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Why bother electing a president

Pretzeluck

Seriously, his power are almost nonexistent. Is it to give a false sense of democracy and keep everyone thinking that their vote does something?

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Gremlinertia

It seems better than whoever the leader of the party in power is getting the title automatically imo.

flookdgates

Yeah it does seem pointless and a shameful waste of our money. I don't understand why Midget Parasite Higgins is popular or what he has achieved during his presidency? It seems like a big meme being forced by the journal and similar clickbait sites that he is the nation's harmless old grandad with the Michael "Tea" Higgins tea cozy etc. In reality he is a short-statured and short-tempered little commie afraid of having a to get a real job, aggressively calling others wanker on radio when losing the debate.

Victor

I refer you to the dissolution of the 23rd Government of Ireland and the shenanigans that Fianna Fáil tried to pull when they didn't have a Dáil majority.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24th_Government_of_Ireland

Peregrinus

What Victor said. The President's powers are insignficant, until they're signficant.

KevRossi

I think the post should be kept. But no more than €100,000 in wages and a €50,000 pension.

Has one or two significant powers, but being the state representative he saves us sending some of the other politicians abroad constantly.

Bob Harris

An election is fairer (marginally) than eenie meenie miny mo.

_Brian

While the role is mostly figurehead of the country it does have some important duties.

I’d always want the keep the role and think Michael D has done a fine job, he’s intelligent and eloquent and represents us well, sure he could dress a bit better. But I’ll happily vote for him again and have no doubt he will be re-elected.

The cost point is mute as many of the duties would still exist and go to a politician who would no doubt spend equally as much if not more.

From a national pride of the republic it’s important to hold our heritage in a valued place and understand its value.

tabby aspreme

Gavin Duffy on rte 1 now, his best shot is he wants to make Ireland more inclusive.

Eggs For Dinner

A Republic needs a President. I'd rather elect one than have the position given out as a jobs for the boys by the political hacks

Beechwoodspark

Gavin Duffy is on morning Ireland at moment. Not a bad interview. I’m open to hearing more from him.

flookdgates

_Brian wrote: »

...Michael D has done a fine job, he’s intelligent and eloquent and represents us well...

I hear that a lot in discussion about Higgins but please be specific. What has he achieved during his term as president? How has he changed Ireland for the better? If the benchmark for success is "he hasn't ****ed up" then we have depressingly low standards. Calling someone a wanker on radio isn't intelligent or eloquent btw. It's typical of a hot-head losing the debate.

weldoninhio

Eggs For Dinner wrote: »

A Republic needs a President. I'd rather elect one than have the position given out as a jobs for the boys by the political hacks

Don't the "boys" decide whether to run a candidate or not??

Anyone should be able to run.

tabby aspreme

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

Gavin Duffy is on morning Ireland at moment. Not a bad interview. I’m open to hearing more from him.

As a media advisor and coach for two of our Taoisigh I'm sure you will, all this country needs is a PR guru as President

endacl

Pretzeluck wrote: »

Seriously, his power are almost nonexistent. Is it to give a false sense of democracy and keep everyone thinking that their vote does something?

We do it to give you something to disingenuously ‘misunderstand’ and start a stupid thread about.

seamus

Gavin Duffy is a ****ing chancer.

Michael D came out yesterday calling for a ban on gambling advertisements around sport. Do you think a "businessman" like Duffy would? No way, too many fingers in the pies to risk upsetting his networks.

The only thing Duffy is interested in is increasing his profile. Elected at 58, retire at 65 to two decades of expensive speaking engagements in rooms filled with red-nosed pigs.

ohnonotgmail

flookdgates wrote: »

I hear that a lot in discussion about Higgins but please be specific. What has he achieved during his term as president? How has he changed Ireland for the better? If the benchmark for success is "he hasn't ****ed up" then we have depressingly low standards. Calling someone a wanker on radio isn't intelligent or eloquent btw. It's typical of a hot-head losing the debate.

It is not his job to change the country. It is his job to represent it. And that he has done with dignity and good humour.

[Deleted User]

Its far to long an office to hold, seven years is it?, but i do agree it should not be handed out or go unchallenged it would just water down the position for me.

I hope someone runs against president Higgins i just wouldn't like him to get another seven years by the fact that no one ran against him.

Also couldn't we just text in our votes for this rather than going to a booth?

flookdgates

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

It is not his job to change the country. It is his job to represent it. And that he has done with dignity and good humour.

