Election 2007

[monutdfc]

- Joe Costello - Lab - I have never heard or seen him locally or in the media before the last or since the last election.

Joe is a regular at Dalymount

[crc]

That's exactly what I was saying. Jesus, I thought I was pedantic!

Sorry, I wasn't clear originally. When I was quoting you, I wasn't contradicting what you said, just elaborating.

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.

Rightly or wrongly, the EP is seen as a stepping stone to national politics just like local councils (but maybe more important than councils!). I don't think there's any conflict between them. In the course of a political career, someone might represent Douglas, then Cork South-Central, then Munster (now called 'South') in different assemblies. Do you think they should only be allowed to identify with/represent one of these geographical areas?

Or themselves, which seems to be the common choice

True enough.

[dahamsta]

Rightly or wrongly, the EP is seen as a stepping stone to national politics just like local councils (but maybe more important than councils!). I don't think there's any conflict between them. In the course of a political career, someone might represent Douglas, then Cork South-Central, then Munster (now called 'South') in different assemblies. Do you think they should only be allowed to identify with/represent one of these geographical areas?

Absolutely not, however I do think they should decide on a track and stick with it. I'm thinking of people like Simon Coveney when I say this. The only reason Coveney's come back to national politics is because he thinks he has a shot at party leader, maybe Taoiseach. However he always had that shot, and imho the European job wasn't about representing Munster at a European level as much as it was about representing Simon at a European level. Even from a practical point of view, he would have had more visibility as a TD.

I should add that I'm not singling out Simon here, he's far from the only one at it, and he's definitely not the worst of them. He's just an example i'm aware of.

adam

[Lionel Ritchie]

I've never put a mark in a box next to Fianna Fáil or Sinn Féin and won't be breaking the habit of a lifetime this time 'round either.

I have no faith that Fine Gael would be one jot better than Fianna Fail. They should just merge at this stage as all they truly have to divide them is a near century old, utterly irrelevant civil war issue.

[pete]

I know loads of politicians have done it in the past & I have possibly voted fot them in the past but if an MEP runs for the Dail & gets elected he/she will have to resign the MEP seat. European doesn't seem to be particularly important but it does seem like the politician is breaking an MEP contract & then end up with sum mug representing is who would never have got elected initially.

[jebus]

Sinn Fein will never get a vote off of me, Fianna Fail need to be ripped apart as a party, or at least be given a warning that we won't stand for their corrupt ways anymore (any failure to do so in the upcoming election will see the end of me having any pride in this country), the PDs , Labour need to get themselves sorted out, don't know if I'd trust a socialist or green led country (as in I don't think either party would be capable of running a country on their own * and yes I know its not even an option with either party), can't be bothered with independents, and have no interest in Enda Kenny as a leader of this country, so with all that said I'll be voting...

Fine Gael, because Fianna Fail have raped this country for too much money, so as their Dublin friends can live an even more comfortable lifestyle, and quite simply they need to be booted out

[pete]

Sinn Fein will never get a vote off of me.

Same here. I will usually go right down past 10th preference but SF won't get any. Any party who is fascist or Marxist depending on their mood doesn't need my vote.

[BohsPartisan]

Same here. I will usually go right down past 10th preference but SF won't get any. Any party who is fascist or Marxist depending on their mood doesn't need my vote.

They won't get one off me either but they are neither Fascist or marxist. Come on, these guys are pimping themselves to FF as potential governmental partners.

[pete]

Come on, these guys are pimping themselves to FF as potential governmental partners.

Might explain why its hard to find any policies on their website without reading through long essays.

Does not matter if I agree or not but I think the Labour 5 promises thing is clever as at least they do cost the items...

[dahamsta]

Fine Gael, because Fianna Fail have raped this country for too much money, so as their Dublin friends can live an even more comfortable lifestyle, and quite simply they need to be booted out

Better you vote Fine Gael than Fianna Failures if just for the latter reason, but on the former point do you not think Fine Gael will do just the same? They're Fine Fail II, essentially. Any semblence they had to an alternative disappeared even before Kenny. I've actually read their policy documents, and they're simply rubbish.

adam

[superbohs]

Joe is a regular at Dalymount

he still tried his hardest to keep us from doing the land deal

[GavinZac]

Mick Barry all the way - I just wonder why theres a plethora of tiny left wing parties. could they not co-operate? at least make a little bit of effort toward negating the need to vote for novelty acts like the greens.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Mick Barry all the way - I just wonder why theres a plethora of tiny left wing parties. could they not co-operate? at least make a little bit of effort toward negating the need to vote for novelty acts like the greens.

