If a week is a long time in politics, how long is a poltical lifetime?
Well, now we know the answer to that question – it is approximately three years, according to the DUP.
In October 2006, North Belfast DUP MP Nigel Dodds said that "As far as we are concerned, there will be no devolution of policing and justice for a very long time. I have no evidence whatsoever to suggest that that is likely to happen within a political lifetime."
And yesterday DUP leader Peter Robinson said that 'he will promote to unionists the devolution of justice powers if the financial aspects can be perfected'.
Three years ago Dodds said that policing and justice powers would not be passed to the Northern Ireland Assembly within two years of the restoration of devolution and that 'it would take longer for unionists to trust Sinn Fein to take responsibility for security'.
But yesterday Robinson said that "I believe that the structures that we've put in place are sufficient to command that confidence and I want to do the same with the financial arrangements".
So, in DUP mathematics, three years is a political lifetime. That flexibility helps to explain a lot of other things, of course, such as Edwin Poots belief that the earth is a mere 6,000 years old. In DUP mathematics that may mean that it is really 60,000 years old. Still wrong, of course, but maybe the DUP use a logarithmic scale?
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"So, in DUP mathematics, three years is a political lifetime. That flexibility helps to explain a lot of other things, of course, such as Edwin Poots belief that the earth is a mere 6,000 years old. In DUP mathematics that may mean that it is really 60,000 years old. Still wrong, of course, but maybe the DUP use a logarithmic scale?"
Interesting views from Poots. Do you have any information about the views of Catholic politicians on the teaching of such Catholic dogma as transubstantiation? You know, where the wafer and the wine in the mass are supposedly turned literally into the blood and flesh of Christ and then consumed by priest and congregation alike. Apparently this can happen simultaneously in countless ceremonies across the globe...
come back to planet earth malestripping, have you been sniffing glue or something,wtf
Poot's views aren't "interesting", they're embarrassing. We've went from a climate change denier to a Young Earth Creationist in our Environment Minister roles.
From bad to worse.
Being agnostic I have no time for the theory of transubstantiation either, but I know of no Catholic politicians letting their religious beliefs interfere with established science in a political role.
"Being agnostic I have no time for the theory of transubstantiation either, but I know of no Catholic politicians letting their religious beliefs interfere with established science in a political role."
Well, perhaps you'd better do some research then. I would suggest that Catholic politicians from here to Boston continuously use their religious views as a basis for their political positions - perhaps they're just careful about saying so?
Onto the Irish Language Act then!
Malestripper,
I was thinking of Stormont.
I'm aware of the influence of Catholics in other parliaments, thankfully it's limited here. The only time I can think of religion having a major influence on Catholic politician's politics here is abortion, which where protestant politicians happen to agree with them. And as it happens, they are a little ambivalent towards this issue; or at least that's the general impression. So SF have had to clarify their opposition to abortion to counter rumours in nationalist areas that "a vote for Sinn Fein is a vote for abortion"
I can think of no occasions where a nationalist party in NI has allowed Catholicism to influence policy (with the exception of abortion.) Please give me some examples.
I've just told you - they don't need to state where their religious views have played a role in their politics, so how would I be able to give examples of when it happened?
Perhaps they're 'liberation theologists' who's Catholicism finds it's way into supporting the murder of soldiers and policemen? Who knows?
In any case, the main point I'm making is that the blog author took the opportunity to mock Pott's religious beliefs whilst not feeling confident to attack the beliefs of those who venerate piles of dead bones, or those who think they are the 'chosen people' or those who dream of 72 virgins - once again underlining the grossly sectarian nature of this blog.
"I would suggest that Catholic politicians from here to Boston continuously use their religious views as a basis for their political positions"
Yeah Ted Kennedy & John Kerry use Catholicism all the time to back up their views on abortion lol.
Were you dropped on your head as a child?
Hmmmmmmm. Ted Kennedy that well known 'good Catholic' from a 'good Catholic' family. Father a boot-legger (equivalent to a drug dealer), known for raping actresses. Brother had to be pumped full of drugs including 'speed' to get through his day, which generally comprised of continuous adultery. Other family members known for drug abuse and sexual assault. Ted himself, of course, was known for leaving a young woman to drown whilst he made good his 'escape' and was so mentally retarded he actually supported The IRA. I could fill a book with this type of material, but it's suffice to say that The Kennedy clan, were hardly an example of Catholicism.
No, I wasn't dropped on my head as a child - I didn't go to a Catholic school.
No see Andy you didn't say they had to be "good" Catholic politics in your original statement. But at least you got to give the same old tired rant about how much people like you are jealous of the Kennedy's.
You were wrong, in Massachusetts there are lots of politicians who are Catholic (like John Kerry & Ted Kennedy) and the majority are pro-choice.
You were wrong, as usual.....
