THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT OF IRELAND ?

SIR PEADO BAILOUT

Would anyone expect to see a black President in this country in their lifetime ?
After all would anybody have easily predicted a black American President just 10 years ago !

Found myself involved in a heated debate over this, whilst having a few jars last night, and well I`ve wagered a hefty bet that it will happen, but concede it may not happen for a good generation .

Anyhow I win if it happens before 2050, just have to be around long enough to collect the winnings, when do you expect this will happen ? Any predictions/candidates in mind ?

Sunnyisland

Don't see why not, as we have had quite a mixed bunch already.

Dj Stiggie

It's not as socially relevant here as it was in the US. If a decent candidate came along in a few years who happened to be black, I don't see why he wouldn't win.

DEFTLEFTHAND

A black TD will probably happen in the next 10-15 years.

SIR PEADO BAILOUT

SIR PEADO BAILOUT wrote: »

Would anyone expect to see a black President in this country in their lifetime ?
After all would anybody have easily predicted a black American President just 10 years ago !

Bit of a difference between American presidency and irish

Did you mean Taoiseach?

dm09

SIR PEADO BAILOUT wrote: »

Would anyone expect to see a black President in this country in their lifetime ?
After all would anybody have easily predicted a black American President just 10 years ago !

Found myself involved in a heated debate over this, whilst having a few jars last night, and well I`ve wagered a hefty bet that it will happen, but concede it may not happen for a good generation .

Anyhow I win if it happens before 2050, just have to be around long enough to collect the winnings, when do you expect this will happen ? Any predictions/candidates in my mind ?

Ireland has been multi ethnic since the late 1990s. The UK has had a significant multi ethnic population since the 1960s so going by the logic above the UK should have had a non white Prime Minister by now? I wouldn't rule out a black president in Ireland, I'd imagine it will be a few generations away

Phoebas

Why is there no option between 2050 and infinity?
Is the OP so young that 2050 seems like an infinity away?

sabat

I don't see why not. If Paul McGrath had run in the last election he actually would have been the best candidate. Even Samantha Mumba would have been better than Dana, Sean Gallagher or Martin McGuinness.

Phoebas

sabat wrote: »

Even Samantha Mumba would have been better than Dana, Sean Gallagher or Martin McGuinness.

I dislike all of the above, but Samantha Mumba :eek:

An Coilean

Black people make up a fairly small % of the population, even if you assume that their race will have no negative impact on their prospects at all, its still quite unlikely given the fact that we will only have a hand full of presidents between now and 2050.
In the same way its fairly unlikely that we will have a President from Wexford between now and 2050. Nothing to do with Wexford people, just the probability based on numbers.

Then again, you never know, a particularly good and likeable black (or Wexford based) politition may emerge and beat the odds over the next 30 years.

Phoebas

An Coilean wrote: »

Black people make up a fairly small % of the population, even if you assume that their race will have no negative impact on their prospects at all, its still quite unlikely given the fact that we will only have a hand full of presidents between now and 2050.
In the same way its fairly unlikely that we will have a President from Wexford between now and 2050. Nothing to do with Wexford people, just the probability based on numbers.

Then again, you never know, a particularly good and likeable black (or Wexford based) politition may emerge and beat the odds over the next 30 years.

This post is mad - bananas mad!

Nidgeweasel

sabat wrote: »

I don't see why not. If Paul McGrath had run in the last election he actually would have been the best candidate. Even Samantha Mumba would have been better than Dana, Sean Gallagher or Martin McGuinness.

Better at what?

Sir Osis of Liver.

Yer man that presents the lotto or Lenny Henry would make good presidents.

MadYaker

Be a while before we see a president but I wouldn't be surprised if there was a TD in a few years.

General General

sabat wrote: »

I don't see why not. If Paul McGrath had run in the last election he actually would have been the best candidate. Even Samantha Mumba would have been better than Dana, Sean Gallagher or Martin McGuinness.

Phoebas wrote: »

I dislike all of the above, but Samantha Mumba :eek:

Nidgeweasel wrote: »

Better at what?

Now I rock a house party at the drop of a hat...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BptQHAW2T5M

sabat

Nidgeweasel wrote: »

Better at what?

At being president. I mentioned it in the second sentence of my extremely long post-it's easy to see how you could miss it.

my teapot is orange

Just because there isn't a very high percentage of black people in Ireland, and there is normally only a chance to elect a President every 7 years, combined with the fact that the person needs a profile and there aren't that many with a high profile in Irish life, I'd say the odds of it happening soon are low.

America was completely different with a much much higher percentage of black people and a higher number of famous black people. I'm surprised in one way it didn't happen earlier.

If no-one dies in office, resigns or is kicked out, there will only be a max of 5 new presidents between now and 2050, and probably there will be less as the incumbent has an advantage if they want to run for a second term.

AllGunsBlazing

Or will a Chinese lad get the job first?


Place your bets....

Sir Osis of Liver.

AllGunsBlazing wrote: »

Or will a Chinese lad get the job first?


Place your bets....

My moneys on one of them Muslim boyos.

Czarcasm

SIR PEADO BAILOUT wrote: »

Would anyone expect to see a black President in this country in their lifetime ?
After all would anybody have easily predicted a black American President just 10 years ago !

Found myself involved in a heated debate over this, whilst having a few jars last night, and well I`ve wagered a hefty bet that it will happen, but concede it may not happen for a good generation .

Anyhow I win if it happens before 2050, just have to be around long enough to collect the winnings, when do you expect this will happen ? Any predictions/candidates in mind ?

Well given that there has been an indigenous population of leprechauns in this country for centuries, and it's only in recent times we have a leprechaun for president...

