Fine Gael Website

Pistolpete1

Just went onto the Fine Gael site www.finegael2011.com. Its ment to be their official site. Funniest thing i have seen in a while. A count down to an election, a section when you can tweet, facebook your views, but nothing on any of their policies which to a voter, should be the most important thing. I think it looks like a bit of a circus really!!!!!!. Its a very colourful site, a video and pictures of Enda with the heading "Lets get Ireland Working". Now seriously, The latest date for an election is 11 March which will be earlier and at present the next "more than lightly" Leader of the country has nothing about any of his policies on the parties site. Just checked the FF site also, Alot easier to read and they have all their policies up there. Fine Gael would need to start doing something soon with their site or they might miss their chance!!!!!

ShooterSF

I do think it's bad form not to have a manifesto or something up outlining their goals etc. Other than that it's a nice looking site and it's nice to see a political party moving with the times re: facebook and twitter. Too often this country is last to any innovation.

Uriel.

Click the Contact Us Hyperlink and there is further link to their policies etc.. under this.

I agree though, very poor presentation and they really should have their policies up front and central.

Although even on their policy/manifesto page - it is quick lacking overall except for some key areas.

http://research.finegael.org/

carbayon

On my humble opinion they are treating the young people like idiots, they are hopping the by adding social networking and a nice page, your people will follow them.

Where is his tie?? I never seen Enda on the press conference without one, is he "trying" to appeal the young people?

Fine Fail think we are idiots and Fine Gael follows the trend.

Power is blinding (to ALL) just see how Joan Burton acted on Vincent Brown now that they can see themselves in power.

Independents all the way!!!

Uriel.

carbayon wrote: »

On my humble opinion they are treating the young people like idiots, they are hopping the by adding social networking and a nice page, your people will follow them.

Where is his tie?? I never seen Enda on the press conference without one, is he "trying" to appeal the young people?

Fine Fail think we are idiots and Fine Gael follows the trend.

Power is blinding (to ALL) just see how Joan Burton acted on Vincent Brown now that they can see themselves in power.

Independents all the way!!!

I think in general terms, a vote for an independent is wasted vote. I don't expect independents will play as key a role in the next Dáil, compared to this one (the power of Healy-Rae, Lowry etc...) and quite honestly I don't believe they should play a key role. Essentially, they can only ever campaign and drive on local issues - and this is something we seriously need to move away from in terms of national governance.

Berilium2

Wow.
They have put time and effort into this? And the best they could come up with is a flashy website where you can submit replys as to how you would like the country run? Wow.
Although I think that the replys thing is a good idea, I don't think that it should be the bulk of the website. To me it just screams out that whoever was developing this was thinking "These uneducated idiots won't want to read any kind of policies, so we'll just stick in a colourful and shiny demo"

There's no way in hell they're getting a vote from me.

starbelgrade

Berilium2 wrote: »

Wow.
They have put time and effort into this? And the best they could come up with is a flashy website where you can submit replys as to how you would like the country run? Wow.
.

And to boot, they didn't even put basic security measures in when they went live with it, as it was hacked about 2 days later.

Nice picture of Inda though - I have it on my Facebook mainpage, as the wallpaper on my laptop & phone, and I plan to print an A1 print of the poster to have framed & hung in my living room.






Not.

jonnyfingers

I vaguely remember Enda talking about this website a few weeks back on the radio, basically saying how they're going to open it up for the people of Ireland to have their say rather than push their own FG agenda. Just seemed lazy to me at the time. Looking at the website my opinion was spot on.

Biggins

Anyone download the poster?
My god it looks like a five year old went mad with a paint brush on a picture of Enda. LOL

The Waltzing Consumer

Pffftt, big fricking deal, this is a very "begrudging because we are Irish" thread with no actual substance. It could be about any party or politician. As pointed out earlier, there are links to different websites regarding policies. Otherwise, the site seems to based on communication between the user and FG. I would be more interested if these forms are responded to by FG.

It just sounds like the OP already had his view on the website decided before he even went in, and just finds things to give out about. If it was a dull giant manifesto and history of FG policies, he would be moaning about that. Here is one giant clue why they probably did this, most people don't read manifestos or policy documents from parties, they mostly moan about "no one called to my door" so this website seems to be about getting the interested parties in contact with each other. Does it work? Don't know.

More important things to think about in this election. This ranks in there with kissing babies and miniature Irish flags.

Uriel.

The Waltzing Consumer wrote: »

Pffftt, big fricking deal, this is a very "begrudging because we are Irish" thread with no actual substance. It could be about any party or politician. As pointed out earlier, there are links to different websites regarding policies. Otherwise, the site seems to based on communication between the user and FG. I would be more interested if these forms are responded to by FG.

