Off Topic Thread 3.0

Don Kiddick

Buer wrote: »

Ewan MacKenna is a game developer?

Made EA sports rugby what it is today!

irishbucsfan

irishbucsfan wrote: »

He lives in Brazil. He lived in my neck of the woods but I don’t think I actually don’t know anyone who knows him, even people from the same area/army brats. I think he was quite reclusive unlike r’Jamie who was good at rugby and therefore socially acceptable.

I also think he’s got about 10 years on me, I think he’s like 40 which means he’s probably old, very boring, and likely going to die soon.

He's probably as rich as Croesus these days as well because on average it's been selling over 2m copies per month since release.

Zzippy

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Davis claimed they had done 57 assessments. Then when asked to produce them for parliament they magically don't exist. According to Laura Kuenssberg at the Beeb (who is a conservative commentator) they do exist, they're called Market Access Assessments, she has seen them, and they're incredibly pessimistic.

So the suggestion, it seems to me, is that Davis was forced to take that one on the chin and look like even more of a wally, rather than reports written by DExEU that make Brexit look like a monumental error make it out into the wild. I'd imagine the reports would totally erode their negotiating position if Michel Barnier turned up with them.

As opposed to the EU's impact assessments, which have all been published on the EU parliament website?

irishbucsfan

Zzippy wrote: »

As opposed to the EU's impact assessments, which have all been published on the EU parliament website?

Big difference though, right?

Zzippy

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Big difference though, right?

Yep. It's not like the UK's impact assessments could harm the actual negotiating team's position, it would just harm the public perception of Brexit and the government competence. It's mainly in the interests of Brexiteers who recognise the utter futility of Brexit but have personal/political/financial interest in pursuing Brexit regardless to keep them secret

Synode

Good article written by James Cumiskey, who grew up in Armagh and was raised as an Irish man.

http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/snobbery-and-hypocrisy-when-some-people-in-the-26-counties-talk-about-the-north-3743432-Dec2017/?utm_source=shortlink

I always say something similar to the below paragraph when people say they never want to see a united Ireland.

I often ask people to consider if it had been six counties in Connaught, Munster or Leinster that had been partitioned, and nationalists there were discriminated against in terms of jobs, housing, voting rights and culture, while the new Republic moved on. How would have that developed? Would everything have been different?

Dishonorable mention for Ivan Yates' comments:-

We don’t actually like the Nordies

Speak for yourself you twat

Buer

I'm not a fan of Yates but he clearly had his tongue in his cheek and was on a wind up with that comment as he is with half of his remarks.

But whilst I don't believe his remark, I do believe that a large portion of the RoI population feels that NI is of little relevance to them outside of sporting circles. The comment about forgetting the north is pretty accurate. If there was a referendum to reunite the island, I believe a fairly solid number of inhabitants from south of the border would reject the proposal....possibly the majority (and it would certainly be rejected north of the border).

Buer

Buer wrote: »

I'm not a fan of Yates but he clearly had his tongue in his cheek and was on a wind up with that comment as he is with half of his remarks.

But whilst I don't believe his remark, I do believe that a large portion of the RoI population feels that NI is of little relevance to them outside of sporting circles. The comment about forgetting the north is pretty accurate. If there was a referendum to reunite the island, I believe a fairly solid number of inhabitants from south of the border would reject the proposal....possibly the majority (and it would certainly be rejected north of the border).

I don't think a vote would pass without a significant amount of assessment of the impact economically and agreements from the UK / Europe as to what support would be made available.

The reality is that half the population in the 6 would immediately assimilate and half the remainder would probably have no great difficulty assimilating as they are removed from the harder unionist culture and live a more urban lifestyle.

There will however be a core of the population that not only are unwilling to assimilate but will endeavour to make the transition difficult. Whether this results in violence or not I don't know, but the violence in the North was originally driven by persecution which I don't think we'd see this time around.

For the long suffering catholic population up north who in many ways see themselves as having paid the price for the freedom enjoyed in the public it would be a bit of a slap in the face to reject them.

Personally I hope the Island does become it's own nation and I think it will happen within the next 1 - 2 decades personally.

irishbucsfan

I think the economic argument would be fairly easily side-stepped because we'd get some EU assistance. And people will continue the (increasingly popular) line of argument that the 'west german's certainly don't resent the integration of east germany' etc. I don't think people are remotely as interested in economics as they are in the romanticism.

Buer

Deleted User wrote: »

For the long suffering catholic population up north who in many ways see themselves as having paid the price for the freedom enjoyed in the public it would be a bit of a slap in the face to reject them.

Here's the thing though, any poll of NI residents is overwhelmingly against a united Ireland. Even the Catholic population appears to have major reservations with such a proposal although they're happy to see it examined.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/poll-just-38-want-a-united-ireland-29584149.html

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2017/10/26/news/opinion-poll-finds-one-third-in-favour-irish-unity-1171518/

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-21345997

Buer

Buer wrote: »

Here's the thing though, any poll of NI residents is overwhelmingly against a united Ireland. Even the Catholic population appears to have major reservations with such a proposal although they're happy to see it examined.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/poll-just-38-want-a-united-ireland-29584149.html

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2017/10/26/news/opinion-poll-finds-one-third-in-favour-irish-unity-1171518/

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-21345997

We'll I'm glad people are being cautious at least!

So is Roy Moore going to get elected today folks?

It must be a bit of a mad year for Republicans all the same. Political norms are gone.

