Adams leadership damaging for Sinn Fein?

the vatican king

It seems as though the controversy surrounding Gerry Adams alleged involvment with the IRA will never seem to go away. I think the last interview between Miriam O'Callaghan and Adams shows how much ammunition there is to throw at Adams and it also indicates how many more enemies he has in the south than he does have in the north. But one has to question how long this can continue and whether Adams leadership is more damaging rather than beneficial for Sinn Fein?

Of course Adam's enemies would love to see him abdicate the throne of Irish republicanism but you have to ask whether this can have the opposite effect and cast Sinn Fein into the lime light since his likely successors will have less controversey surrounding their political careers. Of course if the rumours are true and Adams is a unifying force between the IRA and it's alleged political wing; Sinn Fein, won't his departure mean that the two faces of republicanism will become separate legal personalities? This may have the danger of pushing GFA IRA men back into the hands of dissident republicans.

So what are the pros and cons of Adams stepping down?

Nodin

Of course Adam's enemies would love to see him abdicate the throne of Irish
republicanism but you have to ask whether this can have the opposite effect and cast Sinn Fein into the lime light since his likely successors will have less
controversey surrounding their political careers

...and who are his "likely successors" that make you presume that?

Banjo String

the vatican king wrote: »

I think the last interview between Miriam O'Callaghan and Adams shows how much ammunition there is to throw at Adams and it also indicates how many more enemies he has in the south than he does have in the north.

Gerry Adams made Miriam look like a complete and utter clown tbh.
It was a PR stunt by RTE that went horribly pearshaped.

the vatican king

Nodin wrote: »

...and who are his "likely successors" that make you presume that?

Maybe Mary Lou McDonald, Angus O'Snodaigh or perhaps Pierce Doherty. As far as the north is concerned, it's secured for now. But great gains can be made in the south and a southern leader maybe best bet for that.

SamHall wrote: »

Gerry Adams made Miriam look like a complete and utter clown tbh.
It was a PR stunt by RTE that went horribly pearshaped.

Correction, she is a clown; ''I use to be a lawyer you know''. The problem with RTE is that it doesn't relect the views of Irish people. It reflects the views of self created elites with ridiculously inflated salaries. RTE has become a monster of its own and its political views are representitive of its own self interests.

Bertie Woot

If Adams stepped down it might pave the way for a SF leader who is upfront and honest about his membership of the Provisional IRA.

Take Martin McGuinness, for example.

Nodin

Bertie Woot wrote: »

If Adams stepped down it might pave the way for a SF leader who is upfront and honest about his membership of the Provisional IRA.

Take Martin McGuinness, for example.

Indeed. I would have rathered Martin come south. As for Gerry, he's been there long enough - it's time for some new face in the job, whether it be Martin or someone else.

LordSutch

the vatican king wrote: »

Adams leadership damaging for Sinn Fein?

Hopefully.

So roll on Mary Lou . . . . .

DaithiOGormain

I think that Gerry is a great party leader for now and has really helped the party through difficult times, but in the future I think that Mary Lou would be a really great leader as she is a down-to-earth, honest woman who normal Irish people can relate to. Pearse Doherty could also be a great leader as he has great economic knowledge and is a native Gaeilgeoir so could help get rid of the stigma surrounding speaking Gaeilge in the 26 counties. Would like to see a deputy leader from the 6 counties though (people in north have to see that Sinn Féin isn't going to become a purely 26-county-focused party).

the vatican king

Bertie Woot wrote: »

If Adams stepped down it might pave the way for a SF leader who is upfront and honest about his membership of the Provisional IRA.

Take Martin McGuinness, for example.

Going by that logic, does that mean Enda Kenny is a member of the Old IRA and that Eamonn Gilmore is a member of the Official IRA?

Bertie Woot

the vatican king wrote: »

Going by that logic, does that mean Enda Kenny is a member of the Old IRA and that Eamonn Gilmore is a member of the Official IRA?

Are you suggesting that Martin McGuinness's confession to being a member of the PIRA is spurious?

maccored

It would be much better if politicians and the media stopped asking the same old stupid questions, and move on. Theyve been answered.

tipptom

Could never fathom how they thought parachuting him down to Louth and making him leader was a good idea for the party because they were always leaving themselves open to this by the likes of Kenny who cannot reply to a straight question in the Dail from him without using Jean MCconville to avoid the reply in the same way as he used suicide to avoid Vincent Browne.

Not sure if Mary Lou is the great debater she is made out to be,would much prefer Pearse Doherty as leader.

keeponhurling

I think at this stage interviews such as Mirium's actually have the oppposite effect to that attended, and make the interviewer look out of their depth discussing real issues that effect the Irish people.
So honestly I don't think it's damaging, as the OP suggests.

As for Gerry as party leader, his one big plus point is that he unites the party. As long as he is there nobody will move against him.
I'd say SF are a little worried about possible future north-south splits within the party, it's hard to find somebody who sort of transcends that.
Even floating type voters who may consider a vote for SF, if the leader is from the other legislation, they might feel the party doesn't focus enough on the issues relevant to them.

(Plus Adams is very high profile and a great orator. Look at what hapened to SDLP after Hume/Mallon retired.)

Banjo String

So what are the pros and cons of Adams stepping down?

According to the latest millwardbrown poll.

SF have risen by three points (at FF and FGs expense) to 19%

And Gerry Adams support seems to steady.

