Who would you vote for in an election?

Yitzhak Rabin

I was just thinking to myself of who I would vote for in an election if there was one today.

Who would I like to see in power for the next 5 years.

I was seriously stumped.

I mean FF is a big no no for me. Even if they had the most reasonable policies on paper I do not think I can forgive them for the sham they have made of this country. They need some time on the sidelines to try and get rid of the horrible culture they have in their party.

Then FG. I like some of their front names. I know I'm probably in the minority, but I think Kenny is decent enough. May not be too charismatic, but I think at least he is a genuine person. Leo Varadkar isn't bad either, and Bruton is alright. But it seems that as a party they have no cohesion at all. Their policy, seems to be "well we're not Fianna Fáil".
Also, I think they are just lucky they weren't in power for the last few years. They certainly weren't criticising the housing policy in the country. If anything they wanted to excaserbate the problem by abolishing stamp duty etc.
Also, apart from their top names, I don't think their party has much substance. It certainly doesn't in my constituency.

Labour never appealed to me. They are too broad based and populist. They rarely put forward constructive proposals. They will lose all credibility if elected, as there is not a hope they will be able to sort out the budget deficit.

Sinn Féin, not a hope for me. When your leader is a murderer you are out the window. Not to mention their lack of any sort of economic coherence.

Greens, I like Eamon Ryan, I think he might be a bit pie in the sky with his ambitions, but I think he has some decent proposals. I mightn't mind seeing the greens in another coalition. If only for a bit of balance. I realise I might be on my own on that one.

The only other ones that may have a candidate in my area are the likes of PbP, and tbh, I think they are a joke.

So I haven't really a clue who I would vote for party wise. I really think that there is room for a new party in the country. If they could get a few good economists and were committed to openness, transparency and change, I reckon they could clean up at a new general election. Even if they poached a few of the credible candidates from other parties?

EDIT: I wanted to add a poll to this. I thought it was one of the thread tool options, but it doesn't appear to be there. If a mod could make the poll for me, I would be very grateful. Options, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour, Greens, Other(specify in thread), Independent, I vote for person, not party, and a new party.

Cookie_Monster

I'd right "fuck you " on it and spoil it. that why I've voted but there's no-one I want to vote for anyway anymore, there all as bad as each other here

mikemac

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I'd right "fuck you " on it and spoil it. that why I've voted but there's no-one I want to vote for anyway anymore, there all as bad as each other here

Why not stand yourself?

Eliot Rosewater

I think that the Greens do not deserve the extreme level of criticism they're getting at the moment, so I'll probably give them number 1 to act as a counterweight to this criticism. There's not a hope it'll actually matter, given my constituency, but it's more of a token gesture anyway.

After that I'll operate a "least worst" system. The main question for me here is whether to give my number 4 to FF or Labour. Going along the ABFF path and simply voting for Labour could possible amount to cutting off your nose to spite your face. I dislike FF, immensely, however I'm not going to intentionally trash Ireland's economy just to see them out.

Cookie_Monster

feelingstressed wrote: »

Why not stand yourself?

ha

never. I couldn't deal with all the idiots and I already have a job
though I could do with the expenses

wiseguy

Eliot Rosewater wrote: »

I think that the Greens do not deserve the extreme level of criticism they're getting at the moment, so I'll probably give them number 1 to act as a counterweight to this criticism. There's not a hope it'll actually matter, given my constituency, but it's more of a token gesture anyway.

After that I'll operate a "least worst" system. The main question for me here is whether to give my number 4 to FF or Labour. Going along the ABFF path and simply voting for Labour could possible amount to cutting off your nose to spite your face. I dislike FF, immensely, however I'm not going to intentionally trash Ireland's economy just to see them out.

It is interesting that you would vote for a party which has shown to have such enthusiasm to limit freedoms and have shown themselves to be very authoritarian, when you have expressed quite "liberal" viewpoints in the past.

Would you be willing to go back on your past opinions stated on these boards simply to be contrarian or out of pity

And IMHO yes the Greens and FF deserve all the vitrol that the people of this country can throw at them, since we and you will be paying for their cronyism for a very long time.

bamboozle

i'd vote independents or FG.

never have & never will vote for FF or SF.

-Trek-

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I'd right "fuck you " on it and spoil it. that why I've voted but there's no-one I want to vote for anyway anymore, there all as bad as each other here

If we all did that then FF would probably return to power with all their die hard voters.

FG for me, seems to be the best on offer at the moment.

Bucklesman

Greens for me!

hallelujajordan

Fianna Fail.

mikemac

Independant

bladespin

It's a very good question as there doesn't seem to be anyone out there that stands out.

TBH this time I'll be voting FG for no really good reason other that they didn't cuase the mess we're in (I don't think they would've governed very differently to FF though).

Labour don't seem to have any real policies, more they react to whatever's popular at the moment - there's hope for them though.

SF have brilliant local councillors (my area anyway) and do great work but I'm not sure about their leadership or their economic credentials etiher.

Indys - no real power so little point as far as I can see.

FF not with Cowen in charge, can't see how the idiot who's responsible for most of the mess we're in is still in charge, they do have real candidates with great potential but as a whole no thanks.

Greens, I'm from the country originally (not a farm) so they don't like me anyway.

iPlop

I would not vote for any of them at the moment.In the current climate anyone who gets into power has to adhere to strict EU budget guidelines so I don't believe there is much on offer! There all the same IMO at the moment ,but maybe when we are not looking for handouts from the EU and generating our own cash then maybe i'll vote then:)

Laminations

Eliot Rosewater wrote: »

After that I'll operate a "least worst" system. The main question for me here is whether to give my number 4 to FF or Labour. Going along the ABFF path and simply voting for Labour could possible amount to cutting off your nose to spite your face. I dislike FF, immensely, however I'm not going to intentionally trash Ireland's economy just to see them out.

