Why is Brian Crowley not taking losses in the polls?

Dr. Baltar

We've seen Fianna Fáil take a huge drop in support in the elections over the past 24 hours and their support is at an all time low.
Why, however is it that Brian Crowley MEP, member of Fianna Fáil has not shared this drop in support?

Our man in Havana

Because he is a respected hard working MEP in the south, most of his support is personal and not party related.

TheKnowledge

He's hard working and doesn't get involved in scandal. I think he'll be the next president; it kills me to say it cos I'm FG but he's a good guy

road_high

TheKnowledge wrote: »

He's hard working and doesn't get involved in scandal. I think he'll be the next president; it kills me to say it cos I'm FG but he's a good guy

I don't think so. Pretty unknown outside of Munster. I know nothing of him except for he uses a wheelchair.

PopeBuckfastXVI

mfitzy wrote: »

I don't think so. Pretty unknown outside of Munster. I know nothing of him except for he uses a wheelchair.

fyp

old boy

sleeze free

BERBA

Bond-007 wrote: »

Because he is a respected hard working MEP in the south, most of his support is personal and not party related.

What has he ever done fro the south? except wrack up serious expense bills like they all do i might add. He defo gets a number of sympathy votes imo

kerry4sam

Sir Baralot wrote: »

We've seen Fianna Fáil take a huge drop in support in the elections over the past 24 hours and their support is at an all time low.
Why, however is it that Brian Crowley MEP, member of Fianna Fáil has not shared this drop in support?

Simply because Brian Crowley is a ROCK in these parts. He has always lived through to this word; non-stop hard-working; dedicated & committted to his portfolio and people on the ground from every political allegiancy know this FACT! ... that's why in my opinion.

lostexpectation

nepotism

Scofflaw

lostexpectation wrote: »

nepotism

It's a bit harsh to suggest that everyone in Munster is related.

amused,
Scofflaw

Dr. Baltar

Thanking you for the answers everyone.

corcaighcailin9

Brian Crowley is the only FF candidate who got a reasonable number next to his name from me - simply because of the reasons listed above. He does seem to be a good guy, such a rarity.

Trotter

It looks like Brian Crowley is going to top the poll in the European Elections for the southern constituency.

I can't figure out why this is though? He's FF to the core, and yet the backlash hasn't caused him any grief. I haven't seen or heard from him since he came looking for votes the last time. Thats not to say he hasn't done good work, it just means I seem to have missed it all.

Liam Byrne

Been asking myself that all day......I don't like it because it reflects badly on us down here in Munster.

In addition, in a clip on RTE earlier showing the count going on, there were 3 consecutive polling cards in succession that clearly had no mark beside Crowley......I know that's not representative, but it struck me as VERY strange and my cousin's g/f commented on it too.

Ludo

Crowley gets a big sympathy vote. Before people jump on this comment as being un-pc or something, you would not believe the number of people I ahev heard say in the last week " ah sure the poor fella is in a wheelchair...terrible accident he had when he was young...I'll prob vote for him!".

Doesn't explain it all obviously...but it sure does help him.

turgon

There is no sympathy vote. He is respected as a politician and seen to be somewhat distant from the FF Parliamentary Party.

sub-x

Ludo wrote: »

Crowley gets a big sympathy vote. Before people jump on this comment as being un-pc or something, you would not believe the number of people I ahev heard say in the last week " ah sure the poor fella is in a wheelchair...terrible accident he had when he was young...I'll prob vote for him!".

Doesn't explain it all obviously...but it sure does help him.

Sympathy vote LMFAO

That must be why we have the government we do It should not be surprise that there can be one or two jewels in the over all barrel of s**t.

Het-Field

Crowley has been an MEP for 15 years. He is not a traditional FFer in the Eoin Ryan snese. The latter moved to Europe on the back of an embarrassing demotion for him in 2002 from Minister to backbencher. Equally, Ryan has been beating the drum for Govt policy. Not suprised with Crowley

NewDubliner

Trotter wrote: »

I can't figure out why this is though? He's FF to the core, and yet the backlash hasn't caused him any grief.

While dissatisfaction on many issues would have hit FF. You could look at 'decntralisation'. FF lost votes from Dubliners whose jobs they tried to take away & then lost votes from the towns they promised those jobs to & didn't get them.

Maybe FF did not alienate Southern voters.

Liam Byrne

NewDubliner wrote: »

Maybe FF did not alienate Southern voters.

Can't speak for Cork & some other counties, but believe me, they did.

