Makes you proud. Good aul honest Irish Politics.

Saab Ed

You gotta ask yourself should anybody, who partakes in this carry on, ever be allowed outside again. The embarrassment of these tramps. These are supporters of a mainstream Irish political party

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/old-style-paraphernalia-for-sale-at-sinn-f%C3%A9in-ard-fheis-1.1359926?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Prodigious

It's not like it was Gerry Adams going about trying to sell them. It's not Sinn Féin themselves going round selling the items. Just a few people trying to make some money. What harm?

Lelantos

Even during her address to the gathering, Toiresa Ferris had to mention she had downloaded that song, got a cheap laugh & a round of applause. Stay classy SF.

Gatling

And people are actually voting for these muppets

Peregrine

I thought we had gotten to a stage where we don't really take Sinn Fein seriously any more.

Let them at it, only making a fool of themselves.

Images of the recently deceased former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher featured on T-shirts which were for sale at the ard fheis.
The green screen-printed garments cost €10 and had an image of Baroness Thatcher with the words “Tá gráin agam ar Thatcher fós!”, which translates as “I still hate/loathe Thatcher”.

RATM

Saab Ed wrote: »

You gotta ask yourself should anybody, who partakes in this carry on, ever be allowed outside again. The embarrassment of these tramps. These are supporters of a mainstream Irish political party

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/old-style-paraphernalia-for-sale-at-sinn-f%C3%A9in-ard-fheis-1.1359926?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

I seem to remember Fianna Fail giving Brian Cowen and Bertie Ahern a standing ovation at their Ard Fheis last year.

I'd find that far more disturbing than anything you've posted here

Prodigious

RATM wrote: »

I seem to remember Fianna Fail giving Brian Cowen and Bertie Ahern a standing ovation at their Ard Fheis last year.

I'd find that far more disturbing than anything you've posted here

Lets not forget Míchael Martin's standing ovation for saying "We're sorry" about a hundred times.

Saab Ed

Prodigious wrote: »

It's not like it was Gerry Adams going about trying to sell it. Just a few people trying to make some money. What harm?

Oh I know. They certainly know their audience all the same. There's obviously a market for the stuff. Its a very poor reflection on the supporters all the same. Its like sellling KKK shirts in the States. Wouldn't be allowed and neither should this.

schnitzelEater

Classy and Sinn Fein in the same sentence?

Maybe they think the proceeds can plug the deficit. Wouldn't be the daftest economic policy to come from that 'political party'.

Prodigious

Saab Ed wrote: »

Oh I know. They certainly know their audience all the same. There's obviously a market for the stuff. Its a very poor reflection on the supporters all the same. Its like sellling KKK shirts in the States. Wouldn't be allowed and neither should this.

No, it's completely and utterly different to selling KKK shirts.

Nodin

Saab Ed wrote: »

Oh I know. They certainly know their audience all the same. There's obviously a market for the stuff. Its a very poor reflection on the supporters all the same. Its like sellling KKK shirts in the States. Wouldn't be allowed and neither should this.

Why?

Shamozzle

Do you even lift?

Saab Ed

Prodigious wrote: »

No, it's completely and utterly different to selling KKK shirts.

Celebrating murder, that's why. Fcuking disgusting.

Prodigious

Saab Ed wrote: »

Celebrating murder, that's why. Fcuking disgusting.

So the KKK, an anti black movement who tortured and killed thousands of black people based on their skin colour is the equivalent of a group who fought to resist a harsh oppression from a foreign country?

Pawwed Rig

Nimrod 7 wrote: »

I thought we had gotten to a stage where we don't really take Sinn Fein seriously any more.

We need to start taking them seriously. They seem to be the only party at the moment providing an alternative to the FF/FG/Labour policies. As people get more and more disillusioned they will turn to SF (frightening as that is).

schnitzelEater

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

We need to start taking them seriously. They seem to be the only party at the moment providing an alternative to the FF/FG/Labour policies. As people get more and more disillusioned they will turn to SF (frightening as that is).

