Another General Election???

banshee_bones

So the leader of the labour party is calling for a general election, and predicts it would be a Fianna Fail Labour coalition.


What do you think?

Given all the animosity with regard to our current government do you really think that Fianna Fail would be re-elected???

xOxSinéadxOx

I ****ing hope not

PrivateEye

Fianna Fail need a new mudguard then?

They've certainly ate up the Greens. Labours turn for a hammering.

do you really think that Fianna Fail would be re-elected???

Yes. Tragic as it is, civil war politics rule the roost still in some backwaters :pac: The idea of voting for Fine Gael would make some people sick, and vice versa. I know this sounds old-fashioned and out-dated, but the 'My da's da was in Fianna Fail and bejaysus' stuff still exists. The backlash from the medical cards fiasco remains to be seen. I've also been wondering if there'll be a protest vote from students over the upping of the registration fee, not impossible.

I don't partake in general/local/european elections, but as a political junkie I hope ones on the cards because its just fascinating to watch the circus!

banshee_bones

ah you say that now but when you are in the polling booth will you change your mind??

banshee_bones

Yes. Tragic as it is, civil war politics rule the roost still in some backwaters :pac: The idea of voting for Fine Gael would make some people sick, and vince versa. I know this sounds old-fashioned and out-dated, but the 'My da's da was in Fianna Fail and bejaysus' stuff still exists.



You see THAT is the stuff that scares me, people will bitch away about how sh!te our government are but when it comes to the crunch they dont have the balls to vote any differently than they have always done...

Holsten

Not a chance in hell I'd vote for FF, I never have.

But they will 100% get back in, people in this country are stupid.

ejmaztec

Why have an election when all we need is another civil war. It would more cost-effective.

PrivateEye

It would more cost-effective.

What would Fine Gael attack the republicans with, the British need all the big-guns for Iraq surely?

Biggins

xOxSinéadxOx wrote: »

I ****ing hope not

Couldn't have put it better.

ejmaztec

PrivateEye wrote: »

What would Fine Gael attack the republicans with, the British need all the big-guns for Iraq surely?

They could use wedgies to finish each other off and leave the rest of us to come up with something new.

tommmy1979

banshee_bones wrote: »

So the leader of the labour party is calling for a general election, and predicts it would be a Fianna Fail Labour coalition.


What do you think?

Given all the animosity with regard to our current government do you really think that Fianna Fail would be re-elected???

hmm... Gormley predicted the same thing.... FF-Labour coalition.

I reckon FF have lost interest and need to be replaced for that reason at least.

FF-Labour would probably be the best.

T

Turd Ferguson

General erection...lol

brianthebard

ejmaztec wrote: »

Why have an election when all we need is another civil war. It would more cost-effective.

Not a civil war, but a revolution of the mind, the creation of a liberation praxis.

galwayrush

I don't want to see FF back in power in my lifetime for the way they squandered the boom and effectively managed to **** this country up for many years to come.

galwayrush

Since FF has managed to drag this country down the toilet, it will take a lot of time and hardship to repair the damage. I'd like seeing the idiots squirm for a little longer rather than listen them being in opposition blaming an innocent political party for their feckups.
Give them a litle longer, then turf them out for good.

banshee_bones

Holsten wrote: »

Not a chance in hell I'd vote for FF, I never have.

But they will 100% get back in, people in this country are stupid.

well then why bother having another election so!

Galvasean

Yay, another chance for the old biddies to 'keep the Government in power'. :rolleyes:

LEIN

Well if FG and Enda are running this country I'm out of here till they are gone!

Senna

any party that would go into gov with FF is writing their own death sentence, i cant believe any party would still want too. If anything i would have though Labour would distance themselves from FF.

I cant see FG wanting an election, they wouldn't know what to do if in power, there just about as clueless as FF. If there was an election, SF might make a big(ish) gain.

OPENROAD

Slightly OT but does anyone think we will ever have a single party government in the short/medium term or does our current pr system make this very unlikely.

