GOP Nominee 2012 - Pt. 5

[MrsSpringsteen]

Originally Posted by LJT

No need to be a killjoy dude, but we all know Bertie is taoiseach for life, we just don't really know it yet.

I know who Bertie is

[MrsSpringsteen]

Originally Posted by Pearl

Wow, digitize is 19? Even I thought he was about 30 years old!

I apologize to him, I didn't mean to start all of this. I hope it isn't embarrassing.

But I checked his profile a few weeks ago and I was like Another nice smart guy here who is just a baby

[financeguy]

Bertie is not exactly flavour of the month in Ireland today, put it that way. As an ex-taoiseach he is entitled to bodyguard protection for life - rumour has it he needs it. Not physical attacks as such but plenty of verbals from outraged citizens.

[Pearl]

Originally Posted by MrsSpringsteen

I apologize to him, I didn't mean to start all of this. I hope it isn't embarrassing.

Nah

I mean, I can't speak for digitize but I would be flattered if people thought I was older than I came across.

[LJT]

Lots of hot tea being chucked his way imagine...Northern Ireland's main export to the south...Big Gerry and Marty!! Like the Irish version of Starbucks...coming soon to a territory near you

[financeguy]

Originally Posted by MrsSpringsteen

Really dude? So I have to pass/fail your test? Yeah, I'd probably suck at Jeopardy too. Maybe you can ask digitize, he's Irish and probably much smarter than I am.

They still let me in your country three times and I didn't have to pass any test. If I could afford it I'd go back as often as I could. I'm Irish My mother didn't become a citizen early enough for me to qualify.

It wasn't a test, but I asked you two incredibly simple questions, and you didn't know the answers. You're an American of partially Irish descent.

If you want to call yourself Irish, fine, it's no biggie, but if you're Irish, then I must be an American as I've visited the US three times and I have some relatives living there. If I wanted to call myself American I would have to live there legally for quite a few years, and then eventually apply for citizenship and in the process have to pass a citizenship test which would ask me probably more difficult questions about US affairs than I've asked you about Irish affairs.

Not that Irish political affairs are particularly interesting. I live here, and they bore me to tears, so I can't blame you for not being able to name the current Irish prime minister.

[financeguy]

Originally Posted by LJT

Lots of hot tea being chucked his way imagine...Northern Ireland's main export to the south...Big Gerry and Marty!! Like the Irish version of Starbucks...coming soon to a territory near you

I voted for McGuinness in the presidential elections.

[Pearl]

Originally Posted by financeguy

It wasn't a test, but I asked you two incredibly simple questions, and you didn't know the answers. You're an American of partially Irish descent.

If you want to call yourself Irish, fine, it's no biggie, but if you're Irish, then I must be an American as I've visited the US three times and I have some relatives living there. If I wanted to call myself American I would have to live there legally for quite a few years, and then eventually apply for citizenship and in the process have to pass a citizenship test which would ask me probably more difficult questions about US affairs than I've asked you about Irish affairs.

Not that Irish political affairs are particularly interesting. I live here, and they bore me to tears, so I can't blame you for not being able to name the current Irish prime minister.

I've always wondered: how do the Irish in Ireland see Americans (or Canadians, Australians, etc.) of Irish descent? Are we distant cousins or do you feel no connection to us?

I went to Ireland with my family when I was 17, and the tour guide made some comments about welcoming us back home - even for a little while. But he was a lousy tour guide, so he was likely just selling us something. While in Ireland, no one confused me or anyone in my family as natives, much to my idiotic sister's disappointment.

Fast forward eight years to 2007 and I went to a job fair that was only for jobs in Ireland. I was feeling adventurous and probably in a fantasy world about living abroad, so I checked it out. I couldn't get any of the jobs because Ireland didn't need my media skills, but the Irish organizers' faces lit up when they saw me and they were like, "oh hello! how nice to see you!" Much different response from when I was 17.

OK, I'm rambling here. I'm sure some of the Irish must think some of the diaspora are silly to be calling themselves Irish when they're really not and romanticizing about the country. I understand that, but even I'm guilty of wishing I was truly an Irishwoman. Ha! I'm laughing now.

[financeguy]

Originally Posted by Pearl

I've always wondered: how do the Irish in Ireland see Americans (or Canadians, Australians, etc.) of Irish descent? Are we distant cousins or do you feel no connection to us?