What exactly are these 'policies' of which you speak?

Saab Ed

Prodigious wrote: »

So the KKK, an anti black movement who tortured and killed thousands of black people based on their skin colour is the equivalent of a group who fought to resist a harsh oppression from a foreign country?

You've missed my point. Its not their policies or motives, its the celebration of killing somone. Sorry but that's just wrong no matter what your political views might be .....

Prodigious

Saab Ed wrote: »

You've missed my point. Its not their policies or motives, its the celebration of killing somone. Sorry but that's just wrong no matter what your political views might be .....

Similar to the celebrations of the killing of Bin Laden?

Gatling

schnitzelEater wrote: »

What exactly are these 'policies' of which you speak?

Supporting local dealers ohh I mean businesses
No body pays tax ever
big increases for dole scrounging supporters
Big pensions for the lads in Kildare for there services to the country
No more EU money as they found alternative sources

Saab Ed

Prodigious wrote: »

Similar to the celebrations of the killing of Bin Laden?

I've never in my life celebrated let alone promoted the fact I'm celebrating someone's death. If people die in war then it happens. Promoting delight in that fact is bizzare behavior in my opinion.

Galwayguy35

schnitzelEater wrote: »

Classy and Sinn Fein in the same sentence?

Maybe they think the proceeds can plug the deficit. Wouldn't be the daftest economic policy to come from that 'political party'.

Maybe get off your high horse and stop looking down on SF and the people (including myself) who vote for them.

cgarrad

You know your life has not turned out very well if you vote Sinn Féin.

Zaph

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

We need to start taking them seriously. They seem to be the only party at the moment providing an alternative to the FF/FG/Labour policies. As people get more and more disillusioned they will turn to SF (frightening as that is).

In fairness, they need to start taking themselves seriously first. I can't believe that this stuff was on sale without the knowledge of the party higher-ups, and they should have had enough cop-on to stop them being sold. They want people to take them seriously as a genuine alternative to the established parties, but they forget that people have long memories in this country when it comes to politics. There are still people who won't vote for FF or FG, depending on what side of the fence their family was on in the civil war. So reminders like this of Sinn Féin's more recent past aren't going to attract votes from people who didn't agree with the actions of the IRA but who may be wavering due to the lack of any other alternative to FF/FG/Labour.

Nodin

Zaph wrote: »

In fairness, they need to start taking themselves seriously first. I can't believe that this stuff was on sale without the knowledge of the party higher-ups, and they should have had enough cop-on to stop them being sold. They want people to take them seriously as a genuine alternative to the established parties, but they forget that people have long memories in this country when it comes to politics. There are still people who won't vote for FF or FG, depending on what side of the fence their family was on in the civil war. So reminders like this of Sinn Féin's more recent past isn't going to attract votes from people who didn't agree with the actions of the IRA but who may be wavering due to the lack of any other alternative to FF/FG/Labour.

...but that would be a bit dishonest. lets face it.

Zaph

Nodin wrote: »

...but that would be a bit dishonest. lets face it.

Dishonesty in politics. There's a novel approach...

Nodin

Zaph wrote: »

Dishonesty in politics. There's a novel approach...

I know. However the fact is that there was an armed struggle. There's no points hiding the t-shirt and the balaclava under the cushion and pretending it didn't happen.

schnitzelEater

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Maybe get off your high horse and stop looking down on SF and the people (including myself) who vote for them.

Do I detect a bit of an inferiority complex? Who said anything about looking down on these clowns.

I don't blame the people who fall for their lies and non existent solutions. Heh just haven't seen through them yet.

0ph0rce0

If i had of thought of the idea of selling stuff like that to people who will buy it then i'd have been up there like a light.

If i think i can make money i will.

