So. Fianna Fail is out. You happy?

JabbaTheHut

I am. But I'm apprehensive with the replacements

Liam Byrne

Definitely a fingers-crossed element to the replacements, but at least we've replaced those who caused the crisis and refused point-blank to recognise that fact or attempt to correct the injustices.

Only time will tell re those coming in; they've managed to undo FF's damage in the past, so I'd be hopeful, but part of me reckons that FF's mess is too big this time.

oppenheimer1

I can't say I'm too unhappy with the outcome that said the new govt will have a huge majority if its a coalition, which brings its own problems.I would have liked some more of the fair minded FF and green politicians to be returned though, in order to have an effective opposition.

And I say this as someone who is likely to lose his job as a result of the election (contractor in a state dept that has been earmarked for cuts by FG)

johngalway

I'd be happier with a FG OM.

Am I happy FF got a pasting, yep!

But, know what? Still got bills to pay, still got the NCT next month, etc and so forth...

Drumpot

JabbaTheHut wrote: »

I am. But I'm apprehensive with the replacements

Very good way of putting it . . Apprehensive . .

I look on with prayer, not necessarily hope, as we enter the unknown.

Those who have felt comfort from blaming FF for everything have now had their comfort zone stripped from them. They will start to see that , ABFF does not guarantee success and a well educated opinion says they will be greatly dissapointed at the serious lack of change this new party will represent over the longer term.

If Kenny/Gilemore can put party politics aside and choose the right people for the right positions, I have no doubt we can succeed. However, I doubt they will and usual Irish Political posturing will overtake the national interest and they will argue over what they feel is best for each respective party . .

I hope I can quote this post and prove myself wrong in a year or so . . I truely do .

JabbaTheHut

johngalway wrote: »

But, know what? Still got bills to pay, still got the NCT next month, etc and so forth...

This is the thing. Life still goes on. We got rid of FF. But we need a good FG/Labour government to improve things. I hope they will. That's what looks like our future now

PeterIanStaker

Happpiness isn't an issue for me, the new govt needs to hit the ground running and not dither and try its best to sort out the mess that it's been handed by FF.

If I think they're not pulling their weight I'll be the first to criticise them roundly for taking their eye off the ball.

johnmcdnl

I'm delighted

glengirlie

JabbaTheHut wrote: »

I am. But I'm apprehensive with the replacements

I am very apprehensive about the replacments. FG are sound and are of a good of the party and national interest frame of mind, like once FF were. However there are independents and SF out there who got elected and to me they are loose cannons and do not protray a united image of Ireland and one which can move on on its own. I am very apprehensive, hopefully, the true intellects, in FG can come out all guns balzing and do something. Mind you since our Gvmt dont run the country.....I dont know what they could do.

Zombrex

Happy they are out, annoyed it took so long. I can easily see FF kissing a few babies, opening a few car parks and being back in power after the next election. I hope I'm wrong, but the last string of elections has made me question the rationality of the Irish people, and their irrational loyalties.

For FG and Lab it is only going to be down hill from here as they struggle with the legacy FF left them. Being in opposition is easy and people, particularly Irish people, have short memories and lasting loyalties.

Drumpot

Liam Byrne wrote: »

Definitely a fingers-crossed element to the replacements, but at least we've replaced those who caused the crisis and refused point-blank to recognise that fact or attempt to correct the injustices.

Only time will tell re those coming in; they've managed to undo FF's damage in the past, so I'd be hopeful, but part of me reckons that FF's mess is too big this time.

Agreed . .

However what I would say is that time will also tell if the alternative are any better then the Sh*te we have put up with up until now.

Remember, when the baromoter is so low , its impossible to presume it could be set lower, but to presume it will automatically be better, is to ignore the inconsistancies of life . .

I never disagreed with your anger on FF, I disagreed with your presumption that anything else would prove to be better.

JabbaTheHut

What bothers me is that while most of us are happy that FF are out, there is no overall positive feeling that what is going to replace them will be a significant improvment on what we had.

Instead of a feeling of certainty for what we have just voted for, I feel more of hope for improvement. That's not right. Hope is not significant enough

Liam Byrne

I never said that "anything else" would be better; I've also never been "ABFF" in the true sense of the word.

If that reads odd, I'll explain; the fact that I couldn't contemplate - say - SF, or Libertas, or any government that relies on the likes of Lowry proves that it's not simply a case of "ABFF", or an assumption that "anyone" would do better.

viota

Well im very happy fianna fail are out. Cautious about a fine gael/labour coalition.Time will tell.

