Box Car Willie And Johnny Cash

Posted on February 5, 2013 by fitzjameshorse

Pure Americana. A train whistle sounds and a freight train goes past this house. I love it!

As the great Box Car Willie put it “I love the Sound of a whistle”. Everytime I hear it, I think Johnny Cash is gonna start singing “Orange Blossom Special”.

Almost impossible to hear these trains and not get a sudden urge to jump the “third boxcar…midnight train…..destination Bangor Maine”.

Theres a gal out there from Texas. She’s long and she’s tall. She’s the combination on the Wabash Cannonball.

Woo Hoo.

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Oh My God! They Moved Ellis Island

Posted on February 5, 2013 by fitzjameshorse

Texas…5.15am….11.15am there.

Heard its snowing there. I arrived here 6pm in temps of 74 degrees. Not sure of threats Fahrenheit or Centigrade….as the number is strange to me. The most noticeable thing was just how BROWN the grass is. I have a sore throat from talking too much and a everyone who has had to listen to me has sore ears.

I feel like I am in a Country Music song. A good one. One of my favourite songs is “Guitar Town” Steve Earle. So last night I was “just outta Austin, bound foo San Antone”,

But actualy the strangest thing about yesterday was the Departmment of Homeland Security people…in Dublin Airport. Wasn’t really expecting that degree of scrutiny BEFORE I left Ireland.

Basically the general security for al travellers was that whole ” take off our shoes, take off your belt” thing.which I was expecting. But then you go into the Department of Homeland Security and it is massive. Not sure of its diplomatic staTus but certAinly they were acting like they owned the place. Or At least the one who vetted me was a bit cheeky on it…but in a nice way. She didn’t seem to mean it when she said to have a nice trip.

FBI…Feckin Bloody Ignorant, Anyway the Americans did more of that whole belt and shoes thing before I got on the plane which seemed a bit over the top. A bit like Ellis Island had been moved to Ireland.

It is of course …handy. When I reached Atlanta….3929 miles later…..I just walked off the plane and into the airport. No Customs. No Homeland Security. Am I being over-sensitive here? It just didn’t feel right.

One handy thing was a special monitor showing all FORTY THREE onward destinations for the Dublin passengers. Arrived in Atlanta about 1pm. Massive airport and Delta dominate it…it’s their home base. Lots of Internet connexion points too….if you had a plug and cable. No good to me. And surprisingly no Internet cafes.

Anyway in anticipation of more security, I took off my belt and guess what…NO SECURITY before boarding the onward flight. Just walk on…

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Journalist Dies

Posted on February 2, 2013 by fitzjameshorse

I heard that Malcom Brodie, the Sports Journalist has died. Never really liked him, pompous man who was always rabbiting on about the 1958 Norn Iron World Cup team, George Best Ansd an exciting game between Glentoran and Linfield at the Oval.

But I note thais tributes have poured in and Dimbleby Walker on Slugger O’Toole has written a moving obituary . Slugger has published bob it’s on local journalists before..including David Dunseith and Trevor Hanna….but the omission of one for James Kelly has never been properly explained.

Brodie was 86 years old. Kelly was 100 years old.

No I just can’t work it out. Can you? Please don’t answer. It’s rhetorical.

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New Politics NI

Posted on January 31, 2013 by fitzjameshorse

Some of you bloggers might be interested in this. I got a tweet from a new organisation NewPolitics NI. They will soon be setting up a website and inviting contributions from people who believe in a “shared future”. All sounds a bit seductively “letsgetalongerist” and you all know how I feel about Conflict Resolution. Nor do I know who is backing it.

But bear it in mind.

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Pacifists Or Spivs?

Posted on January 31, 2013 by fitzjameshorse

Ever watch Dads Army? Can’t say that I was a big fan but it is certainly classic TV. It actually looks better now than it did in the 1970s.

