Beecher Networks - Web Development, Hosting & Domains
Page 2 of 8 FirstFirst 1234 ... LastLast
Results 21 to 40 of 146

Thread: Presidential Election 2018

  1. #21
    International Prospect NeverFeltBetter's Avatar
    Joined
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Gouldavoher
    Posts
    5,210
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    259
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    818
    Thanked in
    586 Posts
    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
    Joined
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Scotland
    Posts
    7,971
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    1,216
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1,805
    Thanked in
    1,011 Posts
    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
    Joined
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Gouldavoher
    Posts
    5,210
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    259
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    818
    Thanked in
    586 Posts
    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.
    Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).

  4. #24
    Seasoned Pro
    Joined
    May 2010
    Location
    Dublin
    Posts
    2,718
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    1,299
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1,905
    Thanked in
    917 Posts
    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.
    Hello, hello? What's going on? What's all this shouting, we'll have no trouble here!
    - E Tattsyrup.

  5. #25
    International Prospect CraftyToePoke's Avatar
    Joined
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    5,654
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    1,309
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1,431
    Thanked in
    932 Posts
    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
    Joined
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Gouldavoher
    Posts
    5,210
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    259
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    818
    Thanked in
    586 Posts
    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
    Joined
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Scotland
    Posts
    7,971
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    1,216
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1,805
    Thanked in
    1,011 Posts
    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.

  8. Thanks From:


  9. #28
    International Prospect NeverFeltBetter's Avatar
    Joined
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Gouldavoher
    Posts
    5,210
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    259
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    818
    Thanked in
    586 Posts
    Whatever about Higgins' hotel preferences, the Presidential accounts should definitely be covered by FOI.
    Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).

  10. #29
    Director dahamsta's Avatar
    Joined
    May 2001
    Location
    The Internet
    Posts
    14,014
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    497
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    825
    Thanked in
    511 Posts
    Absolutely. Almost everything should be covered by FOI, exceptions should be a tiny minority.

  11. #30
    International Prospect osarusan's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Scotland
    Posts
    7,971
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    1,216
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1,805
    Thanked in
    1,011 Posts
    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
    Joined
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Gouldavoher
    Posts
    5,210
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    259
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    818
    Thanked in
    586 Posts
    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.
    Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).

  13. #32
    International Prospect osarusan's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Scotland
    Posts
    7,971
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    1,216
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1,805
    Thanked in
    1,011 Posts
    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.

  14. #33
    Biased against YOUR club pineapple stu's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2002
    Location
    In the long grass
    Posts
    39,039
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    2,876
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    5,119
    Thanked in
    3,380 Posts
    Isn't he the Donegal priest in Father Ted?

    Unusual candidate!

  15. #34
    Seasoned Pro Lionel Ritchie's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Limerick
    Posts
    4,333
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    194
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    285
    Thanked in
    168 Posts
    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?"

  16. Thanks From:


  17. #35
    International Prospect mypost's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2004
    Location
    foot.ie Night Shift
    Posts
    5,120
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    1
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    247
    Thanked in
    176 Posts
    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
    Joined
    Aug 2002
    Location
    In the long grass
    Posts
    39,039
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    2,876
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    5,119
    Thanked in
    3,380 Posts
    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

  19. Thanks From:


  20. #37
    International Prospect osarusan's Avatar
    Joined
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Scotland
    Posts
    7,971
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    1,216
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1,805
    Thanked in
    1,011 Posts
    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
    Joined
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Gouldavoher
    Posts
    5,210
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    259
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    818
    Thanked in
    586 Posts
    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
    Joined
    Jun 2004
    Location
    In the gutter, but looking at the stars
    Posts
    11,516
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    1,747
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    3,323
    Thanked in
    1,532 Posts
    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
    Joined
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Gouldavoher
    Posts
    5,210
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    259
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    818
    Thanked in
    586 Posts
    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".

Page 2 of 8 FirstFirst 1234 ... LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. 2016 US presidential election
    By osarusan in forum Current Affairs
    Replies: 58
    Last Post: 01/02/2017, 12:28 AM
  2. US Presidential Election 2012
    By culloty82 in forum Current Affairs
    Replies: 20
    Last Post: 07/11/2012, 12:55 PM
  3. 2011 Presidential Election
    By culloty82 in forum Current Affairs
    Replies: 468
    Last Post: 28/09/2011, 3:24 PM
  4. 2011 Presidential Election
    By Hurt Locker in forum Rubbish
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 08/06/2011, 9:35 PM
  5. fantasy presidential election....
    By Quack in forum Off Topic
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 10/09/2004, 10:10 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •