Would you vote for Fianna Fail?

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Homer

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A friend of mine whose opinions I generally respect really surprised me yesterday by telling me that, for the first time ever, he was actively considering voting for Fianna Fail in the next general election.

I know that there are many diehards who will always vote for Fianna Fail, no matter what, but I'm somewhat gobsmacked at the idea that they could actually be gaining new converts, in spite of everything.

Is there a possibility that they could actually win the next election?

Homer
 
I can understand his thinking. I have not voted for FF for some time as I lived smack bang in the middle of Haughey, Ray Burke and GV Wright and witnessed the subtle and the more obvious corruption, nepotism and cronyism in Swords, Malahide and Kinsealey. Putting that with Bertie's nationwide carry-on just sickened me.

Now I have a problem! With current goings-on in FG I cannot vote for them. I don't rate Bruton or Varadker. They are FF-lite. I wouldn't vote Labour because they would tax everything and I don't see much depth to their gene pool beyond Gilmore and Burton.

Because of the poor calibre of politicians and leadership during my adult life I have had to tolerate coalitions where small minority parties (the PD's, Greens, Healy-Raes, Tony Gregory, Blayney, Lowry) have had undue power and influence in leglislating for the people without having a mandate from the people at the ballot box.

I fear that a hung Dáil or another FF coalition on the cards.
 
Let me rephrase my final question.

I know there's always a possibility, but is there a realistic likelihood/danger of it actually happening?

Or to put it another way, if you were placing a bet on Fianna Fail to still be in government after the next general election, what odds would represent reasonable value for money?

Homer
 
there is very little any good out there really! but i still think the voters will boot FF out first chance the get.
 
Boot them out in favour of who though? That's the question. FG are in the process of tearing themselves apart and Labour.............well let's not go there.
 
I think the odds would still be in favour of a FG / Labour coalition especially if Bruton wins leadership vote.

However, if Kenny is still in charge for next election all FF have to do is put up a billboard showing a picture of the 9 rebels who have no confidence in their leader!
 

A lot could happen between now and Summer 2012.

If FF stay in power and we witness some kind of recovery by then, they might hold onto 60 seats, but FG/Labour would still have 90 seats even in that scenario. In short we're headed for an FG/Labour government.

Will I vote for FF? I don't know.

Would I vote for FF? No, based on the 2002-2007 government but yes, based on 2008 - 2010.
 
There has to be a chance of them remaining in power. Opposition have yet to convince anyone that they want power or can handle it. If Cowen goes and a respected replacement steps in it could be a case of ' they seem to be getting their house in order'.
 
 
I voted FF the last time (indeed all the time) and come from a traditional FF family. Were I still living where I was born and bred, I probably would still give my No1 to the local FF TD but that is as much because I have a lot of time for him as an individual, he's been helpful to my family in the past. I wouldn't touch his running mate with a bargepole

Having moved and now living in a different county, I voted FF last time out as much out of habit as anything else. having lived there for a few years, I have to say that on a personal basis, none of the sitting TDs in the constituency inspire me in any way. Also there is a large part of me, as someone who would historically class himself as a FF supporter, that believes there is a need for a major clear out and for the likes of Bertie, Cowan, Noel Demspey, Ned O'Keefe and all that ilk to be put out to pasture and to start again (similer to what Enda Kenny did) with the likes of Brian Lenihan and Mary Hannifan

My problem is, who else is there? FG clearly couldn't organise a session in a brewery, Kenny will say anything that's fashionable to get elected, what's Bruton ever done and Varadker at the minute is too flakey to have anywhere near a ministers seat. Labour are trying to be too clever by far by not commiting to anything (Gilmore on the news last week when asked about the Croke Park agreement was frankly, embarrasing). I'm not a socialist which rules out the fringe left wing parties (SF, Joe Higgins crowd etc) so that basically leaves me with the Greens, which as a farmers son and given that they seem to think the countryside exists for townies to admire, not for people to earn a living in, doesn't leave me with much options.

I do think a lot of people will not give their No 1 to FF in a general election. The big question however, who will get the transfers? I do think FF could hoover up seats in later counts, simply because people will make their protest and then potentially revert to habit down the ballot paper
 
If Lenihan was their leader I would vote for them. I didn’t vote for them during the Bertie years and I don’t rate Cowan but Lenihan in a different league to most in the government or the opposition. If Cowan is still in charge I will probably vote FG (even though it will be a vote for Happy Gilmore).
 
With two years to go in all likelihood, I'm not writing off or eliminating anyone for my vote.

So to answer the question, would I vote for FF: yes. But then I'd vote for FG and even Labour if they were able to convince me at the election they were the right people for the job at that time.
 
I don't think FF shoudl be written off just yet.

While they certaionly got us into the mess it also appears they are the best equipped to get us out of it.

Someopne may well not vote for them as a punishment for their past - but at teh same time, we are where we are now and we need to get out of it.

I'm sure many people will not vote for them given they caused a lot of teh mess while also believing they are currently doing a good job to get us out of the mess.
So there could definitely be a case of cutting off their nose to spite their face (or whatever that phrase is).

Saying that i am sure many people will do just that - which isn't necessarily the wrong thing to do either as people shouldn't really be allowed run wreck and suffer no retribution.
Of course that has to be weighed up against the reality that FF are probably doing better than other parties would in getting us out of it.
So it is an interesting one- but i think the publics desire to see blood will win the day and FF will not get back in.

I think teh fact that this thread even exists is interesting - i don't think this would have existed 6 months ago !
 
Caveat said:
Never voted FF, never will.
Click to expand...


Is that because of traditional voting etc? I can understand the never have part, but if a party is heading in the right direction would you not then consider them? Just curiousity tbh, I generally go by the individual rather than the party.
My last residents meeting before the elections we asked a few local candidates to attend, some did, the FF guy didn't (and he is also a resident!) so he basically lost all votes in the estate because he couldn't show some initiative or guile.
 

I reluctantly agree with the above. I listened with amusement to one of Bruton's supporters saying that he was an economist, implying he was more qualified to run the country than Lenihan or others. FG are living in their own world, detached from the electorate. They have had the Governement on the ropes, but, are too busy in-fighting to go for the knockout punch. Bruton has gone missing in recent weeks. Is this because Lenihan is slowly steadying the economy? Besides Kenny's dropping popularity, it should be noted that FG's overall popularity has been dropping for that past 12 months or so - they are scapegoating Kenny for this when their are 18 or so front bench spokesmen. Does anyone seriously believe that the likes of Bruton, Hayes, Reilly, Varadker, Allen etc are better skilled than the current mob? I am not a supporter of Fianna Fáil, have usually voted Fianna Gael and I don't think so.
 
I have no regard for \Gilmore - afraid of even expressing an openion on the Croke Park Deal.


The FG leadership thing is a bore. Kenny is a better hope for them than Bruton.

I think Cowen is a decent guy & he is trying to get this country back on tracks.

He deserves more respect than he gets.

But he has much to do to cut spending.

No doubt the hapless Labour party will comtinue to oppose.

I will probably vote FF in the next election
 
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