The reason he'll be hard to stop booboo, is that the media wants him to get elected. Are you comfortable living in a society where the 'independent' media in effect make the decisions regarding who gets elected and who doesn't?

Seamus89 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 3848 - 11/01/2011 17:36:37    844163

seamus i understand what your saying but regarding media influence that is a worldwide issue people buy papers or tune into programmes that are sympathic to their views every editor for sales reason takes politcal sides times observer fox news rte . people need to be strong and informed enough to make up their own minds

booboo (Cork) - Posts: 1382 - 11/01/2011 17:50:16    844180

s slash i take un board your concerns but i dont belive its the presidents job to explain our history abroad thats for historians to document academics to discuss and teachers to instill and relay. i think fthe role of president is to go abroad and explain how we are now as a nation yes of course how we got here but more importantly where we forsee ourselfs in the world of the future

booboo (Cork) - Posts: 1382 - 11/01/2011 18:02:28    844192

Seamus89
County: Kilkenny
Posts: 622

844163 The reason he'll be hard to stop booboo, is that the media wants him to get elected. Are you comfortable living in a society where the 'independent' media in effect make the decisions regarding who gets elected and who doesn't?

Inotice that you also question the "independence" of the media I knew we could find something in common eventually.

derryman (Derry) - Posts: 3246 - 11/01/2011 20:49:21    844328

I'd have serious doubts about giving my vote to Norris.

I hugely admire what he has done for civil rights in this country, but he's nearly become a charicature of himself at this stage.
If elected he'll spend 90% of his time telling everyone how great Ulysses was and remaining 10% trying to show the world how eccentricly charming he is. He's a w***e for publicity.

The other thing I've never liked about him is that, for a man who has spend the majority of his life fighting against intolerance, he is hypocritically very intolerant of anyone who dares to disagree with him. Usually daring to express a contrary opinion is met with insults and snide remarks (for example, anyone who dares say a bad word about Joyce's literature are "people of medium talent who feel they can attack and challenge a global reputation"). Hardly a quality we want in a President.

black&white (Sligo) - Posts: 1628 - 12/01/2011 13:01:26    844642

Ian O'Doherty of the Irish Indo was writing about this today.

He said he'd love to annoy religious homophobes by electing Norris, which is exactly what Dr. Shepherd said on here.

He also launched an attack on 'simpering, smug, platitude spouting' Mary McAleese, while praising Norris' 'eloquent, erudite and slightly mad' personality. What? I don't understand where this bloated fool gets his opinions from most of the time. His column, if you can call it that, is usually a series of short 'witty' comments about things he read on anonymous forums, in fact I wouldn't be surprised if he was on Elevenaside, and he worries me in that he has a Hitler-like love of dogs, despite not really liking his own species.

His support for Norris is another reason why he won't be getting my vote.

Seamus89 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 3848 - 12/01/2011 15:01:25    844775

Ian O'Doherty is just a less articulate version of Kevin Myers.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12452 - 12/01/2011 15:10:11    844794

Seamus89
County: Kilkenny
Posts: 626

844775 Ian O'Doherty of the Irish Indo was writing about this today.

He said he'd love to annoy religious homophobes by electing Norris, which is exactly what Dr. Shepherd said on here.

He also launched an attack on 'simpering, smug, platitude spouting' Mary McAleese, while praising Norris' 'eloquent, erudite and slightly mad' personality. What? I don't understand where this bloated fool gets his opinions from most of the time. His column, if you can call it that, is usually a series of short 'witty' comments about things he read on anonymous forums, in fact I wouldn't be surprised if he was on Elevenaside, and he worries me in that he has a Hitler-like love of dogs, despite not really liking his own species.

His support for Norris is another reason why he won't be getting my vote.
-------------------------------
I believe Seamus, he gets them from Kevin Myers, they probably share an office at Indo towers just to cut down on the costs!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 12/01/2011 15:12:43    844798

Lads, I see where you're coming from. They do sometimes have quite similar views. But there are differences. Ian O'Doherty can use a few big words now and then, but he's no intellectual, he's just obnoxious who thinks the world of himself in my opinion. Kevin Myers is, whatever you think of the guy, exceptionally intelligent. Also, Myers doesn't make the sort of outlandish comments that O'Doherty does, or if he does, he does so knowing much more about the situation than O'Fatherty does.

Take neutrality in WW2 for example. Myers has led the charge in trying to recognise how many Irishmen fought against Hitler, but he would never describe our policy of neutrality as shameful or cowardly which is what O'Fatherty did recently. Myers has too much intelligence for that.

Seamus89 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 3848 - 12/01/2011 15:22:04    844811

Seamus89
County: Kilkenny
Posts: 627

Ian O'Doherty of the Irish Indo was writing about this today.
He said he'd love to annoy religious homophobes by electing Norris, which is exactly what Dr. Shepherd said on here.

As for annoying religious homophobes by electing Norris, thats something that would appeal to me as well, if I thought the whole country was full of religious homophobes. But I don't think it is, I think the majority of people really don't care about someones religion or sexuality (though we're not home and dry yet). Unfortunately, some people care more about defining themselves as tolerant, rather than actually being tolerant. So they need to invent the enemy, or embellish one that is already there, even if its dying. Even if that means actually preventing its death.