Drumpot

Liam Byrne wrote: »

I never said that "anything else" would be better; I've also never been "ABFF" in the true sense of the word.

If that reads odd, I'll explain; the fact that I couldn't contemplate - say - SF, or Libertas, or any government that relies on the likes of Lowry proves that it's not simply a case of "ABFF", or an assumption that "anyone" would do better.

:D:D

I get you . .

I think we both want future prosperity for Ireland. :cool::cool::cool:

We are all pulling in the same direction in terms of where we see Irelands future . .

marti8

JabbaTheHut wrote: »

I am. But I'm apprehensive with the replacements

Happier. Great result for the left. SF, ULA and leftleaning independents. I wonder if SF will be the main opposition party ahead of FF What a turn up for the books if it happened. We were worried FG would gain an overall majority but that's not going to happen thankfully - it'll be a FG/Lab coalition, Labour will bring a bit more balance to it.

Unpossible

I'm happy, but what I really want is for FF to have less seats than SF when this is over. It has to be an almighty slapping that gives out the message to them and others that the new generation of voters are informed and will not put up with the incompetance and dodgey dealings that have gone on in the past.

joulter

its great to see them pretty much demolished across the country, but i'm embarrassed and conflustered to see them return so many in cork

heyjude

I'd have been happier if the country didn't have to be wrecked by them in order for this to happen.

thefeatheredcat

I'm happy FF are out in as many areas as possible - I cannot empathise with any one of them that have lost their seat for they are soooo out of touch with reality and what people are really feeling.

I'm so disappointed in Cork South Central, my former constituency as FF TDs were less than helpful when it came to the point my folks had no water and leaking cracked pipes over Christmas and new years and my folks had to pester a FF TD backbencher to get something done about it, I really can't understand the voting pattern. And yes, I used to live quite close to MM, only for him going around Tesco in Douglas in the campaign trail damn him :mad: I get the impression he must have got a sympathy vote because in all the debates I watched he side stepped a lot of questions by giving the usual FF BS waffle and charmed his way around and denied responsibility to what has happened to Ireland. Yet FF local TDs were useless when it came to the water problems and the flood problems and Cork City's own website provided more information about stand pipes at the time than any of the local FF TDs knew about.

I'm interested what will come out with the remaining constituencies yet to elect someone to a seat and what will be formed, although as I've said long before the general election was pushed that we should have had political reform before a general election, as I see that there's a little bit of danger up ahead in how voting how transpired.

eagle eye

Happy that FF have been destroyed but its more of the same as far as I'm concerned. Maybe less corrupt but still the same politics and maybe even more right wing which I don't want to see. I personally like a balanced central government where all people are given fair treatment.

Unpossible

thefeatheredcat wrote: »

I'm happy FF are out in as many areas as possible - I cannot empathise with any one of them that have lost their seat for they are soooo out of touch with reality and what people are really feeling.

I'm so disappointed in Cork South Central, my former constituency as FF TDs were less than helpful when it came to the point my folks had no water and leaking cracked pipes over Christmas and new years and my folks had to pester a FF TD backbencher to get something done about it, I really can't understand the voting pattern. And yes, I used to live quite close to MM, only for him going around Tesco in Douglas in the campaign trail damn him :mad: I get the impression he must have got a sympathy vote because in all the debates I watched he side stepped a lot of questions by giving the usual FF BS waffle and charmed his way around and denied responsibility to what has happened to Ireland. Yet FF local TDs were useless when it came to the water problems and the flood problems and Cork City's own website provided more information about stand pipes at the time than any of the local FF TDs knew about.

I'm interested what will come out with the remaining constituencies yet to elect someone to a seat and what will be formed, although as I've said long before the general election was pushed that we should have had political reform before a general election, as I see that there's a little bit of danger up ahead in how voting how transpired.

