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Thread: Presidential Election 2018

  1. #21
    International Prospect NeverFeltBetter's Avatar
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    Looks to me like Eamon O'Cuiv is flying a kite.

    On the radio over the weekend one thing people spoke about that may come up against Higgins is the expenses he's racked up during his time in the Aras, regards receptions/parties/staff/use of the government jet/etc. I don't know if its beyond the norm, but he certainly didn't like being asked about it earlier in the year.
    Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).

  2. #22
    International Prospect osarusan's Avatar
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    Tbh that article is fairly worthless, as it doesn't provide any figures to compare his presidency with other presidencies.

  3. #23
    International Prospect NeverFeltBetter's Avatar
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    That's true, and one of the reasons its hard to do that is because Presidential finances aren't covered by FOI legislation. But, for what it is worth, what expenses we do know about - exchequer funding, staff costs, travel costs - appear to have increased every year of his Presidency.

    And I'm not saying this is a terrible sin in the grand scheme of things or anything, but it is something that might siphon a few votes off him. Opponents wouldn't want to paint him as too old for the office, since that would backfire, but an overly-generous elitist with too new a car and too many parties? SF's kind of voter would lap that up.

    Edit: and to add, because before nominations are even secured, the controversial opinions/associations are already being put front and centre, with support for blood sports for Gavin Duffy, and non-take-up of the HPV vaccine for Liadh Ni Riada (not that she opposes it, no, no, she just wouldn't permit her daughter to be given it). It's not even wrong for such things to be put under scrutiny for people proposing themselves to be the Head of State, but its funny how negative Presidential campaigns get so quickly.
    Last edited by NeverFeltBetter; 30/07/2018 at 4:40 PM.
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    The smaller the prize, the dirtier the fight. There's no executive or policy function in the presidency, so all that's left to attack is a candidate's personality and history.

    <Edit>
    I get the feeling the media have turned against Michael D this time round. He had an easy ride last time; already he's fielding more awkward questions.
    Last edited by Eminence Grise; 30/07/2018 at 8:55 PM.
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  5. #25
    International Prospect CraftyToePoke's Avatar
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    Michael D wants to ban gambling advertising in sport

    - https://www.rte.ie/sport/other-sport...-ban-in-sport/

  6. #26
    International Prospect NeverFeltBetter's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Eminence Grise View Post
    I get the feeling the media have turned against Michael D this time round. He had an easy ride last time; already he's fielding more awkward questions.
    Re-election at a canter doesn't sell papers it seems.
    Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).

  7. #27
    International Prospect osarusan's Avatar
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    Indo really has the knives out for him.

    https://www.independent.ie/irish-new...-37198861.html

    He stayed in a hotel where the most expensive rooms could cost €3000 a night, so therefore he did stay in a room that cost €3000.

    There may well be an issue there, but this 'might be, could be' stuff is terrible. They really are a rag of a paper, trying to drum up any kind of controversy.

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  9. #28
    International Prospect NeverFeltBetter's Avatar
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    Whatever about Higgins' hotel preferences, the Presidential accounts should definitely be covered by FOI.
    Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).

  10. #29
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    Absolutely. Almost everything should be covered by FOI, exceptions should be a tiny minority.

  11. #30
    International Prospect osarusan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter View Post
    the Presidential accounts should definitely be covered by FOI.
    No argument with that.

    Nothing to do with Higgins though, and it can't really be used as a stick to beat him with, imo.

  12. #31
    International Prospect NeverFeltBetter's Avatar
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    Gallagher considering a run: https://www.rte.ie/news/leinster/201...il-presidency/

    Don't really see the point for him especially. Notwithstanding the shenanigans that occurred in the last week of the 2011 campaign, there isn't a hope he could compete with Higgins.

