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High points: Science could be next to offer a bonus to Leaving Cert students

The education minister has said that offering extra Leaving Cert points to students who sit Science subjects is a possibility.

THE EDUCATION MINISTER Ruairí Quinn has said that introducing bonus points for Leaving Cert Science students could be on the way.

Next year marks the first that universities will offer bonus points for higher grades in Leaving Cert Maths, and the minister has said that following suit with science subjects could be one way to ensure more students take up Biology, Chemistry and Physics, reports the Irish Times.

Newstalk reports that Quinn will see how the Maths scheme goes before considering it for science subjects. Students who sit higher level Maths will get an extra 25 points.

This year saw new lows in the numbers of students taking Honours Maths.

The education minister has said that employers and industry experts have called for incentives for students to study Maths and Science at Leaving Cert level.

According to the Irish Examiner, he said that there needs to be balance in how easy some subjects are to study and the points that are awarded.

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18 Comments
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    Mute Pateen Johncruck
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 7:37 AM

    Smart move….think before you speak

    624
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    Mute Minamino
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 11:23 AM

    @Pateen Johncruck: more like wait for the man in your ear piece to think before feeding you the new script off the top of his head. You never notice these pauses until now? All these politicians are told exactly what to say

    93
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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 11:55 AM

    @Minamino: then someone needs to get Miller out of Trump’s ear

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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 3:25 PM

    @Minamino: when your country is bolted to the north of a country being run by a megalomaniac, you have to be very, very, very careful what you say in public.

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    Mute Conall
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 4:13 PM

    @Minamino: They are probably just reminding themselves of what they decided to say earlier. Off the cuff comments about the big, and recently a bit unhinged, neighbour right beside you are unwise.

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    Mute Ken
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:07 AM

    Maybe Trump should consider pausing for 21 seconds every time before he speaks.

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    Mute David A. Murray
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:12 AM

    @Ken: He did pause for 13 seconds, while a rally crowd chanted “Send her back!”.

    67
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    Mute John Jones
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 9:18 AM

    @David A. Murray: The numnuts would have to count to 5 four times and add 1 to get his 21 seconds.

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    Mute pat seery
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 10:34 AM

    @Ken: he should pause for a week before sneaking

    14
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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 10:36 AM

    @Ken: he prefers his pauses to be scattered throughout the sentence instead

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    Mute Brian Murphy
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 11:11 AM

    @John Jones: comment of the day….tip ur cap sir.

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    Mute JackSimpson
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:26 AM

    The king of virtue signalling.

    191
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    Mute Johnny 5
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:51 AM

    @JackSimpson: Yawn. You guys are so boring.

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    Mute Flexéire
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:55 AM

    @JackSimpson: it’s not his fault his mind can think bigger.

    66
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    Mute Wayne Connor
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 12:40 PM

    @JackSimpson: ‘virtue signaling ‘ is a term that’s been doing the rounds lately with these right wing cranks. It’s an obvious retaliation to their guff been labeled hate speech and I guess they needed to come up with something to use as they attack by nature. The fact that you’re attacking somebody because they are displaying virtue shows your base intent. Stop watching FOX, you’ve been had

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    Mute JackSimpson
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 1:34 PM

    @Wayne Connor: Good morning Wayne/ Bmul /other trollish accounts. I hope you slept well. Youve a long day of trolling ahead of you.

    17
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    Mute John Quill
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 7:55 AM

    The fact that he paused at all was probably enough to trigger the orange man-baby

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    Mute ianglen
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 7:59 AM

    I think that is a perfectly normal response to the insanity of Trump.

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    Mute The Equalizer
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:07 AM

    Another Virtue signaling liberal with double standards. He still remembers his blackface pictures. Snowflake guy

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    Mute Y U no spell good?
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:15 AM

    @The Equalizer: Congratulations for using all the inflammatory buzzwords you know. Next time see how many you can get in one sentence!

    323
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    Mute Johnny 5
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:22 AM

    @The Equalizer: You ok hun?

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    Mute Dave Thomas
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:31 AM

    @The Equalizer: Awww, did somebody say something mean about trump? Put your dummy back in and stop throwing your toys out of the pram!!

    85
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    Mute Brendan Heery
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:49 AM

    @The Equalizer: you left out ‘triggered’ and ‘woke’.

    81
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    Mute Nowa Huta
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 1:13 PM

    @Brendan Heery: didn’t he give powers to his own police force to arrest and prosecute natives that were protesting against their land being forcibly taken from them so for an oil company. No you probably didn’t get feed in your social media platforms as some celebrity didn’t comment on it.

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    Mute Drunk in Dublin
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 3:18 PM

    @The Equalizer: how is this “virtue signalling”? He paused before he spoke so he could collect his thoughts.

