Please don't tick any box for Mary Davis

drunkmonkey

How could any council endorse someone like this, absolute disgrace she's even in the race, it's making a mockery of the whole thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAdlp1Wue-c

Don't tick any box for her, this is a shameful interview for a would be president.

anymore

drunkmonkey wrote: »

How could any council endorse someone like this, absolute disgrace she's even in the race, it's making a mockery of the whole thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAdlp1Wue-c

Don't tick any box for her, this is a shameful interview for a would be president.

Just what is your problem with her ?
She didnt call anyone a w~~ker, didnt call anyone a nazi, didnt decline to answer of the grounds of leagal advice or that the people had moved etc, etc and the questions of the tabloid trash variety !
Hell she even came across as soneone willing to say she didnt know ! And most of all she came across as quite a pleasant woman. I may give her a vote after all.

Pepe LeFrits

Rough transcript? I don't have access to youtube ere.

LLU

anymore wrote: »

Just what is your problem with her ?
She didnt call anyone a w~~ker, didnt call anyone a nazi, didnt decline to answer of the grounds of leagal advice or that the people had moved etc, etc and the questions of the tabloid trash variety !
Hell she even came across as soneone willing to say she didnt know ! And most of all she came across as quite a pleasant woman. I may give her a vote after all.

In fairness, the only time I ever heard Michael D call somebody a w~~nker, it was well deserved!

drunkmonkey

anymore wrote: »

Just what is your problem with her ?
She didnt call anyone a w~~ker, didnt call anyone a nazi, didnt decline to answer of the grounds of leagal advice or that the people had moved etc, etc and the questions of the tabloid trash variety !
Hell she even came across as soneone willing to say she didnt know ! And most of all she came across as quite a pleasant woman. I may give her a vote after all.

So you've seen that interview and think she's presidential material, so much so you may give her a vote, says it all about the Irish electorate if people would be willing to let her represent us on a world stage. How did she not strike you as a clueless idiot with no business in the Aras.

anymore

drunkmonkey wrote: »

So you've seen that interview and think she's presidential material, so much so you may give her a vote, says it all about the Irish electorate if people would be willing to let her represent us on a world stage. How did she not strike you as a clueless idiot with no business in the Aras.

Because I have at least half a brain ?
Just point out the offensive bits would you ? Does not recognising some sports or entertainers make her stupid ? Does being patient with the moronic questions make her unsuitable presidential matierial or is it the fact that she is a woman or straight or what ?
This must just about qualify as the worst election thread posted on Boards.ie

anymore

LLU wrote: »

In fairness, the only time I ever heard Michael D call somebody a w~~nker, it was well deserved!

I am not sure tht it was, but even if it was, we should expect more restraint and dignity from our TDs and ex Ministers. Really it seemed just like the staged threatirics that Higgins likes to indulge in. Maybe he jsut wasnt too convinced of his own arguements.

drunkmonkey

anymore wrote: »

Because I have at least half a brain ?
Just point out the offensive bits would you ? Does not recognising some sports or entertainers make her stupid ? Does being patient with the moronic questions make her unsuitable presidential matierial or is it the fact that she is a woman or straight or what ?
This must just about qualify as the worst election thread posted on Boards.ie

Nothing to do with being straight (sweet jesus where did you pull that one out of), Its nothing go to do with here being a woman (again?).

She's not suitable as she's clueless, Those people she didn't recognize 3 of them were noble peace prize winners and one of them was president of canada. Just for the record some of the other candidates were able to point them out. She even thought the rugby player was from England, she's utterly clueless, absolutely no right to be in the Aras, it's how she even got the backing of councils that worries me.

And lest we forget about the €52 euro stamp.

Wile E. Coyote

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Those people she didn't recognize 3 of them were noble peace prize winners and one of them was president of canada. Just for the record some of the other candidates were able to point them out. She even thought the rugby player was from England, she's utterly clueless, absolutely no right to be in the Aras,

Can't get into You tube here so can you name the people she didn't recognise? In fairness I wouldn't expect the woman to recognise every person who's ever won a peace prize.

