Caroline Simmons

BlitzKrieg

Is she the Sarah Palin of irish politics.

Her latest act: http://www.todayfm.com/Shows/Weekdays/Matt-Cooper/listen.aspx (15/05/09 the 5pm show at about 4 minutes in)


Oh my god is she serious?!?!?!

blue cards? We might aswell bloody leave the EU!

And the amount of excess beaurcracy that would be needed to manage taxation for citizens abroad?

Has she not thought of any of this.


Maybe it was better when Libertas had no policy.

Oh God she used the old *no airport from nigeria* argument aswell. She is really stupid!

teednab-el

no I think Mary Coughlan has beaten her to that. ::)

BlitzKrieg

oh god, that bit where she doesnt know the difference between the north and the republic is amazingly funny.

Mena

BlitzKrieg wrote: »

oh god, that bit where she doesnt know the difference between the north and the republic is amazingly funny.

I must admit, it was hard to take her seriously, but my rage took over. I cannot believe she is serious really.

Agent Smith

I signed up to the press releases from libertas last year (while campaigning for a yes vote)

I Later on got a email inviting me to be a candidate.
i remarked to a friend "yeah, i should run, and be awfull and make sure none of them get it"


Thank you caroline simmons. your lack of basic irish geography is heartwarmingly bad,

Agent Smith

also, anyone thinks its ironic that libertas wants to bring in "blue cards", Restricting peoples movement.

Libertas, Latin for Liberty


Liberty is a concept of political philosophy and identifies the condition in which an individual has the right to act according to his or her own will.

hmmmm

Steviemak

Amazingly people will vote for this crowd!! It really is scary!!

Jack Sheehan

I've got an absolute storm of leaflets from Caroline Simmons recently. Most of her 'policies' seem to involve Ad Hominem attacks on other politcians. Will not be supporting.

djpbarry

BlitzKrieg wrote: »

blue cards? We might aswell bloody leave the EU!

And the amount of excess beaurcracy that would be needed to manage taxation for citizens abroad?

And yet throughout the interview she maintains that the "blue cards" will make it as easier for EU citizens to work abroad by removing the "red tape and bureaucracy"?!? What red tape?

is_that_so

According to the Sindo today both herself and O'Malley have had media training from Terry Prone. It's hard to say if any of it is sticking.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ministers-spin-guru-also-helps-libertas-1742075.html

Chardee MacDennis

sure they want to break up the EU dont they?

Moriarty

For anyone that hasn't seen her.. impressive.. letter drops, I've scanned in one I've received: front / back.

Text on the back, as scanned word for word:

ARE YOU GETTING VALUE FOR MONEY?
BEFORE YOU VOTE ON JUNE 5TH, REMEMBER:

PROINSIAS DE ROSSA VOTED:
Not to respect the outcome of the Referendum on the Lisbon Treaty - before a vote
had even been cast
In favour of the Bersani Report which sought to undermine Ireland's Corporate Tax Rate

GAY MITCHELL & EOIN RYAN:
VOTED TO KEEP MEP'S EXPENSES SECRET AND HIDDEN
REFUSED TO VOTE TO MAKE THEIR OWN ATTENDANCE RECORDS PUBLIC
What have they got to hide?

FlANNA FAIL SIT WITH THE LIBERAL GROUPING IN PARLIAMENT - A GROUP WHICH OPPOSES
THE RIGHT OF THE IRISH PEOPLE TO DECIDE THEIR OWN SOCIAL POLICIES

FINE GAEL MEPS VOTED TO ABOLISH IRELAND'S CORPORATE TAX RATE - OUR ONLY TOOL TO
ATTRACT MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES WHICH EMPLOYED OVER 150,000 PEOPLE LAST YEAR

LABOUR VOTED NOT TO RESPECT OUR DECISION ON THE LISBON TREATY

DUBLIN MEPS COST OVER €8.4 MilLION OF TAX-PAYERS'
MONEY IN THE LAST 5 YEARS ... WERE THEY WORTH IT?

DUBLIN DESERVES BETTER.

