Presidential Election 2025

Maybe it would be a blessing in disguise if Connolly won.

It would keep her quiet and out of the way for the next 7 years

The same could have been said about Maria Steen.

The Connoly hate rages on here I see...

RTE radio news bulletin at 5 led with 'Cathetine Connolly described the US as an imperial power'...no sh!t Sherlock!!

https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2025/0925/1535205-presidential-election/

Im just reading the article now, and it really is shocking. Was there no opposition research done on this lady by the parties who backed her. Clearly not enough. Im aware she was always quite radical in her views, but they must have received some assurance that she would play the game properly.

Honestly unless she reigns in her 'opinions' and trys again to appeal to a broad community of voters, she will lose. Initially i expected her to gather up lots of first preferences, and maybe only lose (come second) on transfers. Its starting to look more likely that she will be the first one eliminated.

"We have a very volatile situation in the world. We have imperial powers. America is one of those imperial powers. As a neutral country we have a duty [to] use our neutrality to call out the abuse of power, no matter where that is, whether by Russia or America," she said.

Id say Sinn Fein must be regretting not running their own candidate. I dont think CC is going end well. 4 weeks out, and only the first full day of campaigning with the other confirmed candidates, and already, it feels like a sinking ship.

In an ideal world.

But, given that you have one side that cannot be stopped with talks, or letters, or nice words, what does one do then?

That is exactly what we don't need. Presidents are a figurehead, nothing more.

I am not talking about NATO or Ireland; I am talking about the student union idealism that CC seems to have.

She seems to think every problem can be solved with a chat over tea and sandwiches. We know that is not the real world.

The thing about CC is that she's not blundering - she's just putting out her stall to a wider market. She has always held these opinions and spoken about them at length in the Dáil.

As a Galway TD her views on such things aren't a huge factor in Dáil elections, and she is very good on domestic issues in general to her credit.

But now that these opinions are being brought to the table as the views as the potential figurehead of the country, people are rightfull paying much more attention.

But it didn't come from nowhere and she has done no u-turns whatsoever, she's been very consistently true to form over the past five years.

If that is the case, then she was a poor candidate to back for president. As you said, her views will be picked apart daily, and if she lacks the ability to play the game, and concentrate on less volatile topics - she is destined to lose.

Its not that a president isnt allowed to have opinions btw - But they must prioritize the role as president, as representing the country, over their personal views.That should always be the priority

She is NOT displaying an ability to do that - quite the opposite.

Again it just reminds me of Corbyn TBH - I had friends who loved him, and were oblivious to his shortcomings as a potential PM. And when push came to shove, he prioritized his personal views and opinions, over the wellbeing of his party, and really, his country. And he lost, Labour lost, and thanks to Brexit, Britain lost.

Its way too soon in this election cycle, which is really only 24 odd hours old, for CC to be setting off so many landmines - Its worrying from a left wing Point of view -

Catherine Connolly has said nothing wrong, perhaps her formulations could be better crafted but as I mentioned in a previous post, she's trying to be true to her views but she has to be mindful to her backers in SF, SD and Lab and that's not easy particularly as Labour and the Soc Dems are as soft as putty. SF for all their faults have some backbone.

She is being scrutinised more than others in part because she dares to ignore the centrist political orthodoxy demanded by much of the media and certainly the pol corrs who barely conceal their contempt.

The point about the RTE headline was that they led with it as if her point was controversial when it isn't but it's part of the game and that game is utterly agenda driven.

Gavin has nothing to say, and HH little more, they are dreadful candidates, although one of them is likely to be elected unfortunately.

It would be some feat if CC were to win and it would be a huge victory for the left and a real blow to that centrist political orthodoxy notwithstanding the limitations of the office of President.

It's the juvenile nature of the reporting that you have to laugh at really.

It will have it's effect no doubt as HH or JG will studiously avoid revealing their beliefs