Did You ever vote Fianna Fail?

lividduck

Ok, I voted FF in 1997 and 2002, Guilty as charged.
But who else will admit to it?

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This thread has been moved from After Hours to Politics. Please be aware that posting norms are different, and abusive language towards party supporters, the use of 'scumbags', 'cnuts', etc is not tolerated. And as with all forums on boards, personal abuse warrants immediate infraction.

Freddie59

lividduck wrote: »

Ok, I voted FF in 1997 and 2002, Guilty as charged.
But who else will admit to it?

Same here. Never, ever, again.

HalloweenJack

Never have and never will.

2007 was my first election, though, so I missed out on FF capitalising on the boom in their electioneering.

MrJoeSoap

Nope. My conscience is clear.

Freddie59

lividduck wrote: »

Ok, I voted FF in 1997 and 2002, Guilty as charged.
But who else will admit to it?

There will be many posting here who have, but who won't have the balls to admit it. And then there will be the smuggies.......

lividduck

Freddie59 wrote: »

There will be many posting here who have, but who won't have the balls to admit it. And then there will be the smuggies.......

Yup, I know.
That said I fell for the whole Bertie thing for a while, feel like a right cnut now!

Ghost Buster

Im a smuggie!!. I could first vote in 1988. I had witnessed the swagger of P Flynn riding into my home town waving out the sun roof of his ministerial Merc with the evil pixie Haughey waving out the window and it just struck me as nasty. My family were piss poor and this guy had a free Merc.
My conscience is clear:cool:

professore

Maybe FF supporters don't use boards?

Also lots of people don't vote at all, there should be an option for them.

I never did, but only because I knew FF were crooks and destroying the country.

I didn't know if the other lot were going to be any better but thought they at least should have a chance. For the record I voted Green at one point, boy do I regret that ...

And Micheál Martin going on about Bertie and how it didn't represent the FF he knew, oh pleeeeease! It's been going on for decades now.

tfitzgerald

I was , and I still am a member of the party . We will be back !

professore

lividduck wrote: »

Yup, I know.
That said I fell for the whole Bertie thing for a while, feel like a right cnut now!

You know what - you give us some hope for the future. It's the ones who voted FF all along and won't admit it - and probably will again come the next election now that it's "cleaned up" LOL - are the problem.

Ghost Buster

tfitzgerald wrote: »

I was , and I still am a member of the party . We will be back !

Course you will. How else will you survive without a population to rip off.

professore

tfitzgerald wrote: »

I was , and I still am a member of the party . We will be back !

What's this? an honest FF supporter. Fair play to you. At least you have loyalty.

jonski

Started voting in '84 and yes I voted for them back in a time when I felt that the country needed a strong government and not a fall apart every two years coalition . It's grand to look back now and say we were wrong for voting them in and that such and such would never have let this happen but we don't know that ....it's quiet possible that whoever was in there would have done pretty much the same thing . I don't beat myself up over it .

Ledger

2007 was my first election. I voted for a FF guy in my town (Sean Connick), it was the first time in a long time that someone from town ran for election (and won).

He is also not the typical archaic FF type, as in he's actually a nice guy and doe good for the area, it wasn't just for show like a lot of them.



But other than that I will never vote for them again.

Gary ITR

I did when I was younger. If I'm honest I don't know if the opposition at the time would have behaved any differently. Back during the late 90's and early 00's I believe we actually had the best of a bad lot.

Berties nickname at the time was 'Teflon Taoiseach' because nothing stuck to him, how that's changed

RayM

tfitzgerald wrote: »

I was , and I still am a member of the party . We will be back !

Have you ever felt tempted to cast that bizarre loyalty aside, on the grounds that they wrecked the economy in the pursuit of short-term electoral gain and were absolutely up to their necks in corruption?

Caraville

I genuinely can't remember. Purely because I don't vote for someone because of their party, but because of whether I think as an individual they deserve my vote. Support of parties as a whole is part of the reason we're in the mess we're in.

