85 thoughts on “Sunday’s Papers

  1. Smith

    Good man Leo, playing the victim card.
    Interestingly against marriage equality until populism won over.
    Presiding over the direct provision system, arguably the most systematic abuse of human rights and basic dignity in Ireland today.

    Priviliged, posh boy with a disdain for the unemployed. “Welfare cheats cheat us all”, and only looking after “people who get up early in the morning.”

    He’s a right wing, Tory-light populist.

      1. Tighe’s Cylon

        Gee Leo-personally I find you and your FG cohorts repugnant. Neoliberals stalwarts of the Chicago school where we’re nothing but consumers, ruled over and so grateful for the crumbs you chuck from the table. I will however defend your right to speak freely and live your life as you choose. However when you’re running a classic PR damage limitation model and you seek to BECOME the story after weeks of defending Verona Murphy-well you can just poo off.

    1. GiggidyGoo

      The sham that is Varadkar. He will say anything that he thinks will get him votes. This time it’s the ‘pity me’ line.
      He ‘came out’ on live radio when he realized that there were votes to be had.
      Same as the abortion referendum – he couldn’t give us details of his position until he saw how the voting public were thinking. The rest of the little FGers couldn’t give ‘their’ views until Varadkar told them what to say, and he revealed that in an interview with the BBC.
      He will probably come up with something that places him as being homeless, or in need of food parcels at some stage.
      Sneaky shambolic excuse for a leader.

      1. Cian

        Colour me shocked! A leader in a democracy that ctually listens to the people and implements polivies that the majoriry want. How dare he!

          1. scottser

            Cian, varadkar is on record trotting out the prolife party line under Kenny. He’s a shallow hypocrite.

        1. GiggidyGoo

          Listens to the people to devise his approach to trying to make out that he’s on the same wavelength as them. He wouldn’t reveal his, or FGs voting intentions until he knew which way the wind was blowing. His little FGers couldn’t say anything until they were told how they should vote. Interestingly, Coveney changed his tune from his pre-referendum stance, to Varadkars stance.

          There’s no shock involved. His press release meant to be timed to offset his involvement in having Verona Murphy elected. A poor attempt mind you, as he already knew of her thoughts, and came to Wexford (as did Coveney) to canvass with her based on those. Well, that’s FGs democracy in action alright. Colour you shocked alright.

        2. GiggidyGoo

          Cian – refer to Catherine Costello’s comment below. Are you saying that these are what the majority want?

          1. Cian

            Actually. Yes. The people of Ireland have consistently voted majority FF and FG since the foundation of the state.
            We are here because we keep voting center/center-right governments and those outcomes Catherine are a result of that. If we had voted more socialist governments for the last 50 years we’d be in a different place.

          2. GiggidyGoo

            Cian – you’re saying that people voted for the situations outlined by Catherine. How low can you FG apologists go eh?

    2. Ringsend Incinerator

      Memo from FG Social Media Unit: “We need to distract the great unwashed from Dara Murphy, Verona Murphy, Boris about to put one over on you, etc. etc.”

      Memo from Irish people sick of this FG sh!te: “Stop Whingeing. Stop Virtue Signalling. Get off social media media. Legislate something for people who need help instead of try to hashtag problems out of the public eye. ”

      Tool.

  2. Catherine costelloe

    Mr Varadkar, would you stop acting like a big girls blouse. We are more concerned at a 90 year old woman sat on a chair for 2 days at Limerick University hospital in agony because of acute bed shortages. Ten of thousands of Irish were called “thick Paddys” but just got on with it, didn’t dwell or take umbrage at idle and stupid remarks. You are breaking records for hospital waiting lists , homelessness, housing rental hikes — your personal feelings matter not to me — do your job , stop whinging or get out.

  3. Birdie

    That’s pretty shocking about the lotto draw on Christmas Day. Awful crowd that took over, won’t even give the unclaimed winnings to charity… they just pump it back into marketing. Horrible stuff.

    1. Cian

      I presume it’s in the contract. X% of the money goes to prizemoney, y% to charity and z% to run the games. You can’t just decide to change those numbers on a whim.

          1. Cian

            Any source on that?

            I can remember there used to be special jackpots (usually around paddy day) where unclaimed prizes were rolled into a special large jackpot – Or guaranteed amounts for match 4.

          2. Cian

            It changes in 2014 with the current contract. So they can’t give unclaimed prizes away. They have to use it for “promotion or prizemoney”.

        1. GiggidyGoo

          The contract was given away by a FG/Labour government under the guise of needing to raise funds to bail out bankers. AnPost was making profits out of it, but it was taken away from them, and subsequently there was a cull of post offices, mostly in Rural areas. Clever lads these FG/Labour/FF louts.

