Presidential Election 2025

Watching Humphries try to act like a human is painful.

Something very Teresa May frolicking in the wheat fields about her.

She had plenty of support for her views on Syrian sanctions.

The World Health Org (WHO)
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

UN Special Rapporteur on Unilateral Coercive Measures (Alena Douhan)

Theres nowhere to hide with these questions - Katie awaits the answer - in fairness to HH, she’s answering ALL questions - CC take note for Wednesday .

Overall HH did well tonight - continued to speak for the entire interview - questions weren’t easy

Indeed- a vote for HH is clearly a vote for progressing peace and understanding and faith in a positive future on the whole island of Ireland

CC’s attitude to NI is “let’s get on with a united ireland”- yeah like that’s really going to go well with a significant -% of Northerners no less a significant % of southerners

She’s advocated removing sanctions from Russia; she was forced into eventually condemning the attack on Ukraine whilst still mud img the waters around the role of NATO in helping starting the war in the first place -if you have issue, take it up with CC.

CC’s point is that while she personally believes Ireland should remain neutral, the decision isn’t hers to make. It’s a fundamental national question that deserves a much broader and honest public debate, not to be quietly shifted without proper democratic discussion.

“How are those sanctions working out for the EU? Have they ended the war? Are Russia heading for a withdrawal from Ukraine yet?”

So is the answer give Russia their money and property back? So they can continue to easily fund the war?
No, that’s just ridiculous - sanctions have made life a lot more difficult for a lot of Putins friends and allies - and that can only be a good thing longer term - it will ultimately help with bringing an end to the war via negotiation

I thought Hannon gave HH a bit of a going over. Nothing new though. You could see the way Hannon framed the questions she is going to ask Connolly the equivalents - pointing out her past errors.

Humphreys wasn’t a bit phased, but it is hardly going to win over undecided voters. It was dull, hardly engaging for the electorate.

Competent. uninspired and dull is how I would describe the Humphreys performance.

The idea that Trump has 'tougher sanctions' up his sleeve that have not yet been deployed while billions are being spent on arms to Ukraine is bizarre.

Why is that? Would it be that it is all a game to let those billions be made?

Nothing else makes sense. Peace is certainly not an objective if you are sitting on tougher sanctions and have not deployed them.

For a successful border poll it would have to be in the high 60s for Windsor Park to be Antrim GAA’s new stadium etc.

Otherwise it could lead to civil unrest. And even with the Dublin riots recently we can see what a spark can do for disaffected youths. Who align themselves to a “cause”.

Catholics have to keep having big families until then.

Both Presidential candidates know it is pie in the sky at the moment. Why unnecessarily stir the pot, and potentially lose big?

That is before you get into cost infrastructural challenges, representation of all traditions - in any hypothetical 32 county Ireland.

I don’t think the majority in the ROI really care truth be told. People might say they would like a United Ireland. But don’t think of the practicalities and are not too pushed. “Let them at it up in Stormont where we can keep an eye on them from a very safe distance” - would be the more general consensus.

For me HH is the closest choice to a symbolic United Ireland. Combining two traditions (by historical lineage) on this island. The Green - The White - The Orange.

Connolly is just the wild woman from the west, with a hippy worldview.

You once again misrepresent CC’s view. She’s never called for rushing into unification, she’s simply advocated for open and respectful dialogue about what a united Ireland would actually look like Using her role as President to encourage that conversation. Addressing it honestly, while recognising unionist concerns, is the only responsible path forward.

I’m going with what accounts I’ve read in national newspapers and from what I’ve heard her say- if I got the wrong impression it’s her fault not mine for not being clear enough.

On the other hand, HH advocates for understanding and bringing people together first, before uniting land - that couldn’t be clearer to me - why do you think CC can’t be as clear and unambiguous as HH manages to be?