why an ordinary citizen cannot become president

jakdelad

just goes to show the sort of democracy we live in.
unless you get several councils or TDS to nominate you
forget it.

why is this?
surely any ordinary decent irish man or woman
should be able to present themselves for the candidacy and let the people judge who they want

so therotically an ordinary citizen cannot be president

pigeonbutler

jakdelad wrote: »

just goes to show the sort of democracy we live in.
unless you get several councils or TDS to nominate you
forget it.

why is this?
surely any ordinary decent irish man or woman
should be able to present themselves for the candidacy and let the people judge who they want

so therotically an ordinary citizen cannot be president

Check out the 1997 candidates: http://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1997P&cons=194

2 of the 5 were nominated by Councils and had no affiliation to major political parties. So any "ordinary citizen" that fancies themselves for President can go seek council nominations in just the same way.

jakdelad

pigeonbutler wrote: »

Check out the 1997 candidates: http://electionsireland.org/result.cfm?election=1997P&cons=194

2 of the 5 were nominated by Councils and had no affiliation to major political parties. So any "ordinary citizen" that fancies themselves for President can go seek council nominations in just the same way.

i agree but if the councils dont approve your sunk
you cannot go it alone as an independant

why should you have to seek approval from the councils or TDS
who are they to have the say as to wheather you can run of not

slimjimmc

Any citizen over the age of 35 can put themselves forward if they can get the support of 20 TDs/Senators or 4 City/County councils.

so in theory any ordinary citizen can be president

However, in practice very few do without a a proven track record in politics or public service. Basically if you can't convince a small group of TDs or councils to nominate you then how can you genuinely expect to convince a couple of million people to vote for you.

andrewire

jakdelad wrote: »

just goes to show the sort of democracy we live in.
unless you get several councils or TDS to nominate you
forget it.

why is this?
surely any ordinary decent irish man or woman
should be able to present themselves for the candidacy and let the people judge who they want

so therotically an ordinary citizen cannot be president

I want to be president too: €300k salary, does nothing, just travelling in a Mercedes and read a speech written by someone else. Why do we even have a president?!

jakdelad

slimjimmc wrote: »

Any citizen over the age of 35 can put themselves forward if they can get the support of 20 TDs/Senators or 4 City/County councils.

so in theory any ordinary citizen can be president

However, in practice very few do without a a proven track record in politics or public service. Basically if you can't convince a small group of TDs or councils to nominate you then how can you genuinely expect to convince a couple of million people to vote for you.

so basically you run 2 elections??
a mini election to win over TDs and councils get past that hurdle
what criteria do the councils use to approve or disprove a candiate?
then you get a shot a the big one i see,
so its a sort of a test?
by the way macallese only got 500 odd thousand votes and only got in on the second count

mikemac

jakdelad wrote: »

so its a sort of a test?

Sort of
Last time around Dana declared and went around looking for support.
So got on Galway Bay FM and was asked to name five estates in an area of Galway City, out westside
Couldn't even name one :rolleyes:
And she had run in the general election and cavassed in Galway just two years before! Now that's why people don't vote for a "blow in"

Yes OP, you need support to get on the ballot if you don't have a large party behind you.
And before you ask a council for support, learning something about the area is good so you don't embarrass yourself

Atlantic Dawn

The current President is unelected for her 2nd term, even if Billy Bob Bob wanted to run against her he couldn't as it was a closed shop.

ceon

Well I can kind of see the reason behind having to get support from councils or TD's. Otherwise we'd have a long list of people on the election paper I suppose, and each of them probably entitled to state support to run a campaign!!

Don Juan DeMagoo

jakdelad wrote: »

just goes to show the sort of democracy we live in.
unless you get several councils or TDS to nominate you
forget it.

why is this?
surely any ordinary decent irish man or woman
should be able to present themselves for the candidacy and let the people judge who they want

so therotically an ordinary citizen cannot be president

Answer me this..... why would you want just an ordinary person to be our president. I want an extraordinary person to be our president not a boring lifeless uninspirational bag of bones...... sure we already have that in our present incumbent Mary McAleese. A poor shadow cast of her predecessor imho.