Isn't this part of the problem with our system? We expect TD's who have been elected to the national parliament to be going around sorting out local issues such as pipes, roads etc..

thefeatheredcat

Unpossible wrote: »

Isn't this part of the problem with our system? We expect TD's who have been elected to the national parliament to be going around sorting out local issues such as pipes, roads etc..

exactly yes - which is why the whole system should have been reformed in every way possible before a general election was held. TDs were unavailable and non-contactable on what was clearly a local issue and Cork City weren't quick on the ball either in providing water which led to spending a lot of money on bottled water and relying on the kindness of neighbours....

water into the house is a basic need, sure many countries face this problem on an every day basis, yet we have local government and elected representatives that should show some support and help on such a minor issue, yet were unable to contact, unable to help, unable to relate (as some were away on holiday at the time) and unable to empathise. It just baffles me that in Cork South Central many people were left without water, without information on how to get water and left to their own devices and yet they elected that twit MM who is clearly a a FF puppet of charm and charisma but would duck to do any real work (and yes "duck" was his nickname in school). I don't care that he's leader of FF he contributed nothing to Cork South Central when it needed him, but as he's a a stone's throw away from Douglas up in Ballinlough he was completely uncontactlable on a local issue.

it was only by pure fluke from dealing with water crises in galway with criptosporidim that I knew to even check the cork city council's website on information that should have been provided and yet, despite their own publication of times of the stand pipe being manned on Skehard Road and other places, they were then altered without warning to the public and no local FF TD was in the know about it. In fairness cork city council did do well in the end, but local FF TDs incl MM were so out of touch re the situation it was beyond belief. Yet the Cork Independent and other rag mags like the Douglas Post etc had no information on it at the time.

danger man

JabbaTheHut wrote: »

This is the thing. Life still goes on. We got rid of FF. But we need a good FG/Labour government to improve things. I hope they will. That's what looks like our future now

GF our future?not for long.they will be booted out.since when did bluecoats care about ireland

nesf

Yes, a cull and a long stay in Opposition was badly needed for the party. Hopefully two terms in Opposition, with the second term bringing in a good batch of new people with new ideas and less of the baggage and sense of entitlement of the previous generation.

With some luck Martin might actually make a decent centre right party out of FF rather than the populist mess that Bertie made of it. The cynic in me says that'll take a lot longer than two terms in Opposition though.

ilovesleep

Liam Byrne wrote: »

Definitely a fingers-crossed element to the replacements, but at least we've replaced those who caused the crisis and refused point-blank to recognise that fact or attempt to correct the injustices.

Only time will tell re those coming in; they've managed to undo FF's damage in the past, so I'd be hopeful, but part of me reckons that FF's mess is too big this time.

I am delighted that FF are gone. They ran an entire economy into the ground. I didn't feel safe with them running the show. I have been extremely distressed about it all since waking up to this mess back in Oct. A new government, even though the leader not very inspiring, has helped me to release a load of tension.

Im very angry at the green party for propping up FF. They should have taken down the government before the xmas. We should have had this election before the xmas. Delighted that the green party has collasped.

jmayo

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

And I say this as someone who is likely to lose his job as a result of the election (contractor in a state dept that has been earmarked for cuts by FG)

Government contractor and ff supporter, well I never heard of such people.

Drumpot wrote: »

Very good way of putting it . . Apprehensive . .

I look on with prayer, not necessarily hope, as we enter the unknown.

Those who have felt comfort from blaming FF for everything have now had their comfort zone stripped from them. They will start to see that , ABFF does not guarantee success and a well educated opinion says they will be greatly dissapointed at the serious lack of change this new party will represent over the longer term.

If Kenny/Gilemore can put party politics aside and choose the right people for the right positions, I have no doubt we can succeed. However, I doubt they will and usual Irish Political posturing will overtake the national interest and they will argue over what they feel is best for each respective party . .

I hope I can quote this post and prove myself wrong in a year or so . . I truely do .

You see most of us know that whoever got in would have very serious problems and they will probably face default, near defualt and they will have to make some very difficult hard decisions and things will not improve for is for a long time.

But get this, people did not want ff there as they were the ones who landed us where we are.

Get this ff were to blame for most of our problems and I still note the refusal to accept this from ffers.
They just don't get how much of a f*** up they made.
All I heard yesterday from ffers was how people were angry after the tough budget they brought in and that was why they voted against them.

They just do not appear to get it that everything that went before that budget and what necessitated that budget has royally screwed us for decades possibly.

I have serious worries for the country, for Europe indeed, but at least I have a bit of hope that the guy that is going to lead us will be doing his honest best for us and not for some well connected supporters.