Me personally I couldn't give a fcuk if the president was purple with blue spots as long as he or she represented Ireland on the International stage in a competent manner. I can just imagine what some Americans must be thinking when they see Michael D on television -

"Look Mabel, it's one of them Airish lepercauns!"

"Don't be silly dea... holy shìt!"

Killer Wench

my teapot is orange wrote: »

I'm surprised in one way it didn't happen earlier.

It didn't happen earlier because mainstream America, i.e. non-Blacks, would not elect a President who was descended from African slaves. Obama is black, but he did not inherit the generational pain that Black Americans have because of slavery. His father was an immigrant from Kenya.

Americans are very reluctant in engaging in a fruitful dialogue about slavery. Having a Black president who is a descendant of those slaves would likely force the issue.

Renegade Mechanic

How "hefty" was this bet OP...

RikkFlair

Jimmy Rabbitte from The Commitments, he was black and proud.

theblaqueguy

Sure let me know when ye are are ready to nominate me lads
If every boardies votes for me I'll defo win any presidential election

HansHolzel

Paul Galvin

Shout Dust

Could happen if the right candidate emerges, wouldn't be that big a deal, we don't have the same problem with race relations as the US did. Closest you could get to compare situations is maybe Travellers?

Sir Osis of Liver.

Or Tonto Og O Halpin maybe.

Duggy747

Phil Lynott for president!

hungry hippo 4

will he make that annoying tutting noise?

crockholm

Duggy747 wrote: »

Phil Lynott for president!

As a deceased heroin addict he may not swing the rural vote but the Mayor of Dublin would be a shoe-in:)

Dublinpato

as long as it's not another culchie who care's what color he/she is

Legs.Eleven

If it was humanly possible, I'd like to see Michael D. in power forever.

The Narrator

sabat wrote: »

I don't see why not. If Paul McGrath had run in the last election he actually would have been the best candidate. Even Samantha Mumba would have been better than Dana, Sean Gallagher or Martin McGuinness.

A man with a recurring alcohol problem, a young singer who has probably been manipulated out of most of her money and Dana.

And these are better candidates than a successful/respected business man and another who has been an elected politician (who is well respected in some areas) for 15 years.

I really hope you don't vote.

brokenarms

Thats weird.

I got an email yesterday from a black president from Nigeria .
He claims that the political climate or legal issues preclude him from accessing funds in a foreign bank account and request my help to gain such access.
I sent him my account details straight away. Glad to help him.

Cant wait to meet him next week.

sabat

The Narrator wrote: »

And these are better candidates than a successful/respected business man and another who has been an elected politician (who is well respected in some areas) for 15 years.

I really hope you don't vote.

Sean Gallagher is a failed businessman, a liar and a laughing stock and Martin McGuinness, whose main selling point is that he used to murder people then stopped, has never even lived in this country so yes, as bad as the two people I mentioned would be, I would prefer either of them as president.

signostic

The Narrator wrote: »

A man with a recurring alcohol problem, a young singer who has probably been manipulated out of most of her money and Dana.

And these are better candidates than a successful/respected business man and another who has been an elected politician (who is well respected in some areas) for 15 years.

I really hope you don't vote.

Paul McGrath has represented the country at home and abroad more successfully and in a better light than some of those you refer to.

The Narrator

sabat wrote: »

Sean Gallagher is a failed businessman, a liar and a laughing stock and Martin McGuinness, whose main selling point is that he used to murder people then stopped, has never even lived in this country so yes, as bad as the two people I mentioned would be, I would prefer either of them as president.

They are still more competent candidates than Paul McGrath and Samantha bloody Mumba, to compare them is laughable.

goz83

Chuck Norris will be our next president. He will convince us all he is black.

The Dom

Day Day Lewis's son.


Thinking your black counts, right?

Galwayguy35

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

If it was humanly possible, I'd like to see Michael D. in power forever.

Yeah he seems to be settling into the job nicely all right, he was definately the best canidate for the job, I'd say Gallagher could have got it only he got caught out a few days before the election.

Galwayguy35

Shout Dust wrote: »

Could happen if the right candidate emerges, wouldn't be that big a deal, we don't have the same problem with race relations as the US did. Closest you could get to compare situations is maybe Travellers?

Not really, we haven't a history of hanging Travellers from trees here.

Nodin

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

If it was humanly possible, I'd like to see Michael D. in power forever.

Unfortunately as he's living in the human world now, he's subject to time as it passes here.

Legs.Eleven

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

If it was humanly possible, I'd like to see Michael D. in power forever.

I'd like to see him in a role where he actually has power. If Michael D. was our benevolent dictator I'm sure we'd have had proper legislation for gay marriage and abortion by now.

Nodin

Nodin wrote: »

Unfortunately as he's living in the human world now, he's subject to time as it passes here.

but....he's a wizard!


Anyways, I'm saying around 2100, 2050 is a bit close.

hsianloon

Would be a good idea. Not to stereotype but most black's ( in Ireland mostly Nigerians, Sudanese )I've met are more straightforward speaking than Irish people. Would be a refreshing change compared to the pro forma statements we here everyday.

What about a Traveller taiseoch ?

camel jockey

Racist question.

hsianloon

camel jockey wrote: »

Racist question.

What's racist about it? Because we're suggesting someone who isn't white ?

fryup

nevermind a black president, isn't it about time we had a black newscaster on RTE to reflect the racial diversity in this country

camel jockey

fryup wrote: »

nevermind a black president, isn't it about time we had a black newscaster on RTE to reflect the racial diversity in this country

Hardly. What % of the population is black?

camel jockey

hsianloon wrote: »

What's racist about it? Because we're suggesting someone who isn't white ?

No, because race shouldn't come into it.

Howard Juneau

We've already had an Indian muslim TD, a black president isn't that much of a stretch imo