2011 Presidential Election- Start of Campaign Poll

[Real ale Madrid]

Gallagher was better prepared this morning, - got very indignant at times and tried to smear this Glenna Lynch Woman until she phoned up and started posing questions herself! Didn't do himself any favours I thought, although it wasn't the PR disaster that was the frontline last night.

For me, it gets out into the public domain that he was a fundraiser for FF, that might be enough to ensure he does not win. Might.

[Macy]

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.

That went well then. Smeared the woman as a political hack, who then phoned in. He didn't want to speak to her and tried to withdraw the remarks. And then he still couldn't answer her questions!

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

It could always be that Michael D has no skeletons to expose. Gallagher continues to make the assertion that legitimate questions are negative campaigning. He keeps changing his story, hence he keeps getting questioned. What questions do you think RTE should've asked Higgins or Norris?

The frontline is an awful awful format, and not fit to be called a replacement for Questions and Answers.

[bennocelt]

Gallagher was better prepared this morning, - got very indignant at times and tried to smear this Glenna Lynch Woman until she phoned up and started posing questions herself! Didn't do himself any favours I thought, although it wasn't the PR disaster that was the frontline last night.

For me, it gets out into the public domain that he was a fundraiser for FF, that might be enough to ensure he does not win. Might.

I thought he made a fool of himself again, when he is flustered he really donest make much sense, he just turns into the proto type ff bully boy

[Dodge]

The Indo's take on it
http://www.independent.ie/national-n...k-2915594.html

Hilarious that any questions are now seen as 'hatchet jobs'

[geysir]

"I am not casting aspersions on this woman … but"
"I will not run a negative campaign … but"


They say Gallagher was ambushed last night, McGuinness' gun looked real but wasn't loaded. It was more of a sting than an ambush.

[thebooboys]

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.

Tell me where I said Kenny was Pro Michael D?? My criticism was of the audience who were notably endeared by Norris and Michael D. The only time that baying mob didn't have the daggers out were when they were engaged in vociferous applause for those 2 candidates. Norris in particular.

[thebooboys]

What questions do you think RTE should've asked Higgins or Norris?

Well RTE didnt ask any questions last night if we are to believe what Kenny said, they were questions posed by the audience.

That in itself is problematic for me however, as the bias of the audience was clear for all to see.

I have no problem with Gallagher being "outed" if thats the case. While last night was "great entertainment" I just found the audience participation, hissing and booing etc uncalled for

[pineapple stu]

My criticism was of the audience who were notably endeared by Norris and Michael D.

Why did you say "shame on RTÉ" then? Should they have vetted the audience in advance?

And good job on sidestepping Macy's question.

[thebooboys]

Yes, shame on RTE for the format of the "debate". Since when is heckling/booing and jeering by one candidates supporters tolerated?? Take off the blinkers.

As a matter of fact when thatfemale member of the audience was quizzing Mr. Gallagher, and doing a very good job of it at that she was interrupted by the audience, then Michael D and Norris before she could fully finish. If the rest of them could have shut up for another few moments she would have nailed him more full than transpired I think.

Secondly I didnt side step any question. He asked what should RTE have asked some other candidates so?? I replied, RTE were supposedly not the source of any of the questions last night.

I'm not an apologist for Sean Gallagher. I'll be the first person here to say he was politically naive. If Gay Mitchell, McGuinness or Michael D were in his position and confronted with a similar situation they would have given a politically expedient retort that he was unaware of the full details etc but would look into them and give a full statement on the Pat Kenny's radio show this morning. He dug a hole for himself. Something he now has to live with.

[pineapple stu]

Yes, shame on RTE for the format of the "debate".

But you started off by saying "Shame on RTÉ" for the pro-Norris and Higgins bias. You then said that "my criticism was of the audience", not of RTÉ (or, specifically, Kenny) at all and now we're back to "shame on RTE". I'm not entirely sure who you're trying to criticise here.

I didn't see the debate, and I'll agree that political debates can get remarkably puerile, but I'm still not entirely sure how you blame RTÉ for the composition and actions of the crowd? For example, if the crowd - however stupid - was a reasonable reflection of the Irish voter, then I don't see how RTÉ can come in for any shame at all.

[jebus]

The format is sound. We've had the Prime Time debate to deal with the candidates taking journalistic questions, this was about letting the people of Ireland ask their own questions. I don't know how RTE vet the audience for Frontline but it all seemed pretty reasonable at times. If you are to blame them for sniggering and guffawing at a Fianna Fail candidate stumbling over a question about an envelope of cash then you haven't been paying attention to Irish society for the past few years.

