Arlene Foster, single-handedly and unintentionally paving the way forward for a UI

sexmag

https://twitter.com/DUPleader/status/1062451464180785155?s=19

She's playing a blinder in my opinion but fun to watch

She cant make her mind up if it will be Dublin or Brussels who have control

score2020

sexmag wrote: »

She's playing a blinder in my opinion but fun to watch

judge all politicians fairly

Laois_Man

I don't think it matters either way what Arlene Foster is doing!

sexmag

Edit: sorry the title trailed off,guess I only have so many words

score2020

sexmag wrote: »

She's playing a blinder in my opinion but fun to watch

She cant make her mind up if it will be Dublin or Brussels who have control

i have to admit i have huge respect for her,
she will stand for her community
unlike the spineless snakes in ff and fg

Agricola

Funny thing is a Dublin government would do a lot better job speaking up for their core industries than she would ever manage.

score2020

Agricola wrote: »

Funny thing is a Dublin government would do a lot better job speaking up for their core industries than she would ever manage.

well said mate, very concise and clear text

The Rape of Lucretia

She is certainly making quite a plea for the south to help out the north by joining it as a united Ireland as part of the UK, solving the whole issue at a stroke. While she cannot come out and say it yet, May has to be praying for the same move from Dublin.

TheValeyard

As a general rule, if the DUP are pissed off, then it can only be good for the rest of society.

amcalester

Arlene is a good example of ideology overriding common sense.

She’ll probably die a UK citizen in a united Ireland save in the knowledge that by doing everything she could to protect Unionists she hastened their demise.

McMurphy

I'd say she has a big set of balls on her that look like a hairy brain.

topper75

As a southern nationalist I won't see eye to eye with her on Irish constitutional issues but that doesn't stop me respecting her as a formidable lady. She was elected to a post and she is doing it well. I wouldn't play poker with her.

Hannibal_Smith

My secondary school 'home rule is to me rule' is coming back to me. Weren't the unionists afraid it would weaken the union with Britain? Glad to see they gold strong to their beliefs 100 years on

Aren't NI treated differently to the UK anyway? In relation to abortion and gay marriage aren't they different? Do the DUP want to legalise these two issues to bring themselves inline with the UK? And aren't the trade arrangements different with us than they are with the UK? So is what is being proposed really all that different to what already exists?

Laois_Man

Hannibal_Smith wrote: »

My secondary school 'home rule is to me rule' is coming back to me. Weren't the unionists afraid it would weaken the union with Britain? Glad to see they gold strong to their beliefs 100 years on

Aren't NI treated differently to the UK anyway? In relation to abortion and gay marriage aren't they different? Do the DUP want to legalise these two issues to bring themselves inline with the UK? And aren't the trade arrangements different with us than they are with the UK? So is what is being proposed really all that different to what already exists?

Add to that, there is already a border in the Irish sea in the sense that some items shipped into N. Ireland from other parts of the UK are checked!

topmanamillion

topper75 wrote: »

She was elected to a post and she is doing it well.

Shes doing anything but. The post she was elected to is to sit in a power sharing assembly in Stormont. She hasn't darkened that door of there in over 2 years.
Instead she's propping up a dysfunctional Tory Government in London.

riffmongous

Hannibal_Smith wrote: »

My secondary school 'home rule is to me rule' is coming back to me. Weren't the unionists afraid it would weaken the union with Britain? Glad to see they gold strong to their beliefs 100 years on

Aren't NI treated differently to the UK anyway? In relation to abortion and gay marriage aren't they different? Do the DUP want to legalise these two issues to bring themselves inline with the UK? And aren't the trade arrangements different with us than they are with the UK? So is what is being proposed really all that different to what already exists?

This is it, they have no problem being different when it suits their backwards beliefs

SEPT 23 1989

Are people posting here old enough to remember the absolute carnage on this island before the peace

All sides will have no problem going at it again

You don't want your kids to see that horror playing out everyday of the week

score2020

Murray TheDemonic TalkingSkull wrote: »

As a general rule, if the DUP are pissed off, then it can only be good for the rest of society.