So quite possibly yes, I may have voted Fianna Fail. Would I vote again? Even though I said I vote for the individual, I just think Fianna Fail have done so much damage to this country that I would question any individual who would remain loyal to that party. But then again, the only way they could improve things in the party is from the inside. I still don't think I could vote for them anymore though, they've caused too much hurt and pain.

zeusnero

Never have, never will (excluding scenarios where desperate FF drones place a gun to my head - I'd still like to think at that point I still wouldn't give them my vote )

bad2dabone

nope, never voted for them, never will. I'm fairly proud of that!

Gary ITR

bad2dabone wrote: »

nope, never voted for them, never will. I'm fairly proud of that!

Voting or not voting FF is not really something to be proud or ashamed of. Voters made a decision based on the facts available to them at the time

The current lot are hiding in the background too, all I've heard from them since they've taken office is how bad the last crowd were. I hadn't heard any interviews or commentary from Enda Kenny in weeks, yet the moment the Mahon findings were released he was all over the place, all he's doing at the moment is trying to bury FF, this should not be his focus at all. I know it's an old cliché but they are all the bloody same. Had Kenny been in Bertie's position would he have acted differently? I don't think so

lugha

For me the real dividend in the demise of FF is that it will bring to an end a tolerance of low standards and corruption. Not corruption itself mind, that can and will arise in any political party, FF were different in the past by virtue of being more tolerant of it.

This crucify Bertie the crook crusade is certainly amusing but leaving aside the fact that as levels of corruption go, he was in the hapenny place, this delusion that any government who by accident or design, found themselves where FF were during the “boom” with untold revenues to perpetuate their time in power, would have acted differently is not very healthy. If we believe that the problem was because of corruption (it wasn’t!) and not because of a mismanaged boom, then we are likely to repeat our mistakes in the future.

It is a great failing of parliamentary democracy that there is little incentive for a government to pursue sensible policy if the dividend will not be in the life of the government and conversely, little disincentive to avoid disastrous ones, as long as the consequence are far enough into the future.

Freddie59

Gary ITR wrote: »

Voting or not voting FF is not really something to be proud or ashamed of. Voters made a decision based on the facts available to them at the time

The current lot are hiding in the background too, all I've heard from them since they've taken office is how bad the last crowd were. I hadn't heard any interviews or commentary from Enda Kenny in weeks, yet the moment the Mahon findings were released he was all over the place, all he's doing at the moment is trying to bury FF, this should not be his focus at all. I know it's an old cliché but they are all the bloody same. Had Kenny been in Bertie's position would he have acted differently? I don't think so

True. They seem to wheel out Happy Gilmore on occasion. This week it was to lecture people on the dangers of not paying the household charge.

Freddie59

lugha wrote: »

For me the real dividend in the demise of FF is that it will bring to an end a tolerance of low standards and corruption.

Not a chance. Ever. Look at the current mob. Full of promises about abolishing the gravy trains that are the Seanad and unvouched expenses (which to me are in themselves the highest form of corruption).

And then look at what their "entitlements" are. It would make you sick to the stomach:

http://namawinelake.wordpress.com/2012/02/18/how-much-do-irish-politicians-get-paid-part-1-of-2/

bad2dabone

Gary ITR wrote: »

I know it's an old cliché but they are all the bloody same.

oh i agree, but FF have been so obviously rotten for years it always stunned me how many people voted for them.

tfitzgerald

RayM wrote: »

Have you ever felt tempted to cast that bizarre loyalty aside, on the grounds that they wrecked the economy in the pursuit of short-term electoral gain and were absolutely up to their necks in corruption?

Yes of course I have . But I really can't see the difference in the crowd we have today, maybe not as crooked but I don't think they are pure saints either

Super-Rush

Moved from After Hours.

hairyprincess

jonski wrote: »

Started voting in '84 and yes I voted for them back in a time when I felt that the country needed a strong government.......... I don't beat myself up over it .

You won't mind if I do it for you then will you?

lugha

Freddie59 wrote: »

Not a chance. Ever. Look at the current mob. Full of promises about abolishing the gravy trains that are the Seanad and unvouched expenses (which to me are in themselves the highest form of corruption).