Gallagher is a fraud and it was shown up tonight. If he's voted in to the Aras it is another nail in the coffin of letting Irish people have any form of say in how this country is run and percieved abroad.

If Gallagher does get in I say bring the Brits back to power, and I'm not talking about McGuinness there

[thebooboys]

Well its fairly obvious both of ye didnt watch the debate last night. At one stage Pat Kenny himself turned around and criticised the FG(Mitchell) corner so don't give me the bull about the audience being representative of the voting public. It was in no way so. I suggest you watch the debate on the rte player first then comment regarding the harrassment of more than the one candidate. As a matter of fact I think Michael D was also booed at one stage for being reluctant to convey how he would vote on the 2 referenda.

And yes, I reiterate, shame on RTE for the format of the debate last night. They afterall produce the programme. In case thats not clear, that is a clear criticism of the Debate format and the people responsible for allowing it to proceed that way. Sure even the constant clapping re some candidates responses was wasting discussion time.

[jebus]

I watched it all, but I'm unsure what point youa re making. You criticise RTE, then backtrack and criticise the audience before having a go at RTE again. Now it's Kenny's fault, but maybe the audiences too

Make a proper point and we can talk about it. I'd love to know how you figure it was in no way representative of the Irish voting public either, how do you know what the Irish are thinking? Where are you getting your straw poll from? From my Facebook, comments on forums and on Twitter I see that most people agreed with going after Gallagher over his dodgy finances, and thought Mitchell just lost it because his campaign has been so substandard

[pineapple stu]

Well its fairly obvious both of ye didnt watch the debate last night.

I haven't exactly hidden that fact for my part anyway.

At one stage Pat Kenny himself turned around and criticised the FG(Mitchell) corner so don't give me the bull about the audience being representative of the voting public.

Huh? I don't see what this has to do with anything?

And yes, I reiterate, shame on RTE for the format of the debate last night.

OK, so by a 3 to 1 margin, you've settled on shame on RTÉ. But I'll ask again - what could they have done about it? Should they have vetted the crowd as they came in, for example?

"Constant clapping" a waste of discussion time? Hardly - surely people showing group approval with a point indicates the level of support for it and differentiates it from one person with a view all of his own? A good addition to a discussion, I think.

[geysir]

I listened to the debate and I didn't appreciate the partisan reactions of the audience but Kenny did point out more than a few times, that the audience reaction was partisan. It was a good night for Kenny and RTE.
There is a reluctance to bring Michael D to account, somehow he has avoided being tarnished with the actions of the Labour government as compared to their pre-election policies. He is just associated with the Labour pre-election policies which he not shy to spout about. However his election campaign has reaped a poor response and I can't blame the electorate for that.

[passinginterest]

It was made very clear at the start of the debate that each candiadate had been allowed to bring 5 supporters and they were all seated in one particular section of the audience. I think an interactive debate with a reactive audience is far more interesting and creates a very different type of pressure for those being questioned. I was pleasantly surprised at how well Pat Kenny seemed to manage the whole thing too.

[Dodge]

Yeah, I'm no fan of Kenny but he handled himself and the debate about a million times better than Miriiam O'Callaghan did earlier.

Really don't see how anyone could think the night was 'set up' for any candidate (in a good ro bad way). Tough questions asked of all them. Some handled them better than others. If Higgins had any real skeletons, they'd have absolutely have been out by now. he's been in the top 2 of every poll since the campaign started and its beyiond naive to think that all parties weren't searching for his 'brown envelope/letter for clemency'

[Macy]

There is a reluctance to bring Michael D to account, somehow he has avoided being tarnished with the actions of the Labour government as compared to their pre-election policies. He is just associated with the Labour pre-election policies which he not shy to spout about.

He didn't stand for election, wasn't voted in and isn't responsible for the programme of Government. He has been held to account on his record - the difference is that he's always been clear on the answers, which kinda kills the line of questioning. For example, he didn't equivocate on whether he regretted the tax amnesty, when that was put to him during the prime time debate. To be honest, if the record of a 6 month old Labour Government that he isn't a part of is the best that people can come up with, little wonder he hasn't had the same questioning of those that have skeletons waiting to tumble out of the closet.

However his election campaign has reaped a poor response and I can't blame the electorate for that.

Too early to tell that.

[culloty82]

Apparently Gallagher has pulled out of a phone-in debate with McGuinness on Northern Sound (Border counties local radio) and has cancelled public engagements for the day - more breaking news in the pipeline? Will be interesting to hear if he fulfills his interview with George Hook on Newstalk later.

[Real ale Madrid]

Gallagher is on the last word with Matt Cooper this evening - interview pre-recorded this lunchtime afaik.