CAROLINE SIMONS IS A NEW VOICE,
STANDING UP FOR YOU IN A EUROPE
THAT REALLY WORKS FOR ITS PEOPLE

CAROLINE WILL:
Make sure you know how much she earns,
and when she shows up to work

Vote to make all expenses and attendance
records open and public

Make sure Ireland has a strong voice at the
centre of a better Europe

Fight for YOUR right to decide issues like the
Lisbon Treaty and social policy

Tell you what goes on in Europe

Stand up for Ireland's ability to strengthen its
economy and create jobs

Libertas.eu

Ghandi-esque proportions, as I'm sure you'll agree.

Our man in Havana

I notice that she is using the Presidential harp on her posters. Is that not a tad illegal?

getcover

is_that_so wrote: »

According to the Sindo today both herself and O'Malley have had media training from Terry Prone.

Prone?

The most utterly brainless "Media Commentator" ever, with absolutely nothing of any interest to say.

Her "analysis" of the US Presidential election on DriveTime (where she chatted with that other intellectual colossus, Mary Wilson) was absolutely hilarious (unintentionally!)

Hopefully Simmons is listening to Prone, it will guarantee that she shows herself up for the plank she is.

P. Breathnach

getcover wrote: »

Prone?

The most utterly brainless "Media Commentator" ever, with absolutely nothing of any interest to say.

Her "analysis" of the US Presidential election on DriveTime (where she chatted with that other intellectual colossus, Mary Wilson) was absolutely hilarious (unintentionally!)

Hopefully Simmons is listening to Prone, it will guarantee that she shows herself up for the plank she is.

I love the confidence with which people on boards pass judgement, especially negative judgement, on others. Many such posters fail to show a basis on which we should respect their judgement.

4Xcut

Regardless of the lagality (would be interested to know this though) it is extremely disrepectful to the President to use this symbol.

Then again she doesn't seem to be that clued into the real world. She is the main reason i have changed to a yes vote.

I genuinely know people of 21/22/23 years old who could un a better campaign.

getcover

P. Breathnach wrote: »

I love the confidence with which people on boards pass judgement, especially negative judgement, on others. Many such posters fail to show a basis on which we should respect their judgement.

Untwist your knickers there, it's called an opinion. Bizarrely enough, many discussion forums contain them.

P. Breathnach

getcover wrote: »

Untwist your knickers there, it's called an opinion. Bizarrely enough, many discussion forums contain them.

In my opinion, it's no more than ill-mannered abuse.

getcover

P. Breathnach wrote: »

In my opinion, it's no more than ill-mannered abuse.

And you are perfectly entitled to that opinion.

So Caroline Simmons then, any opinion on her?

P. Breathnach

getcover wrote: »

And you are perfectly entitled to that opinion.

Gee, thanks.

So Caroline Simmons then, any opinion on her?

I don't have much to say about her personally, because I don't know a great deal about her. I disagree many of the political opinions she has expressed, and I think the party for which she is running is deplorable.

getcover

How did the bould Caroline perform on Q&A last night?

Our man in Havana

She was made to look very foolish.

I hear that Libertas are removing her posters over some trouble over a harp.

Duffman

Wonderful stuff. She's hanging herself and it's great.

P. Breathnach

Duffman wrote: »

Wonderful stuff. She's hanging herself and it's great.

And unhanging her posters?

Duffman

P. Breathnach wrote: »

And unhanging her posters?

And rightly so. The State should vigorously defend its intellectual property against this most damaging form of dilution.

Who wants their brand appearing next to Simons' face?

Hitman Actual

She's turning into quite the liability; surely the Libertas campaign organisers should be ensuring she gets as little media time as possible in the next few weeks. She's a godsend for the anti-Libertas crew.

On a related but completely trivial topic, is her surname Simmons or Simons? The media always referred to her as Simmons during the referendum campaign, but now she's been referred to as Simons... what gives?

BlitzKrieg

well she is going to be in coolock for a community Q+A on thursday at 7pm if you want to embarrasse her some more (thread going up in a second.)

djpbarry

Hitman Actual wrote: »

On a related but completely trivial topic, is her surname Simmons or Simons? The media always referred to her as Simmons during the referendum campaign, but now she's been referred to as Simons... what gives?

Am I losing the plot completely, or have all her posters suddenly been changed from "Simmons" to "Simons"? I find it hard to believe that this was some massive typo - what gives?

