Tag: Gaza

Micheál Martin’s Árd Fheis speech – A lot said, but not much new

by dsmooney, posted in Fianna Fáil, Micheal Martin, Northern Ireland, Stormont

By my calculations last Saturday night’s Árd Fheis speech was Micheál Martin’s ninth as party leader. His first being at the 73ú Árd Fheis in 2012. This week’s micro-gathering was the the 81st.

Martin enters his fourteenth year* as party leader in three months. He has been unfortunate in missing out on several opportunities to address the party faithful,  particularly during his time as Taoiseach.

Árd Fheis speeches matter. Though leaders now have other online platforms where they can directly address the public, they greatly cherish the half hour TV slot, once every 12 – 18 months. Continue reading “Micheál Martin’s Árd Fheis speech – A lot said, but not much new” →

Israel’s 2009 PR handbook on defending attacks on #Gaza

by dsmooney, posted in Government, Policy, Politics, Seanad

This is the handbook prepared by US Republican pollster Frank Luntz in 2009. It sets out the language and arguments that Israeli Government spokespeople should use on the media to explain and defend Israel’s then occupation of Gaza.

You can hear lines from this 2009 being used again today to defend the latest onslaught on Gaza.

IsraelProject

Here is an article by Patrick Cockburn from the UK’s Independent newspaper on the handbook.