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Presidential Election 2025

24567…73

Comments

  • #32
    notJoeJoe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 42 ✭notJoeJoe


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121810919#Comment_121810919

    What I meant was, it felt like Childers, Hillery, de Valera etc. were essentially given the Presidency for the long time they had served in politics and their parties. Higgins wasn't that, he actually brought something to the table as a president and wasn't just handed it for his 'service' to the country.

    Interestingly, Mary 1 and Mary 2 were both 46 when they became president. In 2025, a 46 year old would have been born in 1979!

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #33
    Brussels Sprout
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,849 ✭✭✭Brussels Sprout


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121811877#Comment_121811877


    Kenny wasn't a good debater or public speaker but that doesn't mean that he wasn't charismatic. I know someone who worked for the IDA in America. They saw both Kenny and Varadkar meet with CEOs of large American companies. They said there was no comparison between them. Kenny had them eating out of his hand whereas Varadkar was aloof and standoffish.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #34
    ELM327
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,196 ✭✭✭✭ELM327


    I'd vote for Bertie. One of our greatest Taoisigh who led the country out of the doldrums into the rise (and fall!) of the celtic tiger.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #35
    L1011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 73,418 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121819454#Comment_121819454

    Bruton's Government did the start of that, the unbanked liar took the credit.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #36
    ELM327
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,196 ✭✭✭✭ELM327


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121819940#Comment_121819940

    John Bull Bruton did the start, yes, but it was predominantly Ahern. If you ask 100 people on the street who caused the celtic tiger for good and bad, 99+ would answer FF/Ahern

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


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  • #37
    L1011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 73,418 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121820048#Comment_121820048

    And 99 of them would be wrong, having been conned by the conman.

    Ahern inherited a working system and was lucky that his profligate Minister for Finance didn't manage to kill it.

    Bertie got exceptionally lucky with being one of the only people ever elected to take over from a competent, non failed Government - this applied to NI also; and also that the UK had got rid of the Tories at the same time.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #38
    pixelburp
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 36,711 CMod ✭✭✭✭pixelburp


    I'm also not sure the lasting cultural footprint of "the Celtic tiger" can be regarded as a net positive either, such that it'd work in any candidates favour to be associated with it. While Bertie is very much a politician of the "cute hoor" mould that would similarly prove toxic to many voters.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #39
    The Phantom Jipper
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 956 ✭✭✭The Phantom Jipper


    Fergus Finlay seems like an interesting option. Currently second favourite in the bookies. Ruairi Quinn who was not on my radar at all for this is third favourite.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #40
    Water John
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,282 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    Finlay would be good. Advocate for disability and children.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #41
    notJoeJoe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 42 ✭notJoeJoe


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121821555#Comment_121821555

    I hadn't realised that there was a lot of support behind him. Maybe? But he would be 75 in 2025. He may be only a one-term president.

    Less keen on Quinn, and he would certainly have to be a one term president at 79 years old.

    I think if any party is going to nominate someone, they need to be 70 or under. I understand the presidency isn't a particularly intensive or important role - unlike Biden as the American president - but I do think we need some middle-aged candidates.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


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  • #42
    Brussels Sprout
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,849 ✭✭✭Brussels Sprout


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121822955#Comment_121822955


    This year is going to be dominated by Biden vs Trump and a lot of conversation is going to be had about how old they are. I agree that our Presidency is nothing like theirs but nonetheless I think the average voter will be affected by that, even on a subliminal level, and thus be more inclined to pick a candidate in the 55-70 range rather than 75+.

    Mairead McGuiness will be 66 by the time of the next election so falls right in that range.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #43
    Pete_Cavan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,440 ✭✭✭Pete_Cavan


    Of former Taoisigh, I think Martin would be the best of them. I assume he'll step away from parliamentary politics ahead of the next GE.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #44
    blackwhite
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,569 ✭✭✭blackwhite


    Mairead McGuinness would be an excellent president, likely in a similar mould to two Marys.

    However I'm surprised that she's the front runner with the bookies.

    Politics has become so polarised in this country that any presidential candidate from any of the "big 3" political parties will be seen as a proxy for voting for that party. I don't have huge faith in the electorate to vote based on who would be the best president, as opposed to voting based on what party they want to see in Government.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #45
    Brussels Sprout
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,849 ✭✭✭Brussels Sprout


    It'll be interesting to see who SF nominate. They're in an interesting bind, in that a lot of their senior party grandees, who would be the natural picks, have a whiff of cordite off of them. They ran into this issue in 2011 when they nominated Martin McGuiness but sidestepped it in 2018 when they went for the relatively low profile candidate, Liadh Ni Riada.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #46
    pixelburp
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 36,711 CMod ✭✭✭✭pixelburp


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121823490#Comment_121823490

    At this early stage, I'd say "big names" get trotted out without any resting volume of interrogation or public discourse. I daresay you ask the average person on the street and they'd not even know there was an Election next year. Christ I had forgotten 'til this thread popped up!

