2011 Presidential Election- Start of Campaign Poll

[thebooboys]

Reason he wouldn't register on an online forum like this is its generally full of a left-leaning, hardcore, anti-establishment element. Even thoughI'm not voting for Gallagher, nor am I a FF'er I am delighted to be branded the "resident FF'er". Guess people on here just can't take criticism or provide coherent responses to the counter arguments I pose. So with that in mind, Vive FF - q "The Empire Strikes Back" theme music

[Macy]

Reason he wouldn't register on an online forum like this is its generally full of a left-leaning, hardcore, anti-establishment element.

For a start, political forums in Ireland are overrun with right wingers (see politics.ie!?!). Presumably, given he keeps harking on about community work, he is trying to appeal to the left? He likes to give the impression he is anti establishment as well (above politics and other such soundbites), not that I'd consider this forum anti establishment anyway. It's hardly anarchists-r-us.

One thing I will say, is the numbers that engage with this forum is down compared to the overall site traffic. Only those that are engaged with the election will bother posting, and that is where Gallagher may come unstuck if that is reflected in the real world. Saying in phone poll you're voting Gallagher when given a list of options is one thing, bothering your hole to go and vote is quite another, and I wouldn't be surprised if the gap closes between Higgins and Gallagher in the election on that basis.

[thischarmingman]

Apologies if already posted:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011...sidential-race

Could David Norris become Ireland's first gay president?
Posh, intellectual and openly gay, David Norris is an outsider in the Irish presidential elections, but just might be the winner, if his showing on the campaign trail is anything to go by

[mypost]

You would hardly think that if it were to be taken now that the results would be much different?

It never ceases to amaze me the propensity if Irish people to blank out of their minds the damage and destruction laid down by FF and their cronies and yet vote another of them in. A concerted effort needs to be made this week to highlight Gallagher's links to FF and the crooks to damage him.

FF already have someone living in the Park. Mary Robinson was the only bill-signer that wasn't a FFer afaik.

FF must be creaming themselves over Gallagher. They didn't put a candidate forward, yet at their lowest ebb, one of them still gets in.

[BonnieShels]

So how did the debate go?

[Spudulika]

Gallagher is gone. Stitched up by PK and everybody had a go at him. Mary Davis has been good, but she's no chance. Gay Mitchell is being cut across, Dana is marginalised, David Norris is doing a stand up show.

Then there were 2 - the luvvies darling MDH is being guided gently to his retirement home in the Park, while Martin McG is looking sharp and took out Gallagher.

Can't understand the people in this audience, if you want panto, go to the Gaiety in January ffs.

[SkStu]

Can't understand the people in this audience, if you want panto, go to the Gaiety in January ffs.

shouting "He's behind you!" takes on a whole different meaning when Norris is on the stage though...

[Dodge]

Gallagher wasn;t stitched up FFS

He just couldn't asnwer questions. Not like McGuinness et al haven't been grilled this election. Even Dana performed better than him tonight. DANA!!!

[sligoman]

Gallagher is out, Higgins is definitely going to win imo. McGuinness to snatch 2nd maybe

[Macy]

Gallagher is gone. Stitched up by PK and everybody had a go at him.

Stitched up or found out? Didn't watch it, as I hate frontline, but Vinnie just played the clip. He got caught on his own lie on not collected money for the 5 grand a head dinner, and then just kept on digging. Still not sure it'll stick, might close the gap though.

[bennocelt]

I have to say that was amazing tv I watched tonight, wow. If you want to know where the swings are going to be I always like to check the latest odds and gallagher has now moved out to second favourite on Paddy power, where he was 1/5 a few days ago. Surely to God the Irish people cant vote for a crook now? Thought Martin Mg, Dana and Norris did well tonight. Norris was hilarious. And what about Mitchells meltdown.

[mypost]

Gay Mitchell is a very weak candidate put forward by FG. He's a failed politician here, he didn't pull up many trees in Brussels either, so FG decide to throw him to the wolves for state bill-signer. He never made any headway during the campaign, and will trail well behind the winner. MDH is a good candidate, knows all about the pomp and ceremony the role demands, but the young voters won't take to him. MMG is the strongest candidate from the political parties, but too much controversy ruined his campaign. Gallagher is a real surprise, then again he has his FF background, and despite having no credentials for the position, will probably still pull in their votes. Dana and Davis are using the campaign as a profile stunt more than a serious attempt to sit in the Aras.

