Who will you be voting for in the next general election.

WilburWild

1 Fianna Fáil
2 Fine Gael
3 Labour Party
4 Green Party
5 Sinn Féin
6 Independents
Who is the best of this lot?

macannrb

should this not be in a poll format?

meditraitor

WilburWild wrote: »

1 Fianna Fáil
2 Fine Gael
3 Labour Party
4 Green Party
5 Sinn Féin
6 Independents
Who is the best of this lot?

You forgot the

7 Socialist Partaaay
8 workers partaaaayyy
9 commie partaaaaaay

and these bad boys ;-)

Christian Democrats (The National Party)
Christian Solidarity Party
Letterkenny Residents Party (Elections in Letterkenny area only)
People Before Profit Alliance
Seniors Solidarity Party (Local elections in County Dublin only)
Socialist Workers Party
South Kerry Independent Alliance (Elections in South Kerry only)
Workers and Unemployed Action Group (Elections in South Tipperary only)


So why do you want my opinion? give me a carrot!

Coillte_Bhoy

meditraitor wrote: »

You forgot the

7 Socialist Partaaay
8 workers partaaaayyy
9 commie partaaaaaay

and these bad boys ;-)

Christian Democrats (The National Party)
Christian Solidarity Party
Letterkenny Residents Party (Elections in Letterkenny area only)
People Before Profit Alliance
Seniors Solidarity Party (Local elections in County Dublin only)
Socialist Workers Party
South Kerry Independent Alliance (Elections in South Kerry only)
Workers and Unemployed Action Group (Elections in South Tipperary only)


So why do you want my opinion? give me a carrot!

Socialists, People before Profit, Tipp group are figthing election as part of the ULA

Noreen1

I haven't decided yet. I can say it will not be FF or the Greens (the Greens deserve punishment for continuing to support FF imo.)

I will consider the manifesto of all other parties - and I do mean all - and any Independent canvasser will be subjected to a grilling on the doorstep.
Then I'll decide who gets first preference, etc.

I'll also be voting tactically to ensure that FF and the Greens have zero chance of getting any preference from me.

later12

Like many people, mine will be a reluctant Fine Gael vote.

Unfortunately that is likely to mean a Labour Coalition, thereby presenting the moral hazard of giving a de facto vote in favour of Joan Burton and Eamon Gilmore sitting across from the man appointed with the implementation of Irish public spending and wage restraint.

I suppose the only thing that one can realistically do is to hope for an overall FG majority and vote accordingly.

Cookie_Monster

In DLR constituency

I was a labour voter but some of their recent policies such as the suggestions of the justice/ court system I simply cannot vote in favour of.

FF have always been a no for me.

Greens: did last time and they've lied and failed and just increased taxes with the pretence of a green agenda

PBP: I'd rather burn my ballot

FG: possibly but I don't really see the point

SF: I think the local guy is a bit of a muppet and won't contribute anything to the Dail so that's them out.

Independents: depends entirely on manifesto, but unlikely as they generally just look after their local areas at the expense of everyone else

Dunno really, the whole system is broken and I honestly don't see any party bothering to fix it over looking after their own interests...

Writing "Fuck You" on the ballot is pretty near the top of the list at the moment

The_Thing

I'll be voting for whoever makes me laugh the most - right now that'd have to be Cowen & Co with their carry-on.

Ghost Estate

Anyone not in Fianna Fail or the Greens

The commie party, the taliban, al qaeda, the aum shinrikyo doomsday cult, any of the christian extremist parties - if any of those lads appear on the ballot paper they'll get some sort of vote off me but not FF or the greens

RichardAnd

Ghost Estate wrote: »

Anyone not in Fianna Fail or the Greens

The commie party, the taliban, al qaeda, the aum shinrikyo doomsday cult, any of the christian extremist parties - if any of those lads appear on the ballot paper they'll get some sort of vote off me but not FF or the greens

The is a very silly attitude to have. Your vote should not be going to someone simply because they are not FF. Put some thought into your vote, don't just throw it away in a futile protest.

Havermeyer

This country needs a Monster Raving Looney Party.

PhatPiggins

Forgive Father for I'm going to sin.

I have to vote for Sinn Fein :eek:

All the other parties seem to be copying and pasting each others policies but simply using synonyms to differentiate them.