Bond-007

Bond-007 wrote: »

She was made to look very foolish.

I hear that Libertas are removing her posters over some trouble over a harp.

How was she made to look very foolish?! One thing she did was directly challenge Gay Mitchell, MEP for Dublin. He said he did not vote 'no' for a certain proposal concerning expenses but she got information from the EU which stated he did in fact vote no. He was made look the fool really!

djpbarry

Deleted User wrote: »

How was she made to look very foolish?! One thing she did was directly challenge Gay Mitchell, MEP for Dublin. He said he did not vote 'no'...

No he didn't. He acknowledged the fact that he voted 'No', but explained his reasons for doing so. But of course, she wasn't interested in his reasons and continued to shout him down.

djpbarry

djpbarry wrote: »

No he didn't. He acknowledged the fact that he voted 'No', but explained his reasons for doing so. But of course, she wasn't interested in his reasons and continued to shout him down.

He only acknowledged it after she had read her her piece of information. He voted no and only told the truth after she had exposed what really happened! His reason was also not good enough. She was interested in his reason and asked him why there has not been any developments with a better plan he intended to vote for, to which he didn't reply!

storinius

Bond-007 wrote: »

I notice that she is using the Presidential harp on her posters. Is that not a tad illegal?

I think she might have annoyed quite a few people with that all right.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0519/1224246880481.html

Interesting that the taxpayer has to pay for a candidate to send out campaign literature. I had never heard of a 'litir um thoghchán' before. Does that mean that if I decided to run in the morning that the I could send everyone in the constituency a letter for free?

Our man in Havana

Yes, each candidate can send one letter to each person on the electoral register free of charge.

oceanclub

I find it odd that on her leaflet, supposedly she devotes three whole sentences to herself, repeating twice that she's a mother of five. Either she thinks that fecundity is a requirement for political office or it's a Palinesque wink to old pro-lifers that she's not one of those lefty femmos who has her womb scraped out with joss-sticks at the drop of a hat.

P.

PopeBuckfastXVI

Simmons wrote:

FINE GAEL MEPS VOTED TO ABOLISH IRELAND'S CORPORATE TAX RATE - OUR ONLY TOOL TO
ATTRACT MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES WHICH EMPLOYED OVER 150,000 PEOPLE LAST YEAR

I resent that remark. I work for a multinational company, and while Caroline may be so f*cking useless that being cheap is the only value she can provide, I'd like to think that most of the rest of us add a bit of productivity and service above and beyond being a dodgy tax haven.

Wow, she really places no value on the Irish people, or our skills and abilities what so ever.

djpbarry

Deleted User wrote: »

He only acknowledged it after she had read her her piece of information. He voted no and only told the truth after she had exposed what really happened!

Nope. I think you need to watch it again:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0518/qanda_av.html?2545645,null,230

About 1 minute 50 seconds in, Gay Mitchell clarifies his position before the question is put to Sim(m)ons.

Scofflaw

Deleted User wrote: »

How was she made to look very foolish?! One thing she did was directly challenge Gay Mitchell, MEP for Dublin. He said he did not vote 'no' for a certain proposal concerning expenses but she got information from the EU which stated he did in fact vote no. He was made look the fool really!

I wonder is that a wise course for Libertas to pursue, given that at least one of their candidates (an Italian MEP called Sebastiano Musumeci) also voted against the report, and Libertas' French MEPs were all there but didn't vote.

cordially,
Scofflaw

Jack Sheehan

djpbarry wrote: »

Am I losing the plot completely, or have all her posters suddenly been changed from "Simmons" to "Simons"? I find it hard to believe that this was some massive typo - what gives?

Jesus H I think you could be right. Shes even conspired to make me lose that leaflet with the two 'ms'.

Scofflaw

Jack Sheehan wrote: »

Jesus H I think you could be right. Shes even conspired to make me lose that leaflet with the two 'ms'.

Well, she's certainly listed on the Pro-Life website as "Caroline Simons". Holles Street have her listed back in 2005 as Caroline Simmons, though.