But here is a thought that occurred to me after watching some excerpts. While Mainwaring, Wilson, Jones and Frazer were all veterans of World War One and Pike was too young to serve in the regular army, there were two others who did not intend to fight.

Private Godfrey was given the cold shoulder when it transpired he had been a conscientious objector in 1914-1918. And of course it turned out that he was a decorated hero who had served in the Medical Corps.

But Private Walker was a bit different. Why was he not at the Front? Corn Beef Allergy. He was of course a Spiv…a black marketeer who was prepared to make a few quid from the War.

A conscientious objector is of course deserving of respect.

In the context of Norn Iron can we tell the pacifists from the Spivs. We are now in a post conflict situation. Clearly those members of Sinn Fein who were actually in the IRA were not pacifists. They were combatants.

Clearly there are members of DUP and UUP who boast about their roles in UDR or RUC Reserve. Combatants.

There are few a combatants  in the SDLP ..although at least one former MLA was in the UDR. But at least SDLP senior members can point to a record in the Civil Rights movement. Active pacifism, I suppose.

Which brings me to Alliance. Oft praised as peacemakers….though few seem to have been involved in the Civil Rights movement. Oft criticised for doing rather too well out of appointments to quangos. But I don’t actually recall many Alliance people cite their role in RUC (I can think of an East Derry candidate) or UDR.

Maybe they are just too modest.

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TV Mike…But Seriously

Posted on January 31, 2013 by fitzjameshorse

When you’re the leader of a political party, it is not helpful to have a nickname like TV Mike. It implies Shallowness. It implies Charm without Substance.

But I think that is unfair to Mike Nesbitt. So no cheap shots…this time.

So to be serious…what is Nesbitt all about. Are we underestimating him?

He is a Cambridge-educated journalist. He is not a stupid man. I don’t think it helps that he did the Sports at the end of the News. Sport like the Weather was comic relief at the end of the news….especially in the 1980s. In fairness, I think that’s where the fixed grin comes from. And somehow unfortunate that when he moved into the News anchor slot at UTV, the fixed grin stayed. he came across as lacking gravitas…..that doesn’t mean he is stupid. In fact I empathise. Even when I am composing a serious blog , I often the row in a one-liner. That doesn’t make me stupid. But then I have no serious ambition to lead a political party.

Nesbitt never gave me the impression of being anything other than a professional. The balance of probability was always that he had unionist sympathies but the nature of journalism is that a journalist will act as Devils Advocate so he came across as just as hostile to unionists as nationalists.

Of course this is now History. We all know it. we can all agree it. We were all counfounded when he became Leader of the UUP.

But his performance has surprised us. Most people will agree that he has been inept. The exceptions will be dutiful but unconvincing UUP people and DUP people unconvincingly praise him knowing that he is destroying the other unionist party.

But…why? What is Nesbitt doing? I honestly think anybody really knows.

Ultimately not everybody is cut out to be a politician. And few politicians are cut out to be a Party Leader. Nesbitts rise was meteoric . Never a councillor, he was first elected to the Assembly in May 2011. By March 2012 he ws leading his Party. Frankly, interacting for years with UUP branch members , serving his time on Newtownards Council….his fellow members would have known him.

But…it is now common belief that hof has been over-promoted. And the UUP will pay a heavy price.

Obviously I  will not regret the demise of the UUP.

Now if I can just persuade the Conservative Party to elect Eamonn Holmes as Leader.

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Name Dropping And The Ulster Tatler

Posted on January 30, 2013 by fitzjameshorse

There’re are few things good abouvi getting a tooth extracted. But reading the Ulster Tatler always cheers me up. A monthly magazine that covers the social scene in Norn Iron….with receptions and gala events….and pages of glossy photographs of people who are important, people who think they are important and people who never will be important….but are absolutely delighted at just being at the same occasion…in tuxedo or evening dress and holding a wine glass.

