No room at the Manhattan Inn
It's tough getting a place to stay in Manhattan during UN General Assembly week. As the news of our First and Deputy First Minister's trip to Bill Clinton's Global Initiative only broke on Friday, making arrangements to cover the visit was far from easy. I couldn't find a hotel in Manhattan, so had to avail of the generous hospitality of some friends in New York.
But as James Bone reports in The Times, I am not alone, as none other than Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi has had problems finding somewhere to rest his head. Having been refused permission to pitch his tent in Central Park, he is now having to hang out at the Libyan UN mission headquarters.
Lockerbie victims' families are planning to protest against the Colonel's presence in New York, and they will be joined by Willie Frazer and Michelle Williamson of FAIR, who are campaigning in the USA on behalf of IRA victims.
The UN is on the East Side of Manhattan but over on the West Side Messrs Robinson and McGuinness will be getting together with Bill Clinton and his VIP friends. I tried to get into the opening session of the Global Initiative earlier today but after joining a very long queue I found myself squeezed out by hordes of reporters. So eventually I had to watch the proceedings from the press centre in the basement.
The media interest had been stimulated by the appearance of Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Matt Damon. I could see Gerry Adams and Ben Stiller amongst the assorted VIPs in the audience. I have an inkling that the crush won't be quite as bad for tomorrow's special Northern Ireland session.
I'm 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~19~RS~)
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Mark
POLITICS UPDATE: NOLAN IS STILL RUNNING THE COUNTRY
In your absence, no change on the home front. Nothing of any import happened during Plenary Sessions on Monday & Tuesday in the Assembly.
Nolan continues to govern. Having solved the difficulties last week over the SPED Scheme and the unfortunate involvement of Space Cadet Paisley Junior in providing support to Libya, Nolan is now making a gargantuan effort to crack the crisis in health service funding.
This morning we had the spectacle of Wilson bad-mouthing McGimpsey who, in turn, complained that he was experiencing problems getting the Finance Minister to engage on the key issues that are blighting the health service. No matter, I fully expect Nolan to resolve the issue by the end of week.
Against this background, I have only one thing to say to the electorate: VOTE FOR NOLAN: IT'S THE ONLY SHOW IN TOWN.
Susie
Carryduff
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At least you have some friends in New York, who are prepared to offer you a humble crust and a paliasse on the floor.
All the senior politicians have no true friends. That's why they have to stay in the available hotels.
If they HAD some real friends to offer them hospitality, you would then be able to run up some expenses at a 5 star establishment.
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Mark,
As usual Susie is right. The biggest show in the country should be running the country rather than the circus on the hill.
At a time when Sammy Wilson is calling for efficiency savings maybe he would like to tell us who is paying for Robinson and McGuinness' holiday to America?
I wonder who is paying for Gerry Adam's holiday too.
Stormontspy
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SusieFlood's political roundup is amusing,consise and precise !!!
Another job awaits you.
Political Editor for Private Eye !!! ?
I enjoyed your comments.
Are you suggesting,close the office of FM/DFM and put Mr Nolan
in charge ?
A great idea.
I'll vote for that.
Looking forward to your next comments !!!
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spinspamspun,
Susie is an excellent blogger. I agree that it would be good to close down FM/DFM and put Mr Nolan in charge. According to one of the Sunday papers the office of FM/DFM costs £100m a year. What a complete waste of money.
Stormontspy
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Mark
POLITICS UPDATE (2): SAVILLE ROW LOOMS (no tailoring involved)
Bloody Sunday! Bloody Hell!
A further delay in publication of the Saville Report is beyond belief.
The Bloody Sunday relatives must be in despair. Let me tell them, their anguish is far from over. The Report, if it ever emerges, will be a vast and inaccessible tome, a combination of legal jabberwocky and meretricious ramblings direct from the Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Nothing clear-cut will emerge: no blame apportioned; no innocent clearly exculpated. The findings will be a catalyst for divisive party-political rows (no change there) and will fuel relatives' anger at justice denied again. C'est la vie in the new dispensation.
Let's identify the real beneficiaries of the Saville Soap Opera, viz Lawyers whose huge fees over many years have enabled them to build palatial mansions on the North Down Gold Coast; purchase grand second homes in the southern border counties and luxurious boltholes adjoining golf courses in the more select holiday destinations of Portugal and Spain.
The experience of Saville is the most extreme example that Public Inquiries are, in the main, a very expensive waste of time and money. No doubt, M'learned Friends would give me an argument on that one.
Susie
Carryduff
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Mark:
Yes, there is a reason for no room in Manhattan; Not enough hotels
for all of the people that will be attending activities in New York....
=Dennis Junior=
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