    So until there are quantifiable candidates the ones that are floating about get a free pass 'til the rubber hits the road.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #47
    Water John
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,282 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    McGuinness isn't anything like the two Mary's, except she's also female. Much more right wing, not sure she'd have the social democrat view.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #48
    notJoeJoe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 42 ✭notJoeJoe


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121823226#Comment_121823226

    I think Martin wants to become an EU Commissioner after his term as Taoiseach, but a lot of that is speculation

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #49
    Field east
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,508 ✭✭✭Field east


    And poor Miriam O Cal has not been mentioned to date . What’s going on with ye. She made all the runnning at one particular point in time!

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #50
    mattser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,367 ✭✭✭mattser


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121840911#Comment_121840911

    Genuineeeellllyyyy ? Eh, no.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #51
    expectationlost
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,627 ✭✭✭✭expectationlost


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121823226#Comment_121823226

    another boom and bust cycle politician

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


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  • #52
    expectationlost
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,627 ✭✭✭✭expectationlost


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121822800#Comment_121822800

    and Diageo

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #53
    tayto lover
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 54,760 ✭✭✭✭tayto lover


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121840911#Comment_121840911

    Oh God forbid !! Imagine Precious O'Callaghan as President !! No thanks, that squakey voice would finish me off.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #54
    AMKC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,052 ✭✭✭✭AMKC
    Ms


    Don't forget Ryan Tubridy. Could see him going for it of it kept him on the country for a bit. He would have to give up his gig in the UK do but maybe better hours.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on

    Live long and Prosper

    Peace and long life.



  • #55
    pixelburp
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 36,711 CMod ✭✭✭✭pixelburp


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121857659#Comment_121857659

    I don't see why Tubridy would find the role appealing, given it's a full-time ambassadorial role with a limited but specific legislative responsibility.

    Again though, worth reminding that one doesn't just fill an application form 'cos you want to be President here: it requires support from 20 TDs or 4 Local Authorities before you're on the ballot; IIRC Gemma O'Doherty infamously failed to do so despite a whirlwind tour around the country's councils pleading support. While sure, Tubridy would probably curry more favour and wriggle-room than Conor McGregor ever would - he'd have to get that support in the first place.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #56
    blanch152
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,293 ✭✭✭✭blanch152


    Looking outside of politics, there are few potential candidates.

    In previous decades, someone like T.K. Whitaker or Peter Sutherland, as non-politicians, might have been good Presidents, but similar figures from the present such as Robert Watt, or in the private sector, like Michael O'Leary or Denis O'Brien, simply aren't suitable.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #57
    Sam Russell
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 20,465 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sam Russell


    Anyone in business would be unlikely to be interested, or suitable.

    Mairead McGuinness might be a possible. She will be at a loose end after the new Irish Commissioner is appointed.

    Éanna Ní Lamhna might be another possible. She has a lot going for her and little against.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #58
    Brussels Sprout
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,849 ✭✭✭Brussels Sprout


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121858183#Comment_121858183


    She'd be absolutely pilloried by Rural Ireland as anti-farmer purely because she's an advocate for nature and wildlife

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #59
    L1011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 73,418 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121860793#Comment_121860793

    Rural Ireland isn't enough to prevent a candidate winning. I suspect that vote went Casey last time and he was distant second.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


  • #60
    pixelburp
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 36,711 CMod ✭✭✭✭pixelburp


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121858132#Comment_121858132

    The likes of Sean Gallagher and Peter Casey's campaigns demonstrated that businessmen and entrepreneurs can be pig bloody ignorant about the actual nature of the role in the first place, begging the question as to how they made their wealth in the first place. I can only imagine the blather O'Leary or O'Brien might come out with, though neither would feel enthused about the idealistic, ambassadorial aspect of the role.

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


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  • #61
    Brussels Sprout
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,849 ✭✭✭Brussels Sprout


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121860829#Comment_121860829


    No but it doesn't help to have a sizable minority against you in an election that requires a majority to win

    Typically the people who win these contests attract support and preferences from all across society

    Post edited by Seth Brundle on


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