Dublin West General Election - SEE MOD NOTE POST 19.

AGC wrote: »

I don't disagree with your assessment of Varadkar and as I have said I am glad to see younger people come into politics so am happy to see Chambers give it a go. I don't think McGuinness would have got a seat, his chance I feel was in the last by-election. Leo will cruise through the next GE as he is far and away the standout in the area.

Come on out of that. Fianna Fail are never, ever going to win a by-election for one seat in any constituency in Dublin and for McGuinness to come second on both occasions was a remarkable achievement. Remember the Mulhuddart ward section is much large than the Castleknock constituency and almost exclusively a left leaning section of the constituency. This makes Dublin west the most left leaning constituency in Dublin.

He did it by pulling 2600 votes in Castleknocl and 1800 in Mulhuddart in the last by-election, plus the boost of being very transfer friendly. Broad support across the constituency. In fact, McGuinness got 100 votes less in the by-election in castleknock than Chambers got in the locals. That would suggest whomever runs for FF in castleknock gets a set level of support. Would that apply in Mulhuddart? I don't think so.

AGC wrote: »

Your dig at the medicine again makes no sense, do you just ignore the fact that the guy has completed his law degree?? Do you think he should go out and work in a law firm before even considering running? He wants to be a politician and that is what he is going after. Why shouldn't he?

It's not a dig and you know that. It's politics and all declared candiates and their background are open to scrutiny. I'll tell you what a dig is - when one of the highest members of the FF officer board in Dublin west described David McGuinness as a **** *** and a ******* on the basis that he comes from Corduff, then that's a dig and beyond politics. It was witnessed by quite a lot of people. Chambers father is the head man in FF in Dublin west and he would be well aware that this was the basis of the class politics charge made by McGuinness on the local FF organisation.

AGC wrote: »

Your opinion is that they need to give years of service and have the experience, I disagree. He has put himself forward on local council and was well supported so I can clearly see why he was selected to go for the next GE.

That's a fair point. He received the same vote as McGuinness in Castleknock but never ran for an election in Mulhuddart.he was put forward by a click of people who reside only in Myos pub. They don't venture in to the not so leafier parts of the constituency. They have a one world view. I can also see why they selected him, but it is based on an assumption that all votes are FF votes no matter who is put forward. Time will tell.

AGC wrote: »

I am not batting for him either, just trying to find out about what you have said in relation to misrepresentation but you won't answer that. I would be happy to see anyone young and competent enough go forward in any constituency.

You're spot on. I don't have a law degree, but I know what I can and cannot say.

The posts on Chambers seems to be getting quite personal, starting with Chucknorris comments about Daddy paying for his college fees to someone else stating that him being too young therefore he must be stupid. No need for either.

The general consensus seems to be that McGuinnes has a very good record when it comes to local issues and has a hands on approach to his constituents. I’ve only lived in Dublin 15 for the last 3 years so I’m not well informed about past politics in the area so I’m not disputing that fact. But that alone is not going to guarantee you to be put forward by your own party for representation on a national level. Internal Party Politics will always be the deciding factor, as unfair as it is that the reality. It happens in every walk of life. Before the vote took place did McGuinness canvass the local cumman members in Blanchardstown and Castleknock? He stated that he was shafted. If he had done his work with the party members surely he would have seen this coming?

Also as he was not selected he may now leave Fianna Fail (or could have already). What about the voters who voted for him during the local elections. How many of them voted for him because he was flying the Fianna Fail flag? Is he now not doing them an injustice too? I can understand walking away from a Political Party over differences in ideology or policy. But to walk away because the vote didn’t go his way seems a bit like he’s throwing his rattle out of the pram.

chucknorris wrote: »

That's nothing but Candy floss. He failed some of his exams and mis-represented some facts on his leaflets. If Edward McManus (Brian Lenihan's campaign manager) knows this, you can be sure his new political affiliates know too.

Chambers was elected in may 2014 to the council and headed off to America for two month holiday whilst being a paid councillor. Excellent if you can get away with it.

