Blame mainstream media – if that aint a Sarah P moment.
Love the comment by Sean R on blue smoke and mirrors by the way.

If anything good came out of this it was me finding this blog – keep up the good work

citizensimon.blogspot.com

Here’s wishing you every success for 2010.

On the other hand in his engagement here he has preferred to deal with the flippery around this topic and has avoided engaging when confronted with anything of substance here. I hope that the deputy gets to have a Merrier Christmas than his actions in the Dáil have allowed many others to have. Actions are votes, mealy mouthed talk of concern as he says is cheap.

As for nastiness elsewhere, I’m not sure that deputy Gogarty can be expected to be able to call off or on attack dogs per se or even if he has any responsibility for them. Sure he could condemn them and call for them to desist but whether they would or not is sort of out of his hands.

Yes, there are and they have not even been considered by this government. It has been one long hollowing out of a debate since the end of the summer: we must satisfy the bond holders, we must recapitalise the banks, public servants are paid too much, welfare cheats steal our money.

The line that There Is No Alternative to cutting the blind pension and language support in schools is an ideological one, not a technical statement of fact. You might want to have a read of this: http://www.irishleftreview.org/2009/12/16/social-welfare-cuts-path-resistance-politically/

And deputy: why the contempt for the electorate? “We are in this trouble because of the lot of you….”

You are cleaner than clean when it comes to writing your posts. I’ve always found your writing and treatment of those you write about to be scrupulously fair, indeed sometimes too fair! You are biased of course in that you have opinions on people and issues but that’s why I read you! But that comment on homophobia of supporters etc was there when I first read the post. That is before Paul Gogarty commented on it. Also I’ve read Panti’s post too and it’s the usual from people trying to find something that’s not there.

Anyway I just wanted to say that I really enjoy reading your blog and your insight and have learnt so much from it. Thanks for all the enjoyment and information you’ve brought during the past year.

is this supposed to good thing, I think not.

Paul you make the mistake of treating all the citizens of this country with spite as some sort of enemy.

to repeat myself from p.ie

am i only the only one that views the statements from the gov party in the house not only being directed at the opposition across from them but at every citizen in ireland, and you should treat what you say in that respect, it may reflect on the rest of the country and lead to less partisanship, of course it goes without saying the whole dail should grow up and stop making jokes and lame jibes while discussing serious matters but i think the government parties should primarily expected to speak respectfully to those that are watching and listening…

gogarty you didn’t just say fuck you to the opposition rep but to the whole country.

the ed spokesmen resignation was clearly a farce as you weren’t replaced

It wasn’t. As far as I recall, this comment was included in Suzy’s post from the start. For god’s sake, Paul, will you feck off back to the backbenches and stop embarrassing yourself further.

Firstly that reference to the homophobia was there in the original post – if I update posts I make reference to the updating. Secondly it was not a reference to your own sexuality – Go back and read that sentence again – it’s not my style at all unlike some other Irish bloggers who I note were speculating over the weekend. I don’t play those games and think my readership would back up my blogging ethics in this regard. Also my 17 years involvement in lesbian and gay issues, nationally and internationally I’ve spoken out against outing as I don’t believe it to be politically expedient or fair in any manner on the people involved.

When I wrote that post on Sunday I was referring to comments on youtube, twitter and facebook to Emmet Stagg, sniggers about the Phoenix Park etc. I even made reference on twitter myself to the matter before I wrote about it – saying that I was tired of this cheap shots being made. I did not accusing you of doing it – It was the young greens and their mates who are noted as being the most vociferous online these days that I was referring to.

I’ve not replied to your email yet due the fact I was out for most of the day. I did confirm to those who asked that if it was you who commented. And the contents of the rest of your email to me were marked private and are being treated as thus unless you request otherwise.

Suzy