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High Noon with George Hook.

kneemos

A full ten minutes to get to the Muslims,and now it's Rugby.Not much has changed.

Sounds in good form anyway.

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Conservative

Lt Dan wrote: »

thedudeinthehat wrote: »

Yes exactly- I don't want to do George's job for him, but he could have asked him some even rough questions such as
We know there are higher levels of employment and economic value/paying taxes/less levels of crime amongst economic migrants than the local populations. How can we learn more from these good folks?
Given the rise in hate crimes in the UK and US over the last while- are you nervous abot stoking up anti-immigrant sentiment in a country where we have always had a positive experience.
And our embarrassing contribution to the refugee crisis ( 80 people settled) - in light of our historical record of needing help from the world.

Here lies the problem in being "nervous about stoking up anti-immigrant sentiment in a country"

Our country, and I say the Western Europe here, have allowed a few voices speak on our behalf over the past 15 years, that refused to tackle or challenge the behaviour of certain groups that come to Western Europe. The French tried with the veil bans (Personally, I have no issue with it) and the failure to properly intergrate. People can deny it all they want, but there are areas in Britain that have become no go areas for natives. We have been a push over and this laxed attitude , at times have been taken for granted. This is a shame , because not everyone from those communities are bad. Any attempt to discuss this has been shouted down by groups who actually haven't a clue as to what they are talking about and don't bother reading government reports.

When we had lawful deportation order being enforced, we have sad case hippies, some of them not even Irish, trying to stop Police doing their jobs. We have had solicitors who failed in other sectors of the law game make silly money off running useless High Court cases. Anyone who said boo, were wacists. Their oxygen was cut however when one of their own clients was found to have lied about their very well publicized case.(FGM Nigerian Case) You never heard from Ms Rosanna Flynn again after that case.

This has come to boiling point now and sadly, the more extreme Western European , who we all wanted to stay under the Stairs , has a voice and people are following him

thedudeinthehat wrote: »

"We know there are higher levels of employment and economic value/paying taxes/less levels of crime amongst economic migrants than the local populations

Ya, wha Gay? (Gay Byrne)

"Given the rise in hate crimes in the UK and US over the last while

Far more concerned with the crime committed by fake asylum seekers around Europe in the last two years and the rise in Islamic Terrorism, frankly.

thedudeinthehat wrote: »

"where we have always had a positive experience."

If you mean that on the basis that Ireland has not falling off a cliff and it has not been negative, okay sure. I think you will find that the lead up and reason for the change of the laws on Irish citizenship , could hardly been seen as "positive" from a pinko liberal point of view. Or the silly numbers applying for asylum based on make believe stories of ju ju magic, shrines and being a prince..................

Bar the Poles and other new Europeans, the rest of the immigrants have offered Ireland nothing. That is not to say that they have been bad for Ireland, but, there is far too much waffle about this, especially from people who have little dealing with this industry. There have been statements made by Kevin Mysers, in the past, that were not far from the truth. (Feel dirty now)

thedudeinthehat wrote: »

And our embarrassing contribution to the refugee crisis

Should not be one bit remotely embarrassed. Most of those in the border's ain't from Syria. Somalia and Morocco ain't Syria, neither is Pakistan , neither is Kosovo, neither is Albania! http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2016/03/daily-chart-20

What refugee crisis? Bar the Syrians, the only group from the middle east in need of help are.............probably people in parts of Afghanistan and Iraq. Ask the Italians and Greeks , who traditional got the most of these immigrants as they are often the first nations that they enter - they ain't from countries at war.

It was Germany's solo run, not Ireland's . Ireland has enough trouble from Europe over the quality of the Direct Provisions (which is a joke, as is the processing system)

Right now, as per ORAC (google for the website, all there in publications) ,the Asylum stats, Pakistan have topped the pole for the most new applications in Ireland. Ireland is far from the first country of safety that an asylum seeker shall enter.[/quote]

Thank you.

Nody

Mod:
Politics forums are there for a reason people; take the discussion on immigration benefits or negatives there and let this thread return to the radio show in question. After all it's high noon somewhere in the world...

southstar

thedudeinthehat wrote: »

"Contrarian by nature"?
Except when someone is on spouting thinly veiled racism. George egged him on- zero counter agrument/balance or challenging of Myers- it just was about providing Myers with a soap box to vent his usual mad ramblings. Myers has being on this pony for years- the danger now in an era of Trump/Brexit and recent white nationalist murders and hate crimes in the states is that his musings seem in vogue/acceptable. I suppose the growth of this weird political correctness where we cant call a Nazi a Nazi, a racist a racist, but must pander to white angry keyboard warrior identity politics and say "yes dear its ok ok, we don't want to trigger your sensitive nature"
Control of borders- hypocracy for an Irish person to string those words together given how we relied on border crossing throughout Ireland's history. It will be a sad day for Ireland if these racist lunatics ever find a voice/political following.

