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STANDING AT THE end of the pier on 20 October 1960, 24 islanders from four families prepared to depart Inishark off the Galway coast – their homeland – for the last time.
Beset by recent tragedy – including the drowning of three young men – and neglected by authorities, they left the island reluctantly to resettle on the mainland, joining the residents of the Great Blasket Island, East Skeam and Iniskeas evacuated over the previous decade.
Although these events occurred more than 60 years ago, the decline remains a shadow that stops today’s islands – a grim reminder of the ever-present possibility of the lights going out for good. And the fears around depopulation are not unfounded.
Population decline on the Irish islands following the Famine of the 1840s has been an ever-present threat for island dwellers, and is on the cards again as Census data points to worrying declines in recent years.
As part of our cross-border ISLAND NATION project with reporters in Scotland and Italy, supported by Journalismfund.eu, we wanted to get to the bottom of the depopulation crisis and examine if islanders voices are going unheard with potential tragic consequences for island life as we know it.
We spoke to dozens of islanders and community leaders, and visited islands from Cork to Donegal to better understand the key issues facing the islands, with residents calling for a platform, not a crutch, through coordinated, joined-up policy to ensure the islands not just survive, but thrive.
Over the coming days, we explore key infrastructure issues impacting islanders, including housing constraints, concerns over healthcare services, damaged pier infrastructure and a lack of support for traditional island fishing communities.
You can also explore the key issues by listening to The Explainer x Noteworthy podcast on this project:
Our offshore islands lying off the Atlantic coast are woven into the fabric of Irish life, heritage and culture, and are self-reliant with a strong sense of community. But they are under threat from depopulation as younger generations leave for education and work, and are increasingly not coming back.
In 1841, 34,000 people lived on over 60 of our offshore islands. Today, the 27 remaining inhabited islands have a combined permanent population closer to just 2,700 – and numbers are dropping.
There was a 7% drop off in numbers between 2011 and 2016, and Rhoda Twombly, secretary of Comhdhail Oileain na hEireann or the Irish Islands Federation, expects a further plunge when the latest Census data comes out later this year.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said Twombly, herself a resident of Inishlyre for the past 25 years with her husband who was born and reared on the island, one of the last inhabited small islands in Clew Bay. “There are some cases of increasing population, but very few and it’s really hard to watch places going down.”
Another issue is the ageing population, she said, with Census data showing an older than average population and a higher proportion of retired people than the mainland.
Over 20% of island populations are over 65 compared to the national average of 12%, while the dependency ratio – young and old people outside the normal working age of 15 to 64 – was 57%, higher than the national average of 53%.
Twombly said that these two issues combined create a vicious reinforcing feedback loop as State support tends to decline as populations drop.
As investment in childcare, education, healthcare, transport and housing reduce, young people move away, further increasing outward migration, and new families are less inclined to move in, leading to creeping population decline.
Twombly’s concerns were shared by every islander that we spoke with as part of this project, including during visits to several islands last November when the tourist boom had dropped off and, as Clare Island native Humphrey O’Leary told us, the true scale of population decline shines through.
One weekend last winter, the taxi driver and skipper counted 118 residents on the island, including children home from school for the weekend. “And I brought [the figures] up as much as I could.”
O’Leary, like many others in the close-knit community, isn’t worried about himself but for the long-term future of the island. “I’m getting older. I could be very selfish, it’s grand for me here – peace and tranquillity. But to me, that’s not healthy, eventually the place will be dead.”
Down at the local shop, the heartbeat of any island, the owner Padraic O’Malley shares the same concerns. “The biggest problem is population decline,” he said. “If you talk to any of the islanders that’s the thing that worries them the most.”
“If we go below that critical mass, which we’re close enough to, the islands will fast become summer islands. That’s the biggest worry,” he said.
The key solution to attract people back to the islands is obvious for O’Malley – investments in the things islanders are asking for like broadband connectivity, upgrades to undersea cables, pier repairs and ring-fenced funding to reflect the unique costs associated with island life.
