Arlene Foster steps down

[Ashtree]

Just curious. Any comment to make on the slick Sinn Fein party assassinations in Londonderry, or do you save it all up for those on the other side of the fence from you?

Oh, slick SF is a good description. I would go further and drop the letter “l” from your adjective. They will sit in the Taoiseach‘s chair not too long from now. Won’t be pretty, but we’ll just have to suck it up, and clean ‘em up with the help of Father Time.
The major difference between north and south in relation to SF, is both FG and FF will do all they can to keep them out. DUP it appears are hell bent on giving them a leg up. Right from Arlene’s “crocodile” moment of madness, right up to Brexit and the current debacle. Playing right up SF alley....

 

[nivilla1982]

I do recall a number of Governments from the ROI saying SF/IRA had to be involved in government up here at various times since 1998.

Media failed to report alleged Sinn Féin activities in Derry, FF Senator says

Blaney claims there are ‘rumours’ of community monies not being properly spent

www.irishtimes.com

 

[nivilla1982]

I see Ms Foster has been awarded £125,000 in damages from Dr Jessen for libel when he said she’d slept with her bodyguard

Arlene Foster awarded £125k damages in Dr Christian Jessen libel case

A judge rules an unfounded tweet by Dr Christian Jessen about an alleged extra-marital affair was "outrageous".

www.bbc.com

Bodyguard awarded £1m .....

I see he has started crowd funding to pay costs etc

 

[Danllan]

Oh, slick SF is a good description. I would go further and drop the letter “l” from your adjective. They will sit in the Taoiseach‘s chair not too long from now. Won’t be pretty, but we’ll just have to suck it up, and clean ‘em up with the help of Father Time.
The major difference between north and south in relation to SF, is both FG and FF will do all they can to keep them out. DUP it appears are hell bent on giving them a leg up. Right from Arlene’s “crocodile” moment of madness, right up to Brexit and the current debacle. Playing right up SF alley....

Do you really think so, how long from now? What do you think the ROI would look like after a couple of terms of an SF government?

From over here they seem to have no understanding of economics whatsoever and - just my view - would probably wreck your economy, drive out / prevent a significant amount of current / future investment in short order, create social division and give rise to diplomatic problems near and far. Obviously I have a UK bias, but I know loads of Irishmen who'd be puking with nerves if there was a realistic chance of them in power, and even more so if they could form a majority.

The impression I get from media coverage of SF - from the ROI - is that their electoral chances are similar to the former FN in France, people flirt with them, but when it comes down to it they'd really prefer not to have them. And that is reinforced by personal conversation, but... most, in fact nearly all family and people I know in the Republic support FF or FG, so I can't claim to be hearing dispassionate views.

 

[nivilla1982]

I think the Provisionals have latched on the issue of housing in the ROI, particularly in Dublin and surrounding areas

 

[Joe]

Do you really think so, how long from now? What do you think the ROI would look like after a couple of terms of an SF government?

From over here they seem to have no understanding of economics whatsoever and - just my view - would probably wreck your economy, drive out / prevent a significant amount of current / future investment in short order, create social division and give rise to diplomatic problems near and far. Obviously I have a UK bias, but I know loads of Irishmen who'd be puking with nerves if there was a realistic chance of them in power, and even more so if they could form a majority.

The impression I get from media coverage of SF - from the ROI - is that their electoral chances are similar to the former FN in France, people flirt with them, but when it comes down to it they'd really prefer not to have them. And that is reinforced by personal conversation, but... most, in fact nearly all family and people I know in the Republic support FF or FG, so I can't claim to be hearing dispassionate views.

It’s a young vote, many who don’t remember the bad times and miss why certain behavior by them still is not acceptable. It’s also a type of populism that let’s be honest many western countries have an issue with at the moment, Tories being an example.

But there is a core central middle class in Ireland, mainly college educated, 35+ age, home owners with families who wouldn’t vote for them under any circumstances. My circle of friends and family would be mainly 40+ fall into that category.
There is of course the United Irish at all cost down with the British cohort that does exist, I read Pearce once. But they are SF core vote and wouldn’t get them into government.

 

[nivilla1982]

Arlene Foster to step down as MLA by end of month

The former DUP leader says the process to pick her successor has already begun.

www.bbc.co.uk