  4. Helen Tighe

    I can’t believe the Mail on Sunday now costs €3.20! Such poor value, every few months it’s going up another 20 cents. Don’t know how they expect me to buy it when most of their content is available free online.

    1. Tarfton Clax

      It’s the worst most racist, homophobic, anti Irish
      royalist rag in existence. Why would anyone literate pay for it. Chip wrapper maybe?

    2. Anthony Maguire

      It’s hardly an Irish paper at this stage – more interested in having photos of some royal family on front page. The majority of its pages are just a copy of the English Mail on Sunday – and then they charge top dollar for the privilege!!
      Their staff numbers have reduced dramatically the last while – hence the lack of Irish news! Don’t know how people can pay 3.20 for it.
      For all the faults of the Sunday Independent – and there are many – at least most of it is written by Irish people.

  5. Ambivalent Gendered Brit

    Hey guys helpful suggestion here
    It’s Cmas now
    No one wants to read this political nonsense
    Focus on family, friends, lovers , pets etc

  6. Ron

    Ah Leo thought police getting established with his hate crime legislation. Hate speech. Did ya ever hear the focking likes of it. He been the victim of racial abuse. Not as much as the abuse this pathetic, inept, incapable, cowardly, underhand sleeveen Varadkar has hurled upon the Irish people.

    And as usual all the pathetic daw jawed electorate will just pull there pants down again, bend over and take it.

    Let’s be clear about this, anyone and I mean anyone who votes for a FG or FF candidate is someone who either benefits directly from these political filth bags or your someone that is in serious need of mental help. I hope you all get that mental help before it’s too late but with that other inept clown you all allow continue in charge of health, I’m not convinced of your chances of getting the help you all clearly need

    1. f_lawless

      Ron I agree, but do you have to use a homophobic trope to get your message across?

      Just reading this article on modern-day capitalism and mental health. Maybe we could all do with some help!
      https://medium.com/reason-in-revolt/capitalism-is-dangerous-for-your-mental-health-b02fd8f56dfe

      ‘ far from being confined to economic policy, contemporary capitalism (often called “neoliberalism”) also embodies a philosophical belief that self-interest and competition, not cooperation, should pervade every aspect of our lives. In short, our world is shaped in the image of the market. For those in distress, Margaret Thatcher’s oft-cited mantra, “There is no such thing as society,” sends the most disturbing possible message: “You’re on your own.” ‘

      ‘ research done by social psychologists such as Tim Kasser have found that individuals who internalize “the materialistic ethos of corporate culture” exhibit “more anti-social activities” and “lower empathy.” ‘ (FF and FG voters?)

      1. Ambivalent Gendered Brit

        Interact with friends and family more f
        Also with pets and nature
        Practice mindfulness and be thankful for what we do have
        We’re only here so many years – acceptance

      2. Clampers Outside

        An old trope, one usually based on correlations in various studies, and the findings are being fine tuned with more research that reveals differences in expression of empathy, as opposed to the traditional view of one group being more empathetic than the other.

        “New research on compassion is de-bunking the myth that liberal voters might inherently be more empathetic and kind-hearted people than conservatives. In fact, previous studies have shown that conservatives and liberals are equally generous with their money and their time, they just dole it out in different ways.”

        https://www.businessinsider.com/liberals-and-conservatives-process-disgust-and-empathy-differently-2018-1

      3. Ron

        homophobic trope? Cop your self on. There is no homosexual trope in any of this. This is about the most dangerous, inept, incapable, incompetent political filth in this country being let loose by an electorate who lacks the backbone or self worth to stand up and stop it! Pathetic subservience from a people who are literally being bent over by a group of the dumbest twats this country ever produced.

        If Europe was a classroom, Ireland would be the D class. And that’s the truth of the pathetic electorate in this banana republic

        1. Clampers Outside

          And you’re at the bottom of Class D for reading, clearly.

          Let me spell it out… “e m p a t h y” trope.

          Glad to help, merry Christmas Ron.

  7. Lilly

    Just recently I heard that Thatcher regarded anyone over the age of 25 that used public transport as a failure. She’s often depicted as borderline psycho but that makes her sound pitiful, an insecure dope.

  8. Clampers Outside

    “Bushfires are a sign of climate change” said the alarmist yelling into the bush.

    103 arsonists arrested in Queensland alone beg to differ.

    1. Nigel

      ‘Alarmist.’
      Oh my God you are a fool. Do the arsonists present data that contradicts that of climate scientists?

      1. Clampers Outside

        Here, I’ll explain to that reactionary mindset of yours.

        The alarmists are saying the bushfires were set by climate change.

        The police said the bushfires were set by arsonists and have arrested 103 people in Queensland alone.

        So, these were not started due to climate change but arson.

        Have a lie down and think about it, good lad.

        1. Nigel

          Gonna need a link to a credible source claiming climate change ‘set’ the fires. First time I’ve seen someone so confused between anthropogenic and anthropomorphic.

