tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147468035428851825.post2166562647133908272..comments2009-11-12T10:35:08.914-08:00Comments on A Speaking Life: ElectionsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147468035428851825.post-84027138741644238592007-03-07T13:56:00.000-08:002007-03-07T13:56:00.000-08:0018 seats, actually.18 seats, actually.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13891508789108877534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147468035428851825.post-79942967119052843302007-03-07T13:18:00.000-08:002007-03-07T13:18:00.000-08:00It's really hard to carry on a conversation where ...It's really hard to carry on a conversation where you don't get emailed replies!<BR/><BR/>Only starting to creep you out? :-P I am extremely sceptical about how close they still are to the IRA, and how close the dissidents (Omagh bombers, etc) are to the PIRA. <BR/><BR/>You know, re your original entry, direct rule isn't as terrible as all that: NI now has 17 seats in the Commons, IIRC, which is the same representation per capita as England gets.<BR/><BR/>Of course, the NI presence at Westminster is lowered by the fact that Sinn Fein refuse to take part, but if you vote for them in the first place you ought to know what you're getting.Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13891508789108877534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147468035428851825.post-64112789206157949332007-02-25T05:29:00.000-08:002007-02-25T05:29:00.000-08:00Yeah, for the record, Sinn Fein's starting to cree...Yeah, for the record, Sinn Fein's starting to creep me out. I have little trouble imagining an Ireland in which they've achieved all their goals, and honestly? CREEPY.<BR/><BR/>The fact that they proudly declare how much time their candidates have spent in jail for paramilitary-related activities also doesn't bode well for how dedicated they are to the peace process. Just sayin'.<BR/><BR/>My position on the constitutional question at this point is: I don't live here, so I don't have the right to have a position. It's not like I have one that I don't feel like I shoud share. I honestly just don't have one. I mean I make no bones about being a pacifist and generally abhoring violence of all kinds, but this isn't my conflict (despite the common Irish-American attitude to the contrary. Irish-American=American; does not even remotely = Irish).<BR/><BR/>And yet Sinn Fein <I>still</I> creeps me out.Annaleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13980944100590645927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7147468035428851825.post-54284269832750660032007-02-22T11:01:00.000-08:002007-02-22T11:01:00.000-08:00The Assembly does have its downside, though. It's ...The Assembly does have its downside, though. It's got Sinn Fein in it, paying for two lots of politicians (three when you count MEPs), especially when they aren't even running, they never can agree on anything except raising their salaries, did ~I mention it has Sinn Fein in it...Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13891508789108877534noreply@blogger.com