Should Bush Visit Ireland?

MeatProduct

The aim of the poll is to assess the view of the users of this forum regarding the issue of the Bush visit in June.

If you think he should visit; vote "Yes"

If you think he shouldn't visit; vote "No"

If you are undecided or don't care; vote "Undecided/Don't Care"

dahamsta

Yes. Give me a chance to wave my "WHERE'S PRESIDENT GORE?" flag around.

thesecret7

No he shouldnt, he doesnt give a damn about this country and has made zero effort since he was elected. He wants to come over here to boost his re-election and win allies for the war on terror. He hasnt appointed the foreign ambissador and were net LOOSERS in this silly arragement. The republicans (US) dont give two tosses about this country and would be hard pressed to find it on the map. Our best bet is getting the Democrats in back in power and everyone coming out with placques with Kerrys name on it.

sovtek

The answer, to me, would depend on wether or not the riot squads are employed against peaceful protestors as well as they leave said peaceful protestors be.

MeatProduct

Well it's clear their intent is to have the option of shooting at protestors which I find shocking.

Nick

sceptre

Let him come. A few mates and I have a semi-humorous idea for protest and it'd be a shame if we didn't get to do it.

Emboss

what difference does it make?

does anyone _really_ care?

Emboss

Originally posted by thesecret7
No he shouldnt, he doesnt give a damn about this country and has made zero effort since he was elected. He wants to come over here to boost his re-election and win allies for the war on terror. He hasnt appointed the foreign ambissador and were net LOOSERS in this silly arragement. The republicans (US) dont give two tosses about this country and would be hard pressed to find it on the map. Our best bet is getting the Democrats in back in power and everyone coming out with placques with Kerrys name on it.

Don't be silly he's not that intelligent.....

He knows this is the only place to play golf with a nice pint.

thesecret7

well I for one will be getting a large "Go Kerry!" sign along with some of my mates to the protests! Bertie is going to be best mates with him on the day, laughing and joking like they were best buds since they were 2. This is all in spite that even though Bush doesnt give two hoots about Ireland. I say NO to BUSH and no to the massive security operation that is going to have to be put in place

Phil_321

Yes, let's give the most powerful country in the world the cold shoulder, that'll teach them.

Hobbes

They had a phone in poll on RTE a few days ago and ended at 81% didn't want Bush here.

Nick_oliveri

There Is An Obvious Threat In This Country If He Comes.
Turn On The Tv And I'd be Surprised If There Wasn't The Cliche Of "Terrorism"
Grouping Every Single Group Around The Earth Into One Word.

"Billy Didn't Go to Work Today Because Of Terorism!"

Phil_321

81%. Yeah, the usual suspects. The silent majority like myself who believe Ireland should keep diplomatic relations open with the US don't bother phoning in to these polls. I'm suprised it was only 81% actually.

Wheter you agree with a countrys' policies or not, refusing to talk to them is not the way forward.

MeatProduct

There was also a poll on TV3 in which 79% of the survey said they don't want the Bush visit.

Nick

MrPinK

Originally posted by Phil_321
81%. Yeah, the usual suspects. The silent majority like myself who believe Ireland should keep diplomatic relations open with the US don't bother phoning in to these polls. I'm suprised it was only 81% actually.

Wheter you agree with a countrys' policies or not, refusing to talk to them is not the way forward.

People aren't talking about cutting off all diplomatic relations with the US, they just don't want Bush to visit. There's a huge difference.

And if the people who welcome this visit are silent then how do you know they are a majority?

Seaneh

Yes he should.
If Chairman Mao can visit, why can't bush?

Also, if The american president shows confidence in ireland and the irish market, it means there is likely to be more american investment here, and whit out american investment, which is encouraged by the government, ireland would still be on par with Romania and Ukraine in socioeconomic terms.
So all in all.

American president visiting = good.

MrPinK

American multinationals come here because they think they can make money here. They aren't a reward for welcoming their politicians. It's things like labour costs and tax breaks that influences US investment here, and not George Bush.

Lord Dufay

well said mr pink..

http://www.petitiononline.com/euus2004/petition.html

BuffyBot

The silent majority like myself who believe Ireland should keep diplomatic relations open with the US don't bother phoning in to these polls. I'm suprised it was only 81% actually.

Well, the silent "majority" only have themselves to blame. Until they speak up, the result is quite indicitive of the mood of the general public.

Phil_321

That's why they're called silent.

BuffyBot

Originally posted by Phil_321
That's why they're called silent.

I think you may have missed my point. There is no substance in claiming the "silent majority" is for/against something as by nature, if they are silent, how would you know what they are for/against?

Therefore, until those in the so-called "silent majority" speak up, the views of a sample can be reasonably taken as being indicitive of the public, unless there is evidence that a question has been seriiously biased.

Phil_321

It's just like the ould biddys who ring in to RTE to complain about stuff they find offensive on TV. They're vocal because they see something they don't like so they act on it. The general public doesn't have a problem with it so they don't ring in.

Do you believe the views of these frigid ould ones are representative of the rest of the population?