RichardAnd

I would say I will be giving my vote to FG. This decision comes as a result of much consideration and I consider it to be the best (least worst) option available to me. Kind of funny in a way as I come from an astringently FG family even though I don't believe in inherited voting habits.

What worries me is the danger of seeing labour getting into power in some form. Though a FG/Labour coalition is a very likely outcome of this election it would be a weak government as FG and Labour are quite different beasts. However, Labour's populist mantra of "no pain, no cuts" will buy them many votes even if it is a complete fallacy.

I think the outcome of this election will be one of those blips where FF are out of power for a few years and LG get a turn at the helm. I reject that FF will be wiped out as in addition to their "tradition voters", they will bag a few seats on parish pump issues.

The big problem for the new government will be that they will be forced to continue the cuts that are currently very much responsible for FF's lack of popularity. When the taxes go up and the benefits go down, people won't think back to FF, they'll look to the men in power and see them as the problem.

Then, come next election, when finances are likely to be stabilised, FF will get re-elected by promising a return to the good times and an end to the pain under the austere auspice of FG. Then, they'll go on to lead Ireland into another era of wild spending and waste whilst the good people of the state sit back and enjoy the ride until, inexorably, the trail hits another brick wall and the whole thing comes crashing down once again and we all start the blame game once again.

What happens next? Well we all know that

Perhaps, in the far future, the people of IReland might finally wake up and realise what the real problem here is. An inherently corrupt country will only ever have a corrupt, cute whoore government.

Ghost Estate

RichardAnd wrote: »

The is a very silly attitude to have. Your vote should not be going to someone simply because they are not FF. Put some thought into your vote, don't just throw it away in a futile protest.

at least if some doomsday cult were elected we wouldn't have to suffer at the hands of FF before we go.

Sleepy

For the first time in my life I get to vote for someone I actually respect rather than simply the "least worst" candidate: Richard Bruton.

First post FTW!

Nolanger

Declan Ganley.

Biggins

Myself.
Independent.

Hector Mildew

nummnutts wrote: »

This country needs a Monster Raving Looney Party.

The events of this week are proof enough that Fianna Fail more than fulfill than particular need!

tfitzgerald

I think without the greens alongside them fianna fail would not be too bad so I will be voting for FF "all peace and praise be unto the party"

snowpatrol123

It'll have to be FG. It's sad that my decision has been made by eliminating who I wont vote for and seeing who is left.

Dob74

Labour Number1

connemaramarble

I'm throwing the cat among the pigeons!! Sinn Fein!!

Vote Left I say!

3greenrizla's

ast time out I voted Labour - Greens - FG .

this time - i'm still to be convinced but I'm thinking along similar lines.

Sinn Fien's vote is going to increase massively but I don't know if I can see myself voting SF.

Leiva

This thread needs a poll .

Who votes this thread needs a poll ?

heebusjeebus

Fine Gael 1,2, 3 for me with no preference to any other party except for maybe an independent if I agree with his/her manifesto.

GalwayAndrew

Will be voting Green Party No 1. If looked at the other parties - FF, FG, and Labour - and I just don't see anything new or unique coming from them. One more FF/FG/Lab seat wont make much of a difference to Irish politics. However people like Trevor Sargent and Eamon Ryan have really made a contribution to Irish life, and the Dáil without a Green voice would be much worse.
I also think over the decades the Greens have been proven right again and again. Look at their stance on planning reform and political reform, both issues they've pushed (to varying success) in Government.

The Volt

Voting Labour, I haven't decided if I'm transferring to FG or SF yet, or either for that matter.

dubhthach

Voting Fine Gael 1,2 and 3 (if they have a third candidate in Galway West) no transfers to other parties.

K_user

Over the last few years I've voted, in national and local elections, for FF, FG, Greens and Labour. Brand loyalty isn't really a problem for me. I don't believe that you should pick a party and stick to it, look where it got us too!

But I do have a pickle this time around.

It all depends on who goes up. I can think of two FF candidates off the top of my head, one I wouldn't vote for if he was on fire, the other is a fairly nice guy. But nice guy or not, he's FF, no need to elaborate there...

There is one labour candidate that I might consider, if she goes for it.

