I LOVE when Cormac MacConnell comments on the state of American politics, despite the readers who wrote in protest in last week’s issue.
He has every right to analyze the influence of Sarah Palin on our political scene because, as Cormac says, what the U.S. does affects every country in the world.
And let’s face it, anyone who thinks that Sarah Palin has even an ounce of what it takes to lead our country after 2012 must have rocks in the head bigger than the ones that reside in Palin’s head.
This woman is a traveling trashy reality show. She is simple and under-educated but very dangerous because she seems to have a spell-binding influence over a large swathe of voters.
I predict she will never run. I have watched the GOP debates and she would be totally out of her league. She knows nothing about the economy, foreign policy or anything else.
Yes, it’s fun to watch and listen to all of her gaffes. But she won’t run for president. Even she knows that she’s way out of her league, but she’ll keep the charade running for as long as she can.
Why? Money of course. The more she’s out there the more she can make.
Even her daughter who just left her teen years is hawking an autobiography now. This girl is uneducated so she doesn’t have much to say, but like her mom she’s good at attracting headlines – when you have nothing else going for you bash the McCain family, which unfortunately brought the odious Palins out from under their Alaskan rocks into the national spotlight.
Cormac MacConnell clearly sees that Palin is a moron. And he’s far from the only one who thinks so.
Margaret Carey
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Bad PR Nomination
THE bodies representing public relations in Ireland should consider hiring one of the PR gurus they represent.
In the space of a few weeks, they have managed to spectacularly tarnish their own images and infuriate a large portion of the public.
The short-listing of an animal cruelty campaign for a PR Excellence Award saw the Public Relations Institute of Ireland and Public Relations Consultants Association disregarding overwhelming opposition to deplorable activities such as hunting and coursing.
The RISE campaign mysteriously made it on to their shortlist despite being criticized for spreading misinformation and showing disrespect towards public officials, both contrary to PR codes of conduct.
Condemned as malicious and despicable, the behavior of supporters included throwing eggs at a state car, jeering politicians, telling a minister to go to hell and sticking threatening leaflets on vehicles outside a church.
Claims made during the RISE campaign were variously described as nonsense, wrong and completely erroneous. The same could be said for the decision to shortlist it for an award it thankfully failed to win.
Philip Kiernan
Irish Council Against Blood Sports
Co. Westmeath, Ireland
In the space of a few weeks, they have managed to spectacularly tarnish their own images and infuriate a large portion of the public.
The short-listing of an animal cruelty campaign for a PR Excellence Award saw the Public Relations Institute of Ireland and Public Relations Consultants Association disregarding overwhelming opposition to deplorable activities such as hunting and coursing.
The RISE campaign mysteriously made it on to their shortlist despite being criticized for spreading misinformation and showing disrespect towards public officials, both contrary to PR codes of conduct.
Condemned as malicious and despicable, the behavior of supporters included throwing eggs at a state car, jeering politicians, telling a minister to go to hell and sticking threatening leaflets on vehicles outside a church.
Claims made during the RISE campaign were variously described as nonsense, wrong and completely erroneous. The same could be said for the decision to shortlist it for an award it thankfully failed to win.
Philip Kiernan
Irish Council Against Blood Sports
Co. Westmeath, Ireland
Verbal Threat
THE greatest threat to mankind is not communism, socialism, sexism, Catholicism, Judaism, fanaticism or any of the myriad “isms” you can conjure up as you lie awake at night pondering the fate of the Earth, our last place of refuge in this universe.
To better understand the word “ism” look up ”schism” in the dictionary.
No, the greatest threat will forever be verbal diarrhea. It is the single most terrifying threat to the human race.
We are all aware of the power of the spoken word and how the way in which words are delivered can greatly influence the way that they are received. An old adage comes to mind.
When I was a first year apprentice carpenter my boss at the time, Pat Rogers, said to me, “Measure twice, cut once.”
It’s the same with words. Think twice before you speak. If you don’t, a terrible case of verbal diarrhea is guaranteed. When that happens, no amount of toilet paper will help you!
How many of you can remember the feelings of sheer disbelief/boredom/shock and horror as you sat in a bus, or a car, or a plane or a park bench, or in that holiest of holies, the bar, and listened to someone ramble on and on about something totally ridiculous? That’s right! All of you.
Another example of this comes from the leader of the free word President Obama. He is asking the Israelis to give back land to the Palestinians.
What mankind is failing to grasp is the simple fact that we own nothing.
I think that that may be the worst case of verbal diarrhea ever witnessed by mankind since that other great orator once said “Read my lips”!
John A. Brennan
Garden City, New York
To better understand the word “ism” look up ”schism” in the dictionary.
No, the greatest threat will forever be verbal diarrhea. It is the single most terrifying threat to the human race.
We are all aware of the power of the spoken word and how the way in which words are delivered can greatly influence the way that they are received. An old adage comes to mind.
When I was a first year apprentice carpenter my boss at the time, Pat Rogers, said to me, “Measure twice, cut once.”
