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Replying To GreenandRed:  "100% Slayer.

It's a democracy. We can vote for any candidate, vote for some, for all, spoil your vote or choose not to vote. Everyone has differing opinions that should be respected. But, for me, if you don't vote, don't expect to have any credibility when you complain about the candidates in hindsight."
A general election is democracy as anyone can run as a candidate.No democracy in the Presedential election as both FF and FG blocked other candidates from running .Ironic both parties left with mud on their faces.

brayballer (Wicklow) - Posts: 369 - 26/10/2025 15:39:56    2641687

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "There is usually no point overanalysing presidential election results in terms of party political/general election politics. Dick Spring had a big 'winner' with Mary Robinson in the presidential race, but it didn't translate to Labour success in subsequent general elections. Quite the contrary. The best advice 'the left' can take from this election is not to count any chickens off the back of it, and to go fight future elections strictly on their own merits at the time."
Error.... Labour had a massive (for them) haul of seats in 1992.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 188 - 26/10/2025 15:56:03    2641688

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Replying To FullOfPorter:  "That 10 billion figure is very misleading and inaccurate as a huge proportion of it is calculated as the norths element in British military defence, that will not be applicable in the case of a reunified Ireland. The north is actually having a mini economic boom but is curtailed being in the UK. If it was within the jurisdiction of the Irish state its GDP would be doubling. The reason they are crossing the border is because we have a chronic shortage of construction workers and are willing to offer crazy money. We've been fed a diet of scaremongering partionist propaganda for far too long in this country."
I certainly am not against a border poll. All I said in my post is that it will be a while before there will be one for various reasons. Answering my post by saying " scaremongering partionist propaganda" is way over the top.
You are fairly new to the Hogan Stand but seem to have an opinion on everything. Maybe you should study people's posts before replying or better still, take a break for while.

letsgetgoing (Roscommon) - Posts: 811 - 26/10/2025 16:16:58    2641692

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Replying To brayballer:  "A general election is democracy as anyone can run as a candidate.No democracy in the Presedential election as both FF and FG blocked other candidates from running .Ironic both parties left with mud on their faces."
Bunreacht na hÉireann limits nominating Presidential candidates to elected representatives.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 188 - 26/10/2025 16:19:12    2641694

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Replying To Freethinker:  "I'm not sure that the unemployment rates in the two parts of the island are directly comparable. Apparently different metrics are used in compiling the statistics in both jurisdictions. If you try to compare them, first thing that comes up is that they are not comparable. "Socially inactive" sector plays a part in the British method. It would take a better brain than mine to come up with a true comparison."
2 outcomes, you are either working or you're not.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2449 - 26/10/2025 16:52:19    2641707

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Error.... Labour had a massive (for them) haul of seats in 1992."
True, but 1992 was just a freakish blip. Labour got no sustained traction in terms of Dáil seats, off the back of the Robinson win, and why would they? 'Red tide' in '92, went out in '97, and has rarely been seen since. The presidential election is more about personality/fit for purpose issues, as opposed to party politics,

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4451 - 26/10/2025 16:54:24    2641708

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Bunreacht na hÉireann limits nominating Presidential candidates to elected representatives."
And clearly a constitutional referendum is needed to widen the scope for nominating candidates. Perhaps something along the lines of what has been suggested....say 30 individual councillors across all the county councils..

It would be a good referendum for the government to hold as it would be popular and be certain to pass. And as well as that , they could hold the referendum on patents at the same time as well. They postponed that referendum after the last two were defeated out of fear that an angry electorate might reject it.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 2091 - 26/10/2025 17:24:26    2641712

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Error.... Labour had a massive (for them) haul of seats in 1992."
Oh yes the 'Spring tide' saw them gain 18 seats up to 33 .. Labour's next high was the 'Gilmore gale' with a gain of 17 up to a total of 37 seats.