And do Canada even have a president?

EDIT: To answer my own question, Canada does not have a president, it has a Prime Minister. No tick on the ballot page for you Mr. Drunkmonkey.

anymore

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Nothing to do with being straight (sweet jesus where did you pull that one out of), Its nothing go to do with here being a woman (again?).

She's not suitable as she's clueless, Those people she didn't recognize 3 of them were noble peace prize winners and one of them was president of canada. Just for the record some of the other candidates were able to point them out. She even thought the rugby player was from England, she's utterly clueless, absolutely no right to be in the Aras, it's how she even got the backing of councils that worries me.

And lest we forget about the €52 euro stamp.

I didnt recognise any of the people and as Wille E says, does Canada have a President ? I thought the Queen of England was thier head of state ?
As for the € 52 euro stamp - please, please please, an error in an interview ??? God lets bring back the death penalty for that sort of thing !

anymore

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Nothing to do with being straight (sweet jesus where did you pull that one out of), Its nothing go to do with here being a woman (again?).

She's not suitable as she's clueless, Those people she didn't recognize 3 of them were noble peace prize winners and one of them was president of canada. Just for the record some of the other candidates were able to point them out. She even thought the rugby player was from England, she's utterly clueless, absolutely no right to be in the Aras, it's how she even got the backing of councils that worries me.

And lest we forget about the €52 euro stamp.[/QUOTE
Executive power
Main article: Queen's Privy Council for Canada

Current prime minister Stephen Harper, Canada's head of government


The government is defined by the constitution as the Queen acting on the advice of her privy council.[1][32][33][34] However, the Privy Council — consisting mostly of former members of parliament, chief justices of the Supreme Court, and other elder statesmen — rarely meets in full; as the stipulations of responsible government require that those who directly advise the monarch and governor general on how to exercise the Royal Prerogative be accountable to the elected House of Commons, the day-to-day operation of government is guided only by a sub-group of the Privy Council made up of individuals who hold seats in parliament.[34] This body of ministers of the Crown is the Cabinet.
One of the main duties of the Crown is to "ensure that a democratically elected government is always in place,"[35] which means appointing a prime minister — presently Stephen Harper — to thereafter head the Cabinet.[36] Per convention, the governor general must appoint as prime minister the person who holds the confidence of the House of Commons; in practice, this is typically the leader of the political party that holds more seats than any other party in that chamber, currently the Conservative Party. Should no party hold a majority in the Commons, the leader of one party — either the one with the most seats or one supported by other parties — will be called by the governor general to form a minority government. Once sworn in by the viceroy, the prime minister holds office until he resigns or is removed by the governor general, after either a motion of non confidence or his party's defeat in a general election.
URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Government_of_Canada&action=edit&section=4"][COLOR=#0645ad]edit[/COLOR][/URL Legislative power

MadsL

President Nelson Mandela...

Oh dear god, does she crack a newspaper?

cardwizzard

Have to say I didn't think it was that bad an interview. OK she said Euro instead of cents, I didn't know the price. Plus all the pics, I hadn't a clue.

Still won't be getting any of my first three preferences, but why is it such a terrible interview?

FloatingVoter

I failed the picture test. And I would have walked over hot coals to see Paul Simon in Vicar St. Was she meant to be a Jedward fan ?
I bought a stamp two weeks ago and can't remember what it cost - the € thing is a slip of the tongue that we all make from time to time.
I've no intention of voting for the lady but the fact she is obviously not a couch potato does her no harm.

anymore

MadsL wrote: »

President Nelson Mandela...

Oh dear god, does she crack a newspaper?

It is customary in the US to refer to former Presidents as ' President .....
It is an honorary title so again no great offence or mistake here.

