2011 Presidential Election

[backstothewall]

Not sure about Byrne, have always considered him an insufferable dose, but he has 4 things going for him.

He has made a huge contribution to Irish life.
He isn't a politician
He isn't any of the other candidates
He will probably only do 1 term.

Its not like the office requires a politician, and it won't effect the running of the state if he dies in office. Therefore I don't see his old age as a drawback, a positive in fact because we will be able to replace him with someone better in 7 years.

And if we can start a trend of the office going to someone who has contributed to civic life, rather than a politician, it opens the way for someone else like that next time round. The likes of Niall Quinn or Seamus Heaney could do a fine job in Aras.

[BonnieShels]

Yeah not getting the dislike for Higgins. Have always liked him and surely a Galway United Supporter in the Aras wouldn't be a bad thing?

And with INM against, Macy you're right, all the more reason to vote for him.

It's not an inspiring line up but I think we are kidding ourselves in thinking it was ever anything thus.
Mary Banotti, Adi Roche, Lendahand Sr, Dana, heavens above!

I never minded Gaybo and his LLS was very very good. Remember P Flynn?
But I don't think I could suffer his sanctimony.
Plus if Mickey Martin sounded him out should that not preclude any right-minded person from voting for him.

[BonnieShels]

Another thing too, is it not a tad ironic that we now have more Gays in the race now AFTER Norris withdrew. Always the trailblazer so he was.

The airwaves have been bland without him. Come back Daithi!!!

[prince20]

I'm at a loss as to why Irish people would even consider putting Gay Byrne in the Aras. Nothing against the man but the whole presidency race has become a joke. Furthermore I know it's probably in our constitution but why do we even need a President?

[mypost]

We don't need a President, as we already have one. His name is Hermann Van Rompuy, a Belgian who rules us from a glass building in Brussels, though he was over here recently to chew the fat with the Taoiseach.

What we do need is a bill/law-signer, someone to go to Croker in September, and make a number of appearances at Lansdowne throughout the year. I don't think Gabriel Byrne will run, he will face all kinds of questions over exactly who is financing his bid, and I don't think he has the patience for all that at his age. I like the fact that he doesn't bend over for Brussels, like Mitchell does. But if he served 2 terms, he would be well into his 90's by the time it expired. With all that, I don't think he will run.

[culloty82]

The most bizarre stat is that 40% of voters would still give Norris a first-preference, rising to 50% for any preference - he can hardly make an 11th hour comeback at this stage?

[Spudulika]

...then Tubridy around 2040-54... Followed by 28 years of Jedward to 2082.

Let's face it: this century is pretty much effed already!

Seriously wondering whether I'll end up drawing a box on the ballot paper, x-ing it and writing "none of the above" beside it. Not a single candidate so far I would genuinely want to see in the Aras.

In Russia they have that choice - a box with "none of these" on it. I don't know how many people avail of it, especially as the boxes are normally pre-ticked in case anyone makes a mistake.

[Macy]

Its not like the office requires a politician

I don't know about that - his anti eu stuff could be a diplomatic incident waiting to happen. Remember the polish chuckle brothers a few years back, when the president refused to sign Lisbon into law, despite their parliament passing it?

It is a political role - you have to assess whether you sign legislation or refer it to the council of state. One of the "non politicians" in the race has already showed the dangers of a lack of knowledge when they said they'd refer a Finance Bill, which they can't bloody do.

[BonnieShels]

Eoghan Harris is pro-Gaybo.

That's my decision made.

[mypost]

I don't know about that - his anti eu stuff could be a diplomatic incident waiting to happen. Remember the polish chuckle brothers a few years back, when the president refused to sign Lisbon into law, despite their parliament passing it?

It is a political role - you have to assess whether you sign legislation or refer it to the council of state. One of the "non politicians" in the race has already showed the dangers of a lack of knowledge when they said they'd refer a Finance Bill, which they can't bloody do.

It doesn't matter what they said, all he has to do, is check whether x bill is compatible with the EU Constitution, which 99.99% of the time it will be. It's healthy to have someone willing to admit that Brussels is mad, but Eurosceptic views mattered pre-Lisbon, they don't matter now. Brussels orders what they want done, and it's done, like it or not. That's what we signed up for. The role is ceremonial now, not political.

