Upcoming by-election in Meath East

CUCINA

Apart from the candidates and their families and friends, does anyone care who is going to be elected? Do you really think that the eventual winner is going to make a difference to you personally or materially?
You'll probably guess from the tone of my questions that my answer to those questions is "no".
I have always made a point of voting and for the last number of elections I have avoided voting for two parties in particular. But after two years of this Government, I have come to what I suppose you could describe as a hackneyed conclusion which is that our political parties are all the same.
I still intend voting but this time as a protest.
So what do others think?

bladespin

Yes, I'll feel a whole lot better if someone other than the FG candidate won.
I'd predict FF, FG and Labour all take a serious hit, FG will probably win the seat but it'll be a wake up call, that said it'd be even better if SF or the likes of Ben Gilroy took it.

The above is just my opinion and I've been practicing for the FF, FG and Lapdog party call to my door, Alex Ferguson's hairdryer approach won't be a patch lol.

Access

i wont give ye my extened views on this here as i feel i would let all my inner rage come out... and i couldnt care less about who gets in... but i bet you my dinner that your FG one will get the sympathy vote and will be in like a shot.

Hammer Archer

Thomas Byrne will get the highest possible number on my ballot paper (as far as I know he'll get my number 11 vote). I hope Fianna Fáil never get another vote after what they did to this country. I'd take a win by the Fine Gael or Labour candidate every time ahead of Fianna Fáil.
My number 1 vote will more than likely go to Ben Gilroy. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that Meath people will somehow forget about Fianna Fáil's actions over the past decade (and beyond) and vote Byrne back in.

PauloMN

Hammer Archer wrote: »

Thomas Byrne will get the highest possible number on my ballot paper (as far as I know he'll get my number 11 vote). I hope Fianna Fáil never get another vote after what they did to this country. I'd take a win by the Fine Gael or Labour candidate every time ahead of Fianna Fáil.
My number 1 vote will more than likely go to Ben Gilroy. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that Meath people will somehow forget about Fianna Fáil's actions over the past decade (and beyond) and vote Byrne back in.

If you absolutely and definitely don't want anyone to get anything from your vote, you shouldn't stick them down on your ballot paper at all. A high number, while very unlikely to help a candidate, is still better for them than no vote at all.

Dubh Geannain

I'm registered to vote in a different constituency but Fianna Fáil better not win the seat.

I understand with your sentiment OP but I'd vote any random independent before I'd spoil my vote.

Hammer Archer

PauloMN wrote: »

If you absolutely and definitely don't want anyone to get anything from your vote, you shouldn't stick them down on your ballot paper at all. A high number, while very unlikely to help a candidate, is still better for them than no vote at all.

There are 11 candidates in the by election (I think). If you give a candidate number 11, it is impossible for this vote to help them in any way.

PauloMN

Hammer Archer wrote: »

There are 11 candidates in the by election (I think). If you give a candidate number 11, it is impossible for this vote to help them in any way.

Is there not always a potential for transfers, slim as it may be?

The whole "proportional representation" was all explained to me once before, when I used to do exactly what you are talking about. Now maybe it's a moot point if you are voting for every single candidate, but given I struggle to even vote for one or two people these days, I certainly wouldn't want people I don't like getting my #3, #4, #5 etc.

scano001

Until FF provide an honest (that will be a first) and sincere apology for the damage they did to the fabric of this country through their crony-ism, corruption and ineptness, I will never vote for them again. In many respects they have blood on their hands of many a poor individuals that was pushed over the edge due to despair. Despair caused by the circumstances they found themselves in, which was created by FF in government. I don't particularly like Enda Kenny, but he is better than what went before. I don't care who takes the seat once it is not T Byrne.

Hammer Archer

PauloMN wrote: »

Is there not always a potential for transfers, slim as it may be?

The whole "proportional representation" was all explained to me once before, when I used to do exactly what you are talking about. Now maybe it's a moot point if you are voting for every single candidate, but given I struggle to even vote for one or two people these days, I certainly wouldn't want people I don't like getting my #3, #4, #5 etc.

Not if you put a number beside each candidate. If I gave him number 10 out of 11, there would be a tiny chance alright.
But putting no number beside him is basically the same alright, especially if you put a number beside every other candidate.

squod

I can only hope whatshername doesn't get in. She has about as much intellect as a dust mite. Jaysus any ejit but her, please!!!!!

opawaman

Why not have a Unionist candidate in East Meath. if SinnFein can stand in Northern Ireland elections, why not a Unionist candidate in Meath.

PauloMN

opawaman wrote: »

Why not have a Unionist candidate in East Meath. if SinnFein can stand in Northern Ireland elections, why not a Unionist candidate in Meath.

I know you are taking the piss with that question, but I'll answer you anyway.

I guess the DUP and UUP etc. are not especially interested in winning a seat in Meath East. They'd need to register a candidate here in the first place which I wouldn't imagine would happen.

I also guess that the people of Meath East are not especially interested in unionist politics.

Why do you ask as a matter of interest?

opawaman

When i was in the east Meath area last year and asked some locals about the situation regarding Northern Ireland i was amazed at the amount of Anti-IRA venom expressed in the local pubs. Made me think a Unionist candidate would do quite well in the area.

PauloMN

opawaman wrote: »

When i was in the east Meath area last year and asked some locals about the situation regarding Northern Ireland i was amazed at the amount of Anti-IRA venom expressed in the local pubs. Made me think a Unionist candidate would do quite well in the area.

Why were you amazed at that?

Being anti-IRA doesn't equate to being unionist.

pullandbang

opawaman wrote: »

expressed in the local pubs.