I agree.Myers is a classic example of that rather silly term " snowflake".He seems to to be locked into a perpetual sulk and relieves himself by bitching and trolling ad naseum.As for Hook his show is merely a vehicle for his own delusions of grandeuer..many guests aren"t listened to but are there merely as a springboard for his blathering and hot air.The show can be fun bit clearly has become more sensationalist and downmarket of late.

Lt Dan

Nody wrote: »

Mod:
Politics forums are there for a reason people; take the discussion on immigration benefits or negatives there and let this thread return to the radio show in question. After all it's high noon somewhere in the world...

High Noon deals with current affairs. Bringing people like Kevin Mysers will always get people talking. One poster decided to make his opinion, a grossly ill informed opinion known. That invites a response.

But ya, your directions shall be heeded

Vorenus400

I wonder if George ever heard of death masks? The romans used to hire actors to wear the masks at funerals. George seems to have had a very sheltered life experience. He only ever saw famous people have open coffins? Open coffins are all over the country till they get to the church barring bad circumstances. Very strange thing to say. I get the feeling George only goes to the church part like most of the politicians for maximum recognition

thedudeinthehat

Lt Dan wrote: »

Nody wrote: »

Mod:
Politics forums are there for a reason people; take the discussion on immigration benefits or negatives there and let this thread return to the radio show in question. After all it's high noon somewhere in the world...

One poster decided to make his opinion, a grossly ill informed opinion known.

I admire both your contrition and self criticism

Lt Dan

thedudeinthehat wrote: »

I admire both your contrition and self criticism

Self Criticism of what? You were talking guff, but, it is for another thread, which, I am more than happy to join you with

Gwynplaine

I'm waiting for the day when Krang has a stroke live on air.

jooksavage

PopePalpatine

Still less vomit-inducing than him talking about his various problems "downstairs".

nuac

Discodog wrote: »

PC is about being able to make your point without feeling the need to offend people. It's usually about the way that it is said as much as what is said.

In Hook's case it's a constant boorish, barrage on the same topics every day of the week.

Yesterday we had Ivan Yates followed by Hook. Clearly Newstalk want to latch on to the new Trump led agenda.

Yates himself went off on quite a rant, then switched it off to get on with the programme. Tiresome stuff.

thedudeinthehat

So George finally got onto discussing Tuam and the role of the Catholic Church in Ireland's history, with the humanist priest father Brian Darcy.
Lets have some nice talking points from the chat:
1. Cowardice in the face of the Truth
Intro to High Noon claims "The no holds bars/hands on/hits the high notes Hooks" versus George's statement on Tuam. "I cant bear to listen or read about it. I know nothing about it. "
As a professional broadcaster, George simply chooses ignorance and wilful silence over insight and courage to face the truth. And that is the same reason the church went unchallenged for decades in this country. As George himself said, he will be delivering a homily and attending a Novena in the coming days- and in that context facing the truth about his beloved Catholic Church is just too much. "Sad!"
2. George suddenly discovers Nuance and complexity in human affairs:
When it comes to issues such as migration/political correctness/crime etc- George usually can be found to have very simple and unkind views.
Migrants: There may be some people with bad intentions amongst the millions of good refugees- therefore all refugees are a danger and we can't take any- ( i.e. jump from the specific to the general)
Catholic Church: Whether sex abusers/paedophiles/or the cruel orders that ran the laundries and mother and child homes- there were some people with bad intentions amongst the millions of good Catholics, but we must not jump from the specific to the general) The Catholic Church is necessary and special, so any bad it does can be explained away as human weakness- rather than anything in the institution itself, despite its history and what we observe.
3. Nazis, the Holocaust and the Catholic Church.
George brough up the comparison himself, and siad in light of sex abuse/Tuam, that is it right to criticise the special place of the church in Irish society today, based on the scandals of the 50s/60s/70s/80/90s?
To back this up- George says, should we criticise Angela Merkel for the crimes of the Nazis? The thing is, that we don't criticise Frau Merkel- we criticise the Nazi party and the institution of racism/ right wing reactionaries.
And yet George employs a perverse/reverse logic. Rather than criticising the Catholic Church and its shameful role in Ireland's history, George says its crimes can be blamed on the Irish people themselves- i.e. something in our nature. But if that was the case- Tuam would be happening to this day. Yet it is not- why? Because thankfully we have reduced the role of the church in this country and continue to do so.