Mr. Presentable

Why was her mother taking the interview for her?

drunkmonkey

I think there's a few of ye having sympathy that she didn't pass the picture test because you didn't but your not running for president so are not expected to know who is who on the world stage Mary on the other hand is.
Other candidates knew who they were, Mary hadn't the foggiest about any of them. She thinks also thinks Mandela is still president.
I'm sorry but I wouldn't let her manage a donkey derby let alone the Aras.

flutered

if any of you guys were in hr interviewing her a job in an office or a factory floor would you have hired her ?, surely not.

anymore

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I think there's a few of ye having sympathy that she didn't pass the picture test because you didn't but your not running for president so are not expected to know who is who on the world stage Mary on the other hand is.
Other candidates knew who they were, Mary hadn't the foggiest about any of them. She thinks also thinks Mandela is still president.
I'm sorry but I wouldn't let her manage a donkey derby let alone the Aras.

Maybe she doesnt have as much time to sit around reading Hello and OK magaozies as the others and I dont really think she has anything to prove as reagards sports !

MadsL

anymore wrote:

It is customary in the US to refer to former Presidents as ' President .....
It is an honorary title so again no great offence or mistake here.

Fair enough...

Very glib answer though, DN caught the trick nature of the question though, the President has no power to invite anyone.

mikom

anymore wrote: »

Maybe she doesnt have as much time to sit around reading Hello and OK magaozies as the others and I dont really think she has anything to prove as reagards sports !

Quangos keep ya fierce busy so they do.

anymore

MadsL wrote: »

Fair enough...

Very glib answer though, DN caught the trick nature of the question though, the President has no power to invite anyone.

Thank you. Though I have to say I was very surprised that David Norris, after all the support he has got from Boards, including the promotional video, declared has favourite web site is Politics.ie !!!!!!:)

anymore

mikom wrote: »

Quangos keep ya fierce busy so they do.

Yes at least Michael Higgins as a man retired for a fe:Dw years has had the leisure to keep up with the tabloids !

whippet

the fact that Mary Davis can't identify some shagging pop diva (i presume) would be very far down the list of reasons I wouldn't vote for her.

And her current position in the opinion polls reflects my opinion of her .... she is a non-event at this stage.

dammitjanet

Favourite answer to a question yet in this election

Q "what is your favourite non-news website?"

A " Well I'd pop into most websites you know over a period of time- music websites, general, anything really. I'm a regular user of websites just to get information."


I'm not a fan of Davis mostly because she has yet to win me over and it's getting a bit late in the day. Nothing she says ever stands out for me. Maybe she'll be great on the debate tonight? I'll certainly keep my mind open.
As for that interview, it was awful. That website answer still has me laughing. But I looked at a few of the others and none of them really did very well imo (but hers seemed by far the worst)

Ald

Who cares if she doesn't pass a general knowledge test on the hop... Most of us wouldn't, let's face it... She's a decent enough person from what I can make of her.

What concerns me more is the fact Seán Gallagher is the only one that has no legal knowledge or experience out of the 7. He's been neither a practising politican or lawyer/solictor.

McGuinness - Co. First Minister, N. of I.
Higgins - Dáil
Norris - Senator
Davis - Council of State
Mitchell - Dáil/Mayor/MEP
Dana - MEP

Gallagher - ?!?!?! NO legistative experience!

dammitjanet

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I think there's a few of ye having sympathy that she didn't pass the picture test because you didn't but your not running for president so are not expected to know who is who on the world stage Mary on the other hand is.
Other candidates knew who they were, Mary hadn't the foggiest about any of them. She thinks also thinks Mandela is still president.
I'm sorry but I wouldn't let her manage a donkey derby let alone the Aras.