I went to Ireland with my family when I was 17, and the tour guide made some comments about welcoming us back home - even for a little while. But he was a lousy tour guide, so he was likely just selling us something. While in Ireland, no one confused me or anyone in my family as natives, much to my idiotic sister's disappointment.

Fast forward eight years to 2007 and I went to a job fair that was only for jobs in Ireland. I was feeling adventurous and probably in a fantasy world about living abroad, so I checked it out. I couldn't get any of the jobs because Ireland didn't need my media skills, but the Irish organizers' faces lit up when they saw me and they were like, "oh hello! how nice to see you!" Much different response from when I was 17.

OK, I'm rambling here. I'm sure some of the Irish must think some of the diaspora are silly to be calling themselves Irish when they're really not and romanticizing about the country. I understand that, but even I'm guilty of wishing I was truly an Irishwoman. Ha! I'm laughing now.

Well, frankly, the way I'd see it is that Ireland today is a globalised capitalist country, like a smaller version of America, really, albeit with probably better social protections for people that fall on hard times. There are areas of Dublin that quite honestly probably have a higher McDonalds and Burger King quotient per head of population than the average US city, there are areas that have been overdeveloped to the extent that they are every bit as ugly as the ugliest districts in some US cities. A friend of mine is a top lawyer and he says the hours he works now, as a partner in his firm, are worse than what he worked during his brief sojourn in a Wall Street firm.

It's interesting to me that of the numerous Americans that visit Ireland to come and explore their roots, relatively few ever opt to live in the place long term. Personally, I can't blame them. It rains all the fucking time, for one thing!

On the other hand, I know of quite a few that have left Ireland, whether for the US, Australia, the UK, or continental Europe - and not necessarily because they couldn't get a job back home - and often, they have no interest or identification with Irish affairs or cultural life, apart from staying in touch with family members, felt their options were narrowed by staying, and don't regret for a second the choice they made to leave.

Frankly, to me, cities like NY, Seattle, or Boston are much more interesting places culturally than anywhere in Ireland. Not necessarily saying I'd want to live in the US though.

In answer to your question as to how the native Irish see Irish-Americans, Irish-Canadians, etc, I would say, probably, there is some connection - distant cousins is not a bad way to put it.

[financeguy]

Originally Posted by Pearl

Fast forward eight years to 2007 and I went to a job fair that was only for jobs in Ireland. I was feeling adventurous and probably in a fantasy world about living abroad, so I checked it out. I couldn't get any of the jobs because Ireland didn't need my media skills, but the Irish organizers' faces lit up when they saw me and they were like, "oh hello! how nice to see you!" Much different response from when I was 17.

BTW, how are you on new media? Google and LinkedIn have big operations here, also there are a number of interesting startups, or so I understand.

[PhilsFan]

Originally Posted by financeguy

In answer to your question as to how the native Irish see Irish-Americans, Irish-Canadians, etc, I would say, probably, there is some connection - distant cousins is not a bad way to put it.

I feel a slightly stronger connection because some of my older relatives were immigrants and some still live back home. My family's from Derry (bout ye, mucker) and a few of my uncles went to visit a few years ago and loved it.

There are a lot of differences in pantwear. When my cousin moved from Derry to the States for about a year, he got sick of everyone commenting on the tightness of his jeans. And when my family went to visit, everyone commented on the fact that they were wearing shorts.

[maycocksean]

My name is Sean.

That's about all I have to offer in terms of Irish-ness. . .

[INDY500]

Originally Posted by Pearl

Here's a link to audio of Irish President Michael D. Higgins arguing with a Tea Party member (American, of course) over healthcare and foreign policy.

This is the original radio show:
Newstalk Media Player

Didn't go so well? How many of you bothered to listen to the whole 21 minutes?

1) What's Mr Higgins' problem with Sarah Palin? His problem should be with Tina Fey because she's the one that actually talked about seeing Russia.

2) What's his problem with the Tea Party? I like this line, "You don't find anything wrong at all this Tea Party ignorance that has been run around the United States and which is regularly insulting people which have been democratically elected." No mention from Mr Higgins about democratically elected officials insulting the Tea Party. "Astroturf," "dangerous" and "racist" just to name a few.