          1. Clampers Outside

            Set/caused I’m sure you know what was intended. Stop pretending to misunderstand, thanks.

            Have a merry Christmas Nigel

          2. Nigel

            You said ‘set.’ You claim that cimate scientists – I assume that’s who you’re referring to with your ‘alarmist’ smear – said climate change ‘set’ the fires. If they did not say climate change ‘set’ the fires then how is the arrest of some arsonists a refutation of what they do say? I wasn’t pretending to misunderstand. I think I understand all too well what you’re about. The question is, do you?

          3. Clampers Outside

            You assume too much. I just meant your average Joe alarmist. Plenty of them on the Internet right now, screaming that climate change caused the bushfires.

            The point being, now laboured for your benefit, is that it wasn’t climate change that caused the fires but arsonists.

            By now, I hope that brain of yours can compute.

            Plse do have a merry Christmas, you need it.

          4. Nigel

            To make it even clearer: ‘Bushfires are a sign of climate change’ is not a statement that can be refuted by the fires’ initial cause, which could as easily have been a lightning strike as arson, and climate scientists are not claiming that single lightning strikes are signs of climate change, any more than they are human arsonists. Anyone interested in being honest would be aware of this. You are clearly not interested in being honest. At best you are only interested in being glib. Somehow you have been persuaded this is a clever way to respond to the climate crisis. It’s a form of denialism, though primarily self-denial, as well as a kind of oppositional defiance and a sad need to gain self-worth by pwning the libs.

          5. Clampers Outside

            Again, I never said anything about climate scientists, good lad, making your rant just that, a rant at nothing.

          6. Nigel

            I have to say ‘I am trying to pwn laypeople on the internet for being imprecise in their use of language’ is even sadder than I expected, and it was already pretty sad.

          7. Nigel

            Yeah, you’re right, pwning people who are incredibly sloppy in their thinking and expression is just too trivial and easy. Meanwhile Australia is burning and experiencing the hottest temperatures on record, but there’s nothing to be ‘alarmed’ about.

          8. Clampers Outside

            Again, I say woooooooooooooooooooooosh regarding the original post.

            Enjoy yourself, bye now.

  9. Lilly

    Varadkar says domestic violence is at epidemic levels. Six women died here at the hands of a partner this year. That’s six too many, but can it be described as an epidemic?

      1. Lilly

        ‘An epidemic is the rapid spread to a large number of people in a given population within a short period of time, usually two weeks or less.’ – Wikipedia

    1. Clampers Outside

      Epidemic, no. Serious issue, yes.

      Been there, seven years of it….

      “Fear, the only constant.
      Fear holds it all together.
      Alcohol numbs it.”
      Me

      Got out, got help.
      Gave thanks, volunteered.
      In a few days I celebrate my first Christmas as a Dad, my lovely wife as a Mum, and we couldn’t be happier.

      Again, epidemic, no. Serious issue, yes.

      1. Lilly

        Fear of what Clampers, was it psychological abuse? Also, do you think people who are abused as adults have usually been abused as a child – generally by a parent – setting them up for it? (Please don’t answer if it drags you back…)

        1. Clampers Outside

          Psychological for most of the seven, got violent in last two years.

          On that second part of your question, in general, I’d say, no. 

          But there are some arguments made that growing up in an abusive family, can lead to one choosing a partner who is abusive or even being the abuser. 

          But, it wouldn’t be, from what I’ve read a generalisation that can be applied with any great confidence, but is just a descriptor for the situation a number of abused/ers do find themselves in. In short, more don’t than do, from what I’ve read, more don’t go on to see abuse in their adult relationships, than do.

          Thanks for the concern but I’m in a really good place now. I had a great recovery, and am stronger, more capable, and understanding of the issue, my own in particular, than I was before it all started. I wouldn’t have been able to volunteer if that weren’t the case. I felt a need to do something, to give back, feedback even, as there is a shortage of men willing to speak of their experiences and the little counselling available, and type of counselling. 

          I did find that in recovery, there is not enough focus on the positives of a healthy recovery. That is also something that is changing in therapy/counselling. Changing from an approach of seeing people as a perpetual victim, to seeing them as a recovered individual. One who can with the right help make a positive rebuilding of their self, as the self is often destroyed, but not beyond repair, by a DV situation. 

          Unfortunately, too much counselling is far too focused on ‘victimhood’ rather than recovery. My experience of that is why you might see me comment strongly on ‘victimhood culture’ on here sometimes. Reason being that I see it as a perpetuation, as well as repressive and regressive reinforcement, of a person’s negative state of mind, and their negative view of themselves. 

          In that way it prevents the individual from dealing with the issue of the impact DV has had on their mental health, and thereby their view of the world around them because it focuses on the ‘then’ of victimisation, rather than on the ‘now’ of how I can grow out of it, and rebuild a future self positively.

