Meath East Bye Election

Death and Taxes

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/fg-five-points-ahead-of-ff-after-third-of-tally-in-meath-east-589471.html

With only Tallies in it looks like FG will retain the seat with FF a close second and Labour back in fifth. Looks like Gilmore and his gang are taking a good and well deserved hammering while FF will have in excess of 30% of the vote.
Hard to believe how quickly FF have bounced back, and how quickly the Officials labour party have been made irrellavent by SF and Independents.

Hannibal

Its not surprising looking at past trends in this constituency and surrounding ones have always been FF and FG neck and neck and swaying between the two. Labour have took an absolute battering that has exceeded all predictions and Gilmore will have the axe looming on his leadership with many Labour TD's fearing for their seats this could potentially bring the government down. Labours move to the right in this government sees their vote surely being carved up by SF and Independents with FF taking a small slice from Labour and a slice from FG.

Phoebas

WileyCoyote wrote: »

Hard to believe how quickly FF have bounced back, and how quickly the Officials labour party have been made irrellavent by SF and Independents.

This will be a very disappointing result for SF - they failed to capitalise on Labour's collapse.

Death and Taxes

Cant see too many stickies being happy to support a referendum on abolishing the Seanad now, might be the only place they could win any seats in the foreseeable future.

bmaxi

The saddest part is that FF and FG between them can muster close to 70% of the vote, cynical Tories and proven incompetents still hold sway in Ireland. Another dynastic waster to extort 100,000+ out of the taxpayers' pocket.

RandolphEsq

It just goes to show yet again how SF really are not a viable option when it comes to polling day.

Howjoe1

Pat Rabitte's Labour Party getting hammered here. Maybe there is a price to pay for portraying yourself as a "left" alternative to austerity and then bragging on TV that the promises were all made up as "per norm" wasn't too wise.

seamus

Really looks like FF were the primary benefactor of Labour's losses. In the last GE the Labour candidate was first elected with 21% of the first prefs, FF taking 19%. FG had 40%. So it looks like Labour lost 17% of the 1st prefs, of which FF gobbled up 13%.The other 4% appear to have gone to SF.

Good to see DDI taking an 8% share. I'm not a supporter of what they propose to do, but any kind of measurable shakeup in the list of politicial parties is to be welcomed.

Death and Taxes

With the final tallies now in the gilmore stooge came in fifth with a paltry 3.9% of the vote.

Sierra Oscar

seamus wrote: »

Really looks like FF were the primary benefactor of Labour's losses. In the last GE the Labour candidate was first elected with 21% of the first prefs, FF taking 19%. FG had 40%. So it looks like Labour lost 17% of the 1st prefs, of which FF gobbled up 13%.The other 4% appear to have gone to SF.

Good to see DDI taking an 8% share. I'm not a supporter of what they propose to do, but any kind of measurable shakeup in the list of politicial parties is to be welcomed.

Looks that way, FF seems to be reganing a lot of lost support. Although it is important to keep in mind that this was only a by-election, so not necessarily a clear picture of what would happen in a GE.

Also, good showing for Gilroy - but it was 6.5%, not 8% as some seem to be commenting.

Razorfish

Lets scrap elections and allocate seats in the Dail to certain families with the 'right' surname. Nice sympathy vote.

Happyman42

As an indicator of the national mood this is useless, 'the local' factor is fudging it.

Lapin

bmaxi wrote: »

Another dynastic waster to extort 100,000+ out of the taxpayers' pocket.

I hate the culture of dynastic politics myself but I think that comment is unfair.

Also, if the candidate of your choice was elected, would you consider their salary to be gained through extortion. Silly hyperbolic remark.



FF were always going to feature strongly in this constituency but thankfully, not strongly enough on this occasion.

On another plus, fair play to the people of Meath East for sending a badly needed message of disgust to Labour and illustrating the contempt people have for the hypocrisy of Gilmore, Rabbitte, Burton and co.

