JFK Speechwriter Sorensen Dies
Ted Sorensen, famous as a speechwriter and adviser to the late John F. Kennedy has died. Click here
Politics »
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Desert Island TDs
David Cameron and Nick Clegg were both on the BBC radio programme Desert Island Discs recently, playing their musical choices for a Robinson Crusoe scenario. For more information click here
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A journey into the labyrinth
One of my favourite little shorthand sayings – often recycled by me – is former US defence secretary Robert McNamara’s ‘fog of war’. He said the fog of war explained the phenonenon whena largescale military action began. It was so complicated that it was beyond the scope of human comprehension. (more…)
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Hold Onto Your Hat
So now we know: Eur 15bn over four years. Hold onto your hat: it’s gonna be quite a rollercoaster ride. It seems to me that if, somehow or other, the Government can avoid abrogating the Croke Park Agreement, then we won’t become France Mark II. But is that possible under current policies and whilst maintaining the 2014 deadline?
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The Case of Roger Casement
Winner of Nobel Prize for Literature turns his attention to our very own Roger Casement: the results should be interesting. Click here for more information.
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Political Correctness
Is political correctness gone too far? This thought is inspired by the fate of US broadcaster Juan Williams: was he just being honest and reflecting the feelings that a lot of people would have in similar circumstances, or was he making a prejudicial remark? Click here
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Background to Consensus
Herewith the full version of a piece I wrote for today’s print edition on the background to
the Government’s initiative on all-party consensus. Due to pressure on space and the fact that the talks process appeared to collapse, the piece that got into print was considerably shorter than what you have here, but I think it might still be of some interest:- (more…) -
Verse and Worse
Consensus?
Why don’t we come to our senses?
That’s what Fianna Fáil are saying
‘Cos down on their knees they are praying.
But for what?
The future of every tiny tot
Or just their own place in the top spot? -
Paying to Go to College
Here’s an interesting contribution to the debate on third-level fees from former BBC director-general Greg Dyke who was quoted as follows in yesterday’s Guardian: “I would make people who went to private schools pay for university.”
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Former Taoiseach on a Former Taoiseach
Liam Cosgrave does not often speak in public so his recent remarks at the launch of “The Reluctant Taoiseach”, David McCullagh’s biography of John A. Costello, are of particular interest. Clicke here.
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From the Sports Field to the Political Arena
There must be countries where political leaders are selected after they have undertaken a rigorous study-course on democratic institutions and how they should be run, followed by a series of interviews with an independent panel, testing their suitability for the job. Maybe it’s like that in Scandinavia, the model democracies of our time. (more…)
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Blogomania
Prominent BBC political journalists Andrew Marr and Nick Robinson have been taking a swipe at the generally-anonymous folk who respond to blogs. There are some sweeping statements from Marr in particular, but it is worth reading what they have to say. (more…)
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Fine Gael deliberations
There was a meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party last night which took place in private but your humble scribe talked afterwards to a number of those present: click here.
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Common Sense
“I met with John Curran and asked him to write to all Government Ministers to ascertain what foreign trips were taking place this session. I told him that anything to do with a trade mission will be looked at on an individual basis and if they are important enough, a pair will be granted.”
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