Curlew66 (Roscommon) - Posts: 639 - 26/10/2025 17:25:35    2641713

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Replying To brayballer:  "A general election is democracy as anyone can run as a candidate.No democracy in the Presedential election as both FF and FG blocked other candidates from running .Ironic both parties left with mud on their faces."
Fair point indeed.. I was talking more about voters democratic rights. There have been more candidates in previous Presidential elections. The cosy coalition blocked other prospective candidates thinking it would help either of them get a candidate to the Áras. Might have been a good move if they weren't so inept at choosing their candidate. You could call it arrogance even.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8313 - 26/10/2025 17:52:27    2641717

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Anybody seen any sign of Jim Gavin since? I wonder will he run for a Dail seat?

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3529 - 26/10/2025 22:03:43    2641761

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Replying To slayer:  "I spoiled my vote. I made the choice myself - nothing to do with Declan Ganley or Donald Trump.

Which one of your stereotypes do you want to apply to me?

Low IQ?

Uneducated?

A very good friend who has polar opposite political views to me spoiled his vote because he is going through cancer treatment and his spoiled vote was in protest as the damage he thinks Simon Harris has inflicted on the health service in Ireland. He had no confidence in either candidate and just wrote 'none of the above' on his vote.

What stereotype do you want to apply to him? Perhaps those affected by deficiencies in the health service had no right to spoil their vote and wear tin hats.

I'm interested to see how you approach this. Because up to now all your posts do is suggest that you know better and those who disagree with you are stupid, are Donald Trump supporters or are swayed by a Declan Ganley tweet."
I agree with your post 100%. And you're not alone as the following from The Irish Times points out: "There were 213,738 invalid votes, the highest number in a modern Irish election, as many voters expressed anger and frustration at the choice of candidates on the ballot and the exclusion of others."

SouthGalway (Galway) - Posts: 84 - 27/10/2025 01:03:04    2641771

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "True, but 1992 was just a freakish blip. Labour got no sustained traction in terms of Dáil seats, off the back of the Robinson win, and why would they? 'Red tide' in '92, went out in '97, and has rarely been seen since. The presidential election is more about personality/fit for purpose issues, as opposed to party politics,"
For the electorate it is more about personality/fit for purpose issues. Sadly this time the government parties made it primarily an issue of party politics and as a result they got the outcome they deserved.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 2091 - 27/10/2025 09:38:56    2641790

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Replying To PoolSturgeon:  "The biggest nonsense ever if people voted for Gavin as a protest. The only protest they made was happening in their own brain because nobody but themselves know what they were trying to protest about.

If making a protest the very least required of the protestor is to have the intelligence to make it clear to all and sundry what they are actually protesting."
I didn't know there was a section on the ballot paper that required the voter to outline the reason why one is making a "protest vote". You learn something everyday....

What else would you call Gavin's vote? Everyone knew the man dropped out. It was a protest vote pure and simple, a protest against the choice on the ballot paper or whatever the voter wanted it to be. They don't have to explain it to you or anyone just like they don't have to explain why they voted in the first place.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1566 - 27/10/2025 12:57:08    2641828

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Replying To slayer:  "I spoiled my vote. I made the choice myself - nothing to do with Declan Ganley or Donald Trump.

Which one of your stereotypes do you want to apply to me?

Low IQ?

Uneducated?

A very good friend who has polar opposite political views to me spoiled his vote because he is going through cancer treatment and his spoiled vote was in protest as the damage he thinks Simon Harris has inflicted on the health service in Ireland. He had no confidence in either candidate and just wrote 'none of the above' on his vote.

What stereotype do you want to apply to him? Perhaps those affected by deficiencies in the health service had no right to spoil their vote and wear tin hats.

I'm interested to see how you approach this. Because up to now all your posts do is suggest that you know better and those who disagree with you are stupid, are Donald Trump supporters or are swayed by a Declan Ganley tweet."
Again you ignore my overall point. Not everyone who spoilt their vote is stupid. And not everyone who voted Republican in America is stupid. But please keep putting words in my mouth. Cheers.

The campaign was led by Declan Ganley and Maria Steen supporters. And the language used is identical to what Trump and his team used in America.

How anyone can have no confidence in Catherine Connolly is beyond me? For a largely ceremonial role. I can't stand Harris or Martin by the way. And Mary Lou would have walked in had she ran. And I am not a Sinn Fein voter either but I would have voted for her. You seem to think I am of a certain political persuasion. I am not and very open minded.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8599 - 27/10/2025 13:48:16    2641835

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Replying To Square_B:  "I didn't know there was a section on the ballot paper that required the voter to outline the reason why one is making a "protest vote". You learn something everyday....