Micheal Martin is the most popular leader with just 47 per cent of people unhappy with him

Gerry Adams is just one point behind him on 48 per cent

It's looking like an FF/SF coalition for the next govt could be in the cards.



http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/seven-out-of-10-unhappy-with-how-country-is-run-29277756.html

Nodin

keeponhurling wrote: »

............
(Plus Adams is very high profile and a great orator. Look at what hapened to SDLP after Hume/Mallon retired.)

Indeed, but I'd argue that was to do with the fact that Hume stayed on too long.

DaithiOGormain

SamHall wrote: »

It's looking like an FF/SF coalition for the next govt could be in the cards.

Definitely wouldn't be good for Sinn Féin, really hope that if Sinn Féin get into government soon it's with Labour, Socialist Party etc and independents or by themselves (would be absolutely great if there was an all Sinn Féin government). Extremely unlikely, I know, but going into government with a right-wing, über-Catholic, über-parish-politics party always leads to the demise of a left-wing, liberal-ish, working to deal with issues across whole country not just fixing potholes in TDs' hometowns party.

the vatican king

DaithiOGormain wrote: »

Definitely wouldn't be good for Sinn Féin, really hope that if Sinn Féin get into government soon it's with Labour, Socialist Party etc and independents or by themselves (would be absolutely great if there was an all Sinn Féin government). Extremely unlikely, I know, but going into government with a right-wing, über-Catholic, über-parish-politics party always leads to the demise of a left-wing, liberal-ish, working to deal with issues across whole country not just fixing potholes in TDs' hometowns party.

Agree, a coalition with FF would be political suicide for sinn fein. In the current economic conditions, if they bide their time, they can become the biggest party in the country.

Hannibal

FF and FG would go into coalition with each other in order to prevent SF from getting into government, there's many unanswered question on collussion and without going into the specifics on a public website the Gardai haven't got clean hands. FF and particularly FG were in power when these instances happened and present members of the government were also in power at one potential major event in the 90's which was averted. Imagine SF having access in the Dept of Justice to files that ministers won't presently even discuss with them.

As for Adams, he's the one political leader in this country that you actually look at and see a leader and a statesman like figure in how he speaks and conducts himself. In time Adams will be broadly recognised for what he contributed to the peace process, for me personally he's probably the best political leader this island has had in the second half of the 20th century. The questions about whether he was in the IRA are always attempts to divert conversations and debates away from the issue at hand whether it in a TV studio or in the Dail.
As I've said before it is my belief Adams hadn't got control of the IRA but as a politician he undoubtably was able to exert influence over a lot of the people within it which was shown from the early 80's when both the IRA and SF were in behind the scenes discussions with both governments on a political settlement.

keeponhurling

Dotsey wrote: »

FF and FG would go into coalition with each other in order to prevent SF from getting into government,.

now there's a depressing thought.....

Iwasfrozen

DaithiOGormain wrote: »

Definitely wouldn't be good for Sinn Féin, really hope that if Sinn Féin get into government soon it's with Labour, Socialist Party etc and independents or by themselves (would be absolutely great if there was an all Sinn Féin government). Extremely unlikely, I know, but going into government with a right-wing, über-Catholic, über-parish-politics party always leads to the demise of a left-wing, liberal-ish, working to deal with issues across whole country not just fixing potholes in TDs' hometowns party.

This would be the death knell for Ireland. I hope Adams retires soon because when he does SF's popularity will plummet.

the vatican king

I welcome the prospect of FF and FG going into coalition together. If that ever happens, hopefully the state of the economy will finish both parties off for good

swimming in a sea

Getting all the gunmen to leave SF would be the worst thing that party could do, they would then have to try and get votes based on their policies(not a good idea)

keeponhurling

So FF, FG and Labour get votes because they have such excellent policies ?
Interested to hear some examples

Dubhlinner

Bertie Woot wrote: »

If Adams stepped down it might pave the way for a SF leader who is upfront and honest about his membership of the Provisional IRA.

Take Martin McGuinness, for example.

LMAO

McGuinness claims that he left in 1974 are every bit as silly as Adams claims he was never a member.

OCorcrainn

I see that the usual anti-SF boardsie brigade have turned up to spout the usual ráméis and hysterics with their ranting and raving.


Change the record already.

pablomakaveli

OCorcrainn wrote: »

I see that the usual anti-SF boardsie brigade have turned up to spout the usual ráméis and hysterics with their ranting and raving.


Change the record already.

Maybe you could drop the persecution complex.

It's clear to anyone with a bit of common sense that as long as the likes of Adams, McGuinness and Ferris remain in Sinn Fein it will damage their appeal to the broader public.

the vatican king

keeponhurling wrote: »

I'd say SF are a little worried about possible future north-south splits within the party, it's hard to find somebody who sort of transcends that.
Even floating type voters who may consider a vote for SF, if the leader is from the other legislation, they might feel the party doesn't focus enough on the issues relevant to them.

(Plus Adams is very high profile and a great orator. Look at what hapened to SDLP after Hume/Mallon retired.)

I don't think that's possible considering partition is the fundamental reason why the party exists.

SDLP decline had more to do with the IRA abandoning their armed struggle than it had to do with John Hume stepping down.

COYW

SamHall wrote: »

And Gerry Adams support seems to steady.

It's looking like an FF/SF coalition for the next govt could be in the cards.

There is no hope of a FF/SF coalition next time round. When the current government was being formed, SF made themselves available for discussion on the subject but neither FG nor Labour even approached them. I think FG and FF will get in or around the same number of seats next time and I can tell you for certain that neither will approach SF for talks on the formation of a government. SF is like marmite, you either love them or hate them, and if FF or FG entered government with them, they are running the risk of alienating some of their core vote. They won't do that and they won't need to do that.