SF Leadership and IRA Funeral

Ashtree

Member
What was the reaction like in the ROI?

Delighted to see her in a spot of self made trouble. Varadker as is his form, made a sharp attack on all things SF. He basically said, SF politics is different from “normal” politics, and not in a good way!
Lots of swipes also at Mary Lou.
It seemed to me from TV at least, that Arlene was going as softly as she could on the whole thing.
Neither one of them can now be seen to precipitate another collapse of Stormont, for fear of ceding more ground to Alliance / SDLP.
 

yin ewe

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Co Antrim
Delighted to see her in a spot of self made trouble. Varadker as is his form, made a sharp attack on all things SF. He basically said, SF politics is different from “normal” politics, and not in a good way!
Lots of swipes also at Mary Lou.
It seemed to me from TV at least, that Arlene was going as softly as she could on the whole thing.
Neither one of them can now be seen to precipitate another collapse of Stormont, for fear of ceding more ground to Alliance / SDLP.

Alliance for once got off the fence and were one of the first to condemn SF actions. Disgraceful behaviour from Mary Lou et al, but they seem to have a great knack of coming out of these things undamaged.
 

Ashtree

Member
I have seen more than one media article in recent weeks, about Michelle and Arlene, as latter day best buddies. Getting to understand each other’s political positions and difficulties better etc,.?,
Both women in politics dominated by men?.
Both mothers with all that entails?
Both having their own mothers and what Covid mean to both of them in that respect?
I’m just left scratching my head, thinking what’s the world come to at all these days?
The word is that M Lou, is delighted with the new government of FF + FG + Greens. Leaves her head of opposition, with all the extra exposure that will entail for her and them. Plus she knows right well, that this government will have to manage the inevitable post Covid economic hangover. Never a better time to be in opposition. She’s totally confident of having a majority SF government next time around?
 

Danllan

Member
Location
Sir Gar / Carms
...The word is that M Lou, is delighted with the new government of FF + FG + Greens. Leaves her head of opposition, with all the extra exposure that will entail for her and them. Plus she knows right well, that this government will have to manage the inevitable post Covid economic hangover. Never a better time to be in opposition. She’s totally confident of having a majority SF government next time around?
I've been hearing the same from someone else in the ROI; as an outsider it seems unlikely to me, but the truth is that you really have to live somewhere to understand the 'feeling' properly.

What do you think would be the effects of an SF Government on the ROI's economy in particular and generally on the country and people and, if they get in once, could they get a second term?

I wish you wrote as well in other threads as you have in this...
 

Ashtree

Member
I've been hearing the same from someone else in the ROI; as an outsider it seems unlikely to me, but the truth is that you really have to live somewhere to understand the 'feeling' properly.

What do you think would be the effects of an SF Government on the ROI's economy in particular and generally on the country and people and, if they get in once, could they get a second term?

I wish you wrote as well in other threads as you have in this...

Ironically I believe, the debt overhang(s), from our wild party which imploded in 2008, and the new massive debt from the Covid crisis, are the shackles which will save us from another self inflicted crisis. We are badly exposed to the markets for debt finance, and so the SF instinct for free stuff for everybody, will require even more debt. Any more Texas Holdem economic antics, will drive up our cost of borrowing to the point of crimping their worst instincts.
PS: Some “contrarian” posters of which there are far too few in here, are needed to the challenge convention of the majority.
Management teams and boards, are strengthened no end, by the presence of strong contrarians. Strong characters who argue and present the staid conventional line, inevitably get a large core of the team, to just go along with convention. I refer to these as the nodding donkey brigade.
Ditto, discussion forums like this. Contrarians, of which there have been a few, (too few), are soon dispatched to the hills by convention preaching disciples, and the marauding hordes of donkeys.
Nevertheless, some of us continue keep the place from falling into a Rip Van Winkle type slumber.
 

Danllan

Member
Location
Sir Gar / Carms
Ironically I believe, the debt overhang(s), from our wild party which imploded in 2008, and the new massive debt from the Covid crisis, are the shackles which will save us from another self inflicted crisis. We are badly exposed to the markets for debt finance, and so the SF instinct for free stuff for everybody, will require even more debt. Any more Texas Holdem economic antics, will drive up our cost of borrowing to the point of crimping their worst instincts.
PS: Some “contrarian” posters of which there are far too few in here, are needed to the challenge convention of the majority.
Management teams and boards, are strengthened no end, by the presence of strong contrarians. Strong characters who argue and present the staid conventional line, inevitably get a large core of the team, to just go along with convention. I refer to these as the nodding donkey brigade.
Ditto, discussion forums like this. Contrarians, of which there have been a few, (too few), are soon dispatched to the hills by convention preaching disciples, and the marauding hordes of donkeys.
Nevertheless, some of us continue keep the place from falling into a Rip Van Winkle type slumber.
You may well be right in re' the size of debt acting as a brake on political profligacy; but experience shows that, sometimes, people will vote for a big-spending party regardless of what common sense tells them, and then regret it later. I hope the ROI's voters will act as you write.

