Martin McGuinness to be named as Sinn Féins candidate for the Presidential Election?

HellsAngel

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

He has a chance, but I wouldn't expect him to win, but you never know.

I'm the same, Micheal D to win, Mitchell second. M McG to come in 4 or 5. Someone asked can he return to his job in the north. Yes he can -

" Last year Mr Robinson temporarily stood down from his role as first minister to address charges of financial irregularities.He was replaced by party colleague Arlene Foster and returned to his first minister position after six weeks."
http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0916/president.html

hotmail.com

gambiaman wrote: »

Eh, it's The Presidential election.

It won't stop McGuinness and the other candidates promising the sun, moon and stars during the campaign.

Dana was going to increase the number of rural Garda stations last time. One of the odder campaign pledges.

Sir Oxman

Paparazzo wrote: »

REad the post I was replying to. McGuinness will say or do anything to get the vote.

Well seeing as it was my post I did read it.
McGuinness is doing as all elected members of SF do - accept the avg industrial wage for themselves personally (though i don't agree with them using the rest for party coffers)

I have yet to hear anything from him or SF about how their candidate will do stuff they cannot possibly do when President.

KeithAFC

How does Martin Mcguinness help the peace process like some say when the vast majority in my community can't stand him or SF. It really hasn't done a lot on the ground. Two different peoples still hate each other.

HellsAngel

KeithAFC wrote: »

How does Martin Mcguinness help the peace process like some say when the vast majority in my community can't stand him or SF. It really hasn't done a lot on the ground. Two different peoples still hate each other.

Tell us something we don't know :rolleyes:

KeithAFC

HellsAngel wrote: »

KeithAFC wrote: »

How does Martin Mcguinness help the peace process like some say when the vast majority in my community can't stand him or SF. It really hasn't done a lot on the ground. Two different peoples still hate each other.

Tell us something we don't know :rolleyes:

Well it is important to point out the reality. Two different communities hate each other. The peace process only keeps large amounts of guns off the street.

Frankie Lee

I think agent J118 will do a fantastic job for his country.

COYW

The list of candidates just gets poorer by the day. This entry does mean that Dragon's Den man has moved off the bottom of my rankings. Let's brace ourselves for the usual SF populist waffle and some new crackers over the course of the campaign.

We'll be hearing the SF "average industrial wage" con-job message, pretty sharpish. Looking back on Presidents past, the current list of candidates is an insult with McGuinness being the cherry on the icing on the top of the cake. Might as well add Bertie into the mix to top it all off.

blahfckingblah

Frankie Lee wrote: »

I think agent J118 will do a fantastic job for his country.

gotta love conspiracy theorys

niallers1

At last, I was really despairing that a serious candidate would not run.
I wasn't going to vote for any of the candiates up until now.

I will be voting for McGuinness

And working for the average industrial wage.. How Roisin Murphy is that...

nordydan

PeterIanStaker wrote: »

I don't like SF or McGuinness, but it'd be interesting to see if this news gives some of the Sindo's esteemed hack journos an aneurysm or two!

I'm sure Eoghan Harris will have a story blaming MMG for murdering Cork Protestants in the 1920s by Sunday

Dirk Gently

niallers1 wrote: »

And working for the average industrial wage..

and with M .D. H saying he will accept the wage set by the state I think McGuinness just blew Higgins labour tainted socialism out of the water. (no pun intended).

dlofnep

KeithAFC wrote: »

How does Martin Mcguinness help the peace process like some say when the vast majority in my community can't stand him or SF. It really hasn't done a lot on the ground. Two different peoples still hate each other.

No Keith, only people like you irrationally hate people based on their community. Martin McGuinness is beyond that, and works on a daily basis with unionists for the betterment of both communities.

Speaking of which - one of your unionist friends recently called Marty a 'great leader'.

Cork boy 55

I think i vote for him just for the international headlines

"Former terrs commander(IRA) voted prez of Ireland"

let them figure it out.

KeithAFC

dlofnep wrote: »

No Keith, only people like you irrationally hate people based on their community. Martin McGuinness is beyond that, and works on a daily basis with unionists for the betterment of both communities.

Speaking of which - one of your unionist friends recently called Marty a 'great leader'.

I have perfectly rational reasons to hate him and Sinn Fein. Many people in the Irish Republic do too.