The lack of self awareness/ empathy or courage in thinking about his life long held beliefs is rather disappointing for a professional broadcaster- but then , that is what is implied when we say "Catholic"

Ol' Donie

"Are our universities populated by lecturers who are loony lefties?"

That was on an ad for George's show I just heard.

Ignoring from the obviously unneccesarily incendiary terminology, George, can I just point out that our Universities are populated by educated people. Have a think about that.

Discodog

The thing that caught my ear in the Darcy interview is that the Pope has virtually no say in how the Church is run. He said that he couldn't write to the Pope as he wouldn't be allowed to see the letter. He implied that the Pope is a puppet.

thedudeinthehat

Discodog wrote: »

The thing that caught my ear in the Darcy interview is that the Pope has virtually no say in how the Church is run. He said that he couldn't write to the Pope as he wouldn't be allowed to see the letter. He implied that the Pope is a puppet.

Yeh - and in some other ways not surprising. It comes down to how we must view the Catholic Church as an organisation/instituition- acting in its own self interest every time.
I can't remember where I read this but I recall hearing that at same time Cardinal Connell and Catholics in Ireland were denying sex abuse- they were taking out very specific insurance policies to protect their assets/land/cash from any compensation claims ( mid to late nineties)
George gets outraged at all sorts- and in the face of actual corruption and wrong doing- he simply keeps going back to how great the past was- how we are all going to hell in a handbasket due to more liberal and secular Ireland.
Yet , look how far we have come as we shake the shackles off!

Discodog

George berates modern communication but we wouldn't have exposed the Church without it. Back to basics was John Major's rallying cry & look what happened to him :pac:

i71jskz5xu42pb

Ol' Donie wrote: »

"Are our universities populated by lecturers who are loony lefties?"

That was on an ad for George's show I just heard.

That was bad enough (tabloid stuff, shame Newstalk stoops so low), but the second part of that teaser was about George offering business advice (dress code, punctuality, it seems). George is very open about the fact that he's a poor businessman. No shame there but why would you then devote a segment to business advice?

Discodog

George likes the Breakthough slot, presumably because he can go for a pee etc. I like it because it means a few minutes without Hook

Conservative

The guy talking about litter in Dublin city centre clearly hasn't visited much of his companions home country. I think he mentioned Genoa as a favourable example. It's nice in places but unless streets full of African streetwalkers and their pimps after dark are your idea of class, you are in the wrong place. Far from clean also.

Many cities in Italy have had problems with waste disposal and litter, far worse than anything ever seen in Ireland. The army was called in to clean up parts of Rome recently.

Had he talked about the amount of filthbags, beggars and junkies I would have agreed.

meeeeh

As someone who lived next to Italy for more than half of my life I would agree it's not clean. That being said Ireland is very bad around litter. In comparison to most of the central Europe it's very littered.

Brendan Bendar

Ol' Donie wrote: »

"Are our universities populated by lecturers who are loony lefties?"

That was on an ad for George's show I just heard.

Ignoring from the obviously unneccesarily incendiary terminology, George, can I just point out that our Universities are populated by educated people. Have a think about that.

I had a think about that Donie, and came to the conclusion that the ad. has a streak of truth running through it.

Not only universities but in real life too, looks like the "looney left" is now run by 'well educated' people who are connected to state employment and have the safety net to fall back on whilst peddling their disasterous( for any honest taxpaying worker) agenda.

So Donie, maybe the ad for Georges show might have different connotations for different people.

Just possible ,mind!!

thedudeinthehat

Brendan Bendar wrote: »

Ol' Donie wrote: »

"Are our universities populated by lecturers who are loony lefties?"

That was on an ad for George's show I just heard.

Ignoring from the obviously unneccesarily incendiary terminology, George, can I just point out that our Universities are populated by educated people. Have a think about that.

I had a think about that Donie, and came to the conclusion that the ad. has a streak of truth running through it.

Not only universities but in real life too, looks like the "looney left" is now run by 'well educated' people who are connected to state employment and have the safety net to fall back on whilst peddling their disasterous( for any honest taxpaying worker) agenda.

So Donie, maybe the ad for Georges show might have different connotations for different people.

Just possible ,mind!!

Yes the ad has different connotations but in the end I thought that of the two contributors rory hearne came across very well.

For example, Ed byrne (sic?) Resorted to calling rory hearne a wealthy lazy Rockefeller type character , subsidized by hard working right wing people. Rory simply replied that education has a value and the ability to think for oneself is most important.
Rory successfully questioned the raising boats myth of neo liberal economics to which George could only reply "yeh but Stalin"
People never criticise corporations with the line "yeh but Hitler" even tho the role of large capitalists enterprises and corporations in the rise and reign of the third reich is being better ubderstood all the time.