3) I do like his line about "wankers whipping up fear" however. I'll try and remember it as we're told Republican's want to return to the days of back-alley abortions, want dirtier air and dirtier water, and of course want to put blacks "back in chains"

[financeguy]

Originally Posted by INDY500

Didn't go so well? How many of you bothered to listen to the whole 21 minutes?

1) What's Mr Higgins' problem with Sarah Palin? His problem should be with Tina Fey because she's the one that actually talked about seeing Russia.

2) What's his problem with the Tea Party? I like this line, "You don't find anything wrong at all this Tea Party ignorance that has been run around the United States and which is regularly insulting people which have been democratically elected." No mention from Mr Higgins about democratically elected officials insulting the Tea Party. "Astroturf," "dangerous" and "racist" just to name a few.

3) I do like his line about "wankers whipping up fear" however. I'll try and remember it as we're told Republican's want to return to the days of back-alley abortions, want dirtier air and dirtier water, and of course want to put blacks "back in chains"

Interesting points. This footage seems to be all over the US politicoblogosphere at the mo' - not sure why as it's from over two years ago.

I re-emphasize he was not the Irish president when he gave vent to these views. He would do well to avoid engaging in political rants for as long as he is Irish president - and to be fair, he has done, so far - he could potentially find himself in breach of the Irish constitution if he were to do so, and could even face an impeachment vote.

The fact is that the president cannot make a speech of any significance without first clearing it with the government. The president even needs the permission of the government to leave the state -- an indication of where the real power lies.

Read more: A president with no power - what the Irish leader can and cannot do | Ireland Calling | IrishCentral

The President can be removed from office in two ways, neither of which has ever been invoked......the Oireachtas may remove the President for "stated misbehaviour".

President of Ireland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[deep]

Originally Posted by maycocksean

My name is Sean.

That's about all I have to offer in terms of Irish-ness. . .

you must be in that subset,

Black Irish, with Rose McGowan

[digitize]

Originally Posted by Pearl

Wow, digitize is 19? Even I thought he was about 30 years old!

According to Google... sigh...

[digitize]

Originally Posted by INDY500

Didn't go so well? How many of you bothered to listen to the whole 21 minutes?

1) What's Mr Higgins' problem with Sarah Palin? His problem should be with Tina Fey because she's the one that actually talked about seeing Russia.

2) What's his problem with the Tea Party? I like this line, "You don't find anything wrong at all this Tea Party ignorance that has been run around the United States and which is regularly insulting people which have been democratically elected." No mention from Mr Higgins about democratically elected officials insulting the Tea Party. "Astroturf," "dangerous" and "racist" just to name a few.

3) I do like his line about "wankers whipping up fear" however. I'll try and remember it as we're told Republican's want to return to the days of back-alley abortions, want dirtier air and dirtier water, and of course want to put blacks "back in chains"

1) Either Palin or her supporters (I can't remember) did talk about Russia in some absurd sense, though not in the ridiculous way ("I can see Russia from my house!") that Tina Fey did.

2) Somewhat on topic: I think the first actual useful argument made by a Tea Party Movement person has been Paul Ryan's argument of increasing economic opportunity being good for all. I disagree with him that loosening regulation is the best way to achieve economic growth in the long-term. I think it would create growth now, but not to the extent that increased demand (from demand-side stimulus) would, and it would have the negative consequence of making 2008s. But Europeans rarely talk about this argument, and I think it's one of the least recognized and most potentially legitimate conservative arguments. Really, American progressives tend to ignore it as well, and I think the country would benefit from substantive debate on it.

3) Joe Biden can be an idiot sometimes.

I mainly just love Higgins's Irishness.

[PhilsFan]

What? Palin DID say that you can see Russia from the end of Alaska when trying to defend her foreign policy credentials. She just didn't say you could see Russia "from her house" as Fey joked.

[deep]

Originally Posted by digitize

According to Google... sigh...

Your demographics
Below you can review the inferred demographics that Google has associated with your cookie. We infer your age and gender based on the websites you've visited.
Age: 35-44
Gender: Male
Language: English
Language: French

Nous sommes semblables

[INDY500]

Originally Posted by financeguy

Interesting points. This footage seems to be all over the US politicoblogosphere at the mo' - not sure why as it's from over two years ago.

You'd think that they're talking about the pending 2nd Gaza Flotella or that Mr. Higgins is never once addressed as "Mr. President" might be a tipoff. A bar too high I guess.