A Bowl of Shamrocks - Foreign Policy at its Sexiest

We all know that foreign policies can often seem quite strange and peculiar. Ireland alligns itself with this notion by having a foreign policy that entails our Taoiseach making a visit to the White House and handing the American president a bowl of shamrocks. This tradition that started in the mid-20th century acts not only as a symbolic reminder of the relationship that exists between Ireland and America, but also has apolitical purposes too. These generally revolve around fundraising and general economic development. Obviously much needed in our current economic climate. So from all of us here at MRHP we would like to wish Enda Kenny the best of luck handing over a bowl of Shamrocks to Barrack and at least this time around we will have a more photogenic leader engaging with the tradition. 

This space is reserved for a picture of Enda doing his first Shamrock exchange today.

We have also decided to include a brief pictorial rundown of some of the exchanges that have happened over the years. Most recent of these is the horrifically constrasting photo of sleak handsome Barrack versus Ireland's own wasp chewing bulldog Cowen.

Next up we have the original Laurel and Hardy of world politics, Bush and Bertie.

Before this duo we had Clinton and Bertie taking care of business.

Finally we have the first ever shamrock exchange between Bruton and Clinton, oh the nostalgia.

Pig Politicians and Lizard Leaders

Have you every wondered why many politicians and world leaders all behave in a very similar way, many of them look the same, talk the same, act the same, and even lead the same. There is however a subtle dichotomy between the world leaders in that some are more mammalian than others and the rest take on a more reptilian form. Most people are well aware of the following image, you would have probably seen it on Christmas day on Skynews when the Queen was making her annual speech or you would have seen it at later stage. Several minutes before the Queen was to deliver her speech and was in the middle of putting her make-up on, a cheeky photographer pushed the door open and took a snap. 

The image is both simultaneously grotesque and beautiful, capturing a lie and the truth, life and death whilst also highlighted the blind control many of these leaders have over society. Yesterday was the first day that the new Taoiseach Enda Kenny took office and he too was caught by an opportunistic photographic. Whilst the President Mary MacAleese  awarded him the seal of office his mask slipped momentarily and the follow image was captured. 

His true reptilian form was exposed but most people blinded by their faith in these leaders simply fobbed it off as a blotch on the camera lens, take a close look for yourself and make up your own mind. Now with Enda Kenny in power and the Queen to make a state visit to Ireland in the coming months has their been a shift of power and are the reptiles about to take full control. You will remember that I spoke of a dichotomy earlier, well the yin to the lizards yang is none other than the pig. Whilst most politicians are slimy and scaly the others are greedy and fat, bloated by the years of apple and corruption pie that they had gorged upon. MRHP spoke to the biggest pig of them all Brian Cowen and ask him did he believe that the reptiles would now dominant the Irish political scene for years to come.

Unfortunately, he was to busy stuffing himself and rolling around in the excess that he had bled from the Irish public for so long, so he declined the opportunity to speak. So with the reptiles taking control and the pigs on the back foot I ask you is it time for a new bread of politician and leader, MRHP believes so. We recommend that some sort of noble bird like an Owl get a chance to lead and see what good they can do. Tongues out and tails curled for now.  

Wikileaks Brian Cowen

It has recently emerged that another article spawning diplomatic consternation has been released. This time however, it turns out that the focal point of the leak was none other than the Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen. The reports suggest that some time in early 2008 George Bush Jr. sent a group e-mail to many of the world leaders asking them to rate an image of Brian Cowen. The e-mail went a little like this:

Hello my fellow Presidents, Prime ministers, slave drivers, communists and drug lords.

I recently came across this image (no not literally) of one of our fellow leaders. I was taken aback by this mans beauty and aura. I would just like you all to rate him in terms of attractiveness on a scale from 1 to 10. Get back to me with what you think? And remember God bless America.

All my love

George Bush Jr.

And here are some of the scores:

George Bush: 9.5

Gordon Brown: 9

Nickolas Sarkozy: 10

Bertie Ahern: 10

Angela Merkel: 9

Barack Obama: 9.5

So thrilled and excited by the image many of the leaders sought more material from Bush and he duly obliged.

He sent this final image with the simple message:

Enjoy :)

Thank god  for Wikileaks