I hereby withdraw from the Presidential Race

TheBigShort said:
I think it's ironic too. But for different reasons.
I dont object to having an Office of President. But with such lavish bestowings and privileges I would at least like to think the office could be used for more effective means other than as simple ceremonial role.

Campaigning with effect on social issues of homelessness, poverty, health care...similar in vain to Lady Aberdeen, would at least render some of the expense of the Presidency worthwhile.

Communications of the President can only be approved by government. This should be extended to the Oireachtas as it is an office of the people, not government.
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We'd need another referendum. That would negate the cost of the office for a few years.
How about just cutting the lavish budget that the former Minister for Galway has?
 
Purple said:
I hate ironing but I'm OCD about it. It's a sickness.
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I am glad the Minister for Galway allowed you to let off some steam. I suspect there is lots more steam building up .I will try and help you to release some more shortly, :D
Hope the Minister for Stepaside fixes you up with the granny grant,
 
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Purple said:
How about just cutting the lavish budget that the former Minister for Galway has?
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Cynicism about politics, however justified in general, is dangerous.

If even decent politicians are routinely groused about for no real reason it erodes belief that anything can be achieved through politics.

Micheal D. maintained a far more national and indeed international outlook during his time as a TD than most.
 
cremeegg said:
If even decent politicians are routinely groused about for no real reason it erodes belief that anything can be achieved through politics.
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I agree. I don't put Mickie D into that catagory.
cremeegg said:
Micheal D. maintained a far more national and indeed international outlook during his time as a TD than most.
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I'd put him slightly better than Minister Ross for platent parochial self interest while in Government. If pomposity and bombast are the qualities we seek for our President then without doubt he's our man.
 
Lets suppose that you are a betting man / woman / person with Euro 100 to place on a candidate in the election.
To make it more interesting YOU are allowed to nominate a candidate of your choice to run in the election:) . Person nominated can come from any background , political , sporting , entertainment etc.
What I am asking really is there a potential candidate out there who could possibly stand out from those that have already declared an interest in running and would seriously challenge Michael D for the position.
I will start the ball rolling by suggesting a few possibles.
Daniel O,Donnell.
Paul O,Connell.
Henry Shefflin.
Now I am not suggesting that any one of them would make a great president or would be daft enough to run but they are people who just seem to be well liked and popular.
 
cremeegg said:
Cynicism about politics, however justified in general, is dangerous.
If even decent politicians are routinely groused about for no real reason it erodes belief that anything can be achieved through politics.
Micheal D. maintained a far more national and indeed international outlook during his time as a TD than most.
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He stood for election on the basis that he would serve one term?
Is it too much to expect a politician to stand by his words? And I don't mean some off the cuff interview, I mean a declared, scripted, prepared election standpoint.
That's where cynicism comes from.
 
odyssey06 said:
He stood for election on the basis that he would serve one term?
Is it too much to expect a politician to stand by his words? And I don't mean some off the cuff interview, I mean a declared, scripted, prepared election standpoint.
That's where cynicism comes from.
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But that is a perfectly valid criticism. It is the generic jeering at politicians that I object to, especially phrases like, "they are all the same".

The phrase, "Minister for Galway", is almost as bad. Because it is impossible to refute.

I would have no problem with someone saying that X or Y project was put in Galway against the national interest because Michael D was TD for Galway. A person could agree or disagree with a claim like that.
 
I think the pretenders need to read Articles 12 and 13 of the constitution. 13.7.2 & 13.7.3 as well as 13.9 are of particular relevance.
 
This is actually entertaining.

"the line of the night delivered by Cork City Councillor Terry Shannon — how would Gavin Duffy’s family cope with moving into a smaller house?"
 
cremeegg said:
But that is a perfectly valid criticism. It is the generic jeering at politicians that I object to, especially phrases like, "they are all the same".

The phrase, "Minister for Galway", is almost as bad. Because it is impossible to refute.