It’s the same with words. Think twice before you speak. If you don’t, a terrible case of verbal diarrhea is guaranteed. When that happens, no amount of toilet paper will help you!
How many of you can remember the feelings of sheer disbelief/boredom/shock and horror as you sat in a bus, or a car, or a plane or a park bench, or in that holiest of holies, the bar, and listened to someone ramble on and on about something totally ridiculous? That’s right! All of you.
Another example of this comes from the leader of the free word President Obama. He is asking the Israelis to give back land to the Palestinians.
What mankind is failing to grasp is the simple fact that we own nothing.
I think that that may be the worst case of verbal diarrhea ever witnessed by mankind since that other great orator once said “Read my lips”!
John A. Brennan
Garden City, New York
Sailing With O’Dowd
WHILE opening The Irish Times on the Internet on Monday morning, June 20 and fully expecting to see a photo of Rory (what a story) McIlroy, there on the front page was none other than Niall O'Dowd, Irish Voice publisher, and the news that he might well throw his hat into the ring for the Irish presidency.
My immediate thoughts were, why not? As the world is all too aware at the moment, Ireland is going through the worst financial crisis in its modern day history, and here is a man with all the credentials, and know how, to help the country in its attempts to get back on an even keel.
About 90% of foreign investment in Ireland comes from the U.S., and without it I dread to think how much worse off Ireland would be.
O'Dowd would be the perfect choice for president in the present economic climate, as he is probably on first name terms with the majority of the top Irish American business leaders in the U.S.
The fact that he has lived more than half his life in New York is a huge plus rather than being a deterrent. This man has done more for the peace process and Irish immigrants than all of the Irish politicians in the south (with the rare exception of Albert Reynolds) in the past 25 years or so, and he never once forgot where he came from.
It's just that he keeps a very low profile and, like Rory's dad, prefers to stay in the background. But he is in fact, one of the chief architects behind all things that have helped the Irish, both here and in Northern Ireland.
If he should decide to run, I think the Irish people would be smart to give him their vote. They have nothing to lose in that regard but everything to gain.
From its first president, Douglas Hyde, to the present one, Mary McAleese (who by the way has done an admirable job as indeed did her predecessor Mary Robinson in changing the role), the Irish president has been more or less a figurehead who entertained foreign dignitaries at Aras an Uachtarain and wielded little or no power, similar in fact to the British monarchy and Ireland's present government.
Ireland can no longer afford this, especially now, with the country on its knees and practically groveling to the Germans and French, with absolutely no one in the present coalition government seemingly having a clue what to do about it, other than blame the previous administration for its woes.
When it comes to the blame game Irish politicians are tops. What's needed now is someone who can help Ireland attract jobs by the thousands, not the paltry few we read about.
There is nobody in Ireland with the credibility, chutzpah or knowledge, that O'Dowd possesses on that front. I say, especially to the young Irish working class, "Give O'Dowd your vote, and there'll be no need for the boat."
Sean McPhillips
College Point, New York
My immediate thoughts were, why not? As the world is all too aware at the moment, Ireland is going through the worst financial crisis in its modern day history, and here is a man with all the credentials, and know how, to help the country in its attempts to get back on an even keel.
About 90% of foreign investment in Ireland comes from the U.S., and without it I dread to think how much worse off Ireland would be.
O'Dowd would be the perfect choice for president in the present economic climate, as he is probably on first name terms with the majority of the top Irish American business leaders in the U.S.
The fact that he has lived more than half his life in New York is a huge plus rather than being a deterrent. This man has done more for the peace process and Irish immigrants than all of the Irish politicians in the south (with the rare exception of Albert Reynolds) in the past 25 years or so, and he never once forgot where he came from.
It's just that he keeps a very low profile and, like Rory's dad, prefers to stay in the background. But he is in fact, one of the chief architects behind all things that have helped the Irish, both here and in Northern Ireland.
If he should decide to run, I think the Irish people would be smart to give him their vote. They have nothing to lose in that regard but everything to gain.
From its first president, Douglas Hyde, to the present one, Mary McAleese (who by the way has done an admirable job as indeed did her predecessor Mary Robinson in changing the role), the Irish president has been more or less a figurehead who entertained foreign dignitaries at Aras an Uachtarain and wielded little or no power, similar in fact to the British monarchy and Ireland's present government.
Ireland can no longer afford this, especially now, with the country on its knees and practically groveling to the Germans and French, with absolutely no one in the present coalition government seemingly having a clue what to do about it, other than blame the previous administration for its woes.
When it comes to the blame game Irish politicians are tops. What's needed now is someone who can help Ireland attract jobs by the thousands, not the paltry few we read about.
There is nobody in Ireland with the credibility, chutzpah or knowledge, that O'Dowd possesses on that front. I say, especially to the young Irish working class, "Give O'Dowd your vote, and there'll be no need for the boat."
Sean McPhillips
College Point, New York
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