Comments on The Pensive Quill: David And Goliath

AM what's there to judge, wheather I'm te...

2011-10-18T17:21:28.890+01:00

AM

what's there to judge, wheather I'm telling the truth?

Ruairi Joseph, post the link and let the readers ...

2011-10-18T16:52:20.739+01:00

Ruairi Joseph,

post the link and let the readers judge.

AM Surprised I didn't find any bitches in you...

2011-10-18T16:35:32.256+01:00

AM

Surprised I didn't find any bitches in your article "pit bull with lipstick" but just knew Iris Robision would be an acceptable bitch all round... so drop the bitchforks fellas!!

Ruairi, Go search. If you find it, your critics s...

2011-10-18T07:10:26.174+01:00

Ruairi,

Go search. If you find it, your critics shall just have to swallow.

‘What I was actually referring to is, the fact that it has been through
British terror in Ireland, that we find ourselves in a situation, that the Irish people need two polls to endorse a British solution.’

The people of today count for today. Mandates last until the next election and then can be changed. People are not bound by the mandates of a previous era. If they were how could change ever come about? From a republican perspective partition and dual polls etc are not the way to go. But saying that does nothing to overturn the fact that partition has been democratically endorsed. It was clear from early on in the peace process that it was going to work out that way. Yet republicans failed to stop SF going for the GFA. Once that happened the strategic challenges posed to republican thinking became immense.

AM I bet if I go searching here, I'll find co...

2011-10-18T03:45:57.276+01:00

AM

I bet if I go searching here, I'll find comments referring to female Sinners, or perhaps the dear old Queen, as "bitches" without a single objection to it. Seems it depends really on whose bitch it is.

My initial throw away remark, I elaborated on in order to highlight the hypocrisy of others regarding their own remarks. I'm sure Miriam has impeccable personal hygiene.

'You are not the only one calling her the same term by the way. I have a piece to throw up which touches on the issue and mentions the fact that she is being labelled a bitch in a few places'

Oh good, can't wait. I'm such a brute; anyone would think that I was looking Mariam to swing around a poll for me, while I stuffed her underpants with notes.

‘None of which addresses the issue, which is the formidable opposition that is posed to republicans by the endorsement of partition by the bulk of Irish people. Who in Ireland went to the polls terrorised to endorse the GFA? I went and voted against, remember the day very well. There was no terror that made me feel I might have to vote in favour. I l know of no one who felt terrorised into voting for it. It was so easy to vote against’

What I was actually referring to is, the fact that it has been through British terror in Ireland, that we find ourselves in a situation, that the Irish people need two polls to endorse a British solution.

Just posted this on another forum and thought I...

2011-10-17T21:00:05.244+01:00

Just posted this on another forum and thought I'd also drop it in here...

Last night there was a fund raising event held in Derry for McGuinness's Presidential campaign; various local entertainers gave their time free of charge.....

However it appears that the same Martin McGuinness who people were giving their time freely to help fund turned up on Thursday night, after the Mansion House rally, at the Dublin restaurant of none other than the British celebrity chief Marco Pierre White. He had his entourage with him as well as the Dublin actor Colm Meaney.

Ah but the fund raising last night might have just covered the bill.

Lets look at Marco Pierre White, the British celebrity chef. He's an ardent supporter of the Conservative Party. Perhaps Marty or Conor met and got to know him while attending the Tory Party conference?

Pierre White also supports 'Our Boys' in Afghanistan.... http://www.marcopierrewhite.org/

The Fools! The Fools! The Fools!

Indeed they are; those Shinners!

Ruairi Joseph She might well have used the term ...

2011-10-17T19:26:26.061+01:00

Ruairi Joseph

She might well have used the term murder and I think you are right about that. But in the context which the exchange took place to call her a smelly bitch for what you think she might have done hardly seems merited. The real focus of your anger should be on McGuinness using the term murder to begin with. Concentrating on her rather than him seems to be using a technicality to avoid the real issue.