It's still a personality contest in the main, but the six of them will all be getting a vote from me, and I don't mind who wins as long as one of them does.

[Real ale Madrid]

An obvious statement to make I know but: Why is Sean Gallagher going forward for the presidency anyway ? I'm glad he was exposed last night.

Had to sit through the apprentice before I could turn on the debate last night. ( I know, I know ) One thing struck me at the end of that show was Bill Cullen saying to a poor sap who was about to get the sack - "there is no room for nobility and etiquette in business" With people like that supposedly at the top end of business in this country surely it was only a matter of time before something bad came out about Gallagher - I'm glad it was this week and not next week.

[legendz]

It was a fantastic debate and great viewing for me personally. I've had no time at all for Gallagher nor Fianna Fail. Fair play to McGuinness, he was right to do it. I hope it's not too late. Many were fooled into voting for Fiannal Fail in 2007. It's been looking for ages that people were going to fooled again.

[Macy]

One thing struck me at the end of that show was Bill Cullen saying to a poor sap who was about to get the sack - "there is no room for nobility and etiquette in business" With people like that supposedly at the top end of business in this country surely it was only a matter of time before something bad came out about Gallagher - I'm glad it was this week and not next week.

Whilst I agree with the sentiment about our business leaders, take away the building boom and the state grants, was Gallagher ever at the top end of business? Just another myth...

I don't know whether Gallagher is gone - it's not even the first time he's been nailed on his previous version of events. However, it might have done enough to close the gap enough for Higgins to do it on transfers.

[bennocelt]

Had to sit through the apprentice before I could turn on the debate last night. ( I know, I know ) One thing struck me at the end of that show was Bill Cullen saying to a poor sap who was about to get the sack - "there is no room for nobility and etiquette in business" With people like that supposedly at the top end of business in this country surely it was only a matter of time before something bad came out about Gallagher - I'm glad it was this week and not next week.

Lol, me too. And likewise I also was susprised by this, but then it is Bill Cullin, the "self made millionaire" - or maybe another well known FF a sslicker from the car salesman.

[pineapple stu]

Many were fooled into voting for Fianna Fail in 2007.

Nobody was fooled into voting Fianna Fáil in 2007. Many, many people were remarkably stupid and did it anyway.

[passinginterest]

Only had half an eye on it last night but Gallagher was appaling, if he get's voted in after that then I completely give up on this country. Yes it was a bit of a dirty trick but the point is the dirt was there just waiting to be found. His face when he realised what he had said about "there might have been an envelope" was priceless. Norris was entertaining, Dana and Davis were irrelevant, Gay Mitchell is just a miserable, dull waste of time and Michael D was his usual harmless self. The fact that Michael D is the only one to avoid any serious controversy marks him out for me again as the right figure to fill what is essentially a glorified ambassadorial role. He's intelligent and capable of making informed decisions should something come before him that need's to be reviewed before signing.

[thebooboys]

Last Nights entertainment was particularly entertaining, "popcorn tv". It was a far cry from a debate. Gallagher didn't deal with anything thrown at him and he was visibly shaken/distraught last night. He's on Pat Kenny this morning and how he deals with this controversy today is pivotal. If he confronts it and barks back then keeps his head down for one day he could remain unscathed given he moratorium. 11% of the electorate were undecided from Sunday's polls so Gallagher in theory is still safe unless a lot of his supporters deviate away from him. Then again, that only makes sense if you believe he was on 40%, a figure I find, and always found, inflated

Best performers - Norris (more for comedy than substance)
McGuinness (Mixed Bag - The "Murder" questin was a low to the high of the Gallagher confrontation)

Loser's - visible collapse in Gallagher.
- the Irish audience - No place for heckling, jeering & applause i proper balanced debate. Shame on RTE - the pro Norris, Michael D element was clear for all to hea/see

[Dodge]

Shame on RTE - the pro Norris, Michael D element was clear for all to hea/see

You're insane if you think Pat Kenny or any of the RTE current affairs staff are pro Higgins.

It wasn't a debate because, frankly, Gallagher wasn't up to it.