And then look at what their "entitlements" are. It would make you sick to the stomach:

http://namawinelake.wordpress.com/2012/02/18/how-much-do-irish-politicians-get-paid-part-1-of-2/

I suppose it depends on how wide your definition of corruption is. Extravagance by public figures with tax payers money, may be unpalatable but I don’t count is as corruption. Corruption for me is where financial or other inducements are used to influence legislation.

FG, IMO have shown themselves more willing to deal with members whose conduct has been unbecoming. Contrast how the dealt with Lowry as compared to how FF dealt with (or didn’t!) with Flynn (the younger!), Lawlor, Burke, etc.

Mint Sauce

Possibly did in the early noughties, but to be fair, had only recently moved in and was first vote in an Irish Election and didn't really know much difference in the parties or the voting system. This time around, didn't even get a preference.

stovelid

Never did; never will.

Have been able to vote since 1989.

The only vote I have ever given that I regret is a preference for Sinn Fein once or twice.

raymon

No . Never . I make a point of not voting for liars, tax evaders, corrupt politicians, thieves, forgers, misrepresenters, or traitors.

Thus I have not had a chance to ever vote FF

AudreyHepburn

I'm ashamed to admit that I did......never again.

I see the majority are saying they didn't.......hardly surprising but galling. It's time for people to stop pretending and own up to their mistakes.

They got into government because the majority voted them in.....so most or all of those saying they didn't vote FF either have poor memories or are lying.

bad2dabone

I get what you're saying Audrey, I remember having a meal before the 2007 election with 2 friends of my brothers who were staunch FFers and thought I was mad for voting against them. Jump to after the collapse of the economy and one guy in particular states he was never a FF voter/supporter....funnily enough typical liar FF behaviour!

Toby Take a Bow

Never have, and can't see myself ever doing so in the future (I guess it depends on how the party changes and who's a member of the party, but that would have to be many, many years in the future. I'd say I'll be long dead by the time that comes around). I might have put them on the bottom of my list back when I did that (probably around 1997 or whenever the election was around then), not sure if that counts as giving them a vote.

I'd love to hear some of the people who voted for FF elaborating a bit on why they gave them the vote, especially those who voted for them in the last election. Just out of curiosity, rather than a witch-hunt.

lividduck

Toby Take a Bow wrote: »

Never have, and can't see myself ever doing so in the future (I guess it depends on how the party changes and who's a member of the party, but that would have to be many, many years in the future. I'd say I'll be long dead by the time that comes around). I might have put them on the bottom of my list back when I did that (probably around 1997 or whenever the election was around then), not sure if that counts as giving them a vote.

I'd love to hear some of the people who voted for FF elaborating a bit on why they gave them the vote, especially those who voted for them in the last election. Just out of curiosity, rather than a witch-hunt.

In 2002 I voted for them because of the Peace Process and also because FG the main opposition party was promising lunatic things like:
Compensating Taxi drivers for the loss of a monopoly they had abused for decades.
Promising to compensate gamblers for their losses on Eircom shares.
You see in 2002 there was no real other choice.

lugha

Toby Take a Bow wrote: »

I'd love to hear some of the people who voted for FF elaborating a bit on why they gave them the vote, especially those who voted for them in the last election. Just out of curiosity, rather than a witch-hunt.

I would have thought it rather obvious. That was before the economic crash, or more importantly, the impact of it.

Why on earth would the party of government be punished if the economy was sound (or perceived to be!). When does that ever happen?

palmcut

On several occasions in our short history over 40% of those eligible to vote did so for FF.

FF always had the hint of short cornerism and we all knew it. From the dollars collected by the long fellow, TACA, CJH and so on.

Despite knowing this we voted them into Government several times.

The way this type of corruption prospered needed the help and agreement of the civil service.

The political structure and our civil service structure need to change.
No sign yet.

Knight who says Meh

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

I'm ashamed to admit that I did......never again.

I see the majority are saying they didn't.......hardly surprising but galling. It's time for people to stop pretending and own up to their mistakes.

They got into government because the majority voted them in.....so most or all of those saying they didn't vote FF either have poor memories or are lying.

