Miriam for President?

Cork Boy 53

http://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/newsireland/miriam-ocallaghan-on-top-of-fianna-f%c3%a1il-candidate-wish-list-for-presidential-election/ar-BBHaJIt?li=BBr5KbJ

A ridiculous idea or is there any merit in this proposal?

johnnyskeleton

Mod note:

Hi OP,

Please read the charter re: standards of opening post and the requirement to set out your own view on the issue to get the debate rolling.

Cork Boy 53

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

Mod note:

Hi OP,

Please read the charter re: standards of opening post and the requirement to set out your own view on the issue to get the debate rolling.

OK sorry my apologies.

I think this is a totally ridiculous idea. IMO it would make Fianna Fail a laughing stock in much the same way as the idea that was floated previously regarding approaching Gay Byrne as a candidate.

DanMurphy

Could all go tits up for FF alright.

mattser

ABB

Jimbob1977

The tradition is that the incumbent President is not challenged and it becomes a procession.

Michael D. Higgins would comfortably beat any contender.

elperello

Whoever gets the gig at least the wheels are sorted.

http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/president-michael-d-higgins-gets-11742617

Creol1

Ms O'Callaghan already arguably has a conflict of interest as the sister of a senior FF TD. How long are her employers going to allow her to flirt with FF before requiring her to clarify whether or not she is willing to accept the FF nomination?

The list of people named by the Indo as possible contenders reminds me of the last campaign and how anyone who's anyone seems to get mentioned; nowadays, you're nobody if you're not being linked with a presidential run. Even Síle de Valera was mentioned; she hasn't been heard of for donkey's years.

elperello

MDH gave a hostage to fortune when he said he would be a one term President.
The current speculation flows from his refusal to confirm his intentions.
It is unedifying and in the long term damaging to the standing of the office.

Dr Crayfish

Why would this person be given any public office? Personally I think she's a disgrace having 8 kids in this day and age. Sends a poor message of irresponsibility.

Mr.Micro

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

Why would this person be given any public office? Personally I think she's a disgrace having 8 kids in this day and age. Sends a poor message of irresponsibility.

I find it more amazing that she had time. She lives on RTE and loves being on TV. Keep MDH.

Itssoeasy

Terrible terrible idea. As has been said the fact that our current president is not making his intentions known for what happens next year is creating this vacuum and people will speculate.

It does raise the question of who will be our next president though. And when you ask yourself that question, the names aren't plentiful.

I think Mary Robinson, and especially Mary McAleese did great service to the office of the president of Ireland. I've been rewatching Mary McAleese speeches and she is excellent, as is Michael D Higgins who has an ability to strike the right tone in whatever settting he is in. I watched his address in Britian where he spoke to the House of Commons and he really did speak very well.

Itssoeasy

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

Why would this person be given any public office? Personally I think she's a disgrace having 8 kids in this day and age. Sends a poor message of irresponsibility.

Does it ? Surely it was her choice to have eight children.

kneemos

One plus point of the presidency is you don't hear much from them. In that regard Miriam would be a perfect candidate.

AndyBoBandy

elperello wrote: »

Whoever gets the gig at least the wheels are sorted.

http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/president-michael-d-higgins-gets-11742617

What a horrendously stupid article.

‘A source said’.....

The source probably being Billy who sells newspapers on a street corner. They might as well ask their source what they think of our Navy burning all that fuel ‘cruising’ around our coasts, and how many homes that fuel could heat....

“They were custom built for the president” - yes, as are all cars of this nature. I’d be willing to bet the guys at BMW didn’t get a list of specs required specifically for Michael D, rather they received an order for 2 VIP cars to their VIP/executive car section, and at best the cars were ordered with specs/extras on offer for anyone who pays for them.

I’m so glad I don’t read those type of rag papers.


My opinion on Miriam for president? Absolutely not. (Though I’d almost like her to go for it in the hope she’d be uttterly decimated at the polls and even beaten by a Lord Buckethead type ‘joke’ candidate).
I’d be more than happy for Michael D. Higgins to serve another term. Preferably unopposed.

Wildsurfer

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

Why would this person be given any public office? Personally I think she's a disgrace having 8 kids in this day and age. Sends a poor message of irresponsibility.

I hope your only joking...

Dr Crayfish

I'm not joking. Unless you're a traveller or living off the welfare why would an educated person think it's sustainable to be having 8 kids? And the media portray her as a role model. Never mind the global population epidemic if we all start having 8 kids this country would be utterly f**ked.

AndyBoBandy

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

Why would an educated person think it's sustainable to be having 8 kids?

Well in fairness she works for RTÉ.

She’s guaranteed to have at least 3 of those 8 kids presenting their own shows in the next 10-15 years!!

