Presidential Election

county man

I know everybody is concentrating on the General Election at present but does anyone know who is contesting the Presidential election in the autumn? I know Michael D Higgins is looking for a nomination and Brian Crowley is considering it but have other people been mentioned?

mikemac

Might be a rumour but I've heard of Séan Kelly MEP going for the FG nomination

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

David Norris is running.

mikemac

Who will nominate Norris though? Not Labour if they have Michael D

They must be nominated by one of the following:
At least 20 members of the Oireachtas; (there are currently 226 members)
At least four county or city councils(there are currently 34 councils)
Themselves (in the case of incumbent or former presidents).

Some independent senators maybe as a start

DJKendo

Bertie Ahern

ilovesleep

DJKendo wrote: »

Bertie Ahern

Are you joking?

Manach

ilovesleep wrote: »

Are you joking?

and you could the same about David Norris [though anyone who sort of gives a qualified support to fox hunting might be worth a nod.].

Son Of A Vidic

Considering we have a government that is not sovereign and must dance to the tune of our IMF/ECB Governor Generals. What relevance would a new Irish president have?

expectationlost

oh it'll be in october will it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_presidential_election,_2011

petroltimer

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Considering we have a government that is not sovereign and must dance to the tune of our IMF/ECB Governor Generals. What relevance would a new Irish president have?

what relevance does the current president have?? no one elected her

Raging_Ninja

petroltimer wrote: »

what relevance does the current president have?? no one elected her

She was elected. Constitution says that if there are no other candidates who achieved the minimum requirements needed to run, then the sitting President is deemed elected. Perfectly constitutional, perfectly legal, and with two precedents.

petroltimer

Raging_Ninja wrote: »

She was elected. Constitution says that if there are no other candidates who achieved the minimum requirements needed to run, then the sitting President is deemed elected. Perfectly constitutional, perfectly legal, and with two precedents.

constitution of a banana republic, this country needs a whole re-write of the constitution!

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Considering we have a government that is not sovereign and must dance to the tune of our IMF/ECB Governor Generals. What relevance would a new Irish president have?

The President doesn't do anything anyway and is probably the biggest drain on society in this country.

Duke Leonal Felmet

Some cracking statements in this thread, I tells ya. I weep for this country...

thetonynator

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

The President doesn't do anything anyway and is probably the biggest drain on society in this country.

Oh yeah, Mary McAleese is a far bigger drain on society than crime is . . .:rolleyes:

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

thetonynator wrote: »

Oh yeah, Mary McAleese is a far bigger drain on society than crime is . . .:rolleyes:

Sorry I'll rephrase. As far as individuals go shes one of the biggest drains on the states finances and gives little in return. Our head of state has virtually no powers or duties and is a glorified ribbon-cutter.

GeorgeCostanza

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

The President doesn't do anything anyway and is probably the biggest drain on society in this country.

What on earth does that even mean............?????? :eek::rolleyes:

Wolfe Tone

petroltimer wrote: »

constitution of a banana republic, this country needs a whole re-write of the constitution!

Dear god no, the constitution is ok

GeorgeCostanza

petroltimer wrote: »

what relevance does the current president have?? no one elected her

More wisdom there....... this has the potential to become a classic Boards thread, given the amount of unadulterated stupidity being posted here. Are you people trolling or what??

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

GeorgeCostanza wrote: »

More wisdom there....... this has the potential to become a classic Boards thread, given the amount of unadulterated stupidity being posted here. Are you people trolling or what??

Nope, I'm stating my opinion. Mary McAleese has been a total waste of space since she became president, as have most of them who went before her. And I agree that its disgraceful we didn't even get an opportunity to vote on the presidency seven years ago.

petroltimer

GeorgeCostanza wrote: »

More wisdom there....... this has the potential to become a classic Boards thread, given the amount of unadulterated stupidity being posted here. Are you people trolling or what??

explain what on earth your on about, no one elected her fact! maybe stupidity is something you're well versed in

aDeener

petroltimer wrote: »

constitution of a banana republic, this country needs a whole re-write of the constitution!

bloody hell :rolleyes:

caseyann

It should be no longer apart of Ireland,they are useless and nothing more than figure head who lives for free off the backs of the Irish people.Unlike historical presidents who actually had a say in this country.
If we have a president they should be paid a salary of (what?) and no bonuses or living in luxury white house with private Gaurd.It is a farce.

dashboard_hula

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

Nope, I'm stating my opinion. Mary McAleese has been a total waste of space since she became president, as have most of them who went before her. And I agree that its disgraceful we didn't even get an opportunity to vote on the presidency seven years ago.