He never, ever had a part-time job or paid income tax before becoming a councillor and will not be paying property tax, or water charges. He was brought up with a silver spoon.
He, like all other candidates will seek the working persons vote and he hasn't got an iota of the life experience of the people he seeks a vote from and ALL of the other candidates will call this in to question.

Chambers is 23 and wet behind the ears. All other candidates have at least 5 years experience under their belts as public representatives. Chambers is being pushed forward by the people who in the words of the RTE late debate panel, state, who wish to bring back Lenihan from the dead in Chambers.

One lesson I've learned in life is to make sure you complete something before moving on to another. Pulling out of his studies to become a career politician is bad judgement and one you can be sure will not be lost on the electorate.

Hang on, this is Fianna Fail we are talking about here. The same could be said for most of the Party representatives. Its a middle class party that gets more upper class the higher you go up the pole. They put themselves forward was working class Republican but who honestly believes that. To expect anything different is just laughable.

Big deal, so the lad was born into a bit of money. Seems that you are quite resentful of this.

athtrasna wrote: »

How about the voters who voted for him IN SPITE of the Fianna Fáil flag, which I suspect would be the vast bulk of his vote.

Nice whataboutery there. McGuinness flew the Fianna Fail flag during when it was probably at its lowest point in popularity with the electorate but still managed to get elected to the CC. There will always be a core FF vote in every constituency no matter how badly they f##k up the country. People didnt admit it at the time but it was there. For someone seeking to be elected as public representative this has a very big advantage over someone starting out as an independent. Also im sure the Party would have covered his election expenses (although i'm open to correction on this just how much).

Its been a help to him being a member of Fianna Fail. Now because he wasnt put forward by his party colleagues he wants to quit. Why not stay and fight for the with the next GE in mind considering (as according to most on here) Chambers is going to do so badly?

Also, he if he leaves wont he be seen as just be another independent Fianna Failer who gets lumped in with the likes of the Healy Raes and Flynns, ready to prop up a FF government if required?

MrMorooka wrote: »

The last time I voted for the Labour candidate, Patrick Nulty, because I support Labour's policies. He then resigned from the party(and later as a TD entirely), wasting my vote- I didn't vote from him, I voted for the party(since that is how the whip system works). I really don't want this to happen again, what can I do to avoid it?

You will have to assess the record of the candidate, even go and speak to them or their representative and judge whether they have a history of dissent within the party you favour.

That said, this current Dáil saw a clear out of fringe members of a few parties, people who would have been rebellious for one reason or another and who jumped ship or were expelled. The Parties are therefore unlikely to be selecting less than solid candidates in the upcoming period.

Cllr David McGuinness FB page

"Today, I have formally resigned from Fianna Fáil. I will now represent the people of Dublin 15 as an Independent Public Representative. Many thanks for the words of encouragement and support in recent times. It has meant a lot to my family and me."


Well done I say, I bet he will get more support as an independent than a member of that party

wildlifeboy wrote: »

not from me he wont...the only reason is because his hand was forced...he's still a fianna failer at heart. I may change my mind in future

How long did it take for Mary Lou Mcdonald not to be a Fianna fail member? Few people know, but she was also shafted when she was a member of Fianna fail in Dublin west. True story.

This is not a surprise, I must say, but I don't think Cllr McGuinness was left with much choice after the selection convention shennanigans. It will be interesting to see how he polls as an independent. I will await his manifesto before I make any decisions, however. It will be difficult for me personally to vote for someone who was so involved with FF and only left because his hand was forced. It's no comment on the man himself, just my personal political opinion.

I thought Renua already had a candidate in this area; Dermot Casey who ran in the locals.

I doubt he'll be going anywhere near Renua and Sinn Fein is completely off the wall. With the personal abuse that shower give people online, they wouldn't be given the time of day.

I'd say David will simply go as an Independent in the true sense of the word.

Personally I am a big fan of Michael Fitzmaurice - he's the type of independent I'd be a fan of.