Ganley to stand as candidate in the North West constituency for European Elections

nesf

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0314/libertas.html

Well, brass necks seem to down well up there...

Scofflaw

nesf wrote: »

Ganley to stand as candidate in the North West constituency for European Elections

Good Heavens! That was unexpected!


shocked,
Scofflaw

is_that_so

I have to say "An evening with Declan Ganley" isn't exactly going to get the pulse racing. Reckon he'll be hard-pushed to get his expenses. The question is whose seat does he think he can get?
Comparison between 1999 and 2004 are interesting. Even with 30%+ of the vote only one Independent got in. FG will get a seat, FF will struggle to hang on although if the Packie Bonner for FF rumour substantiates it could be quite entertaining.
FG may even look at it as a half-chance for a strong second candidate. Marian Harkin has done OK and should be favoured to defend her seat. And then there's Dana(will she/won't she) and of course SF. Even Labour will hope to capitalise on their new found popularity.

nesf

is_that_so wrote: »

I have to say "An evening with Declan Ganley" isn't exactly going to get the pulse racing. Reckon he'll be hard-pushed to get his expenses. The question is whose seat does he think he can get?
Comparison between 1999 and 2004 are interesting. Even with 30%+ of the vote only one Independent got in. FG will get a seat, FF will struggle to hang on although if the Packie Bonner for FF rumour substantiates it could be quite entertaining.
FG may even look at it as a half-chance for a strong second candidate. Marian Harkin has done OK and should be favoured to defend her seat. And then there's Dana(will she/won't she) and of course SF. Even Labour will hope to capitalise on their new found popularity.

Arguably Ganley might be able to put together a slick enough organisation to unite more of that Independent vote than has previous been managed. He faces problems though in that most Independent voters tend to be left wing and he's avowedly right wing and the right wing in the North West is more likely (imho) to swing towards FG than it is towards him. I'm having trouble seeing him make inroads in a lot of the conservative rural areas up there which have had essentially the same voting patterns for decades.

I'm not from the area though, so I'm not sure how much discontent is really there (as in people who are both discontent and likely to vote). I'm looking forward to polling from the area now.

oscarBravo

As a registered North West voter, I look forward to him coming looking for my vote...

WooPeeA

I will never ever vote for conservative who secretly reqruit nationalists in other EU member states.

thebman

At least he's as honest as our current politicians :P

Scofflaw

thebman wrote: »

At least he's as honest as our current politicians :P

A ringing endorsement!

with faint praise,
Scofflaw

Cronus333

If I were a betting man, I would say the result in Ireland North West will be, in order of election with the not elected in order too:

Jim Higgins MEP (FG)
Sean O'Neachtain MEP (FF)
Marian Harkin MEP (Independent)

---

Cllr. Padraig McLochlainn (SF)
Declan Ganley (Libertas)
Labour candidate
Senator Fidelma Healy Eames (FG)
2nd FF candidate
Green Candidate

lostexpectation

there will be no green or labour candidate

i can't see the general disillusionment with the ruling parties taking enough votes away form higgen, o'neachtain and harkins strong base.

Livster

I am delighted to see Declan Ganley running for MEP for the North West. I have met Declan while he was canvassing in Sligo on a few occasions and found him to be a gentlemen and not this negative figure that the Irish media try so hard to protray him as. I find him to be an inspirational figure and he focuses on the key areas that concern me the most as an Irish citizen. Good Luck Declan!

oscarBravo

Livster wrote: »

...he focuses on the key areas that concern me the most as an Irish citizen.

...such as...?

Robbo

Cronus333 wrote: »

If I were a betting man, I would say the result in Ireland North West will be, in order of election with the not elected in order too:

Jim Higgins MEP (FG)
Sean O'Neachtain MEP (FF)
Marian Harkin MEP (Independent)

---

Cllr. Padraig McLochlainn (SF)
Declan Ganley (Libertas)
Labour candidate
Senator Fidelma Healy Eames (FG)
2nd FF candidate
Green Candidate

Count Seanín out.

