Is this true?In Ireland theres a statue of Bill Clinton

[romantico]

I just heard from a co-worker who was in Ireland last year say theres a huge statue of Bill Clinton in some park.She said Bill Clinton is looked at as some kind of God in Ireland.Can anyone back this up?

[MAlibdem]

1. He helped with Good Friday Peace Accords?

Didn't he?

Also, just about the time Ireland's economy was exploding (in the good sense) Clinton was in office here...

Just brainstorming...

[Dogmudgeon]

2. Yes and Yes

There's a statue -- I've seen pictures of it.

Bill Clinton is not just popular here in the USA, he's far and away the most popular US President since Kennedy throughout most of the world. Well, the Serbians hate him, but I bet there are even a lot of Serbians who think he's god-like.

Al Gore doesn't do too shabby, either. Jimmy Carter is also thought of fondly in many lands.

On the other hand, every Republican POTUS since Eisenhower is looked on with a mixture of hatred and revulsion by most of the world's people -- not so much in the case of Jerry Ford, but in the case of Shrub, the stain is likely to be deep and long.

--bkl
Faith an' begorrah!

[DaveSZ]

3. Most of the world loves Bill Clinton

Clinton, for all of my disagreements with him on policy, knew the value of having the world on your side.

When Kerry wins, he should appoint Clinton as a special envoy to help heal the damage Bush has caused diplomatically.

[jean]

4. Yes! I found a picture

here:

http://www.irishcorner.com/ecardapp.php?image_id=392


plus news of him buying a two bedroom apt in Ireland! This article explains how the statue came about:

Clinton tees up his dream flat in Ireland
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%...

[K8-EEE]

39. Wow, Compare That With The Falling GWB Statue In London!

And there you have a good visual of what Shrub has "accomplished..." Really amazing!

[dbt]

5. Ballybunion, County Kerry

This appeared last July in The Telegraph:

The Irish appear to have taken Mr Clinton to their hearts. A statue in Ballybunion, Co Kerry, was erected in his honour after he played a couple of rounds. An estimated 100,000 people turned out to welcome him when he arrived in Belfast in 1995.

Mr Clinton, who named his new Labrador "Seamus" following the death of "Buddy", is reportedly preparing to learn the Irish language after he was presented with a self-teaching pack on a visit to Londonderry last weekend.

Can anyone imagine a statue of bu$h anywhere?

more from The Telegraph.


dbt

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. or imagine Shrub willingly learning a language?

other than English, though it would be nice if he learned that as well?

or Shrub willingly learning anything, even beyond "from his mistakes"?

I could picture in my mind statues of Shrub all over the place - though nowhere outside the US - but I could imagine many a fundy church erecting statues of him, and I have a feeling we're going to see the same thing, though on a much smaller scale, that the Reagan worshippers do.

[Habibi]

12. or imagine 100,000 people willingly turning out to greet Shrub?

[CBHagman]

18. Only to protest, my dear.

Remember that novelist John LeCarre (yes, really) and about 99,000 other Britons hit the streets of London to protest Bush during his state visit to the U.K. The Washington Post (scurvy dogs) tried to play it down, but it was a really telling moment.

Also, when Bush met with Tony Blair in Northern Ireland, antiwar demonstrators marched against Bush. They were kept a good distance away. Aren't they always?

Yeah, Bush attracts people -- angry people with signs.

[calimary]

35. Yes, certainly! bush's statue would be in the Devil's Basement.

Probably being installed there right now.

[cmf]

38. Probably somewhere in Texas

a few years from now, just like his one-termer daddy. My husband and I were flying through Intercontinental Airport in Houston a few weeks ago (the one they named after Bush I), when we saw a bronze statue of Bush I. It took all I had not to toss my cookies.

[Davis_X_Machina]

6. It's in Ballybunion, and it's of him playing golf.n/t

[DaveSZ]

7. "Ballybunion, Co Kerry"

It's a sign!

[romantico]

8. That is AWSOME!

Thanks for the pic! I LOVE it! I want a statue just like it in my front lawn!

[Johnny Arson]

13. It IS a sign.

We must nominate Bill Ballybunion for VP.

