Presidential Election 2025

Absolutely if you don't see a benefit in voting for any of the candidates you should absolutely not vote

Assuming that the same number of people and their demographics will vote, yes. There's also the other 24% to be taken into account also though.

In the 2011 GE FG took 36% of the vote with Labour taking 19%. The 2011 presidential election pretty much flipped that on its head with Gay Mitchell taking just 6% of the vote a few months later with Mickey D famously taking the crown.

I do see where you are coming from though

OK so there is a lot to unpack.

In terms of myself, i am in my 40s and have been interested in politics and current affairs all my life. A lifetime ago, i did a degree in IR, so international politics is a keen point of interest for me too. I have abandoned nearly all social media, because i just feel they have ceased being either useful or enjoyable.

My interest in the culture war, is more of a concern on my part. I feel like the political landscape abroad has become unstable, and often dangerous. I framed much of Steens campaign as being analagous to Irelands 'brexit moment' - Knowning what Steens views are on societal issues, she clearly began using the perceived culture war in Ireland, as a means to frame the debate. This tactic is straight out of the Brexit/Trump playbook, which i did find alarming. But my interest in culture war is frankly an abhorence for it, and the damage it has done to other countries. And a profound wish that it not manifest here in Ireland. Groups like Aontu, Gript, and the Iona Institute benefit from this time, because they get to recruit the disaffected and make this a culture war based campaign. An 'insurgency' against the political establishment, which is a very useful distraction from their own actual policy positions. Which, in my view, are abhorent. Useful aides to this campaign in the form of Gripts 'Defund the RTE' are also clearly copied and pasted from across the Irish Sea - and yes, i find it alarming that many do not seem to clock this!

In terms of Evelyn Beatrice Hall - i agree, but honestly i have not attempted to silence anyone. And neither has the Irish Political system. Steen had her chance to get nominated under the current system, and she failed. It was not unfair, or discriminatory - it was political, and she lost. If she and her supporters chose to, they can set up a political party and run on a manifesto of reform. Quite honestly i hope they do, as i hate the one foot in, one out, nature of the modern 'Political Lobby Group' phenomena. While i would never vote for a single candidate they nominate, i would certainly be against any attempt to stop them from running. That would be my version of Beatrice Hall's statement.

I dont think we are a million miles away from one another, and we could certainly discuss, debate and sometimes spar over political issues. And i would be happy to, either here, or elsewhere on boards, or by DM!

What i will say is this. On two occasions you have been very condescending, in telling me to relax, and deep breaths. You have also questioned whether i understood the meaning of the words i use. Please try and play the ball, not the man. Ad hominem moves are a very poor indication of where a chat/debate could go. Frankly i would be inclined to just agree to disagree if a conversation continued on that line. I dont find it intriguing, nor am i annoyed. Point of fact, Ad Hominem, is a boring move to me.

No offence intended, happy to hear back or not - its up to you

plenty in ff not happy With Gavin either

I really don’t like passing remarks on appearance, but CC needs to smarten up big time. Very poorly presented!

I bet it ostly won't sway their vote for the definitely Fianna Fail candidate.

Connolly isn't the Labour or Sinn Fein candidate. It's not a party win like Gavin would be regardless of how he was picked.

He was terrible again. If FFG are banking on the GAA link or the link to Clare. ...goodnight Irene

Don't comment then!

He's woeful, surprisingly inarticulate.

If Connolly is eliminated first I think it's more likely to benefit Gavin than Humphrey's, in part the GAA thing and in part because FF are generally seen as to the left of FG. I'd be shocked if HH transferred significantly better than Gavin from CC.

Regarding the seven minute interviews on Drivetime I would question why the same presenter didn’t interview all three? . That should be surely a no brainer.

Connolly interviewed by. O’hEadhra : Let waffle on not answering the questions asked.

Gavin interviewed by McInerney: Deer in the headlights, not a good performance

HH interviewed by McInerney: Most relaxed of the three and most experienced but not a convincing performance.

What are the ‘learnings’ to use the word of the current folk.

When the debates come Gavin will struggle big time, it’s between the other two with HH getting the nod.

That’s based on stuff up to today……thirty more days to go.

There wasn’t any offence intended. But you just sounded very worried this morning. And said things like “slander” twice. People normally do that when agitated, I find. Telling another poster “stay strong”. .Agitated sounding, unduly worried, that is what I meant by the deep breath etc

Just on the term itself “slander” it is an old term it basically meant spoken word is used to defame. Not the written word that would have been called libel.
So that is a contradiction in itself. But it is further complicated that the defamation act 2009 removed the terms “libel” and “slander”. Instead just using the word “defamed”.

In order to be defamed your reputation has to be lowered unjustly in the eyes of reasonable members of society.

https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2009/act/31/enacted/en/print#sec2

Which is why I found your worry about being slandered a bit over the top. And was basically saying - take it easy.

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Personally I think we are extremely lucky to have the political system we have. Parties more often than not, having to work in coalition . Leading to more middle of the road governance.
We have a non-executive President who does not have great power in one role, like other jurisdictions. And not only that, if either of us were inclined we could try and secure nominations for President if we so desired.

All in all compared to alternative jurisdictions, I think Ireland is grand in terms of its structure of governance, separation of powers etc.

No matter who is elected President in a month or so. I will take pride in the country that since independence and the subsequent creation of the 1937 constitution, Irish (ROI) society has developed within that framework. With no real edginess or angst to the extent that other jurisdictions have.

Good to see you giving an opinion at least, not just a smart quip. I didn't hear any of the interviews this evening, but from what I've seen of Gavin so far, speaking isn't his strong point.

Sometimes I think she isn't playing with a full deck.

actually, no. She’s campaigning for the Irish presidency. And should be much smarter and better turned out..