They all backed away from Trump over the 'p**sy grab' tapes but then realised he was getting away with it so backed him again.

They did the same with Moore when it became public knowledge that he was a child predator, but now they are backing him again when they realised people don't care or don't believe it.

The political shift seems to have taken them by surprise as much as anyone else. I wonder are any of them a bit disappointed that this is where things are going.

errlloyd

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I think the economic argument would be fairly easily side-stepped because we'd get some EU assistance. And people will continue the (increasingly popular) line of argument that the 'west german's certainly don't resent the integration of east germany' etc. I don't think people are remotely as interested in economics as they are in the romanticism.

To be fair, isn't most of the country an economic burden on Dublin already? Bit rich for someone in Clare to be like "don't want the North, can't afford it" when their county produces absolutely nothing. (facetiousness applied)

irishbucsfan

Buer wrote: »

Here's the thing though, any poll of NI residents is overwhelmingly against a united Ireland. Even the Catholic population appears to have major reservations with such a proposal although they're happy to see it examined.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/poll-just-38-want-a-united-ireland-29584149.html

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2017/10/26/news/opinion-poll-finds-one-third-in-favour-irish-unity-1171518/

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-21345997

Those are a bit outdated now... right? Pretty major recent events.

This poll was from earlier this week:

Buer

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Those are a bit outdated now... right? Pretty major recent events.

Two of them are from a few years ago. One of them (where only a third are in favour) is from October. It was carried out by the same company that conducted the poll you've cited.

That suggests to me that there's an element of reactionary opinion on the matter following the poor handling of the Brexit talks by Westminster and the DUP. I suspect it would swing back to a no vote with time.

prawnsambo

Buer wrote: »

That suggests to me that there's an element of reactionary opinion on the matter following the poor handling of the Brexit talks by Westminster and the DUP. I suspect it would swing back to a no vote with time if it was for real.

FYP.

Podge_irl

Deleted User wrote: »

The reality is that half the population in the 6 would immediately assimilate and half the remainder would probably have no great difficulty assimilating as they are removed from the harder unionist culture and live a more urban lifestyle.

I think you're fairly off the mark there to be honest. Akin to suggesting the vast majority of nationalists up north will assimilate into UK culture and only the hardline will be left. It's a weird way of looking at it.

I think no matter what people say in polls now, the romanticism of a united Ireland would win out where it ever to come to a vote. Brexit is certainly doing a lot of damage to the soft nationalists up north who preferred the UK for economic reasons.

Zzippy

Politics forum is

---

> folks. Consider this thread like your local pub - let's keep away from religion and politics.

Don Kiddick

Wish it was like my local... Connacht fans aren't allowed in !

Fardy is like Leinster's Muldoon... but with a superior Beard.

[Deleted User]

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Fardy is like Leinster's Muldoon... but with a superior Beard.

Zzippy

Don Kiddick wrote: »

Wish it was like my local... Connacht fans aren't allowed in !

What a boring place that must be... :rolleyes:

sydthebeat

So we can't talk about doug Jones then?
Squeaky bum time for the GOP.

molloyjh

sydthebeat wrote: »

So we can't talk about doug Jones then?
Squeaky bum time for the GOP.

The GOP refused to back him after the sexual assault allegations surfaced. McConnell publicly stated that he believed them. It’s a big bloody deal though having a Democrat elected in Alabama. It will be interesting to see how that impacts things over there. The GOP majority was only just enough to get bills passed.....

Buer

sydthebeat wrote: »

So we can't talk about doug Jones then?
Squeaky bum time for the GOP.

American politics is reality TV so it's all good for discussion.

prawnsambo

Is that seat up for grabs again in the mid-terms next year?

DGRulz

I think I saw somewhere the term doesnt expire until January 2021.

Buer

prawnsambo wrote: »

Is that seat up for grabs again in the mid-terms next year?

No. Only 33 of the senate seats are up for election in the mid-terms and there's not going to be a major shift.

Of those 33, only 8 seats currently occupied by the GOP are up for election. It's far from inconceivable that the GOP actually increase their majority given the vast majority of seats up for election aren't theirs to begin with.

thomond2006

Henderson turns 26 in February. I'd be surprised if he left right now.
Though the offers from France might be more enticing given the strength of Euro vs GBP.

Edit: D'OH, wrong thread.

Buer

Buer wrote: »

No. Only 33 of the senate seats are up for election in the mid-terms and there's not going to be a major shift.

Of those 33, only 8 seats currently occupied by the GOP are up for election. It's far from inconceivable that the GOP actually increase their majority given the vast majority of seats up for election aren't theirs to begin with.

Yeah any normal cycle a betting man would probably be backing Democrats to lose seats given they have far more up for grabs.

That said, unless the Dems run toxic candidates or deeply unpopular incumbents (and they've none of the latter to my knowledge) then they should more or less hold their own.

It's worth pointing out that this election win would never have happened but for the allegations so hard to know if this is the start of a 'blue wafe'. However, it's still a significant rebuke of Trump and in particular Bannon who hand picked Moore because he is an out and out racist.

It's not done yet either, Moore hasn't conceded but the Republicans have (I'd say they are glad to see the back of this).

What's really interesting is that Moore couldn't escape the allegations and was backed by Trump who is also struggling to escape allegations. There is a sense in Washington going on my reading this morning that this is significant because we've finally reached a point where voters will actually draw a line.

That the line is grooming and assault of children is quite worrying all the same.