DID YOUR LEADERS IN rte TELL YOU THAT

Taco Chips

Can't understand the people saying they disagree but have respect for her.

The woman is an out and out bigot. On the record sectarian, anti LGBT rights, equality for women. She wants NI to be treated the same as the UK when it suits her, except in the arena of social reform. She is a hypocrite and a right nasty piece of work serving a 1960s agenda. I have no respect for a person like that. She may be a "tough cookie" but she is incredibly unpleasant and regressive.

Taco Chips

Taco Chips wrote: »

Can't understand the people saying they disagree but have respect for her.

The woman is an out and out bigot. On the record sectarian, anti LGBT rights, equality for women. She wants NI to be treated the same as the UK when it suits her, except in the arena of social reform. She is a hypocrite and a right nasty piece of work serving a 1960s agenda. I have no respect for a person like that. She may be a "tough cookie" but she is incredibly unpleasant and regressive.

Well articulated, how anyone can accord this woman praise is beyond me. An insignificant sectarian party propping up Theresa's government, disproportionate power abused to the hilt. Let's fawn over a bulldog chewing wasps.

topper75

topmanamillion wrote: »

Shes doing anything but. The post she was elected to is to sit in a power sharing assembly in Stormont. She hasn't darkened that door of there in over 2 years.
Instead she's propping up a dysfunctional Tory Government in London.

Of course. I wasn't referring to that!
DUP leader. Has played a stormer. Even the collapsed executive fits their goal. She has been utterly true to their objective.

Most posters here have too much skin in the game and can't abstract to see that.

seamus

topper75 wrote: »

Of course. I wasn't referring to that!
DUP leader. Has played a stormer. Even the collapsed executive fits their goal. She has been utterly true to their objective.

Most posters here have too much skin in the game and can't abstract to see that.

Yeah, but it's not a game. Playing dirty and ugly but winning the game is to be respected.

Playing dirty and ugly politics is not. Because it's not a game. Anyone who treats it as one should be considered a psychopath.

Arlene Foster is a disgusting human being who will happily rain misery on one group of people so long as it benefits "her" group of people.

AdrianLM

Aren't NI treated differently to the UK anyway? In relation to abortion and
gay marriage aren't they different? Do the DUP want to legalise these two
issues to bring themselves inline with the UK? And aren't the trade
arrangements different with us than they are with the UK? So is what is being
proposed really all that different to what already exists?

Exactly, the DUP have a long history of going against their own principles and traditions when it suits them.

Back during the BSE crisis in the UK 20+ years ago. Big Ian suddenly decided that NI beef should be classed as Irish is one example that springs to mind. This was long before he turned into a chuckle brother.

Grayson

Agricola wrote: »

Funny thing is a Dublin government would do a lot better job speaking up for their core industries than she would ever manage.

Unless it involves people selling wood-burning boilers

Grayson

topmanamillion wrote: »

Shes doing anything but. The post she was elected to is to sit in a power sharing assembly in Stormont. She hasn't darkened that door of there in over 2 years.
Instead she's propping up a dysfunctional Tory Government in London.

Except for wasting the equivalent of over half a billion euro
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/q-a-what-is-the-northern-ireland-cash-for-ash-scheme-1.2907866

sexmag

I predict she will collapse the government and another election will be held and she will have no say whatsoever anymore,well not nearly as much as she has now propping up the government, she's cutting off her nose to spite her face!

AdrianLM

As regards the DUP and Arlene playing a blinder.

You would have to seriously wonder what their motives were for campaigning for a Yes vote for Brexit as this has put their basic unionist principal at risk in more ways than one. Their campaign and the money they spent (and not to mention where they got it from - There could be a whole other thread on this alone) could arguably be claimed to have made the difference to the final outcome.