Bit of a late call there and most surprising that it's health related as he's been quite active of late...

nesf

Robbo wrote: »

Count Seanín out.

Bit of a late call there and most surprising that it's health related as he's been quite active of late...

Hmm, this suddenly has got a lot more interesting.

BlitzKrieg

disapointed that there is no libertas candidate for me to ignore in the south constituency

Scofflaw

BlitzKrieg wrote: »

disapointed that there is no libertas candidate for me to ignore in the south constituency

Well, we apparently get Caroline Simmons in Dublin.

cordially,
Scofflaw

BlitzKrieg

yeah I saw the really big poster of her opposite the strand apartments today on my way to work.

Wonder if she will show up on our radio station while I'm up there. Would love to ask them about their lisbon campaign and how they felt about certain half truths they spouted.

EDIT:

On a side note, I'm looking at the libertas website (http://www.libertas.eu/) and cant help but notice in their little slideshow at the top they announce that there are too many commissioners and too many laws being made by unelected officials and that Libertas is the only way to solve these issues.

but

werent both of these issues that the Lisbon Treaty was going to solve (and that they directly opposed)?

how confusing.

Scofflaw

BlitzKrieg wrote: »

yeah I saw the really big poster of her opposite the strand apartments today on my way to work.

Wonder if she will show up on our radio station while I'm up there. Would love to ask them about their lisbon campaign and how they felt about certain half truths they spouted.

EDIT:

On a side note, I'm looking at the libertas website (http://www.libertas.eu/) and cant help but notice in their little slideshow at the top they announce that there are too many commissioners and too many laws being made by unelected officials and that Libertas is the only way to solve these issues.

but

werent both of these issues that the Lisbon Treaty was going to solve (and that they directly opposed)?

how confusing.

I don't know whether you saw this - I only came across it myself today:

Well the Irish Times poll shows that the Lisbon Treaty would pass a new vote if the EU gave in and changed the Treaty to suit the Irish voters.

The Irish Times carried a good letter on the subject on the 17/11/2008.

We want the following.

* All countries to have an EU commissioner to keep Libertas happy. But we also want less EU fat cats and bureaucrats to keep Libertas happy.

* We want the EU to force companies to recognise Trade Unions to make the SIPTU happy. But we do not want the EU to interfere in the internal running of our country to keep the National Platform happy.

* We want the EU to make Ireland more liberal to keep the SWP happy. While also forcing Ireland back into a state run by religious laws the keep the Christian Right happy.

* On the army, we want no military spending and for the troops never to leave their barracks to keep PANA happy. But we want to make sure that the EU protects human rights by sending troops to places like Chad, to keep the EU integrations happy.

* We want the EU to stop importing of any foreign food into the EU for the IFA to be happy. But we want to be allowed sell our food all over the world without anyone stopping our exports to keep the IFA happy.

* We want the EU to promise not to increase taxation across the EU (even do article 113 and 115 says this cannot happen without our agreement) to keep happy Libertas. While we would like to see the Irish government increase taxation to keep Sinn Fein happy.

* We would like the EU to guarantee the right of the Irish people to hold further referendums on EU treaties (this would be on top of the guarantee already clearly expressed in article 48 of the treaty) to keep Libertas happy. While cutting back on the say that the EU would have in our internal affairs to keep the National Platform happy.

* We want the EU to restrict the movement of workers on lower wages around the EU to keep the unions happy. But increase the competition in the EU by allowing the free movement of workers within the EU to keep the business lobby happy.

* To top it all off we want someone to call to everyones house to explain the Lisbon Treaty in easy steps, while not wasting our time because we are not interested in it anyway.

Sums it all up quite well.

cordially,
Scofflaw

nesf

BlitzKrieg wrote: »

disapointed that there is no libertas candidate for me to ignore in the south constituency

We've got Kathy Sinnott to ignore.

BlitzKrieg

her wiki article makes her sound like a scary person.

hate to be her kid.

Radio commentators must be low on things to talk about this morning.
They are saying Sean o Neachtains decision not to stand will bring in Ganley.