/humming Irish national anthem

[Hamlette]

9. Ireland loves Clinton

When we were there in 2000 we met with some history professors who literally got tears in their eyes when they talked about Clinton. I asked "why do you like Clinton so much?" They gave me a look like I was from Mars and said: "Because he cared about us." I'm sure they wanted to add: "you idiot!"

We saw the statute too. It was cool to see a statue of Clinton in Ireland but in all honesty I didn't think it was a good likeness.

[RummyTheDummy]

24. "Because he cared about us"

I think a lot of people here in this country feel/felt the exact same way. I know I sure as hell do and always have. It's no act with him.

[Hamlette]

29. and it's why I don't like Bush

Because he doesn't care about me. Remember the stories going around about Bush telling people "I don't care what you think"? I have always felt that Bush was giving the cold shoulder to anyone who did not agree with him. He didn't need us, why should he bother.

Nominating Ashcroft was the first sign of how he would govern. All part of the "you are for me or against me" attitude. The exact opposite of Clinton in nature.

[Padraig18]

10. It's quite true.

Bill Clinton is adored in Ireland. He was the 1st US President since JFK to actually CARE about Ireland.

[Kelvin Mace]

14. I also recall a story that he is pretty well liked

in certain sections of the Balkans. I remember a two or threey-story high picture of him on the side of a building.

David Allen
www.thoughtcrimes.org
Distrusting the Government Since 1984

[rinsd]

15. Ireland loves Clinton...just maybe not to the point of deity ;-) (nt)

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. The Irish LOVE Bill Clinton!

I'll never forget his last visit before he left office....millions of people showed up to see him. His visit had something to do with IT. Gateway? Dell? It was just amazing to see how much he's loved there. It was heartwarming after watching what the repukes did to him for 8 damn years. The Irish know a good thing when they see it.

The Kosovars did the same thing when he visited Kosovo last year. He is adored around the world by everyone but U.S. freepers.

[bigbillhaywood]

19. I don't adore him, and I'm certainly not a Freeper, but yes, he

certainly was one of the most popular US Presidents on the international stage (right up there with FDR and JFK). Unlike some other Presidents, he took a very active and keen interest in global affairs, and was an intelligent and charismatic guy. Personally, I think he did better diplomatically than domestically. I never voted for him, but I think he'd be a great Secretary of State.

[in_cog_ni_to]

28. I DO adore him!

He was the best president of MY lifetime. JFK was assassinated when I was 8 years old. I LOVE Jimmy Carter, but he was a horrible president. Bill Clinton was wonderful. IMCPO.

[CBHagman]

17. Gerry Adams has some great stories about Clinton in Ireland

I have an Adams memoir, and there's a whole string of accounts of gatherings, White House events, visits, overseas travels, etc., involving the Big Dog. Apparently people turned out in a big way to greet him, and I get the impression that Clinton had a grand old time in whatever bakery or community center he happened to wander into.

[bigbillhaywood]

20. Not to mention he was the first US President to give such

a high-ranking IRA official a visa since the Irish Free State was established.

[heebyjeebus]

21. Do Irish-Yanks still support IRA?

You're speaking about Gerry Adams as though he's a decent guy, the IRA are a bunch of jaded idiots just like the unionists. It's seems as though supporting them is acceptable in parts, and I know in the past many Irish Americans have helped fund their activities. I'm not accusing you lot but as you seem to be from New England I'd imagine you'd know something about it. Or don't the IRA count as terrorists because they don't wear turbans and they don't fuck with Americans?

[Padraig18]

22. Some of us do, yes.

Until there's a credible, impartial constabulary and criminal-courts system in Ulster, there's every reason TO support them.

[heebyjeebus]

25. Are you serious?

Most Irish Americans are about as Irish as I am. Same with Italian Americans, English Americans, whatever. I seriously doubt that you're reasoning comes into play in most IRA members heads. It's the product of this romanticized horseshit all Irish, Welsh and Scottish nationalists dream about, that England is some sort of oppressor to them. Scots complain about being part of the UK, well guess what, they agreed to it when there was a Scottish king on the throne! Of course, I guess if you support the IRA for trying to seize control of Northern Ireland through terrorism you wouldn't mind too much if some Native American put a nail bomb in your mailbox as a response to Yank oppression of their culture. Or why isn't Al Qaida thought of as freedom fighters too then when they kill innocents? All terrorists have noble motives, depending on the beholder. You either endorse terrorism or you don't.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

26. Hey, heebyjeebus

Don't even try to make that argument to anyone who has lived as a Catholic in Northern Ireland.

