6 County Assembly Elections - 5th May 2022

[johnnycool]

I have long thought this DUP stunt in bringing down the Assembly was more out of fear that SF are on course to be the largest party and claim the FM post. The protocol is a convenient smokescreen which gives them cover to not appear to be the bigoted undemocratic dinosaurs they are.

A feeling of superiority over the Taigs is the only thing a lot of DUP voters have. Plus the party is happy to scare the shit out out of them regularly.
If the Shinners get First Minister the psychological losses are significant.
The Protocol has been whipped into a frenzy even though the Brits have given up on it.

With that ballbag Lewis's announcement re: the irish language act, the protocol will be second fiddle to the DUP not wanting to form an executive.

The Torys certainly don't want a SF First Minister so legislating for the Irish Language Act or whatever the overarching legislation would have been seen as a win for SF so it was never going to happen in the mouth of this election.

Tory's gonna Tory.

[RedHand88]

The state of NI politics with the DUP and Shinners dominant is interesting and reminds me of an Adlai Stevenson quote.
During the session in the Assembly to remember Christopher Stalford  the more erudite speeches came from the SDLP, Alliance and UUP benches.
Some of the Shinner and DUP MLAs were atrocious.

https://quotepark.com/authors/adlai-stevenson/?msclkid=2bffcc4baec711ec8f40b9148e2a3d31
The supposed response to a woman who called out to him: "Governor, you have the vote of every thinking person!" during one of his presidential campaigns. T
,,That's not enough, madam, we need a majority!"

The standard of politician across the board in the 6 counties is definitely not great. Very few of them could hold their own in a serious debate hence the reason why the same politicians are wheeled out time and time again. On the other hand when it comes to social media presence there are plenty of charlatans about.

It's about as good as the standard in Westminster or in the south.
Very poor political leadership in this part of the world currently.
But in saying all that, I think Mary-Lou is a credible politician.

Cant stand her

Huge if true

BREAKING: Fear does not like Mary-Lou.

More on this developing story as we get it...

[Dougal Maguire]

Watching some footage on the news about the day Stormont was prorogued.A crowd of 100,000 marched on Stormont and in Belfast City centre. 2 guys were interviewed 'they're just giving into the IRA, them'uns get everything'. 'We've been sold out. Sold down the river'.

50 years on the rhetoric is the same, but the marchers now number less than 1,000

[seafoid]

I have long thought this DUP stunt in bringing down the Assembly was more out of fear that SF are on course to be the largest party and claim the FM post. The protocol is a convenient smokescreen which gives them cover to not appear to be the bigoted undemocratic dinosaurs they are.

A feeling of superiority over the Taigs is the only thing a lot of DUP voters have. Plus the party is happy to scare the shit out out of them regularly.
If the Shinners get First Minister the psychological losses are significant.
The Protocol has been whipped into a frenzy even though the Brits have given up on it.

With that ballbag Lewis's announcement re: the irish language act, the protocol will be second fiddle to the DUP not wanting to form an executive.

The Torys certainly don't want a SF First Minister so legislating for the Irish Language Act or whatever the overarching legislation would have been seen as a win for SF so it was never going to happen in the mouth of this election.

Tory's gonna Tory.

A SF FM in 2022 would be highly significant considering there was only ever 1 Nationalist minister in the old Stormont.
The Unionists were the big losers in the following years.
A hurl should be added to the Carson statue.

[johnnycool]

I have long thought this DUP stunt in bringing down the Assembly was more out of fear that SF are on course to be the largest party and claim the FM post. The protocol is a convenient smokescreen which gives them cover to not appear to be the bigoted undemocratic dinosaurs they are.

A feeling of superiority over the Taigs is the only thing a lot of DUP voters have. Plus the party is happy to scare the shit out out of them regularly.
If the Shinners get First Minister the psychological losses are significant.
The Protocol has been whipped into a frenzy even though the Brits have given up on it.

With that ballbag Lewis's announcement re: the irish language act, the protocol will be second fiddle to the DUP not wanting to form an executive.