Lol- so they think ff were going to retain a seat in this environment and that people were going to vote en masse for Ganley...the man who'd advocate us out of the Euro and Europe and probably into the commonwealth given his friendship with the Tories...

snubbleste

Deleted User wrote: »

Radio commentators must be low on things to talk about this morning.
They are saying Sean o Neachtains decision not to stand will bring in Ganley.
Lol- so they think ff were going to retain a seat in this environment and that people were going to vote en masse for Ganley...the man who'd advocate us out of the Euro and Europe and probably into the commonwealth given his friendship with the Tories...

Now that Seanín has bowed out, I think Ganley has a good chance of gaining a seat in the NW area, will be suprised if Harkin or an FFer get a seat, so that leaves a lot of votes to be fought for particularly in the Galway city area

WooPeeA

I don't understand why people want to vote for Libertas and Ganley. Didn't you realize they don't even have any political program??

Politics is not TV show, you don't send text to support those who sing better. Politics need ideas and well planned program.

snubbleste

WooPeeA wrote: »

I don't understand why people want to vote for Libertas and Ganley. Didn't you realize they don't even have any political program??
Politics is not TV show, you don't send text to support those who sing better. Politics need ideas and well planned program.

Whilst not having read Libertas's literature, they want a more transparent, accountable democratic Europe. What was Dana's political manifesto?

oscarBravo

snubbleste wrote: »

Whilst not having read Libertas's literature, they want a more transparent, accountable democratic Europe.

And I want a richer, happier Europe with nicer weather. Don't bother reading my literature; with a manifesto like that, who wouldn't vote for me?

What was Dana's political manifesto?

Don't ask me, it never crossed my mind to vote for her.

turgon

BlitzKrieg wrote: »

her wiki article makes her sound like a scary person.

Kathy Sinnot is an evil, evil women. She is constantly misguiding everyone. Half of her words are mistruths, and the other half lies.

I passed one of her posters recently, and was tempted to rip it down. I was then considering the practicality of driving through Cork City at night and ripping down all her signs.

And then I had a revelation -I would not lower myself to her level.

brianthebard

Anyone know why he picked the Northwest? guessing myself that perhaps it had the highest % of no voters in the referendum, but that doesn't mean they'll vote for ganley. thoughts?

snubbleste

brianthebard wrote: »

Anyone know why he picked the Northwest? guessing myself that perhaps it had the highest % of no voters in the referendum, but that doesn't mean they'll vote for ganley. thoughts?

He lives there.

nesf

turgon wrote: »

I passed one of her posters recently, and was tempted to rip it down. I was then considering the practicality of driving through Cork City at night and ripping down all her signs.

I walk past them every day, and every day it's a struggle not to tear them down.

Agent Smith

turgon wrote: »

Kathy Sinnot is an evil, evil women. She is constantly misguiding everyone. Half of her words are mistruths, and the other half lies.

I passed one of her posters recently, and was tempted to rip it down. I was then considering the practicality of driving through Cork City at night and ripping down all her signs.

And then I had a revelation -I would not lower myself to her level.

Its also illegal.


I'd be interested to see Ganley Sitting in Brussles/Strasbourg on his own. the Sole Irish libertas MEP.
if a single libertas candidate is elected to the European Parliment,(an irish one) would that make libertas supseptable to Irish laws regarding their funding?

brianthebard

snubbleste wrote: »

He lives there.

does he have to run in that constituency though? For some reason I thought he might have more of a chance in Dublin, just wondering out loud here.

is_that_so

So far the confirmed candidates are


Ganley, Declan Libertas
Harkin, Marian Independent
Higgins, Jim Fine Gael
Mac Lochlainn, Pádraig Sinn Féin
Mooney, Paschal Fianna Fáil
O'Keefe, Susan The Labour Party
O'Reilly, Joe Fine Gael

Things have got a bit more interesting although O'Reilly could get Higgins transfers. Dana doesn't seemed to have decided. At this point I'd say SF could be in with a shout. Susan O'Keefe will do well to bring up the Labour vote, although I suspect a few Gilmore posters around will work wonders. The punishment FF are likely to get means that everyone is in with a shout. The questions about Ganley remains. Will he have enough first preferences to stay in the race and if he does who's going to give him transfers?

