Bertie Branded a Liar

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Thursday March 22, 2012 · 1:46 PM PDT

2012/03/22 · 13:46

Former Irish leader Bertie Ahern and a slew of Irish politicians, have been excoriated by a Tribunal Report into corruption.

The Judges found that he lied repeatedly in his sworn testimony about excepting bribes from developer Owen O'Callaghan when he was Minister for Finance.

This paves the way for the prosecution of these politicians for corrupt practices and misrepresenting their mandate as public representatives.

I followed the Tribunal for several years and wrote a blog about it here, check it out...

http://citizenjon2008dublincastle.wordpress.com

CitiZenJon

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday January 03, 2009 · 8:23 PM PST

2009/01/03 · 20:23

A protest against Israeli attacks on Gaza outside Irish government buildings in Dublin this eve was attended by some 1,000 people.

After the speeches, the protesters chanted slogans in English, anti-Israel, anti-Bush. An impromptu address in Arabic echoed over the crowd, a muslim gentleman, chanted through a loud-speaker, it could have been a prayer for all I knew, an angry mood caught and spread. From the crush of foreign looking gents, the foreign sounding shouts rose.

Eyes were buzzing over a huddle of men, a crude rendition of the Israeli flag whooped up into the frigid January air - a man with a zippo studiously held a corner to its flame, an arm in the crush, squirted lighter fluid - whoop.
The emblem of Israel was gone in seconds, only tendrils of blackend ash remained.

The crush was broken by an Irish bear of a man, lank white hair and a worried air, an organiser? but it was too late, the photo op had come and gone.

Poll

263 votes Show Results

How do you feel about Israel's attacks on Gaza Palestinians

263 votes Vote Now!

How do you feel about Israel's attacks on Gaza Palestinians

I don't care

4 votes

I care a lot

9 votes

I care a little

3 votes

Israel has every right to protect its citizens from rocket attacks from Gaza

63 votes

Israel is wrong to kill Palestinian civilians (women, old, sick, children)

41 votes

Israel's attacks on Gaza ARE proportionate

2 votes

Israel's attacks on Gaza are disproportionate

51 votes

Palestinians deserve this treatment form Israelis

5 votes

Palestinians don't deserve this treatment from Israelis

24 votes

"An eye for an eye, leaves us both blind" Ghandi

61 votes

Mahmoud's Chrismas Message

CitiZenJon

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday December 25, 2008 · 9:28 PM PST

2008/12/25 · 21:28

The UK's Channel 4 have stirred up some controversy this holiday season by broadcasting a Christmas message from Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad within hours of the Queen’s annual Christmas address.

Poll

52 votes Show Results

What do you think of Ahmadinejad's speech?

52 votes Vote Now!

What do you think of Ahmadinejad's speech?

I liked it

8 votes

I didn't like it

1 vote

I don't know if I liked it

2 votes

I see Ahmadinejad as a tyrant who has no right to lecture Christians about anything

12 votes

The Iranian president's speech shows that he is more willing to talk to the West

6 votes

Ahmadinejad's speech was an affront to Christians all over the world

1 vote

I believe Ahmadinejad's speech was incisive, outspoken and provocative

1 vote

I have no interest in Ahmadinejad whatsoever...so no comment

7 votes

Ahmadinejad is a despotic leader of a dangerous rogue state, must invade!!!

2 votes

We should all just listen to what the man says

4 votes

I wouldn't believe a word that man says

8 votes

Ireland says no to Europe

CitiZenJon

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday June 13, 2008 · 4:10 AM PDT

2008/06/13 · 04:10

Friday 13th, 2008.

THE WORD is feeding through from Wicklow to Westmeath, from County Cork to County Clare.
Ireland has rejected The Lisbon Treaty by democratic referendum.

Poll

64 votes Show Results

Will the Irish decision affect Europe?

64 votes Vote Now!

Will the Irish decision affect Europe?

Yes

19 votes

5 votes

Yes, it will make Europe stronger

3 votes

Yes, it will make Europe weaker

11 votes

Yes, as a pebble to a pond

1 vote

No. The European block is too big

6 votes

No. Democracy is an illusion

0 votes

No. Neither the Dutch nor the French could stop it

4 votes

Maybe, we'll have to wait and see

3 votes

Maybe, but it's too soon to call

5 votes

Either way, I couldn't care less :-)

4 votes

Europe? where's that then?

3 votes

The Dream Ticket

CitiZenJon

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday April 07, 2008 · 1:13 PM PDT

2008/04/07 · 13:13

I've listened to a plethora of media coverage on Clinton and Obama over the last six months. Even the backwaters of Dublin hotly contest the virtues of each Democratic candidate.

With all of the conjecture flying about I find it remarkable that I have never heard a pundit or supporter suggest a ticket that includes both Democratic frontrunners.

Why not?

Isn't that the democrat's dream ticket?

Poll

199 votes Show Results

Do you believe Hillary and Obama can share the presidency?

199 votes Vote Now!

Do you believe Hillary and Obama can share the presidency?

Yes, I'm sure they can work together

7 votes

Yes, but they both have to make political comprimises

5 votes

NO, Fr**kin' WAY

90 votes

No, because they're ideas are too different

8 votes

Maybe, but it's not worth the gamble

8 votes

Maybe, but pigs'll fly sooner.

13 votes

Yes, but it's unlikely to happen in the real world

7 votes

Dream ticket? More like a nightmare

48 votes

No, because their administration would be a disaster

13 votes

Letter from Dublin Castle

CitiZenJon

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday April 06, 2008 · 5:36 PM PDT

2008/04/06 · 17:36

This is an offshoot of my journalism thesis. I'm interested in the transition of media from traditional (tv, radio) to non-traditional media (Internet).

Ok, ok, before you YAWN! and move to the next diary, just hear me out.

My thesis proposal outlined my ambition to provide an independent news source on any given story, using multi-media content (photos, text, video).

Turns out I chose my story pretty well :-), Judge Mahon's Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning and Payments into allegations of corruption in the Irish land planning system has exposed a host of politicians on the take.

I chose a non-traditional blog format to tell the story of shenanigans going on up at Dublin Castle.

Please check it out :-)

http://citizenjon2008dublincastle.wo...

Poll

22 votes Show Results

Do you trust your politicians?

22 votes Vote Now!

Do you trust your politicians?

Yes

1 vote

Sometimes

4 votes

Yes, but it's good to be vigilant

3 votes

Not really

5 votes

Absolutely not, they're all corrupt

2 votes

No, why should I?

5 votes

I do but power corrupts

2 votes

Irish Leader announces resignation

CitiZenJon

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday April 02, 2008 · 6:04 AM PDT

2008/04/02 · 06:04

The Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern announced this morning that he would be stepping down as leader of the Irish nation and the political party Fianna Fail on May 6th.

Mr. Ahern stated his intention following the ongoing revelations from the Mahon Tribunal's inquiry into corruption.

http://citizenjon2008dublincastle.wo...

Poll

40 votes Show Results

What do you think about the Irish Leader's resignation

40 votes Vote Now!

What do you think about the Irish Leader's resignation

I think he did the right thing

16 votes

I think it was a bad move

0 votes

Who? What?

5 votes

The buck has to stop somewhere

5 votes

I don't give a hoot about Bertie Ahern

2 votes

The media should have left him alone

1 vote

It's a sad day for Irish politics

11 votes

RSS

Bertie Branded a Liar

Israeli flag burned during solidarity meeting: Dublin, Ireland

Mahmoud's Chrismas Message

Ireland says no to Europe

The Dream Ticket

Letter from Dublin Castle

Irish Leader announces resignation