They certainly don't seem to have taken Scotland into consideration and how close the last independence referendum was and the fact that EU membership is widely accepted to have played a big part in how Scottish people voted i.e. the risk that an Independent Scotland may no longer be an EU member.

Whatever about a united Ireland, you could certainly see Scotland having another referendum with a majority yes vote to independence (In the case of a hard or no deal Brexit) and that would end the union as it currently stands - A good part in thanks to the shortsightedness of Arlene and co

jimgoose

The best I'll say for good ol' "Chuckles" Foster is that she just might, albeit however unwittingly, be partially responsible for forcing a second Brexit referendum over the road, one in which sanity would presumably prevail. That said and aside, the woman is, like many of her colleagues, a blinkered and incorrigible arsehole.

Suckler

score2020 wrote: »

i have to admit i have huge respect for her,
she will stand for her community
unlike the spineless snakes in ff and fg

She'll stand for some in her community. She'll do her utmost to stand in the way of others in her community. An archaic throw back to the type of politician that saw northern Ireland descend in to chaos.

ednwireland

i liked when she didnt want the northern ireland assembly reduced to Vassal status, oh that assembly you couldnt be bothered to get up and running for over a year, talks out of both sides of her mouth that one

topper75

seamus wrote: »

Yeah, but it's not a game. Playing dirty and ugly but winning the game is to be respected.

Playing dirty and ugly politics is not. Because it's not a game. Anyone who treats it as one should be considered a psychopath.

Arlene Foster is a disgusting human being who will happily rain misery on one group of people so long as it benefits "her" group of people.

You don't get politics then. The objective from here perspective is to keep the 6 counties in a union with Britain. Not to be a nice person. She is doing her job brilliantly. If you have difficulty respecting her for that, well...

Feisar

The DUP have 10 seats, I wonder if Sinn Féin's 7 is enough to prop up the Conservative goverment? If I were mary Lou, I'd hop in for the craic now.

topper75

jimgoose wrote: »

The best I'll say for good ol' "Chuckles" Foster is that she just might, albeit however unwittingly, be partially responsible for forcing a second Brexit referendum over the road, one in which sanity would presumably prevail. That said and aside, the woman is, like many of her colleagues, a blinkered and incorrigible arsehole.

Clearly she doesn't suit you. What you want is not her yardstick though.

I can't believe anybody on these islands is still talking about a second referendum! Serious denial stage grief.

Despite the press excitement of yesterday, my money is still on no deal and out by March.

jimgoose

topper75 wrote: »

Clearly she doesn't suit you. What you want is not her yardstick though.

I can't believe anybody on these islands is still talking about a second referendum! Serious denial stage grief.

Despite the press excitement of yesterday, my money is still on no deal and out by March.

So is mine. And good enough for them - talk about sawing off the branch upon which one sits. And they'll take the shower up in Norn Iron with them, and Chuckles is greatly facilitating that, and more power to her. Fuck 'em.

Agricola

Scottish MPs will invariably standup for Scottish voters.

Welsh MPs will stand up for Welsh voters.

Only in Norn Iron do their MP's stand up for English voters

OldRio

topper75 wrote: »

You don't get politics then. The objective from here perspective is to keep the 6 counties in a union with Britain. Not to be a nice person. She is doing her job brilliantly. If you have difficulty respecting her for that, well...

What? Seriously?
Her and the ultra right wing of the Tory party are making an United Ireland a real possibility. The irony is utterly delicious.

Deal or no deal?Another referendum? An election? A Labour government?

seamus

topper75 wrote: »

You don't get politics then. The objective from here perspective is to keep the 6 counties in a union with Britain. Not to be a nice person. She is doing her job brilliantly. If you have difficulty respecting her for that, well...

I don't respect anyone who sticks to their principles regardless of their impact. Having a plan and sticking to it is not in isolation a personality trait to be admired, respected or applauded.

Thatnastyboy

seamus wrote: »

I don't respect anyone who sticks to their principles regardless of their impact. Having a plan and sticking to it is not in isolation a personality trait to be admired, respected or applauded.