You want to vote for an ordinary person, go vote in Irelands Got Talent

mojopolo

feelingstressed wrote: »

Now that's why people don't vote for a "blow in"

Mary Mcaleese is a blow in too - she's from Belfast

jakdelad

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

The current President is unelected for her 2nd term, even if Billy Bob Bob wanted to run against her he couldn't as it was a closed shop.

thats right the political parties conspired to let macaleese stay on
because mcreevy got the gravy job in brussels
and all the parties wanted to concentrate their efforts on a by-election
dident matter about the people wanting to vote a new president in.
and if macaleese had any honor she would have stood down
and there would have had to be an election then,
but she hung on like the parasite she is.
anyone know what gravy pension shes going out on??
does she also get a free car for life??

and for a finish an independant got mcreeveys seat

jakdelad

Don Juan DeMagoo wrote: »

Answer me this..... why would you want just an ordinary person to be our president. I want an extraordinary person to be our president not a boring lifeless uninspirational bag of bones...... sure we already have that in our present incumbent Mary McAleese. A poor shadow cast of her predecessor imho.

You want to vote for an ordinary person, go vote in Irelands Got Talent

oh yeah
hillery o dhailaigh childers
lets face it
the party elected monkey they send to the aras does not reflect the ordinary citizen of ireland
i want jakie hely rae or his son
or ming now theres extrordinary for ya

minidazzler

Don Juan DeMagoo wrote: »

Answer me this..... why would you want just an ordinary person to be our president. I want an extraordinary person to be our president not a boring lifeless uninspirational bag of bones...... sure we already have that in our present incumbent Mary McAleese. A poor shadow cast of her predecessor imho.

You want to vote for an ordinary person, go vote in Irelands Got Talent

So you are happy with the whole jobs for the boys thing? Given that TD's are more likely to back one of their own. FFS, Brian Cowen could get a bid if he wanted one.

The president is a representitive of the country, they should be a perfectly ordinary but exemplary citizen of the country.

jakdelad

minidazzler wrote: »

So you are happy with the whole jobs for the boys thing? Given that TD's are more likely to back one of their own. FFS, Brian Cowen could get a bid if he wanted one.

The president is a representitive of the country, they should be a perfectly ordinary but exemplary citizen of the country.

ya think barak reflects the perfectly ordinary but exemplary citizen of the country?

ming, jakie hely rae, mick wallace, david norris, joe higgins
now theres perfectly ordinary but exemplary citizen s
no more party monkeys, or wore out politicians looking for an upmarket
nursing home like the aras

Don Juan DeMagoo

minidazzler wrote: »

So you are happy with the whole jobs for the boys thing? Given that TD's are more likely to back one of their own. FFS, Brian Cowen could get a bid if he wanted one.

The president is a representitive of the country, they should be a perfectly ordinary but exemplary citizen of the country.

I could not agree with you more, maybe I stated my point poorly;)

WeeBushy

jakdelad wrote: »

ya think barak reflects the perfectly ordinary but exemplary citizen of the country?

ming, jakie hely rae, mick wallace, david norris, joe higgins
now theres perfectly ordinary but exemplary citizen s
no more party monkeys, or wore out politicians looking for an upmarket
nursing home like the aras

---

While the current system is prohibitive and slightly unfair, I feel the last two presidents have been very good (can't comment on any others as I'm too young ). They are internationally respected and liked which is very important, as they are essentially an embassador for our country. How people run for election needs to be reformed, but we have had good presidents all the same imo.

On that note, and I know slighty OT, but Norris would be excellent president. Sure he's a bit quirky and slightly eccentric, but this adds to his charm and personable demeanor. He's incredibly friendly, nice, approachable, presentable and honest. Not to mention exceptionally intelligent. All the things you would want in a president.
I don't like bringing his sexuality into it as that's a private matter and shouldn't have any bearing on his election campaign, but it would send out a good message - similar to Obama becoming the first black president, or electing a female leader, it shows a sign of progression.