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    Mute Declan Dowling
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:13 AM

    A lot of internal dialogue going on there!
    “Don’t say it” X 21

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    Mute Jesus Christ
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 7:36 AM

    He didn’t answer the question. He’s a coward

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    Mute iohanx
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 7:56 AM

    @Jesus Christ:

    Disagree. The abomination in the White House is causing many to choose their words carefully because he’s so thin skinned and liable to make really stupid policy decisions that effect millions.

    I.e. Paris Agreement, WHO, Trade deals etc etc

    Thin skinned and demonstrably stupid.

    394
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    Mute Lad
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:12 AM

    @Jesus Christ: he did answer the question by saying it was time to listen, that racism is everywhere and enough is enough. If he had answered the question on trump like the media wanted him to, then he would have totally missed the point.

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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:17 AM

    @Jesus Christ: i think he made his point very tactfully.

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    Mute biggybald
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:20 AM

    @Jesus Christ: Because they rely on them for 75% of exports, that’s why he didn’t answer and not because he’s a coward.

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    Mute biggybald
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:21 AM

    @biggybald: In other words… using his loaf.

    47
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    Mute Marie Broomfield
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 9:29 AM

    @Jesus Christ: you mean he didn’t give the answer some people wanted him to. Why should he be drawn into it that way. He was dead right to turn it on themselves and basically say ( in the words of jesus the christ) “first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

    20
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    Mute Barry Teehan
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:20 AM

    ” You say it best, when you say nothing at all “

    68
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    Mute RogerRamjet
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:24 AM

    He would have known that question was coming. His response sounded well-rehersed from a prepared script.

    I wonder if the pause was intentional to make it seem like he’s a deeper thinker and that he was just coming up with the words that followed in the moment but he messed up the ‘lengthy pause for the gravity of the situation’ by carrying it on a bit too much.

    65
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    Mute Johnny 5
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:48 AM

    @RogerRamjet: Canadian man bad. Orange man good.

    52
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    Mute Shazam37
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 9:24 AM

    @RogerRamjet: his pause was completely staged. He knew he was going to be asked and he had an answer prepared.

    Not a good actor.

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    Mute Drunk in Dublin
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 3:20 PM

    @Shazam37: what is wrong with you? Who “stages” a pause? The mental gymnastics your brain performs are incredible. 12 points.

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    Mute Shazam37
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 7:17 PM

    @Drunk in Dublin: who stages a pause? This chap.

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    Mute paul starrs
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:29 AM

    FAKE NEWS us park police have already issued a statement saying they didnt fire tear gas they were smoke grenades and they also had no knowledge trump was going to the church for said photo op. A lie can travel half way round the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.
    https://www.nps.gov/subjects/uspp/6_2_20_statement_from_acting_chief_monahan.htm

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    Mute Thomas Harrington
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:34 AM

    @paul starrs: concussion grenades too – don’t forget them unless you think the bishop of St. John’s church is lying

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:40 AM

    @paul starrs: Bill Barr personally ordered the use of force to disperse a peaceful protest according to some sources

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:41 AM

    @paul starrs: just because the police didn’t know it was for a photo op doesn’t mean it wasn’t for a photo op. See what the leader of the church he went to had to say.

    50
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    Mute paul starrs
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:47 AM

    @Dave O’Keeffe: he didnt order them to use tear gas on ” peaceful protesters” the caches of projectiles and weapons they found and the injured officers might be a giveaway

    17
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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 9:05 AM
    22
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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 9:14 AM
    19
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    Mute Pauric J O'Brien
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 9:15 AM

    @Thomas Harrington: no such thing as a “concussion” grenade. Concussion is a medical diagnosis not a military ordinance term. Unless you are suggesting that the good bishop is a military ordinance expert…….
    Ps, it’s a percussion grenade. Basically a loud banger, one of the safest methods to clear s croud.

    23
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    Mute paul starrs
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 9:30 AM

    @Dave O’Keeffe: yeah that one mentions the weapons cache too lol. Does it mention that this was less than half an hour before the 7pm curfew

    12
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    Mute Derdaly
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 9:48 AM

    @paul starrs: it was still before the curfew. If you were queuing for last orders and were told the bar had closed thirty minutes early I’m sure you would be more than a little surprised.
    These were federal police and agents, not DC police and not under the control of the DC police chief. So who issued the orders?

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 10:38 AM

    @paul starrs: it mentions police saying there were weapons, it also mentions reporters saying that’s bs. At least I provided a source showing both sides.

    16
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    Mute Shazam37
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 9:22 AM

    Completely staged.

    30
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    Mute Derdaly
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 9:38 AM

    @Shazam37: do you really thinks so? You only mentioned it 3 times already… Are you paid by the quantity of posts?

