Ms. McHugh and national broadcaster

topper75

The nation is littered with failed election candidates. Some over the years dust themselves down and succeed at a future poll. Some never make it.

Such is the will of the people.

RTÉ normally doesn't focus on these and that is reasonable. We want to hear the points of view of those who were actually chosen and in office.

However, there is one failed candidate that they do give a platform to. That is ex-Green Saoirse McHugh. I would love to know why.

https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2020/0723/1155056-saoirse-mchugh/

An article appeared on the website this morning addressing somebody leaving a party who was twice unsuccessful in elections, and with a minor party. Bizarre.

I also recall a Drivetime radio interview after the Euro failure. It was quite slanted towards her and it sounded like two best friends having a consoling chat. Can anybody recall a similar treatment for somebody who never succeeded electorally? Is this news or agenda pushing?

Sir Guy who smiles

She is still a long way back in airtime from Peter Casey, a fellow multiple election loser.

circadian

Sir Guy who smiles wrote: »

She is still a long way back in airtime from Peter Casey, a fellow multiple election loser.

And a massive tube, as they'd say in up Creggan.

nigeldaniel

It take a lot of guts to be a politician and sometimes I think the odd one comes along and just does not fancy it when they see the job warts and all. I know nothing of McHugh so will not judge her decision for now.

cml387

I notice that she says that her cause cannot be advanced by "electoral politics".

What exactly does that mean?

Former Former

It is being reported by quite literally every news outlet in the country.

What is the story with people's weird obsession with RTE? It's very odd.

Eric Cartman

Bets she's going PbP or SD. I think most of her appeal came from her being irelands answer to greta , screams environment but the subtitles say 'marxism'

MFPM

topper75 wrote: »

The nation is littered with failed election candidates. Some over the years dust themselves down and succeed at a future poll. Some never make it.

Such is the will of the people.

RTÉ normally doesn't focus on these and that is reasonable. We want to hear the points of view of those who were actually chosen and in office.

However, there is one failed candidate that they do give a platform to. That is ex-Green Saoirse McHugh. I would love to know why.

https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2020/0723/1155056-saoirse-mchugh/

An article appeared on the website this morning addressing somebody leaving a party who was twice unsuccessful in elections, and with a minor party. Bizarre.

I also recall a Drivetime radio interview after the Euro failure. It was quite slanted towards her and it sounded like two best friends having a consoling chat. Can anybody recall a similar treatment for somebody who never succeeded electorally? Is this news or agenda pushing?

Is this news or agenda pushing?

It's news -she created a stir in the Euros, she came from relative obscurity to doing well and many people thought she was in with a good shout of a Dail seat but it didn't happen. The media love controversy and she has been a vocal opponent of the GP going into government so they'll afford her a platform.

Who's agenda is being pushed? the entire media establishment pushed for the GP to go into government, the papers were full of journalists arguing for them to be 'responsible' etc....People like Mc Hugh were almost ridiculed in the process.

Fair play to her, she is clearly driven by principle.

timmyntc

cml387 wrote: »

I notice that she says that her cause cannot be advanced by "electoral politics".

What exactly does that mean?

It means she failed to get elected at all levels and can't accept why - "Am I so out of touch? No, it's the electorate who are wrong"

topper75

Fair parallel on the Casey thing I suppose. No success but much airtime. There was a huge difference though in that there was no cosying up - rather the opposite.

I don't want to question Ms. McHugh per se here or the internal workings of the Greens. Damn it - if I put myself in her boots of course I'm not going to pass up media opportunities. You grab it all as an aspiring politician.

It is really about strange editorial stances. I can't help feel that a line is being pushed by a supposedly neutral agency.

JohnnyFlash

She always came across as a bit of a crusty to be honest. Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan vibe off her. I’d say the Green Party are glad to see the back of her.

MFPM

Eric Cartman wrote: »

Bets she's going PbP or SD. I think most of her appeal came from her being irelands answer to greta , screams environment but the subtitles say 'marxism'

There's likely to be a green/left grouping incorporating PBPA/RISE and perhaps Solidarty and others and she may get involved in that but I'd be surprised if she joined any of the existing groups.

the subtitles say 'marxism'

I haven't seen or read anything from her that indicates she's a 'marxist' though if she was, what's the problem?

StupidLikeAFox

cml387 wrote: »

I notice that she says that her cause cannot be advanced by "electoral politics".

What exactly does that mean?