A dwarf walking around in an oversized suit is not what I'd call dignified. As for humour, it's more laughing at him than with him.

ohnonotgmail

flookdgates wrote: »

A dwarf walking around in an oversized suit is not what I'd call dignified. As for humour, it's more laughing at him than with him.

Having a well educated and well spoken person representing us abroad can only be a good thing. Plus he has 2 lovely dogs. Who doesn't like nice dogs?

whisky_galore

weldoninhio wrote: »

Don't the "boys" decide whether to run a candidate or not??

Anyone should be able to run.

"Anyone" can't run for president, you need to have serious money to even consider running.

Xterminator

flookdgates wrote: »
A dwarf walking around in an oversized suit is not what I'd call dignified. As for humour, it's more laughing at him than with him.

Its your comments that are not dignified. i didn't vote for MichaelD but i have been very impressed with the way he has conducted himself while carrying out his duties.

As for the comment the office of president has no powers or value, as the old slogan goes, Before you make up your mind, open it.

flookdgates

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

Maybe he swiftly withdrew it because it is bollix?

Did you know Varadkar was gay before he officially came out?

weldoninhio

whisky_galore wrote: »

"Anyone" can't run for president, you need to have serious money to even consider running.

Nope, the politicians decide if you can run.

You may be nominated as President by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas (that is the Dail and the Seanad) or by at least 4 local authorities.

ohnonotgmail

flookdgates wrote: »

Did you know Varadkar was gay before he officially came out?

How is that relevant?

Squatter

tabby aspreme wrote: »

As a media advisor and coach for two of our Taoisigh I'm sure you will, all this country needs is a PR guru as President

I'm pretty sure that you were trying to be sarcastic, but actually you're 100% correct!

flookdgates

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

How is that relevant?

I suspect you are clueless about the personal lives of senior politicians in Ireland. You only believe Higgins is a happily married heterosexual because that is the image RTE spoonfeed you. I operate within political circles and could write a book on the stories I know. Politicians are normal people too - they go to Tescos, they go to restaurants, they take taxis, they go to bars...some may even be seen stumbling out of gay bars drunk at 2am

ohnonotgmail

flookdgates wrote: »

I suspect you are clueless about the personal lives of senior politicians in Ireland. You only believe Higgins is a happily married heterosexual because that is the image RTE spoonfeed you. I operate within political circles and could write a book on the stories I know. Politicians are normal people too - they go to Tescos, they go to restaurants, they take taxis, they go to bars...some may even be seen stumbling out of gay bars drunk at 2am

Why would i care about their personal lives when said personal lives do not interfere with their work? I have stumbled out of many gay bars drunk at 2am and that is nobodies business but mine.

Berserker

Eggs For Dinner wrote: »

A Republic needs a President. I'd rather elect one than have the position given out as a jobs for the boys by the political hacks

Why can't Leo do both jobs?

seamus wrote: »

The only thing Duffy is interested in is increasing his profile. Elected at 58, retire at 65 to two decades of expensive speaking engagements in rooms filled with red-nosed pigs.

Agree with you 100%. My BS detector went into overdrive when I heard him. He knows how to appeal to the masses, so he'll do well. He's started the ball rolling on the equality spiel already. He'll be set for life if he gets that gig and he knows it.

flookdgates wrote: »

Here is a story Boards desperately wants to bury. It's an open secret in political circles that Michael D Higgins is a closeted gay man with his lover "Kevin".

Couldn't care less if the man is gay and it's one of many stories that are kept hidden about the political classes.

Beechwoodspark

flookdgates wrote: »

I suspect you are clueless about the personal lives of senior politicians in Ireland. You only believe Higgins is a happily married heterosexual because that is the image RTE spoonfeed you. I operate within political circles and could write a book on the stories I know. Politicians are normal people too - they go to Tescos, they go to restaurants, they take taxis, they go to bars...some may even be seen stumbling out of gay bars drunk at 2am

It’s a rumour yes. Been doing the rounds for years. I’ve heard salacious stories involving many politicians.

Sometimes such stories are spread maliciously.

aaakev

flookdgates wrote: »

I suspect you are clueless about the personal lives of senior politicians in Ireland. You only believe Higgins is a happily married heterosexual because that is the image RTE spoonfeed you. I operate within political circles and could write a book on the stories I know. Politicians are normal people too - they go to Tescos, they go to restaurants, they take taxis, they go to bars...some may even be seen stumbling out of gay bars drunk at 2am

Iv stumbled out of gay bars at 2am, does that make me gay?