    I'm not sure that Kevin Sharkey's pro-Trump comments were the best to make for someone running for the Irish presidency - https://www.independent.ie/irish-new...-37219690.html
    Last edited by NeverFeltBetter; 16/08/2018 at 9:16 AM.
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  13. #32
    International Prospect osarusan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by NeverFeltBetter View Post
    I'm not sure that Kevin Sharkey's pro-Trump comments were the best to make for someone running for the Irish presidency - https://www.independent.ie/irish-new...-37219690.html
    He seems to be targeting the 'PC has the world gone mad, can't say anything any more, what about free speech' demographic, who always want somebody who 'tells it like it is', but I don't think Ireland has embraced that position to any great extent.

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    Biased against YOUR club pineapple stu's Avatar
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    Isn't he the Donegal priest in Father Ted?

    Unusual candidate!

  15. #34
    Seasoned Pro Lionel Ritchie's Avatar
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    The unifying trait of aspirants appears to be a belief that there is an appetite for a prez who is a tad/fair bit/helluva lot more right-wing. There is also a lot of wilfull delusion that this gig has executive clout.

    It's starting to remind me of a karaoke competition I entered in Swansea back in the 90s to kill some time between soundcheck and set (in my previous life as a peasant indie-rocker). Every mad ****er off the road with nowhere else to be entered the thing. Most were as delusional and miles off target.

    I slaughtered them. I slaughtered them all. In Swansea, Wales -singing Tom Jones' Its Not Unusual. The tee shirt I won was very nice.
    " I wish to God that someone would be able to block out the voices in my head for five minutes, the voices that scream, over and over again: "Why do they come to me to die?"

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  17. #35
    International Prospect mypost's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Eminence Grise
    The smaller the prize, the dirtier the fight. There's no executive or policy function in the presidency, so all that's left to attack is a candidate's personality and history.

    <Edit>
    I get the feeling the media have turned against Michael D this time round. He had an easy ride last time; already he's fielding more awkward questions.
    About what?

    There's not much more to the job than sign a few paper bills from the Senate, wine and dine the odd compatriot, and show up at Lansdowne and Croker for sporting events. That's all there is to it really. Any auld eejit could do it.

    As long as they're 35+, remember. A 34 year old is considered incapable of writing his name on a bit of paper, run a house party, travel a bit and turn up at football events to shake hands with the players, but a 35 year old can.

    In the eyes of the State anyway.

  18. #36
    Biased against YOUR club pineapple stu's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mypost View Post
    In the eyes of the State anyway.
    No - in the eyes of the people.

    There was a referendum in 2015 to reduce the age to 21, which was resoundingly defeated. So you cannot now suggest this is stubbornness on the part of the State

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  20. #37
    International Prospect osarusan's Avatar
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    Journalist Gemma O'Doherty throwing her hat into the ring.

    So far we have the following who have explicitly stated their intentions to run:

    Gemma O'Donherty (investigative journalist)
    Kevin Sharkey (actor, artist and activist)
    Joan Freeman (Senator and Pieta House founder)
    Gavin Duffy (businessman)
    Patrick Feeney (former Aer Lingus employee who received 22 votes in 2016 general election, in Galway West)

  21. #38
    International Prospect NeverFeltBetter's Avatar
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    O'Doherty's statement on her Facebook page wasn't exactly great, just a rambling tirade about the many ways Ireland is a "rogue nation". Featured standard "I won't be like other useless Presidents" rhetoric before outlining nothing that would distinguish her from other Presidents. Seems like a classic case of running to get publicity, not to win.
    Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).

  22. #39
    Like the Fonz. Only a dog. Mr A's Avatar
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    She would be an absolute disaster. There are some awful candidates in the race, but she is a new level of unsuitable.
    #NeverStopNotGivingUp

  23. #40
    International Prospect NeverFeltBetter's Avatar
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    She's spent the last few days throwing legal threats at those bringing up her anti vaxination views. Is this the elections Dana candidate?

    Higgins really does just need to keep quiet and look "Presidential".

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