Eoghan Harris: what is he on?

Overdraft

Sunday Indo, April 6

Heroic Bertie rides into the sunset, foes all in disarray

ALL political dramas are westerns. Last weekend Bertie Ahern's enemies were planning to finish him off with a high noon -- or high jump. And while I was determined to be the last man standing at his side, I knew he had no hope.

So I watched with heavy heart as he stood, like a little Cuchullainn, circled by enemies, waiting for the end. But then, in a sudden, supreme stroke of strategic genius, he holstered his gun, handed his star to Brian Cowen, and rode into the sunset.

This left the townspeople looking at his media tormentors. Without Ahern in the way they could see what a nasty bunch they were. And under the public's grim gaze the hired guns of the media began to back away, blustering about how Bertie had been a great sheriff.

But my mind was on Bertie Ahern's bit of unfinished business back in town. Maybe he heard my cries of Shane. Because he came back.

I held my breath as he was hailed a hero. Held my breath while he got a standing ovation in UCD for bringing peace to the town. Held my breath while the media threw maudlin arms around him and told him to forget all that Mahon stuff.

And I only let that breath go when Bertie walked out of the hall, smiled at the media, and then shot the guys who gave Grainne Carruth a hard time.

Because a hero avenges a fallen comrade at any cost.

........

So instead of waiting for the inevitable push, Ahern jumped. With that one bound, our hero was free. Heroes, however, do not leave women in the lurch.

So, while I had no tears when he rode away, I wept hard when he came back for Grainne. That's what I call a hero.


etc


Jesus wept.

jmcc

There's reality and then there's Harris' view of his own reality. In that reality, Harris is a political advisor of genius. In our reality, Harris is not. Almost every political cause, party or person Harris has attached himself to has come to a bad end (Official Sinn Fein, FG and John Bruton, UUP and David Trimble, FF and Bertie Ahern). He is the Typhoid Mary of Irish politics.

Regards...jmcc

Overdraft

jmcc wrote: »

He is the Typhoid Mary of Irish politics.

Superb!!

Gekko

What's Eoghan Harris on, you ask?

Well €100k a year alone for being a Senator.

Snickers Man

Short answer: a massive ego trip.

This crumbly curmudgeonly ranting old rogue is a shining example of how you DON'T want to be a strident left-wing student activist. Frequently, you will take all the self righeousness, all the certainty, all the venom, all the rationalisation of violence, all the contempt for alternative viewpoints with you as you move over to the right in your course through life.

A radical socialist in his youth, Harris is now an apologist for the worst excesses of rampant material capitalism up to and including support for the Iraq war.

Those who disagree are still intellectual pygmies, those who get in the way are still lumpen proles worthy only to be cannon fodder, those who argue against him effectively can be run away from (viz Fintan O'Toole), those who don't get his arguments can be hit with a load of blinding waffle from the Bluffer's Guide to Classical Greek Philosophy.

The man's a twunt.

monkeyfudge

I used to have him as a lecturer first thing every Monday morning...


brrrrr... bad memories...

brettmirl

monkeyfudge wrote: »

I used to have him as a lecturer first thing every Monday morning...


brrrrr... bad memories...

So did I.... hmmmmm

stackerman

Muppets don't do drugs !!

Dudess

Snickers Man wrote: »

Short answer: a massive ego trip.

This crumbly curmudgeonly ranting old rogue is a shining example of how you DON'T want to be a strident left-wing student activist. Frequently, you will take all the self righeousness, all the certainty, all the venom, all the rationalisation of violence, all the contempt for alternative viewpoints with you as you move over to the right in your course through life.

A radical socialist in his youth, Harris is now an apologist for the worst excesses of rampant material capitalism up to and including support for the Iraq war.

Those who disagree are still intellectual pygmies, those who get in the way are still lumpen proles worthy only to be cannon fodder, those who argue against him effectively can be run away from (viz Fintan O'Toole), those who don't get his arguments can be hit with a load of blinding waffle from the Bluffer's Guide to Classical Greek Philosophy.

Heh, that is an absolutely perfect summing-up of the auld prick. Yeah, the next time he trots out a load of babble about Plato and Socrates, the presenter should really cut across him and advise him that he's always using that tack and listeners have had enough of it.

monkeyfudge

Yep... Accurate description.

I had him as a lecturer in English and politics. Also if any of the stories or plays you wrote were anything other than thinly veiled versions of the Iliad then he wouldn't be happy.

brianthebard

It would be funny if he didn't get paid for it and wasn't given a political position to thank him for brown nosing.