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Presidential election 2011 (or any year). Does it matter?

  • 04-10-2011 7:12pm
    #1
    lugha
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,235 ✭✭✭


    In truth, isn’t the presidential election hardly worth getting exercised about? Surely all this intense interest is nothing more than a manifestation of the trait often associated with us that we would take a keen interest in two flies going up a wall, just for the competitive aspect?

    Some are saying that the debate should move away from the negativity and mudslinging and discuss the issues that matter. Well what issues are there that matter, and upon which a president can have any real impact? It is a ceremonial role, there are no issues.

    Unless you feel a candidate is unfit to hold the post, for whatever reason, it matters little who we opt for. Arguably who we appoint as manager of the national soccer or rugby team, potentially has more influence on enhancing (or diminishing!) the public mood than the president might ever have.

    Sure, it has entertainment value. And there will be a political dividend for some party if their man does well, or wins. But it really is not very important at all, it is?


Comments

  • #2
    barney4001
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,447 ✭✭✭barney4001


    the candidates have already cost the irish tax payer 10 million euro because they all would not use the same postal service for thier election mail this was discussed on rte,s liveline with Joe Duffy this week
    is someone getting a backhander out of this decision not to use the same postal service:mad:


  • #3
    Cynical Apathy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 49 ✭Cynical Apathy


    lugha wrote: »
    In truth, isn’t the presidential election hardly worth getting exercised about? Surely all this intense interest is nothing more than a manifestation of the trait often associated with us that we would take a keen interest in two flies going up a wall, just for the competitive aspect?

    Some are saying that the debate should move away from the negativity and mudslinging and discuss the issues that matter. Well what issues are there that matter, and upon which a president can have any real impact? It is a ceremonial role, there are no issues.

    Unless you feel a candidate is unfit to hold the post, for whatever reason, it matters little who we opt for. Arguably who we appoint as manager of the national soccer or rugby team, potentially has more influence on enhancing (or diminishing!) the public mood than the president might ever have.

    Sure, it has entertainment value. And there will be a political dividend for some party if their man does well, or wins. But it really is not very important at all, it is?
    Nice post, I do agree on most of what you say. Sinn Fein have most to gain if M.MG gets elected or even comes second. It would be a big climb up the ladder and I think I'll go with him if only to stick two fingers up at the government.

    If it was a position of genuine power I'd go with Higgins who is probably a sure bet anyway. It is entertaining though, and I enjoyed Vincent Browne ripping through their fake smiles and rhetoric. Mary Davis led us to believe she was doing 'charitable' work for the special olympics until VB asked her about the 150 grand a year she got for doing it...classic, lol. Gallagher, a lifelong member of FF couldn't hide from his affiliation with them which leads one to wonder if they helped him on the road to become an 'entrepreneur'?

    And Norris, who was preparing to avoid all the questions about the letters by insisting, upon legal advise, it would be illegal to discuss it, was asked a very simple question... "Who gave you the legal advice?" Ha ha, brilliant!!

    I do agree, pointless position but very entertaining


  • #4
    pubview
    Closed Accounts Posts: 106 ✭✭pubview


    It's good craic and livens up the Autumn evenings when the dark nights are drawing in.

    But it hasn't really - I mean, really - caught the public's imagination and without MMG's entry we'd only have Diddy David Norris to entertain us.

    All that needs to be said has been said over and over and over before about the presidency, the limitations on, and of, the office and the ridiculous claims and aspirations of some candidates thereto.

    There is so little originality we even had 2 candidates fighting over the one slogan. And we have Mr McGuinness even recycling one from 1990 !

    http://irishelectionliterature.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/lenny90.jpg


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