Think that says it all......

opawaman

Yes i was being flippant, But i do find a lot of Irish people especially those living in the UK and commonwealth nations would prefer to see a closer relationship between the republic and these nations. There are over a million Irish born living in the UK with possibly another million in OZ and kiwiland plus Canada.

CUCINA

So the people have spoken...well, about 35% of the electorate, which translates as about maybe 15% of the population of the constituency. With that 15% spreading their choices over 11 candidates that means that the successful candidate with have the direct backing of something around 5% of the people in the area.
Which means that around 95% of the people in Meath East will have had no input in awarding those generous salary and pension entitlements to the person who is supposedly going to be representing them.
Not that the new T.D. will be too worried about that.
It'a funny ol' world...

Mick ah

I hope Gilroy gets it. At least he'd be something different for a change.

PauloMN

If people can't be bothered voting, then they can't complain about whoever gets elected. Well they can complain I suppose, but it's a bit hypocritical imo if they didn't get out and vote.

I'll never, ever understand the apathy to voting in this country. We're lucky to live in a democracy, yet it seems two thirds of the population can't be arsed exercising a right that people would - and have - died to achieve.

Hammer Archer

Looks like it'll be another McEntee if the tallies are anything to go by. Not exactly ideal but the lesser of two evils in my view if it's between herself and Byrne.

suicide_circus

Daughter gets fathers seat. /'reland

Access

Access wrote: »

i wont give ye my extened views on this here as i feel i would let all my inner rage come out... and i couldnt care less about who gets in... but i bet you my dinner that your FG one will get the sympathy vote and will be in like a shot.

...And my dinner is safe. She is in like flynn.

Not exactly happy about it, but a least byrne didnt get in... i would rather place my hands into an industrial shredder then vote for FF ever.

Dubh Geannain

FF didn't win

FG win

I guess it could have been worse. But only by a little.

FF/FG - Two cheeks of the same arse. But I have a particular dislike for one of those cheeks.

Hondo75

Back to the Senate for Thomas Byrne

coolhull

Labour scores only 4.5 %
So, maybe there is a God after all

AnCatDubh

Dubh Geannain wrote: »

FF didn't win

Oh, they won alright :pac:

pullandbang

It's an amazing result TBH, a Government Party candidate taking a by election seat. Good luck to her and I hope she serves her constituency well.

I can't believe the amount of people that still voted FF, 33% which is one third of voters. FFS have these people no memory? Do they not look back a few short years to the mess that Fianna Fáil left the country in? Do they forget and forgive the croneyism and corruption that is rampant in Fianna Fáil? Hard to believe that so many people could vote for the gangsters that nearly destroyed this country.

paul71

pullandbang wrote: »

It's an amazing result TBH, a Government Party candidate taking a by election seat. Good luck to her and I hope she serves her constituency well.

I can't believe the amount of people that still voted FF, 33% which is one third of voters. FFS have these people no memory? Do they not look back a few short years to the mess that Fianna Fáil left the country in? Do they forget and forgive the croneyism and corruption that is rampant in Fianna Fáil? Hard to believe that so many people could vote for the gangsters that nearly destroyed this country.

The mindset of FF is almost like a cult religion. I remember being at a wedding in Trim about 12 years back and the father of the groom stood up and launched into a speech about FF and how great they were, it went on for about 25 minutes and I clearly remember that he did not even welcome the bride to the family. Most of us were so stunned that we forgot about the bet on the time for the speeches until the next morning.

There is nothing rational or logical about FF voting and I personally will never understand it, but I do fear it.

Rafa1977

pullandbang wrote: »

It's an amazing result TBH, a Government Party candidate taking a by election seat. Good luck to her and I hope she serves her constituency well.

I can't believe the amount of people that still voted FF, 33% which is one third of voters. FFS have these people no memory? Do they not look back a few short years to the mess that Fianna Fáil left the country in? Do they forget and forgive the croneyism and corruption that is rampant in Fianna Fáil? Hard to believe that so many people could vote for the gangsters that nearly destroyed this country.

Obviously not but FG are the exact same. Meath could have send out a message to FG but now all we will hear from FF, sorry I mean FG is how justified that they were in making the various cuts and how much people are behind them. TBH I am not surprised by the result, Meath people are not sharpest out here

bladespin

Rafa1977 wrote: »

Meath Irish people are not sharpest out here

TBH while I was disappointed at the result there weren't a lot of options, FF (nuff said), FG (liars, with pants on fire), Labour (worse again), SF (no thanks), DDI and the others would've been my preference but most are unknown and therefore would've had an uphill battle for votes. Getting very frustrated with our system, I despair where the next general election will bring us (back into the arms of FF from what I'm reading ). No wonder we're fcuked.

PauloMN

Rafa1977 wrote: »

Obviously not but FG are the exact same.

Rubbish. FG are mopping up an absolute disaster left from FF, stand back and look at the situation before coming out with nonsense like that. They are having to make unpopular decisions to try and get the country back on track, and they are by no means perfect (Minister for Health being a particular weakness imo, along with mistakes made in carer allowances), but to compare them with the back-hander, cute-hoor politics and cronyism of FF is laughable tbh.

Rafa1977 wrote: »

Meath could have send out a message to FG but now all we will hear from FF, sorry I mean FG is how justified that they were in making the various cuts and how much people are behind them. TBH I am not surprised by the result, Meath people are not sharpest out here

So, Meath people are not the sharpest because they voted in a party you don't like? :rolleyes:

Congratulations to Helen McEntee, good luck to her in the Dáil.

bladespin

PauloMN wrote: »

but to compare them with the back-hander, cute-hoor politics and cronyism of FF is laughable tbh.

While I agree with most of what you've said, you have to admit the statement above is a bit fanciful considering some decisions made over the last year or so.