If I though Norris would achieve something as President, like getting gay marriage introduced instead of the patronizing half measure that's been settled on, then he'd be worth a punt. But I don't think he can. I actually think that if he wasn't gay himself, he'd be a homophobe! That may sound harsh, but in my opinion he's not a progressive person, and seems to be obsessed with where Irelands been, rather than where it can go in the future. The shtick about the 'eloquent, erudite and slightly mad' personality, I don't really think so. I'm more interested in what a person says, rather than how a person says it. And using what was once considered flowery language as a parlor trick to disguise empty content doesn't wash with me.

As for columnists, there are alot of Christopher Hitchens wannabes out there that our national papers have taken to, I woudn't take them too seriously.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 12/01/2011 15:43:12    844837

Marlon JD

Unfortunately, some people care more about defining themselves as tolerant, rather than actually being tolerant. So they need to invent the enemy, or embellish one that is already there, even if its dying. Even if that means actually preventing its death.

That is a wonderful insight Marlon.

derryman (Derry) - Posts: 3246 - 12/01/2011 20:24:26    845131

Marlon_JD
County: Tipperary
Posts: 39

844837
Seamus89
County: Kilkenny
Posts: 627

Ian O'Doherty of the Irish Indo was writing about this today.
He said he'd love to annoy religious homophobes by electing Norris, which is exactly what Dr. Shepherd said on here.

As for annoying religious homophobes by electing Norris, thats something that would appeal to me as well, if I thought the whole country was full of religious homophobes. But I don't think it is, I think the majority of people really don't care about someones religion or sexuality (though we're not home and dry yet). Unfortunately, some people care more about defining themselves as tolerant, rather than actually being tolerant. So they need to invent the enemy, or embellish one that is already there, even if its dying. Even if that means actually preventing its death.

If I though Norris would achieve something as President, like getting gay marriage introduced instead of the patronizing half measure that's been settled on, then he'd be worth a punt. But I don't think he can. I actually think that if he wasn't gay himself, he'd be a homophobe! That may sound harsh, but in my opinion he's not a progressive person, and seems to be obsessed with where Irelands been, rather than where it can go in the future. The shtick about the 'eloquent, erudite and slightly mad' personality, I don't really think so. I'm more interested in what a person says, rather than how a person says it. And using what was once considered flowery language as a parlor trick to disguise empty content doesn't wash with me.

As for columnists, there are alot of Christopher Hitchens wannabes out there that our national papers have taken to, I woudn't take them too seriously.


Oh yeah, thats really what we need, two men marrying one another, sure to hell with biological norms, to hell with the constitutional duty to protect the institution of marriage.

Sergeant_Slash (Cavan) - Posts: 2182 - 13/01/2011 11:22:17    845349

Marlon JD good post, unfortunately i would have to disagree when you say the majority of people dont care about someones sexuality, ireland is still sadly a very homophobic country. Also seems contradictory to say that most people dont care about sexuality but then also say you dont think he could get gay marriage introduced. Why not?

bad.monkey (USA) - Posts: 4655 - 13/01/2011 13:28:40    845461

Absolutely right Sergeant. I'm for civil partnership, as a way of giving committed couples the rights they deserve, but as far as I'm concerned marriage is between one man and one woman, and children where ever possible should be raised within a married family.

I have yet to hear one argument in favour of same-sex 'marriage' that I think is even slightly valid.

Seamus89 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 3848 - 13/01/2011 13:33:36    845472

Sergeant_Slash
County: Cavan
Posts: 147

sure dont worry about changing the constitution , it only takes a vote or two.

I dont think they are making same sex marriages compulsory, so no need to be nervous

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 13/01/2011 13:34:48    845476

bad.monkey
County: USA

Also seems contradictory to say that most people dont care about sexuality but then also say you dont think he could get gay marriage introduced. Why not?


I guess I meant the role of President is currently not suited to actually getting anything done politically, they're fairly limited in what they're allowed to do. You'd have to be a fairly strong and forceful individual to use the Presidency to exert any kind of real influence, someone like Mary Robinson was. I don't consider David Norris to be in the same mould. I know he's done great things for equal rights here in the past, but as he's gotten older he seems to be more bluster than substance. That's how he strikes me anyhow. I actually think he has a greater capacity to alienate people, rather than convince them.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 13/01/2011 14:23:00    845538

dhorse
County: Laois
Posts: 6702

845476
Sergeant_Slash
County: Cavan
Posts: 147

sure dont worry about changing the constitution , it only takes a vote or two.

I dont think they are making same sex marriages compulsory, so no need to be nervous

Does this upset you and your boyfriend? Dry your eyes mate.

Sergeant_Slash (Cavan) - Posts: 2182 - 13/01/2011 16:28:41    845648

Seamus89
County: Kilkenny
Posts: 637

I have yet to hear one argument in favour of same-sex 'marriage' that I think is even slightly valid.

Did you not watch Three Men and a Baby over the Christmas?

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12452 - 13/01/2011 16:46:54    845665

Haha dhorse has a boyfriend!!!!

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12452 - 13/01/2011 16:47:51    845667

Is dhorse going out with horse, yeah?

Seamus89 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 3848 - 13/01/2011 16:57:24    845684