Happyman42

Lapin wrote: »

On another plus, fair play to the people of Meath East for sending a badly needed message of disgust to Labour and illustrating the contempt people have for the hypocrisy of Gilmore, Rabbitte, Burton and co.

I'm not even sure you can say that, it is clear local popularity figured large in the 'People's Democracy'(? not sure of the party name) vote.

G Power

Howjoe1 wrote: »

Pat Rabitte's Labour Party getting hammered here. Maybe there is a price to pay for portraying yourself as a "left" alternative to austerity and then bragging on TV that the promises were all made up as "per norm" wasn't too wise.

the only price being considered by most is the cost of pat rabbittes pension which is all he wants to take from this short stint in government

the german bank bondholding pr1ck!!

LeoB

I think its an awful pity there was not a more severe message sent out to the F.G and Lab parties. From what I was hearing from Meath people there was going to be a huge message sent to Government, F.G and Lab.

Not sure how we go about restructuring our system as while Ms. McEntee is obviously a popular figure it does appear she is elected on a certain amount of sympathy votes.

bmaxi

Lapin wrote: »

I hate the culture of dynastic politics myself but I think that comment is unfair.

Also, if the candidate of your choice was elected, would you consider their salary to be gained through extortion. Silly hyperbolic remark.



FF were always going to feature strongly in this constituency but thankfully, not strongly enough on this occasion.

On another plus, fair play to the people of Meath East for sending a badly needed message of disgust to Labour and illustrating the contempt people have for the hypocrisy of Gilmore, Rabbitte, Burton and co.

We'll see come the next GE, how much of her salary she has earned, I'm betting it will be zilch.
I've seen it so often before, people elected just because Daddy was seen to be a "sound man" because he bought a few pints in the local. Tell me what Coughlan, Haughey, Cooper-Flynn et al ever contributed to this country to justify what they've taken out of it. I've no reason to expect this one will be any different.
To be fair to the people of Meath East, the cup wasn't overflowing with talent but I suspect if Jesus Christ himself was running, the result wouldn't be any different. Troglodytes could elect a better Parliament than what we do.

MadsL

Christ. A choice between FG depotism, FF repugnance, Independant Freeman-shite, Labour co-opted councillor (Film Producer ffs), and a rag bag of others.

How the hell would I vote? Greens?

No wonder the turnout is low. When is a viable alternative party going to emerge in Ireland after years of yapping about it.

Lapin

bmaxi wrote: »

We'll see come the next GE, how much of her salary she has earned, I'm betting it will be zilch.
I've seen it so often before, people elected just because Daddy was seen to be a "sound man" because he bought a few pints in the local. Tell me what Coughlan, Haughey, Cooper-Flynn et al ever contributed to this country to justify what they've taken out of it. I've no reason to expect this one will be any different.....

Like I said, I'm not a fan of the dynastic nature of Irish politics myself. But I do think it us unfair to judge someone on their performance before they're even elected.

It is noticeable that the TDs you mention are all from FF backgrounds. I'd like to add one of my own local TDs to that list. Paul Connaghton Jnr (FG Galwat East). A man who hasn't been seen since he won the seat 2 years ago.

Happyman42 wrote: »

I'm not even sure you can say that, it is clear local popularity figured large in the 'People's Democracy'(? not sure of the party name) vote.

There will always be an element of this in by-elections but considering Labour topped the poll here 2 years ago, I think there was a conscious move by the electorate of Meath East to punish the party on this occasion. Coming a humiliating 5th is something I believe would be replicated throughout the country.

A clear message has been sent to Gilmore that Labour need to get back to their principles, stamp their identity on this coalition and stick to the policies they were elected to implement.

For a party that (stupidly) claimed they would do things their way rather than Frankfurt's way, they have been exposed as hypocritical spineless lapdogs barking to every tune played out by Fine Gael and Brussels.