I quite like one of the FG candidates too, but I really don't like Enda Kenny and a vote for FG is a vote for him.

I could go Green, but I've been disappointed in the result in that one before.

Oh decisions...

RayM

I'll probably vote for Labour. Although, in the unlikely event that they have a decent candidate running in my area, I could be swayed towards the ULA.

eddison

Ghost Estate wrote: »

Anyone not in Fianna Fail or the Greens

The commie party, the taliban, al qaeda, the aum shinrikyo doomsday cult, any of the christian extremist parties - if any of those lads appear on the ballot paper they'll get some sort of vote off me but not FF or the greens

Hey I'm with you !! At least these cults cared for their people at one stage, FF only care for power at all costs. Listen to what Cowbell said- 'Our focus should be fighting the opposition not in party fighting' WHAT? should they not be fighting criminal gangs, homelessness, unemployment, emigration, alcoholism, suicide rates, drugs all, massive country debt, greed, low moral standards?
The other parties knew what was happening- they knew, and did nothing. FG mostly agreed with FF. Voting for anyone else except these clowns IS a protest- A protest that we have nothing else.

pow wow

Edging very reluctantly toward Labour. It would have been FG but for the fact that Enda Kenny is at the helm.

Magi11

I'm going to use my vote in a manner which screws FF the most. FF are going to be in a dogfight for the last seat and I'm going to vote for whoever is most likely to be against them for that seat.

COYW

Magi11 wrote: »

I'm going to use my vote in a manner which screws FF the most. FF are going to be in a dogfight for the last seat and I'm going to vote for whoever is most likely to be against them for that seat.

You really are a clever soul, aren't you!

Personally, I will vote for the candidate who gives the best account of him or herself and their policies wrt to the progression of the country over the next 2.5 years when they call to my door. There is one exception to my rule and that is SF, who I would never give one moment of my time to as their policies fall into the looney category.

A labour candidate has already called and I have to say that he did an outstanding job trying to put me off voting for him. I think he mentioned FF, the outgoing administration and the word 'cronyism' 100 times in 5 mins and wasnt really too interested in discussing labour policies.

highlandseoghan

I will be voting for sinn fein i believe they can do a better job than all the others. I would probably give fg a vote but i cant stand enda kenny if he left id put a vote there way.

Magi11

COYW wrote: »

You really are a clever soul, aren't you!

Personally, I will vote for the candidate who gives the best account of him or herself and their policies wrt to the progression of the country over the next 2.5 years when they call to my door. There is one exception to my rule and that is SF, who I would never give one moment of my time to as their policies fall into the looney category.

A labour candidate has already called and I have to say that he did an outstanding job trying to put me off voting for him. I think he mentioned FF, the outgoing administration and the word 'cronyism' 100 times in 5 mins and wasnt really too interested in discussing labour policies.

So you're going to fall for spin! You're FF's wet dream

K_user

COYW wrote: »

There is one exception to my rule and that is SF, who I would never give one moment of my time to as their policies fall into the looney category.

Buy that man a drink!

K_user

Magi11 wrote: »

So you're going to fall for spin! You're FF's wet dream

And I see you are falling for the fanatical spin yourself.

I've been watching with interest the headlines of "The Sun" newspaper and the likes lately. To hell with balanced reporting and in with the frothing mindless loonies!

COYW wrote: »

Personally, I will vote for the candidate who gives the best account of him or herself and their policies wrt to the progression of the country over the next 2.5 years when they call to my door.

I too want to hear policies and plans for the country.

The first gobsh*te to land at my door with nothing more to say than FF F*ckers, will be told to F**k off themselves. We've had enough of idiots running the country, I'm not voting one bunch of dolts out, just to replace them with more of the same.

COYW

I can never understand people that say the following:

COYW wrote: »

Personally, I will vote for the candidate who gives the best account of him or herself and their policies wrt to the progression of the country over the next 2.5 years when they call to my door.

And then go on to say the following:

COYW wrote:

There is one exception to my rule and that is SF

IT's like someone saying, "I love all types of music!"


"eh... Except rap. I hat rap. And country. And trad and etc."

So will your narrowmindedness stretch enough to allow a SF candidate/canvasser talk to you at your door? To give good account of themselves and their policies?

