Deux femmes toutes seules
When Mary Lou McDonald emerged into the rain outside Connolly House in West Belfast to announce that Sinn Fein would press ahead with its Ard Comhairle this weekend, thereby potentially signalling the beginning of the end of the current justice talks, she was quizzed if she would be speaking on her own. The former MEP replied in French "une femme toute seule".
Then when my colleague Stephen Walker caught up with the Acting First Minister Arlene Foster she too talked about being on her own. But this time the complaint was directed at those Sinn Fein negotiators who hadn't turned up to meet the DUP for any discussions.
On BBC Newsline I made a quip about the DUP taking their turn as "themselves alone", but I had neither the time nor the linguistic ability to translate the reference into French.
I'm 
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~00~RS~)
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Mark
"INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR" DOESN'T SEEM TO BOTHER POOTS
Listening to Edwin Poots's stuttering performance * about the extent of Iris Robinson's representations on behalf of developers suggests that he has little interest in getting to the bottom of the lady's activities.
His explanation that he could not provide a comprehensive list of her representations because it would involve "disproportionate costs" seems to me to be an over subtle, if not downright specious, excuse. My experience of the public service has always been that the "disproportionate costs" excuse goes out the window where there is clear evidence of wrongdoing. In the case of Iris, the evidence of misconduct is there in spades.
I trust that Poots will be more forthcoming to the officers from the Organised Crime Squad which is now investigating the financial dealings of Robinson. Based on his performance this morning, the Squad should pencil in the Minister for early interview.
* Ref: Good Morning Ulster, 22 January 2010–Poots interviewed by Karen Patterson
Susie
Carryduff
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Mark,
Even know after Iris Robinson has broken the law the DUP still believe no wrong doing was carried out on her part. It is time to give the DUP a reality check with an Assembly Election. When Martin McGuiness is in a position to be First Minister the unionists will then realise what their bickering has achieved. When no one wants to share power with Sinn Fein/IRA then we should go back to direct rule. When these clowns get no salaries or expenses it will then hit them. I for 1 will be glad the fascist coalition will be over once and for all. Time to get these wasters out now.
Stormontspy
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Spy, i agree. Listening to Campbell and Dowd this morning was like a nightmare. why do we have to put up with this. Mary Lou pull the thing down this weekend and we can get on with direct rule. 108 MLAS getting paid handsomely to do absolutely nothing as far as i can see. Complete waste of time. Move on. Rant over
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3. At 11:43am on 22 Jan 2010, noneoftheabove wrote:
Spy, i agree. Listening to Campbell and Dowd this morning was like a nightmare. why do we have to put up with this. Mary Lou pull the thing down this weekend and we can get on with direct rule. 108 MLAS getting paid handsomely to do absolutely nothing as far as i can see. Complete waste of time. Move on. Rant over.
Why would Sinn Fein or indeed, Nationalists want "Direct rule", the DUP are trying to drag these negotiations on as long as possible, asking the two government to intervene "government facilitation" this way they could get a few weeks more mileage out of it. What happened to the line "interfering in our internal affairs" about the Irish Government, they are groping about in the dark, looking for side deals here and there, with anyone to ensure Unionist dominance rather than inclusive partnership with Nationalism. Why should they be rewarded with "Direct Rule". Plan B should be implemented, "Joint Authority" the DUP refuse to treat Nationalists as equals, they refuse to honour the agreements they made 3 years ago, time to shut up shop and implement the very "reason" they were trying to avoid, when they went into government with Sinn Fein.
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Jimmy, by Direct rule I mean anything is better than the farce we face daily here. Plan B? ok why not. I think the last few years have proved nothing if not that we are completly incapable of governing this plot of land. I Don't think Shinners/Nats or unionists are that bothered by this whole debate. Its merely another excuse for a crisis and a means to keep greedy self interested politicians in a cushy job. I say again 108 MLA's to govern such a small place as this. It's a scandal.
Btw did you ever figure out your left from right? (Wellies?:)
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Susie,
Only think ive learnt about Edwin poots, he's very much like that detecive on TV, Columbo.
Acts like hes dumb, but he's alot smarter then he looks and also lets on!
What worries me is this..Mary lou is now talking french? First Sinn Fein wnat the Irish language Act..fair enough in my opinion...now their going to start talking French?!
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First of all there will be no return to direct rule, it's joint authority or power sharing.
Secondly, I listened to this mornings programme on Radio Foyle and someome needs to grow a pair of b***s, every time someone has an interview with DUP dissenters they walk all over him. If he wants some practice in effective interviewing he should go down the street to the Model school and talk to a few wains.