Gilmore will develop a creek in his neck in the coming months brought on by looking over his shoulder all the time.

Happyman42

I can just hear Gilmore and Rabbitte talking their way out of this one, is all. They're doomed, another coalition partner taking the rap for the continued excesses of the main parties.

efb

Frankfurt 1-0 Gilmore

bmaxi

Lapin wrote: »

Like I said, I'm not a fan of the dynastic nature of Irish politics myself. But I do think it us unfair to judge someone on their performance before they're even elected.

It is noticeable that the TDs you mention are all from FF backgrounds. I'd like to add one of my own local TDs to that list. Paul Connaghton Jnr (FG Galwat East). A man who hasn't been seen since he won the seat 2 years ago.

Not intentional but let's face it, it's easy to pick wasters from a FF background.
I said I'd give her until the next GE to prove her worth, I'm just not holding my breath.

RobertKK

Colm Keaveney must be feeling slightly happy inside knowing the misery and pressure Eamon Gilmore is under.

The Labour party need to rid itself of the ex-workers party in it's top tier of the party.

Iwasfrozen

bmaxi wrote: »

The saddest part is that FF and FG between them can muster close to 70% of the vote, cynical Tories and proven incompetents still hold sway in Ireland. Another dynastic waster to extort 100,000+ out of the taxpayers' pocket.

Still better then SF!

Sir Oxman

bmaxi wrote: »

The saddest part is that FF and FG between them can muster close to 70% of the vote, cynical Tories and proven incompetents still hold sway in Ireland. Another dynastic waster to extort 100,000+ out of the taxpayers' pocket.

It's an awful indictment ofwhat's available and also the apathetic public.

Sickening.

Howjoe1

I find it both bizarre and cynical that this person stood for election after all the comments by her family after the death of her father. But good luck to her.

bmaxi

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

Still better then SF!

Not exactly a recommendation.

charlemont

Sir Oxman wrote: »

It's an awful indictment ofwhat's available and also the apathetic public.

Sickening.

That's why we will never see change here.

Irish Steve

Just looking at what's happened result wise, and I am finding it hard to reconcile.

How have so many of the Meath East voters managed to have collective amnesia about the level of long term and massive damage that FF did to the economy less than 5 years ago. For FF to get such a high percentage vote this soon after completely destroying the economy of Meath East is mindblowing.

I have problems with the issue that our politicians are all so short sighted, and can't see beyond the next election, and it's now clear why that is, the people that vote for them are even more short sighted, which is bluntly totally frightening, the thought of FF getting back into power at the next election is scary, but on today's showing, it could happen, and if it does, it won't be long before Ireland is going down the same road as Cyprus, with all that implies.

For a proper recovery to happen, both the politicians and the people have to be wanting change to work, and today has demonstrated that too many people in this country are happy to see the old, corrupt and failed system of parish pump politics continued.

So be it. The picture for the future is NOT pretty.

RandolphEsq

Irish Steve wrote: »

Just looking at what's happened result wise, and I am finding it hard to reconcile.

How have so many of the Meath East voters managed to have collective amnesia about the level of long term and massive damage that FF did to the economy less than 5 years ago. For FF to get such a high percentage vote this soon after completely destroying the economy of Meath East is mindblowing.

I have problems with the issue that our politicians are all so short sighted, and can't see beyond the next election, and it's now clear why that is, the people that vote for them are even more short sighted, which is bluntly totally frightening, the thought of FF getting back into power at the next election is scary, but on today's showing, it could happen, and if it does, it won't be long before Ireland is going down the same road as Cyprus, with all that implies.

For a proper recovery to happen, both the politicians and the people have to be wanting change to work, and today has demonstrated that too many people in this country are happy to see the old, corrupt and failed system of parish pump politics continued.

So be it. The picture for the future is NOT pretty.

I think the FF vote was the result of people fearing SF getting a seat. If SF were the alternative, FF aren't seen as so bad. But there is a market for a new political party.