Er, she was uncontested. What would our choices have been?

dashboard_hula

List of Candidates for Irish Presidential Election 2011

Of the people on that list who are confirmed or speculated candidates, I'd narrow it down to David Norris or Michael D. You cannot describe either of those gentlemen as stupid or boring, and to be fair to those who believe that the office of President is entirely ceremonial and perhaps surplus to requirements, if you're going to have a President, they might as well be a bit lively. Mary McAleese is a lovely woman, God bless her, and does her job very well, but I'd like a bit of lunacy in Phoenix Park.

View

county man wrote: »

I know everybody is concentrating on the General Election at present but does anyone know who is contesting the Presidential election in the autumn? I know Michael D Higgins is looking for a nomination and Brian Crowley is considering it but have other people been mentioned?

Honestly, it doesn't really matter - it is at best the political equivalent of a beauty contest. The office of President is so narrowly defined that the old joke of "The Prisoner in the Park" basically summarises the position.

I don't personally see a whole lot of point in having a full presidential election campaign for such an office. Other states which have comparable weak Presidential systems just get their Parliaments to elect their Presidents. It seems to save everyone a lot of bother and doesn't appear to adversely effect them either.

expectationlost

really can't see all those people who supporting daivd norris agreeing with his stance to rejoin the commonwealth, don't think you dismiss that and his other weird ideas and just go on the basis of human rights campaigning

petroltimer

dashboard_hula wrote: »

List of Candidates for Irish Presidential Election 2011

Of the people on that list who are confirmed or speculated candidates, I'd narrow it down to David Norris or Michael D. You cannot describe either of those gentlemen as stupid or boring, and to be fair to those who believe that the office of President is entirely ceremonial and perhaps surplus to requirements, if you're going to have a President, they might as well be a bit lively. Mary McAleese is a lovely woman, God bless her, and does her job very well, but I'd like a bit of lunacy in Phoenix Park.

mary mcaleese is a bigot, who always overstepped her office with her constant ramblings. She really was the figure head of the whole sick corrupt Celtic tiger bubble, fina fail will be gone on Saturday and her gone soon after maybe Ireland can get a fresh start... maybe!

dashboard_hula

petroltimer wrote: »

mary mcaleese is a bigot, who always overstepped her office with her constant ramblings. She really was the figure head of the whole sick corrupt Celtic tiger bubble, fina fail will be gone on Saturday and her gone soon after maybe Ireland can get a fresh start... maybe!

Can you back up any of that? I'm genuinely interested to know. As far as I've been aware, all of her actions have been on the white bread side of bland - she gets out there, does the job, goes home, no headlines caused, no bitching, no barking. So where's this coming from?

petroltimer

dashboard_hula wrote: »

Can you back up any of that? I'm genuinely interested to know. As far as I've been aware, all of her actions have been on the white bread side of bland - she gets out there, does the job, goes home, no headlines caused, no bitching, no barking. So where's this coming from?

January, 2005
"They gave to their children an irrational hatred of Jews in the same way that people in Northern Ireland transmitted to their children an irrational hatred, for example, of Catholics, in the same way that people give to their children an outrageous and irrational hatred of those who are of different colour and all of those things,"

She also turned down an offer to an invitation to be grand marshal in New York's St. Patrick's day parade because they refuse to let gays march with their banners, as office holder of the Irish presidency she has no mandate to be seen siding with any particular position no matter what its merits, that is what our government is for her job is to cut ribbons and keep her mouth shut.