It's time for the 'HMS Rudderless' to accept the mandate of the people of Ireland, embrace their nationalist neighbours and treat them as equal; it's the 21st century not the 17th century, gone are the days of unionist majority rule. They have not the maturity to accept responsibility of managing all our citizens equally.
Gone are the days when loyalist parades go in to neighbourhoods where the residents don't want them, traditional route or not. Wooton Basset has given us the British opinion on religious fanatics and contentious marches, the argument is dead in the water, move on and lead or move over and let other progressive unionists lead.
Your time to shine is now; shine or stay dull.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
There is no direct rule option anymore, the choices ahead are a continuation of Stormont or introduction of joint rule.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8475329.stm
I am unhappy to see that Sinn Fein have said that the current round of talks have ended, hopefully we are not in for more stalemate between the big two, and also hopefully we are not going to see the nuclear option of wrapping up Stormont coming out of the Ard Comhairle. The week had started off so promising that many were expecting details of a policing and justice deal by now. I just can't see Sinn Fein going that far, so hopefully there is a reprieve to provide some more time. Perhaps also, politicians will stop making deadlines, surely we are all aware by this point that such deadlines become more a cause of hindrance and baggage than progress.
I would also like to see the SDLP take the P&J role as they are supposed to under d'Hondt, no more of this side-stepping what they are legally entitled to. I believe and hope the UUP would be supportive of this.
Finally, I am going to go out on a limb and say:
themselves alone = eux-mêmes toutes seules
Is anyone going to correct me? :)
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#10patrick_78
Finally, I am going to go out on a limb and say:
themselves alone = eux-mêmes toutes seules
So Mr Moderator, a foreign language is allowed on this blog but our indigenous language is not.
Your pathetic, only for the fact that this person is entitled to his opinion, I would otherwise make a complaint, but only fools complain, right!!!
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DisgustedinDERRY,
You write - "First of all there will be no return to direct rule, it's joint authority or power sharing." Who is going to share power of Martin McGuinness and Sinn Fein walk away?
Stormontspy
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Stormontspy
If Sinn Fein walk away it will cause an election which the DUP will lose. My guess is that the UUP/Con will be on top of the unionist pile, who knows.
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DisgustedinDERRY,
If McGuinness resigns on Monday then the parties have a week to nominate a First and Deputy First Minister. If they don't then there will be an election mid march.
I am not sure if you heard the Nolan show this morning. Danny Kennedy was very reserved about whether his party will share power under a Sinn Fein First Minister. What happens then? Direct rule is the only option.
Stormontspy
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Stormontspy
Danny Kennedy and the UNCNF will have no choice as their political masters in the Conservatives will be seen to be backing a party that can't share power with nationalism.
Can they afford this in debating over the general election?
I hope the other English parties are taking note of Cameron and Patterson's back tracking on promises of an end to sectarian head counts.
When the s**** hits the fan the true colours of the conservatives show like a rainbow high in the sky.
Hypocrites!!!
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DisgustedinDERRY,
What a load off nonsense. Think about it and try again.
Stormontspy
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Stormontspy
Ok if you say so it must be a load of nonsense. I forgot your the all knowing almighty.
Hail our glorious leader Stormontspy, but then in reality our glorious leader is also the leader of the IRA the right honourable, decent, true republican: Martin McGuinness!!!
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DisgustedinDERRY,
I never once said I was the almighty. Did I? You should learn to play the ball not the man!!
Why do you always hail terrorists? How can Martin McGuinness be described as honourable, decent and true with his past?
Stormontspy
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thelocalboy (Ref Post 7)
KING RAT CONTEST – GAME ON
You're quite right. The DUP are clever as are Sinn Fein. Don't be fooled, though. Their political acumen is not rooted in intellectual cleverness underpinned by moral virtue, rather it is akin to the cunning found in the sewer rat. Note how both Parties have long delighted in chewing, gnawing, scraping at the body politic until it has become infected with the putrid diseases that they carry. By their standards, they have been very successful.
The DUP sewer rat is now striking out on its own in a bid to achieve political supremacy. The big question is: can the DUP sewer rat overcome its rodent partner in the Fascist Coalition to become King Rat?
Susie
Carryduff
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Stormontspy
It's better fun playing the man, it brings out his true colours!!!
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DisgustedinDERRY,
Why do you always hail terrorists?
How can you say McGuinness is honourable, decent and true given his past?
Stormontspy
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DisgustedinDERRY,
Why do you always hail terrorists? How can Martin McGuinness be described as honourable, decent and true with his past?
Stormontspy
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