If we can have a FG/Labour combination or FF/Labour combination, suggests that their is little or no difference between any of them policy wise.

galwayrush

Damo9090 wrote: »

Well if FG and Enda are running this country I'm out of here till they are gone!

You're happy with what we have?:eek:

LEIN

galwayrush wrote: »

You're happy with what we have?:eek:

Better than what we could have.

galwayrush

Damo9090 wrote: »

Better than what we could have.

That is funny, it's not possible to have worse than we have at the moment.
Look at the corruption, overspending, quangos, housing bubble bursting, FF tent at the Galway Races, e voting, bertiebowl, a tunnel built too low, every project going to cronies and all coming in over budget,

LEIN

galwayrush wrote: »

That is funny, it's not possible to have worse than we have at the moment.
Look at the corruption, overspending, quangos, housing bubble bursting, FF tent at the Galway Races, e voting, bertiebowl, a tunnel built too low, every project going to cronies and all coming in over budget,

Do you honestly Enda and FG can do better? All they know how to do is moan and disagree with what others say!

galwayrush

Damo9090 wrote: »

Do you honestly Enda and FG can do better? All they know how to do is moan and disagree with what others say!

I remember FF being very vocal in their moaning and disagreement when they were last in opposition.:rolleyes: I don't see Enda as a leader in fairness, but yet, he couldn't be as indecisive as Cowan. Richard bruton does look competent though, but he would probably be needed in finance, Lenihan and Coughlan are like a bad joke. Yes, anything would be an improvement.

banshee_bones

ok so if theyre all just as bad as one another and no type of coalition will yeild any results


WHAT THE HELL ARE WE GOING TO DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


if this general election DOES actually come to light! like somebody has to be in power so who???

LEIN

Me! ftw

galwayrush

banshee_bones wrote: »

ok so if theyre all just as bad as one another and no type of coalition will yeild any results


WHAT THE HELL ARE WE GOING TO DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


if this general election DOES actually come to light! like somebody has to be in power so who???

Same as last time we had a change, a FG coalition picks up the pieces and sets the foundation for recovery, then FF get back in and claim the glory and blow the lot.:rolleyes:

heybaby

The only viable government in a decidedly impoverished political landscape is a fine gael labour coalistion with gilmore as taoiseach. To even conceive of any government with the Fianna Fail malignancy at its heart would be to drag us deeper into the abyss. I think people are sufficiently disenchanted with FF at this stage, I mean they have been in power 24 of the last 26 years (if im a year or two out on this forgive me), they rode the crest of the wave, that was the celtic tiger, which they failed to see comng in the first place and which they subsequently failed to see ebbing away. During which they lavished themselves and their vested interests (builders/ developers / vintners / bankers) and squandered away billions on utterly useless projects and a bloated behemoth of a public service. Ireland on the back of the most celebrated of economic times is now officially bankrupt.. The people that put us in this position almost to a man have got away with it.. What is it about the Irish psyche that we allow ourselves to be treated with such disregard? Do we not have any passion, do we not have a voice other than that begrudging one we so willfully utter down the pub on a saturday night. The french would have been marching in the streets long ago. Now before you start with the whole France thing, I know things arent perfect there but at least they have a quality healthcare service and a more than adequate infrastructural system. My point is, we just lie back in this country and take it, we always have, whatever muck is thrown at us we take it, we might whinge , but we take it. People need to take the blinkers off, to simply vote for FF because their father did and their father's father before him is utter nonsense.This is blind loyalty and completely flawed. At the start i said a fine gale laobour coalition was the only alternative. I say this because it genuinely is, without FF in the equation. Gilmore is the more intelligent, articulate and passionate in comparison with enda kenny, who i wouldnt put in charge of an under 5's football team. If there is an election soon can we please cut the umbilical cord between the electorate and FF forvever please, its only once we do this can we then begin to make our way back to the light.

Professey Chin

Heres my idea.
I think we should become an anarco-sydicalist commune. We take it in turns to be a sort of executive officer for the week.We make decisions by a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs but by a two thirds majority in the case of international affairs.

