Unvarnished – that’s the word that characterises Brian Cowen. There’s a rumpled, shovelled-into-his-suit look about An Taoiseach that’s refreshing in this media age when image is, if not everything, then 80% of what counts with voters. Maybe that’s a big reason for Cowen’s standing as a hate figure in the south these days – he’s […]
Style and rumpled substance
Unvarnished – that’s the word that characterises Brian Cowen. There’s a rumpled, shovelled-into-his-suit look about An Taoiseach that’s refreshing in this media age when image is, if not everything, then 80% of what counts with voters. Maybe that’s a big reason for Cowen’s standing as a hate figure in the south these days – he’s […]
Obama in Tucson: the call goes out
Yesterday I watched the entire Obama speech at the Tucson memorial service for those who died in the shooting there. He was enormously impressive. The man’s measured language, his timing, his ability to present complexity in a clear, accessible manner is unsurpassed by any politician I can remember. At a few points I felt uncomfortable. […]
Obama in Tucson: the call goes out
Yesterday I watched the entire Obama speech at the Tucson memorial service for those who died in the shooting there. He was enormously impressive. The man’s measured language, his timing, his ability to present complexity in a clear, accessible manner is unsurpassed by any politician I can remember. At a few points I felt uncomfortable. […]
Hats off to Sarah. AND Fox News.
I admire Sarah Palin, I admire Fox News and I admire the American right. There, I’ve said it. They bring skill, energy and above all a degree of daring to the US political scene that no other source can match. Consider some examples. On Fox News, presenter Glenn Beck has run a TV feature called […]
Hats off to Sarah. AND Fox News.
I admire Sarah Palin, I admire Fox News and I admire the American right. There, I’ve said it. They bring skill, energy and above all a degree of daring to the US political scene that no other source can match. Consider some examples. On Fox News, presenter Glenn Beck has run a TV feature called […]
Miriam O’Reilly: older but richer
I’m happy for Miriam O’Reilly this morning, even though I am helping fund her happiness. She’s just had a tribunal rule that the BBC was guilty of ageism when it gave her the boot from its big rural affairs progamme ‘Countryfile’. She’s likely to get a six-figure damages pay-out. Bully for her. I know from […]
Miriam O’Reilly: older but richer
I’m happy for Miriam O’Reilly this morning, even though I am helping fund her happiness. She’s just had a tribunal rule that the BBC was guilty of ageism when it gave her the boot from its big rural affairs progamme ‘Countryfile’. She’s likely to get a six-figure damages pay-out. Bully for her. I know from […]
Death in Arizona and Mauritius
Why did Christina-Taylor Green die? Why did Michaela Harte die? Christina-Taylor Green was nine years old and was one of six people killed on Saturday in the attack that left Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords critically injured. Michaela Harte was twenty-seven years old, the daughter of Tyrone manager Mickey Harte. She was strangled to death in […]
Death in Arizona and Mauritius
Why did Christina-Taylor Green die? Why did Michaela Harte die? Christina-Taylor Green was nine years old and was one of six people killed on Saturday in the attack that left Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords critically injured. Michaela Harte was twenty-seven years old, the daughter of Tyrone manager Mickey Harte. She was strangled to death in […]