If she changed it, she changed it a number of years ago.

cordially,
Scofflaw

Scofflaw

Scofflaw wrote: »

I wonder is that a wise course for Libertas to pursue, given that at least one of their candidates (an Italian MEP called Sebastiano Musumeci) also voted against the report, and Libertas' French MEPs were all there but didn't vote.

cordially,
Scofflaw

Can you provide a source? I googled 'Sebastiano Musumeci Libertas' and the first thing that came up was this conversation.

BlitzKrieg

Caroline Simons has retracted her blue card proposal under statement of *It was a proposal for immigration for those outside of the EU* and has stated today in front of the Coolock Q+A that she is open to full free immigration across the EU.


Sadly I didnt get to ask any questions but Caroline Simons opening statement and reponse to A question on migration was quite interesting.

She disowned fellow libertas candidate for East ireland, stating she firmly disagreed with his opinion on immigration. So much for a pan european party, they are not even pan ireland anymore. And went on to say she opposed any restriction on eu migration.

PopeBuckfastXVI

BlitzKrieg wrote: »

Caroline Simons has retracted her blue card proposal under statement of *It was a proposal for immigration for those outside of the EU* and has stated today in front of the Coolock Q+A that she is open to full free immigration across the EU.

I haven't seen a flip flop that big since I went to the beach with Ian Thorpe

BlitzKrieg

I would edit a quick piece of her two comments (from today and last week) side by side for youtube, but sadly my work mac does not like WMV a neither does fcp.


until then I'll try and upload an audio sample of her today.

djpbarry

djpbarry wrote: »

Nope. I think you need to watch it again:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0518/qanda_av.html?2545645,null,230

About 1 minute 50 seconds in, Gay Mitchell clarifies his position before the question is put to Sim(m)ons.

He said Libertas were careless with the truth in saying Gay Mitchell voted no for a certain proposal. No they weren't he voted no. He is not excused because he added an explanation of vote.

BlitzKrieg

Find attached zip file with the audio of her distancing herself from her fellow libertas candidate and stating she is against restricting immigration.

Our man in Havana

BlitzKrieg wrote: »

Find attached zip file with the audio of her distancing herself from her fellow libertas candidate and stating she is against restricting immigration.

That is some flip flop alright. Talk about a doing a full 180.

BlitzKrieg

OFFTOPIC:

in another strange own goal by libertas they link to my earlier quickly put together video on their misinformation adverts on their blogs as *Libertas TV* Its the first video on the list and most of my views (not many) have come from their website?


: http://robin-matthews.blogspot.com/2009/05/labour-meps-should-disclose-all.html (bottom right on page)


No explanation as to why on the website that I can find. If there was a rebuttal by a libertas candidate I would be happy to let them use it if I can respond. But its just sitting there randomly?

Is someone playing dirty monkey's with the libertas uk blog?

So confused?

r14

Do you think she suddenly remembered that all those Eastern Europeans have a vote in the Parliament elections which would definitely be cast against her if they thought she was anti-immigration?

Don't forget people from the new member states are more likely to vote in the European Elections so they are an important constituency to satisfy.

Btw hearing Sim(m)ons floundering around like that always makes me happy. Hope she loses her deposit.

Our man in Havana

BlitzKrieg wrote: »

OFFTOPIC:

in another strange own goal by libertas they link to my earlier quickly put together video on their misinformation adverts on their blogs as *Libertas TV* Its the first video on the list and most of my views (not many) have come from their website?


: http://robin-matthews.blogspot.com/2009/05/labour-meps-should-disclose-all.html (bottom right on page)


No explanation as to why on the website that I can find. If there was a rebuttal by a libertas candidate I would be happy to let them use it if I can respond. But its just sitting there randomly?

Is someone playing dirty monkey's with the libertas uk blog?

So confused?

They seem to lack basic intelligence.

Very good video btw.

Our man in Havana

r14 wrote: »

Hope she loses her deposit.

No deposits needed anymore. Any crackpot can run if they can gather up 60 signatures of registered electors.

r14

Bond-007 wrote: »

No deposits needed anymore. Any crackpot can run if they can gather up 60 signatures of registered electors.

Even in the Europeans? I thought they had changed it for general elections but kept it for the Europeans. Very possible that I'm mistaken though cause it's been a while since I looked at it. Either way it is funny to see her looking more and more ridiculous every day.