More questions like this will see you sent to the gulag comrade

Eric Cartman

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

She always came across as a bit of a crusty to be honest. Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan vibe off her. I’d say the Green Party are glad to see the back of her.

her column in thejournal was enough to make her fail again at the polls, It was clear her agenda was heavily rooted in a brand of politics that was far too left for most green voters and party members.

paw patrol

cml387 wrote: »

I notice that she says that her cause cannot be advanced by "electoral politics".

What exactly does that mean?

the khmer rouge.
Most Greens have a touch of the authoritarian about them.

The gullible protest vote that left FF and FG have no idea who they've given a seat at the table too.

EmmetSpiceland

Eric Cartman wrote: »

Bets she's going PbP or SD. I think most of her appeal came from her being irelands answer to greta , screams environment but the subtitles say 'marxism'

The green and red menace. A very Mayo conspiracy.

Eric Cartman

MFPM wrote: »

There's likely to be a green/left grouping incorporating PBPA/RISE and perhaps Solidarty and others and she may get involved in that but I'd be surprised if she joined any of the existing groups.



I haven't seen or read anything from her that indicates she's a 'marxist' though if she was, what's the problem?

the Green Party aren't marxists , she'd be the extremist in their midst.

https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/saoirse-mchugh-column-capitalism-4884073-Nov2019/

from twitter today :

The
@JTG_ie
are an affiliate group that has been set up.
While I am not involved with them anymore (I couldn’t stomach being affiliated with the greens) I support and understand what they are doing.
I hope they break off and form an actual eco socialist party 4/

Eric Cartman

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

The green and red menace. A very Mayo conspiracy.

the watermelon , green on the outside, red on the inside.

MFPM

paw patrol wrote: »

the khmer rouge.
Most Greens have a touch of the authoritarian about them.

The gullible protest vote that left FF and FG have no idea who they've given a seat at the table too.

Nonsense. She means people campaigning and protesting about issues.

MFPM

Eric Cartman wrote: »

the Green Party aren't marxists , she'd be the extremist in their midst.

https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/saoirse-mchugh-column-capitalism-4884073-Nov2019/

from twitter today :

I'm aware the GP aren't 'marxists' but I've seen nothing to suggest McHugh is one either. As for 'extremist' - that's a lazy term used by people to discredit something or someone they disagree with....It's rather meaningless.

paw patrol

Eric Cartman wrote: »

the Green Party aren't marxists , she'd be the extremist in their midst.
:

i agree she is an extremist but most greens are marxist at heart.
They believe in the whole communal ideal where we aren't really individuals , it's less in your face cos they hide behind that quirky hippy veneer.
But if they could force their will on you. they will.


Once they dispose of Eamon Ryan the original greens will be dead.
Nobody of the calibre of Sargent , McKenna or the political acumen of Dan Boyle (i'm not a huge fan of him but I respect his ability) remains
I guess chemical cuffe is still about knocking about in Europe doing wtf ?

But the point remains , they throw in some environmental stuff to impose on other but at heart it's a party of SJWs.

Poor_old_gill

RTE thinks she's 'young & with it, tuka tuka tuka', etc.

However she's not - she's my age and most people my age (that I know) think she's a fantasist loonball who was never a serious politician.

"Communes" sure thing love
"General strike" (said in deliriously excited voice) - ok what will that achieve?

A student politician who has never grown up

namloc1980

topper75 wrote: »

An article appeared on the website this morning addressing somebody leaving a party who was twice unsuccessful in elections, and with a minor party. Bizarre.

Three times actually. Rejected at the EP election, General Election and Seanad election.

Poor_old_gill

Poor_old_gill wrote: »

RTE thinks she's 'young & with it, tuka tuka tuka', etc.

All that matters to the mandarins, BOTH YOUNG AND OLD IN RTÉ

banie01

cml387 wrote: »

I notice that she says that her cause cannot be advanced by "electoral politics".

What exactly does that mean?

Funnily enough in the nonsense word salad her leaving statement contained.
That's what jumped out at me too.

I don’t believe that our pathway to a just and free society lies in electoral politics.
I have seen how brilliant and brave people are bullied and silenced within parties that profess to be grounded in equality and democracy.
I’ve seen how much effort and energy gets taken up 4/

If the electorate isn't choosing her?
The electorate itself must be overthrown? Because democratic process hasnt given the answers she supports, it must be wrong and as such gotten rid of.

If one cannot build a consensus and gain support for their manifesto or policy through discourse!
I'd tend to agree that person has no place in political life or in trying to foist policy or politics on others.

