Presidential Election 2025

I over-simplified the situation, regarding supposed agreements between the West and the Soviet Union. Fully acknowledge that the Russian Federation is regarded as the successor state to the USSR.

It really doesnt alter the fact that negative perception of NATO, within Russia, is not a legitimate reason for the invasion. I think it demonstrates what Merkel and other western leaders thought of Putin, that being he is a 19th century autocrat, with a 21st century army. The days of encirclement are long over, as modern weapons technology have rendered it entirely obsolete. In prior conventional wars, it was entirely possible for armies to fight there way toward an enemy enclave, and encircle it. Yes this happened, and the attacking armies were able to concentrate their forces to the front of the line, requiring only a reserve force to remain at home. What also occured were situations where alliances were built up, so as to 'encircle' a common enemy state. Balistics, nuclear weapons, airforces, rendered this an obsolete tactic.

Russia remains a great power, and arguably a super power, though not on par with the United States. Its sovereignty and survival on the international stage, are guaranteed by its nuclear arsenal. If anything, NATO's refusal to get involved in the current Ukraine conflict, demonstrates that Nuclear deterence theory is alive and well. If Putins only concern was the survival of Russia, then he literally had no concerns to speak of. Russian neighbors in Europe had long established trade deals, and interdependency had been built up between the EU and Russia. Many of the former eastern bloc had joined NATO, but said organization is a defensive alliance, and certainly not an expansionist one. Russia under Putin could have continued to thrive from trade with the west, while remaining alligned with China to the East. They were economically successful, modestly, and if anything, a domestic policy to curb cronyism and corruption would have increased Russian Economic success. Russian academics had argued as much for decades, and leaving aside the lack of democracy inherent to Putins Russia, progress could have been made. Instead, Putin spent a decade painting the west, and in particular Ukraine, as fascist, and building up his military, leaving cronyism and corruption to thrive. Why did he do this?

The central reason for Russian actions regarding Ukraine, is that mere survival and economic success is not the goal. Putin wants to dominate nations, and we have seen this play out in relation to other states in the former spaces of the Soviet Union. He believes in the concept of 'Spheres of Influence', and squarly places Ukraine within such a Russian sphere. He and his regime believe that Kyiv should fall in line with Moscow, and when this view began to be challenged, he took action. If anything, the annexation of Crimea in 2014 only increased the calls within Ukraine, to seek military alliance with the west, but again, only for defensive reasons. Then the war, excuse me, 'special military operation' began in 2022, and the rest is history.

Putin is a child of the cold war, its in the fabric of his DNA to view the west through a hostile lens. The fact that Russia is secure, is simply not enough for such a leader, and he has made public statements on what Russia has lost (the Iron Curtain, Russia's former Satellites in Eastern Europe, the former SSR states in the east). This is the reason for the war. Whether Putin really views NATO as a hostile force, or he is merely using it as an excuse for the current conflict, is somewhat irrelevant. In what one hopes will be an inevitable negotiation, the West may have to give points to Putin and acknowledge 'NATO Miss-steps'; this will be nothing more than a negotiating tactic, handing Putin something that he can use to justify his actions domestically.

Its a complicated topic, and we risk going well outside the scope of our Presidential election. Bringing it back to that, I dont believe it benefits us to elect Connolly, considering her views on the Ukraine conflict, and who she blames for it. CC remains an activist first and foremost, and directs blame for much of the worlds conflict at the west. I do not subscribe to that mode of thinking, especially considering that CC tends not to respond to legitimate pushback on her positions. Had she displayed a willingness to debate these topics that would be somewhat reasonable. Instead, she has displayed a position where she accords blame, first and foremost, to the west. She seems more concerned with 'European Militarism' and 'American Imperialism', than with a literal expansionist dictatorship that has attacked a European country. Her Germany comments in particular demonstrate a degree of flawed thinking on foreign policy.

Yes, CC is an activist in the Jeremy Corbyn tradition. Unsuited for office.

You would really wonder, what sort of due diligence was done by Labour and the Soc Dems, and even Sinn Fein, when it came to selecting this woman to run for president.

There is no doubt that she is opposed to the core concepts of the European Union. Id be happy to vote for left wing, pro european parties, and would seek to have a European Parliament with a Left Wing coalition in power. Connolly goes way beyond that, and would seek to dismatle large components of the Union. I havent really heard any credible reasons for her positions, but they originate from those of Tony Benn, and the Militant Left in the 70s/80s. A faction i might add, that repeatidly failed to achieve power for decades. In Britain, this faction enabled Thatcherism to take over during the period, because there seemed to be no reliable alternative.

You could technically refer to her positioning as being a legitimate view-point, but it remains hollow. It opposes the pooling of sovereignty on any level as @Podge_irl said, and without actually explaining why. Benn used to highlight that, it wasnt nationalism as such, but 'pure democratic principle'. He distrusted ECC (forerunner to EU) institutions as being 'undemocratic', compared to the national parliaments of member states. All of the progress, economic and social successes of the Union, should be discarded because 'unelected beaurocrats' in Brussels are telling us what to do. Its full on Euroscepticism, this cannot be denied. And when I add it to her woeful foreign policy views regarding Ukraine, Russia, and America, its just further evidence that this lady is unsuitable for the roll of president.

Apparently she's said something to the effect that she will tone down the rhetoric if she makes it to the Aras. Can't track down the reference but I've seen a few people mention it

“You would really wonder, what sort of due diligence was done by Labour and the Soc Dems, and even Sinn Fein, when it came to selecting this woman to run for president.”

Only some in Labour appear to be not voting for her- the rest seem mighty happy with her anti EU and pro Russian messaging

Nope- on RTÉ six one interview she doubled down and said there’s an article in the constitution about speaking up for the people or similar - I guarantee you she has already found loopholes so that she can spout her anti-EU and pro Hamas nonsense

The main reason (besides tax breaks) such FDI is attracted to Ireland because it is the only native English speaking country in the EU. Ideal for global trade.

You must be 🙃 joking…..

I bet Connolly would prefer all FDI gone, and nationalisation of who knows what. I am beginning to understand why Humphreys is starting to reference trips overseas and trade deals.

I'm not sure how many times she has to say she fully understands that.

And you’re happy to gamble Irelands future economic prosperity and the 100,000s of jobs - both direct and indirect- that America currently provides the Irish people- on someone who has absolutely no regard for how what she says , can impact Irelands standing on the world stage- and especially the impact it could have on the Trump administration, who won’t hold back on tearing Ireland apart and telling US companies to invest elsewhere.
Anyone who votes for CC doesn’t care about Ireland