ROI Politicians lend support to SDLP

stuartfanning

http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2180586

I can't see a similar thing happen for Sinn Fein.

mike65

They should'nt be doing it at all! Love to see the reaction if the UUP started canvasing for a ROI party (no I'm not sure which party that would be either).

Mike.

gandalf

Actually it makes perfect sense that they are supporting the SDLP. They aren't a threat down here and by supporting them they are diminishing the influence of a party that is a threat down here to all the parties ie Sinn Fein.

Personally I hope they succeed and keep the Sinners at bay but my head says the big winners in the coming NI elections will be the DUP and Sinn Fein, polarising both sides even more.

Gandalf.

Hagar

If Sinn Féin were running the Dept of Justice I suspect we would see less Gardaí being mown down by stolen vehicles, less stabbings in Limerick and the probation act applied a little less often. Tiocfaidh ar Lá.

swiss

If Sinn Féin were running the Dept of Justice I suspect we would see less Gardaí being mown down by stolen vehicles, less stabbings in Limerick and the probation act applied a little less often. Tiocfaidh ar Lá.

Just because organised crime is less prolific does not mean it is any less insidious. It just means the criminals start wearing suits.

Oh, and would this also mean an end to the cross border smuggling of illicit cigarettes, alcohol and petrol by criminals affiliated with the IRA?

In any case, if Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael want to support the SDLP, why shouldn't they do so? The SDLP have a reputation for being honourable and have many worthy socialist ideals (IMO). A strategic allignment of both parties could be very mutually beneficial. If this means putting more pressure on Sinn Féin, so much the better.

Villain

Originally posted by Hagar
If Sinn Féin were running the Dept of Justice I suspect we would see less Gardaí being mown down by stolen vehicles, less stabbings in Limerick and the probation act applied a little less often. Tiocfaidh ar Lá.

Great notion, but Mcdowell reckons he's winning the war so we'l all be ok!:rolleyes:

Anyway back on topic, I think the ROI politicians should not have supported any one party but instead of supported all the parties that are in favour of the Good Friday Agreement, (inclding Mr Trimbles party)

Sinn Fein and the SDLP have made statements along thsoe lines, saying that after you votes for us vote for the Pro agreement parties.

gandalf

Originally posted by Hagar
If Sinn Féin were running the Dept of Justice I suspect we would see less Gardaí being mown down by stolen vehicles, less stabbings in Limerick and the probation act applied a little less often. Tiocfaidh ar Lá.

Well considering I see the IRA and cronies as nothing more than organised crime fronts anyway that really is a non arguement in my opinion.

Sinn Fein should not be allowed to have any government positions both here and in Northern Ireland until their private little army disbands and decommissions fully.

Gandalf.

Hagar

There are without doubt criminals in the IRA but that does not make it a criminal organization, no more than Fianna Fail or any of the other "mainstream" parties should be branded as criminal just because of Lawlor, Lowry et al.
How do you propose to stop them from having government positions? After all my vote is just as valid as yours. Are you proposing a type of democracy that only allows politicians of a certain "flavour"? Is that not how South Africa, Northern Ireland and probably half a dozen other ex colonies operate/operated up to quite recently?
On the topic of smuggling goods across the border... Our system of customs and excise duties are directly decended from English law where the money went to the monarch.
Who is the bigger crook the person who charges a 60% tax on goods or the person who doesn't pay it.
It wouldn't be too bad if our government didn't squander the tax after it has been collected.



:ninja:

Meh

Originally posted by Hagar
There are without doubt criminals in the IRA but that does not make it a criminal organization

No, what makes it a criminal organization is the fact that it's illegal.

Who is the bigger crook the person who charges a 60% tax on goods or the person who doesn't pay it.

Or the person who breaks your legs for smuggling without giving them their cut?

ReefBreak

Originally posted by mike65
They should'nt be doing it at all! Love to see the reaction if the UUP started canvasing for a ROI party (no I'm not sure which party that would be either).
Mike.

Not quite the same thing I know but: Northern Irish Sinn Féin people were assisting the Republic of Ireland SF candidates in the last General Election here. So I don't see why FF shouldn't help SDLP. The SDLP can get the help of anyone they like.

Anything that stops the Irish Nazi Part...I mean Sinn Féin from getting seats in the North is fine by me.

ReefBreak

Originally posted by Hagar
If Sinn Féin were running the Dept of Justice I suspect we would see less Gardaí being mown down by stolen vehicles, less stabbings in Limerick and the probation act applied a little less often. Tiocfaidh ar Lá.

