2011 Presidential Election

**Spudulika** · 13/08/2011, 5:17 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

Dude, do you mean Gay Mitchell? Gay Byrne got the kiss of death from Monty Martin and quit!

**bennocelt** · 13/08/2011, 5:25 PM

Originally Posted by Angus

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

She was useless. The reason the presidency is in the state its in is due to her. Travelling around the world like she is the queen of Ireland, up her own h... and least we forget a FFer as well - how may major bills did she sign again on the orders of the boys in Leinster house.

**Poor Student** · 14/08/2011, 4:05 AM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

how may major bills did she sign again on the orders of the boys in Leinster house.

Is there an instance in the history of the state of the President not doing so?

Edit: I see Cearbhall � D�laigh referred a bill to the supreme court to test its constitutionality in 1976.

**mypost** · 14/08/2011, 6:42 AM

Originally Posted by Angus

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

You did recall them. Controversies, slip-ups, embarrassments, pick whatever phrase you want. It's the same anyway.

**Angus** · 14/08/2011, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

She was useless. The reason the presidency is in the state its in is due to her. Travelling around the world like she is the queen of Ireland, up her own h... and least we forget a FFer as well - how may major bills did she sign again on the orders of the boys in Leinster house.

Disagree - but that is why we generally get to have an election !!

Originally Posted by mypost

You did recall them. Controversies, slip-ups, embarrassments, pick whatever phrase you want. It's the same anyway.

But in the surreal world of diplomatic nuance, that kind of stuff is controversial, but not a slip up - as it plays to inclusion etc etc - now we all know in reality it is flannel, but as part of a general programme of advancing Ireland Inc, that kind of stuff helps - in a very small way - but it helps.

The Prez is like a pilot - you only know they are there if there is a problem

Again - we may disagree on this point - which is why we have elections ! If she was going for a third term I would vote for her - you might choose elsewhere

**bennocelt** · 14/08/2011, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by Angus

Disagree - but that is why we generally get to have an election !!

except we didnt last time!

**BonnieShels** · 14/08/2011, 12:56 PM

The blame for which we can lay firmly at the door of Labour.

**mypost** · 14/08/2011, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by Angus

Disagree - but that is why we generally get to have an election !!

But in the surreal world of diplomatic nuance, that kind of stuff is controversial, but not a slip up - as it plays to inclusion etc etc - now we all know in reality it is flannel, but as part of a general programme of advancing Ireland Inc, that kind of stuff helps - in a very small way - but it helps.

Because it's a flannel, it's a controversy and an embarrassment. Didn't she have to apologise for her slip-ups in the past?

Anyway, Byrne has walked. No surprise tbh. The man is approaching 80, and not Trappattoni. He doesn't have the patience for The Mail, The Star, etc, splashing regular banner headlines about his salary, his funding, that he had Hors d'Oeuvres instead of Hash Browns for dinner in Dublin Castle, how much he spent on a trip to Somalia, how much of a scandal that he went to Bermuda for his holidays on taxpayers money instead of Bundoran, and having to explain himself all the time. He has a safe career as it is, and it's what he's comfortable with. The Irish media are now as intrusive and inquisitive as the British these days, and that degree of attention is not for him.

**John83** · 15/08/2011, 1:53 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

She was useless. The reason the presidency is in the state its in is due to her. Travelling around the world like she is the queen of Ireland, up her own h... and least we forget a FFer as well - how may major bills did she sign again on the orders of the boys in Leinster house.

As Poor Student points out, there is exactly one instance, ever, of a President here standing up to the Dail. It's hardly her failing that our presidency is a bit limp, politically. That'd be Dev's fault.

**BonnieShels** · 15/08/2011, 2:56 PM

How dare he stand up to the D�il the thundering disgrace!

**dahamsta** · 15/08/2011, 6:33 PM

Who was that John83? It definitely wasn't the current lump anyway, and I'm pretty sure Robinson never sent anything back unsigned.

**culloty82** · 15/08/2011, 6:54 PM

As BonnieShels says, Cearbhall O'D�laigh.

**BonnieShels** · 16/08/2011, 8:27 AM

And FF's next great white hope sticks his head into the ring...

M�cheal � Muircheartaigh to make a decision whether to enter the race by tomorrow after discussions with the family.

In other words, see what the News at One does with it today.

**DannyInvincible** · 16/08/2011, 6:44 PM

"Support for Martin Sheen as Irish president grows": http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Sup...127819948.html

Support for actor Martin Sheen to become the next Irish president has mushroomed on the Sheen for president Facebook page, reaching over 1,500 up from 300 on Monday.

A Sheen spokesman has told an Irish newspaper that they will issue a statement on the drive to have Sheen, an Irish citizen run in the election which will be held in late October.

**freewheel30** · 16/08/2011, 7:21 PM

We could end up with Bosco as President at this rate.

**mypost** · 16/08/2011, 7:26 PM

Is he 35+ ?

**Spudulika** · 17/08/2011, 4:37 AM

Now we are getting what the government, FF and the scum who are still ripping off the country need - bread and games! The great unwashed (ie all of us) are busy chattering about who is going to be the next person out of the closet, while the country is getting taken to the cleaners by the same crew who dragged us into the abyss. I love how our media is now firmly British, the whole lot of them. Indo, Times and the English affiliates, RTE love it as they're doing what they're told and so keeping their licence fees. God bless Ireland.

**bennocelt** · 17/08/2011, 8:32 AM

Originally Posted by John83

As Poor Student points out, there is exactly one instance, ever, of a President here standing up to the Dail. It's hardly her failing that our presidency is a bit limp, politically. That'd be Dev's fault.

As I was saying then! she was useless, another FF head doing nothing in a high position of authority - with the state of the nation we could do with a leader ready to shake things up a bit and get off the god damn fence!