"Are you thinking what we're thinking"
No, no, no it's ok I'm not going to hurt you..
(this time)
I think he'll deliver voluntary decommissioning, let's see how unionism reacts; then we'll really know their sincerity too!

Oh please, do we have to go through another round of decommissioning, when it has been clearly shown that this isn't actually the real problem.

I'd rather they kept all the guns and never used them than handed them all in and then robbed a few banks and stabbed a few people. Since unionists are never going to be convinced anyway, isn't that where their focus should lie? And what are they doing to stop the biggest current (as opposed to perceived) threat to unionists... loyalist paramilitaries.

John Bruton once admonished the British government that if you hold on to a concession for too long when you finally concede it it is no longer considered a concession.

The political debate has moved on from decommissioning. Its about disbandment of paramilitary organisations and their associated criminal empires.

The real republicans in northern ireland, the SDLP, will easily win foyle, south down, south belfast - mark my words.

They have great candidates and real policies and people are sick of IRA bully boys. I hear also that Attwood may even do a "Hendron" on Adams.

Good luck to the real democrats. Up the Stoops.

"The real republicans in northern ireland, the SDLP, will easily win foyle, south down, south belfast - mark my words.

They have great candidates and real policies and people are sick of IRA bully boys. I hear also that Attwood may even do a "Hendron" on Adams.

Good luck to the real democrats. Up the Stoops."

LOL I hope that wan't an attempt at mature political observation, you are way off

We will see chris, we will see. I get a little tired at being sneered at by all knowing, all seeing criminal apolgists.

"all seeing criminal apolgists"

I suggest you re-consider using this phrase when you are referring to me, ok!!

PIRA are addicted to threat and conspiracy. They will not decommission or disband, but may split off or become a new asbo brigade. Gerry will be left hanging, out of power, facing the DUP majority he did so much to create, perhaps with the crash and pop of Continuities and Reals as background music.

Though be sure the Brits will not quickly back Protestant exclusivism with military force, so what are the DUP to do? No hurry for them though.

"I hear also that Attwood may even do a "Hendron" on Adams." LOL!!
Aye if you mean take his blood pressure and write him a prescription it may be possible (always thought wee Alex was into playing Doctors).
Any other meaning behind that was surely meant as a joke!

""all seeing criminal apolgists"

I suggest you re-consider using this phrase when you are referring to me, ok!!"

Why what will happen?

Fail to see how you take it offensively when ever you make statements like those of last week condoning murder, or is murder not a crime?
Mitchell doesnt even know either what a crime is.
Would this be a good description,
If a terrorist is killed and thus preventing slighter of many lives it is a crime,and so requires millions to be spent on inquiries but when a soldier/police-person, in a legitimately held position, it is freedom fighting and morally correct and actually praise worthy.

??

the mind boggle at the mindset of Sinn Fein IRA

UI

"I get a little tired at being sneered at by all knowing, all seeing criminal apolgists sic."

Well if you will suggest the absurd....

Attwood to beat Adams - spare us! Alex will breathe a sigh of relief if he holds a quota for Assembly purposes and another when he stays ahead of Diane Dodds.

Let's get real. McGrady should be safe. Foyle will be tighter than a champagne cork. South Belfast is winnable for McDonnell, but it would be easier for a staunch, positive nationalist advocate than a republican-baiter. He really should win - the SDLP was on 31% in the last Westminster elections. That time, about a third of SFers (if you look at the council elections the same day) voted SDLP for Westminster. If he can hold that, it's 4.5% now. Even on the basis of his appalling showing in Nov 03 when he was hammered by Maskey and his own running mate Carmel Hanna, if he gets the same chunk of shinners, then he'll be around 28%. Then there's the imploding Women's Coalition vote which he should be able to nibble at (though Carmel would have swallowed whole).

If he loses because he couldn't hold the large chunk of republicans who voted tactically last time or bring in the WC vote it will be a hell of a slap in the face for the anti-shinner tendency within the SDLP and an indictment of the decision to run him and not Hanna.