No defending an awful interview but the other candidates weren't that much better
Gallagher- picture question not shown
Norris- 1/4
Davis- 0/4
Higgins- 1/4
McGuinness- 3/4
Mitchell- 1/4

drunkmonkey

dammitjanet wrote: »

No defending an awful interview but the other candidates weren't that much better
Gallagher- picture question not shown
Norris- 1/4
Davis- 0/4
Higgins- 1/4
McGuinness- 3/4
Mitchell- 1/4

Why were they not shown to Gallagher, that was the west brits at it again. Deciding for the Irish Republic who should be president. Mc Guinness seemed the most competent out of them all going by those interviews. Dana done better than Mary and she didn't even show up.

Venom

dammitjanet wrote: »

Favourite answer to a question yet in this election

Q "what is your favourite non-news website?"

A " Well I'd pop into most websites you know over a period of time- music websites, general, anything really. I'm a regular user of websites just to get information."


I'm not a fan of Davis mostly because she has yet to win me over and it's getting a bit late in the day. Nothing she says ever stands out for me. Maybe she'll be great on the debate tonight? I'll certainly keep my mind open.
As for that interview, it was awful. That website answer still has me laughing. But I looked at a few of the others and none of them really did very well imo (but hers seemed by far the worst)

Her answer to that question was pretty weird all right. Has she no understanding of what the internet is?

anymore

Ald wrote: »

Who cares if she doesn't pass a general knowledge test on the hop... Most of us wouldn't, let's face it... She's a decent enough person from what I can make of her.

What concerns me more is the fact Seán Gallagher is the only one that has no legal knowledge or experience out of the 7. He's been neither a practising politican or lawyer/solictor.

McGuinness - Co. First Minister, N. of I.
Higgins - Dáil
Norris - Senator
Davis - Council of State
Mitchell - Dáil/Mayor/MEP
Dana - MEP

Gallagher - ?!?!?! NO legistative experience!

That in itself is not necessarily a bod thing - after all our last two Ministers for Finance have not been Accountants !
There are plenty of advisers.

phog

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Don't tick any box for her, this is a shameful interview for a would be president.

I will probably give 6 votes on Thursday, at this moment in time M MG will be the only candidate that will not get a vote from me.

drunkmonkey

phog wrote: »

I will probably give 6 votes on Thursday, at this moment in time M MG will be the only candidate that will not get a vote from me.

I think i'm going to vote for them all now even Mary, she's held it together the last few days.

nesf

dammitjanet wrote: »

Favourite answer to a question yet in this election

Q "what is your favourite non-news website?"

A " Well I'd pop into most websites you know over a period of time- music websites, general, anything really. I'm a regular user of websites just to get information."

I hear the internet involves a series of tubes...

FreudianSlippers

nesf wrote: »

I hear the internet involves a series of tubes...

Well it's obviously not something that you just dump something on. It's not a big truck.

Patser

I think I'll be giving her my number 1 vote, and I'm fully aware on all the polls on boards.ie, I've probably been the only 1 to click on her.

However IMO for however bland people feel she may have been, I'd say it's more a case of the media having very little real controversy on her. While MMcG, Gallagher and Norris have been hogging all the real sensational headlines and garnering attention from it, Mary Davis' only real headline was the Indo's 'FF Quango' one. Which when you read into the story was such a convulated attept to tarnish her image - which unfortunately worked for many. Was she affiliated on any way with FF - No - but she did serve on some boards over a decade long period, many of which she earned no fees for. But stick FF in a title and it sticks.

Boards of directors is how most organisations on this country have worked and being placed on them is supposed to be recognition for your talent, not something to be lasily condemned as a scam. In the mean time her efforts in organising and running the Special Olympics in Ireland has been downplayed be everyone as though it was just some small thing. I drive for a living and around the country you'll still see the 'Host Town' signs up on entry to many villages. It was a big undertaking and rightly garnered Ireland a lot of respect.

Ask yourselves this, when this election is over, what tagline would you like to see on foreign Newspapers reporting on the result. 'Ireland elected a - TV personality off Ireland's version of Dragon's Den - A former Terrorist - A Senator who's campaign was mired in controversy - A Eurovision Winner - 1 of 2 Career Politicians - because that's what the taglines will be reduced down to abroad. Or would you prefer Organiser of Ireland's hosting of the Special Olympics.