The obvious solutions have not received the obvious support needed, O’Leary said, with islanders let down by the authorities on a local and national level. “Over the last 25 years, we’ve been left on the backfoot and little band aids have been used in various places as far as infrastructure is concerned, and ticking little boxes, and going away and not committing to anything at all.”
“Islands are not looking for handouts,” O’Malley said, with numerous issues identified and solutions offered by islanders and representative groups such as the Islands Federation over the years. “I’m not looking for anything for me… I’m looking for something that will keep my children here.”
Since it was set up in 1984, Comhdháil na nOileán has drawn attention to the socio-economic difficulties facing islanders, problems they felt were not being addressed at a local or national level.
Key issues include access to the islands, healthcare, access to housing and other essential services – all of which are interconnected, according to Séamus Bonner, secretary of the Arranmore Island Community Council and former long-standing board member of the Federation.
“When there’s a problem in one sector, it has a big impact on the other aspects of the island community, it’s all kind of stuck together,” he said. At the moment, however, Bonner said that it is more of a case of “firefighting all the time when issues arise”, and normally only after islanders shout loud.
This was the case for Clare Island, according to O’Malley, with increased daily ferry runs to the mainland since the summer of 2021 only coming into place “because people created a storm” and promised to camp outside Leinster House.
“As a Minister says to me one time, ‘it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the oil’,” O’Malley remarked. “If that’s the way we govern our country, it’s an awful way to be doing it… I’d love our state to tell us what their policy for the islands is. And if that policy is ‘we want you to move off it’, tell us.”
The State is soon set to give O’Malley his answer, with a much-delayed island-specific policy plan set to be released by the Government in the coming months.
The policy document is the first island-specific plan since an interdepartmental committee published a framework for developing islands 27 years ago in 1996 that achieved objectives to increase access to the islands with more ferry routes and improved pier infrastructure.
However, the State has admitted that “aspects of the 1996 proposals were not met or not fully met” and aims to close this gap with the new policy. It opened a public consultation in November 2019 with the view to publishing in 2020.
After various delays due to the pandemic and restrictions to travel to conduct consultations on the islands, the Department said that the policy report would be released on several occasions last year.
Over the past two years, islanders have expressed concern to the Joint Committee on the Islands that the plan needs to be implemented urgently to deal with population decline and ageing populations, as well as a myriad of other issues.
Although consultations and surveys were carried out with islanders, the Islands Federation was not directly involved in designing the document and have not set eyes on the draft report despite various requests.
According to Twombly of the Federation, this sums up how the island communities feel they are being treated – essentially as an afterthought. Noteworthy was also refused access to the latest version of the policy document.
A spokesperson for the Department of Rural and Community Development said that there are a “number of steps” still to be taken prior to publication and expects these steps to be completed “as soon as possible”.
In relation to the concerns of islanders that they were not directly involved in the policy process, the spokesperson said that it has “offered significant opportunity for the island communities to present their views on the policy and the future of their islands”.
They said that the committee has from the outset, “recognised the crucial importance of input from the island communities”, holding public meetings and carrying out online questionnaires.
“Officials from the Department are in regular communication with Comhdháil Oileán na hÉireann [the Irish Islands Federation], and this practice will continue as the policy is finalised and beyond,” they said, adding that Minister Heather Humphreys attended their AGM in 2021 and 2022.
Several islanders told us that there may be a tide turning with the current Minister who appears to be more attentive to their needs and has engaged in more direct conversation – the first time they feel this has happened since Éamon Ó Cuív’s time in charge of the islands in the 2000s.
According to Ó Cuív, however, the policy plan would not have taken so long to put together if islanders were directly engaged in the process from the very start.
The islands arguably received the most support from the State in modern history during O’Cuiv’s tenure, with harbours and piers upgraded, new subsidised passenger and cargo ferry routes set up, and medical centres opened, among other achievements.
All islanders we spoke to said there was a lull for a number of years after Ó Cuív’s time as Minister, and that significant progress was achieved during his tenure that kept many islands going.
Ó Cuív told Noteworthy that it was a simple process to work out what the islands needed in his three-page 38-point plan that he put together for the islands – talking to those living on our isles.
“The plan was derived from visiting the islands, consulting with the islanders and passing it around amongst friends I had involved in development on the islands. Like most things in life, the obvious things to be done were very, very simple,” he said.