Agreed, just like how about 50% of the United Kingdom is contented with sending their futures down the jaxy so they can have blue passports and white dog-shit


Pretty poor principles to stick to, the only difference is the fact that in the eyes of her conservative peers & the population of the 'mainland' - she's just as much of a pixie headed little irish paddy as the rest of us.

steddyeddy

seamus wrote: »

Yeah, but it's not a game. Playing dirty and ugly but winning the game is to be respected.

Playing dirty and ugly politics is not. Because it's not a game. Anyone who treats it as one should be considered a psychopath.

Arlene Foster is a disgusting human being who will happily rain misery on one group of people so long as it benefits "her" group of people.

The problem is it doesn't benefit her people. She just follows and represents their ideologies. The problem is that those ideologies are what keeps her people locked in social and economic poverty. Voting brexit to rid themselves of what they see as a papal conspiracy (Rome rule) is an example of that.

Movementarian

sexmag wrote: »

https://twitter.com/DUPleader/status/1062451464180785155?s=19

She's playing a blinder in my opinion but fun to watch

She cant make her mind up if it will be Dublin or Brussels who have control

Ah yes the DUP. The annoying self important chip on everyones shoulder that deep down knows they are completely irrelavant in everyones world view. And to compensate for this they go out of their way to be as contrarian as humanly possible.

Classic irony from them again in that they dont want to be separate from the Unions laws. Except of course when it suits them to be entirely seperate from the Unions laws with abortion etc.

You cant beat the DUP for nonsensical arguments.

steddyeddy

topper75 wrote: »

You don't get politics then. The objective from here perspective is to keep the 6 counties in a union with Britain. Not to be a nice person. She is doing her job brilliantly. If you have difficulty respecting her for that, well...

She is voting to remove the poorest part of the UK from the largest single market in the world. In other words she's voting to make the UK a a far harder place to make a living in. If she wanted to make the case that NI is better in the UK then she should

A) Respect the views of the UK in regards to homosexuality and abortion
Not fan the flames of sectarianism that keep NI far poorer than the neighbouring republic
C) Not block the actual government of NI because of some hatred of a pre-agree Irish language act
D) Not vote for Brexit and doom NI, the poorest part of the UK and Ireland to being substantially worse off by being out of a trading arrangement.

She is making a united Ireland a far more attractive place to Catholics who previously sat on the fence in this regard and even unionists. Look at the Channel 4 report below and you'll see senior unionists talk about a potential united Ireland. This has happened under a DUP government. I can't see how she has been good for unionism. I'll leave you with the fact that under her government unionism is no longer the majority.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBtuwSixYoE

circadian

Having grown up in the north during the troubles I remember those days. I know a fair few moderate unionists who voted to remain, they are also, cautiously, talking about the possibility of a united Ireland provided there was significant funding from the EU to bring NI into this century.

They see that NI is already trailing behind the UK, is hindered by the DUP dragging their heels and actively sowing division. They agree that leaving the EU will put NI in a position much worse than it is already in.

Along with Nationalists in the north, many moderate unionists would also seriously consider a united Ireland on the basis of access to the trading bloc. They see the benefits and since younger generations in NI are less invested in the politics of old, would much prefer to have a better quality of life than some archaic political ideal.

The DUP is reaching it's last stand and I suspect that if an election was called they'd suffer and come very close to losing the power they hold, possibly losing it completely. There will be absolutely no benefits to NI in Brexit. Nothing. The vote itself shows that England don't even have a second thought about NI, I can't see any significant change that would result in resources on what will be a strained economy being provided to NI.

Suckler

circadian wrote: »

The DUP is reaching it's last stand and I suspect that if an election was called they'd suffer and come very close to losing the power they hold, possibly losing it completely.