It just sounds like the OP already had his view on the website decided before he even went in, and just finds things to give out about. If it was a dull giant manifesto and history of FG policies, he would be moaning about that. Here is one giant clue why they probably did this, most people don't read manifestos or policy documents from parties, they mostly moan about "no one called to my door" so this website seems to be about getting the interested parties in contact with each other. Does it work? Don't know.

More important things to think about in this election. This ranks in there with kissing babies and miniature Irish flags.

While I appreciate the angle you are coming from - I do think (and this is even in the (any) party's own interests) that the primary website of a political party/movement should have their policies up front and bolded for anyone who has taking the time to view information about that particular party/movement.

After all, the policies of a group is the main selling point and voting factor. Therefore, they should be given the most important viewpoint/location in any information medium used by the party.

I believe that doing anything else has the potential to indicate that the (any) party does not have the confidence in their policies. - I am not saying that this is specifically the case in the Fine Gael circumstance (maybe a technical oversight or poor judgement) but I don't believe it reflects well on the party.

The Waltzing Consumer

Uriel. wrote: »

While I appreciate the angle you are coming from - I do think (and this is even in the (any) party's own interests) that the primary website of a political party/movement should have their policies up front and bolded for anyone who has taking the time to view information about that particular party/movement.

After all, the policies of a group is the main selling point and voting factor. Therefore, they should be given the most important viewpoint/location in any information medium used by the party.

I believe that doing anything else has the potential to indicate that the (any) party does not have the confidence in their policies. - I am not saying that this is specifically the case in the Fine Gael circumstance (maybe a technical oversight or poor judgement) but I don't believe it reflects well on the party.

Yeah I understand what you are saying but from my experience, the majority of people comments and contributions with regards elections always sound "local". Look how many comments will just be about the Enda picture on the website, and how they don't like Enda. It is not intellectual stuff based on his policies or his voting record, it's "look at the picture".

It would be great if more people were just interested in policies and the "real" things. But it is not like that. I post in the Dublin 15 thread, and already, there are so many "they did not knock into my house" or "saw him in the pub once, showing his true colours" sorta nonsense.

People who are really interested in policies and manifestos will find them. They are not hard to find. The people who have no interest in them, won't find them because they are not looking.

Pistolpete1

I wasnt simply finding things to "give out" about, nor had i my mind made up that as soon as i leave Fine Gaels site, its off to boards to "give out" about them!!!!!!!!!! i checked other parties sites too and they all the policies in clear view and not hidden. All i was doing is stating the fact that Fine Gael dont have any policies on there site in clear view but they have alot of colourful, meaningless material instead and with an election coming up they should have a section on their main page for policies which a voter can easily look at if they so wish.

The Waltzing Consumer

Pistolpete1 wrote: »

I wasnt simply finding things to "give out" about, nor had i my mind made up that as soon as i leave Fine Gaels site, its off to boards to "give out" about them!!!!!!!!!! i checked other parties sites too and they all the policies in clear view and not hidden. All i was doing is stating the fact that Fine Gael dont have any policies on there site in clear view but they have alot of colourful, meaningless material instead and with an election coming up they should have a section on their main page for policies which a voter can easily look at if they so wish.

Well you have a point in one way. A simple "policy" link would be good. But when I look at all the websites

http://www.finegael2011.com/
http://www.fiannafail.ie/
http://www.greenparty.ie/en
http://www.labour.ie/
http://www.sinnfein.ie/dail-election-2011
http://www.unitedleftalliance.org/

Not one stands out. Sinn Fein have their page under construction. The ULA still have parts missing from their site. The others just have election issues mixed in with their existing sites. Some of it is hard to find, others are easy to find.

Looking at each site, they all have pros and cons. What makes FG worse and the one to highlight? I am not sure, that is why it seems like such a weak point and just an attack on the party. You could have picked any of the sites really, none of them are great.

vallo

Definitely agree with the OP. A mad FF-er I know was ranting about some fictitious FG policy the other day and I wanted to do a cut and paste to clearly show that she was talking through her arse. The fact that I couldn't find any information about any policy on the FG website is beyond laughable and completely grist to the mill for the "ah sure they're all the same" camp.

Pistolpete1

Its not an attack on the party. They have put in a lot of work into their site but forgot about the policies. Policies are the most important part of a parties election campain and the ordinary Joe Soap who go to that site will give up looking for their policies. It just with all the work they have put into the site, putting up their policies or an easy link to them, would be in their best interest.

Uriel.