Poor_old_gill

Deleted User wrote: »

All that matters to the mandarins, BOTH YOUNG AND OLD IN RTÉ

I read through her policies before and they were laughable.

Genuinely reminds me of student politician.

Remember folks 'the man' is bad

JohnnyFlash

She’ll probably end up joining the Shinners and then quit when she finds out they are close with diesel smugglers and illegal landfill operators.

is_that_so

Poor_old_gill wrote: »

RTE thinks she's 'young & with it, tuka tuka tuka', etc.

However she's not - she's my age and most people my age (that I know) think she's a fantasist loonball who was never a serious politician.

"Communes" sure thing love
"General strike" (said in deliriously excited voice) - ok what will that achieve?

A student politician who has never grown up

What Joe Duffy and Fintan O'Toole were like 40 years ago. TBH she's off on a very lonely furrow and may just end up a permanently disgruntled activist.

Poor_old_gill

is_that_so wrote: »

What Joe Duffy and Fintan O'Toole were like 40 years ago. TBH she's off on a very lonely furrow and may just end up a permanently disgruntled activist.

I dont know that much about Joe Duffy but if you want to compare her to man who tells old people "ah jesus thats awful" to every ailment that they have for a living then that's your choice.

She's an intellectual pygmy compared to Fintan O Toole

KyussB

MFPM wrote: »

...
I haven't seen or read anything from her that indicates she's a 'marxist' though if she was, what's the problem?

It's more that half of the posters here are Neo-McCarthyite's - to the point that anyone who isn't a FG supporter is a Marxist.

is_that_so

is_that_so wrote: »

What Joe Duffy and Fintan O'Toole were like 40 years ago. TBH she's off on a very lonely furrow and may just end up a permanently disgruntled activist.

which is a valid choice

but why is it national news?

she was a story when she looked like achieving something in electoral politics against all odds, and fair play to her for that effort

everything since has been a demonstration of why those odds were against her

idealists have no right to anything outside of the system that we all live and work in, we all have ideals ffs

MFPM

paw patrol wrote: »

i agree she is an extremist but most greens are marxist at heart.
They believe in the whole communal ideal where we aren't really individuals , it's less in your face cos they hide behind that quirky hippy veneer.
But if they could force their will on you. they will.


Once they dispose of Eamon Ryan the original greens will be dead.
Nobody of the calibre of Sargent , McKenna or the political acumen of Dan Boyle (i'm not a huge fan of him but I respect his ability).
I guess chemical cuffe is still about knocking about in Europe doing wtf ?

But the point remains , they throw in some environmental stuff to impose on other but at heart it's a party of SJWs.

but most greens are marxist at heart.

That's simply absurd....75% of their membership voted in favour of a poor programme for government with two right wing parties, a programme where the Greens won very little of substance - how on earth does this tally with their 'marxist' credentials?

They believe in the whole communal ideal where we aren't really individuals ,

In other words they believe in a 'soceity'?

whippet

it follows the form that the far left will alway shy away from government - grant it she wasn't elected but this genre of politician will never want to be in the seat making decisions.

Earthhorse

She's young, good looking and well spoken (regardless of whether you agree with what she's saying). She also represents an alternative voice (but not a frightening one). That makes her very media friendly. There's really no mystery here.

statesaver

She was in Shiit Fein before joining the Greens. Never knew that.

sabat

She always reminds me of this guy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgMgkl-gRxk

Itssoeasy

I'm not one bit shocked by this and in her statement she knows people will hardly be shocked either. I mean I may have misgivings about the Green Party but I think Eamonn Ryan is well meaning but saoirse mchugh several times during the election campaign directly went against her party leader on policy positions. Am I remembering correctly but didn't she say she wanted to change the government structure of the country ? Also if her aims aren't fulfilled by electoral politics as she said this morning how exactly does she plan to fulfill her aims ? I mean for someone who's never been elected to anything she got an awful lot of airtime over one decent TV debate. Although, I saw one reply to her tweets asking "cam she still represent the greens as an MEP" so maybe it's not hard to see why she gets attention if people believe she's actually been elected to something.

We shall see which party she decides to join and hopefully someone will remind her that to be in a party you need to be on board with the majority of the policies.

Edgware

She's had her 15 minutes of fame. Triple loser at elections. She didn't get her own way so decided to leave the party rather than continue as a party member and work to influence policy.
Too many like her in politics so no great loss. Very easy sit on the ditch moaning instead of working away and making gradual changes

Edgware

sabat wrote: »

She always reminds me of this guy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgMgkl-gRxk

More like "this week I'm on prunes"

topper75

Earthhorse wrote: »

She's young, good looking and well spoken ... represents an alternative voice ... There's really no mystery here.