The Tatler is always entertaining. August 2012 is no exception. Where else would I hear of the Land of the Giants reception attended by Mayor Gavin Robinson (and his wife) and Cllr Marie Hendron, leader of the Alliance group on Belfast Council with hubby Jim, the former MLA.

Until earlier this week I had never heard of Gary Lightbody….some singer with Snow Patrol apparently….but there he was at the Magee College Graduation Ball with Alasdair McDonnell, Pat Ramey and Fearghal McKinney of SDLP, Kevin Campbell Sinn Fein (Mayor of Derry), Basil McCrea of UUP and Professor Deirdre Heenan.

Yet flicking thru the pages and seeing some non-public people, who I actually know all dressed up, is uplifting. My social status is now that I know a much better class of folk. There is also the fact in the Tatler some people scrub up well.

The biggest reception seems to be the Independence Day Reception at the American Consulate. Among the well known faces ….”Sir” Ken Bloomfield, “Lord” Rana, Penny Holloway, Joanne Dobson MLA, Professor Deirdre Heenan (again), Trevor Ringland, John McCallister MLA and the Mayor of Belfast , (Gavin Robinson…again),Basil McCrea (again) and Glynn Roberts (Alliance Chair, NIABT board member and the retail traders man who is never off the local news?)

Now what really perplexes me is that I have not had an invitation and I am now targeting the 2015 US Consulate Reception as the day I take my rightful place with the movers and the shakers.

This means I have to improve my social netwoschool skills. I have to start at the bottom and work my way up. This means starting my own organisation…..Federation of Nationalist, Republican and Socialist Bloggers…..and a few weeks after my return from Texas, I will arrange a meeting. To preserve our anonymity we will wear masks and scarves. Normally this is an arrest able offence but we will pass ourselves off as Flegs protestors so we will be ok. We will submit photos to the Tatler…it’s a start.

This means I will have to attend the SDLP Conference Dinner….although sitting thru Tim McGarrys cabaret act will be painful. But it’s a photo op.

The thing is fellow nationalist, republican and socialist bloggers if we play our cent working cards right, we could be with the movers and shakers at the US Consul Reception with the new movers and shakers.

People in dentists waiting rooms all over Norn Iron will be seeing OUR photographs in the Tatler. …alongside the new movers and shakers. Of course some of the August 2012 intake will still be moving and shaking in 2015….”Sir” Ken Bloomfield, Glyn Roberts….but I think Mr and Mrs FitzjamesHorcan should be there.

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Alliance Party…Cross Community????

Posted on January 29, 2013 by fitzjameshorse

According to an Alliance Party apologist on Slugger O’Toole, I am “rattled” by David Ford. ….which reminds me that I am going over to my local hospital casualty department today. Some minor injuries sustained today when I was savaged by a dead sheep.

Apparently I have an intense dislike of the Alliance Party. Moi????? Please feel free to search my blog for any evidence of this….but please give me at least an hour to delete several posts where I have indeed expressed intense dislike for her Party. But these things are relative…there are people expressing intense dislike for the Alliance Party on the Newtownards Road, Carrickfergus and Bangor. And I am NOT one of them. Alliance ire would be better directed at them …and those that produced 40,000 leaflets expressing intense dislike.

But the Alliance Party is “cross community”. And we know this because…….well basically because the Alliance Party tell us they are. Of course when a previous power-sharing arrangement was in danger of collapse…two members of Alliance Party simply re-designated themselves as “unionist” for the Common Good. Thats the Alliance Party……principled!!!.

Oddly or maybe not…Alliance people wonder aloud if the “cross community” designation is outdated. After all the melt-down in UUP puts a lot of soft “unionist” votes in play…and the demographics now suggest that the “Union” can only be saved by the “middle” ground.

But just how “cross community” is a Party which does not really exist west of the River Bann…in only seven constituencies and does not actually have an office more than 25 miles from Belfast city centre. And has no seat in a constituency with a nationalist majority.