BuffyBot

It's just like the ould biddys who ring in to RTE to complain about stuff they find offensive on TV. They're vocal because they see something they don't like so they act on it. The general public doesn't have a problem with it so they don't ring in.

Do you believe the views of these frigid ould ones are representative of the rest of the population?

Actually I think there is a big difference.

The big difference being that there is solicited opinion and unsolicited opinions. I don't recall RTÉ ever asking people to "phone in and complain about this program if you didn't like it, compliment us if you did". I'm sure if they did, the "for" would outweigh the "against" or people wouldn't be watching them.

Phil_321

Originally posted by BuffyBot
The big difference being that there is solicited opinion and unsolicited opinions. I don't recall RTÉ ever asking people to "phone in and complain about this program if you didn't like it, compliment us if you did". I'm sure if they did, the "for" would outweigh the "against" or people wouldn't be watching them.

No, I think the "against" would ring in and the "for" wouldn't bother. Solicited or unsolicited, someone has to go to the trouble of picking up the phone and ringing in and only those who feel strongly "against" are going to respond.
Jusk like with the Bush phone poll. I'm for him coming, but I don't plan on ringing into any phone polls.

BuffyBot

No, I think the "against" would ring in and the "for" wouldn't bother

*sigh*

Point missed again.

I don't think I can explain what I'm trying to say any clearer, so I'm not going to try.

You never did explain how a "silent majority" knows they are in a majority if no one else says anything due to their "silence". Now that, I would be interested to hear.

Phil_321

I didn't miss your point. I know what you're getting at. Common sense, listening to people not **** stirring polls, and seeing the usual supspects such as that Richard Boyd Barret chap mouthing off tells me that's it the minority who don't want Bush to visit.

Btw, are we to take the views of Al-Quaeda(ie. killing westerners is a good thing) as being representative of the majority of Arabs just because they're the most vocal?

I'm not posting anymore on this because this is going to go on and on......

Sand

Why shouldnt Bush visit?

Hes the elected president of a friendly nation. To block his visit when were happy to deal with terrorists like Adams would be extremely unusual. Theres no mandate to block his visit. Bertie would be insane to block it. It would hardly improve relations with the US who remain extremely important to Ireland regardless of whose in the White House - and it may not be Kerry either.

simu

No, it's a security risk plus he might get more votes from Irish Americans as a result of his visit.

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

simu

Originally posted by daveirl
I want Kerry to be elected but I don't think our government should take an opinion on the outcome of the election. Isn't that what we critise the Americans for the whole time?

Well obviously, the govt couldn't use election publicity as a reason not to invite Bush (that's just why I'm hoping he dosen't come) but I think the US would buy the security excuse.

MeatProduct

Originally posted by simu
Well obviously, the govt couldn't use election publicity as a reason not to invite Bush (that's just why I'm hoping he dosen't come) but I think the US would buy the security excuse.

I would say that Ireland is quite safe from attack. If Ireland was attacked on account of Bush visiting then there would be a lot of angered Irish/Americans and Bush would do very badly out of that. The logic here is that I feel the US government is complicit in the recent terrorist attacks.

Nick

Faust

Originally posted by MeatProduct
I would say that Ireland is quite safe from attack. If Ireland was attacked on account of Bush visiting then there would be a lot of angered Irish/Americans and Bush would do very badly out of that. The logic here is that I feel the US government is complicit in the recent terrorist attacks.

Nick

Logic where?

MeatProduct

Originally posted by Faust
Logic where?

Well if the US is responsible for the terrorist attacks then they control where the attacks will be. If it happened in Ireland it would not help get GWB elected for a second term. Let me know if I'm still talking crap. It's clear in my head but it usually loses the plot when I try to write it down.

Nick

mike65

Yes.

Mike.

Meadows

I want Kerry to be elected but I don't think our government should take an opinion on the outcome of the election. Isn't that what we critise the Americans for the whole time?

Oh god i want Kerry to win aswell, I would even prefer Robert Mugabe for U.S president.

And there is no chance of blair sucking up the america anymore

http://bob.co.za/images/blairgoon.jpg



a funny site >> http://bob.co.za/index.htm

Capt'n Midnight

"OurLand" - the country of a hundred thousand welcomes.

So that it's really

the other 3.84 million don't want him*

as per M. Turner

Hang about, you know the way you can arrest war criminals under international law and the way you can make a citizens arrest, well what are the legal implications ?

krom kruak

Originally posted by dahamsta
Yes. Give me a chance to wave my "WHERE'S PRESIDENT GORE?" flag around.

Thank gawd that plank didnt become president not just because he's a dry-shyte but his wife and her christian fundamendalist friends would have had a great time destroying free speech.

If you don't know about Tipper Gore just look at these...

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Tipper+Gore
http://www.bookslut.com/columns/0602/propaganda1.htm

krom kruak

Originally posted by thesecret7
well I for one will be getting a large "Go Kerry!" sign along with some of my mates to the protests! ..........

Up ya boy ya but I thought this thread was about President Bush coming to Ireland not a GAA match at Croke Park???