As a long time anti ffer I am pretty happy that the party of haughey, bertie ahern, ray burke, liam lawlor, stroke fahy, frank fahey, padraig flynn, bev flynn, john ellis, wille o'dea, brian cowen, john o'donoghue, ivor callely has finally got it's just reward.
Sadly it took the destruction of our economy for it to happen.

gandalf

Happy I am bloody delighted. Mary Coughlin gone, Dick Roche gone, Conor Lenihan gone, John Curran gone, Sean Haughey gone, John O'Donoghue gone and a whole list of other planks from FF. I hope this blight on our political landscape never recovers from this pasting.

I am optimistic about the future, from watching the coverage yesterday it seems that a lot of young blood has been infused into the Dail, also there are a lot of disparate voices in opposition. This government will have to hit the ground running though and I and a lot of others expect real and meaningful reform politically and with local government, as someone said in another thread on this forum if I am going to take the pain of the next few years at least cushion it with meaningful reform that reflects the Ireland of today.

CarrickMcJoe

Yes, Im delighted the way the Irish people have stood up to Fianna Fail and told them enough is enough. Dissappointed that the real rats that jumped ship with their huge pensions (Bertie, Dermot, Noel & Brian) didn't stand and get the same treatment as the rest.

No doubt Bertie will say now that if he was still there they would have won. Hes such a bloody dreamer!

Great that we ate our Greens too! Now that will be good for us.

wolfpawnat

No, because the Irish electorate just voted in their identical twin and are convinced life is about to get better!

I am glad to see the end of most of their specific candidates though!

Min

Yes.

FG and Labour have to walk the walk rather than talk the talk.

In time, watch their poll numbers drop and the oppositon rise in popularity. It is good for SF two elections in a row to lose and they will be in opposition for both, same goes for the United Left Alliance who have ridiculous policies.

noel farrell

very happy they are gone i hope never to return

Balmed Out

When it comes to economic policies id be fairly right wing and consider all parties excluding fg to be left. Id like to see a fg overall majority so that if theres a big backlash from voters next time round (whoevers in government is gonna have to make plenty of v. unpopular decisions) then labour and ff (to a less degree as they wont be forgiven so quickly) would be in a position to benefit as opposed to the likes of sinn fein and the ula. Labour however much I disagree with in principle at least have thought out policies.

Dempo1

Not just happy, delirious with Joy. What has been more satisfying is seeing some of the Smuggest politicians get eliminated very early on. I had anticipated a FF wipe out but not on this scale.

Unbelievable results for Mick Wallace and Shane Ross (Ind)

Was sickened at Brian Cowens interview last night with Pat Kenny, its astonishing the man is still in denial. Bertie's Mafia wipe out was particularly satisfying.

Auntie Hannafinn looks like she will be returning to Knitting full time.

Its going to be a very interesting next Dail, WTF is actually going to be the main opposition.

jmayo

wolfpawnat wrote: »

No, because the Irish electorate just voted in their identical twin and are convinced life is about to get better!

I am glad to see the end of most of their specific candidates though!

I suppose you reckon they should have voted in the deluded fools who think we can somehow continue to live like the bubble on the odd billion left in the pension fund or that we can continue to listen to jack o'connor and devid begg ?

wolfpawnat

jmayo wrote: »

I suppose you reckon they should have voted in the deluded fools who think we can somehow continue to live like the bubble on the odd billion left in the pension fund or that we can continue to listen to jack o'connor and devid begg ?

Look they're is no one party in Ireland that will get us out of this mess. We are up shít creek without a boat, let alone the fécking paddle!

But anyone who is deluded enough to think that life is about to get a lot easier clearly has no idea how hard things are about to get. The Brits thought all would be well when the Tory's got in. Clearly they are thinking twice and we will be the same.

As was said before on a thread here "FF and FG are 2 cheeks of the same arse"

Biggins

Glad they are gone but FG - very weary about. They are too conservative, too related to the religious side of thought and just as involved with banks, property developers and large businesses.

I will be watching them very closely and reporting on them you can be damn sure! (Here)

Sunnyisland

Yes i am happy that fiiana fail are out,and out with a good kicking at that,They were to smug and way to complacent right up to the end, I know it wont be easy but hopefully we can all move forward with a new a clear thinking goverment and that they to have learned something from our past.

smokingman

I'd be much happier if the permanent government were actually changed (senior civil servants who really ran the country into the ground).

The fact that FF put all their party cronies into those positions before they were booted out doesn't fill me with much hope that the new government will get them to co-operate in getting the country back on its feet.

oppenheimer1

jmayo wrote: »

Government contractor and ff supporter, well I never heard of such people.