PopeBuckfastXVI

I don't know that he can turn the lisbon 'no' vote into a ganley 'yes' vote.

I was talking to one SF hopeful in the coming locals in Galway City who had absolutely no love for Ganley.

Never mind Dublin I think he'd be better off running in England where his natural eurosceptic tory base lives.

Still I'm not going to complain if it turns out he's made a fatal mistake by running in the west of Ireland.

I'm just looking forward to giving him my last preference.

turgon

brianthebard wrote: »

does he have to run in that constituency though? For some reason I thought he might have more of a chance in Dublin, just wondering out loud here.

Afaik they are running a candidate in every constituency except Ireland South, due to Kathy Sinnots presence there.

nesf

turgon wrote: »

Afaik they are running a candidate in every constituency except Ireland South, due to Kathy Sinnots presence there.

Yeah she's got the anti-establishment vote sewn up down here, mores the pity.

BlitzKrieg

Is she one of those candidates who doesnt listen to reason and thinks debating is shouting louder then your opponent?

Hitman Actual

BlitzKrieg wrote: »

Is she one of those candidates who doesnt listen to reason and thinks debating is shouting louder then your opponent?

I think that's her; she took the same course in debating as those whack-jobs in Coir.

View

turgon wrote: »

Afaik they are running a candidate in every constituency except Ireland South, due to Kathy Sinnots presence there.

Kathy Sinnot is a member of the EU Democrats - a Eurosceptic European (level) Political Party. That party - like the other European Political Parties - has a European Political Foundation whose role is to essentially advance the political views of the parent party (to simplify slightly). The EU Democrats' political foundation is the Foundation for EU Democracy which produced the "The Lisbon Treaty - the Readable Version" written by well-known Danish Eurosceptic Jens-Peter Bonde. This document was, of course, the document that Mr Ganley claimed that Libertas were giving out 35,000 copies of during the referendum campaign (A donation with a market value of EUR 700,000, despite the relevant electoral donation limit being EUR 6,348.69 for a third party such as Libertas - See SIPO report P. 13).

As such, it isn't hard to see why Libertas aren't going to run anyone who might take votes from Kathy Sinnot. Were they to do so, it'd be a bit like Labour Youth running candidates who'd take votes away from Labour candidates...

stepbar

It seem to me that Libertas is targeting the North West as an easy touch constituency to get a candidate elected. FFS the North West elected Dana and we seen all she done for the region:rolleyes:

K-9

Higgins is a Cert.

If FF put up a credible candidate, they should just about scrape by.

The third seat always was protest vote, going back to Blayney days.

BlitzKrieg

libertas posters are showing up alot more now.

Saw 3 today on my way through town.

One was the dublin city candidate. expected. (just at the five lamps)

Another was on the side of a bus

and the final (just by the strand apartments) was the very aggressive *Biffo has lost countless jobs and run the country into the ground, but Declan Ganley has a history of success and job creation*

While I wouldnt be one to jump to Cowen's defence, it was a very patronising ad, one where the picture of Brian Cowen is one where his arm is lifted above his head so he looks like a monkey and Declan Ganley is standing straight looking out like some proud git.

I dont like manipulative adverts like that. Make me instantly side with the person they attack most of the time.

lostexpectation

Scofflaw wrote: »

I don't know whether you saw this - I only came across it myself today:



that letter

cordially,
Scofflaw

how is it fair to compare what pana wants with what libertas want

bokspring71

I am guessing that many have already seen this article http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/declan-ganley-is-the-victim-of-a-shameful-smear-campaign-1639858.html in today's Irish Independant.

I think it's exciting that Ganley is standing, as one feature of modern Ireland seems to be elections where everyone standing, with a serious chance at election, seems to be in broad agreement.