If it came to that, the sad part of this is that we're left with Sinn Fein filling the void for the most part. Hopefully a few new parties/other parties will then be able raise the party standard an we may start to see some modicum of common sense come in to voting.

circadian

Suckler wrote: »

If it came to that, the sad part of this is that we're left with Sinn Fein filling the void for the most part. Hopefully a few new parties/other parties will then be able raise the party standard an we may start to see some modicum of common sense come in to voting.

I agree considering the SDLP are pretty much dead in the water, they have been in decline since Hume resigned which is a shame. The Alliance party are still small but I know a few of their councillors and they are generally more focused on getting things done rather than focusing on the old sectarian politics. Whether or not they can fill that void remains to be seen.

sbsquarepants

topper75 wrote: »

As a southern nationalist I won't see eye to eye with her on Irish constitutional issues but that doesn't stop me respecting her as a formidable lady. She was elected to a post and she is doing it well. I wouldn't play poker with her.

I wouldn't poker either.

Deleted User wrote: »

Well articulated, how anyone can accord this woman praise is beyond me. An insignificant sectarian party propping up Theresa's government, disproportionate power abused to the hilt. Let's fawn over a bulldog chewing wasps.

I'm with you - she basically personifies the reason why northern Ireland is the basket case it is. She's a wretched horrible human being.

Berserker

Arlene's job is to represent the people of NI and the people who voted for her, to be more specific. Little doubt in my mind that she is doing exactly that. I get that posters on here don't agree with her view on matters but you can't deny that she's representing them.

steddyeddy wrote: »

She is voting to remove the poorest part of the UK from the largest single market in the world. In other words she's voting to make the UK a a far harder place to make a living in.

Makes no difference. NI does not have a functioning economy. I get the impression that people are thinking of NI as a mini version of the south in economic terms. It's not.

The points you have made will have no effect on NI once London keeps providing the cash to keep the public sector going. If and when the private sector takes a nose-dive, it's not going upset the NI apple-cart too much. The NI private sector is made up of companies who came in, with a helping hand in financial terms after the GFA was put in place. I used to do work up there for one of them and the one of the directors from the US told me that the money they pump into Belfast is spare change for that company. They are not going to up sticks either. NI might be one of the poorest parts of the UK but it's financial place is pretty safe.

cgcsb

score2020 wrote: »

i have to admit i have huge respect for her,
she will stand for her community
unlike the spineless snakes in ff and fg

Well she stands for her brother-in-laws wood pellet company to be exact. Her community got Brexit, an epic act of shooting self in the foot.

cgcsb

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

I'd say she has a big set of balls on her that look like a hairy brain.

In fairness she did get a female haircut recently, perhaps on the demands of the UK papers following her newly found fame.

steddyeddy

cgcsb wrote: »

Well she stands for her brother-in-laws wood pellet company to be exact. Her community got Brexit, an epic act of shooting self in the foot.

Her husband, Brian is a farmer too right?

Odhinn

Berserker wrote: »

Arlene's job is to represent the people of NI and the people who voted for her, to be more specific. Little doubt in my mind that she is doing exactly that. I get that posters on here don't agree with her view on matters but you can't deny that she's representing them.


................

She doesn't represent the majority



"With regards to the 2016 Brexit referendum vote, 44.2% of people in Northern Ireland voted to leave the EU, while 55.8% voted to remain. "
https://www.thejournal.ie/northern-ireland-brexit-leave-voters-4275457-Oct2018/
https://www.thejournal.ie/northern-ireland-brexit-leave-voters-4275457-Oct2018/

Berserker

Berserker wrote: »

Arlene's job is to represent the people of NI and the people who voted for her, to be more specific. Little doubt in my mind that she is doing exactly that. I get that posters on here don't agree with her view on matters but you can't deny that she's representing them.

No she's not. She's pursuing a narrow Unionist/British agenda purely based on ideology and not in anyway remotely connected to economic reality. 56% voted remain in NI as did 58% in her own constituency. A remain majority continues to be shown in subsequent opinion polls for the region. It's joke to pretend she is in any way 'representing' the people of NI on this matter.