“The last 12 years was stagnation,” added Ó Cuív. “And to be quite honest, to me, this island plan whenever it will come out has been an excuse to do nothing for [the last] four years.”
Since the late 2000s, islanders said that they have felt a shift back toward islands competing with mainland towns and villages for funding and support. With higher investment needs and production costs, many islands are unable to compete with the mainland.
This is a European-wide problem, with an EU study in 2021 finding that most islands do not have dedicated, ring-fenced supports and are left in “direct competition with mainland territories which have more resources to be competitive”. This, the EU found, leaves islands “clearly disadvantaged”.
This is most certainly true in Ireland, according to Máire Uí Mhaoláin, the CEO of Comhar na nOileán, the islands development company, with the LEADER fund a prime example.
The rural development programme is one of the most vital funding streams for island projects, with around 30 projects funded to date, including glamping facilities on several islands, upgrades to Arranmore Lighthouse and the building of a community hall on Whiddy Island.
According to Uí Mhaoláin, the funding is vital as it enables island communities to “take the reins in their own hands and develop services themselves”, whether it’s a community cafe, a walking tour or developing trails to bring visitors to national monuments.
“Some islands will be lucky to get, even at the height of the [tourist] season, 20 or 30 visitors a day and part of that reason is because there isn’t enough accommodation, cafes [or] services like public toilets.”
Uí Mhaoláin said, however, that getting this vital funding to islands has become more “challenging” since the mid-2010s when the State changed rules to bring the islands within mainland structures.
Prior to this, during the previous LEADER programme between 2007 and 2013, Comhar na nOileán was sitting down with community groups to discuss their ideas and plans, approving project applications for funding and processing claims for payment.
Now, the programme is delivered by different Local Action Groups (LAGs) in each county, with Comhar na nOileán relegated to an implementing partner in the process, responsible for the day-to-day management and coordination of the programme but without any decision-making capacity.
This is not suitable for the islands, Uí Mhaoláin said, as this set-up adds an extra layer of bureaucracy, as islanders now deal with different county evaluation boards, making it more difficult to deliver projects for islands. In addition, pitting island projects against mainland ones is having a limiting effect on funding success, she said.
There is also the issue that many projects on islands seeking LEADER funding are small and can fall through the cracks of a mainland decision-making body. “[In the past], we’ve often funded projects that would be maybe less than €2,000. Now, that will not be entertained by mainland structure, because there’s too much work involved in this.”
Island representatives have been arguing for a return to an island-specific grouping but Uí Mhaoláin said that they have been consistently “dispersed to the four winds”.
“Everything we do, and that includes the LEADER programme, is geared towards maintaining a sustainable viable population And that’s why we are constantly fighting for the islands to be treated as one sub-regional area as a collective,” she said.
The Department of Rural and Community Development told us that it will not be reintroducing an offshore islands LAG in the next LEADER programme. Instead, there will now be a ring-fenced budget and island representation as part of the decision-making body in each county area.
Uí Mhaoláin and other island representatives we spoke with are still not satisfied with the tweaks to the model, and strike the move up as another case of islanders not being listened to about what they know is best for them.
And she is not giving up. “We’re just not accepting it… we’re going to make a lot of noise about it.”
Islanders such as Humphrey O’Leary and Padraic O’Malley are exhausted from beating the drum about their needs and the solutions on offer but are not planning to give up either, and want to ensure their islands thrive for the next generations to come.
It is this community spirit that gives Rhoda Twombly hope that the tide can be turned on declining populations on the island. “On the positive side, there are businesses opening up, people that are putting their best foot forward to open their own enterprises.
“There’s also the young people that have returned, very well educated, very driven, very intelligent. So, [I have] great hopes, now if we could just get a little bit more backup.”
Unless the new islands policy is implemented soon and islanders are treated as equals at the decision-making table, Twombly’s hopes remain tinged with the shadow of the loss of island populations past. “Inishark won’t be the only place to close, I can tell you that.”