Trotter

You can be sure that FF has alienated Waterford anyway. From listening to Crowley this week, he sure sounded like a true FF man anyway. He got a blank from me.

sceptre

Threads merged

lostexpectation

his td father
http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=2747

not the wheechair but he certainly uses it see this puke

http://www.briancrowleymep.ie/html/character.htm

He received a diploma in law in 1993 from University College Cork, and the following year he was nominated by the Taoiseach Albert Reynolds to the 20th Seanad Éirean
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article4882157.ece

He father, Flor, was the local TD and a supporter of Charles Haughey who ran a pub...

In 1993 Albert Reynolds offered him a seat in the Seanad. Local gossip has it that the then taoiseach’s offer was to compensate Crowley’s father for not being given the chairmanship of a local college.

eagle eye

The guy has the lethal combination of being a nice guy and having charisma. Thats a great start, he is also known as a hard worker and the fact the man is in a wheelchair will also get you votes in some quarters.

Tbh, I have said for some time that he should have been seriously considered as a potential leader of Fianna Fail. He is the only guy in that party who has that sort of charisma that you need in a leader, and by being in Europe he escapes a lot of the criticisms for the state of his party and this country.

As somone who canvasses for him, it's easy to see why he gets the vote he does. He runs his own campaign, away from the FF machine, and uses his own activists - of course they will be in FF, but he doesn't use the tired old hacks or rely solely on the Cumainn, he has a very strong operation going himself. He is hard working, his attendance record is better than any other Irish MEP, and he has more charisma than any other candidate out there. He has avoided controversy unlike say Sinnott, and quietly and carefully worked the constituency to the extent where he has phenomenal appeal that again bears no resemblance to the appeal or otherwise of FF. He has been lucky too, perhaps, he has been away from FF and does not have the 'friend of the developers' tag as much as those who stayed around for the Ahern years. He will survive any meltdown by FF.

howie2008

He actually represents my constituency and I recall him canvassing for first time years back. Lets call a spade a spade. Very few knew the guy, they heard the wheelchair story, it made him memorable and people voted for him purely on that basis. Newcomer enters the political race and blitz's evryone in Ireland on the votes. Honestly what newspaper would knock the guy. He could be A1 and a nice guy but so could the others. Tell it to those working in politics for yrs and being ousted by the wheelchair vote. How many of us even investigate these politicians anyway. Its an Irish thing - token vote! Politics shouldn't mbe about the sympathy vote it should be about delivering. Does anyone listen to Pronsias DeRossa?

techdiver

Deleted User wrote: »

As somone who canvasses for him, it's easy to see why he gets the vote he does. He runs his own campaign, away from the FF machine, and uses his own activists - of course they will be in FF, but he doesn't use the tired old hacks or rely solely on the Cumainn, he has a very strong operation going himself.

That's a nowhere argument. People don't give a crap about whether he runs his own campaign or not. He represents Fianna Fail, defends Fianna Fail policy and has not suffered in the same way as other candidates.

I know it's not PC, but I can't help but thinking that the wheelchair thing swings the vote for him somewhat. There are plenty of other "hard working" Fianna Fail councillors and MEP's who have lost out too.

howie2008

howie2008 wrote: »

Honestly what newspaper would knock the guy.

You tell us then. What exactly is there to knock about him? What is the big flaw or weakness, what is the skeleton in the closet, that they keep hidden for fear of hurting him and he wheelchair bound?

He is popular because he works the constituency like no other. And he does it with charisma and style. He will be at a meeting in my home town in Kerry in 6 months. He will be back in a year. Then 2 years. Then 4 years. He won't do a Colm Burke or a Kathy Sinnott and disappear until 2 months before the next polling day. As I said, noone works the area as hard as he does. He will stay out of controversies like abortion letters and expenses. He will do the spade work and actually turn up for work more often than any other candidate, as his attendance record shows. He will keep his campaign team working throughout the next few years, and you know what, he will sail in again next time.

howie2008

There's a school of thought that reckons if he stapled a wheelchair dinky to his posters he would have gotten in even more votes enabling him to get thru on the first count. Guys it's the wheelchair and always has been. Harsh but fair! Merit has to prevail in voting for people. As heart warming as it is to vote for candidates based on their personal challenges it certainly is not the means to addressing the needs of the economy and the ultimate solutions required. Otherwise we'll have a front bench of amputees & speech impediments shortly. We need to be voting people who have excelled in their own fields privately and can bring that acumen to their roles in govenment.

Rb

I hope it's not unrequited, Conor74 :pac:

howie2008

Ha Ha!

sceptre

Try to post smarter, guys - neither of you are doing yourselves any favours.

howie2008

howie2008 wrote: »

Otherwise we'll have a front bench of amputees & speech impediments shortly.

On that logic, there was no swing to de Rossa in Dublin. People just find that Porky Pig impression so damn cute. Dabbaday dabbaday indeed.