... can you elaborate on what makes you consider the greens a "novelty act"?

The only thing I consider "novel" about them is that, unlike pretty much everyone else, they don't pump out short-term goody bag giveaway policies in a vulgar clamour for power at any cost. That's probably the reason why their % popularity is in single figures -there are relatively few short-term benefits to be seen in their positions -but scarcely doubtable long term ones.

Fianna Fail on the other hand seem to just offer whatever they reckon gets them back in for the next four or five years ...where's the leadership in that? There is none. That's clientist administrative brokeridge and nothing more.

[GavinZac]

... can you elaborate on what makes you consider the greens a "novelty act"?

The only thing I consider "novel" about them is that, unlike pretty much everyone else, they don't pump out short-term goody bag giveaway policies in a vulgar clamour for power at any cost. That's probably the reason why their % popularity is in single figures -there are relatively few short-term benefits to be seen in their positions -but scarcely doubtable long term ones.

Well they attach themselves to some noble causes. Environmental responsilities, renewable energy, etc etc. The long term goals that have come to the fore, and people think of them as "experts" on. Thats grand, but then you have to examine their actual local politics. Things like showing up supporting people whenever they feel like protesting against a new road so they might get a better compo deal. According to the greens, the northside of cork city shouldn't get a ring road linked to the south, because it'd "destroy the last green space in cork city", the lee fields. Well never mind that the area is not actually in cork city, or that theres already 2 roads through it (and this one would be running perpendicular to these, taking up much less space), or that theres plenty of other green around, or that the lee fields are man made, we NEED a ring road. The traffic situation in Cork is a joke. Providing a ring road would improve both private traffic and public transport. Hell, taking away all teh cars sitting in traffic with engines running would do wonders for the air! Do the greens care? No, they just want to be seen doing something "green" in a photo opportunity. Thats just in Cork, without going into the farce caused by them in Galway. They are merely a novelty. Elect a party that actually have more than one purpose, and put pressure on them to perform environmentally. I wouldn't elect a single-cause candidate, let alone party.

Fianna Fail on the other hand seem to just offer whatever they reckon gets them back in for the next four or five years ...where's the leadership in that? There is none. That's clientist administrative brokeridge and nothing more.

Woah - so they give people what they want? Thats dangerously close to democracy.

[Poor Student]

Elect a party that actually have more than one purpose, and put pressure on them to perform environmentally. I wouldn't elect a single-cause candidate, let alone party.

That's why a reasonably successful Green Party is a necessity. Their existence forces other parties to step up to the plate on evironmental issues. The emergence of Green parties in Europe a few decades ago has had this effect. I have also seen evidence of this in my letter box with the Labour and FF candidates in my area sending four page leaflets through the door pimping their environmental policies. I know such matters are in vogue at the moment anyway but a Green candidate nipping at those parties heels forces them to consider the issues harder. We all know they're don't threaten to be anymore than a junior colaition partner so most of their policies wouldn't be implemented and even if they did grow in stature they'd probably mainstream themselves like Labour.

Speaking of Labour, after Fianna Fail and the PDs they have the potential to be one of the biggest losers according to the polls. In spite of shrinking support for the current coalition Labour's polling sees them the same as last time or even taking a minor hit.

As for Frank McNamara, he's now plastered his mug all over the Walkinstown roundabout with multiples posters on each lampost, expect accidents from disturbed drivers. He may serve some use if he could edge O'Snodaigh out but I think he'd be more likely to push an FF candidate out.

[Terry]

At the moment i'll be voting Fianna Fail.

tut tut ConorH, you wont be voting for the president of Galway United ?????

[BohsPartisan]

That's why a reasonably successful Green Party is a necessity. Their existence forces other parties to step up to the plate on evironmental issues.

I think you'll find that once they enter a coalition it will be the other way around. To stay in power, with all the perks that comes with they will have to make compromise after compromise. They completely capitulated on nuclear power. Look at the German greens for example. In fact you don't have to look that far afield. Look at the greens here in council positions. In fingal for example they "abstained" on some votes on planning issues. How can an environmental party abstain on planning?

[DmanDmythDledge]

Election set for 24th May.

[BohsPartisan]

Election set for 24th May.

Brilliant.

[pete]

The Greens are a bit flaky but one policy i agree with is:

Reform – in a revenue neutral manner – VRT and motor tax systems so that taxes reflect the level of emissions from a vehicle