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Bush faces a hostile reception in Ireland
International Herald Tribune ^ | 6/26/04 | Elisabeth Bumiller/NYTimes

Posted on 06/25/2004 2:23:18 PM PDT by The Bandit

ENNIS, Ireland President George W. Bush was set to arrive at the heavily guarded Dromoland Castle in County Clare on Friday night as the authorities braced for what were expected to be large demonstrations across Ireland against the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

In contrast to the jubilant welcomes accorded to Presidents Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and John F. Kennedy, Bush's reception was already developing as frosty, if not outright hostile. Widespread opposition to the Iraq war and revulsion at the Abu Ghraib prison scandal have turned a large portion of Irish popular opinion against him.

Big protests were expected in Dublin and in Shannon, where Air Force One was to land before Bush headed to the EU-U.S. summit at Dromoland Castle. Smaller protests were expected for the cities of Galway, Sligo, Waterford and Tralee in County Kerry.

"Fury and fear as town is turned into a fortress," said the headline in the Irish Examiner. The newspaper quoted the mayor of Shannon as saying that the town's residents were being made into potential targets for a terrorist attack.

Mary O'Rourke, leader of the Irish Senate, refused to attend a recent dinner in celebration of Bush's impending visit at the home of the American ambassador, James Kenny, out of objections to American prison policy at Guantánamo Bay and Abu Ghraib, and for going to war with Iraq, she said. . "Nobody denies we have an affinity with the United States, but that is a different matter from having an affinity with the president," O'Rourke said in the Irish Parliament this week.

But the centrist Irish Independent said in an editorial Friday that while Bush's trip would be the equivalent for the protesters of "a visit from the Devil Incarnate," the demonstrations "seem a bit out of touch."


(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...


TOPICS: United Kingdom
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To: The Bandit
"Nobody denies we have an affinity with the United States, but that is a different matter from having an affinity with the president," O'Rourke said in the Irish Parliament this week.

Someone should let O'Rourke know that you show your affinity by respecting our institutions, people with any amount of class or depth know how this works.

21 posted on 06/25/2004 2:40:46 PM PDT by Dolphy
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To: Dog

So, by your logic, anyone here who attacks the Leader of ANY other country, is thereby attacking EVERYONE in that country?


22 posted on 06/25/2004 2:42:24 PM PDT by Lord_Baltar
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To: Redbob
Of course they're hostile: they know he is deathly opposed to terrorists.

Must be a lot of Saddam supporters there. I am ashamed to admit my father's ancestors came from Ireland. But then again, these days I also ashamed to admit my mother's ancestors came from Germany. I can't win can I?

23 posted on 06/25/2004 2:42:48 PM PDT by Mark17
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To: Lord_Baltar

Good Question . . .


24 posted on 06/25/2004 2:43:33 PM PDT by CourtneyLeigh (Why can't all of America be Commonwealth?)
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To: MplsSteve

"all Irish linen, Waterd Crystal and Bushmills."

BUSHMILLS? Can't do it. No sir. Got to have me Bushmills.


25 posted on 06/25/2004 2:43:41 PM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
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To: MplsSteve

Waterford, not Waterd


26 posted on 06/25/2004 2:45:00 PM PDT by MplsSteve
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To: CourtneyLeigh

Your post makes about as much sense as might be expected.


27 posted on 06/25/2004 2:45:03 PM PDT by Stentor
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To: eskimo

I tend to agree. I think it was Frank Sinatra who said: "I feel bad for people who don't drink, when they get up in the morning that is the best they will feel all day"


28 posted on 06/25/2004 2:45:38 PM PDT by conserv13
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To: Mark17
All because your ancestors came from Germany, or Ireland, doesn't mean a thing.!

Who are you to be ashamed of a family that might had to escape that country for their very sole existence?

Were you there during the wars between the skirts and the red coats?

Were you there when Russia started buying up land from Germany?Hungary?Poland? So that farmers who didn't have the money to keep theirs had to leave or die fighting for it?