The President is about someone to represent the country, with very limited realistic power included. As such it should be some-one that'll do the job with the minimum of fuss and controversy - especially when travelling abroad. And I know it's not meant to be considered but you do want a President that'll look good in photos, look dignified.

So while Mary can be a bit bland, at least she's likely to be the one to attract the least negative headlines if in office, while fulfilling what is in a lot of ways of fairly bland role. I mean Mary McAleese is seen as a huge success but she hasn't exactly been a flamboyant, exciting President.

MadsL

You'd trust Mary Davis to protect the Constitution? Give me a break, she barely knows what the internet is...she's way out of her depth.

jimmymal

OP is clearly bored and looking to pick at something not really worth picking at. I thought there was going to be a genuine complaint about something tangible. The amusement of other posts made the read worthwhile. A.B.G and dana of course.

Carlos Orange

anymore wrote: »

That in itself is not necessarily a bod thing - after all our last two Ministers for Finance have not been Accountants !
There are plenty of advisers.

And that worked out fine didn't it.

Fr Tod Umptious

I have not read the whole thread so my apologies if this point has been made before

OP - we do not 'tick boxes' in elections for office in this country, we give a numerical preference.
We tick boxes in election like referenda for example.

I will not be giving a numerical preference to Mary Davis, but it is not beacuse she cannot identify the PM of Canada in a line up, it will be for other reasons.

Downlinz

It may sound trivial to some but it concerns me that virtually all our candidates can't do something as simple as name a website they frequent, identify important players of our national rugby team like SOB (who they would have to meet and greet as part of the job) or even know stamp prices or what Rihanna looks like. Just makes them seem like relics completely foreign to popular culture.

I know none of those things in isolation are important but when a candidate shows themselves to be so detached from the public I wonder if that'd translate to feelings on more important matters. To be fair to Mary Davis its not just here, MDH and Mitchell were equally detached in their interviews with journal.ie, although at least MDH has an excuse for his generation difference.

anymore

Downlinz wrote: »

It may sound trivial to some but it concerns me that virtually all our candidates can't do something as simple as name a website they frequent, identify important players of our national rugby team like SOB (who they would have to meet and greet as part of the job) or even know stamp prices or what Rihanna looks like. Just makes them seem like relics completely foreign to popular culture.

I know none of those things in isolation are important but when a candidate shows themselves to be so detached from the public I wonder if that'd translate to feelings on more important matters. To be fair to Mary Davis its not just here, MDH and Mitchell were equally detached in their interviews with journal.ie, although at least MDH has an excuse for his generation difference.

I can tell you exactly what a pack of Barry's teas cost, what tesco frozen haddaock costs, how much I paid for the last 10Kg bag of spuds I bought, and what my local garage is charging for a lire of petrol. I cannot ell you how much a pint of milk costs - I dont buy pints of milk. So does that mean I have too much money to be worrying about the price of milk ? No I just dont buy pints of milk.
I have spent umpteen hours standing on the sidelines of rugby pitches, in all weathers in the last few years and many hours at training grounds and driving kids to matches, soccer and rugby. I couldnt identify the pictures of those rugby players either. So what does that say ? Does it mean I dont care about sports or that it means I am out of touch ? No, I suggest it just means I am willing to invest my time supporting kids who do play rugby and soccer and I am not just a sunshine follower.

leincar

I'm just back from New Zealand where I was working for a few weeks. I have a postal vote and have already voted and I have to say I gave Mary Davis my number 1(followed by Norris and Higgins). I first mentioned Mary Davis in the following thread back in January 2010.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055800198&page=2

I really feel that Davis has had a terrible and undeserved press and got caught in the crossfire that is the boardroom battle within the Independent. Mary Davis has had a close association with Denis O'Brien. That in itself is not a crime, it is, if Denis O'Brien is on the other side of the table facing Tony O'Reilly and his son.

