2 weeks Ago
While not the result that most people this side of the Atlantic were looking for perhaps, it is absolutely clear, as the Taoiseach said, that “the people of the United States have spoken”. Indeed, you could say the people have shouted. How do opinion polls get it so wrong? Lies, damn lies and opinion polls.
I wonder if there is any value in opinion polls any more in the science of prediction, bearing in mind this was a two-horse race. All the seven swing states went resoundingly for Trump, yet the polls were saying it would be very close. It is also time to dispense with the so-called margin of error caveat – it is annoying and becoming something of an oxymoron.
Aidan Roddy, Cabinteely, Dublin 18 Trump victory is a service to democracy, the election coverage less so, perhaps Quite a lot of the coverage of the US election amounted to a steady diet of anti-Trump rhetoric and pro-Harris sycophancy. The farcical polls essentially amounted to “liberal” wishful thinking. In this context, serious questions need to be asked of large sections of the Fourth Estate regarding their abandonment of traditional standards of balance and objectivity.
This isn’t a recent phenomenon, but many journalists seem impervious to learning the obvious lessons. A blind adherence to “liberal/feminist” dogma or, in this case, “Trump derangement syndrome” is not what journalism is about. Regardless of the issues and personalities involved, Donald Trump has done democracy a favour.
Despite having a huge war chest, virtually all of the media on her side plus the mega rich-entertainment and Hollywood elite, Kamala Harris couldn’t win this election. Much of her support base and, dare one say, condescending media commentary turned people off. Eric Conway, Navan, Co Meath President will lead world on a courageous path of righteousness and justice God bless America, and God bless President Trump and guide him on a new path of peace and justice for the world.
John Glennon, Hollywood, Co Wicklow Occupied Territories Bill must be passed in time before Dáil is dissolved Responding to constructive proposals from Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats to designate their Private Members’ time to progress the Occupied Territories Bill before the general election, Tánaiste Micheál Martin has claimed that “the opposition are doing a disservice to the seriousness of the issue by playing politics with it to the degree that they have been”. The Tánaiste now claims the bill is, “as currently written, unconstitutional and would fall at the first hurdle in terms of any legal challenge”. He made no public utterance about these misgivings before the 2020 general election, in which Fianna Fáil and Green Party candidates promised to enact the bill if they came to power.
Going into the 2020 general election, both parties were willing to reap the rewards for what voters had been given to believe was on the way. It is difficult to dismiss the suspicion that all three government parties are deploying a similar approach this time around. Those who wish to see Ireland step on to the right side of history must continue to push for the Occupied Territories Bill to be enacted before this Dáil term concludes.
Brian Ó Éigeartaigh, Donnybrook, Dublin 4 Northern peace process only of limited help in the Middle East conflicts I wish Sean O’Brien (Letters, November 5) every success in finding go-betweens to sort out the Palestine- Israeli existence conflict. However, there are several greater difficulties than the Six Counties, where at least both sides are Christians – “more in the breach rather than the observance”. Last year the opening Hamas attack was aimed heavily at Israeli villages where inhabitants had been trying by several means to promote peace by good deeds and receiving Gaza visitors and giving patients lifts to Israeli hospitals.
The language and culture barrier hardly helps. Second, damage to property, kidnappings and shootings have a long tradition in the Holy Land since the Turkish period. Third, the Irish may have only wanted the English and Scots to return to Britain, but many Muslim Arabs wish to see the Jews disappear entirely.
Frank Adam, Prestwich, Greater Manchester Why are we paying tolls to use motorways that were built with EU money? I was in southern Spain last week. On the way to my destination from Murcia airport, I had a choice between taking a toll road or what was considered the national road. Because it was night time, I chose the toll option as it was the safest bet.
However, on my return I went by the national road, which had no tolls. The two roads were near-identical. I had this experience in other European countries, including Britain.
Two weeks ago, I drove from Dublin to Cork and encountered three tolls, totalling about €11 each way. When we consider that EU funds built these great roads, and there is no other viable way to drive from Dublin to Cork other than the motorway, why are we paying tolls when there is no real alternative to using them? EP Kearney, Ayrfield Road, Dublin 13 History of All Star awards system worth knowing amid current controversy Further to the controversy surrounding the nomination of Kyle Hayes as an All Star, perhaps it might be appropriate to recall the inaugural GAA All Stars awards of 1971. The awards were devised by journalists and sponsored by cigarette makers PJ Carroll and Company.
This event was perhaps the first foot in the door to sponsorship of GAA events. Since 2011, the awards have been presented jointly by the Gaelic Athletic Association and the representative body for inter-county players, the Gaelic Players Association. A major attraction of the All Stars was the tour to the US, which was part of the prize for the winners.
It was a prerequisite of the nomination process that a player would be ineligible for selection if he had been sent off for any reason during the league or championship. Tom Cooper, Templeville Road, Dublin 6W.