The Waltzing Consumer wrote: »

Yeah I understand what you are saying but from my experience, the majority of people comments and contributions with regards elections always sound "local". Look how many comments will just be about the Enda picture on the website, and how they don't like Enda. It is not intellectual stuff based on his policies or his voting record, it's "look at the picture".

It would be great if more people were just interested in policies and the "real" things. But it is not like that. I post in the Dublin 15 thread, and already, there are so many "they did not knock into my house" or "saw him in the pub once, showing his true colours" sorta nonsense.

People who are really interested in policies and manifestos will find them. They are not hard to find. The people who have no interest in them, won't find them because they are not looking.

I completely agree with you in relation to what SHOULD be important in voting for candidates. I feel we need to get (completely) away from this idea of voting for national representatives on the basis of local contributions and/or personality.

However, do that, I think we need a serious overhaul of how we elect people and how we govern the country and such overhaul does require a change in the constitution.

I do think though with Fine Gael's website, (took me awhile to figure out where their policy documents where) having policies under the "contact us" section is poor management of their message.

Uriel.

Pistolpete1 wrote: »

Its not an attack on the party. They have put in a lot of work into their site but forgot about the policies. Policies are the most important part of a parties election campain and the ordinary Joe Soap who go to that site will give up looking for their policies. It just with all the work they have put into the site, putting up their policies or an easy link to them, would be in their best interest.

and so terribly easy to do as well.

My name is URL

Pistolpete1 wrote: »

Its not an attack on the party. They have put in a lot of work into their site but forgot about the policies. Policies are the most important part of a parties election campain and the ordinary Joe Soap who go to that site will give up looking for their policies. It just with all the work they have put into the site, putting up their policies or an easy link to them, would be in their best interest.

Not all of it their own though, and not the first time that they've ripped material from third parties either

Pistolpete1

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

mewso

This poster:-



It's all a bit




Ireland 2.0 ffs. Give me a break.

Biggins

mewso wrote: »

This poster:-



It's all a bit

Ireland 2.0 ffs. Give me a break.

Reminds me of something Banksy might have done on a wall somewhere.

mewso

Thats the youf of today standing in the background by the way 'in it. In awe of Enda no doubt.

Raffeal

Enda's a decent fella when you meet him in the pub, I was impressed by how he handled my drunken colleague's rant and managed the team that was out with him, but he's not up to leading the country.

He put himself and his needs ahead of the country when he Managed the leadership challenge the way he did.

His idea of political reform is abolishing the Seanad, he's completely out of his depth when asked about economic or complex social matters. All he seems to say is that other people say x, y or z. Little understanding or opinion of his own.

Seems to be very much a populist, no wonder there's nothing concrete on the FG American hosted site

blahfckingblah

The Waltzing Consumer wrote: »

Well you have a point in one way. A simple "policy" link would be good. But when I look at all the websites

http://www.finegael2011.com/
http://www.fiannafail.ie/
http://www.greenparty.ie/en
http://www.labour.ie/
http://www.sinnfein.ie/dail-election-2011
http://www.unitedleftalliance.org/

Not one stands out. Sinn Fein have their page under construction. The ULA still have parts missing from their site. The others just have election issues mixed in with their existing sites. Some of it is hard to find, others are easy to find.

Looking at each site, they all have pros and cons. What makes FG worse and the one to highlight? I am not sure, that is why it seems like such a weak point and just an attack on the party. You could have picked any of the sites really, none of them are great.

what makes it worse is that in the cases highlighted by you the websites arent complete yet for the general election whereas the fine gael website is ready. That site is selling fine gael as a product whilst neglecting to mention any of their policies on the main site. only for someone in this thread pointed out where the policies were located i would have probably given up. Theres no mention of candidates, no articles, no inkling of what fine gael are about. so thats why the focus of this thread is on fine gael.

Nehaxak

Wow, they went all the way to America and all they could come up with is that crap Americanised "omg it's the internets 2.0" website ? Are any of the comments posted on the site even from real people ?

Could've done better with a free facebook page than that rubbish.

No, actually, could've done better if they hosted in Ireland and used an Irish company or group of Irish developers in the first place.

What an awful, awful joke of a leader that party has at it's helm. He's even turning potential voters away from voting for Labour, they're that afraid Labour will embrace FG so willingly after the general election.

He's shockingly cringe worthy material and an embarrassment to Ireland and Irish politics.

Raffeal

@ Nehaxak

It's what I find so annoying too. They could have done a lot better. They tried to copy Obama, who actually used social networking to engage with the American people.

All Enda want's to do is go "look at me we're on the internet" it's a bit patronising and insulting, seems they're all about style over substance and more of the same crap we got from FF.

Giving the gig to an Irish company would've probably resulted in a better job and might have at least kept someone in one.