Many on this forum would call me a 'contrarian', for my views on wilding, removal of ag' subsidies, my objections to PC thought-policing, religion etc., all things that I write about sincerely. Perhaps some might think it would be as well for us both to remember that being 'contrary' doesn't always equate with being right... :unsure:
 

Ashtree

Member
@Ashtree Reaction to the rotation of Taoiseach position?

????. We have a saying “only in Ireland”!!

But with each passing day now, it looks increasingly likely that FF’s fate will mirror that of SDLP. Overtaken in the centre right by FG. M Martin has made a very shaky start, in terms of managing his own party members expectations.
Varadker is reported you have said, this governments Achilles would be Greens from the outset, but now it looks like FF internal turmoil will be the problem.
Future looks like FF subsumed by FG on centre right. SF dominating the left, and as the troubles era generation fade away, they will morph into a more palatable centre left party.
Personally I believe the “army council”, still has control, of if not quite control they have too much influence. SF needs a full generation from now, in my opinion to cleanse their grotty past. It will probably happen. Nothing like the lure of power and influence, to make the wearers of dog poo soiled shoes, want to shake those shoes off, and swap for a good Italian pair of in this case political Italian leathers.
 

Ashtree

Member

Excellent.
Reports now that FF, (the properly constitutional Republican Party), aim to directly and robustly challenge SF as the main proponents of a future United Ireland.
FF fear they have lost too much middle ground voters to FG, which they will not win back.
To prevent fading into obscurity, they reckon the “constitutional republican” minded voters of SF are a swing constituency.
We may now see the FF / FG political battle, morph into a FF / SF battle. All in the interests of keeping FF afloat as an independent political entity.
Well if it keeps the shinners out of the Taoiseach’s office I’m all for it!?
 

Mouser

Member
Location
near Belfast
The Michelle o'Neill bit is a lot of bluster over f all, get over it, move on. She just went to a funeral.
The organisation of the whole funeral, the conduct of the city council, the PSNI and roselawn staff who cancelled other committals is a disgrace and heads should roll.
 

Ashtree

Member
The Michelle o'Neill bit is a lot of bluster over f all, get over it, move on. She just went to a funeral.
The organisation of the whole funeral, the conduct of the city council, the PSNI and roselawn staff who cancelled other committals is a disgrace and heads should roll.

Nah. Ordinary folks in Covid time, got very limited funerals indeed. Big precautions around numbers of people and social distancing.
If the politicos can’t lead by example, they should all get sidelined. Red card for Michelle. Yellow isn’t enough.
 

Mouser

Member
Location
near Belfast
Nah, we dont know if she was in the 30 or not. Cant say she wasn't so has to get benefit of doubt. Have no love for her (or any politician) but not a job losing offence imo. Move on
 

yin ewe

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Co Antrim
Nah, we dont know if she was in the 30 or not. Cant say she wasn't so has to get benefit of doubt. Have no love for her (or any politician) but not a job losing offence imo. Move on

I couldn't give a stuff if she goes to a funeral every day of the week, but she was the one spouting about 'respect integrity and equality for all'. Perhaps not a sackable offence, but an apology and recognition that attending was wrong and against current guidelines put in place by the executive she is part of.
 

Mouser

Member
Location
near Belfast
I couldn't give a stuff if she goes to a funeral every day of the week, but she was the one spouting about 'respect integrity and equality for all'. Perhaps not a sackable offence, but an apology and recognition that attending was wrong and against current guidelines put in place by the executive she is part of.
An apology would be in order certainly but that would require some degree of human decency, unlikely from sf/IRA. Says more about her so let it pass but dont forget it is my thoughts.
 

nivilla1982

Member
Livestock Farmer
Nolan Show on BBC Radio Ulster seems to be doing a lot of digging

"Storey funeral latest on Nolan now:

- Belfast Cllr claims 61 people were in attendance at Roselawn, not 30 as the council claimed.

- Gerry Adams - not a relative - was in attendance, on the same day familes were refused admittance to their loved ones cremations."


Whole episode just another chapter in what at times looks like an increasingly farcical system of government/process.
 
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