Texts and emails, Thursday 21 January 2010
Topic: Obama's first year in office
Panellists: Richard Aldous (historian, UCD), Marion McKeon (journalist), Harry Browne (journalism lecturer, DIT), Sarah Boehm (teacher)
Why must the republicans always be described in derogatory terms such as "ridiculous" even though he won?
James, Tipperary
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There is no difference between Republicans and Democrats. They are both answerable to US corporations who bribe them with millions of dollars.
Kieran McNulty, People before Profit, Tralee.
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Obama was the biggest marketing coup in political history.
John, Cork
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Obama is up against a senate and a congress that is full of lobby groups with vested interests all out for their own profit. Any president is a puppet at the whim of these groups and big business.
Neil Garvey, Galway
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Obama is not the problem, the US political system is dysfunctional. 41 senators representing a quarter of the population can veto any domestic legislation. Thank God the Dail is so powerless.
James Conran
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Obama is the least qualified candidate to ever become US president. His gormless "Yes We Can" soundbites increased the democrats vote by a paltry 1.5% over his predecessor Gore. The US and European media gave Obama a soft ride but thankfully the US taxpayer will ask the hard questions. Obama is a one term mistake that hopefully the US electorate will dump in favour of a fiscally competent Republican.
Brian Geoghegan, Walkinstown
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Obama sadly is like our crew they cant and will never see what peoples needs are really about its not about wealth its about peace.
Brian, Dundalk
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Obama is new. Regan blamed Jimmy Carter in his first year. Obama could likewise have passed the buck to Bush.
Enda
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Obama is a light weight...if he was a white politician nobody would have looked twice as he has no proven track record! He is banal in the extreme and his oratory is dull dull dull!
Anon, Roscommon
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We in Lilliput are also outraged with Obama, expecting him to have achieved World Peace, converted Islamists to "secular Christians", refroze the icebergs,solved the banking crisis AND COMMUTED to Washington from his Irish residence? What a let down! Eject seat for Alan, please, endless whining!
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Obama is no fool and he knows that folks old and new need to see familiar turf before they buy in and strike a match. Wisdom arrives suddenly but moves very very slowly just like our good ol friend the recession.
Sean Lynch, Saggart
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All your scholars are reading Obama wrong. Watch Obama when he turns the screw on Israel later 2-3 years time. Obama is a GENIUS. He is helping small businesses.
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Do the panel think the link between The Rep/Fox News is similar to the F.F/RTE link?
Pat, Castleisland
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If Cullen felt he was wrong done by media why didnt he sue? I just wonder about this failed politician.
Willie, Galway
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Lillis murdered his wife murder is murder. He made a choice and has to pay for it. I hope he pays for his crime. There is such a thing as divorce.
Helen, Kilkenny
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The Irish economy is now facing a Double Dip! Incompetence in Governance, a yawning bureaucracy thus complacency and the mother of all WORST Taoiseachs ever... offering ZERO leadership!! A Static and corrupted property market, jobs still going...2nd phase recession en route!
Eoghan, Stoneybatter
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26% of voters would vote for donkeys and turnips if fianna fail put them up for election. Come to think - donkeys and turnips would be an improvement over the tribe of gombeen hacks who are Fianna Fail TDs.
Mike
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