Much depends on the significance attached to the terms people use to insult others. ‘Bitch’ has a specifically male tone of domination to it, at least to my ear. Bastard seems more neutral. Those that call McGuinness a lying bastard are at least half right. He does lie through his teeth. There is absolutely no accuracy to your allegation against Miriam. The discussion here would be much better if that sort of language (bastards and bitches) were left out of it. We try not to police anything and don’t want the debate sanitised but sometimes it degenerates into bile. I didn’t find your initial comment on her bilious as such but the more you repeat it the more it sounds that way.

You are not the only one calling her the same term by the way. I have a piece to throw up which touches on the issue and mentions the fact that she is being labelled a bitch in a few places.

‘Israel has been endorsed, so I suppose that's all fine and dandy as well. What a nonsense. I suppose you can have just about anything “endorsed” with enough terror.’

None of which addresses the issue, which is the formidable opposition that is posed to republicans by the endorsement of partition by the bulk of Irish people. Who in Ireland went to the polls terrorised to endorse the GFA? I went and voted against, remember the day very well. There was no terror that made me feel I might have to vote in favour. I l know of no one who felt terrorised into voting for it. It was so easy to vote against.

Belfastgit In the case of that bitch Miriam; if s...

2011-10-17T15:37:42.357+01:00

Belfastgit

In the case of that bitch Miriam; if she thinks so lowly of that bastard Mcguinness, considering how far he has travelled to join the choir, what must she think of you? Is it a case of my enemies’ enemie is my friend?

AM Take your point actually that McGuinness did u...

2011-10-17T15:01:58.626+01:00

AM

Take your point actually that McGuinness did use the language of "murder" first, so left himself wide open, however this is a technicality as I'm convinced she would have used the term regardless. I originally termed Miriam a "bitch" much the same way as McGuinness has been termed a lying "bastard" for example and no one here objects at all. We hate Sinn Fein and that's paramount.

'Not only that but the people in the 26 have given the 6 legitimacy as well. And if we combine both endorsements it makes for formidable opposition to republicans'

Israel has been endorsed, so I suppose that's all fine and dandy as well. What a nonsense.I suppose you can have just about anything “endorsed” with enough terror.

Section 408 That is an interesting angle. It wou...

2011-10-17T11:17:06.381+01:00

Section 408

That is an interesting angle. It would be highly politically embarrassing.

Ruairi Joseph

Apart from the fact that there is absolutely zilch political content in your comment about Miriam, it deflects attention away from the otherwise serious points you seek to raise. McGuinness invited it to a large extent. He had earlier described some IRA killings as murder. In doing so he framed the discussion. Miriam would feel entitled to use his language for the purpose of questioning him.

Then logic follows that the bulk of people in the 6 have given Northern Ireland legitimacy.’

Not only that but the people in the 26 have given the 6 legitimacy as well. And if we combine both endorsements it makes for formidable opposition to republicans.

‘To me it is obvious that Kelly died in defence of Northern Ireland.’
And to the vast bulk of people he died in defence of a kidnapped man/ the Republic/democracy, whatever. And regardless of the traditional republican view of the Irish Army, I doubt very much if he was out in the fields thinking about the defence of the constitutional status of the North within the UK.

Belfastgit

Unfortunateit is the sort of smear SF would spread about their detractors. I recall them referring to one female critic as a ‘whore.’

AM 'But more people think he did than think h...

2011-10-16T04:51:31.530+01:00

AM

'But more people think he did than think he didn’t. The vast bulk of the Irish people have determined that the 26 is the Republic, a 26 County Republic. And they have gave it legitimacy'

Then logic follows that the bulk of people in the 6 have given Northern Ireland legitimacy.

Suppose it depends in which year one considers the Irish Republic established.

To me it is obvious that Kelly died in defence of Northern Ireland.

One dirty smelly aul bitch, can't help it!!