Its a tshirt or a badge, Who gives a ****

Zaph

Nodin wrote: »

I know. However the fact is that there was an armed struggle. There's no points hiding the t-shirt and the balaclava under the cushion and pretending it didn't happen.

I agree, and there are a lot of people who will never vote for SF because of it, myself included. However they are now trying to portray themselves as a legitimate mainstream political party that at some stage could be in government, so at what point do they decide to stop with the sniper signs and other stuff to make themselves more attractive to voters outside their normal demographic?

Peregrine

Nodin wrote: »

I know. However the fact is that there was an armed struggle. There's no points hiding the t-shirt and the balaclava under the cushion and pretending it didn't happen.

Yes there was but it's over and it's time to leave it behind us. If they want to be a real alternative for FG/Labour/FF, they'd want to stop things like this at their meetings, stop saying ****e like this and say something more than simply the two words "wealth tax" every 10 mins.

Chuck Stone

Saab Ed wrote: »

I've never in my life celebrated let alone promoted the fact I'm celebrating someone's death. If people die in war then it happens. Promoting delight in that fact is bizzare behavior in my opinion.

Do you think, just maybe, that if you'd lost a loved one in the twin towers you might have had a wee celebratory drink when Bin Laden was assassinated?

Simple question.

Spanish Harlem

What a disgusting little "political party". Thugs in suits.

Saab Ed

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Do you think, just maybe, that if you'd lost a loved one in the twin towers you might have had a wee celebratory drink when Bin Laden was assassinated?

Simple question.

Genuinely no. I'd much rather see him serve life in prison.

What happened up North was wrong on both sides. There was no winner. In actual fact stuff like this only serves to keep the hostility going.

Nodin

Zaph wrote: »

I agree, and there are a lot of people who will never vote for SF because of it, myself included. However they are now trying to portray themselves as a legitimate mainstream political party that at some stage could be in government, so at what point do they decide to stop with the sniper signs and other stuff to make themselves more attractive to voters outside their normal demographic?

You mean morph into yet another FF/FG style waste? Bit pointless that. Stay true to the roots and make converts, don't be the convert I say.

Zaph

Nodin wrote: »

You mean morph into yet another FF/FG style waste? Bit pointless that. Stay true to the roots and make converts, don't be the convert I say.

As long as they stay true to their roots they'll never be in government. As I said before, Irish people have very long memories when it comes to politics.

shane9689

sinn feinn are a bunch of nut cases. they want northern irish west minister mps to be part of the daíl !!! i mean, thats a retarded notion (it was in their mandate around election time)

that means not only would you have the extreme partys of the north represented here, you would also have a bunch of irrelevant unionists represented too... unless the country is united, mocking about with such ideas just causes problems

Saab Ed

Nodin wrote: »

You mean morph into yet another FF/FG style waste? Bit pointless that. Stay true to the roots and make converts, don't be the convert I say.

Convert to what? Sinn Fein were the political side of a terrorist organization. They've now disbanded, their fight is over. Sinn Fein now either represents something different or they're a bunch of hypocrites!

Nodin

Zaph wrote: »

As long as they stay true to their roots they'll never be in government. As I said before, Irish people have very long memories when it comes to politics.

I remember any number of "nevers". All things in time.

My name is URL

Zaph wrote: »

As long as they stay true to their roots they'll never be in government. As I said before, Irish people have very long memories when it comes to politics.

That's why FF are topping opinion polls atm?!

The only 'long memories' in Irish politics are those entrenched in the old civil war divide. And those people on both sides are hopelessly lost in the past.

wow sierra

Sinn Féin are under pressure to keep all their supporters happy, including the most extreme who might be tempted to give support to the Real IRA and other dissedents. I imagine they try to avoid making a major issue of the likes of these lads selling badges etc in order not to antagonise these elements. Just my cents worth.

On a separate note can the people who keep getting upset over Margaret Thatcher please open a history book and look at what she did to her own people even if you dont care about her relationship with Ireland. I am old enough to remember it.

