Fairly damning column by Waters in the Times today - it could be the denial rather than the content that does for his campaign.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...298323687.html
If you attack me with stupidity, I'll be forced to defend myself with sarcasm.
I read that this morning, and the first thing that struck me was that Waters was doing his best to take himself out of the firing line. Acting with editorial rigour - despite being only a consultant editor to a young, inexperienced editor - trusting the journalist who he knew by reputation only, concern for a political figure (this is the guy who published a foul-mouthed Haughey interview in Hotpress!), not wanting to publicise a dynamite story... Magill would have killed for a big story like that to boost circulation!!
I notice that he covers himself by saying that he only saw extracts from the interview - not the full transcript, and never heard the recording. Maybe I'm cynical where Waters is concerned, but I find that if I disagree with what he writes then usually all is right in my world!
So much speculation. But it's four days since Joe Duffy, and HLB still hasn't released any tapes. I'm surmising that she's turning the attic upside down looking for them, or they no longer exist, or somebody's sitting on them waiting for a more opportune moment. Time will tell.
Half remembered interviews from 10 years ago and a mislaid tape. If every candidate expressed their opinions honestly and openly none of them would get a vote. The text of the interview reads risqué at best, there is nothing to suggest David Norris endorses paedophilia.
The timing of this is suspect to say the least. He ran for the senate 3 times since that interview and the restaurant critic decides to bring it up now.
If he gets on the ballot he will still get a high % of the vote, maybe not over 51% but he wont be far off. Pat Cox is too close to the EU & the Lisbon Treaty still and with quite a bit of anti-EU feeling about I think he may struggle although it looks as though FG want him to run.
FF have no credible candidate as far as I can see. Its a pity Fergus Finlay probably wont get on the ballot. I like him since he went from Labour press secretary to charity work, I think he would make a very good President but would possibly be too politicised for the Governments liking.
Has anybody here actually read the Magill article? I'm surprised that if it's as damning as HLB claims that it hasn't been reprinted somewhere since Tuesday.
The entire piece was read by Pat Kenny the other morning I thought (unless I misheard it). It is quite blunt in parts, a little creepy though the ending is extremely positive for David Norris. I think the bit that really is the grist to the mill is him saying he'd have appreciated or liked an ancient Greek scenario in his life where an older gay man would introduce him to the ways of the world, gay style. Now he frankly stated he'd have liked this, to Pat Kenny, though Greek style would have been slightly more on the paedophilic side than what would be deemed acceptable.
I've always found David Norris personable, intelligent and progressive. It'll only really be pushed that he fought for gay rights, Joyce and Georgian Dublin, though he has done so much more and still does. I will vote for him, though I'm beginning to wonder if get progressively more shrill and obnoxious as Joan Burton did before the election.
In the case of the 'Magill' interview with Helen Lucy Burke, it would have to be wondered why he didn't begin, or even threaten, legal action at the time. Her tape of the interview is now missing but would obviously still have been in existence then.
Norris was one of the very few people to defend poet Cathal O Searcaigh over the nature of his relationships with teenagers in Nepal.
I'm pretty sure he will not be the next president of Ireland.
Not yet, but unless some complete unknown declares, everyone has pretty much ruled themselves in or out. Most likely Máiread McGuinness for FG, now that Kelly and Bruton have withdrawn, FF seem to be backing away from running anyone, could possibly get behind Gallagher. Can't see the Norris controversy lasting until October, in any case the four Dublin councils will see him on the ballot paper - if it does affect him, Michael D will probably benefit most.
Sam Smyth giving the HLB article some balanced coverage on TodayFM right now. Dunphy's show on NewsTalk is just one step short of looking for a rope and a convenient lamp post. I swear, if John Waters voice keeps going up and up with blustery anger only dogs will be able hear him.... Robert Fisk doing his best to be impartial.
Waters is on Dunphy defending his position. He said that he asked HLB to run the interview by Norris several times as he thought it would kill Norris' career.
Hmmmmm... that doesn't sit right...
It is clear that the Norris campaign had the momentum of an express train, before it has been derailed so spectacularly.
Mr Norris himself believes that the re-emergence of the Magill article was carefully orchestrated and designed to cause him maximum damage.
However, the truth is that the article has been bandied around the information super highway for months. Last October, a site wholly dedicated to opposing Mr Norris was set up.
Mr Norris describes Pope John Paul II as "an instrument of evil".
I can see where John Waters is coming from he is a deeply religious man.
Last edited by Hurt Locker; 05/06/2011 at 11:22 AM.
This is the second time you've stated this. I watched her claim on RTE last week that she had a copy of the tape but not a player for it. Do you have evidence for your claim to the contrary?
That site is run by the Burkes btw, nutjobs plain and true. Equating that with "bandying around the web" is like saying there's a wellspring of support for killing jews, because you read it on st0rmfr0nt.
Last edited by dahamsta; 05/06/2011 at 1:26 PM.
Erm... a lot of terrible stuff happened on JP II's watch which the church facilitated.. I think Mr Norris has a pretty reasonable view here. On the other hand the church is rushing through his transition to sainthood.
So not so surprising that RC hardliners would take every opportunity to attack somebody like Norris.
#NeverStopNotGivingUp
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