Bloody peasants

JMSE

If only it was possible to do like an ostrich for 4 years, cryogenics for me and my family, head for the red planet backpacking, anything other than this, going from bust to boom and back again, with a SHOWER of humans still running the place, is there not a program writer somewhere that could create a piece of software to replace TDs, capable of spotting when an economy is going tits up, capable of adding so as to do away with the Dept of Finance, only written by someone other than the e-voting machine progammer!!!!

Ostrom

banshee_bones wrote: »

So the leader of the labour party is calling for a general election, and predicts it would be a Fianna Fail Labour coalition.


What do you think?

Given all the animosity with regard to our current government do you really think that Fianna Fail would be re-elected???

If it were the right time, I would love nothing more than to see them both out.

The last thing I want to see at a time like this is another cabinet reshuffle (certain outstanding members aside, I mean an across-board).

They may not be worth a shíte long term, but they know their departments by now - which is far more favourable considering the circumstances, than an inexperienced opposition

Tech3

I think having bruton in as finance minister would be more important than anything else. Brian Lenihan doesnt seem to have a clue. With him around we will never get out of this recession and just end up more in debt.

A labour-fine gael coalition would be my choice with gilmore as taoiseach as mentioned in an earlier post. Although recently labour have pushed themselves away from rumors that there would be a coalition with FG. I think FG cant go alone against FF in the next election as with the still vast amount of followers FF have they would still be well in contention. It doesnt matter how bad they have managed this country there is always the same idiots out there that will vote for them.

drkpower

banshee_bones wrote: »

So the leader of the labour party is calling for a general election, and predicts it would be a Fianna Fail Labour coalition.


What do you think?

Given all the animosity with regard to our current government do you really think that Fianna Fail would be re-elected???

Didnt he say he wants FF out? No?

banshee_bones

tech2 wrote: »

I think having bruton in as finance minister would be more important than anything else. Brian Lenihan doesnt seem to have a clue. With him around we will never get out of this recession and just end up more in debt.

yeah i can see that happening myself!

themadchef

Lookit, it doesnt matter who's holding the countrys wallet if it's empty!

The're all a pack of greedy, self righteous wannabes.

This country is going on a crash diet. I did lol though when i heard we're experiencing a baby boom because so many builders are out of work :D

Nothing will change regardless of who we vote for. We are just changing the people, it's the system that's the problem.

mikemac

tech2 wrote: »

I think having bruton in as finance minister would be more important than anything else.

+1
The most capable TD out of the 166. Or is that 164, two areas in Dublin are due by-elections.

heybaby wrote: »

The only viable government in a decidedly impoverished political landscape is a fine gael labour coalistion with gilmore as taoiseach.

If FG take far more seats then Labour then why would FG bend over as let Gilmore be Taoiseach. Possibly some arrangement has been done in the past and I could name a few town mayors which are shared among parties, but not the position of Taoiseach. Gilmore could be Tanaiste. (sorry, dunno how to type a fada on a mac)

Damo9090 wrote: »

Well if FG and Enda are running this country I'm out of here till they are gone!

Yeah, I've read that statement some many times from keyboard warriers. In fact, as another example, someone far more famous that you or me called Alec Balwin proclaimed he would leave America if George Bush got reelected. Oh yeah, how did that work out? :rolleyes:

shanel23

Sorry did'nt ead the rest of the thread but - oh yeah vote FG !

Mr Ed

I think a general election would be a good thing for the country. It will give the elected government a fresh mandate to govern the country during what is going to be one hell of a roller coaster ride

PrivateEye

Nothing will change regardless of who we vote for. We are just changing the people, it's the system that's the problem.

No matter who you vote for, the government get in.

Every major party has been in government now (Sinn Fein up the road in Norn Iron) and they've all dished out the exact same rubbish. Some constituencies record 40+% unattendance on the day of local/e.u/dail elections. Look at the turnout in areas like Dublin North, says it all.