Less stabbing in Limerick? Like a typical Shinners, the best they can do is say "We will fix this, we will fix that" but never seem to state exactly how. If SF/IRA didn't exist, the gansters in Limerick wouldn't have anyone to source their weapons from. So, in a way, SF/IRA are partly to blame for the problems in Limerick.

As for the rest of your comment, the overwhelmingly vast majority of people would prefer that crime in this country was solved through the gardai, the courts and the rule of law, rather than the IRA gun & baseball bat.

Hagar

Personally I would much rather see the Gardaí enforce the law. But the sad fact is that they don't. They are powerless unless you count radar traps. The judges hand out paltry sentences. The politicians usual reaction is to draft a new law rather than enforce the perfectly adequate laws that are already on the statute books.

The only reason southern politicians would support the SDLP is to make sure some weak and controllable represents the Nationalist community. God forbid that anyone challenge the ststus quo.

Cork

Originally posted by Hagar


The only reason southern politicians would support the SDLP is to make sure some weak and controllable represents the Nationalist community. God forbid that anyone challenge the ststus quo.

The SDLP were never ambigious. They always represented constitutional nationalisim. They reached out to every one up in Northern Ireland.

The SDLP has a record that any political party in the world would be proud of. I think this country owes much to the SDLP and I hope that they will remain the largest political party in Northern Ireland.

Hagar

The phrase "consitutional nationalism" intrigues me. Which constitution are you refering to?

I don't believe that as a monarchy Britain has a constitution after all its people are not citizens but subjects.

In any case Northern Ireland is technically not part of Britain. If it were why does it say "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" on their passports rather than just "Great Britain". The implication is painfully obvious. England, and lets be honest its only England's opinion that counts as both Wales and Scotland are subject peoples, does not regard Northern Ireland as part of Britain.

At best its a sad add-on which is clung onto in the vain hope there might be some value in controlling its territorial waters.

The Irish constitution no longer claims soverignty over the six counties. So what constitution are you talking about?

How many of these tame SDLP politicians are we talking about? If they're so good how come you aren't clamouring for them to be running for power down here.?

stuartfanning

Technically there is no such place as Britain. It's known as Great Britain which does not include N Ireland. However the way the term Britain is generally used includes N Ireland as it is British.

Hagar

Please explain to me the need to have an "United Kingdom of Great Britain AND Northern Ireland" if Northern Irland is an intrinsic part of Great Britain.
The only people up there who consider themselves as British are the loyalists, who strangely enough parade around behind a member of the House of Orange from Holland.

When these "British" get off the boat in England they suddenly find their name has changed to "Paddy".

It must kill them, poor misguided lapdogs. Desparately wanting to declare loyalty to a Crown that regards them as something "one has stepped in".

Victor

Originally posted by irish1
Anyway back on topic, I think the ROI politicians should not have supported any one party but instead of supported all the parties that are in favour of the Good Friday Agreement, (inclding Mr Trimbles party)

FF can't come out and tell people to vote for the UUP as it will only upset undecided / uncommitted unionist voters into voting DUP / UKUP / etc.

SF and the SDLP can as it is less "foreigners telling us how to vote" to the unionist camp.

Most of the support to the SDLP is strategic (press management, policy formulation, vote management), not practical.

Pompey Magnus

I personally have no more respect for the current SDLP, they are no better than the shower we have running the place down here! They did so much for the north in the past but without Hume they are nothing! The fact that people here are saying they want the SDLP to do well simply to stop Sinn Fein speaks volumes. I'd hate to see them decimated in the elections but I do hope that Sinn Fein becomes the biggest nationalist part.
Lets also not forget the last general election down here when there was a huge effort to keep Martin Ferris out of North Kerry by the establishment down here (gardai, media and other parties) and the result was an increase in support for him. It might happen again in the north!

stuartfanning

Originally posted by Hagar
Please explain to me the need to have an "United Kingdom of Great Britain AND Northern Ireland" if Northern Irland is an intrinsic part of Great Britain.
The only people up there who consider themselves as British are the loyalists, who strangely enough parade around behind a member of the House of Orange from Holland.

When these "British" get off the boat in England they suddenly find their name has changed to "Paddy".

It must kill them, poor misguided lapdogs. Desparately wanting to declare loyalty to a Crown that regards them as something "one has stepped in".

The term Great Britain came about when the Act of Union between Scotland and England came about (Wales even then was an appendage of England). So that's why its the United Kingdom of Great Britain and N Ireland. Its not really a question of what you consider yourself as what you are. Some Scots don't regard themselves as British but they are. As for discrimination against Irish people in England. That's long gone.

Hagar

If only.....

God bless your innocence

Pompey Magnus

Originally posted by stuartfanning
As for discrimination against Irish people in England. That's long gone.

Yeah? You sure?