He only works for himself and his aim to get an Irish Republic. He doesn't work for the Loyalist people. And that minister is no friend of mine.

niallers1

Keith, I think you need a big hug.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/martin-mcguinness-continues-to-astound-with-his-progress-16048448.html

nordydan

KeithAFC wrote:

And that minister is no friend of mine.

That'll upset David Latimer alright...

hmmm

It's too soon for a member of SF to be President.

I realise there are a lot of young people on Boards, so you won't know what it was like to grow up with the shame of a brutal, gruesome and pointless IRA campaign both here and in the UK and you'll think MMcG is electable. This will probably drive people into the FG camp as they will be horrified by the prospect of there even being a slim chance he will be elected.

KeithAFC

nordydan wrote: »

That'll upset David Latimer alright...

I frankly don't care and sarcastic comments do nothing for the discussion.

Fentdog84

McGuinness has had a distinguished career in NI politics but i dont think he would be a suitable ambassador/figurehead for the country. While I think SF have the right to run a presidential candidate, I think they would be better to sit this one out. Not getting my vote.
My opinion of the other candidates/potential candidates:

Gay Mitchell: Dead fish on a slab, no personality, hypocritical politics, and condescending demeanour, why is he even running? Had FG no one better?

Sean Gallagher: Potentially a good candidate, with his business experitise and intentions of attracting business and jobs to the country etc. But his lack of political experience and his fondness for speaking his mind would count against him. Cant see him being pushed around by the politicians therefore unfortunately I cannot see it working.

David Norris: Too outspoken and controversial, the Aras would turn into an asylum, if its not one already. No thanks.

Mary Davis: Dont know that much about her but if her campaign is being funded by Denis O Brien you can draw your own conclusions.

O Murchu: FF, nuff said.

Higgins: Probably best of an appalling bunch. Long winded, poetic, loves the sound of his own squeeky voice to fill the corridors of the phoenix mansion. He fits.

maxxie

Unionist politicians were recently punished for attending a catholic policeman's funeral! Doesn't give you much faith in the public representatives up there.

Cork boy 55

Cork boy 55 wrote: »

I think i vote for him just for the international headlines

"Former terrs commander(IRA) voted prez of Ireland"

let them figure it out.

happening already

reuters are reporting he is a "Ex-IRA guerrilla"

Ex-IRA guerrilla McGuinness to run for Irish president


http://uk.news.yahoo.com/martin-mcguinness-run-irish-president-163417989.html

round tower huntsman

can a british minister be president of ireland?

blahfckingblah

round tower huntsman wrote: »

can a british minister be president of ireland?

probably, an Irish Joint first minister in NI can anyway, might even get the gig

jbkenn

He does not live here.
He does not work here, (did he ever hold down a job anywhere?)
He does not pay taxes here.
He does not vote here.

Why should I vote for him?, gifting him the equivalent of a Lotto win, between salary, perks and pension.

No thanks

PomBear

jbkenn wrote: »

He does not live here.
He does not work here, (did he ever hold down a job anywhere?)
He does not pay taxes here.
He does not vote here.

Why should I vote for him?, gifting him the equivalent of a Lotto win, between salary, perks and pension.

No thanks

Ahem.....Mary McAleese

Wolfe Tone

PomBear wrote: »

Ahem.....Mary McAleese

They tried this tactic with her, questioning her right to run, it backfired spectacularly.

Auvers

jbkenn wrote: »

Why should I vote for him?, gifting him the equivalent of a Lotto win, between salary, perks and pension.

No thanks

he also holds an Irish passport, therefore he can run for office

Baralis1

jbkenn wrote: »

He does not live here.
He does not work here, (did he ever hold down a job anywhere?)
He does not pay taxes here.
He does not vote here.

Why should I vote for him?, gifting him the equivalent of a Lotto win, between salary, perks and pension.

No thanks

Hear hear, the least you'd expect is that the president of Ireland would have lived in Ireland for a substantial period of time and have contributed to the country. Not to talk of not having led a murderous terrorist campaign. Who'll be the next candidate to announce, Gaddafi? I hear he's between jobs.

Baralis1

PomBear wrote: »

Ahem.....Mary McAleese

Did she not work as a lecturer here? I could be mistaken.