COYW wrote:

who I would never give one moment of my time to as their policies fall into the looney category.

Ah.

eddison

COYW wrote: »

You really are a clever soul, aren't you!

Personally, I will vote for the candidate who gives the best account of him or herself and their policies wrt to the progression of the country over the next 2.5 years when they call to my door. There is one exception to my rule and that is SF, who I would never give one moment of my time to as their policies fall into the looney category.

A labour candidate has already called and I have to say that he did an outstanding job trying to put me off voting for him. I think he mentioned FF, the outgoing administration and the word 'cronyism' 100 times in 5 mins and wasnt really too interested in discussing labour policies.

This is interesting..
'personally' 'I will' 'my door' 'my rule' 'I would' 'my time' 'I have' 'put me off' 'I think'.

No, you don't sound like a person that SF would ask for a vote from. But have you met a SF person? have you talked to any? Have you been to any of their meetings?
'''I wouldn't''' think you have, and therefore say you are ignoring what they have to say- ignore-ance.
'''I think''' you believe what the mass media has told you to think, and like a good little citizen, believe everything RTE has to say. They might be right, they might be wrong- but how TF would you be able to tell the difference?

Lockstep

My constituency: Galway West

FF: Not a chance. Wouldn't be able to bring myself to vote for that shower.
FG: I dislike all of the local candidates, so I'm unlikely to give any of them a high preference.
Labour: Giving my No.1 to the Labour candidate. Seems a capable and smart young man.
SF: Hasn't a chance but I'll give him a high enough preference anyway. He was a former member of Labour who left after failing to get elected to the council. Makes me a bit dubious about him but he seems a decent skin.
Green: I like the candidate but dislike the national party intensely.
Independant: Meh. Independants will be irrelevant in the new Dáil, given a FG/Lab government is pretty much assured.

Probably going to vote:
1-Lab
2-Independant
3-SF
4-Green
5+- Independant and FG.

Not giving FF a vote at all.

jmayo

nummnutts wrote: »

This country needs a Monster Raving Looney Party.

Just heard jim corr is joining ff, so that is now taken care of.

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Forgive Father for I'm going to sin.

I have to vote for Sinn Fein :eek:

All the other parties seem to be copying and pasting each others policies but simply using synonyms to differentiate them.

Just because someone has a very different set of policies does not automatically make them better.

heebusjeebus wrote: »

Fine Gael 1,2, 3 for me with no preference to any other party except for maybe an independent if I agree with his/her manifesto.

No use all your prefences and put ff down right at the bottom, that way you are sure that is what yourt vote will be used for.

GalwayAndrew wrote: »

Will be voting Green Party No 1. If looked at the other parties - FF, FG, and Labour - and I just don't see anything new or unique coming from them. One more FF/FG/Lab seat wont make much of a difference to Irish politics. However people like Trevor Sargent and Eamon Ryan have really made a contribution to Irish life, and the Dáil without a Green voice would be much worse.
.

Yeah I think eamon ryans contribution to broadband has been lauded the world over. :rolleyes:

K_user wrote: »

Over the last few years I've voted, in national and local elections, for FF, FG, Greens and Labour. Brand loyalty isn't really a problem for me. I don't believe that you should pick a party and stick to it, look where it got us too!

But I do have a pickle this time around.

It all depends on who goes up. I can think of two FF candidates off the top of my head, one I wouldn't vote for if he was on fire, the other is a fairly nice guy. But nice guy or not, he's FF, no need to elaborate there...

There is one labour candidate that I might consider, if she goes for it.

I quite like one of the FG candidates too, but I really don't like Enda Kenny and a vote for FG is a vote for him.

But a vote for ff in the past was not a vote for cj haughey, bertie, ray burke, biffo, etc, etc, etc ?

Magi11 wrote: »

I'm going to use my vote in a manner which screws FF the most. FF are going to be in a dogfight for the last seat and I'm going to vote for whoever is most likely to be against them for that seat.

So what you do then is use all your preferences.

Say there are 15 candidates and ff have 3, then vote 1 to 15 and you give the ffers 13, 14 and 15.
That way your vote can only be transferred to them on those counts at which point everyone would have been elected.

Do not just give a first perfence to whoever will most likely be fighting it out with the ffers for the last seats.