—
INVESTIGATING ISLAND DEPOPULATION – FULL SERIES OUT NOW
Have a listen to The Explainer x Noteworthy podcast on our findings
—
By Niall Sargent of Noteworthy
This article was developed with the support of Journalismfund.eu as part of a cross-border project with Jamie Mann for The Ferret in Scotland and Giacomo Zandonini for IrpiMedia in Italy.
Please support our work by submitting an idea, helping to fund a project or setting up a monthly contribution to our investigative fund HERE>>
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Difference is Donnie boy is that Bill ain’t running for president and that Bill never got caught… You are and you did…
@Poole Hyde: His wife used state resources to cover for her husband. She’s running for president.
eh Bill did get caught. caught rotten in fact. more than once.
Never once on mic talking like that.. and he still ain’t running for president…
True. and bad form of trump to bring that up anyway.
Danny Williams, Bill Clintons alleged illegitimate son… https://goo.gl/images/SNEMsv
What is illegitimate about a child? A disgusting term that has rightly been abolished in Irish law.
Surprised there aren’t acres of footage like this. He’s been in enough tv stations and what not,and seems to like to talk
Eh, really? Because all Bill has ever been so much as charged with is lying about getting a blow job. Hate to break it to you but the party’s over for Donnie Boy..
@thejynxeffect
Funnily enough neither Clinton has ever even been questioned with regards rape.
How’s Trump’s upcoming rape trial coming?
He did not have sexual relations with that woman…except he did.
Crimson, no one cares about Bill’s old news any more. You can scrape all you like, the bottom of the barrel was hit quite some time ago.
“I apologise IF anyone was offended” And he says he is not a politician.
Im sure Hillary’s camp had this on file for a while, leave it for a few weeks before the Election for clouding voters minds.
I hope the Donald has something up his sleeve for Hillary.. Soon.
My hunch is that Julian Assange is gonna be that trick card ..by default.
WikiLeaks are gonna pull out some real good dirt on the Clinton’s… Just watch.
@Mr KnowitAll: they hajydt released the podesta files. He is Clinton campaign manager. Uranium one and Russia mentioned. Between them and this with trump. Interesting weekend ahead. The Donald strikes again.
They have just released.
Perfectly timed deflection -
If there is anything that Trump could say that would stop some people supporting him……….anything at all?
So he was looking to use the strategically timed release of information of dubious origin to damage his opponent and his supporters complain that he’s foiled not only by similar tactics but with his own words.The phrase “hoisted by his own petard springs to mind” … And just wait until those women he claims to have groped, and he flat out said he’s groped women on that tape, come forward….. Actually as I type this one has come out claiming it happened her in 2010 and this is not some money grabber either…
Padraig, so you love trump!
When Hillary brings this up Trump can legitimately respond by saying “I did not have sex with that woman.” LOL!
Locker room boy talk much worse than leaking gov secretes on un-secure server, stealing millions from Haitian survivors, stealing from charity foundation, husband raping women and then threatening the victims, lying to congress, not raising a finger to defend Americans getting killed at consulate, lying about sniper fire, - the fecking list is endless. Trump is not a complete saint but nothing compares to the corruption of the Clintons.
@Richard III:
She was appointed to the case by the judge & she also wasn’t actually having a laugh at the expense of the victim. Very poor effort man..
But this isn’t locker room boy talk Chris is it? This is how he behaves. He actually does this. But so good of you to excuse a serial abuser of women because he is so vile and to make utterly unsupported allegations about Hillary. Was Jimmy Saville misunderstood as well?
Yes Francis, she was laughing and bragging in that smug Hillary way. She dosen’t give two f#@ks for women’s rights.
@John R. You must really really hate Bill Clinton then?
A vile man.
“I apologise if anyone was offended” His favourite non – apology. The man’s (using the term loosely) a disgrace.
Hard to believe he could soon be running a country which is mainly populated by extremely polite and pleasant people who would rightly be abhorred by such a tirade.
@Pat O Neill: Being serious or sarcastic there Pat?
@Pat o Neill..would Hillary be one of those extremely polite people.
