2011 Presidential Election- Start of Campaign Poll

**culloty82** · 03/10/2011, 7:54 PM

Originally Posted by Spudulika

Nah, that has to be an early April Fools. If anything is going to scupper his bid - short of him being found to have had inappropriate relations with an underage sheep, it's that!

No, believe it or not, there was a picture of him in today's Examiner at a rally in Monaghan. Davis has published payments of almost �400,000 in board payments, Vincent Browne's debate this time tomorrow will be the next setpiece.

**legendz** · 03/10/2011, 8:45 PM

Davis and Gallagher are tarnished Fianna Failers. Higgins doesn't have the energy and nor is the presidency supposed to be a retirement home.

**Macy** · 03/10/2011, 9:39 PM

Originally Posted by mypost

There were 2 elections that year, the budget, the AG scandal, the side the government took over the Falklands, etc. Any of them could be classed as "a political crisis at home or some incident abroad".

I would've thought in a presidential election thread it might've been fairly obvious tbh.

Originally Posted by mypost

There was pressure put on Hillery to not dissolve the Dail, but when has any bill-signer dissolved a Dail and called an election on his own? Only when the PM advises it, does it happen.

He could've refused to dissolve the d�il - it is in the Presidents perogative, and is a political decision they have to make. Mary Robinson said she would've refused Reynolds a dissolution when the FF-Labour coalition collasped, if he'd asked. And he would've asked, only FF thought Labour would go back in with a new FF leader.

**pineapple stu** · 04/10/2011, 8:30 AM

Originally Posted by legendz

Higgins doesn't have the energy and nor is the presidency supposed to be a retirement home.

Quite a discriminatory comment there, in fairness. If he thinks he's up to a seven-year contract, who are you to argue? There's other way more important points to consider.

**legendz** · 04/10/2011, 9:45 AM

Says you.

**geysir** · 04/10/2011, 9:45 AM

Originally Posted by legendz

Davis and Gallagher are tarnished Fianna Failers. Higgins doesn't have the energy and nor is the presidency supposed to be a retirement home.

All the candidates are tarnished by their associations including Higgins. He is tarnished not by his age but by his close association to the hypocritical stance of the Labour party. He advocated a similar line to the Labour party pre-election manifesto, he could step back from that by withdrawing from the 2011 election and continue to waffle about his great support for the equal rights of the citizen, meanwhile his party now in government do the opposite.

**mypost** · 04/10/2011, 9:47 AM

Originally Posted by Macy

He could've refused to dissolve the d�il - it is in the Presidents perogative, and is a political decision they have to make. Mary Robinson said she would've refused Reynolds a dissolution when the FF-Labour coalition collasped, if he'd asked. And he would've asked, only FF thought Labour would go back in with a new FF leader.

Indeed she could have, but didn't. The Taoiseach tells him/her what to do, so they sign the bill and do it.

The main contenders seem to be Mitchell, McGuinness, Higgins, and the will he/won't he flip-flopper from the Senate. Davis, Gallagher, and Dana are there to make up the numbers.

**pineapple stu** · 04/10/2011, 9:50 AM

Originally Posted by legendz

Says you.

Huh?
.

**Spudulika** · 04/10/2011, 9:51 AM

It's hotting up at the moment and it looks like DN is clear or at least okay. But good lord is he making it hard work. http://www.independent.ie/national-n...r-2894703.html

I wonder if the regular people will take more to Sean Gallagher, he's talking a semblance of sense and with him in the Aras you can be sure there won't be extravagance!

**Macy** · 04/10/2011, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by mypost

Indeed she could have, but didn't. The Taoiseach tells him/her what to do, so they sign the bill and do it.

She says she would have refused the dissolution, even if Reynolds has asked. As is in the Presidents power. Just as Hillery had to decide whether to dissolve or not, when the opposition could've had the numbers. The presidency has limited powers, it doesn't have no power and no role in our democracy, ffs

**thischarmingman** · 04/10/2011, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

From what I saw of Prime Time with a moody baby to mind..

Sorry, someone left you in charge of a baby?

**BonnieShels** · 04/10/2011, 4:55 PM

Debate at 9 tonight on TV3.
Do I dare watch?

**thebooboys** · 04/10/2011, 5:36 PM

Originally Posted by legendz

Davis and Gallagher are tarnished Fianna Failers. Higgins doesn't have the energy and nor is the presidency supposed to be a retirement home.

Couldn't disagree more. What are you basing this on? Gallagher's support in growing so would like to know why he's tarnished. As for Michael D comment, I won't be voting for him but still think the ageist argument is weak at best, he is capable and evidently knowledgeable. If you have arguments with some factual basis they're welcome

**Lionel Ritchie** · 04/10/2011, 7:08 PM

Originally Posted by legendz

Says you.

...and that's the game. Slam-dunked you there Stu. :-D

**legendz** · 04/10/2011, 7:42 PM

Originally Posted by thebooboys

Couldn't disagree more. What are you basing this on? Gallagher's support in growing so would like to know why he's tarnished. As for Michael D comment, I won't be voting for him but still think the ageist argument is weak at best, he is capable and evidently knowledgeable. If you have arguments with some factual basis they're welcome

In my eyes he is tarnished by his involvement with Fianna Fail but maybe not by the majority which is fair and democratic if that is the way it is. It's not an ageist comment that I directed at Labour's Higgins, it's just a comment with a throw back to the days where the Aras was seen as a retirement home for Fianna Failers. I accept he is knowledgeable. If the presidency has been an ambition of his, I don't see why he didn't make a bid in the past.

**mypost** · 04/10/2011, 8:19 PM

Originally Posted by Macy

She says she would have refused the dissolution, even if Reynolds has asked. As is in the Presidents power. Just as Hillery had to decide whether to dissolve or not, when the opposition could've had the numbers. The presidency has limited powers, it doesn't have no power and no role in our democracy, ffs

Could have and would have are one thing, doing it is another. They can also re-order General Elections such as in 1989, but never do. Both did what the Taoiseach of the time told them to do.

We're not electing Obama here, a proper President, whose actions can make or break a nation. We're electing someone to upsticks for 7, probably 14 years, on a very generous salary. It's a personality contest, for a very limited and functional role.

**BonnieShels** · 04/10/2011, 8:34 PM

Norris is killing them with kindness.

So far:
1. Higgins
2. Norris
3. Mitchell & McGuinness
4. The FFailures

I'm running 20 minutes behind the live programme.