Wicklow Bloguard

Begrudger Smack Down!

2009-08-28T05:37:00.000-07:00

Bam! Pow! Zap! Begrudgers beware! Minister Micheál Martin is on your asses!

Reacting to the barrage of criticism against one of Ireland's foremost intellectuals, John O'Donoghue, Martin has defended his party colleague against over spending taxpayer money.

In an act of unmitigated bravery, Martin -- SURELY HE DESERVES SAINTHOOD FOR THIS! -- has waded in to the festering swamp of nay-sayers, begrudgers, back stabbers and hurlers on the ditch to warn against "losing the plot!"

I AGREE, MINISTER! Plot off you feckers!! O'Donoghue and his wife deserved that travel. So what if they took a few limo rides and rented a hat here and there. They are worth it. We need to reward our talent. That is why Ireland is a world-class country with an economy the envy of Europe. Cop on, people.

Leave John Alone!

2009-08-24T06:04:00.000-07:00

One time, not too long ago, a very brave young man in the States made an impassioned plea for the media and begrudgers to lay off Britney Spears.

Our problem in Ireland is that we have no one with the balls willing to stand up for our beleagured leaders. Instead what we get is this: a hateful catalogue of purported "waste" or "abuse of privilege" on travel expenses by one of Ireland's intellectual giants, Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue. Or this kind of thing: mockery on the internet, doctored pictures of John with a big head acting the eejit. Or news articles "revealing" how much he spent.

I, for one, have had enough. LEAVE JOHN ALONE!

Lenihan Drops The Ball

2009-07-31T03:03:00.000-07:00

My previous unconditional admiration for Finance Minister Brian Lenihan has taken a knock. He introduced NAMA legislation to save our heroic bankers and builders. Costing just €90 billion, this is money any taxpayer should be glad to pay.
The Lenihan goes and pees on our parade. Sez he: "But Mr Lenihan insisted that the agency would not be used to benefit property developers or banks."
WTF?!
Doesn't he know these were the very people who gave us the unparalleled growth and opportunities of the Celtic Tiger era? And now he wants to stab them in the back. For shame, Mr. Lenihan.

At Last! Someone Has Said It!

2009-07-30T02:32:00.000-07:00

It has to be said, and now it has been said: Shareholders were to blame for the banking collapse. (Read the article here)
"Tom O’Connell, assistant director general of the bank and the Financial Services Authority of Ireland, said investors got what was coming to them for not keeping bank chiefs in check." Bang on!
While our selfless politicians and public servants were struggling mightily to rein in the excesses, arrogance and financial idiocy of the banks during the so-called Celtic Tiger period, stupid, stupid people on the ground thwarted them at every step.
We need more people like Mr. O'Connell in Ireland — and we need them in the public sector. NOW!

Unparalled Heroism in RTE

2009-03-06T07:29:00.000-08:00

Very distressing news today, I'm afraid. It looks like pay cuts are coming to RTE. (Irish Times)

I know the cynics and begrudgers — and you know who you are! — will say many of RTÉ's brightest stars are paid too much. But Pat Kenny, (known affectionately as "The Plank" by his many, many admirers), Gerry Ryan, Ryan Turdity and many others have fearlessly stood up to the government during the boom to demand why our money was being squandered. They have done so at tremendous personal risk to themselves and their professional reputations.

While newspapers around the country were gorging themselves on advertising revenues from property advertising, RTÉ was holding down pay costs of its brightest stars and putting money aside for a rainy day! Did you ever see RTÉ induldge in "property porn" type shows? No, they were all very tastefully done. They were more like nude art, for crying out loud!

Unfortunately, the downturn has been so severe that even the far-sighted management at RTÉ has been caught. RTÉ's brightest stars have been fearless in holding the government to account. They have earned our undieing gratitude. In fact, people were so impressed with Pat Kenny that his neighbour even gave him some land!

Everyone in RTÉ soldiers on with an honest, unflappable, professional attidude. I can safely say that during my many, many happy hours watching them that not even one of them is smug!

I say now, it is time to increase the licence fee. We need to share the pain and help RTÉ.

Thank God Cullen is Still With Us!

2009-03-04T01:41:00.000-08:00

Martin Cullen, our dear Republic's heroic Minister for Tourism, could have died!

The minister, who is not incompetent, was travelling in an Air Corps helicopter this past weekend when a door fell off. Costing only €8,000 to bring him from Waterford to Kerry and on to Dublin, this trip has been criticised by some as wasteful. (More about it in today's Irish Independent.)

Begrudgers — and you know who you are — will say Cullen already has a State Mercedes and ties up two Gardaí as chauffeurs. These same begrudgers will probably redden with indignation as they point out that an Aer Aran aerfaer from Dublin to Kerry is less than €50. These begrudgers would probably go ballistic when they find out that their taxes are about to shoot up to pay for the economic mismanagment and corruption engineered by Cullen and his ilk.

I have just one thing to say to those same bitter, little people: 2002 & 2007. Where will you be in 2012?