I’m serious. The average Joe on the street in the US would run a mile from Trumps ignorant rants and swagger – it’s just so uncomfortable for ordinary people. I was there years ago during a much more moderate presidential race and total strangers in shops were actually apologising to me for all the uncouth fuss going on. They are mostly sick of all the hype and constant media barrage from both candidates . This latest clip is just the last straw. What a vulgar lout this guy is. I think most republicans, certainly the ones I know, will be holding their noses when they cast their vote this year.
Good lad..if u can endorse either of them..you ain’t got a nose.
And that’s why almost half the country supports him? It’s not only Trump with the sexism and racism problem, the US has one too.
He’s a vile pig and his followers are disgusting vermin.
I agree with the first part of your comment, but the second part is bang out of order. Bigotry is not accepted from either side of the political spectrum.
Except that his followers support a vile, misogynistic racist who thinks that tax evasion is great…kind of makes them seem a bit vile doesn’t it?
So the right wing doesn’t accept bigotry, but accept Trump who you yourself just admitted is bigoted…
Why are people always so desperate to make excuses for racists and sexists? RNC and the political right in the US created Trump.
@Chris Cantwell: It’s not bigotry to make remarks about people due to their actions. People choose to support this disgusting human being. You don’t choose your skin colour, sexuality, etc. I’ve never made the same remarks about any other candidates supporters.Try again.
I’m not right wing, so I don’t know were you’re getting that from. I’m not defending trump in anyway shape or form.
Calling supporters of either side “disgusting vermin” because of there political view is bigotry.
@Chris Cantwell: It’s not because of their political view, it’s because of the person they are supporting.
@Philip Gerard: Still no excuse for calling Trump supporters Disgusting Vermin.
Straight out of the Jimmy Saville’s guide to being a celebrity! Grab them by the Pxxxy .
You’re right. It’s not an excuse, it’s a reason. He said he could shoot someone in public and his followers would still adore him, ergo, they are disgusting vermin. I refuse to recant and I’m not going to apologize for labeling the low-lifes to whom he’s given a platform.
I’m so happy now.This HAS to be the end of Trump . he’s nothing but a sleaze bag. Wonder what his children really think of him.
I find it ironic that it was a microphone that was working that finally sunk Trump.
Well he was sliding in the polls but this was a coup de grace. This just finished him.
@James O Donoghue:
Not so! Donald Trump is up in latest pollyesterday.
—”The daily Rasmussen Reports White House Watch poll found Trump slightly increased his lead over Hillary Clinton, and now has 43 percent of the vote nationwide compared to Clinton’s 41 percent. That’s a bit better than the 42-41 lead he had the day before—”
Keep pulling ahead Donald Trump!
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trump-up-2-in-latest-rasmussen-poll/article/2603789?custom_click=rss
Even if accurate (polls differ) that was yesterday before this.
Sorry Patrick but your crush is gonna lose and fade back into the obscurity of reality TV and failed businesses.
While I have you though…why are ye such a big fan of him? No hyperbole and Hilary bashing, a clear and concise explanation of the policies he has proposed and the political experience he holds that will make him a good POTUS.
It’s a lesser of two evils type thing.
@James O Donoghue:
And forgotten by tomorrow;such is the regularity of the onslought of scurility on Donald Trump.
You’re a very strange man Patrick.
Boo hoo Patrick…people aren’t being super-dooper nice to poor old Trump.
You sound like a tween screaming on YouTube because someone made fun of Zayn Malik.
What’s it about Trump gets you all hot & bothered? Is it the wig? The orange skin? The fact that he makes all your own prejudices seem valid because he’s some quasi famous dude in the TV saying it instead of just angry white dudes on Reddit?
Because guys never banter like that, ever.
Ah c’mon. A 60 year old man using the phrase “grab them by the pussy” is not lads banter.
Quick give her a calculator (banter).
She’s need one not only to do the math on the dates but to calculate her alimony…. She’s going to win and win bigly.
Poole hyde you have all the best words…
Couldnt see our Enda using language like that
He wouldn’t know what half those words even mean..
If Enda – or any of our TDs – was caught speaking like this they would in all likelihood resign immediately. Worst case, they would not retain their seats in the next election. We accept a lot of flaws in our politicians but Trump has gone so far beyond flawed so many times he really should not even be connsider for POTUS….