[Spudulika]

I like Gay Byrne as a public person, privately he's watery and cold. He has been one of our greatest figures for change, he has challenged many of the assumptions and vagaries of Irish life, I still remember very clearly his statements on Telecom Eireann (maybe only a few posters here will remember this). There was a time when you could talk for as long as you wanted on your landline for a set cost. TE decided to change this to time limited calls, yet gave a sop saying you could talk as long as you wanted outside of business hours. Gay Byrne too a stance against this and his exact words were "People, if you let them do this, they won't stop, and within a few years, you'll be paying through the nose and the company sold out from under you."

Some actions of his I didn't like, but that's the same for any person looking for public office, but I'd vote for him, unless he accepts FF backing. Many people under the age of 25 don't remember how good he was. But if it comes to a choice between him, Gay Mitchell and Michael Higgins, Gaybo's the only man.

[Angus]

The gig is all about tone and pitch - something which through the medium of the media, Gaybo is excellent at - what we simply do not know is whether he can play mano a mano at a diplomatic level - when the queen, or prince, or prez of someplace tips up and Gaybo is told to be on message to promote Ireland Inc, can he do it ? Would he come across as a man of substance ?

In front of the camera - no question - behind the closed doors in the heavily nuanced world of diplomatic nicety - we simply do not know. The role is irrelevant from an executive management perspective - but can be made very valuable by the right candidate and the right selection of issues and circumstances to promote. Now I don't mean the sanctimonous self aggrandising, showboating of Robinson (she has helped us to re-imagine Ireland, me arse) - McAleese got it just right

Can Gay play at that level ?

Not buying Gaybo - not buying any of them - and wasn't buying Norris

Of the Pols, the least worst is Michael D

[mypost]

The gig is all about tone and pitch - something which through the medium of the media, Gaybo is excellent at - what we simply do not know is whether he can play mano a mano at a diplomatic level - when the queen, or prince, or prez of someplace tips up and Gaybo is told to be on message to promote Ireland Inc, can he do it ? Would he come across as a man of substance ?

McAleese got it just right

Can Gay play at that level ?

McAleese made her fair share of slip ups. Not quite as embarrassing though as foreseeing the foreign press reporting that we elected a 77-year old chat/game show presenter to sign the state's bills for 14 years.

[Spudulika]

Well, the world superpower elected a B movie actor, a recovering alcoholic with a double figure iq. So Gaybo would be a step or two above them.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, apparently Gaybo will announce on Wednesday that he's not running - better to wait a few days to see if it's true that Gay Mitchell is seriously on the outs with FG.

edit: Gaybo won't run - the FF kiss of death did it!

[Angus]

McAleese made her fair share of slip ups. .

I stand to be corrected but I cannot remember anything specific - but I am not saying you are wrong - just can't recall anything.....there were controversies all right - protestant churches, golf with loyalists etc - but cannot recall a slip up - but happy to be corrected

So, Gaybo is out - in other news, bears defecate in wooded areas and it will rain in Ireland in the future

[Angus]

Well, the world superpower elected a B movie actor, a recovering alcoholic with a double figure iq. So Gaybo would be a step or two above them.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, apparently Gaybo will announce on Wednesday that he's not running - better to wait a few days to see if it's true that Gay Mitchell is seriously on the outs with FG.

edit: Gaybo won't run - the FF kiss of death did it!

Movie Actor - yes it did. But he ran a superb campaign. Interestingly I have a book on Carter where the author suggests that the CIA actively campaigned to keep the Iranian hostages locked up until after the election - the thinking being that if they came out before Carter would have got a boost - but alas not; what a coincidence

Meanwhile back at the ranch, whatever we say about Reagan and Bush, they both had serious executive experience as governers of vert large states. Yes both were vacant and dangerous - but their on paper experience was faultless

They both proved to be bad presidents - although current history is kinder to reagan

[Macy]

Byrne withdraws http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...eaking120.html

Gas had barely been lit and already he couldn't take the heat in the kitchen...

[Mr A]

Thank feck for that. Couldn't see anything to recommend him at all.

Would love to see more people enter the field.

[BonnieShels]

I'd like to see David Norris...

...never mind.

Delighted the spectre of Byrne is gone.

[dahamsta]

I wasn't going to bother voting in the presidential election, but if Gay Byrne is running I will, just to keep the gobsheen out of it.

EDIT: Didn't see that he'd pulled out. Good riddance.