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[Hiberno-Britannic Politics] NEVER NEVER NEVER ok
RMS Oceanic
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So this archipelago
Has these nations.
These nations are almost completely (not) unique in that they're run by a system known as Politics!
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Run by these folk.
These folk would rather they didn't.
[img][/img]
The Issue
After blowing the surest thing since bringing back the Wispa in calling a snap election, it really feels like Theresa May is trapped. Her cabinet are running around doing and saying stupid things, and she is less than powerless to stamp down on it. The only reason she hasn't been ousted is the Sword of Brussels danging over the throne's head. And on that all consuming issue of Brexit, David Davis has been sitting in the burning building saying this is fine, ignoring the elephant in the room that is the Irish border by suggesting meagre trade arrangements that don't seem to answer the question of whether I'll have to stop at a checkpoint to visit my nephews in Wicklow. Everybody says they don't want that to happen, but nobody is holding a position that would prevent that from happening. Meanwhile the DUP continues to have Respect, Honesty and Integrity and be equally unyielding, perhaps making the calcuation that a hard border will award them permanent ascendancy in Northern Ireland? I hope not.
Jeremy Hunt still rhymes with something. Paul Nutall is aptly named.
A spiffing place to keep up to date with the latest developments.
An Poblacht na hÉireann
I really need to start paying attention to the political situation down south, especially with that threatened and justified EU veto. It looked like there might be an election but now there isn't?
GeocitiesInConstruction.gif
A shockin' good place to see what the feck the craic is.
So, discuss the goings on in the Dail and the Commons!
Has these nations.
These nations are almost completely (not) unique in that they're run by a system known as Politics!
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Run by these folk.
These folk would rather they didn't.
[img][/img]The Issue
After blowing the surest thing since bringing back the Wispa in calling a snap election, it really feels like Theresa May is trapped. Her cabinet are running around doing and saying stupid things, and she is less than powerless to stamp down on it. The only reason she hasn't been ousted is the Sword of Brussels danging over the throne's head. And on that all consuming issue of Brexit, David Davis has been sitting in the burning building saying this is fine, ignoring the elephant in the room that is the Irish border by suggesting meagre trade arrangements that don't seem to answer the question of whether I'll have to stop at a checkpoint to visit my nephews in Wicklow. Everybody says they don't want that to happen, but nobody is holding a position that would prevent that from happening. Meanwhile the DUP continues to have Respect, Honesty and Integrity and be equally unyielding, perhaps making the calcuation that a hard border will award them permanent ascendancy in Northern Ireland? I hope not.
Jeremy Hunt still rhymes with something. Paul Nutall is aptly named.
A spiffing place to keep up to date with the latest developments.
An Poblacht na hÉireann
I really need to start paying attention to the political situation down south, especially with that threatened and justified EU veto. It looked like there might be an election but now there isn't?
GeocitiesInConstruction.gif
A shockin' good place to see what the feck the craic is.
So, discuss the goings on in the Dail and the Commons!
RMS Oceanic on
+2
This discussion has been closed.
Posts
(This was in relation to the Irish vote on the Lisbon treaty)
I actually think she'd appreciate that
The zombie government limps on.
I'll file that one with his demand for parliamentary sovreignty shall I?
what kind?
They're related to him
They've suffered enough for two lifetimes
Innovative.
I feel like 100 years from now, this will be referenced as the reason that being hanged, drawn and quartered was brought back for a special one-time only PPV event.
Great start thread, whoo.
No there isn't. I've got a summary of Who's Who on Page 2 of the last thread, which is still relevant.
Also - HEADS UP EVERYONE! SAVE THE DATE!
An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar
Leader of Fianna Gael. He's young! He's passionate! He's Ireland's first openly gay Taoiseach! He's the son of an Indian immigrant! He shot to fame during Ireland's Same Sex Marriage Referendum! Surely he is ushering in a glorious new age for the Irish political left?
Not so much. He leans distinctly right of center, has been in the press a lot for his "crusade" against "social welfare fraud" and during his tenure as Minister for Health when a reporter questioned him on his anti-choice stance he a) didn't understand how women having to leave the country to have abortions could be seen as a class issue b) refused to see it as a class issue when the implications of abortion only being available to women who could afford the cost of the travel and procedure were explained to him and c) complained that they weren't supposed to be talking about abortion anyway because his interview was "supposed to be about health and politics."
But that's okay, it's not like his party has an overall majority. Who is his coalition partner?
Minister for Transport, Sport and Tourism Shane Ross
Leader of the Independent Alliance. He's not young! He's not openly gay! He's so Irish what's left of his hair is red! Instead he is a passionate, dedicated, loyal representative of those most voiceless of people! The... upper middle class...
