Bush was a uniter; Obama's a divider
Posted on Friday, March 18, 2011 at 11:54 AM
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It all started just around the inauguration in 2009. Maybe it was before that. Election Day? I can't quite remember now, but it was around that time. Before Barak Obama became President of the United States the people of this state were united, beautifully so.There had been some straws in the wind even before the election, but once it was clear that Barack Obama was going to be President the real fight started. Neighbor turned on neighbor, brother on brother.
I had never even heard of Moneygall before Obama came along. Why would I have? I'm sure I've driven through it on my way to Limerick, but 300 people live there. It made no impression. Believe me, I wasn't the only one in Ireland who had never heard of Moneygall before.
When it transpired that Barack Obama is descended from a Falmouth Kearney, who left Moneygall for New York in 1850 suddenly the town (hamlet, more like) started making the news. The instant reaction of most people was, "Where? What did he say? Moneyball? Isn't that a book by Michael Lewis?" Okay, that last one was only me, but you get the picture. Nobody knew nor cared about Moneygall. God be with the days.
Now we have two counties practically ready to go to war over Moneygall. Although the media has repeatedly described Moneygall as being in County Offaly, it apparently could be considered to be in County Tipperary too. I only found this out today, thanks to the Irish Independent.
To my eye it seems that Offaly has the stronger claim, but let's face it the American media is going to be much happier with Tipperary - it's a known quantity - than Offaly. I can already hear it: "How do you pronounce that? Awfully?" Accuracy be damned, Tipperary has a strong hand here.
And then there's Kilkenny. The people of County Kilkenny want in on the action. "Moneygall? Offaly? Tipperary? Show me the ancestors!" they demand. You see, Falmouth's family left little by way of a permanent mark on Moneygall, but going back a bit further there is a definite relative - a grand-grand...uncle - Bishop John Kearney who is entombed in St Canice's Cathedral {photo} in the beautiful city of Kilkenny.
Now it's really getting ugly. You don't have a direct line in Kilkenny, but you have an actual tomb and it's a beautiful spot. Not just beautiful, but lively. The President's people will love Kilkenny and so will the American press.
You see how Obama has divided the people? The desire to claim him as a 'native son' could easily lead to blood, war, ruin. Offaly? Tipperary? Kilkenny? Bad-tempered hurling matches engender less bad feeling.
It was all so much simpler with President Bush. No county, no town or hamlet claimed him or wanted to be associated with him. (I think there was some distant connection, but it's been officially buried.) From Election Day in 2000 until he left office, the people of Ireland were quite content and of one mind in detesting the man.
Didn't matter what he did, they were against it. Every word out of his mouth was greeted with a sneer and every action with a protest. Those were happier times.
Now the country is choosing sides in a three-way battle to make Obama their own. It won't end well. As we all know, the Irish have long memories and this division will take generations to heal.
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mellett117 | Mar 25, 2011, 12:53 PM EDT
I am still laughing! Not the least at myself, all puffed up and ready to fight the Bush lover who was going to say bad things about Obama! I cracked up when I found out what the "Uniter" had the people united about! How true it is! Ta for the laugh.
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mnallick | Mar 24, 2011, 08:56 PM EDT
President Obama will be in Ireland in May. I know he will love the place and I'm looking forward to keeping up with everything he does while he's there. I have read a few articles from Ireland lately since the trip was announced and I have to say the Irish always report on everything with warmth and a great sense of humor. I'm look forward to the trip for that reason. I'll be reading the Irish press every day :)
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Bushothehill | Mar 24, 2011, 04:42 PM EDT
Worst US President was Jimmy Carter, until the present. Move over Jimmy, you have been replaced by the most incompetent, unknowing, squandering, idiotic, moronic dumbspeak ever. Monygall must be a real doozie of a hatchery!
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floridafinn | Mar 24, 2011, 09:23 AM EDT
Talk about dividers. Yank seems to be doing it. 'Course it doesn't take much for us Irish to divide. As for President Obama, favorable comparison to Bush is simply right. Given the deplorable state in which the country was left, it's amazing we aren't in another Great Depression!
Sitting back judging Mr. Obama is easy. Not that I agree with all his policies. But there are some nasty politicos with which to deal on both sides of the aisle and some governor's too (e.g. our Florida crook for whom even my conservative brother did not vote!) So I'm not going to spout off re: Pres. Obama.
I don't like the no fly zone re: Libya, but Rawanda should haunt us all. Rebels or not.