I’m not sure. Remember the drunken TD Tom Barry grabbing Deputy Collins the evening of an abortion debate of all things. Granted she didn’t claim sexual assault but it was still something he should have resigned over.
@Poole Hyde: I had forgotten about that (maybe subconsciously erased from my my memory??) But, yes, I’m wrong.
On that note, I think that he should have resigned, and I would ever vote for Tom Barry (not my constituency, maybe he’s a great person who made ‘one mistake’???)..
As vile as the sub humans who support him
Not very nice but not shocking either ..
Jesus. Guys here slagging Bill Clinton? Like Trump wouldn’t hit on an intern if he got in the White House? FFS- it would be a given according to him.
What an absolute perverted chauvinistic pig of the highest degree. Anybody who isn’t repulsed by this man needs their bloody heads checked.
He is a bit of a sap. She is a cold blooded killer. Russia and the US are on the brink of war. She gets in its all over. He gets in, he opens hotels in Russia and the Middle East. The people that actually run the country will carry on running it, with one big plus… no war! Stop believing the president of American is anything more than a puppet!
America and Russia are not on the brink of war. Pure hyperbole. Yes there is some tension but close to war…….. Ha ha ha ha
And Hillary’s ever so close relationship with devout Muslim Brotherhood operative Huma Abedin who Hillary admitted taking all her advice from concerning the Mid East when Sec. of State under Hussein Obama. What of that relationship and its promise for all our futures if Hillary/Huma gets to be POTUS.
Take off the tin hat ye gombeen
Keep spinning BS but be careful you will fall over! Defending the indefensible
Come on now Bryan. Would you ever leave Pat alone? It’s not fair on him. He loves Donald. That’s the be all and end all of it. He can’t take it that his beautiful paragon of perfection is not being worshipped as deserved. And if Pat didn’t defend this sort of thing, sure Donald would be on his own. Be charitable – let him have his tantrum. Sure no one else is really paying him any attention. It’s more of a hug he needs.
Good luck and …….. no thanks!
This smear tactic is in response to the Clintonites haven to withdraw TV adds covering 4 days bought in Florida to be run while The Hurricane was bashing Florida. Donald Trump called it an evil ,callous plan and Hillary was forced to withdraw the adds. It bucked up Florida Republicans however and Hillary will be drowned out of it in the polls.
Carry on Donald Trump-to The White House!
Lol…there’s no smear tactics against him, these are literal words out of his mouth. Bigots like you and Trump are wild in your wilful disconnect from reality. You’ll say all the most disgusting bigoted things you want, make wild generalisations about entire groups of people and then complain about how everyone’s so easily offended.
Yet when people so much as show your own words to others it’s a “smear tactic” and you’re the victim. Well I can’t say I’m surprised you’re a Trump fan with that level of ignorance. But I’ve always wondered is it as blissful as they say?
What an opportunity this election was for the Republicans, the best they could muster was Donald Trump. Hillary is certainly not without fault and very beatable in an election and the Republicans give us Donald Trump. Muppets will vote for him. “Grab them by the Pxxxy” Is the world going mad? People are actually doing their utmost of defending this vile clown and want him to be POTUS
@Bryan Kelly:
‘There’s no smear tactics against Donald Trump’! That merits laugh of the year.
You are just another sourpus classless calumniator like a few others here who resort to ad homs galor as soon as someone posts something you don’t agree with..
Clean up your act boy!
I’m impressed Patrick…that was a whole bunch of buzzwords that you don’t seem to actually understand and used wrong. Just throwing them out there does not a point make.
But amidst the wreckage of your attempt to sound superior I somehow managed to make out that you’re claiming the smear campaign is SO serious that to suggest there isn’t one is pure fantasy.
Again, his own words aren’t a smear campaign, they’re his own words. A smear campaign would be like the RNC & Donald continuing to claim crimes by Clinton that numerous investigations have roundly refuted.
But yeah…once again Trump’s the victim.