Personally, I think if you have a problem with the system you should still go down the polling station. 'None of the above' or whatever takes your fancy, in fact in some countries thats an option itself!


Pay Freeze=Vote Freeze for FF, and as for the FG 'alternative', I don't think people will swallow it, especially if FG try feed its supporters the Lisbon Treaty once more...

****BUT it will be hilarious watching the Green Party get wiped off the map.

thebman

People that say there is no alternative should abstain from voting or just have their vote taken off them.

If your not willing to even consider the alternative then this isn't really democracy is it?

Same people are probably voting no to Lisbon because the EU isn't democratic enough for them

PrivateEye

People that say there is no alternative should abstain from voting or just have their vote taken off them.

I do.
I go to the centre, and abstain from the process.
I go to the polling station because I think if you don't get out of bed and at least make it clear you disagree politically with the structure of that system, you've no right to protest/organise against it. What I don't understand is people going 'FF are really sh!te so I'll give it to Joe Bloggs from FG' and then doing the same in reverse in 4/8/10 years.

I vote in referendums, because thats the people making a decision themselves (well, it should be :rolleyes: Least we forget...) I don't vote for unrecallable people who don't have to stick to any mandate whatsoever and can willingly play soap-opera in the Dáil (you take your Bev Flynn in, you kick her out, in out in out....) and make stupid amounts of money off the back of our taxes.

I voted for a bloke at a community meeting once, and a union meeting too, thats democratic. They're recallable, not making insane amounts of money of it and not in it for private gain.

As for taking my vote AWAY, because I favour direct democracy? Best of luck with that. What if I ever want to use it tactically? I.E when French libertarian socialists voted for 'the person who wasn't Le Pen' to keep Le Pen off the presidency? Its my right to a vote in this country.

If your not willing to even consider the alternative then this isn't really democracy is it?

Fine Gael/Labour?

Thought we had that a few years ago.Then IT got hammered and FF came back?

If by the alternative you mean Sinn Féin, no thanks
They basically tip-exed their way through their own manifesto last time round looking for votes, and ended up with one LESS T.D.

The reason its so shocking when somebody like Tony Gregory dies, is because people find it hard to believe sombody would go into the Dáil with the interests of others truly in his heart, take the average industrial wage and not seek mad money in expenses either. Good people get involved in parlimentary politics then too, but they're the exception and everyone knows it.

Lockstep

OP: I'm guessing your referring to this

Nowhere do I see any mention of Gilmore wanting to enter government with Fianna Fail.

I've heard Gilmore speak a few times and he has always talked of the importance of Labour creating it's own identity and not being the b!tch of FF or FG.

drkpower

PrivateEye wrote: »

I do.
I go to the centre, and abstain from the process.
I go to the polling station because I think if you don't get out of bed and at least make it clear you disagree politically with the structure of that system, you've no right to protest/organise against it. What I don't understand is people going 'FF are really sh!te so I'll give it to Joe Bloggs from FG' and then doing the same in reverse in 4/8/10 years.

If you vote for noone, you have no impact on the process.
Even if you dont particularly like any of the candidates in your constituency, would it not be better to vote in order of the people you dislike least....?! Its not ideal but at least your vote has some impact??

Assomeone said, democracy is the least worst system of government...

PrivateEye

drkpower,

I can see where you're coming at it from, its a well made point, but it just tackles the idea that people who oppose/campaign against voting are in some way all apolitical or lazy.

And I would agree 110% about the idea of the parliment being 'the most democratic form of government'. People who campaign for libertarian ideas often go missing in places like Cuba and Iran, I'd pick this any day

As for the least worst, again I know what you mean. I would never vote for the least worst bar somebody truly horrible was on the verge of election, i.e Le Pen in France. Historically the example of Anarchists in Spain supporting the government in the 1930s to help stop the rise of fascists is another example. I really don't think it makes that much difference in Ireland, but in the event of the likes of the Immigration Control Platform or the Christian Sol. Party ever seriously contending a seat in my area, I would vote- yep.

drkpower

Private Eye,

I agree with your points (if not your political philosophy....!)