And how “cross community” is a Party that was snookered into taking down (as unionists would have it) the Butchers Apron at Belfast City Hall for all but designated days ….and slithers around on its belly looking for a solution to its own self-inflicted problem which involves putting up the Butchers Apron in Derry, Newry and Omagh.

And how “cross community” is a Party which facilitated the transfer of policing powers to local people…and picked up the Justice Ministry as a reward….only to champion the return of some policing powers to central (British) control.

Just how “cross community” is a Party which seeks the abolition of Catholic schools. Are we really supposed to believe it is nothing less than creating a homogenous but British Norn Iron.

Now I must get off to the casualty Department…turns out I wasnt savaged by a dead sheep…it was a live wolf in sheeps clothing.

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I Am Now Policy Director At Alliance Party!!!!

Posted on January 29, 2013 by fitzjameshorse

Well here is a turn up for the book. To be honest, I didnt think I had so much influence in the Alliance Party. And frankly I thought they detested me. They have always given me that impression.

But here is an odd thing…………..and a hat tip here to “Factual” (one of this Blogs most prolific commenters) for spotting that the Great Alliance Embargo of 2013 was an initiative about Flegs.

They have come up with an initiative……that involves running crying to the Norn Iron Office (their long standing patron) and asking that Theresa Villiers bails them out. And gets them off that hook on which their six Belfast councillors impaled the Party so enthusiastically on 3rd December.

The initiative involves British Government legislation to ensure that the British Flag flies on designated days only…but on ALL council offices. And with one bound they are free………they re-establish their unionist credentials with the mob….no longer the Party which took the fleg down from the City Hall in Belfast…but actually raised the fleg on town halls in Newry, Derry and Omagh.

And of course that initiative will be welcomed by “liberal” unionists …….who are all for parity of esteem as long as unionists are held in slightly higher….er…parity of esteem.

Now you might wonder if you read this new initiative before. Well I would say “I told you so” but obviously Im not the sort of person who says things like “I told you so”. But just for the record I DID say “I told you so” on 16th January. I will probably say it again….if I was that sort of person.

If you read Slugger O’Toole on 10th January, I suggested this might be the exit strategy that Alliance would choose. The Slugger lads will credit me for this…wont they?….when they write up the story tomorrow.

And you might have read it on this very blog on 11th January. A blog entitled “Flags: The Way Out”.

Or you might have heard Gerry Lynch…the Lucid Talk man and former Alliance staffer…say it on THAT Nolan Show . Apparently Basil McCrea MLA (UUP) supports this. Let me state categorically I have no idea whether Basil McCrea or I thought this first……..I dont read anything he blogs and he would be crazy to read anything I blog. I am sure quite a few people saw the same strategy independently. But on 10th January I certainly knew that it was the tactic Alliance needed.

One detail might have escaped the Alliance Party. Would Theresa Villiers enact legislation, the effect being that the Butchers Apron is hoisted over Derrys Guildhall? Would Sinn Féin and SDLP go along with that? It would be electoral suicide for Sinn Féin do go along with that just to get their Alliance lapdog  off the hook. And the Alliance Party has done the SDLP few favours.

Not that this means David Ford is up THAT particular creek without a paddle. In fact UUP and DUP would almost certainly agree with it. Alliance would be re-habilitated as facilitators……..UNIONIST facilitators of course. Sinn Féin and SDLP would be described as unreasonable. And the heat….including entirely unjustified violence would be off the Alliance Party. And David Ford would be carried round the City Hall on the shoulders of Wullie Frazer and Jamie Bryson.

The only outstanding item is…my consultancy fee from the Alliance Party. At last I will get my hands on some of that lovely Rowntree dosh….chocolate dosh, innocent dosh, Quaker dosh!!!

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Irish News: David Ford Squeaks Out!