What else would you call Gavin's vote? Everyone knew the man dropped out. It was a protest vote pure and simple, a protest against the choice on the ballot paper or whatever the voter wanted it to be. They don't have to explain it to you or anyone just like they don't have to explain why they voted in the first place."
If they haven't explained it to you, how can you claim to know what their motivation was? One fella on the TV was motivated to 'break the system' by voting for Gavin, but he was the only Gavin voter that I heard from. For all you know, they're could be an element of 'a Fianna Fáil vote' left in the Gavin pile too. One would need to see some polling analysis to get a feel for the range of issues attaching to the Gavin vote, as opposed to assuming that one knows exactly what the vote represented. Some voters have a grá for seeing their vote getting transferred, for example.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4451 - 27/10/2025 13:57:22    2641836

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "Again you ignore my overall point. Not everyone who spoilt their vote is stupid. And not everyone who voted Republican in America is stupid. But please keep putting words in my mouth. Cheers.

The campaign was led by Declan Ganley and Maria Steen supporters. And the language used is identical to what Trump and his team used in America.

How anyone can have no confidence in Catherine Connolly is beyond me? For a largely ceremonial role. I can't stand Harris or Martin by the way. And Mary Lou would have walked in had she ran. And I am not a Sinn Fein voter either but I would have voted for her. You seem to think I am of a certain political persuasion. I am not and very open minded."
You are obviously of a certain political persuasion. People are as entitled to point that out to you as you are to invariably respond with ad hominem remarks.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3772 - 27/10/2025 14:09:55    2641837

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "Again you ignore my overall point. Not everyone who spoilt their vote is stupid. And not everyone who voted Republican in America is stupid. But please keep putting words in my mouth. Cheers.

The campaign was led by Declan Ganley and Maria Steen supporters. And the language used is identical to what Trump and his team used in America.

How anyone can have no confidence in Catherine Connolly is beyond me? For a largely ceremonial role. I can't stand Harris or Martin by the way. And Mary Lou would have walked in had she ran. And I am not a Sinn Fein voter either but I would have voted for her. You seem to think I am of a certain political persuasion. I am not and very open minded."
No - I am not making any assumptions about your political beliefs.

I didn't vote for Catherine Connolly as anything I read about her didn't align with my own beliefs or values. Now that the people have selected her, I wish her well and hopefully she enjoys a good term as President, represents Ireland and enjoys her time in the role.

I think the numbers matter. There was a clear winner, there was a protest vote, a runner up and a Fianna Fáil fiasco. Each will have an impact.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6617 - 27/10/2025 14:19:06    2641840

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "Again you fail to acknowledge or debate my main point. The spoil the vote campaign was led by people who copied the Trump playbook. Word for word."
Some FF voters spoiled their vote in protest at the selection process.
Some FG voters spoilt their vote because they felt their should have been a vote to decide Humpfries or Kelly.
Some SF voters spoilt their votes because the lack of a SF candidate.

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 771 - 27/10/2025 15:25:30    2641854

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Replying To Scenicparish:  "Some FF voters spoiled their vote in protest at the selection process.
Some FG voters spoilt their vote because they felt their should have been a vote to decide Humpfries or Kelly.
Some SF voters spoilt their votes because the lack of a SF candidate."
I am not denying that but are you trying to deny the idea wasn't started by Ganley etc. Even the # on Twitter. I find it almost funny people are trying to claim they all independently would have done it themselves. They may have abstained but not spoilt.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8599 - 27/10/2025 15:28:57    2641855

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "I am not denying that but are you trying to deny the idea wasn't started by Ganley etc. Even the # on Twitter. I find it almost funny people are trying to claim they all independently would have done it themselves. They may have abstained but not spoilt."
Ganley had his own group, there is no doubt about that.
I think it started off by people saying that they would vote for Gavin even when he withdrew his name. Ganley didn't influence them?
I also know a few SF supporters that were not happy because they themselves didn't chose a canditate when they seen who FF and FG selected. Ganley didn't influence them either?

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 771 - 27/10/2025 16:31:42    2641875

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