But is there not also an argument for voting for FG/Labour in order to remove a Government which has not performed even if you dont believe FG/Lab are any good either.

At least it will contribute to one good outcome - that a non-performing government will reap what they sow!! Surely that would be of some benefit!!

Of course, if you think FG/Lab will screw the place up even more, then maybe thats not such a good idea.....

banshee_bones

kickoutthejams wrote: »

OP: I'm guessing your referring to this

yes! thats it, too lazy to go get the link coz saw it on tv.

Villain

Leave FF in for the sh1t times ahead, they need a good reality check and they have created the mess with their developer friends so let them work their way out of it.

Oh but do remember what Geroge Bernard Shaw said:

Demoracy is a device to ensure you are governed no better than you deserve

Yes you (the majority) voted FF in again

PrivateEye

But is there not also an argument for voting for FG/Labour in order to remove a Government which has not performed even if you dont believe FG/Lab are any good either.

Again, I can see where you're coming from on that.


In the current context, theres merit in that point tbh, that the thrashing of FF at the polls could be seen as a message to the political establishment as a whole, rather than an endorsment of FG?

I could not see any changes at all occuring in the long term though, so the thing of kicking FF now (which they deserve!) would involve another absolute tool of a man becoming Taoiseach, and us repeating the process again in a few years.

Its completely idealist and silly to claim people should never vote, like i said tactically theres a place and time. (I'd argue McCain-Obama, as there was mega changes in policy at stake and an international burden to) but Dumb and Dumber Dáil politics.....me no know. If people think FG look good now, as northern SF voters about water-tax, or southern Green voters about...well...the whole feckin' manifesto! We'd no doubt be havng the same internet threads about FG being behind the recession if they were the current ruling party.

Snowie

Ireland needs one thing.......

a complete restructure of management in all sectors..IE health, public transport council's the lot the hole lot.
The Irish mentality in general needs a serous shake up and people are still turning a blind eye to it...

How many threads a week are being opened about the countries and Our politics in general its a complete and utter sham.... Yet people on here still say FF those number are diminishing rapidly....

What this country needs to do is find people with vision we don't have it the government can barley see past there own noise's and that's whats killing it, they lack the idea's on how to make the country stable because they don't know how.....

Take FF, oh my dads dad and his father voted for them!
yeah so its family tradition, or maybe it's down to one thing where all missing BALL'S? to go against what there "family once would do"

It's a risk it's a huge risk... To trust a new government a believe in them... with political past it's not exactly Cosha....

Could a different party do better joined or unjoined ?

personally id rather give them the chance the watch F f**kin f make another heams of it...

Its time for change and not at a better time because if they can turn this country round even a small bit it'll be giving the Irish public in general a small gilmour of hope.

Sully

Cant see Labour taking the government on its own for a very long time at least. If anybody has a chance of topping it, its FG or FF. But, I cant see that happening.. Not sure the people will want a one party government.

I think if Gilmore did suggest a Labour/FF coalition he has turned off a lot of voters. FF would run rings around them just like the greens anyway. I mean, a LOT of people are peeved with FF and he goes and suggests joining forces? Cant see him being mad enough to suggest it tbh!

Its time that FF left. Clearly there in the position far to long and are doing more harm then good. Its time they left completely, not partly. I wouldn't mind seeing a FG/Labour coalition but id prefer Labour were not the leaders of the pack. While people dislike Enda - hes only one out of a fair decent party. They might all moan and groan but a lot of the time they make sense. Thats what you do as opposition anyway. You hear it more now as FF are just making a hayms of everything. There fixes backfire.

Im disappointed with the Greens and SF just dont appear on the radar for me.

At the end of the day - it IS time for change. Our change can come in the form of two and I think both FG and Labour are a safe bet. We cant keep FF in for christs sake. There IS a reliable change and it IS time we gave them a chance to see if they can fix the broken.