Posted on January 28, 2013 by fitzjameshorse

My boycott of newspapers is now eight weeks old. I have not of course read the story myself but I understand from Slugger O’Toole that there is an interview with David Ford, Leader of the Alliance Party in today’s Irish News.

I wonder how that was set up. There are three possibilities. The first possibility is that a journalist from the Irish News…on a slow day…phoned the Alliance Party Press Office and said “I want ian interview with David Ford”

The second possibility is that the Alliance Party Press Office phoned the Irish News and offered David Ford.

The third is that it is part of a media charm offensive by Ford and Alliance, possibly prompted by discontent that Ford was invisible for several weeks and Naomi Long effectively became Leader. Dthe the men in grey coats or his key advisors tell him to get his arse out there and say something…because his performance has been so awful.

Ford might well turn out to be the biggest casualty of this Flegs Dispute. His luck is running out. Of course the Irish News is a nationalist paper, leaning to SDLP traditionally but aware of a large Sinn Fein readership…probably 49% SDLP, 49% SF..re this reflecting newspapers being generally read by older people. I can’t imagine that Irish News is the paper of choice of many Alliance voters…despite having far too many anti-nationalist columnists.

So is Fords attack on SDLP in today’s paper a surprise? No….he thinks the SDLP can’t deal with the ideological splits within it. I make no apology for being a member of SDLP. I am a nationalist, a republican and a socialist. I believe in civil rights. All SDLP members tick those boxes but understandably the mix is different for different people. There are of course SDLP people who would only plump for SDLP and never give a transfer to any other party. Others …like me would happily give #2 to Sinn Fein and not vote outside that. Others would give a #2 to Alliance. I would do nothing to assist Alliance…ever.

Alliance I considers itself in the middle ground. Understandably it targets “soft” unionist and nationalist votes in UPP and SDLP. But to attract those votes it needs slippage from those parties AND it needs the erosion of votes from UUP and SDLP to be in tandem.

But there IS a problem. By common consent…UUP is disappearing like snow off a ditch. By common consent 2012 was a good year and even the most biased anti SDLP commentator would probably say that the SDLP has steadied the ship from May 2011.

The defections to Alliance from UUP….Harry Hamilton, Paula Bradshaw, David Sims and serial defector Ian Parsley have made Alliance more unionist and conservative. These people will be influential in any upcoming Leadership contest.

So what is Ford up to?

He is hardly trying to engage with nationalists in Mid Ulster, West Tyrone, Foyle, Fermanagh-south Tyrone, West Belfast, Newry-Armagh and South Down.

Even the most optimistic Alliance eejit would hardly think that SDLP seats in East Derry, Upper Bann and North Belast are vulnerable…even if they talked that nonsense up in 2011.

North Antrim…neither SDLP or Alliance have aseat but SDLP are quietly confident of a gain.

So really it can only be about seven seats. Alliance hold seats in them all. There is no serious SDLP presence in North Down and East Belfast but certainly in the latter where Chris Lyttle and Judith Cochrane seem out of their depth, nationalist transfers will be vital to keeping that second seat. t is hardly about East Antrim either.

An imploding UUP strengthens Ford in South Antrim…making Ford safer but where does that leave a likely Ford surplus. Even with a modest SDLP revival, South Antrim is Iin the game. Possibly  Lagan Valley is beyond SDLP at next election.

But look at Strangford….a modest SDLP revival next time round.

But it about South Belfast? The Alliance Party was quick to assert that the Flegs dispute was all about East Belfast but it looks to me that Alliance strategists have worked out that South Belfast is a viable target for both Westminster and Assembly gain.

Wnhy? Well at 2011, Alliance probably underestimated their strength. Running a second candidate for the Assembly might have taken a SDLP seat. Next time round double-jobbing wont help Alasdair McDonnell, UUP melt down will boost Alliance anyway and in Metro-Textual Land the criticism of Newry SDLP councillors about the naming of Raymond McCreesh Park will certainly resonate.

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