Jealous of The Kennedys? You'd go a long way to find a bigger pile of dog turds.
As for the abortion issue, I'm afraid that's just one issue. I didn't say these clowns let their RC faith guide them on every issue. In fact it's safe to say that The RC 'church' is more than happy to cut the likes of Ted Kennedy some spiritual slack in return for giving them access to power - which is what that 'church' is all about after all.
Oh, I forgot to mention ballot rigging as a Kennedy sin - the technique used to get JF elected president in the first place - all arranged by Joe's gangster mates.
I wonder if any of these vermin believed in purgatory? One thing's for sure, if The RC 'church' is right, then the whole crowd of them will be in it from here to eternity.
"I didn't say these clowns let their RC faith guide them on every issue."
Well you did
""I would suggest that Catholic politicians from here to Boston continuously use their religious views as a basis for their political positions"
"As for the abortion issue, I'm afraid that's just one issue."
Well there is also same sex marriage (legal in Boston) and the support for stem cell research.
9 of the 12 Massachusetts members in Congress are Catholic and all of them are Democrat. Democrat = pro life, pro same sex marriage, pro stem cell research.
"I would suggest that Catholic politicians from here to Boston continuously use their religious views as a basis for their political positions - perhaps they're just careful about saying so?"
"how would I be able to give examples of when it happened?"
"I didn't say these clowns let their RC faith guide them on every issue."
Malestripper, if you're going to (attempt to) make a point, at least have the brains to back it up with a few facts. You're running around in circles here, and loathe as I am to make ad hominem attacks, you're making yourself look like such a fucking moron your arguments look stupid as a result.
For your own sake, a bit of consistency please.
No need for foul language...
"Yeah, well, there's a mirror in the toilet if you want to go in there and talk to them."
Brian Cowen responding to Martin McGuinness stating "We'll have to consult the [IRA] army council on this" to certain proposals made during the peace talks concerning Northern Ireland.
I've read Malestripper's posts here right through two or three times, and really can't see what point he's trying to make.
Is it that Catholic politicians all use their faith to guide them, even when their policies go against their faith? In other words, you don't like any politician who's a Catholic, regardless of whether their religion has a discernible effect on their politics or not.
I think religion and politics should be kept separate myself. I was born RC (am now an atheist) and would rather be governed by secular Protestants than Catholics that mix religion with politics any day. In Northern Ireland though, Nationalist politicians are far more likely to be secular. The Unionist parties are full of religious influence, especially the loony tunes Free P's.
catholic politians will always by defination be influanced by there religon as will protestant ones the difference between the two though is that catholics are effectivly the instruments of a dictorship. The dictorship of the pope. were as protestants are free thinking and come to there own conclusions about there beleive thought reading the bible for themselves. Many would say however the pope has no authority over secular matters but this is not true for if u r to truly follow cathoic theroy he is Gods repersentitive on earth and thus infallable. Therefore when he speaks on any issue wether it be spritual or not all cathoics who a trully cathoic should do as he carry out his instructions on any matter thus creating the situatuion of a dicatorship so.
anon @13.25.
From what 19th century slime did you emerge from?
Climb back in, Bigot.
MPG .....
its not bigoty its fact. that is wat the instution of the catholic chuch is the dictatorship and inslavement of man. it is despotic were as protestantism is democratic just look at the democratic nature of the prespaterain chuch for example in protestantism u can question what people are teaching this is not so in the catholic chuch. They crush decent because it is a challange to their authority and power. This doesnt not mean that individual catholics r despotic most r decent people. however the instution is and it inslaves the ordainary catholic.
You are correct my friend. Most of the posters on here claim to be 'atheists' or 'agnostics', but when the reality of Catholicism as a belief system and an organisation is explored suddenly the cries of 'bigot' fill the air. It appears The Irish are being exposed for what they are on a daily basis - roll on the civil court cases and then maybe the criminal court cases...
Why are you talking to yourself McCann?
Anonymous, MaleStripper, Watcher, we all know it is you.
anon @15.49
Is that you, Andy. Nobody could be that bad unless they spent their time in bible college confirming their membership of the flat earth society and missing out on the 3 "R`s".
MPG .....
What a load of guff about the Pope. He really is a serious bogeyman for illiterate (evidently) prods who are brainwashed about their "freedom."
There has been a very very long tradition in Ireland of rendering unto Caeser that which is his, which is to say not following blindly every church diktat. Irish patriots readily accepted excommunication (frequently organized by the British) when necessary and today the widespread sale and use of contraceptives, e.g., as in most other Catholic countries, attests to people choosing for themselves just how far the church's write really runs:
Not remotely as far as anti-Catholic bigots would have you believe.
We know the sort of freedom bigots believe in -- chaining children's swings in public parks on Sundays so Catholic children can't enjoy themselves on the "Lord's day."
church's writ
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