Oh look. the usual high horsed catch all telling off from Audrey which she will start backing down from with the highest level of denial and indignance. Fianna Fail rarely got an over all majority so its safe to say that a huge percentage on boards have not voted for them. I have not so please reign in your wagging finger and dont question my memory or accuse me of lying or do so to others on here.

Benny_Cake

Once, in the European elections a few years back, I gave Eoin Ryan a fifth preference or something like that - it was more along the lines of preventing Royston Brady from being elected under any circumstances than a pro-FF vote as such. Aside from that, never voted for them.

Manach

I alternated between FF and Lab. My next vote, for what little it is worth, will depend on the mixture of party policies/candidate/property tax next time around.

Glebee

Am I mistaken but was there not a time when everybody loved Bertie.
He was a great man and could do no wrong.

Haughtey ws right when he said "He's the man. He's the best, the most skilful, the most devious, and the most cunning of them all."

johngalway

Never have, never will.

sink

I voted for FF in 2002, I was only 19 and didn't really have a clue. I voted PD in 2007 with a second pref for FF and when the PD candidate got eliminated my vote went to FF. I voted FG-Lab last election and only put FF ahead of Clare Daly of the SP.

Laminations

sink wrote: »

I voted for FF in 2002, I was only 19 and didn't really have a clue. I voted PD in 2007 with a second pref for FF and when the PD candidate got eliminated my vote went to FF. I voted FG-Lab last election and only put FF ahead of Clare Daly of the SP.

You don't have to put a number preference beside every candidate, you needn't have given FF or SP a preference.

sink

Laminations wrote: »

You don't have to put a number preference beside every candidate, you needn't have given FF or SP a preference.

Yes but bad as they are I'd still prefer FF to SP.

Happy Monday

It must be said that FG/Labour gave concrete assurances on debt write off.
Once elected they have done an about face.
Lies, lack of ethics and corruption.
No difference between these mugs.

Grayson

I'm assuming the OP meant vote as one of their first preferences? I put them on mine farther down the ballot sheet. After all the FG, Labour, Greens and independents.

charlemont

I never have, I never will...

I saw Ireland improve under the rainbow coalition, And I associated FF with backwardness and the Catholic Church. My knowledge of History also helped so did my visits to other countries.

First election I voted in was '97.

dublinman1990

I did vote for two candidates in FF myself last year as I was only 21 years old. I do certainly regret it as with sink as I didn't have a clue what politics was like. So; in saying that, I never have been a member of any political party of any shape or form.

My constituency is in Dun Laoghaire; So, I had the likes of a selection of some canidates such as Mary Hanafin (FF), Barry Andrews (FF), Eamon Gilmore (Lab), Séan Barrett (FG), Mary Mitchell O'Connor (FG) and Richard Boyd Barrett (PBPA/ULA) to name a few.

However; I do regret voting for them in the last election. I have a fresh memory when I was 18 and voted for Eoin Ryan in the European Elections. I would certainly vote for them again.

At the age I do recall someone saying that 'Nobody Understands Students'. He is most definitely right in my case.

Pedro K

Have been able to vote since 2007. Never voted FF, never will.

Unless Irish politics changes dramatically I may spoil my vote in the next G.E.

I see nobody worthwhile left to vote for.

Einhard

I turned 18 in 2000, so haven't exactly had much of a chance to vote FF, but having said that I have yet to vote for a candidate from that party in any type of election, local or national or European. I just didn't think that they were administering the country in an effective manner. They were throwing money at problems rather than seeking to address, and if the money failed to solve them, they just ignored them and hoped they'd go away. The re-organisation of the HSE is a typical example. It presented a great opportunity to do something of lasting value, and yet they botched it for political experdiency. They were more interested in winning elections than in running the country, and sadly, the people of the country were, on the whole, were happy to go along for the ride. While it lasted. I don't want to come across as a political moraliser, but I do think that people who voted FF in the last two elections should ask themselves why exactly they did so, and consider if the attitudes that led them to do so might have played a part in bringing this country to its current sorry position.