Raging_Ninja

petroltimer wrote: »

January, 2005
"They gave to their children an irrational hatred of Jews in the same way that people in Northern Ireland transmitted to their children an irrational hatred, for example, of Catholics, in the same way that people give to their children an outrageous and irrational hatred of those who are of different colour and all of those things,"

She also turned down an offer to an invitation to be grand marshal in New York's St. Patrick's day parade because they refuse to let gays march with their banners, as office holder of the Irish presidency she has no mandate to be seen siding with any particular position no matter what its merits, that is what our government is for her job is to cut ribbons and keep her mouth shut.

How dare the woman hold personal opinions.

petroltimer

Raging_Ninja wrote: »

How dare the woman hold personal opinions.

she can hold all the opinions she wants, but the president is not suppose to have any opinions, thats the conditions of the office, which she as always undermined

dashboard_hula

petroltimer wrote: »

January, 2005
"They gave to their children an irrational hatred of Jews in the same way that people in Northern Ireland transmitted to their children an irrational hatred, for example, of Catholics, in the same way that people give to their children an outrageous and irrational hatred of those who are of different colour and all of those things,"

She also turned down an offer to an invitation to be grand marshal in New York's St. Patrick's day parade because they refuse to let gays march with their banners, as office holder of the Irish presidency she has no mandate to be seen siding with any particular position no matter what its merits, that is what our government is for her job is to cut ribbons and keep her mouth shut.

Well the first remark could have been worded a little better - comparing any aspect of NI culture to the Nazi's would be taking the analogy to its limits. The second point about the parade is entirely admirable - this country has come on in leaps and bounds in the last 20 years in acceptance and promotion of gay rights, and in the US they've actually gone backwards. I fully support her decision if it was made on those grounds - however the official line was that it was due to scheduling conflicts.

Again, I don't see how you can justify Mrs. McAleese as bigoted or as a figurehead of a corrupt regime - in fact I'd make the argument that the womans been near invisible on political issues over the past 18 months.

RichieC

If Norris runs he has my vote

aidan24326

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Considering we have a government that is not sovereign and must dance to the tune of our IMF/ECB Governor Generals. What relevance would a new Irish president have?

It's hard to know what relevance the president has at all to be honest.

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

Dear god no, the constitution is ok

The constitution is outdated and far from ok. Have you actually seen it?

FTS

I hope Dana runs again.

goose2005

petroltimer wrote: »

she can hold all the opinions she wants, but the president is not suppose to have any opinions, thats the conditions of the office, which she as always undermined

Where in the constitution does it say that? Because the President has very limited power to veto Bills, s/he has usually adopted a neutral stance, but nowhere is the president told not to voice opinions.

caseyann

Why on earth do people even condone this anymore?
Its a burden on the tax payer and nothing more than a seething money pit.
We should boycott all such high paid useless figure heads.

Kwekubo

Norris is launching his campaign this morning at the Science Gallery in Trinity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph_JqsbQ5ak

caseyann

Kwekubo wrote: »

Norris is launching his campaign this morning at the Science Gallery in Trinity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph_JqsbQ5ak

While i like him,ask him will he take a pay cut?If we have to have this sham of figure head in the country for the sake of following the sheep.

spank_inferno

According to the Indo, he said he will be setting aside a chunk of his Salary.
His intention being that these funds would be used to make the president more accessable to the general public.

If he gets a nomination I wll certainly vote for him.

joulter

so who is going to run for each party

fg: sean kelly or mairead mcguinness

lab: michael d. higgins or fergus finlay

ff: brian crowley maybe

sf: ?

independents: david norris, dana maybe?

Kwekubo

I'd be surprised if SF win enough seats in the Seanad to be able to nominate someone off their own bat.

Cakes.

Sinn Fein have a lot of people on councils. Would it be enough to secure a nomination from three councils ?

caseyann

spank_inferno wrote: »

According to the Indo, he said he will be setting aside a chunk of his Salary.
His intention being that these funds would be used to make the president more accessable to the general public.

If he gets a nomination I wll certainly vote for him.

Put it aside for what?

jakdelad

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

David Norris is running.

we have had 2 marys in the aras
time for a nancy

david norris is one of the most decent honourable human beings
i for one would be proud to have this man as president