Presidential elections

SC024

Hi,


Just wondering does anyone else agree that the presiential elections have turned into nothing other than a turkey shoot? All we're missing in it now is Jedward ? comments / opinions etc etc welcome

Fr Tod Umptious

SC024 wrote: »

Hi,


Just wondering does anyone else agree that the presiential elections have turned into nothing other than a turkey shoot? All we're missing in it now is Jedward ? comments / opinions etc etc welcome

Well it's an odd kind of office.

The candidates cannot tell us what policy they will introduce because they cannot introduce policy so it becomes a personality contest, and gets very ugly.

mcwhirter

Agree, I find some of the candidates embarassing, Norris and Dana in particular. If either became president Ireland would be more of a laughing stock then usual.

I can't vote so what the heck.

dvpower

I have to admit I'm enjoying it as a spectator sport. Also the whole Norris thing has raised serious questions about the nominations process and MMGs entry has raised questions about where we stand in relation to ex terrorists.

Whoever gets it, I hope it'll be a single term and we'll have a better idea about what we want from a President next time 'round.

Trampas

maybe one of them might do it for free and/or no pension at the end

Red Right Hand

Trampas wrote: »

maybe one of them might do it for free and/or no pension at the end

That's like an invitation to Michael O Leary. :eek:

One of the few people who could afford to do it for free.

thebman

I think the position is showing itself to attract the wrong kind of people that we want to represent us TBH precisely because it offers very little power or ability to change anything.

I think it should probably have more power so people would take it more seriously.

RichardAnd

OP, I couldn't agree more. At this point, I would be happy to see the whole thing called of and a suitably dignified and presentable president be chosen by the dail.

Many countries do not get the chance to choose their head of state, why can Ireland not approach such a boon in a mature manner?

caseyann

RichardAnd wrote: »

OP, I couldn't agree more. At this point, I would be happy to see the whole thing called of and a suitably dignified and presentable president be chosen by the dail.

Many countries do not get the chance to choose their head of state, why can Ireland not approach such a boon in a mature manner?

Are you serious another someone in pocket of gael and labs and nothing more then a lap dog?

Ah yeah take that away from Irish aswell.:rolleyes:

RichardAnd

caseyann wrote: »

Are you serious another someone in pocket of gael and labs and nothing more then a lap dog?

Ah yeah take that away from Irish aswell.:rolleyes:

Five out of eight presidents of Ireland were nominated by FF. Two of the remaining three were elected by an agreement of the house and Mary Robinson, by independents in addition to labour. What exactly you mean by "another someone in pocket of gael and labs" escapes me in light of that.

mikemac

These are especially nasty

And whoever has the least dirt in their past can win
Ok, that's a simple way to put it but it comes down to personality. Sure Brian Lenihan had it won until he didn't.

A109Power

Use your vote wisely folks!!

anymore

SC024 wrote: »

Hi,


Just wondering does anyone else agree that the presiential elections have turned into nothing other than a turkey shoot? All we're missing in it now is Jedward ? comments / opinions etc etc welcome

I thinkt it has becoem the political equivlent of the X factor. However maybe it is what we deserve.

anymore

caseyann wrote: »

Are you serious another someone in pocket of gael and labs and nothing more then a lap dog?

Ah yeah take that away from Irish aswell.:rolleyes:

But the presidency itself has something of the nature of the lap dog about it ! The Presidency is the most restricted political job in the State with the incumbent being able to act on many matters only on the ' advice' of the Government/taoiseach. I wonder how may of the people who are up in arms about how undemocratic our Presidential system is have the remotest idea of the powers and responsibilities of the office ?

thebman

anymore wrote: »

But the presidency itself has something of the nature of the lap dog about it ! The Presidency is the most restricted political job in the State with the incumbent being able to act on many matters only on the ' advice' of the Government/taoiseach. I wonder how may of the people who are up in arms about how undemocratic our Presidential system is have the remotest idea of the powers and responsibilities of the office ?

It is kind of irrelevant whether they do or not if discussing the point of it being undemocratic. If the majority of people want to do away with nominations and vote directly they should be allowed or do you disagree with that?

Is mise le key

dvpower wrote: »

and MMGs entry has raised questions about where we stand in relation to ex terrorists.

.

I havnt heard anything out of Rabbitte, De Rossa or Gilmore about MMG enrty into the race, anyone heard what they have to say, would be very interesting to say the least.

anymore

thebman wrote: »

It is kind of irrelevant whether they do or not if discussing the point of it being undemocratic. If the majority of people want to do away with nominations and vote directly they should be allowed or do you disagree with that?

