny’s inability to get his parliamentary party to carry out his wishes with regard to female candidates (see here) is a telling portent of his future ability to bring about radical political change as Taoiseach. If he can’t get hi...
The truth about TDs.
NEW
There’s been a lot of debate in recent months about TDs and how we elect them, and what they actually do all day. As part of that, a division has emerged about what people (you know, the voters) actually expect of our TDs. The reality is a bit...
An Occasional Guide to Irish Politics: The Useless Revolutionary.
NEW
You see him outside the GPO, denouncing the right-wing government and their paycuts and tax increases and their betrayal of the people. “Tell the banks to f**k off!” “Back the Greeks!” “Take to the streets now!” an...
Freedom Christians Vs. Bin Laden Christians.
NEW
Some years ago, a senior figure in the Democratic Unionist Party expessed his distaste for homosexuality, and was savaged by the liberal media. I remember thinking at the time that he was being unfairly treated (for that particular remark) because I...
Yet another conservative anti-gay Republican who turns out to be gay.
NEW
Here. You know, one of these days, we’re going to get a gay liberal democrat who’ll tearfully tell a press conference that he’s actually straight. ...
Geert Wilders: The first truly European politician?
NEW
I don’t like Geert Wilders, because, whereas I do agree with some of his conclusions, I’m loath to pigeonhole any group of people because of their religion. Muslims are no more all anti-democrats than Irish Catholics are all pedophiles. Y...
A curious DVD: The Guardians.
NEW
In 1971 ITV (before they became the moron channel) ran a gritty political drama called “The Guardians”. The series was set in the early 1980s, in a Britain which had collapsed in the 1970s, and been taken over (in a rigged general electio...
Nigel Farage: Defender of (some) nation states.
NEW
” I cannot apologise for the fact that Belgium is a completely artificial construction and a mistake ” Nigel Farage, Sinn Fein/Coir ally and defender of national sovereignty, decides to tell 11 million Belgians that they are a non-country...
Oh those young people!
NEW
Just watched “First time voters’ question time” on BBC3, where “young” MPs and celebs answered questions from young voters. Deeply disturbing. The MPs were struggling to contain their frustrations in not being able to go...
An Occasional Guide to Irish Politics: The Professional NGOer.
NEW
It’s all about hedgehogs. If you don’t care about the welfare of hedghogs, and want to spend whatever it takes to ensure hedgehog utopia, you’re a bastard. Never mind the old, and the sick, and poor children, and the third world, th...
Snapshot: The British General Election, May 6, 2010.
NEW
Given the imminent outbreak of a general election campaign in the UK, I thought I’d put together a few thoughts on some of the parties contesting the election. That and the fact that UK politics is actually about issues, as opposed to the polit...
Dublin Mayor: Is there much here that a minister of state can’t do?
NEW
I have a lot of time for John Gormley, and really believe that he is a good guy trying to do what’s right. I also believe very strongly that local government change, based on elected mayors, is a key part of reforming Irish politics. But I thi...
Should US liberals champion states’ rights?
NEW
Back in the 1960s, 1970s and maybe even today to some degree “States’ Rights” used to be a code word. Oh, it sounded noble enough, after all, who could be against states deciding their own affairs. Democracy in action, right? Well,...
Trevor Sargent Resignation.
NEW
I’m not sure that was necessary. Was what he did really that different from what every TD does every day, writing bogus and ineffectual letters on behalf of constituents? Admittedly, it was an honourable thing to do (resigning), and not somethi...
Dan Boyle: The Michael McDowell of the Green Party?
NEW
Some of my older readers will remember the scenario during the 1989-92 FF/PD government. FF would do/not do something, there would be rumblings in the PDs, Michael McDowell (who was not in the Dail at the time, but was party chairman) would voice a p...
Proof that the biggest threat to Americans is other Americans.
NEW
I’m pretty open-minded on gun ownership (in the states, not here! Are you mad?) but this story really takes the biscuit.
An Occasional Guide to Irish Politics: The Stupid Voter.
NEW
” The guvment? Politishuns? Yez have dun nuttin’ for me! Shure, it’s not worth me while even workin’, is it?” He barks, beer and Pringles off his breath at 11 in the morning, and slams the door of his council house on y...
What a load of nonsense.
NEW
Watching a certain world famous sportsman “apologise” for his “sex addiction” is just plain stomach churning. He betrayed his wife, and it’s up to her to forgive him or not, but to claim that the whole thing is an illnes...
Fair play to the Greens.
NEW
Finally, they seem to have shown some bottle. Now: Don’t deny it. Piss off Fianna Fail a bit, that’s what your voters voted for. Remember, it isn’t FF who will reelect Green TDs. ...
Snapshot: The state of the parties.
NEW
Fianna Fail: Whilst FF are taking the brunt of the public anger (and just wait ‘til the water charges kick in) they are also been looked at differently by voters who take the economic crisis seriously, almost single-handedly by the performance of B...