With that Davis finds herself gutted by Aenghus Fanning and Shane Ross in the Independent, and Ross probably landed the killer blow by anointing her the 'Quango Queen'. I find that quite unfair coming from a man who spent thirty years in probably the greatest talking shop of them all in the Senate.

I have met Mary Davis on quite a few occassions over the last 15 years and have to say have found her hugely impressive in her roles with Special Olympics. I can't say anything about her role on the Council of State, but President McAleese must have seen something to appoint her. She has as people have pointed out served on 3 Quangos. I wouldn't refuse a role on a Quango if asked, how many people in all honesty would.

Mary Davis is like the vast majority of us. She is not perfect. Mary Davis is like the majority of us. She is not a professional politician. I think she deserves credit for putting her head above the parapet, and taking all the crap she has had to put up with(in fairness that goes for all of them, obviously not McGuinness).

Anyway for what its worth don't write her off without seeing through the fog of an election campaign. It will probably make no difference but thats my tuppence worth.

Oh, also for what its worth, I met President Mandela 2 years ago. He is still known as Mr President and is addressed as His Excellency.

acer1000

anymore wrote: »

I have spent umpteen hours standing on the sidelines of rugby pitches, in all weathers in the last few years and many hours at training grounds and driving kids to matches, soccer and rugby. I couldnt identify the pictures of those rugby players either. .

Be careful with that rugby anymore, many people say that it’s just homosexual horseplay.:D

Patser

By the way, just back to the OP, when Martin McG was interviewed by Ray D'Arcy, at the end of the interview he was asked 3 straight questions: How many TDs in the Dail? Who's the Minister for the Environment? And who won the Hurling All Ireland? He got Kilkenny right, hadn't a breeze to Phil Hogan and he was guessing on the number of TDs which he got wrong (said 168 instead of 166).

So if Mary Davis is a no-no for not recognising pictures of a few sports stars, how about some-one that doesn't know key faces and facts of the Dail.

Edit:

That interview is available on Today FM podcast and the questions are literally in the last minute of it.

wow sierra

4 pictures

Rihanna - seriously who cares - if she hadn't upset that man in the north I wouldn't have known her
Peace prize women - yes she should have got that
Prime minister/president of Canada- I hadn't a clue - I couldn't (actually still can't) tell you his name never mind recognise him and I reckon most well informed Irish people are the same.
The rugby player - did someone say it was Sean O'Brien? I didn't recognise him. I wouldn't be a huge Rugby fan but I wouldn't have thought it was all that easy. But I am more into Soccer and GAA. Did she say "is it one of the Bests"? Rory wouldn't be a huge stretch. Where did people get that she thought he was English??

As regards the 52 euro stamp - clearly a slip of the tongue and the websites answer. Is it semantics people are worried about here? I am confused. She said she pops into or uses many websites for information - perfectly reasonable answer. Not sure what the issue is - is it because she didn't say browse or WTF?? Using superlatives like FAVOURITE and BEST is silly and childish. I would be hard pressed to tell you my favourite Band, writer, TV programme etc. And she did mention music rather than sitting on the fence.

wow sierra

As regards the last gig you were at Sean Gallaher said he was at Michael Bouble in " that stadium in Donnybrook" eventually he remembered it was the Aviva. Check the videoSo I imagine he wouldn't recognise Brian O'Driscoll or Roy Keane never mind Sean O'Brien. I assume he must never have set foot in Lansdowne Rd or know where it actually is. And why didn't he have to answer the picture round - did he spin/squirm his way out of that too.

God I am going to miss being such a nerd for all this and having to go back to the real world next week.:rolleyes:

Fitzerb

Good Lord, the level of intelligence to start such a post is a little scary.

I am now going to give her a preference.... She is ok , not good enough for the job and we need a change from a female president anyway. But considering the work she done on the SO.. I would like to see her getting her election expenses.