He doesn't lead a party exactly. Instead he's the spokesperson for a group of similarly minded Independent TDs who agreed to form a government with Fianna Gael in return for cabinet positions and attention brought to their various raisons d'être, a distinctly unstable arrangement that is holding together, so far... Though Leo Varadkar recently refused to test it by allowing a vote of confidence on his Tánaiste (Deputy PM) Frances Fitzgerald. She resigned to prevent the chance of an election being called. Simon Coveney is Tánaiste now.
Shane Ross saw himself appointed as Minister for Transport at a time that saw strikes on Dublin Bus, Bus Eireann, Irish Rail and the LUAS tram system. He tackled this through the novel approach of ignoring every single one of those strikes and telling the various bodies involved to sort it out themselves.
No, I am not kidding. That is literally what he did. He is currently pushing for us to put in a bid to host the Olympic Games.
But that's okay, it's not like this rickety cobbled-together government is unopposed. Who is the leader of the opposition?
Fianna Fáil Leader, Micheál Martin
He's been Minister for Education and Science! He's been Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment! He's been Minister for Health and Children! He's been Minister for Foreign Affairs! He didn't suck at any of them! Surely he's the man to turn to as an experienced statesman, a steady hand and a cool head for the rocky road ahead?
He probably would be, if it weren't for the fact that he held every one of those positions as part of the government that mismanaged Ireland's economy so badly it sent us crashing to the brink of economic doom.
But that's okay, it's not like Ireland has a two-party political system. Surely there's a third party we can turn to! Who leads the party with the next highest amount of Dáil seats?
(Retiring) Sinn Féin Leader, Gerry Adams
Oh FFS! NEXT!
Labour (Ireland) Leader, Joan Burton
Labour! At last! A left-wing party without a history of terrorism! Surely they have the best interests of the Irish people at heart? Surely they can take advantage of the Irish government's weakness to ensure the lower classes are considered in government policies?
You'd think so, wouldn't you? Sadly the Labour party is suffering from what you might call "Lib Dem Syndrome." They went into government with Fianna Gael, rolled over on everything they were supposed to take seriously and helped them bring in a bunch of austerity policies that left the lower and lower middle classes struggling desperately in the fallout of the economic crash.
Those are the biggies, but they're by no means the only parties out there.
Solidarity, who used to be called The Anti Austerity Alliance / People Before Profit. They do exactly what it says on the tin, and they tend to do it loudly in public with protest signs.
Independents 4 Change, who used to be called Independents for Equality Movement because rebranding is all the rage this year. Think of an Independent Alliance aimed at the lower and lower-middle classes. Their focus is on health, housing, jobs creation and dealing with Ireland's debt.
Social Democrats Similar to Solidarity and Independents 4 Change, but much calmer. They're becoming an increasingly popular choice for those sick of the irony of a right leaning Labour party.
And finally The Green Party who, like Labour, are suffering the after-effects of "Lib Dem Syndome", except unlike Labour, The Green Party went into government with the party that sent us crashing to the brink of economic doom.
After that all you have left are the Independent TDs nobody wants to ally with. Like these guys.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the political situation in Ireland, a country facing the fallout of Brexit, a housing crisis, a debt crisis, Garda corruption scandals, a weakening health service, increased pressure on social welfare, a struggle for basic reproductive rights and mounting tensions north of the border.
What could possibly go wrong?
Tony Blair: Brexit puts NI peace process at risk
It's quite depressing that the war criminal is still the best Prime Minister we've had in my lifetime.
Nigel Farage defends Donald Trump's Britain First tweets
I haven't watched the video because I refuse to listen to that man's voice unless someone's paying me, but:
Social mobility board quits over lack of progress
On the lighter side:
MP Nadine Dorries defends 'shared password' tweet Honestly, this level of computer security has me surprised that it wasn't Amber Rudd.
And my personal favourite:
No Brexit unless we back Theresa May, Jeremy Hunt says
Corbyn definitely wouldn't. He'd likely make it a soft Brexit.
Strange bedfellows indeed.
Steam | XBL
Hands up if you're surprised.
*crickets*
Steam | XBL
It's rather remarkable that the closest thing to a united Ireland has been a result of little Englanders rather than Irish nationalists
irish sea hard border incoming
Editor for RTE
Choose Your Own Chat 1 Choose Your Own Chat 2 Choose Your Own Chat 3
Probably some variant of "Never! Never! Never!" again. As with everything else it's best to ignore them.
(Sorry mainlanders)
Possibly, but the geographic and historical context is pretty different.
"BREAKING: UK" is pretty appropriate.
Step 2: Announce that in order to maintain good relations with Northern Ireland, there will be no regulatory divergence between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK
Step 3: Hope nobody joins the dots