Or how about FG running plain jane with the thick glasses in Leinster, a poll topper no less. Yes, the looks to melt the hardest heart. Well she's not gonna make much modelling now is she? Or does the cynic in you suspect that there's no lens in those bottle end thick glasses?

Yes, our public representatives should be flawless to meet your requirements. Its all about the handicap, not the hard work.

techdiver

techdiver wrote: »

That's a nowhere argument. People don't give a crap about whether he runs his own campaign or not. He represents Fianna Fail, defends Fianna Fail policy and has not suffered in the same way as other candidates.

In my area the local FF candidates increased their first preference. They both have full use of their limbs.

You see, sometimes voters do just vote for the hardworkers who clock in the hours, run good campaigns and steer clear of controversies.

howie2008

In fairness I saw "plain jane" out the other night in heels and she was wearing contacts, a pair of leather hotpants and a boob top! Quite the head turner!

getcover

Doubt if the wheelchair got him more than a few thousand votes at best, his record and work must have something to do with it.
Not an FFer, but he seems like a nice guy, and doesn't go in for the arrogant sneering that seems to be a requisite for any FF bigwig these days.

howie2008

Ya thats a fair point. Working off a VERY VAGUE memory when he was first canvassing and it came to vote day he got something like twice the vote of the nearest candidate and he was up against. A figure that was totally unheard off. He was totally unheard off bar his unique selling point of the wheelchair. To be honest I would love to see him on Prime Time, Radio 1, Newstalk etc...He is very much out of the limelight. Never hear of the guy til voting time. Reckon the wheelchair gets him 2/3 to 7/8 of his votes if u compare historical newcomer votes without family connections in his age bracket. Back then anyway when he was first canvassing.

akaredtop

If he had lost his seat he would definitely be feeling "DEFLATED".

howie2008

howie2008 wrote: »

He was totally unheard off bar his unique selling point of the wheelchair.

That's the Nth post in which you've mentioned his wheelchair.

I think you are just on a trolling campaign at this stage.

You have ignored my questions, to make just a few more remarks about his wheelchair.

howie2008 wrote: »

Never hear of the guy til voting time.

Not sure where you are based.

Profile very high around these parts.

howie2008 wrote: »

Reckon the wheelchair gets him 2/3 to 7/8 of his votes if u compare historical newcomer votes without family connections in his age bracket.

Please show how you came up with 7/8s, apart from your obvious (and slightly sad) desire to troll.

As for newcomer, well yes in everyone's first campaign they are a newcomer, I'm not sure what else he could have been. But are you seriously posting on a politics forum and saying you didn't know of the Crowley family in FF?

Anyway, even if you are right, yet again it wasn't even close. Yep, he's fooled 120,000 yet again with his sympathy routine, and you are the only kid in the crowd seeing through the charade. Medal in the post.

howie2008

Never heard of the Crowley Political Dynasty. Most people don't. I lend no credence to the idea that becuse somebody's father, uncle, cousin or great grandfather twice removed was good that it makes them quality vintage also. How can u compare the Aherne brothers. Its like saying Roy Keanes son will be a Man Utd captain! No interest in family ties. All down to the individual! Will leave bloodstock references to the Equine Industry.

howie2008

howie2008 wrote: »

Never heard of the Crowley Political Dynasty.

Didn't you?

His father was elected FF TD at least 3 times afaik.

howie2008 wrote: »

I lend no credence to the idea that becuse somebody's father, uncle, cousin or great grandfather twice removed was good that it makes them quality vintage also.

That's not the point I made at all.

Not sure how you managed to misread my post so much. The point I was making is not that this made him 'quality vintage' but in response to your suggestion that he was a complete newcomer to the political scene in his first election. He is the son of a 3 time election winner. For a fellow who has analysed it so much as to come up with a '7/8ths of his vote' calculation, you don't seem to have much of an idea of the subject of your analysis.

howie2008 wrote: »

All down to the individual!

Your argument is that it is all (or 7/8ths) down to the wheelchair, not the individual. I note change.

sceptre

I don't know anything much about Flor Crowley as I only barely remember the 1981 elections (I was six and it was the first time my parents took me along to the East Cork count which is obviously nowhere near Bandon).

Having met Brian Crowley a few times though, I can see how he gets a large personal vote. The guy has charm, charisma and an ability to listen and that's nothing to do with whether he spends all his time sitting or standing. I didn't give him a first preference this time out because I was 100% sure he didn't need it. But had I been in any doubt about his election (or that he'd top the poll in Ireland South), I'd probably have handed it to him. he's got a good reputation around Brussels with good reason. I don't agree with some of the major stances he's taken, particularly on software patents, but he's a good representative nonetheless - Fianna Fail representatives are notoriously bad at answering communications with anything more than a cursory acknowledgment of the receipt of the communication (if even that) but again Crowley bucks this trend by being willing, in my experience, to explain his stance and the rationale behind it. And that's useful for two reasons - you can understand the rationale and more importantly you can argue against it if you don't agree with it.