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Jeannie0121 | Mar 22, 2011, 05:35 PM EDT
Ireland, you can have Obama. History will reveal him for who he is... fooled so many people. Loves the idea of being president- Flying around in Air Force 1, making speeches, Europeans fawning and drooling all over him (really,that's embarrassing). Europe respects Obama simply because he isn't Bush. Maybe he'll get another Nobel Peace Prize - we're in 3 wars now. Is that Bush's fault, too? Europe needs to tune into something other then Al Jazeera news. (I was fooled by him, too. I voted for him, but never again.) Europe seems to be in a trance... the man can do no wrong...
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Weezie | Mar 19, 2011, 08:11 PM EDT
Maybe I better not say>
!!!! Bush Si; Obama NO. !!!
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McNamara31 | Mar 19, 2011, 03:19 PM EDT
correction...Maloney.... You have to get out a bit more. The truth is, Europe respects Obama. Maybe that's true because they are "not" deluged with the 24/7 smear of Fox News as readily as Americans are.
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Ajreaper | Mar 19, 2011, 03:15 PM EDT
LOL, Maloney thinks he speaks for the entire world- it's people as well as world leaders and he thinks Obama has issues? Beyond delusional!
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McNamara31 | Mar 19, 2011, 08:55 AM EDT
maloney...You have to get out a bit more. The truth is, Europe respects Obama. Maybe that's true because they are deluged with the 24/7 smear of Fox News as readily as Americans are.
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TheYank | Mar 19, 2011, 08:27 AM EDT
GeorgeDillon,
Fiscally, the Bush administration was profligate & feckless. On that score, I think we can say Bush scores poorly. However, not as poorly as the Fianna Fáil administration over the same period. Cowen is in similar boat to Bush, although he wasn't leader when the most heinous financial/economic errors were made.
The Presidency, however, is generally evaluated more by foreign policy and on that score it's way too soon to evaluate Bush. The war in Iraq may never prove a roaring success, anymore than Korea was, but the policies of the Bush doctrine - which to be honest I didn't support at the time and still see as naive - may or may not prove successful over a period of time.
Fiscally, the Bush administration was profligate & feckless. On that score, I think we can say Bush scores poorly. However, not as poorly as the Fianna Fáil administration over the same period. Cowen is in similar boat to Bush, although he wasn't leader when the most heinous financial/economic errors were made.
The Presidency, however, is generally evaluated more by foreign policy and on that score it's way too soon to evaluate Bush. The war in Iraq may never prove a roaring success, anymore than Korea was, but the policies of the Bush doctrine - which to be honest I didn't support at the time and still see as naive - may or may not prove successful over a period of time.
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nygalwaygirl | Mar 19, 2011, 07:26 AM EDT
Ha! This is hilarious. :-)
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GeorgeDillon | Mar 19, 2011, 07:08 AM EDT
"It is far too soon to evaluate Bush's presidency". That's like saying that it's too soon to evaluate Brian Cowen's Prime Ministership. No it ain't. They were both utter failures and mediocrities and brought untold misery on countless people.
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TheYank | Mar 19, 2011, 03:24 AM EDT
You've all taken this far too seriously. I was only having a bit of fun.
It is far too soon to evaluate Bush's presidency. Look at Truman: left office with a massive conflict raging in Korea after committing America to a global battle with the forces of Communism. He was practically hounded out of office, convinced not to seek another term by those in his own party. Six decades on, his star has risen considerably.
To my mind the worst President was the son of an Irishman, James Buchanan. He was a northerner, but far too sympathetic to the slave-owning class and all but urged the southern states into secession instead of working to save the union. He left office just a few weeks before the first shots of the Civil War were fired.
It is far too soon to evaluate Bush's presidency. Look at Truman: left office with a massive conflict raging in Korea after committing America to a global battle with the forces of Communism. He was practically hounded out of office, convinced not to seek another term by those in his own party. Six decades on, his star has risen considerably.
To my mind the worst President was the son of an Irishman, James Buchanan. He was a northerner, but far too sympathetic to the slave-owning class and all but urged the southern states into secession instead of working to save the union. He left office just a few weeks before the first shots of the Civil War were fired.
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maloney | Mar 18, 2011, 10:49 PM EDT
Whatever Bush may or may not have been, obama is the laughing stock of the world. No one respects or fears him. Obama is the Forrest Gump of world leaders.
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