It's fun to play the game of spotting when an opponant of Ganley's doesn't attack his argument or policies, but instead relies on personal smears and innuendo.

is_that_so

bokspring71 wrote: »

I am guessing that many have already seen this article http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/declan-ganley-is-the-victim-of-a-shameful-smear-campaign-1639858.html in today's Irish Independant.

I think it's exciting that Ganley is standing, as one feature of modern Ireland seems to be elections where everyone standing, with a serious chance at election, seems to be in broad agreement.

It's fun to play the game of spotting when an opponant of Ganley's doesn't attack his argument or policies, but instead relies on personal smears and innuendo.

A Libertas voter so. I don't disagree with the basic thrust of that piece i.e. not everything said about a particular election candidate is necessarily truthful and that it's unfair. But it happens all the time , locally , nationally and at EU level as well. It's not as if Bruce Arnold is telling us anything new. Beyond that it's just a long list of conveniently assembled truths to tell us exactly nothing.

There are many reasons why Ganley deserves all he's getting.

Now I don't know about you but I like politicians I can trust to some degree and sadly Mr Ganley has yet to put anything on the table that is worth listening to and entirely trustworthy.

He has not been truthful enough or even when he has he has left such a deficit open to any number of interpretations.

He and Libertas hold local and national politics in complete contempt. If he really gave a damn he'd be running as Councillor.

He has still not adequately explained Libertas funding in the referendum last year.


Incidentally the director of elections for Libertas Lynton Crosby "got form" in this type of smear campaign.

Scofflaw

lostexpectation wrote: »

how is it fair to compare what pana wants with what libertas want

In the case of the referendum No, it's fair, I think - and that's what that piece is about, after all.

cordially,
Scofflaw

Scofflaw

bokspring71 wrote: »

I am guessing that many have already seen this article http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/declan-ganley-is-the-victim-of-a-shameful-smear-campaign-1639858.html in today's Irish Independant.

I think it's exciting that Ganley is standing, as one feature of modern Ireland seems to be elections where everyone standing, with a serious chance at election, seems to be in broad agreement.

It's fun to play the game of spotting when an opponant of Ganley's doesn't attack his argument or policies, but instead relies on personal smears and innuendo.

I was originally delighted that a group outside the political parties but with sufficient clout to be noticeable was standing, even if that group was agaist Lisbon in the referendum. Unfortunately, Libertas seem to operate almost entirely by smear and negative campaigning - we're only a month in, but we've already had attempts to link Jim Higgins to a non-existent swimming pool, and now it looks like we're hip-deep in abortion accusations and counter-accusations - even though abortion is not now, and is never likely to be, an EU competence, and is therefore irrelevant in a European election.

sadly,
Scofflaw

oscarBravo

bokspring71 wrote: »

It's fun to play the game of spotting when an opponant of Ganley's doesn't attack his argument or policies, but instead relies on personal smears and innuendo.

Libertas have policies?

WooPeeA

I saw his first banner in Galway yesterday when I was going back home.

Sorry for the quality, the pic made with phone at night.

ionix5891

god helps us all (im an atheist so its figure of speech)

these Libertas people really freak me out :eek:

so much for his claims a year ago that He has no political ambitions....

Hitman Actual

WooPeeA wrote: »

I saw his first banner in Galway yesterday when I was going back home.

Sorry for the quality, the pic made with phone at night.

Is he trying to dupe people into thinking he's running in the local elections? I thought their EU ambitions are to bring the current EU down from the inside. The message on that banner makes no sense.

Scofflaw

Hitman Actual wrote: »

Is he trying to dupe people into thinking he's running in the local elections? I thought their EU ambitions are to bring the current EU down from the inside. The message on that banner makes no sense.

The spin doctors have no doubt determined that the European elections will be fought on domestic issues du jour - that looks more like a General Election poster. He's literally just aiming at what people are currently concerned about - and it's not as if Libertas have actually released any policies, so there's nothing to contradict the poster message.

cordially,
Scofflaw