2011-10-16T04:22:37.437+01:00

One dirty smelly aul bitch, can't help it!!

Ruairi Joseph, I actually laughed when you called ...

2011-10-15T14:49:29.458+01:00

Ruairi Joseph,
I actually laughed when you called Miriam O'Callaghan a "smelly" bitch. I remember SF councilors and reps defending every and any action that the IRA carried out. I also remember SF members being called "murderers" and worse, so, what is your problem with her calling "poor Marty" that? the SF members I'm talking about, took it on the chin, and got on with it. Give your head a shake and stop calling women "smelly bitches"!

Ruairi Joseph 'Bet she's a smelly bitch t...

2011-10-15T11:44:17.757+01:00

Ruairi Joseph

'Bet she's a smelly bitch too!!'

dunno bout smelly, but i bet her husband if she has one resides in a box under the stairs.

Belfastgit So I call Miriam a bitch and you don&#...

2011-10-15T05:14:29.622+01:00

Belfastgit

So I call Miriam a bitch and you don't like it, she calla McGuinness a murderer on national telly and thats fine??

Bet she's a smelly bitch too!!

Sorry,I meant Politian, i.e. a lying bastard, one ...

2011-10-14T21:38:55.632+01:00

Sorry,I meant Politian, i.e. a lying bastard, one that sells you out and a person that speaks out of both sides of their gub at the same time.

loada ballix....mcguinness is finding his cake cru...

2011-10-14T20:57:55.420+01:00

loada ballix....mcguinness is finding his cake crumbling as he tries to eat it. The free state 'brit's' wee lad is a hypocrite too. there was never any shortage of killers in Ireland.

Free state forces came out of the nastiest incidents against their 'own' give us a break ffs. It's like these people, big meriam too, were all born from angels.

Ruairi Joseph, I don't know why you keep comin...

2011-10-14T20:36:25.621+01:00

Ruairi Joseph,
I don't know why you keep coming back to me! (does the truth hurt?). Calling Miriam O'Callaghan a bitch is not becoming of anyone with a modicum of decency! Is it because she asked questions that were too uncomfortable for poor Marty? Apparently, he's a seasoned politition, so, I would have thought that he would have fielded any questions with ease.

Alfie, Short of McGuinness facing electoral meltd...

2011-10-14T19:18:31.449+01:00

Alfie,

Short of McGuinness facing electoral meltdown he would not run a risk of the nature you seem to be considering. He would never face that given FF’s own meltdown and the vacuum it created. The potential for problems lay in the tensions it could create in the Executive. We have seen some of that already. It has opened old wounds but nothing of a crisis nature. I wonder if a better SF strategy would have been to run somebody like Mary Lou or Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. A serious assault on FF was there to be made and it could have been used to interrogate the current government and economic policy. There would have been very little of this IRA business. McGuinness is just not credible when it comes to dealing with it.

Robert,

‘The confident fear of the blameless culprit?’

You definitely put them together!
"In fact it says absolutely nothing because you were never quoted by Myers.’

I thought as much. It strikes me simply as hostility to being disagreed with. A mindset that can tolerate no dissent. I think that is one of the reasons why republicanism ended up being suffocated, only leaving a shell called Sinn Fein.
Ruairi Joseph
‘What did he say? His father 'died in defence of the Republic' Yeah good one!!’

But more people think he did than think he didn’t. The vast bulk of the Irish people have determined that the 26 is the Republic, a 26 County Republic. And they have gave it legitimacy. We might not agree but they are entitled to hold a different opinion from us.

I initially thought that McGuinness running for pr...

2011-10-14T17:34:19.600+01:00

I initially thought that McGuinness running for president was going to be a big risk for him personally... until I realised he was only going to take a leave of absence from his role as deputy first minister of the North's assembly, but not resign. This means he can't lose, for even if he fails to win, he will have boosted Sinn Féin's profile massively whilst inuring the public to attacks on the party for the next general election. This seems to me a brilliant strategy, and it is already playing out in the polls. If only Adams and McGuinness were as morally upright as they are clever!