Your ancestors aren't here now to defend that slander you just allowed to roll out of your mouth, show them some respect!

29 posted on 06/25/2004 2:47:26 PM PDT by CourtneyLeigh (Why can't all of America be Commonwealth?)
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To: The Bandit
As an American of Irish descent, I have to reiterate:

Every Irish person with guts and smarts left that island for America years ago.

30 posted on 06/25/2004 2:47:40 PM PDT by wideawake (God bless our brave soldiers and their Commander in Chief)
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To: The Bandit

I went to the comments:

http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=65723

Very interesting.


31 posted on 06/25/2004 2:48:33 PM PDT by BushisTheMan
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To: CourtneyLeigh

English terrorists????????????


32 posted on 06/25/2004 2:48:41 PM PDT by burlywood
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To: Lord_Baltar

Bush.....is the United States of America.


33 posted on 06/25/2004 2:48:51 PM PDT by Dog (In Memory of Pat Tillman ---- ---- ---- American Hero.)
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To: Mark17

I'm a little bit better off than you in the United Kingdom department--my mom is a former limey and they haven't totally gone off the deep end yet; although, they are getting there. The scary thing though is that my mom has a FROG maiden name. I think the FROG has been fairly diluted over the years, but it's the kind of thing you still worry about--could there be some latent gene in there that could rear it's ugly head. Wonder if they can do a DNA test for it yet?


34 posted on 06/25/2004 2:49:35 PM PDT by beaversmom (Michael Medved has the Greatest radio show on GOD's Green Earth)
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To: Dog

Let's all remember this little tidbit to put this in perspective:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F07%2F11%2Fnclin11.xml

Clinton tees up his dream flat in Ireland
By Thomas Harding, Ireland Correspondent
(Filed: 11/07/2003)

Bill Clinton yesterday united his two loves, Ireland and golf, by buying a two-bedroom apartment that overlooks a Ryder Cup venue.

The property comes with full membership for two to the prestigious Kildare Hotel and Country Club - better known as the K Club - 30 miles south-west of Dublin where an 18-hole round costs £190 and first year membership is £60,000.

The former American president, who has called Ireland his second home, struck a deal with an estate agent friend for an £850,000 flat while playing golf in Northern Ireland last weekend.

(snip)


35 posted on 06/25/2004 2:50:24 PM PDT by Calpernia (When you bite the hand that feeds you, you eventually run out of food.)
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To: The Bandit

""Nobody denies we have an affinity with the United States, but that is a different matter from having an affinity with the president," O'Rourke said in the Irish Parliament this week."

You HAD, past tense, an affinity with the US. I could care less if the entire terrorist network landed in your country and blew the place to bits.

This is my President. I voted for him and he is possibly the greatest in a very long time.

I've had it with Europe.


36 posted on 06/25/2004 2:51:32 PM PDT by OpusatFR (Vote Kerry if you want to commit national suicide)
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To: BushisTheMan

Correction: I did a search for the reporter mentioned and found the comments posted above.

Although a few Irish wackos (equivalent to Liberals/Hollyweirdos), she got blasted for not showing respect, interrupting, etc. (Tim Russert came to my mind).


37 posted on 06/25/2004 2:51:33 PM PDT by BushisTheMan
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To: MplsSteve

Just as long as you don't touch me Jamesons!


38 posted on 06/25/2004 2:52:00 PM PDT by montomike (Gay means happy and carefree not an abomination)
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To: The Bandit

Not so hostile here:


39 posted on 06/25/2004 2:54:09 PM PDT by AmericanMade1776
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To: Mark17
Must be a lot of Saddam supporters there. I am ashamed to admit my father's ancestors came from Ireland. But then again, these days I also ashamed to admit my mother's ancestors came from Germany. I can't win can I?

If you don't just adore the Bush kid, you must love Sodamned Insane. That is the dumbest justification for stereotyping your ancestors I have ever heard. Get a grip!

40 posted on 06/25/2004 2:54:11 PM PDT by eskimo
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