[article] Bertie Ahern confesses all

mike65

News to me!

From Sunday Times

Ahern declares he’s been a socialist all along
Scott Millar

IRELAND awoke yesterday to the astonishing news . . . that Bertie Ahern is a socialist. The taoiseach, who has shared power for seven years with the country’s most right-wing party, the Progressive Democrats, declared that he was “one of the few socialists left in Irish politics”.

The announcement, which follows criticism of the government for favouring the rich, caused wisespread bemusement among fellow politicians.



“If Bertie Ahern is a socialist the moon is a balloon, Ian Paisley is a member of Opus Dei and Tony Blair never told a lie in his life,” said Eamon McCann, a writer and socialist.

“What it really shows is that Ahern recognises that being a socialist would be a popular thing to be. It is testimony to the endurance of the principles of socialism that he would make a spurious claim to the title.”

The comments also surprised Ahern’s political allies. Tom Morrisey, a Progressive Democrat senator, said: “We are a pragmatic party and Fianna Fail has accepted our policies.

I did not know the taoiseach was a socialist and I am surprised. Fianna Fail is a catch-all populist party so I suppose he could have those views. It just shows how easily people can wear a label.”

That Fianna Fail is led by a socialist leader might also give pause for thought to its allies in the European parliament, which include the extreme-right Danish People’s party and Alleanza Nazionale, a post-fascist Italian grouping.

Ahern’s declaration of socialist credentials will be seen as a ploy to stop Sinn Fein from taking the party’s working-class vote.

Fianna Fail suffered a significant defeat in local and European elections amid criticism that the party had favoured the rich. Backbench TDs accused the leadership of following a liberal economic agenda set by its Progressive Democrat partners.

Aengus O Snodaigh, a Sinn Fein TD, said: “God love him, he is confused. He might be trying to be all things to all people but the reality is we are one of the richest countries in Europe, yet the gap between rich and poor increases. That is not socialism.”

In the interview in yesterday’s Irish Times the taoiseach expounded on his personal left-wing manifesto. “ I have a very socialist view on life,” he explained. “I have it in my mind that I own the Phoenix Park, and I own the Botanic Gardens, I own the zoo. Because the state participates in these things, I am free to go in whatever the opening hours are.”

Mike.

sceptre

“ I have a very socialist view on life,” he explained. “I have it in my mind that I own the Phoenix Park, and I own the Botanic Gardens, I own the zoo. Because the state participates in these things, I am free to go in whatever the opening hours are.”

Only a man as simple as Bertie appears to be could get the notion that any country that operates a public park or even a zoo for the convenience of citizens is in fact a socialist state.

Am I being mean or simplistic? No more so than for someone to say "I am a socialist" and thinking that makes it so. As O'Snodaigh said (and I agree with him for a change), "confused" might be the best way of looking at it. Hope he didn't have to take the bus home as he might have ended up in a dodgy no-go area of Dublin in his confused state and been forced to use his brass neck or bare-faced cheeks as defensive weapons.

Mind you, after a number of years of weekly meetings with Herr Flick, anyone could be forgiven for thinking that they were a staunchly liberal socialist (relatively speaking of course).

Victor

sceptre wrote:

.... Bertie .... "confused" ....

... separated man ... used to hang around with an image consultant ...

Taoiseach favours rights for gay couples

WHO KNEW?????

Trojan

Our very own 'W'. What's new?

dahamsta

In other news, Pat Rabbitte was seen cruising around Dublin today in a yellow Reliant Robin. Apparently the blow up dolls he was touting were "real quality, totally legit".

adam

BolBill

Ahern is a diddering muppet, who needs to read a speech or an autoque to get by.

TomF

I think every word that passes Bertie's lips within hearing of a newshound is calculated for its maximum good effect on the voters.

Yeah, I think it was the star or the Sun this morning who put this in context....

They said yeah right Bertie, you're a socialist and Nell McCafferty's miss world...

simu

Yeah, I read the interview they had with Bertie in Saturday's Irish Times - bizarre. There was an interview with Westlife in the same newspaper and it was strange how similar their consensual style is to Bertie's. Could they be future taoisigh of Ireland? :eek:

Victor

Oh, apparently a journo from The Star has written a bio of Ahern, hence the pre-publicity.

simu wrote:

Could they be future taoisigh of Ireland? :eek:

Pass the sick bucket! :eek:

Capt'n Midnight

Jim Kemmy donated his salary to local labour organisations. But since he died back in '97 this means that a guy who spends €30K a year on makeup is our last remaining socialist..

This in a country where primary schools are prefabs, and subsidising the construction industry seems to be more important (NRA / Bertie Bowl) than crime or health or election promises, 2,500 Gardai, 2,000 teachers, and more administrators have been taken on in the health service than nurses over the last few years.

[Godwin's Law]seems more like "national" socalism, autobans & stadia[/Godwin's Law]

But seriously compared to whom is Bertie socialist ?

Villain

Berties a Socialist! lol Does he even know what that means?

BolBill

irish1 wrote:

Berties a Socialist! lol Does he even know what that means?

I very much doubt it, but sure he just says what he's told to.

Victor

irish1 wrote:

Berties a Socialist! lol Does he even know what that means?

It means "one who socialises" doesn't it?

bonkey

No no. Its the Gaeilge for Socialite.

jc

sceptre

As everyone knows from Yes Prime Minister, the best career for someone who wants to be part socialite and part socialist is a Church of England bishop. Perhaps An Taoiseach is letting us know in a roundabout way that he's got a cassock and gaiters in his, er, wardrobe. Celia would know but I suppose we'll have to wait for her to ghost-write a buke.

Victor

sceptre wrote:

As everyone knows from Yes Prime Minister, the best career for someone who wants to be part socialite and part socialist is a Church of England bishop. Perhaps An Taoiseach is letting us know in a roundabout way that he's got a cassock and gaiters in his, er, wardrobe. Celia would know but I suppose we'll have to wait for her to ghost-write a buke.

And doesn't Celia work just across from the Archbishop's house (just up the road from Bertie private office)?

dictatorcat

Pat Rabbit addressed him as Comrade Ahern during a dail debate yesterday

simu

So is anyone going to desist from voting for FF for fear that the nation will be end up being run by commie-loving pinkos?