I would have no problem with someone saying that X or Y project was put in Galway against the national interest because Michael D was TD for Galway. A person could agree or disagree with a claim like that.
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He poured money into his constituency when he was a minister and, other than attending an anti Zionist candle lit vigil to mourn the death of a terrorist who murdered men women and children, he did little else. His criticism of Martin McGuinness during the last Presidential election with the claim that McGuinness's election would legitimise the IRA campaign was deeply hypocritical given his long and unwavering support of Palestinian terrorist groups like the PLO and HAMAS. Foreign terrorists; Good. Domestic Terrorists; Bad.
"If we like them, they’re freedom fighters… If we don’t like them, they’re terrorists. In the unlikely case we can’t make up our minds, they’re temporarily only guerrillas." - Carl Sagan
 
cremeegg said:
But that is a perfectly valid criticism. It is the generic jeering at politicians that I object to, especially phrases like, "they are all the same".
The phrase, "Minister for Galway", is almost as bad. Because it is impossible to refute.
I would have no problem with someone saying that X or Y project was put in Galway against the national interest because Michael D was TD for Galway. A person could agree or disagree with a claim like that.
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I'm in two minds. At the same time I think if a politician has shown a pattern of behaviour then calling him\her out on it with a label is valid.
Politicians do this to other politicians!
 
cremeegg said:
This is better than "Minister for Galway". It allows me to ask if you have any specific examples available to support that claim.
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[broken link removed]is a balanced article about him, written before he became the official voice of morality for the Nation and so above criticism by the meeja.
 
My God! What an article. Purple, do you have a back-up team of sharp investigative researchers? Where do you get the time? Keep it up. Gawddddd! are you Joe Duffy?
 
Leper said:
My God! What an article. Purple, do you have a back-up team of sharp investigative researchers? Where do you get the time? Keep it up. Gawddddd! are you Joe Duffy?
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Between 8 AM and 5 PM from Monday to midday Friday cant be Joe Duffy ,I think he has a lot in common with the people who call themselves unpaid shop stewards I know ,
Who tell me they are unpaid who do this unpaid work on company time,:)
 
Purple said:
He poured money into his constituency when he was a minister and, other than attending an anti Zionist candle lit vigil to mourn the death of a terrorist who murdered men women and children, he did little else. His criticism of Martin McGuinness during the last Presidential election with the claim that McGuinness's election would legitimise the IRA campaign was deeply hypocritical given his long and unwavering support of Palestinian terrorist groups like the PLO and HAMAS. Foreign terrorists; Good. Domestic Terrorists; Bad.
"If we like them, they’re freedom fighters… If we don’t like them, they’re terrorists. In the unlikely case we can’t make up our minds, they’re temporarily only guerrillas." - Carl Sagan
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I remember hearing it at the time the thought that is a bit rich coming from a member of the Labour party knowing the road some travelled i will say no more,
 
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Leper said:
My God! What an article. Purple, do you have a back-up team of sharp investigative researchers? Where do you get the time? Keep it up. Gawddddd! are you Joe Duffy?
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And since that article he has had issues with:
- sending condolences to dodgy Sth American leaders who have passed away
- 2 of his senior advisers quit not long into his term as President because they couldn't get the required access to him to do their jobs
- some recent news stories about luxury hotel stays and a large increase in the Aras household budget

We've also seen his daughter 'elected' as a Senator in the last election. So it's not only FF/FG who like political dynasties!

Anyone add to that?
 
Delboy said:
And since that article he has had issues with:
- sending condolences to dodgy Sth American leaders who have passed away
- 2 of his senior advisers quit not long into his term as President because they couldn't get the required access to him to do their jobs
- some recent news stories about luxury hotel stays and a large increase in the Aras household budget

We've also seen his daughter 'elected' as a Senator in the last election. So it's not only FF/FG who like political dynasties!

Anyone add to that?
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I am sure people could add to that, if they wanted to be cynical muckrakers.
 
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