Yitzhak Rabin

Today's victory was a ringing endorsement for the current government. The people of Meath have said what I'm hearing up and down the country - FG are doing well by us, and are a party we can be proud of!

Well done to Helen.

Death and Taxes

Yitzhak Rabin wrote: »

Today's victory was a ringing endorsement for the current government. The people of Meath have said what I'm hearing up and down the country - FG are doing well by us, and are a party we can be proud of!

Well done to Helen.

I would hardly call a drop of over 16% in Labours vote "a ringing endorsement of the Government", I 'd call it a severe kick in the groin for the government!

Sunnyisland

Yitzhak Rabin wrote: »

Today's victory was a ringing endorsement for the current government. The people of Meath have said what I'm hearing up and down the country - FG are doing well by us, and are a party we can be proud of!

Well done to Helen.

I don't know what country your up & down but I am not hearing it, And today's election is no way an endorsement of the current government, did not the partner in the current government not get the arsed kicked of the pitch,Today's election was a huge sympathy vote for the FG candidate and a horrible awakening of how people easily forget in this country by letting FF get so many votes.

Yitzhak Rabin

Sorry, I meant to say a ringing endorsement for FG and centre-right policies.

It shows that the left-wing loons & shinners won't be occupying the government side of the chamber of Dail Eireann in the near future in any case.

jimmycrackcorm

I think the result was inevitable. While the family connection was a key factor there is clearly no creditable alternative. Labour's vote reflects both their non rural support arena. I think when it comes to FF that people, deep down, consider that no matter who was in power in 2008, the government of the day would have followed the same path. After all, wasn't every party calling for the money to be spent during the boom. No party turned around then and advocated that public servants shouldn't have gotten benchmarking because taxes were just bubble based.

Le_Dieux

G Power wrote: »

the only price being considered by most is the cost of pat rabbittes pension which is all he wants to take from this short stint in government

the german bank bondholding pr1ck!!

While I totally agree with You GP, it's unfair to single out Rabbitte here. It's the system that needs shaking up. They ALL get a damn pension...and that's wrong!!!

But thats for another thread.

not of fan of the listed policies on the direct democracy website (even though I am a fan of the concept of direct democracy I do not favour their debt forgiveness platform) but i am 100% behind new parties coming along.
Really we need an entire range of new parties from left wing to right wing reason being:

• FF - crooked as a barrel of fish hooks & bankrupted the country
• SF - Linked to political violence and a terrorist campaign
• Labour - Champagne Socialists
• FG - Gutless wonders, carrying in the same path as FF and they even have dynasties too
• United Left Alliance - Blind to the fact that we are bankrupt and must balance the budget
• The Greens - pretty much extinct and rightly so - they betrayed & helped bankrupt the country during their term in office

Then we some independents & the quality varies from place to place. Actually looking back at that list myself and its woeful. Terrible choices. NEW PARTIES ASAP PLZ! And give us emigrants a vote pls!

InchicoreDude

Howjoe1 wrote: »

I find it both bizarre and cynical that this person stood for election after all the comments by her family after the death of her father. But good luck to her.

How on earth is it bizarre or cynical?

From http://www.irishtimes.com/news/technology/profile-helen-mcentee-the-d%C3%A1il-s-second-youngest-td-1.1342324:

She became interested in politics during her schooldays in Meath and went on to complete a degree in economics, politics and law at Dublin City University (DCU).
After finishing college in 2007, she went to work for a subsidiary of Citibank, but quickly decided the job was not the right one for her.
She went on to complete a masters in journalism and media communications.
In the summer of 2010, she began to work in Leinster House with her father, who was then an opposition TD.
Ms McEntee worked through the 2011 general election and moved with her father to the Department of Agriculture, Marine and Food when he was appointed minister of state with responsibility for food, horticulture and food safety.
She worked on both departmental and constituency issues until her father’s untimely death in December 2012.

