It Must be Marching Season

[johnneycool]

Honestly wouldn't be shocked if the PC allowed this to go ahead as a result of DUP pressure.

How can they? Nothing has changed since their decision not to allow it back up on the 12th.

[Tony Baloney]

Honestly wouldn't be shocked if the PC allowed this to go ahead as a result of DUP pressure.

How can they? Nothing has changed since their decision not to allow it back up on the 12th.

You are trying to apply logic and rational thinking! Of course nothing has changed but I just have a feeling that following the recall of Stormont and the motion passing there will have been some malign influence from the DUP.

If it did go ahead it would be an absolutely disgraceful decision and the final nail in the coffin for the PC. The loyalists have said that republicans in Ardoyne were rewarded this year for violence last year. This would be the same scenario.

[johnneycool]

Honestly wouldn't be shocked if the PC allowed this to go ahead as a result of DUP pressure.

How can they? Nothing has changed since their decision not to allow it back up on the 12th.

You are trying to apply logic and rational thinking! Of course nothing has changed but I just have a feeling that following the recall of Stormont and the motion passing there will have been some malign influence from the DUP.

If it did go ahead it would be an absolutely disgraceful decision and the final nail in the coffin for the PC. The loyalists have said that republicans in Ardoyne were rewarded this year for violence last year. This would be the same scenario.

That motion was passed with one solitary vote. Could the Shinners or SDLP not have called for one of those petitions of concern as used by the DUP's recently?

[armaghniac]

Then you have incidents like mccausland and the housing executive, even robinson and the whole iris and housing debacle.

It almost appears like they've decided to forget about trying to mask any bigotry or corruption and just show true colours.

I think they are trying to mask corruption with bigotry. A version of the fleg dispute where the idea was to be more loyal than Alliance and get the East Belfast seat back. In this case Nelson might lose some votes, so make sure that it is a them and us situation.

Whatever about the short term, this is no good for the DUP in the long term. The hardline unionist population is declining as a percentage of the population. The game to play for is now the middle ground of people who are economic unionists, but have little time for this sort of carry-on. These people will not be impressed by events. Maybe a chance for NI21 to carve some political space?

[Ulick]

Honestly wouldn't be shocked if the PC allowed this to go ahead as a result of DUP pressure.

How can they? Nothing has changed since their decision not to allow it back up on the 12th.

You are trying to apply logic and rational thinking! Of course nothing has changed but I just have a feeling that following the recall of Stormont and the motion passing there will have been some malign influence from the DUP.

If it did go ahead it would be an absolutely disgraceful decision and the final nail in the coffin for the PC. The loyalists have said that republicans in Ardoyne were rewarded this year for violence last year. This would be the same scenario.

That motion was passed with one solitary vote. Could the Shinners or SDLP not have called for one of those petitions of concern as used by the DUP's recently?

They could have and would have been justified in doing so given the unionists do it at the drop of the hat. However original purpose of the "Petition of Concern" was to block discriminatory legislation being passed to the detriment of minorities and as a last resort measure. It was never intended it would be used to protect bigots like Nelson McCausland from criticism or vetoing motions supporting marriage equality. SF & SDLP both deserve credit for resisting the temptation of invoking the petitions and although they've gotten nothing from the  media for doing so, it helpfully serves to illustrate the cultural differences between the two political traditions in the north. One favours debate and agreement while the other will use any means necessary to stifle debate and preserve their own privileged positions.

[Tony Baloney]

Pleased to be wrong.

[God14]

Que another week of madness in Belfast. This is turning into another 'flag protest' situation, I fear that many more loyalists from further afield will venture here for support. Could be worse scenes of violence than last week!

[Ulick]

Que another week of madness in Belfast. This is turning into another 'flag protest' situation, I fear that many more loyalists from further afield will venture here for support. Could be worse scenes of violence than last week!

Nah I reckon it will peter-out like the fleg thing. Realistically only the same spots have been affected and those with any sense are still on holiday.

[Nally Stand]

Pleased to be wrong.

Ah sure you must be well used to it by now 

[Tony Baloney]

Pleased to be wrong.

Ah sure you must be well used to it by now 

Lifetime of practice 

[thejuice]

Slugger O'Toole has been silent for a week. This week of all weeks is unusual.

[Franko]

Evil Genius and Myles NaGabshite have also been abnormally quiet recently. 

[theticklemister]

Evil Genius and Myles NaGabshite have also been abnormally quiet recently. 

lol Mylenagabhshite.........

[Bingo]

Could this cause potential bother for the Springsteen concert on Saturday?

[red hander]

Hopefully what we're witnessing is the last bark of a dying loyalist dog whose death rattle will follow a couple of years down the line (or sooner, hopefully). They'd be foolish to ignore attitudes in Britain (a place they claim loyalty to). Lot of people over there thought whole thing was settled only to see these thick scum attacking the police ... there's nothing more guaranteed to turn the average Brit against them than that. Time for nationalism to trumpet to the 'mainland' what their failed statelet in Ireland is costing them in taxes