The Torys certainly don't want a SF First Minister so legislating for the Irish Language Act or whatever the overarching legislation would have been seen as a win for SF so it was never going to happen in the mouth of this election.

Tory's gonna Tory.

A SF FM in 2022 would be highly significant considering there was only ever 1 Nationalist minister in the old Stormont.
The Unionists were the big losers in the following years.
A hurl should be added to the Carson statue.

Was up that way on Saturday after taking the kids to the Mo Mowlan play park and former Trinity hurler Carson would look well with a sliotar and hurl in those outstretched hands..

[Dougal Maguire]

Such an image exists. O'Neills issued a lovely jersey featuring Carson holding a Hurley the time the Poc Fada was at stormont

[Harold Disgracey]

Upper Bann could be interesting, I wouldn't be surprised if Eoin Tennyson takes a seat at the expense of Diane Dodds.

[seafoid]

Such an image exists. O'Neills issued a lovely jersey featuring Carson holding a Hurley the time the Poc Fada was at stormont

Poor old Carson's Protestant State for a Protestant people didn't last as long as he thought it would

[IolarCoisCuain]

Susan McKay kicks the DUP up and down the road in this Guardian piece: https://t.co/h8v6FFn4mQ

[Main Street]

I have long thought this DUP stunt in bringing down the Assembly was more out of fear that SF are on course to be the largest party and claim the FM post. The protocol is a convenient smokescreen which gives them cover to not appear to be the bigoted undemocratic dinosaurs they are.

A feeling of superiority over the Taigs is the only thing a lot of DUP voters have. Plus the party is happy to scare the shit out out of them regularly.
If the Shinners get First Minister the psychological losses are significant.
The Protocol has been whipped into a frenzy even though the Brits have given up on it.

With that ballbag Lewis's announcement re: the irish language act, the protocol will be second fiddle to the DUP not wanting to form an executive.

The Torys certainly don't want a SF First Minister so legislating for the Irish Language Act or whatever the overarching legislation would have been seen as a win for SF so it was never going to happen in the mouth of this election.

Tory's gonna Tory.

You have to admit though that the Tory government has already introduced progressive constitutional changes in NI, ignoring the squeals emanating from unionists/creationists. It's not wise to introduce divisive legislation before an election such as the language act, even though opposition to it is baseless and purely sectarian.

[Orior]

The state of NI politics with the DUP and Shinners dominant is interesting and reminds me of an Adlai Stevenson quote.
During the session in the Assembly to remember Christopher Stalford  the more erudite speeches came from the SDLP, Alliance and UUP benches.
Some of the Shinner and DUP MLAs were atrocious.

https://quotepark.com/authors/adlai-stevenson/?msclkid=2bffcc4baec711ec8f40b9148e2a3d31
The supposed response to a woman who called out to him: "Governor, you have the vote of every thinking person!" during one of his presidential campaigns. T
,,That's not enough, madam, we need a majority!"

The standard of politician across the board in the 6 counties is definitely not great. Very few of them could hold their own in a serious debate hence the reason why the same politicians are wheeled out time and time again. On the other hand when it comes to social media presence there are plenty of charlatans about.

It's about as good as the standard in Westminster or in the south.
Very poor political leadership in this part of the world currently.
But in saying all that, I think Mary-Lou is a credible politician.

Cant stand her

Huge if true

LOLZ

[marty34]

I have long thought this DUP stunt in bringing down the Assembly was more out of fear that SF are on course to be the largest party and claim the FM post. The protocol is a convenient smokescreen which gives them cover to not appear to be the bigoted undemocratic dinosaurs they are.

A feeling of superiority over the Taigs is the only thing a lot of DUP voters have. Plus the party is happy to scare the shit out out of them regularly.
If the Shinners get First Minister the psychological losses are significant.
The Protocol has been whipped into a frenzy even though the Brits have given up on it.

