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kburns_ireland

Listed below are comments made by kburns_ireland between Wednesday, 22nd October 2008 and Sunday, 14th December 2008.

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The durable American brand 5:19pm on 14 Dec 2008 Justin, a bit off-topic, but perhaps worthy of mention (I don't know if you've touched on this already...)

I read with much delight how Obama, reportedly, reckons "Dave" Cameron to be a "lightweight"... leave it to the Americans to point out what should be intuitively obvious to British people. This works rings true as both an abstract estimation of his character but also of a big policy difference.

Apparently the President-elect took exception to the anti-European idealogy espoused by the Tory's. Should he be the next Prime Minsiter (a depressingly likely scenario) could that signal the end of the special relationship? Will Obama prefere to have the EU at his right hand, rather than that stubborn Island nation?
Statler and Waldorf 7:28pm on 26 Nov 2008 Unionism is collapsing in front of our eyes - the potential for the Unionist vote being split not only two, but three ways should be of concern to them. If Sinn Fein simultaneously continue their trend of out-performing the SDLP, a rather drastic realignment of the party's could be at hand.

First Minister McGuinness, Adams? Would make a nice change, if you ask me.
Christmas Eve Can Kill You 7:25pm on 26 Nov 2008 Considering the amount of voluntary 'sick days' - refusual to do what they where elected to do - the Executive has been enjoying over the past several years, I think a week off the holidays is a fitting punishment.
Regional Language Strategy 7:22pm on 26 Nov 2008 I fail to see how Unionists feel the promotion of the Irish language is a 'cave in' to Sinn Fein. It's being insisted on because it's part of the agreements which are shaping every element of policy (including policing). It's not negotiation, it's not concessions, it's actually delivering on what has already been agreed.
Confirming our prejudices 02:39am on 24 Nov 2008 The media (by and large) reflects what people think. Media 'bias' for Obama, and Obama winning in a landslide seems to corroberate this - what's really behind all this bellyaching is the rather boring conservative paranoia about the great-liberal-conspiracy.

I guess America is a bit more liberal than Republicans would like to think.
Too 'European' 4:21pm on 03 Nov 2008 If Americans really feel Obama is too 'European', I can only assume it's because they don't know what 'Europeans' are like, because I don't think our politicans are remotely like Barack Obama.

(1) Charismatic politicians are *definately* an American trademark. Europeans have an irriting way of doing politics which means only career politicians get to the top. Obama is a classic American leader in that regard.

(2) He's too conservative for Liberal Europe. If he where European, he'd be in a conservative party.

(3) He's more "American" than John McCain. What is the classic idea of America if not a melting pot of immigrants embracing a new culture? Is John McCain more American just because he's white? Europe is overwhelmingly caucasian, and ethnic minority politicians havn't a hope-in-hell of reaching the top of our politics.
Soft imperalism 4:10pm on 03 Nov 2008 Justin - I have no strong opinions on The Boss. But I wonder if you'd address this issue of taxation.

I'm a bit bemused by McCain and Palin's scare story that Obama will raise taxes. Principally because Obama has been saying for months that he will cut taxes for the overwhelming majority of Americans.

There's a clear dichotomy - both sides making diametrically opposing claims. One of them has to be lying.

The only explanation I can fathom is that, in the eyes of conservative leaning voters (which McCain is now desperately trying to hold onto in traditionally Republican states) insisting that Obama will 'raise taxes' despite what Obama has actually pledged to do is cashing in on the idea of him being a "liberal".

It dosn't matter that McCain/Palin's claims are false, because most people reckon Obama is a "liberal" anyway (I guess Black politicians are naturally "liberal", no doubt part of their calculation.)
Bad losers and bad finishers 3:37pm on 30 Oct 2008 Wishfull thinking, In my opinion.

I hope Obama wins, and always have, but I'm speaking from a mathematical point of view. If you look at the electoral college, Obama only needs to carry the Kerry States from 2004, and take one or two new states (which by all indications, he should).

This was always going to be an election about swing-states, and McCain has completely surrendered that middle-ground.

It's a die-hard optimist that really thinks the old soldier has a decent chance, in my opinion.
McCain and Palin's body language problem 7:58pm on 25 Oct 2008 McCain and Palin have very off-putting body language.

With McCain, it's the use of his hands, and the angry looks on his face. He looks like he's trying to use his limbs to fire up his brain through some kind of locomotive energy.

And Palin... for a social conservative, she sure his flirtacious. The way she winks and tweaks her face is either horrific or endearing, depending on your dispositions towards her.
'A wonderful man' 6:53pm on 22 Oct 2008 I've gotten the sense in recent times that McCain is uncomfortable with his campaign. In the primaries, he could be who he wanted - but when he was the 'Republican' nominee, the Republican apperatus weighed in behind him. The same apperatus that elected the Bush's, and used the same tactics for him.

Not to lay into McCain too much - but surely a President should demonstrate the ability to stay on-top of things. Obama's campaign is wildly out-performing him, and from the perspective that campaigns are run from the top-down, this is an indictment on McCain.

Running an adminstration is far more challenging than a campaign, so a candidate ought to be able to meet the lesser of these two challenges.

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