Given her background, surely it is natural that she wants to become a TD?

I feel some one with a background like hers has the potential to be an outstanding TD. And looking through the other candidates, I think she was the best one - regardless of sympathy voting etc.

I wish her the best anyway and hope she can do some good in that job. With her father's death, she should be more motivated than anybody else to do a good job.

thecommietommy

bmaxi wrote: »

The saddest part is that FF and FG between them can muster close to 70% of the vote, cynical Tories and proven incompetents still hold sway in Ireland. Another dynastic waster to extort 100,000+ out of the taxpayers' pocket.

FG and FF could nuke the country and the vegetables would still vote for them :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

thecommietommy

Yitzhak Rabin wrote: »

Sorry, I meant to say a ringing endorsement for FG and centre-right policies.

It shows that the left-wing loons & shinners won't be occupying the government side of the chamber of Dail Eireann in the near future in any case.

Fianna Gael are absolutely brilliant......... so how come the fek'n country's bankrupt ??

Grudaire

Deleted User wrote: »

• The Greens - pretty much extinct and rightly so - they betrayed & helped bankrupt the country during their term in office

You can't seriously blame the Greens for 'betraying and bancrupting the country'?

The Greens didn't cause the Property bubble,
The Greens didn't cause outrageous Property building (in fact if they had been in power earlier there may have been better legislation around to prevent it)
They didn't cause the Global recession which should also be factored in.
They weren't the ones pursuing a strategy that encouraged spending particularly on houses for how many years?

In 2007 FF+PD+Independents had a majority, the greens (naively) entered government to try get some policies implemented.
It wasn't until 2009 that the Green party actually held the balance of power, at which stage the sh*t had firmly hit the fan.

Yes they supported the bank guarantee, something that virtually every party did (don't mind Labour, they would have voted in favour if there was any hope of failure) I think everyone now realises that it shouldn't have extended to bondholders.
Heck we've been made pay unsecured bonds back by the Troika, so I'm not sure how much choice was given.

Rafa1977

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I think the result was inevitable. While the family connection was a key factor there is clearly no creditable alternative. Labour's vote reflects both their non rural support arena. I think when it comes to FF that people, deep down, consider that no matter who was in power in 2008, the government of the day would have followed the same path. After all, wasn't every party calling for the money to be spent during the boom. No party turned around then and advocated that public servants shouldn't have gotten benchmarking because taxes were just bubble based.

Result was inevitable because people are stupid.

COYW

Yitzhak Rabin wrote: »

It shows that the left-wing loons & shinners won't be occupying the government side of the chamber of Dail Eireann in the near future in any case.

Yep, hopefully the centre/left split in vote will spread to the rest of the country.

thecommietommy wrote: »

FG and FF could nuke the country and the vegetables would still vote for them :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

People don't believe that the left-wing alternative, the only one out there, is any better. Voting for FF or FG is the lesser of two evils in most peoples opinions.

Rafa1977 wrote: »

Result was inevitable because people are stupid.

I'm surprised the vote was as close as it was. His daughter was always going to get elected. Typical Irish mentality. The result does back up the rise in the recent newspaper polls for FF. Whatever way we look at it, centrist politics will rule this country for the foreseeable future. I can live with that, once it's not left-wing nonsense. Still prefer to see a party with right wing economics at its core running the country but it ain't going to happen.

oscarBravo

Rafa1977 wrote: »

Result was inevitable because people are stupid.

That's democracy: the belief that if you ask enough stupid people a question, you'll get an intelligent answer.

thecommietommy

COYW wrote: »

People don't believe that the left-wing alternative, the only one out there, is any better. Voting for FF or FG is the lesser of two evils in most peoples opinions.

What is the lesser of two evils ? Bankrupting the state or bankrupting the state ?

RandomName2

Hopefully DDI can emerge as some sort of viable party - although with a name like that it sounds more like a single issue grouping