Waiting for Hillary
Stormont officials are busy preparing for Monday's visit by the US Secretary of State. Hillary Clinton will get to us via London, Dublin and Switzerland. Is she trying to broker peace between those fractious Swiss Germans, Swiss French and Swiss Italians? No, she is witnessing the signing of an accord between the Turks and the Armenians.
Either way it reminded me of the old "Third Man" quote "In Italy, for 30 years under the Borgias, they had warfare, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they have brotherly love. They had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? - the cuckoo clock!"
Maybe one of the potential US investors could set up a cuckoo clock manufacturing plant in our neck of the woods (the Swiss later told Orson Welles they didn't make cuckoo clocks).
On the topic of quotes I noticed a good one in Robert Harris's review of a new book about the former US President called "The Clinton Tapes". The book quotes Bill Clinton's view as being that "the Middle East is an abscess, Northern Ireland is a scab", and whereas an abscess "inevitably gets worse without painful but cleansing intervention", a scab is best left to "heal with time and simple care".
After inspecting how our scab is healing up, the US Secretary of State will head to Moscow where the main topic of discussion will not be the devolution of justuce, but what to do about Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Before Hillary arrives, I have an "Inside Politics" programme to broadcast. Last night's talks in Downing Street appeared to be fruitful so far as both the First and Deputy First Ministers were concerned. Martin McGuinness told the Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce he now regards the financial negotiation over justice as at an end, and will be recommending Sinn Fein's acceptance of Gordon Brown's latest offer.
On "Inside Politics" I shall hear Peter Robinson's view of the financial offer, and will also talk to live guests Dawn Purvis and Brian Feeney. As usual the programme will be broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster on Sunday just after the one o'clock news.
I'm 
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Hillary in cuckoo country watching book signings,and then to
Belfast to sweeten the Irish "Turks & Armenians"
After FM/DFM talks with their parties,hope the scab will
still be in place by the time she visits.
The NI "political birds" less like cuckoos,more like magpies,
causing havoc in nests,damaging eggs and others young.
Do you agree that all the talk about "financial funding" is
a smokescreen for bits of Patten !
MD-an informative diary.
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Mark
HILLARY'S VISIT HAS PURPOSE
QUESTION: Why is Hillary visiting?
ANSWER: For her convenience!
Ulster is being used as a stopover to enable her to have her trouser suit pressed and a new hairdo. She will also take the opportunity again to tell us how wonderful she is by way of an address to a serried rank of cretins in the Assembly.
I'll smoke to that; pass me a cigar, Bill!
Susie
Carryduff
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Mark,
I am not sure whether your interview with Peter Robinson was recorded early or whether it will be live on Sunday but I would like to make a few comments that I hope you direct to Peter.
1. Who apart from Sinn Fein cares about Policing & Justice? By standing boasting to the cameras that Peter is the only one to achieve a financial package is a huge mistake. What will be cut to pay for this? Already hospital beds and services are being cut, public service jobs cut and public sector wages cut. Is Peter proud of this?
2. How will Peter sell this to the proper unionists in his party like Nigel Dodds, Gregory Campbell and Nelson McCausland?
3. Would it be an idea to have an efficient office for FM and DFM? 400 staff running his office is absurd costing £14m a year. Is he proud of it?
4. Does Peter regret not having a link up to the Tories?
5. By accepting Policing & Justice will Peter accept Jim Allister's fan base will double?
6. Is the only reason why Peter is standing for the next Westminster election down to the fact he realises his party will lose some of their existing seats?
Stormontspy
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Hello SusieFlood,posted missing the past few weeks.
We've missed your stark comments,cutting thro the fudge !!!
I'm starting to agree with your assessment of Hillary's
stopover for a toilet break!!!
Remember decades ago when it was Shannon and VIP's like
Yeltsin couldn't make it to the runway!!!
What's she coming to do?
Hecter the "bone thro the nose" MLA's.
Just watched rerun of FM/DFM/Deputy/I'm NOT a Deputy's QUESTIONS !!!
When are the questions asked? The answers are dire,stilted and robotic !
Linking tongue to brain is a failure of the education system !!!
Cull the MLA's.Let the Education Sec give them all an 11+ test.
A 50% reduction overnight.Watch the Scots in their debates.
Enough of my rants.Will the FM/DFM mistake the Clinton and present
her with a box of of cigars!!!