          Again, from my own perspective, I had issues accepting I was even in an abusive relationship despite the blackeyes, bloody noses, wearing make up to cover bruises going to work, and so on. Most of my experience I should emphasise was not physical violence but emotional, mental, isolatory, coercive, belittling, gaslighting, threats, and lots more…

          I still do think of it relatively frequently. Memories just ‘pop’ right up, but they don’t have the power to cause upset within me as I have taken that away through recovery. 

          Learning that I could rebuild myself, and doing so, was the most powerful experience I’ve ever gone through. I learnt that in rehab – I drank to cope with the situation. 

          By the time she left, after years of pleading for her to just leave me alone, I was by then a chronic alcoholic. 

          I don’t blame her for that, I chose that crutch, to drink, and that’s on me. But I couldn’t find the mental strength to do anything about the drinking as long as she was there. 

          Around six months after she left, I checked into rehab – Hope House in Foxford, Mayo… best rehab in Ireland :)

          I learnt a lot about counselling in there, and in the two years of ‘after care’, and further one to one counselling. 

          It was by the end of my first year of after care that those in my group encouraged me to seek one to one counselling to deal with the past relationship. 

          I stalled, didn’t think needed it, but eventually went. 

          And it was a brilliant experience. I learnt to accept it very quickly during that first round if sessions.  

          I learnt that many people who find themselves living with an abusive person don’t realise it until it is too late, until it is too difficult to get out of (a whole other post could be spent on that alone. A mention of Stockholm syndrome came up from a few different counsellors).

          It was too difficult because, in short, by then I was worn out, drained, exhausted, lacking in any will of my own and my self esteem in the gutter. Suicidal ideation was regularly in mind, in the middle of it.

          By the end of counselling, I could see the experience through a net curtained window, so to speak, so it wasn’t all that clear, but I had at least accepted it.

          What came later was realisation. 

          About a year after counselling, during my own research (something I spent a lot of time reading up on that, for my own understanding of what I’d experienced) into abuse and recovery.

          I broke down when I realised what had gone on, what my experience was and how I had come to find myself in it, and unable to get out.

          It is amazing how the mind can see something but not acknowledge it. But now, the net curtain was gone and I could see through the window clearly. 

          It was now two years after the relationship ended, and a year and half into rehab, and I finally could see it for what it was. I went back to the counsellor and spoke about it. A ptsd break was what he likened my breakdown to. And I asked if I should expect that again, to which he replied, no. I felt he was right, and I left knowing in myself that finally this was the real end of it, for me…. 

          I’ve gone on a bit, sorry about that. And I know you didn’t ask for all this. Hope I answered your initial question somewhat at the start.

          It just so happened that it was something I had been thinking a fair bit about the past few days. My son’s first Christmas, and I’m so grateful for where I am today was a big draw for reflection on where I’ve been.

          For me, and to put it simply, as long as one sees themselves as a victim they will continue in a state of mind of victimhood, allowing the issue of their victimisation to continue to hold control of over them, through fear. A healthy recovery steps out from under that cloud of victimhood and sees the recovered individual stand on their own, fearless of that which held them back. And I’m feeling fearless :)

          Merry Christmas Lilly!

          And to anyone going through rough times, I wish you well and personal strength to see it through to a better time.

          1. Spaghetti Hoop

            I’ve said it before Clamps, but your hard work and dedication in getting through that damaged time is amazing. Your story will continue to inspire others in similar situations of either domestic abuse and/or substance abuse to seek help.
            Have a happy christmas with your new family!

          2. Lilly

            Amen to that, Spaghetti. Clampers, that you succeeded in pulling yourself out of that and creating a new life is nothing short of heroic. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

          3. GiggidyGoo

            You’re a very courageous person Clampers. Fair play to you for the insight in layman’s terms. Have a happy Christmas.

          4. millie vanilly strikes again

            You well deserve this first Happy Christmas as a new dad, Clamps, with your family and I hope it is merry and peaceful and bright. Thank you, as always, for sharing your experiences on a topic which needs greater light shone on it.

            Lots of love to you and yours, my dear, and happy Christmas xx

          5. Clampers Outside

            Cheers Millie, much appreciated. And the my very best from all of us here to you and your family this Christmas :)

    2. Lilly

      I’ve only heard of a woman physically abusing a man once, but it sounded dire. A friend had a client whose wife attacked him with a hot iron. It’s hard to imagine as men tend to have the physical advantage but it can happen. I’d say where the woman is the perpetrator, psychological abuse is more likely.

      1. Lilly

        Is that shame or Stockholm syndrome? According to the august oracle that is the Daily Mail, she was going through his texts while he was asleep, saw something she didn’t like and went berserk. And he wants her home for Christmas.

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