Election 2007

**pete** · 26/04/2007, 10:29 PM

I've noticed many MEPs running for Dail seats. I am sure they will say they will drop the MEP seat if elected to the Dail but a lot of them seemed to do u-turns. Getting elected as an MEP & then dumping when getting something better doesn't say much for their credibility.

Would you vote for sitting MEP?

**Lim till i die** · 27/04/2007, 9:13 AM

Will most likely vote for whichever random independant far left guy runs in Limerick

The "Labour" representatives in this town have been riding Jim Kemmys corpse to the Dail for far too long now and are worthy of nothing but contempt

Tim O'Malley is a worm, infact all PDs in general could be categorised such. Vile, heartless, snobs the lot of them

Don't think the Greens are running in Limerick but even if they are I won't touch off them. Dangerous party

Sinn Fein won't be getting a vote due to their pathetic scrambling away from the left as they become more popular and "mainstream". Also for having some of their policies written in crayon

Fianna Fail need booting IMO so I will probably give a preference to the Fine Gael lads, Michael Noonan being a decent politician on local issues

Although as sure as I'm sitting here the next government will be Fianna Fail/Labour

Also they're not going to sort out the problems in the Hospitals,Housing Industry,Roads etc any quicker than FF.

Any backing for this or is it just plucked out of the air??

**dahamsta** · 27/04/2007, 9:51 AM

Originally Posted by anto1208

Im debating whether to vote for the greens or just not bother voting at all , A vote for the greens is probably a waste but i couldnt bring myself to vote for any other of the parties .

I feel the same way - albeit not about the Greens - but I'll vote anyway. At the very least you can vote for the least worst, and prevent transfers to incompetent morons.

Originally Posted by pete

I've noticed many MEPs running for Dail seats. I am sure they will say they will drop the MEP seat if elected to the Dail but a lot of them seemed to do u-turns.

I don't think they can do that any more. It's one or the other from this election on.

Would you vote for sitting MEP?

I'll have to, Coveney's my MEP, and although he bugs me on some things, he's better than most and deserves to be somewhere on my ballot card.

adam

**superfrank** · 27/04/2007, 10:36 AM

Just after walking up the town and good ol' Bertie was on the Main Street visting Joe Behan. They had an announcer and music playing over speakers. When Bertie arrived the announcer asked for everyone there to give him a "Bray welcome".

Makes me regret throwing those rotten eggs in the bin yesterday.

I myself will give my number to Sinn Féin, 2 & 3 (pos. 4) to Labour, the rest to Greens, Socialists, People B4 Profit (a local party of Labour rejects that my father has joined) and then Independents.

Only then will I vote for FG or FF, if at all.

**BohsPartisan** · 27/04/2007, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by superfrank

to give him a "Bray welcome".

Hope he got a Fassaroe welcome!

**superfrank** · 27/04/2007, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

Hope he got a Fassaroe welcome!

Unfortunately, no. It was just a couple of aul dears and a few Gardaí clapping.

**Clifford** · 27/04/2007, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

I can say with absolute certainty that I won't be giving my first preference to the PDs. Frank McNamara is their representative in my contituency. Now I know we've seen some odd nominations but that takes the biscuit. I nearly keel over laughing when I spot one of his large election posters.

Heard him on Newstalk on Saturday morning, they did a q and a type interview for 3 mins. He didn't know the party mandate, the thoughts on education, the name of the campaign manager in the South or about 5 other things. He actually only joined the party 4 weeks ago cos fatty harney asked him to. Unbelievable indeed, lucky you being in that constituency.

**bennocelt** · 27/04/2007, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by dahamsta

Early days yet I know, but I'm surprised to see Labour in front. I think the last time we ran a poll here Sinn Fein led it from the off. We must've shaken off a few thicks and gullibles.

adam

tAKE off the blueshirt there will ya

i vote for Sinn fein, the only 32 county party,

labour are a joke, conolly would be turning in his grave

**Dodge** · 27/04/2007, 11:47 AM

way to prove him wrong bennocelt...

**Conor H** · 27/04/2007, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

way to prove him wrong bennocelt...

**Lim till i die** · 27/04/2007, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

way to prove him wrong bennocelt...

Indeed

Although I must add since I'm getting ready to leave for the Shels game I am wearing a blue shirt

**dahamsta** · 27/04/2007, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

tAKE off the blueshirt there will ya

Voting for a Fine Gael member doesn't make you a member or follower of the party. My politics have been clearly stated previously on the forum, if you use the search function you might find them, and look a little less like a... SF voter.

adam

**bennocelt** · 27/04/2007, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

way to prove him wrong bennocelt...

oh Dodge............is there no end to your wit

and whats with you and the limerick posse

**pete** · 27/04/2007, 1:02 PM

I used to think bad selection of candidates in Cork South Central until I moved to Dublin.

Horrible options for Dublin Central:

Last election:
- Bertie Ahern. FF <yawn>
- Tony Gregory - Ind - I wouldn't agree with some of his policies but an honest politician so will get something from me,
- Joe Costello - Lab - I have never heard or seen him locally or in the media before the last or since the last election.
- Dermot Fitzpatrick - FF - Bertie dragged him in on transfers last time & anonymous since. He standing down (seems like he did this 5 years ago) & daughter trying to get in on name recognition.

Shinners only just lost out last time but have parachuted Mary Lou MacDonald in this time & I would think unfortunately very likely to get a seat. I would guess at expense of FF. No PD candidate & Greens (Patricia McKenna) would need large increase to get seat. FG have no chance & probably only building for the future.

**crc** · 27/04/2007, 2:57 PM

Originally Posted by pete

I've noticed many MEPs running for Dail seats. I am sure they will say they will drop the MEP seat if elected to the Dail but a lot of them seemed to do u-turns. Getting elected as an MEP & then dumping when getting something better doesn't say much for their credibility.

Originally Posted by dahamsta

I don't think they can do that any more. It's one or the other from this election on.

MEPs cannot hold a double mandate, but that doesn't prevent them from seeking other elected offices. Every MEP (in the Rep. of Ireland at least) has a list of replacements in case they gain election to another post (or die), which is known at the time of the European elections (therefore you don't get by-elections to the European Parliament).

Originally Posted by pete

Would you vote for sitting MEP?

So do you think (former) MEPs should just twiddle their thumbs in the couple of years between Dáil and European elections? Its perfectly legitimate to move between one and the other (in either direction), and from the politician's point of view Dáil Éireann is more important than the EP.

**Schumi** · 27/04/2007, 2:58 PM

If they're forced to give up their seat, I have no problem with voting for an MEP. If they could keep both, I wouldn't.

**dahamsta** · 27/04/2007, 3:16 PM

Originally Posted by crc

MEPs cannot hold a double mandate, but that doesn't prevent them from seeking other elected offices.

Eh? A stupid question I'd imagine, but what's the difference?

So do you think (former) MEPs should just twiddle their thumbs in the couple of years between Dáil and European elections?

I think pete's point was probably that some pols can't seem to make their mind up whether they want to serve their constituency, their country, or Europe. Or themselves, which seems to be the common choice.

adam

**Schumi** · 27/04/2007, 3:20 PM

Originally Posted by dahamsta

Eh? A stupid question I'd imagine, but what's the difference?

They can't hold two positions at the same time but they can go up for election for the Dáil under the condition that they resign their European seat if elected to the Dáil.