Presidential Election 2025

Yeah, its good they are putting the hours in though. Nothing else of note in this election, due to the quality of candidates the debates are hardly riveting.

We've had lads and lassies with IRA connections. Lads with corruption connections and all sorts of connections sitting in the dail, one of them even a powerbroker in forming the current govt.

There's a lot of preaching going on. The point is letting people know of Connollys reasons as to where her egotistical version of how she is so right about everything as compared to everybody else and the other candidates comes from. She's just as unholy as everybody else, no st Catherine.

Ugh i dunno anymore. I sort of agreed last night. Compared to previous elections its been very low key. Im a political nerd, i cannot help but be interested. I thought the story was an attempt at scandal making, and said so. And it fitted into the idea of having to keep the public engaged.

I also agreed with your point on there being, perhaps a larger percentage of republican attitudes in the Irish Speaking community. Im not great at Irish, but i have tried to gain some experience. I hung around with some fluent people, and i would agree with your opinion. I encountered a higher portion of ardent republicans in those days. Not that these people were extremists, but certainly very vocal. I actually think thats why i become uncomfortable when the Irish Language is politicized.

But what seems to be emerging now is a real scandal. Id wonder what knowledge the Journal had on the full extent of this tale, when they published it yesterday. It is going to be a talking point now, and other public characters will weigh in. I find it bewildering at times, when people defend actions and opinions that are clear indefensible. Iv always tried to remain as balanced as possible. Sure i will criticize political opponents, or those i feel are on the wrong side of an issue. But its always important to criticize your own side too.

I just dont see that happening in politics anymore. Here in Ireland or elsewhere.

That's what the recruitment process will determine but you are free to apply if you wish and that applies to former prisoners too!

And that is why the Gardai refused her the necessary security clearance. It seems CC was trying to scam the system as well here.

We need all the details on this to be released.

Ah here, you accused me of playing the man - I didn't and you do the very same thing!!!

I've dealt with most of those points consistently in recent weeks not least the Germany nonsene, but just on one of them, the coverage of which has amused me - are you seriously suggesting it's incorrect to describe the US as an Imperial power?

I'm not arguing that point at all Ct. Just observing how differently people look at things depending on the situation.

Those "lads and lasses" also eventually accepted the Good Friday Agreement and recognised the legitimacy of the Republic. It appears that Ms Shannon had done neither 15 years after the GFA was signed. We don't know her views in 2018 or now.

No the US is not an 'Imperial Power' - Literally that is a true factual statement.

You could debate this point for hours, but it meets none of the criteria for being classed as an Imperial Power. If Catherine Connolly, replaced the words with 'Super Power', we could have a good game of hurling. Yes it is a super-power and as such, its a player in every major event of global consequence. Depending on where one stands on these issues, one could argue that America's role was either negative, or positive, or sometimes a mix of both.

• Afghanistan; I think it was inevitable post 9/11 and i shed no tears for the fate of the Taliban. I was horrified when they reclaimed power
• Iraq; Negative in the extreme. Not that i was a cheerleader for Saddam Hussein, but the war itself was unjustified.
• Ukraine; the grey zone - i want Ukraine to be supported, but the changing states of US domestic politics make it unviable to predict how this will end, and what role the US will play. On a knife edge, could go either way

None of the above renders the US an 'Imperial Power'. It is a super power of consequence. Be they negative or positive, on a case by case basis. The claim of US or more often, 'Western' Imperialism, its just a radical activist left talking point. Its meaningless when you break it down, and merely intended to whip up support among those who have grievence with past imperial aggression.

I could make a similar argument against CC's views on NATO Expansion. NATO being an organization that countries must apply to, for membership of. A very strange way of 'expanding'.

You and I probably agree on a few things, and dare i say, disagree on a few other points. Im stating my opinions, and i am not trying to start arguments with anyone. Its a politics forum and we can both contribute fairly, and debate what ever topics we wish.

She was one of the leaders of a dissident group and she was rehabilitated BEFORE that information was dragged out of her and she never served time for it or revealed what she did or sanctioned while in the leadership role.

You and her should sit this one out maybe.