@Bryan Kelly:
You are the one that’s puffed up with superiorty trying to fault me on syntax in last post. But my point in is valid in prev. post contrasting callous Clinton’s attempt to corner the heavy number of viewers concerned about an approaching natural catasrophy with something in Donald Trump’s past 16 yrs back. Callous Clinton had to withdraw and it the attempt will cost her votes in Florida. That’s what make the likes of puffed ones like you resort to ad homs. However, I welcome the ad homs in this political contest because as all know the ‘DEPLORABLES’ remark by Hillary cost her lots and thus likewise will lower yor stature on here Your ad homs plus your puffed up attitude displayed in attempting to criticize me on syntax will show others here what a pretentious bore you are..
If the republicans put forward Kitch or Rubio, the race would be essentially over now
Lol…they’re not ad hominem attacks. Seriously, go learn what that actually means, before your next reply.
America has only one solution. Vote for which ever candidate you least hate and then vote for the other party down the ballot. That way at least they’ll be heavily restricted when they do get in
You’d think he was Chief of the IRA or something, responsible for disgusting needless vindictive murders of innocent people who simply got in the way of business and had nothing to do with nationalism.
It was just locker room banter.
The American electorate are smarter than that – they know he doesn’t condone needless murder.
Trump all the way, if you are a True Republican.
@alphanautica
Poor trolling. Try something original instead of the same nonsensical sound bytes and disproven nonsense. 1/10 (I gave you one because at least you used an analogy)
He’s said that as a star he can force himself on women.Couple that with the ongoing child rape lawsuit and we’re into Jimmy Savile territory. I’ll bet the woman he’s talking about here will be reaching for her lawyers, right after she’s done reaching for the sick bucket and I’d say there’s no way she’s not physically ill watching this.
He didn’t use the word “force”. Celebrities are always being accused of rape by people looking for money in lawsuits.
“I just start kissing them. I don’t even wait.” like it or not it sounds like he’s describing a sexual assault
“Grab them by the pussy”… His exact words…
Bryan apart from abusing people do you have any point to make?
That is the idea you make a cogent point
@john003
If alphanautica had had a valid point to respond to I might have afforded them the courtesy.
And if you were doing anything other than trying to invalidate someone who’s all over this article making cogent points, because sometimes he just loves to mess with the nonsensical, gibberish spouting Trump supporters who have no cogent points of their own, then I’m gonna have to give you a 1.5/10. You lost a half point for omitting a comma that was vital to the tone of your comment.
Thanks for playing.
Not that it was needed but ‘Coffin, meet nail’
In fairness not the worst things that he has ever said and there’s plenty of rope for him to hang himself. Personally I think his policies (and the glaring gaps in his policies) say more about his candidacy.
God bless America
Bill Clinton was a saint of course.
Is he running for president? No? Good, then what the hell was your point?
If you wanna talk about the candidates’ partners, let’s go.
I’ll start. How can we expect Trump to keep America happy if he couldn’t keep the previous three wives happy?
Whatever about keeping it happy how can he be expected to remain faithful to it. I’m not exactly joking either. He’s already called for Russia to hack his political opponents…
You have an extraordinary agenda against Trump/ Republicans
Yes! How dare they report HIS OWN WORDS. They’re trying to paint him as a bad person by reporting the exact words that came out of his mouth and were caught on tape.
What kind of journalism relies on direct quotation? The audacity!
Its damage limitation at this stage. People should ask themselves which one of the two has the potential to cause less damage. Looking at events in Syria this next few months could culminate in a Bay of Pigs scenario. Very dangerous times. This US race has hopefully taught the US one thing. Money and influence does not equate to quality candidates. Everything needs to be reformed there in relation to politics and the election race for presidential candidates. Please shorten it. Its excruciating to watch..
Seriously Anyone that doesn’t realise Trump is there to make That super psychotic woman look good , needs their head examined!
I dont believe it with Clintons responce “This is horrific. We cannot allow this man to become president.” How she calls it horiffic i dont know . She should be well used to this sort of behaviour with Bills antics and shes still with him .
Seriously is no-one else getting the fact that Trump is there only to make that wicked witch look better!!
Apparently not, as nobosy jas responded to your previous ent from an hour prior to this one. Try again in another hour?
Mexico is a beautiful thing
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