You have no idea what things were like for a Catholic in the Six Counties in the past or for that matter what it's still like in some areas of Northern Ireland.

Why don't you try and educate yourself before you make stupid comments about something you obviously know nothing about.

[heebyjeebus]

27. So that makes killing shoppers in Manchester acceptable?

I don't fucking think so. Not saying that things are equal, or that you're necessarily wrong, just that nearly killing my grandma is not going to make me sympathetic to their cause. And with all Americans wanting the head of Bin Laden, I figured you might realise the hypocrisy.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

30. No, it doesn't

but you obviously no absolutely nothing about what is still happening in the Six Counties. Like I said, educate yourself.

You know how to use the Internet. Find out for yourself.

BTW not all Catholics in NI support Sinn Fein, have you ever heard of the SDLP? John Hume won a Nobel Peace Prize and he was the leader of the SDLP until his recent retirement. Also check out the Cory Report. It's pretty interesting.

[heebyjeebus]

31. Fair enough then.

I'll take up that challenge, no offence intended. I should have explained that I don't care what your political inclination is just as long as you don't try to blow anyone in my family up. And you're right I know fuck all about the intricacies of politics in Northern Ireland, but since you've been so informative I'll change that.

[DrWeird]

32. Hey...

at least they don't beat prisoners to death and rape the women and children. Unlike US troops.

[Padraig18]

36. Well, the UDF *did* kill MY parents.

I have more than enough reason to want to see Ulster returned to Ireland, but the UK insists on keeping what they stole fair and square.

[heebyjeebus]

37. OK I was wrong feel free to talk shit

Sorry to Padraig18 and mohinoaklawnillinois, I was wrong, and I apologise. I did some reading and realised how ignorant I am on that issue. The reason I was on that tirade is because I believed, and still do, that if Americans support IRA terrorism, then why is it so unthinkable to do the same for al-Qaida? not that I do but surely you must see the irony? American imperialism and British imperialism are in the same vein. So if you can shed some light on that, as you are clearly more knowledgable than me on this issue, it would be much appreciated.

[Padraig18]

40. 1st, the IRA are not The Borg.

The IRA has factions, and the VAST majority of IRA supporters are like me, and do not condone the murder of innocent civilians (collateral damage, in the vernacular). Members of the military, paramilitary and important political persons are legitimate targets, because they represent the government of an occupying power. It is critical to remember that distinction--- VITALLY important.

As far as imperialism is concerned, you have no need to demonstrate the irony to me: I opposed this war (and other imperial actions by the US government). The difference between Al Qaeda and MOST IRA members/supporters is this: the IRA are fighting to eject an occupying power from THEIR OWN nation, whereas Al Qaeda is a stateless, anti-Western terrorist organization.

Does this clear it up at all?

[heebyjeebus]

42. Okeedokee

I was curious-if the British did give the Catholics the representation they wanted, and left Ulster altogether, would that be ok by the IRA? Do they (in general) want to co-exist amongst Protestants or do they want them to go too? Also do you reckon a unified Ireland would be peaceful with Protestants still residing in Ulster? You have to understand I've had to expel a lot of stereotypes from my brain so I'm struggling a bit.

[SidDithers]

33. 26 + 6 = 1

Sid

[bigbillhaywood]

34. Sweet, a Sinn Fein debate on a Clinton thread. I love it!

[bigbillhaywood]

23. I just mentioned a fact. Not interested in getting into a debate over

the merits or faults of Sinn Fein.

[Catherine Vincent]

41. One of the reasons the Irish love Bill is because he's Irish.

He's one of their's.

[ArkDem]

43. Blythe Irish?

[BlueStateGirl]

44. His mother was a Cassidy.