With that ballbag Lewis's announcement re: the irish language act, the protocol will be second fiddle to the DUP not wanting to form an executive.

The Torys certainly don't want a SF First Minister so legislating for the Irish Language Act or whatever the overarching legislation would have been seen as a win for SF so it was never going to happen in the mouth of this election.

Tory's gonna Tory.

You have to admit though that the Tory government has already introduced progressive constitutional changes in NI, ignoring the squeals emanating from unionists/creationists. It's not wise to introduce divisive legislation before an election such as the language act, even though opposition to it is baseless and purely sectarian.

I think the issue is that he promised it back in October '21, well before the election date. 

I'd say Lewis will not be back in post after the election.

[NAG1]

I have long thought this DUP stunt in bringing down the Assembly was more out of fear that SF are on course to be the largest party and claim the FM post. The protocol is a convenient smokescreen which gives them cover to not appear to be the bigoted undemocratic dinosaurs they are.

A feeling of superiority over the Taigs is the only thing a lot of DUP voters have. Plus the party is happy to scare the shit out out of them regularly.
If the Shinners get First Minister the psychological losses are significant.
The Protocol has been whipped into a frenzy even though the Brits have given up on it.

With that ballbag Lewis's announcement re: the irish language act, the protocol will be second fiddle to the DUP not wanting to form an executive.

The Torys certainly don't want a SF First Minister so legislating for the Irish Language Act or whatever the overarching legislation would have been seen as a win for SF so it was never going to happen in the mouth of this election.

Tory's gonna Tory.

You have to admit though that the Tory government has already introduced progressive constitutional changes in NI, ignoring the squeals emanating from unionists/creationists. It's not wise to introduce divisive legislation before an election such as the language act, even though opposition to it is baseless and purely sectarian.

I think the issue is that he promised it back in October '21, well before the election date. 

I'd say Lewis will not be back in post after the election.

You would actively think they are trying to play into SF hands at this stage.

What perfect ammo for them in the run up to an election, the British Government still breaking promises to the people of the north.

[johnnycool]

I have long thought this DUP stunt in bringing down the Assembly was more out of fear that SF are on course to be the largest party and claim the FM post. The protocol is a convenient smokescreen which gives them cover to not appear to be the bigoted undemocratic dinosaurs they are.

A feeling of superiority over the Taigs is the only thing a lot of DUP voters have. Plus the party is happy to scare the shit out out of them regularly.
If the Shinners get First Minister the psychological losses are significant.
The Protocol has been whipped into a frenzy even though the Brits have given up on it.

With that ballbag Lewis's announcement re: the irish language act, the protocol will be second fiddle to the DUP not wanting to form an executive.

The Torys certainly don't want a SF First Minister so legislating for the Irish Language Act or whatever the overarching legislation would have been seen as a win for SF so it was never going to happen in the mouth of this election.

Tory's gonna Tory.

You have to admit though that the Tory government has already introduced progressive constitutional changes in NI, ignoring the squeals emanating from unionists/creationists. It's not wise to introduce divisive legislation before an election such as the language act, even though opposition to it is baseless and purely sectarian.

I think the issue is that he promised it back in October '21, well before the election date. 

I'd say Lewis will not be back in post after the election.

You would actively think they are trying to play into SF hands at this stage.

What perfect ammo for them in the run up to an election, the British Government still breaking promises to the people of the north.

The ILA was lose lose for the DUP even though they agreed it and Ian O'g trying to spin it that the Shinners had an issue with the word "British" for the Ulster Scots/British Culture Commissioner is the reason for the hold up.

Lewis pushes it through WM, it's deemed to be to the Shinners favour as they "delivered" it even though they have always kinda had it on the back burner for long enough and by not legislating for it before this Assembly election it'll invigorate the nationalist vote to come out and bloody the nose of unionism by having a SF first minister.

If the DUP are the so called experts of strategy then they're hiding it well or we're in for a huge surprise in May..

[seafoid]

The DUP are paying for Brexit. The Protocol cannot make up the difference.