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It is only 4 councils who've promised to support FF, I mean Gallagher. And even then there is some debate over Longford (they will though as FF majority). They can't actually formally nominate until the election is called. Gallagher was whining about that on Morning Ireland - if he was that bothered he should've have had the balls to be an official FF nominee and he could be properly in the race now (rather than coming out with the Mini Mickey Martin "above politics" nonsense).
"Well, Sean, I like your enthusiasm but I'm not sure you have what it takes.
And for that reason, I'm out."
Think you are mistaken. Gallagher is not, I repeat, is not running as a FF candidate. By your reckoning it could be argued that Mary Davis is also a potential FF candidate. Their declarations of intentions to run as Independents should suffice and if FF, SF or independent councillors back their nominations then what's the problem, particularly if those two parties as of yet do not have an official candidate in the race.Quote:
Originally Posted by Macy
Gallagher is more likely to be president if he's an independent rather than tainted with the scarlet letter that's now the FF logo.
The other reason he doesn't want to be the oFFicial candidate is because he like Davis doesn't have the cajones to be it.
Both of them are all talk and waffle and thankfully they'll have faded into obscurity by the time November rolls around.
Gallagher isn’t FF in much the same way that Mary Robinson wasn’t a Labour candidate…. I thought he was a former FF member?
The FF parliamentary party can’t endorse a candidate – it’d be an instant ticket to ignominy for whatever sap got it. It makes more sense to get an FF-Lite candidate nominated by local authorities so mugginses won’t see the wolf in sheep’s clothing that he is. If he gets a dire vote. no harm to FF - sure wasn’t he an independent, nominated by a bunch of unimportant councillors?
But if he does half well, it’ll be "proof" that the party’s support is on the way back.
I thought my sarcasm meter was broken for a moment... Gallagher was on the FF National Executive up until a year or so ago. He was election agent for Dermot Ahern in 2007 iirc, certainly launched his campaign anyway. I can't believe anyone would suggest he was independent! Actually, I can - an FFer or an FF apologist.
Mary "Friend of Bertie" Davis might not have held FF positions, but of no doubt that she's another FFer.
The only reason this pair won't run on an FF ticket is because of the brand, not because they've cut ties. It could be argued it's a lack of honesty from the very bloody start.
Niall O'Dowd has withdrawn, claiming it's too difficult for an independent to compete with the established parties - even though three of them now have council support. Louth has nominated Mary Davis - getting 15 votes, compared to 1 for Gallagher and 0 for Norris.
He actually said it's too difficult to compete in the election, and too expensive, for an independent rather than it being about nominations. Of the three FFers, he was probably the least embedded.
Yes, the FF backhanded conspiracy to gain the powerful position of the Presidency is right on track...... In all seriousness though you've got to feel sorry for David Norris in all this. Worse still the 'Independent' vote will be so diluted it seems it'll be a complete waste of time.
Are you really saying that Gallagher and Davis aren't long time FF supporters and associates? People should know the background of the candidates - what next, Norris claiming he's actually straight?
Seeing as how the majority of the last 20 yrs of this countries politics has been dominated by FF of course a lot of successful ppl will hav affiliations with the dominant party. You only need look at the ppl flocking to the FG banner now. My point, especially regarding Mary Davis, is that she is running on her career record and her voluntary work, similar to Adi Roche a few yrs back. With that in mind I think people should be HONEST enough to admit that she is an Independent and not attempting to tarnished her name with the currently toxic FF brand.
Seems odd though that an "independent" could win the block votes of both FF and SF in Louth County Council. John Bruton's backing Gay Mitchell, but can't see who'll vote for him outside Dublin, and Sinn Féin have decided not to make any decision until September, by which stage everyone else will presumably have secured their nominations.
Believe what you want - the only dishonesty is in denying their past involvement with ff. Now the brands toxic, they're suddenly "independent". FF whipped clare councillors to vote for gallagher ffs!Quote:
Originally Posted by thebooboys
So in light of the fact that FF do not currently have a candidate to endorse around the country do you recommend they support no candidate whatsoever???Quote:
Originally Posted by Macy
Maybe they could support a candidate they want to rather than succumbing to the whip?Quote:
Originally Posted by thebooboys
How about that for an idea for a FF politician? Think outside the box for once.
Heavens above man.
They have a candidate to support - they and he are just too chickensh!t to admit that Sean Gallagher is a former FFmember who worked for Rory O'Hanlon.Quote:
Originally Posted by thebooboys
His spindoctors are currently working on a campaign of plausible deniability for Gallagher if he's accused of being an FFer. So far, the best idea they can come up with is the "no, no: that's my evil twin brother - we were separated at birth" defence. It's widely believed that many FF voters will accept this without question.
Does that count as gullibility or delusion?
Gallagher was on the FF National Executive. Not even as tame as "he worked for x FFer". This is what's laughable about Martin's whole letting FF councillors off the leash to endorse independents, but only once there were good FFers to endorse. Who buys this "new politics" bs? It's more of the same cunning and deviousness.
Davis gets her second council at Monaghan's meeting, while Gallagher gets an "insurance" nomination from Leitrim. Éamon O'Cuiv has made more noises about running, while the Fine Gael race heats up ahead of Saturday, with Noonan backing Cox and Shatter plumping for Mitchell.
Alas, Avril Doyle pulls out of the Fine Gael contest - who would her votes be most likely to favour?