March 8th - What’s your vote? **Mod Note In Post #677**

I haven't been scrutinising it, but it seems like FG and the Greens, of the three coalition parties, are taking most of the hit on this. Am I wrong? Mícheál Martin is the exception, his poor performance on Prime Time during the week did nothing for the Yes side.

Interesting the posts above re the difference in FF and FG voters. I feel whereas FG is firmly in an identity crisis, on top of which it's experienced front bench are departing. FF has an opportunity to claim the large and expanding centre ground, particularly outside Dublin.

I think now is a good time for MM to go and let someone from the centre take over, someone who can move the party into the middle and make centre right politics a respectable choice again. There has to be a strategy in that for them, it's clear FG are in shock, and SF who had maybe been filling the vacuum are not really in that space.

There are two challenges: time, as in is there enough time before a GE to pivot (arguably not) and leader (I am not sure who could do it, maybe JO'C, maybe Barry Cowen).

I know people will say he was never a good leader, others will say FF should never be allowed grow again; the real politik is that MM managed a transitionary period for FF, but allowed FG too much rein in setting policy. He has done what he was appointed to do (ensure the party survived) but is not the leader for the next phase. There is still an opportunity in the centre and no one outside of independents there to capitalise.

I think McGrath, but equally Donoghue have done excellent jobs; not many after that (Mícheál Martin I might say as third, which indicates the poor calibre in cabinet at the moment).

Pascal will leave politics at the end of this term, shame I would have liked him as FGs leader. McGrath is very competent, but not sure he is seen as leader.

Martin is a paranoid leader. He sidelined anyone who might challenge him, like you say Cowen but also O'Callaghan.

The video below is about the opinion polls before the referendum and how they got it so wrong.

One point the video does not bring up is the possibility that the opinion polls were wrong because someone or some group of people were trying to influence the outcome. After all, if you think the referendum will be carried, you are less likely to bother going out and voting against it. And, I suspect if such trickery were aplay, it wasn`t for the first time. The recent use of commissions to tell us how to vote is an obvious attempt to subvert democracy, especially when they spread misinformation as highlighted by Gript Media.

Here is that video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4CXjBoQ2Zs

I wouldn't be so sure - up until 2020 he has always gone through on the first count (if memory serves). The last election was the 6th count. Obviously a lot would depend on who else runs in the constituency etc but Id wager a bet that if he gets an out he will take it.

I will say something about Michael Martin, if you don't mind.

Micheal Martin is the single worst politician to ever set foot inside Leinster house.

Outside of his own constituency, the man is a highly unlikeable character. The only talent he has is saying a lot, without actually saying anything at all. He is crass, dishes out personal insults to his opposers. He is a weak debator. A weak orator. He tries to mimic Bertie Ahern with forced befuddlement and verbal stutter. He was front and center in the most damaging governments the country has ever seen. He got and continues to get way too much mileage for the smoking ban legislation. He is literally, only running off the fumes of this.

The country is sick and tired of him and Leo Varadkar. It is beyond a joke at this stage.

Government are so out of touch with the normal every day people of our nation ,

Leo has to be the most disliked politician in the country since about 2019 , that a 5 year run

I think a more appropriate comment is that you are sick of all of them. The specific parties you listed attracted 76% in the latest opinion poll from March 2nd.

Also, Aodhan O'Riordain is in Labour, not the Soc Dems...

Well, thats the end of her. At least O'Dea kept his head down (i think) until today, this one was actively campaigning for something she didnt believe in. The only thing worse than being a liar and a hypocrite is the public catching you red-handed being a liar and a hypocrite.

It's interesting to not that the same small cabal of people (inside their Official Ireland bubble) who tried to get mothers removed from the constitution are now going to use the whip system in Dáil Éireann to pass THEIR bill on what THEY define as hate speech.

These people are fascists and would have removed women from the constitution long ago if a referendum were not required.

She's looking for a role where she doesn't need the vote of the general public by running to be an MEP where she needs to first be elected by the general public?

That's not my point. I was just highlighting the illogical comment that she's looking for a role where she doesn't need the vote of the public but that role is specifically one they needs to be voted in.

I have no time for Lisa Chambers or her politics, but can we at least be logical with comments?

Apologies, I had that wrong and amended post accordingly.

they are clearly out of touch and this clarifies what many suspected ,

they do live in a bubble of media darlings and politically focused NGOs

But it galls me that TDs/Senators didn't break ranks - cos I can imagine many rural TDs don't inhabit the NGO / Media bubble... where was their backbone.

after the fact is no good. that actually even worse makes them look like rats deserting a sinking ship

Oh look... colour me surprised (not!)

Now we know why they didn't want to release the details of these meetings in advance. All the things that people here were concerned about were certainly not unfounded as it turns out.

Right decision made by the people last week.