John Hume for President

niallers1

I really do not want a Radio or TV presenter as president.

I want somebody of Calibre. The only person I would have voted for to date was Pat Cox if he was put forward as he has credibility and experience at international level.

With Pat Cox out of the running. What do you think about John Hume as president.

I think the Irish People owe him and I would have no hesitation in voting for him.

Mental Mickey

niallers1 wrote: »

I really do not want a Radio or TV presenter as president.

I want somebody of Calibre. The only person I would have voted for to date was Pat Cox as he has credibility and experience at international level.

With Pat Cox out of the running. What do you think about John Hume as president.

I think the Irish People owe him and I would have no hesitation in voting for him.

Good shout - but would his age count against him?

mikemac

He'd win for sure and I'd vote for him

But we've known since last year he wasn't going to run

Health isn't the best and he can enjoy his retirement

NIMAN

John Hume's health would not allow him to be President, unfortunately for us all.

Dirk Gently

I think John's contribution to this island already is of far greater importance than the presidency. Lets not insult him by badgering him to compete for such a trivial role now. The presidency is toothless and irrelevant, neither of which is John Hume. Let the man retire in peace.

The real presidential debate is about either reforming the role to make it relevant or else doing away with it altogether.

anymore

Unless someone has expressed an interest in the Presidency, then what is the point of these kinds of thread ?
It is not the Eurovision.

sensibleken

Pat Ingoldsby for president!

mike65

Another nordie?

Anyway as said he doesn't want or need or is healthy enough for the rigours of seven years in the Park.

niallers1

anymore wrote: »

Unless someone has expressed an interest in the Presidency, then what is the point of these kinds of thread ?
It is not the Eurovision.

It's to get people thinking about the calibre of people that should hold this office.

I do not want a TV or raidio show presenter who are just popular for being on tv/raidio representing our nation as a figure head.

I want somebody with at least the same calibre and qualifications as our previous two Presidents.

anymore

niallers1 wrote: »

It's to get people thinking about the calibre of people that should hold this office.

I do not want a TV or raidio show presenter who are just popular for being on tv/raidio representing our nation as a figure head.

I want somebody with at least the same calibre and qualifications as our previous two Presidents.

I understand the point you are making but someone like Pat Kenny could lose half his brain and still be more intelligent than half of our TDs and some of our Ministers. Whether one likes him or his policies or not, Ronald regan is still held in high esteem by many americans.
The child actress ' Shirely Temple' acquited herself well as a US ambasador.

Mental Mickey

anymore wrote: »

I understand the point you are making but someone like Pat Kenny could lose half his brain and still be more intelligent than half of our TDs and some of our Ministers. Whether one likes him or his policies or not, Ronald regan is still held in high esteem by many americans.
The child actress ' Shirely Temple' acquited herself well as a US ambasador.

Pat The Plank?? No, just no. All these "celebrity" candidates should be told to **** off imo.

niallers1

It's begining to sound like celebrity bainisteoir..

bamboozle

Hume would be a great candidate health permitting, i'd like to see John Lonergan run, a good person.

murphaph

bamboozle wrote: »

Hume would be a great candidate health permitting, i'd like to see John Lonergan run, a good person.

That's an interesting one. I was always impressed by him too actually. Always seemed to be a very pragmatic man.

mikemac

Bleeding heart John Lonergan

I can see the headlines already
He is well known but attracts a lot of criticism, if he runs he's in for a tough campaign

But same for all candidates I suppose, these elections are nasty

bamboozle

mikemac wrote: »

Bleeding heart John Lonergan

I can see the headlines already
He is well known but attracts a lot of criticism, if he runs he's in for a tough campaign

But same for all candidates I suppose, these elections are nasty

well there will always be cynics and begrudgers, at least Lonergan has spent a lot of his time working to make life better for other people, i'd much rather someone like this than a personality with an ego such as gaybo or o'muirahertach

anymore

Mental Mickey wrote: »

Pat The Plank?? No, just no. All these "celebrity" candidates should be told to **** off imo.

Pat the plank ? Please !!!!!

nuac

JOHN hUME would be an ideal President. Sorry to hear that his health is not good.

MadsL

Someone I know met John Hume recently, and whilst in the early stages, his Alzheimer's is progressing sadly. Tragically, he would not be well enough to handle the Presidency I feel. Otherwise an excellent choice.

Alopex

how about Seamus Mallon? he was deputy SDLP leader when Hume was in charge and deputy first minister of northern ireland for the first few years

was involved with civil rights and was even a senator in the ROI. Probably did just as much for peace as Hume

end a eknny

Alopex wrote: »

how about Seamus Mallon? he was deputy SDLP leader when Hume was in charge and deputy first minister of northern ireland for the first few years

was involved with civil rights and was even a senator in the ROI. Probably did just as much for peace as Hume

except he didnt

Dun

MadsL wrote: »

Someone I know met John Hume recently, and whilst in the early stages, his Alzheimer's is progressing sadly. Tragically, he would not be well enough to handle the Presidency I feel. Otherwise an excellent choice.

I've seen him around a couple of times recently, and while he still seems as congenial as ever, there's a really noticeable difference to a couple of years ago. I didn't realise he had Alzheimer's, that's really sad.

dlofnep

mike65 wrote: »

Another nordie?

John is as Irish as anyone else on this island and has contributed greatly to bringing peace to Ireland. Are you trying to imply that he is somehow less Irish, or less deserving of the role because he's on the wrong side of an invisible line?

Red Hand

dlofnep wrote: »

John is as Irish as anyone else on this island and has contributed greatly to bringing peace to Ireland. Are you trying to imply that he is somehow less Irish, or less deserving of the role because he's on the wrong side of an invisible line?

Taxes.

Alopex

end a eknny wrote: »

except he didnt

no one other than the people who interacted with him and Hume know that for sure. Some details of the troubles will never come out.

For all we know he could have been highly influential in getting the SDLP to have the talks with Sinn Fein prior to the peace process (he was present at at least one meeting with them in 1988).

The facts are that we know he was part of the same leadership team as Hume. He was one of two first ministers of post-GFA northern ireland(deputy and first minister are equal positions) He was a member of Seanad Eireann and a Westminister MP. He was involved in the civil rights movement

So impossible to say who contributed more to peace