COYW

Papa Smut wrote: »

So will your narrowmindedness stretch enough to allow a SF candidate/canvasser talk to you at your door? To give good account of themselves and their policies?

I spent 45 mins trying to get to the bottom of their economic policies with the wonderful Mary Lou and 2 other beauts last time round. Unfortunately, it wasnt a very fruitful experience and I actually felt that I knew more about their policies than she did. They seemed more interested in government and FG bashing than selling themselves.

I have reviewed their latest economic excretion online and as a single PAYE worker in his late 20s with a annual salary in the €70,000 - €80,000 bracket, I dont feel that a vote for SF would be in the my best interests or the best interests of the country going forward. Why any private sector PAYE worker would vote for them is beyond me. If you are some hobo on the dole all his or her life, they are a godsend but they are not for me.

Whilst the average paddy in the country, loves sitting in the sh1t, licking their wounds, blaming anyone and everyone for their woes, a small minority, like me, take a positive outlook on life and want to progress.

wee truck big driver

would vote for fine gael if i thought that they werent going to be in goverment with labour although that is going to be the outcome of the next dail so the down side to not voting for fine gael would be for labour to have an even bigger say in the next goverment. i will be voting for fianna fail as i wont have an english owned irish media dictate who should run this country. the outcome of the next dail i would most like to see (but wont) would be labour wiped out, leo varadkir annihalted and the greens permanently wiped out rant over s.f no1. f.g no2. and f.f no3 and 4

ninebeanrows

I have a scaring feeling, i really think FF are going to do much better than we think, thinking they could hit 27-30%. It is a scary thought but more than possible.

The campaign will see our ineffective opposition tackle head to head and people will go the polls and go by jasus, the devil we know.

It is a sickening though:mad:

jonnny68

Haven't fully decided but most likely Independent, i don't trust any of the political partys hypocrites each and every one of them, they will prostitute themselves for votes and promise you the sun,moon and stars but as we all know it's all utter garbage and you wont see them again until the next election, at least the local independent does work in the area and keeps people in the community updated with leaflets,etc, this country needs a coalition of Independents for real change IMO.

Whoever people vote for - DON'T VOTE FOR FIANNA FAIL

They have decimitated this country,and should be all sent to jail for their crimes.:eek:

LeixlipRed

COYW wrote: »

I spent 45 mins trying to get to the bottom of their economic policies with the wonderful Mary Lou and 2 other beauts last time round. Unfortunately, it wasnt a very fruitful experience and I actually felt that I knew more about their policies than she did. They seemed more interested in government and FG bashing than selling themselves.

I have reviewed their latest economic excretion online and as a single PAYE worker in his late 20s with a annual salary in the €70,000 - €80,000 bracket, I dont feel that a vote for SF would be in the my best interests or the best interests of the country going forward. Why any private sector PAYE worker would vote for them is beyond me. If you are some hobo on the dole all his or her life, they are a godsend but they are not for me.

Whilst the average paddy in the country, loves sitting in the sh1t, licking their wounds, blaming anyone and everyone for their woes, a small minority, like me, take a positive outlook on life and want to progress.

It's clear to me that the only party you should vote for is FF, you deserve them.

I won't be voting at this current moment. In North Kildare we have all the major parties plus two independents. One a former FFer running on a anti-parish pump politics platform and the other Catherine Murphy. Neither of whom are on the left so no point. Maybe someone else will declare, unlikely but we'll see sure.

Resi12

Sinn Féin I think, from The Frontline tonight the other parties were just talking gibberish and the same old/same old. Maybe it is time for a change, if not them then an Independent.

wildswan

WILL SOMEONE SET UP A NEW PARTY!

Call it the efficient, young working party or something

Pleeeeeeeze!! I don't have the time or money at the moment.

Seriously I'd pretty much vote for a gerbil that wasn't part of the old system

Amtmann

1. Fine Gael
2. Labour

I have no other preferences at present.

paulgalway

Tremelo wrote: »

1. Fine Gael
2. Labour

I have no other preferences at present.

Voting Labour? obviously you did not see Joan Bruton on Vincent Browne tonite. She was a disgrace. After that performance I would not want her going to Europe to represent me !

will be voting
1. FG
2. SF.
3. Independents