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    Mute A2 Poster
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 11:11 AM

    @Shazam37: I don’t really think it matters, even if it was staged to be honest. Nothing would change if it were not. Same question, same pause, same answer. Trump is a budding dictator and many people are looking on in horror at what the US has become in 4 short years.

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    Mute Shazam37
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 12:57 PM

    @A2 Poster: depends on the point you’re making.

    Plenty here are suggesting this shows he “thinks before he speaks” because he paused for 21 seconds before answering. Some have suggested oh he’s better than Trump – he thought about his answer.

    The reality is that’s all optics. And the people who think that have been hoodwinked through their own sheer nativity.

    The reality is that staged, spun responses like this damage democracy. You can’t get a straight answer from a leader. Lies. Spin. Misleading the public.

    As the article says the HONEST answer is “I don’t like him or how he does business but we rely on the States as major trading partners”

    The public need to be better informed and realise the actual choices rather than be infantilised by things like this.

    Canadians should be aware – sure we can criticise Trump, justifiably, but that might mean you all lose jobs and income.

    Same goes here. Let’s make adult choices – and that begins by knowing the actions and the consequences.

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    Mute A2 Poster
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 3:37 PM

    @Shazam37: First off, thanks for spending the time to write out a good reply.

    “The reality is that staged, spun responses like this damage democracy. You can’t get a straight answer from a leader. Lies. Spin. Misleading the public.”
    - This is related to the point I was trying to make above when I said it didn’t matter that it was staged because I don’t think that the answer would change. So I would disagree that what he said was a lie or misleading.

    “As the article says the HONEST answer is ‘I don’t like him or how he does business but we rely on the States as major trading partners’”
    - It would certainly be more blunt, but the real world doesn’t work this way, and what you have said is a little idealistic. Truth is he needs Trump and the giant economy on his doorstep. Trump has pulled out of climate deals, global health organizations, peace treaties, all to the detriment of his own country. He may well do something drastic if his nearest neighbour were so forward is his condemnation.

    2
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    Mute Paddy Doherty
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:56 AM

    Excellent answer, that carefully constructed answer required thought. Trudeau only needed 21seconds. I don’t think Trump could have managed an answer like that in 21 seconds

    30
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    Mute Shazam37
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 9:27 AM

    @Paddy Doherty: what planet are you living on? That carefully constructed answer required hours and a team of people.

    How are people THIS naive?

    41
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    Mute Paul
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:35 AM

    He a man who knows which side of his maple leaf needs to be kept buttered

    30
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    Mute Keniby, Just before the apocalypse.
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:00 AM

    Forget about anything he said eventually, the 21 seconds said it all.
    I understand diplomacy and the importance of trade but just once I’d like to see a politician on the same level as him lay into him. Preferably face to horrible orange face.

    37
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    Mute Shazam37
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 9:25 AM

    @Keniby, Just before the apocalypse.: The 21 seconds doesn’t say anything except – “this is what my spin doctors came up with”

    It’s completely staged. To go from that to a pre prepared answer? What you think he was struggling to remember his lines?

    Now one can debate the tactics effectiveness – silence as an implied criticism – and that’s fine. But let’s not pretend it wasn’t pre planned.

    26
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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 9:30 AM

    @Shazam37: who said it wasn’t pre-planned? Your entire comment sounds like a rebuff to a comment that doesn’t exist.

    13
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    Mute Val Ruscheniko
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 10:08 AM

    Maybe he also needs to take a short drive across the US border and back again to see if his eyesight is OK!

    11
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    Mute Martin Smith
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 11:16 AM

    Man who painted his face black pauses before answer I not sure which is worse the painting face black or using tear gas to quell violence.

    12
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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 11:58 AM

    @Martin Smith: using tear gas to quell peaceful protest just about takes the win.

    10
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    Mute Ian
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 11:29 AM

    The guy was just waiting for the autocue to load his prepared speech, I think people are reading to much into this!

    9
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    Mute Drunk in Dublin
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 3:23 PM

    @Ian: yes, like making up the ludicrous idea that he had a prepared speech. Not everyone is out to get you, Ian.

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    Mute Seriousnojoke
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:47 AM

    Pathetic hyp0crite and c0ward.

    39
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    Mute James Walsh
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 10:08 AM

    @Seriousnojoke: I usually call Trump a tangerine turd or orange abomination but everyone has their personal favourites I suppose?

    20
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    Mute Alan McDonald
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    Jun 4th 2020, 3:05 PM

    I didn’t see any paws of any length. Fake news.

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    Mute
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    Jun 3rd 2020, 8:50 PM

    @MrMichaelSpicer – The room next door man should do a take on this!

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