If they are willing to change the constitution in order to do so, then fine. If they, and lets be honest, they ' they' seems to be the creation of the Sindo', simply want to do so to accomodate Mr Norris, then they have left it rather late in the day !:)
The majority of people I know want to greatly reduce the salary of the president, yet this democratic demand is not being relfected by any of the candidates other than martin McGuinness ! So where is the concern for democracy here ? Where the hell is it ????

The real point here is that public opinion is beng manipulated on a grand scale by a fairly small aggressive unrepresntative group.
These Presidential elections are probably going to be one of the most ' undemocratic' Presidential elections we have had.

thebman

anymore wrote: »

If they are willing to change the constitution in order to do so, then fine. If they, and lets be honest, they ' they' seems to be the creation of the Sindo', simply want to do so to accomodate Mr Norris, then they have left it rather late in the day !:)

Well one point that is probably being ignored in this election is that many were ineligible to vote in the last presidential election given the last election was 14 years ago since McAlease was automatically returned last time so there is a significant percentage of the population only fully running through a presidential election process for the first time now.

Kind of the consequence of automatically returning the incumbent without election last time. I also think that is somewhat playing into the disrespect for the office that some have wanting celebrity candidates for the post as I think it probably reduced the seriousness that the office is viewed with for a lot of younger voters.

The majority of people I know want to greatly reduce the salary of the president, yet this democratic demand is not being relfected by any of the candidates other than martin McGuinness ! So where is the concern for democracy here ? Where the hell is it ????

The real point here is that public opinion is beng manipulated on a grand scale by a fairly small aggressive unrepresntative group.
These Presidential elections are probably going to be one of the most ' undemocratic' Presidential elections we have had.

What group is that?

DreadedJudge

since the presidency has no power and has no policy changing abilities, why do politicians even stand for this office?

anymore

DreadedJudge wrote: »

since the presidency has no power and has no policy changing abilities, why do politicians even stand for this office?

Vanity plus € 250,00o plus pension plus mansion plus car and chauffer plus free travel all over the world plus team of flunkeys to do your bidding plus free entry and fitst class seats at every event you want to see etc,etc...

thebman

I imagine the main reason is prestige and it is still seen as a political trophy.

DreadedJudge

Neither of the last 2 Presidents have been "politicians" so do professional politicians have a chance to be elected?

SC024

I think its laughable at this stage, The position is absolutely & utterly pointless. The post has no teeth/ powers & is entirely ceremonial as far as I am aware. A victory lap for politicians / people whop like to be in the public eye and an opportunity to collect a very nice pension to finish your career

I believe it should be done away with entirely & the position subsumed into Enda Kennys duties. Anything important ie meeting the Queen or Barack Obama The Taoiseach of the day was there anyway.

The only time we ever hear or read about the current president is when she is off visiting some far flung country for some reason or another. With the current financial insolvency of the state we need to cut our cloth according to measure & get rid of quangos & offices that belong in a different era.

Even the Irish media are laughable. with all the **** going on with the euro debt crisis & other important things around the world there providing more coverage to the 3 ring circus. why ?

What do people think?

Sco024

thebigcheese22

DreadedJudge wrote: »

Neither of the last 2 Presidents have been "politicians" so do professional politicians have a chance to be elected?

Mary Robinson was a senator and Mary McAleese was a Fianna Fail candidate for a general election. I think they count as politicians...

Is mise le key

True the president does not hold much power, but could be a clincher for a party with a slim majority or no majority, also all bills coming from the house can be scrutinised for there constitutionality by the president before being passed into law,

"There are some specific instances where the President has an absolute discretion, such as in referring a Bill to the Supreme Court for a judgment on its constitutionality or in refusing to dissolve Dáil Éireann (lower house of parliament) on the advice of a Taoiseach (Prime Minister) who has ceased to retain a majority. Additional functions can be conferred on the President by law. A special (Presidential) Commission acts whenever the President is absent.

Bills enacted by Houses of the Oireachtas are signed into law by the President. A Bill must be signed on the 5th, 6th or 7th day after it is presented to the President, but there are some situations when the President may sign a Bill earlier."

The new president may find the bills passed for exploration rights for gas & oil & the tax rates applied unconstitutional, from our constitution,

“All natural resources, including
the air and all forms of potential
energy, within the jurisdiction of
the Parliament and Government
established by this Constitution
and all royalties and franchises
within that jurisdiction belong to

the State”

Fr Tod Umptious

I heard a debate between Charlie Flanagan and Pearse Doherty on Morning Ireland this morning.

Doherty claimed that McGuinness would be in the board rooms of multi-nationals in the US looking for their investment, as he as done as part of his job in NI.

I'm not sure that that is what the President does, I though the minster for Trade/Enterprise/whatever did all that.

Maybe SF are still struggling with what the office of President entails .