Attributes that are all true of many young failed candidates of all shades down the years.

So I'm afraid the mystery still stands for me.

MFPM

Edgware wrote: »

She's had her 15 minutes of fame. Triple loser at elections. She didn't get her own way so decided to leave the party rather than continue as a party member and work to influence policy.
Too many like her in politics so no great loss. Very easy sit on the ditch moaning instead of working away and making gradual changes

She's had her 15 minutes of fame.

I'm not sure she was in it for the 'fame' or that she's going anywhere.

Triple loser at elections.

Many politicians lose elections....

She didn't get her own way so decided to leave the party rather than continue as a party member and work to influence policy.

It's not about getting 'her way' - she and others rightly opposed the GP doing a deal with FF and FG, unfortunately a majority of the GP membership backed the programme, she's decided that she could no longer support the party and will continue to fight for what she believes outside the GP - it's quite principled.

Too many like her in politics so no great loss.

I'm afraid there are too few like her...as to whether she is 'no loss' I suppose that depends on your political viewpoint.

Very easy sit on the ditch moaning instead of working away and making gradual changes

But she's not sitting on the ditch, that's the point, she's active on a multitude of issues precisely trying to make gradual changes.

suicide_circus

MFPM wrote: »

75% of their membership voted in favour of a poor programme for government with two right wing parties

You must be of an exceedingly delicate disposition if you consider FFG to be "right wing"

Edgware

MFPM wrote: »

I'm not sure she was in it for the 'fame' or that she's going anywhere.



Many politicians lose elections....



It's not about getting 'her way' - she and others rightly opposed the GP doing a deal with FF and FG, unfortunately a majority of the GP membership backed the programme, she's decided that she could no longer support the party and will continue to fight for what she believes outside the GP - it's quite principled.



I'm afraid there are too few like her...as to whether she is 'no loss' I suppose that depends on your political viewpoint.



But she's not sitting on the ditch, that's the point, she's active on a multitude of issues precisely trying to make gradual changes.

Let us know when she is being canonised

MFPM

suicide_circus wrote: »

You must be of an exceedingly delicate disposition if you consider FFG to be "right wing"

You must be exceedingly naive if you consider FF and in particular, FG to be anything but right-wing...FF historically have adopted a left veneer when it suits them while fundamentally wedded to the market.

Irishman80

Not a big follower of politics in general but couldn't help noticing her with the media frenzy around her.

Am I right here - She's the person who doesn't work, lives on an small island, grows her own food, and lectures the working class about "Climate Justice", whatever that is.

Problem with these upper middle class people is they have no experience or understanding of true working class people.

Fann Linn

Sir Guy who smiles wrote: »

She is still a long way back in airtime from Peter Casey, a fellow multiple election loser.

And don't forget Ivana Bacik.

MFPM

Edgware wrote: »

Let us know when she is being canonised

Let me know when you have a cogent objective argument.

MFPM

Irishman80 wrote: »

Not a big follower of politics in general but couldn't help noticing her with the media frenzy around her.

Am I right here - She's the person who doesn't work, lives on an small island, grows her own food, and lectures the working class about "Climate Justice", whatever that is.

Problem with these upper middle class people is they have no experience or understanding of true working class people.

Speaking as a working class person, I've never felt lectured by her andif you don't know what climate justice is why don't you find out and then make a coherent and thought out argument.

KyussB

suicide_circus wrote: »

You must be of an exceedingly delicate disposition if you consider FFG to be "right wing"

Since when is austerity left-wing?

Richard Hillman

She is one of them. Apart of the establishment hivemind. She will waltz off to a cushy NGO job to become a professional activist, which unfortunately for her won't be as lucrative as politics but will be good for her ego, profile and longevity. You don't need to be accountable in the NGO industry. All you need to do is woo like-minded people in government for funding. And she will get tons of that with all of her media appearances.

Poor_old_gill

Earthhorse wrote: »

She's young, good looking and well spoken (regardless of whether you agree with what she's saying). She also represents an alternative voice (but not a frightening one). That makes her very media friendly. There's really no mystery here.

All highly debatable- 30 isn’t young, don’t think she’s good looking & why should that matter, and she speaks absolute incoherent nonsense with a quasi American accent while being from mayo.

Deserves no airtime until she does something in politics