Eh, why give a number 4? You can stop after your first preference vote if you want. FF will not be getting a number anything from me. FG, Independents and Labour FTW

bijapos

Greens. Until a social democratic party with a strong emphasis on environment and sustainable policies coupled with strong ehtics comes along they will get it again next time out.

Laminations wrote: »

Eh, why give a number 4? You can stop after your first preference vote if you want. FF will not be getting a number anything from me. FG, Independents and Labour FTW

You don't have to fill in the ballot paper but you should. They might prove important when transfers are being counted. I've always filled it in from top to bottom but from speaking to friends it seems almost nobody does this.

Iwasfrozen

bijapos wrote: »

Greens. Until a social democratic party with a strong emphasis on environment and sustainable policies coupled with strong ehtics comes along they will get it again next time out.

Isn't that what greens already are?

Liam Byrne

FG, Labour & Independent, but haven't decided what order yet.

FF, SF & The Greens are absolute no-nos.

whatawaster

I'll vote FG, but i won't enjoy it

Iwasfrozen

whatawaster wrote: »

I'll vote FG, but i won't enjoy it

This.

Yitzhak Rabin

What are people's general feelings. Will you be voting for a party regardless of their candidate in your constituency, or will you be voting for the candidate irregardless of their party.

I think I would probably vote independent, FG, or possibly green depending on the candidates. If there is no suitable candidates, I would still not vote FF, SF or Labour. I think I would rather abstain.

For me, the ideal solution, would be if party politics were put aside and the best, most competent, and honest politicians (oxymoron, I know) from whatever party, could come together to form a new party, free from civil war divisions, in-party fighting, and cronyism. However, this is seriously unlikely to happen!

bmaxi

I will vote Labour No 1 because the FG representation is particularly weak in my area, not that I'm a big fan of FG anyway.
I will vote all the way down the paper but will exclude FF candidates. As far as I know, having them on the paper means they can stay in the hunt for a seat, even if they are quite low down but I'm open to correction on this.

Coillte_Bhoy

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I'd right "fuck you " on it and spoil it. that why I've voted but there's no-one I want to vote for anyway anymore, there all as bad as each other here

Aye, that would show them wouldnt it?:rolleyes:

Coillte_Bhoy

bmaxi wrote: »

I will vote Labour No 1 because the FG representation is particularly weak in my area, not that I'm a big fan of FG anyway.
I will vote all the way down the paper but will exclude FF candidates. As far as I know, having them on the paper means they can stay in the hunt for a seat, even if they are quite low down but I'm open to correction on this.

Yes, if you want to minimise their chances do not even give them a No 15

Laminations

bijapos wrote: »

You don't have to fill in the ballot paper but you should. They might prove important when transfers are being counted. I've always filled it in from top to bottom but from speaking to friends it seems almost nobody does this.

Dont think I follow you here. I dont usually go right the way down the ballot paper in any election but in the next one in particular FF are not getting a sniff of any preferences from me so I'll be stopping at some point down the page, probably way earlier than in previous elections

Cookie_Monster

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

Aye, that would show them wouldnt it?:rolleyes:

ah sure when did one vote ever make a difference :pac:

PeterIanStaker

Dont think it matters tbh, the spin docs in the Spindo will have FF back in in 2012, then it'll be time to drink the Kool-Aid.

Eliot Rosewater

I just remembered, I will be giving a higher preference to supporters of Richard Bruton over supporters of Enda Kenny. And I'll be saying this to FG canvassers, too.

wiseguy wrote: »

It is interesting that you would vote for a party which has shown to have such enthusiasm to limit freedoms and have shown themselves to be very authoritarian, when you have expressed quite "liberal" viewpoints in the past.

[Note to self]Hmmm...there's someone actually listening to me.[/Note to self]

Okay I'll come clean: the fact that the vote won't count is the biggest motivator. It is only a token gesture, as I said, to create some balance.

wiseguy wrote: »

And IMHO yes the Greens and FF deserve all the vitrol that the people of this country can throw at them, since we and you will be paying for their cronyism for a very long time.

I think you're half right. Fianna Fail were a key cause of the economic decline; they deserve all the vitriol. The Greens weren't; hence, they don't. But that really is a matter for another thread.

irishh_bob

will be voting for fine gael all down the line but i will also give my local fianna fail TD a vote as hes by far the best TD in the constituency

Nozebleed

labour and independants. greens are a joke. im never voting for greens again. FF and FG are just one big bunch of pr*cks.

Liam Byrne

PeterIanStaker wrote: »

Dont think it matters tbh, the spin docs in the Spindo will have FF back in in 2012, then it'll be time to drink the Kool-Aid.

Time to drink the cyanide, more like!

kev9100

Labour.

Sergeant

I'll be voting FG. There is some good proposals put forward in their New Era document, and I'm a fan of Leo V, James Reilly, Michael Noonan and other select members of their front bench.

They are ineffectual opposition for the most part. They are just not FF. That will have to do in the absence of a seachange in the Irish political spectrum.

I expect the severely diminished FF party to be rabid terriers in opposition. Willie O'Dea can still manage to blame the rainbow for some of the current issues in the economy. I really hope that the people don't forget what caused this country to be in the state it is in, and see past the spin that passes for political debate.

Scofflaw

Please don't do FYP - it annoys the person you've misquoted, and doesn't add anything to the discussion.

moderately,
Scofflaw