Well for one I'm not a FF supporter - the most any FF candidate has ever gotten from me is a preference. I have stated on a number of occasions I'm not a member of the party.

I won my contract in a free and fair way, in an open process without any political interference and I hope you're not implying otherwise.

Happyman42

The electorate got the pasting of FF right but then jumped from the frying pan into the fire, electing the most conservative, right wing, bunch of untalented incompetents known. We have just prolonged the problem, nothing has changed, wait and see.
See you all at the polls within 18 months!

Mr Cawley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxcBNdzqsfo


No crooked government!

Disambiguation

Yes, but I don't have much confidence in FG either.

JabbaTheHut

danger man wrote: »

GF our future?not for long.they will be booted out.since when did bluecoats care about ireland

GF? You mean FG? And don't you mean Blueshirts?

I'd be much happier if the permanent government were actually changed (senior civil servants who really ran the country into the ground)

This is the thing. All that will change there is Monday morning they'll be back in with different faces in the ministers office. After that, it'll be business as usual. As has been said before, we really needed a total overhaul of the system

whore

I see FG doing nothing of substance and getting the boot next election. Not like the could do anything with the mess the country has been left in but i imagine most of their term will be spent trying to avoid damaging their own reputation or worse still doing incredibly stupid 'voter pleasing' displays like spending a load of money that we don't have in order to be able to say 'look at all we did'

Who knows, maybe Labour will try to stop attempts at 'photo op' money spending but i can't see FG managing to be successful in controlling the damage done, I say controlling because fixing isn't on the cards yet.

Plus any FG candidates I've met or heard speak on this campaign have sounded like self assured and with a great sense of entitlement. They knew they would get at least the top spot in a coalition, they just hoped for an overall majority..thank god that didn't happen.

When FG being in power is ignored, I'm quite happy FF are out :P

Biggins

JabbaTheHut wrote: »

...This is the thing. All that will change there is Monday morning they'll be back in with different faces in the ministers office. After that, it'll be business as usual. As has been said before, we really needed a total overhaul of the system

Couldn't agree more.

Aishae

im delighted that ireland stood up for itself - it was like a small revolt via voting. it felt good to see it

i HOPE the new gov can clean up this mess but i feel it'll take longer than their term in government. time will tell what happens. when it comes down to it everyone in the Dail lives here too and have families here. they have to protect them and the only way they can do that is to try get this country back on track.
they cant just help their mates and selves anymore. we showed them that.

gpjordanf1

I am delighted the bnunch of rats got their just rewards, now if only we could have reduced their pensions to social welfare levels then that would have been justice,
and as for the cowards that wouldn't stand and face their public, I can only hope they suffer in years to come!

Now as for change, anyone thinking we can sort this in 6 months is mad, this change we crave will take up to 10 years of hard work and more suffering unfortunately!

whore

gpjordanf1 wrote: »

This change we crave will take up to 10 years of hard work and more suffering unfortunately!

Unfortunately if it doesn't happen within the next 5 most people will probably elect FF again.

Scofflaw

JabbaTheHut wrote: »

What bothers me is that while most of us are happy that FF are out, there is no overall positive feeling that what is going to replace them will be a significant improvment on what we had.

Instead of a feeling of certainty for what we have just voted for, I feel more of hope for improvement. That's not right. Hope is not significant enough

I don't know - I'm personally delighted, despite the Green wipeout. A very good result for democracy.

In terms of Fianna Fáil - to be honest, I don't think many people really realise just how bad their economic mismanagement was during the boom. I do think it's possible for them to rebuild, and we'll see how unpopular the new government makes itself - but I'm absolutely delighted to see them given such a historic reversal in their fortunes.

Nor do I think the claim that Fine Gael haven't been voted in stands up - based on the majority first preference vote, I think they have undoubtedly been given the mandate to form the next coalition. Mind you, I don't think the fact that they've not been given an overall majority represents anything other than the preference of the electorate, too.

The only people I'd really criticise in the election are those TDs who decided to step down rather than offer their necks to the electorate.

cordially,
Scofflaw

Biggins

Scofflaw wrote: »

...The only people I'd really criticise in the election are those TDs who decided to step down rather than offer their necks to the electorate.

I agree, it should be noted also that some (a lot?) stood down not just out of fear of a humiliating defeat but more so to guard their built up many pensions and to retain their "Leaving money" which might not be there in four+ years time if FG stick to their promises of change in this area alone.