Then again, I'm not your common or garden voter - I keep up with Dail and European legislation and when I read it I can understand it (except for the Anglo-irish nationalisation Act, parts of that were completely unintelligible even with the legislation being amended right beside it). But what impresses me about Crowley is that as far as I can tell, he does too (because like most elected politicians I've met, I ran my standard tests to check without being noticed). And let's be honest, that's (unfortunately) pretty rare in a legislator, especially an Irish one.

Two-thirds or seven-eighths of the guy's vote by virtue of him wheeling himself around the country? You've got to be kidding me. You may not like the guy (and by the looks of things you don't) but regardless of - and I'd pretty much say despite - the political party that for (presumably) family loyalty he's a member of, the guy picks up votes because those who vote for him want to vote for him, not because he's the poor disabled kid in the chair with wheels.

Pick on his policies or lack of them or pick on his membership of Fianna Fail (because heaven knows, there's enough room for that these days) because while I'm sure he may have picked up a small few thousand extra votes in the early days out of half-sympathy, Irish people haven't exactly been known in the past decade as being the kind of people to keep choosing the shortest guy for the football team just to give him a tryout. If the wheelchair was a significant factor in any way, every party in the land would be finding their own Joe Swanson or Charles Xavier to run.

Here's another candidate who is wheelchair bound, Labour's Terry O'Brien in Tralee.

I would imagine he would be annoyed at the suggestion that most of his votes were out of sympathy. He is a decent public representative, though did not get enough in the last GE.

http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=5252

lostexpectation

people going out of their way to ignore the td flor crowley factor

where did crowley get his own operations from?

when first up he was against an old limerick guy, who lny got 40,000 and he got 80,000

so he was picked by the party for name recognition.

so who else would ff'ers in cork vote for but crowley?

FlutterinBantam

When did you ever see Brian Crowley batting for FF on controversial issues?

When did you ever see Brian Crowley on RTE defending FF

When did you ever see Brian Crowley taking a national interest in Irish Politics.

When did you ever see Brian Crowley appear on the national media in a pressurised /unpopular situation.


If your answer to all those questions is "rarely if ever" then I think I have answered your question:cool:

FlutterinBantam

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

When did you ever see Brian Crowley batting for FF on controversial issues?

When did you ever see Brian Crowley on RTE defending FF

When did you ever see Brian Crowley taking a national interest in Irish Politics.

When did you ever see Brian Crowley appear on the national media in a pressurised /unpopular situation.

Didn't even know de Rossa was still alive until he popped up on the campaign trail.

Colm Burke? Liam Aylward? Marian Harkin? Hello? Hello? Anyone there?

This is what MEPs do. They go as fast and as far from national issues as possible. Kathy Sinnott collects every penny spent on that running. To say it is only Brian Crowley is blinkered in the extreme.

Fuascailt

Deleted User wrote: »

Not sure where you are based.

Profile very high around these parts.


.

Where are you based? I live seven miles from Bandon, I didnt get so much as a leaflet in the post from Brian Crowley. The only stuff i've seen on him in the media was that he didnt want to go to the liberals. No idea what he's been doing in Brussels for the last 15 years...

In South Kerry. We're nearly sick of him, he seems to pop up every few weeks down here.

For their sake's pity the same couldn't be said for Sinnott or Burke, but I guess that's why the electorate wasn't too kind to them.

CantGetNoSleep

Brian Crowley was on Saturday Night with Miriam last night, I think this interview showed quite clearly why he continually does so well in elections, seems like a genuinely nice chap, and much more of a personality than other Irish politicians, I mean can you imagine Brian Cowen singing a song on national TV

Scofflaw

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

Brian Crowley was on Saturday Night with Miriam last night, I think this interview showed quite clearly why he continually does so well in elections, seems like a genuinely nice chap, and much more of a personality than other Irish politicians, I mean can you imagine Brian Cowen singing a song on national TV

Regrettably, yes.

NB - content advisory.

regretfully,
Scofflaw

Spudmonkey

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

Brian Crowley was on Saturday Night with Miriam last night, I think this interview showed quite clearly why he continually does so well in elections, seems like a genuinely nice chap, and much more of a personality than other Irish politicians, I mean can you imagine Brian Cowen singing a song on national TV

Saw him on with Miriam, have to say, he was a really nice guy. Hard not to like him. Had a very positive outlook on live!