Wildsurfer

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

I'm not joking. Unless you're a traveller or living off the welfare why would an educated person think it's sustainable to be having 8 kids? And the media portray her as a role model. Never mind the global population epidemic if we all start having 8 kids this country would be utterly f**ked.

I don't think people will start popping out soccer teams if the president happens to have a large family now in fairness, people make their own decisions in life. Why not focus on the fact that as well as obviously loving being a mother, she also maintained a high profile career, and earns 300K a year to look after her family. They will be well educated and will contribute to society, hardly a bad role model.

DeadHand

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

I'm not joking. Unless you're a traveller or living off the welfare why would an educated person think it's sustainable to be having 8 kids? And the media portray her as a role model. Never mind the global population epidemic if we all start having 8 kids this country would be utterly f**ked.

Global overpopulation is not Miriam’s or Ireland’s fault. She shouldn’t need to make lifestyle changes in some misguided attempt to fix it. Indeed, sane immigration policies would have insulated us completely from global overpopulation. Instead, people are offered bedshares in Dublin as the country enjoys an abundance of takeaway delivery men and nightclub toilet attendants.

O’Callaghan paid for her kids and they’ll be raised in an environment that almost totally ensures they will pay for themselves and help pay for those who can’t or won’t.

She is exactly the kind of person that should be encouraged to reproduce.

Paddy De Plasterer

Creol1 wrote: »

Ms O'Callaghan already arguably has a conflict of interest as the sister of a senior FF TD. How long are her employers going to allow her to flirt with FF before requiring her to clarify whether or not she is willing to accept the FF nomination?

The list of people named by the Indo as possible contenders reminds me of the last campaign and how anyone who's anyone seems to get mentioned; nowadays, you're nobody if you're not being linked with a presidential run. Even Síle de Valera was mentioned; she hasn't been heard of for donkey's years.

I agree, she has been mentioned as a contender for ages now. Hope RTE take note

Rubberchikken

Oh my god no. I just couldnt take it.:eek:

NIMAN

Sums up the continued celebification of everything these days.

Did I also hear one of the rte news readers mentioned? Can't remember her name now. Not sure if it was Eileen Dunne or the one that retired a few years back. Anne Doyle?

Miriam would be a shocking choice. FF need theirs heads checked if they run with her.

Ficheall

Surely she wouldn't take the drop in wages?

tayto lover

I can see her campaign slogan now - "Precious for President" but no thanks. She's a joke.

Creol1

NIMAN wrote: »

Sums up the continued celebification of everything these days.

Did I also hear one of the rte news readers mentioned? Can't remember her name now. Not sure if it was Eileen Dunne or the one that retired a few years back. Anne Doyle?

Miriam would be a shocking choice. FF need theirs heads checked if they run with her.

Anne Doyle, according to the Indo.

Ficheall wrote: »

Surely she wouldn't take the drop in wages?

A while ago, I remember even her colleague Joe Duffy (not normally one for the witty riposte) making a similar remark -- that she wouldn't want to move into a smaller house!

Muahahaha

elperello wrote: »

MDH gave a hostage to fortune when he said he would be a one term President.
The current speculation flows from his refusal to confirm his intentions.
It is unedifying and in the long term damaging to the standing of the office.

I like Michael D but he needs to get off the fence on whether or not he is standing again. Right now he is saying he will not make a decision until September 2018 with the Presidential Election due for November 2018. That is simply not fair on any other candidate thinking of running. I have a feeling the media will crank up the pressure on him in the New Year to either declare or decline but to do it soon.

In any case I wouldnt vote for him this time out as another 7 year stint means it is likely he will pass away during his time in office.

As for Miriam well if Michael D runs then she will not. She wont be able to beat him and Michael D will refuse to take part in any election debates so there will be no opportunity for a candidate to distinguish themselves from him.

If Michael D runs again then it is a done deal. If he doesnt and Miriam does then we are in for an entertaining campaign. There is nothing more dirty in Irish politics than a Presidential campaign and Miriam might find herself losing that whiter than white image when a few RTE insiders start the leaks.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Creol1

Muahahaha wrote: »

In any case I wouldnt vote for him this time out as another 7 year stint means it is likely he will pass away during his time in office.

Dev was still president into his nineties. I think Childers was the only president who died in office, and he wasn't too old.

ancapailldorcha

Mod: Serious discussion only please.

AnGaelach

I don't know why people like Michael D so much, he doesn't seem to be very active except in calling for the refugee system to be reformed, angering the Government and confusing the Diplomatic Corp by calling Castro a giant of socialism (with Enda having to say Michael D has his views), threatening to question the constitutionality of a Bill that did try to reform the refugee system (since it tightened the rules instead of loosening them).

Do people simply like him because he comes across as a dottering old man and they don't hear anything controversial from him? In which case, why like him personally since it's a convention of office that the President doesn't criticise the Executive and so on?

I'd prefer if he didn't stand for re-election at all.