George's characture of universities as left wing dens was simply lazy. I know plenty of PD /conservative or Rand types working in universities, think tanks. At the same time I would consider myself and other colleagues working in start ups/ finance/ self.employed with socialist/ left leaning/ progressive ideals.

As said previously here,nuance, complexity and real life humanity do not fit into either Georges opening rants or his bug bears that fit into a two hour slot , with the ability to generate lots of sms revenue.

i71jskz5xu42pb

thedudeinthehat wrote: »

As said previously here,nuance, complexity and real life humanity

Complexity, pish, so much easier to put people into caricatured buckets: "honest taxpaying worker", "Rockefeller", "looney left". I'm taking the afternoon off to see which bucket I can shoehorn myself into or maybe I'll take a leaf from the Holy Trinity's book.

southstar

Brendan Bendar wrote: »

I had a think about that Donie, and came to the conclusion that the ad. has a streak of truth running through it.

Not only universities but in real life too, looks like the "looney left" is now run by 'well educated' people who are connected to state employment and have the safety net to fall back on whilst peddling their disasterous( for any honest taxpaying worker) agenda.

So Donie, maybe the ad for Georges show might have different connotations for different people.

Just possible ,mind!!

Maybe well educated ,intelligent people tend to be more left wing...just saying like...oh and what do you have to believe in to belong to belong this ominous sounding "looney left"... and whats in this celebrated "agenda"..( can"t see any chance of getting away from these pesky agendas ).

Plenty evidence of the looney right though...The Daily Mail for a start, oh and that orange man child on the TV every day.

thedudeinthehat

Bobby Kerr came across really well today. Nice style, gets lots out of his guests, unlike someone else who uses guests as a sounding board for his own opinions.

Bobby also spoke very thoughtfully and heartfelt about the terrible helicopter accident. Had heard him on business section before: maybe he has being overlooked for something more current affairs...y

Side note: the piece on porridge was super and shows sometimes the best food is the most simple.

Lt Dan

thedudeinthehat wrote: »

Bobby Kerr came across really well today. Nice style, gets lots out of his guests, unlike someone else who uses guests as a sounding board for his own opinions.

Bobby also spoke very thoughtfully and heartfelt about the terrible helicopter accident. Had heard him on business section before: maybe he has being overlooked for something more current affairs...y

Side note: the piece on porridge was super and shows sometimes the best food is the most simple.

I have always enjoyed his contributions to Newstalk over the years. Remarkable difference to his image and performance on tv for Dragon's Den

CatFromHue

Yeah I thought so too Lt Dan. On Dragon's Den he wasn't likeable at all but his radio show and the way he talks to his guests on his show is the complete opposite.

For Forks Sake

Hook's modern day Lord Haw-Haw act in defence of Trump is tiresome at this stage, I suspect he only backed him to be contrarian and now he's stuck with it.

thedudeinthehat

For Forks Sake wrote: »

Hook's modern day Lord Haw-Haw act in defence of Trump is tiresome at this stage, I suspect he only backed him to be contrarian and now he's stuck with it.

Haha super comparison.
Listened back.to his latest unprecedented podcast. Adrian (surname? : guess is a wooly liberal as George see`s it) points out valid criticisms of policies and statements and Georges defence of Trump had a few peaches.

1. New type of president, we can't expect him to act like previous. (That's an understatement)
2. Trumpcare gives tax breaks to the 1% , at the expense of the middle and working classes. For George the response of those affected is that they will be grateful because trump is rewarding those who worked hardest and that it is ultimately very American to reward the succesful even more. As george said, us European communists could never understand an American who thinks this way. I would love to meet this famed American who is happy to work two jobs so that Trump and his buddies can have that extra yacht and mansion.
3. On the wire tapping. It doesnt matter what the truth is, for George the case is that 40% of the Trump base believed his mad tweet. George says this shows how clever the man is. If enda kenny ever carried on like that we would never hear the end of it.

Your lord haw haw analogy also.reminds me of the intellectual left who defended Soviet communism even as news of the purges, gulags, crushing of the Hungarian and Prague springs made clear the reality of that system.
When will George admit to being wrong on trump, at what point will he defend the indefensible.

foxtrot101

thedudeinthehat wrote: »

When will George admit to being wrong on trump,

Some time after the impeachment. George has invested a lot in being the "only one to call the election correctly". It's going to hit him hard when it all comes crashing down.