I'm sooo nervous...

It does kinda mirror how Clinton urged on Sinn Fein in the run-up to Good Friday 1998. No?

Gonzo

"Bush is much more likely to be listened to by the DUP than a hundred Bill Clintons"?

Hmmm.. zero times 100 is still zero, isn't it?

It's more probable that the DUP (and Paisley in particular) are, and were, unlikely to 'listen to' (or, in this context, accept assurances from) either of them in the absence of other evidence.

I'm not. Bush supports a low dollar which is good for me and my business, and... Oh no, wait, this is one of those liberal sites where we talk about big oil and conspiracy and other stuff that has no effect on the average Joe. Right, gotcha. My coat is still on.

The presidential call at these critical junctures is usually a portent of something on the horizon.

And it also avoids the possibility of accusations of not doing enough to "help the 'peace' process".

By itself it means little.

Here is the poodle's payoff for Iraq. I think we saw him coming.

"I'm not. Bush supports a low dollar which is good for me and my business, "

That dollar cost me 1500 bucks this year. Carry your own water for a while, fella, we don't care for freeloaders cruising on our dime.

Come on Beowulf, I do my best to inject a little neo con from time to time!

I like Bush and believe he is an honest and decent man - he's worth a million Clintons!

Christopher -wanna buy an oil well or two ?

I can hear George W. now....

"Ian, you've got to give in to those terrorists - honest, for the sake of peace make sure you dont bother about the guns"

Yeah right!

Having said that, Dr. Paisley will not be bounced by an American President acting at the behest of Tony Blair.

Unlike others.....

They both have a lot in common. One is a religous fundamentalist with policies and beliefs that have brought death and destruction to others of a different religion. The other is a dimwit draft dodger prepared to lay down someone elses life for their principles.

which one is which pat ? ;)

and how did Mitchel McLaughlin creep into this debate? ;o)

Wonder would Bush settle for Al Queda to post a few polaroids of WMD? Tony calling in a favour - I reckon it's a sign of desperation.

David Vance,

On your part it would seem that it's more hope than desperation.

Is there any deal that would achieve full IRA decommissioning and an end to their paramilitary and criminal activity that you would accept?

Your analysis has been continually rejected by the people of Upper Bann but, at least for you, the BBC will continue to give you a platform for your one man band.

Bush's interjection in NI politics can only hurt. Maybe God told him to do it like he told him to invade Iraq.
And 53p/72euro on the dollar sucks. It will cost me an extra $500 this spring.
Bob Murphy New Jersey

NeoCon:

"Your analysis has been continually rejected by the people of Upper Bann but, at least for you, the BBC will continue to give you a platform for your one man band."

It's the entertainment value. It's show biz after all.

P.M.

"The other is a dimwit draft dodger prepared to lay down someone elses life for their principles. "

Four years ago I heard the same thing said about Clinton. The difference is that Bush makes Clinton look like Rommel.

That being said, never, never, never regard Bush as a dimwit. No one gets through Yale and into Harvard Business School without some gray matter.

He is capable of learning quickly. For instance when Kent Hance's campaign manager gutted Dubya in '78, Bush turned right around and hired him. That's how Karl Rove got on the team.

Bush's problem is one of scope and imagination: He is a hedgehog. Alternatives are either not seen or ignored and the status quo continues until he hits the brick wall. My problem is that I hit the wall with him.

So do you.

I knew you'd get that Dav

If Paisley make the deal then he will probably get an early visit to the White House as First Minister.

I hope everybody involved in the negotiations has the courage to do whatever it takes to make the deal.

With the DUP on board we will have near enough to unanimous consensus behind the Agreement. That is worth any amount of decommissioning.

Both Paisley and the IRA need only give the nod and we're there.

"Having said that, Dr. Paisley will not be bounced by an American President acting at the behest of Tony Blair."

Regardless of what you think about I.K. Paisley, please don't refer to him as Dr. Paisley. It is an insult to anybody who is doing/has done a PhD at an ACCREDITED UNIVERSITY i.e. one which has the power to bestow a recognized degree.

"I'm not. Bush supports a low dollar which is good for me and my business, and... Oh no, wait, this is one of those liberal sites where we talk about big oil and conspiracy and other stuff that has no effect on the average Joe. Right, gotcha. My coat is still on."

When 'big oil' influences a president's decision to go to war and kill tens of thousands of people, it has an affect on ALL of us. But as long as your making more money, that's OK then.

you're.

And finally some good news for Trimble, as he'll get a call from W later today too....after all, what would Thanksgiving be without a turkey :0)

Has he turned trurkey?

Come on! A hundred Bill Clintons would be a lot of fun. It's not his fault the French like him. Besides, there's more to life than oil, money and power.