Search Results for 'Ivor Callely'

“Painting: The art of protecting flat surfaces from the weather and exposing them to the critic.”

A “dictator” is a head of state who exercises arbitrary authority over the lives of his citizens and who cannot be removed from power through legal means. Kim Jong-Il of North Korea, Than Shew of Burma and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe are all dictators. They rule not because they have the approval of their citizens but because they want to rule. Brian Cowen’s democratic credentials are becoming increasingly suspect in this regard. This is a worrying development because the Taoiseach should be committed to democracy by its definition and not just on his own terms.

What with miscarriage misdiagnosis, banking reports incriminating politicians, regulators, bankers and more importantly our Taoiseach, and Senators’ expenses making the headlines this week, it has certainly been a week of revelations.

I have received some correspondence over the last few months telling me that I am unbalanced in my column because I have an anti-Fianna Fail agenda. This would be one of the more moderate and considered communications. Others have not been quite so polite. To set the record straight here is my personal position.