Belfastgit think it was very unfair myself how th...

2011-10-14T13:51:39.551+01:00

Belfastgit

think it was very unfair myself how that bitch carried on and I'm not supporter of McGuinness, think this could back fire for people like her actually.

michaelhenry, I see your great "presidential&...

2011-10-14T12:24:40.965+01:00

michaelhenry,
I see your great "presidential" candidate is behaving like a petulant schoolboy and spoiled brat! He had a row with Miriam O'Callaghan after his last "presidential" disaster appearance, saying: "trial by media" and "it's not fair!" What kind of leader is that?

Michaelhenry, it might be inconvenient for SF fo...

2011-10-14T12:01:24.155+01:00

Michaelhenry,

it might be inconvenient for SF for the Hand family to come out now. The event is what most likely spurred them into it. The family sees itself confronted with a man who would seek to be President yet who they believe directed a campaign which took the life of their loved one in an area where IRA operations against garda were forbidden. That alone might make it 'murder' to use Martin McGuinness's term. This type of criticism is inevitable in campaigns of this type.

A dignified and humble response is always better than blaming the bereaved.

Impongo2- When all is said it should be noted tha...

2011-10-14T09:54:59.999+01:00

Impongo2-

When all is said it should be noted that those members of the hand family who have talked to the press have said that they opposed the good friday agreement and they also oppose one of the peace process leaders Martin McGuinness-

Why do some just talk in public about some of the dead [ there loved one ] just during election times- more power to the hand family for comming out in public now-God knows why yous waited-

McGuinness is misleading the young, says dead gard...

2011-10-13T23:18:07.463+01:00

McGuinness is misleading the young, says dead garda's sister

By Michael Brennan Deputy Political Editor

Thursday October 13 2011

THE sister of a garda murdered by the IRA warned last night that young people were being misled by the "glossy campaign" of Sinn Fein's presidential candidate Martin McGuinness.

Teresa Hand Campbell spoke out in memory of her brother Detective Garda Frank Hand (25), from Brideswell, Co Roscommon, who was murdered by the IRA in a post office raid in Meath in 1984.

The Irish Independent reported yesterday how her brother Michael said his "family's blood" was on the hands of Mr McGuinness, who has admitted to having been a member of the IRA.

Ms Hand Campbell said that anyone under the age of 25 had very little memory of what had happened during the Troubles. She said young people were being misled by Mr McGuinness's "glossy campaign".

"Mr McGuinness may say he presents as a peacemaker and he refers to the Good Friday Agreement. I would challenge him that it's because of the goodwill and the decency of families like mine that the Good Friday Agreement was clinched," she told Shannonside Radio.

Frank Hand was just 25 when he was gunned down while accompanying a cash delivery to a post office in Drumree, Co Meath in August 1984.

Ms Hand Campbell said her parents, who are now both deceased, had been left in "total disarray" by their son's death in the IRA post office raid.

"My mother and father would be visibly upset at any family gathering --that there were six, not seven, at the table," she said.

But she said that her parents had remained silent about their loss because they believed there needed to be peace.

Frank Hand married wife Breda, who was also a garda, just five weeks before he was murdered.

"She discovered two weeks after his burial that she was pregnant. Frank never met his daughter. They had a lovely life ahead of them and suddenly it was stolen, it was cut short," Ms Hand Campbell said.

Murder

Three men were jailed for the murder of Frank Hand, but later released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. The Hand family opposed the early releases and believed that the man who fired the bullet which killed Frank Hand was never caught.

Mr McGuinness released a statement this week in which he said: "As a republican leader I have never and would never stand over attacks on the gardai or the Defence Forces."

A spokeswoman for Mr McGuinness has said he has nothing to add to that.

- Michael Brennan Deputy Political Editor