Chuck Stone

Saab Ed wrote: »

Genuinely no.

Fair enough. I doubt many would be so pragmatic - certainly not myself.

I'd much rather see him serve life in prison.

Oh I'm with you there. What happened was an assassination not justice in the true sense of the word. They were never going to put him on the stand though because there'd have been far too many hard truths about US foreign policy brought to the public consciousness.

SEPT 23 1989

They will never be let into power in the Republic,as soon as they come close the State will take off the gloves

buyer95

Lelantos wrote: »

Even during her address to the gathering, Toiresa Ferris had to mention she had downloaded that song, got a cheap laugh & a round of applause. Stay classy SF.

At least she's nice to look at, it would be a lot more disconcerting if it was McGuiness saying those things!

Zonda999

Despite the happenings of the last six years and Irelands only self confessed half moderate leftist party still only on ~15% is an appalling performance in my honest opinion.As to why is very simple. when you see this crap, you just can't get your mind away from the SF/IRA thing. the fact this is still the case in 2013 is pathetic. How do they ever expect to be taken seriously as a government alternative? SF need a total rebrand, getting rid of anybody with any link whatsoever, be it proven or otherwise, with dissident republican activity. they will go nowhere otherwise..

And no, I don't consider Labour to be a leftist party. They were always going to go into power with FG. They would have done it in 2007 and they still jumped at it in 2011

'Sniper on welfare' would probably have been more apt.

Dyr

Zaph wrote: »

I agree, and there are a lot of people who will never vote for SF because of it, myself included. However they are now trying to portray themselves as a legitimate mainstream political party that at some stage could be in government, so at what point do they decide to stop with the sniper signs and other stuff to make themselves more attractive to voters outside their normal demographic?

you mean when do they start to worry about how theyre percieved by people who will never vote for them?

Pawwed Rig

schnitzelEater wrote: »

What exactly are these 'policies' of which you speak?

Property tax, austerity, bail out programme etc etc. What has been on the news everyday for the last 5 years.

Zaph wrote: »

In fairness, they need to start taking themselves seriously first. I can't believe that this stuff was on sale without the knowledge of the party higher-ups, and they should have had enough cop-on to stop them being sold.

Agreed but they are still on the verge of becoming a significant force in Irish politics as there is no good alternative to what we have now. They are the only party in opposition. FF seem to be still licking their wounds and nobody really takes what they say seriously. They may be part of a government sooner rather than later. If Labour do suffer a collapse at the next election SF would be the most likely beneficiary. If neither of the FF/FG gets a majority (which is unlikely) it may be difficult to form a government without SF (scary as that is)

Zebra3

The same people complaining about pin badges are usually the same muppets whom agree with the Irish taxpayer being raped to pay the debts of private businesses.

Distraction journalism.

Oh, and don't forget about FF allowing America to transit kidnap and torture victims through Shannon airport.

Madam_X

Zebra3 wrote: »

pin badges

More specifically: extremely distasteful pin badges which are a massive **** you to people killed by the IRA and their loved ones, and which would be just as bad being for sale at a UDP party conference.

Saab Ed

Zebra3 wrote: »

The same people complaining about pin badges are usually the same muppets whom agree with the Irish taxpayer being raped to pay the debts of private businesses.

Oh, and don't forget about FF allowing America to transit kidnap and torture victims through Shannon airport.

So we agree, its all wrong.

Birroc

The Irish political system is immature in a lot of ways. You can see that by the calibre of the candidates that are elected every time. They are all mé feiners bar a small number.
Sinn Fein members tend to be loony dreamers and they usually only attract extreme elements. However the worry is that these loons could form a coalition at some point in the near future because people are finally disillusioned with the main parties (with good cause) and need an alternative. The choice isn't great which is why we need a new political system way more than a strong SF.
As for the sniper badges, there are a-holes in every party.