G Brown last Monday,Hillary this Monday,who'll come next Monday !!!
Stormontspy reckons the BBC has a disc of MLA's EXPENSES.
SusieFlood please ask Mark Devonport,why not published??????????
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Slightly detached from subject--------please allow--------
lordsnoot.(06 Oct 09)
After complaining there was nowhere to discuss current affairs,
you have been silent.
Is there another site where we can engage with you ???
Hope you are well !!!
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stormontspy
-the only reasons why I think Peter is to stand again
for Westminister is
1)He resigns this weekend as 1st minister calling Martin's bluff !!!
2)He implodes the Assembly
3)The expenses are better at Westminmister!!!
I'll tell you this "voter",the number of Ulster Frys I can buy with
£400 a month,I can feed all my family,my support staff,agent etc
Reminds me of the loaves and fishes !!!
ps SusieFlood back
Asked her to ask Mark re MLA's expenses disc
ps
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I'm going to my pit !!!
Hope LORDSNOOT makes contact.
Goodnight
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Please spare us a dime, spare us a dime.
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What a morning of news and spin.
Clinton talking of "special relationship".
Yanks want something? No dimes here buddy,we're broke !
Clinton going to Dublin first. Is this one in the eye for
Peter Robinson FM or is it because he does't do
politics on a sunday ?
Clinton calls on "dissidents" to cease activities.
Same as the Pope asked of PIRA,in 1979. Some hope !!!
Roll on tomorrow,when Auntie Hillary will solve everything
with that icecold S M I L E !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Spinspamspun,
I don't think I am allowed to name names here but did you see see the paper that shares its name with today and the place on which we live?? It has more on these expenses.
Stormontspy
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Hillary? Oh right Clinton, married to the cigar smoking Clinton, they say revenge is sweet but did she really have to include the rest of the world in the Ban? OTT.
Seems our politicians are more interested in hunting down the hero who leaked their expenses than those that are trying to blow us up.
Nothing to hide and all that, Panic ensues.....
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Hillary is here.
Get your children off to school,cover your eyes,and pretend
Auntie Clinton has not come to town.
She's here.
Can we have a U-Tube moment of FM/DFM doing their 500 lines
for being noisey in class.
Get R_E_A_L
NI a mini statelet,useful in USA foreign policy !!!
Hillary knows all the history!!!
She's brought Cuban cigars for Peter and Martin !!!
Back to the Braindead utterances come Wednesday !!!
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Waiting for Hillary.
At least not for the applause !
Campbell and McCrea empty out,later spotted in the House of Commons.
Rushed to London to collect their letters from Sir Thomas Legg.
When will we know the content ?
Now Hillary's gone,
Peter and Martin can take those grins off their faces!
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Mark
COSTLY EXTRAVAGANZA
The Hillary visit was nothing more than a very expensive photoshoot.
Moreover, for some MLAs it provided an opportunity for rather unpleasant toadying (e.g. Willie Hay & Danny Kennedy) while for others a display of bad manners (e.g. Gregory Campbell & Willie McCrea) was their contribution. Of course the cost of all this nonsense is being met by the taxpayer.
How much longer is the public going to tolerate this Do-nothing Assembly?
Susie
Carryduff
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Shame on Campbell and mcCrea for walking out during a standing ovation for the US Secretary of state. These two idiots think they are the only two people who live on this Island. I say get out of politics and let others who are progressive step in to take this country forward, this country has no place for bigots in government any longer!!
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Mark,
Any news on these expenses? Firstly MP expenses? To date Willie McCrea has got a letter and won't reveal its contents. Then Gregory Campbell was in London last night but didn't bother to check to see if he was a due a letter (his claim not mine). What about the other MP's?
As for the MLA expenses when will the BBC reveal what is on the disc they have? Maybe you are awaiting a slow news day or is it in your own interest not to reveal it?
Stormontspy
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This Legg exercise is a sham !
Focusing on minor claims,such as Mark Durkin,having to prove,some
years ago,that he slept alone.
Legg ignores 2nd homes and flipping !
All these pettycash expenses released in 6wks.
Where's the MLA expenses ?
Want to add up figures from London/Stormont/Conncil/Church etc.
Confident that @ £250k goes through the A/Cs of
G Campbell and Willie McCrea !
Is GREED not a DEADLY SIN ?????
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