Presidential Election 2025

I'm not sure we will ever see a turnout lower than in 2018 at 43.9% You could be right though, Connolly has all the makings off getting in on the first count

FG will likely have to answer questions in front of a committee on the spreading of the misinformation video and Humphries will still have the defamation case against her. I shudder to think of where our democracy lies if Humphries becomes president after her and FGs carry on

Each side sniping and bringing up dirt on the other side instead of making her own case for why she would be a good president.

No only one 'side' is doing this, if you mean the candidate themselves and the campaign team.

“Is Labour divided generationally between more moderate Establishment members and some of the younger TDs?”

Very hard to know what Labour stands for these days - I thought getting Ivana on board as leader would see a rise in popularity but I think there might be a legacy branding issue here- I reckon Social Democrats have taken a fair chunk of Labour support - that and a multitude of left candidates and parties like PBP, Labour are floundering .

No less the fact that historically once Labour do get the votes and the seats, and get into a coalition, they’re decimated at the next election if things go wrong and back to another 10-15 years in the wilderness - I wonder at this stage should they merge with the social democrats? I know there’s history there in the past that prevented this from happening but I think Ireland needs a decent alternative left of centre party - many don’t want to be part of SF or PBP but yet feel alienated by FF and FG

Ciarán Aherns tweet stated

Heather Humphreys’ comments on Paul Murphy on @thisweekrte are another example of FG conveniently ignoring and dismissing our legal system in an attempt to score cheap political points

How exactly does that cause hurt among Labour party members? As far as I can tell he is 100% correct

Take note of the key word in my sentence "should"

For somebody so critical of spelling mistakes you should know how to read the full sentences

I feel exactly the same. We are not being given enough choice. The only caveat I offer on this point is that Maria Steen would have been no choice at all in my mind. I find her conservative christian platform repugnant, and many of her supporters are obvious Right and Far right populists. But i dont want to go back down that rabbit hole.

The Cons list for each remaining candidate is quite long, and despite criticizing CC for weeks about Foreign Policy, I struggle to support HH at all.

• Heather Humphreys is a woeful candidate. I had hoped she would improve as the election cycle rolled on, but this has not materialized. She appeared hollow in most debates, and just repeated the same robotic talking points on every occasion. If i have to hear the term 'rural pursuits' again, i will crack. Heathers campaign became entirely negative toward the end, and she then engaged the faulty smear of CC, which only tarnished her own candidacy further in my opinion.
• Catherine Connolly is a wonderful communicator, but its for that reason that I am left with no doubt about her radical foreign policy positions. From the faulty analogy between Germany of the 1930s and today, to her apportioning the blame for the Russia/Ukraine war with 'the west', she is well off the mark in her view of International Relations. In debates she often answered questions about her positioning on the EU, by stating that she abhors gencocide in Gaza.
• Jim Gavins campaign while it lasted, was beyond all credibility. He lacked all ability to communicate, and had to be deciphered after each appearance. His handling of the rent/refund scandal was insane, when you consider the fact that the tennant, to whom he owed money, was none other than a Deputy Editor of the Sunday World.

It really is a ridiculous Presidential election. The protest campaign has positioned itself to claim credit for spoiled votes, while also claiming that a vote for Jim Gavin, is a vote to 'stage a rerun'. Which is ludicrous, and will not happen IMHO. Overall, I suspect who ever wins will be challenged in 7 years time, should they actually go forward and seek re-election.

As for my vote on this occassion, I remain torn. I cannot support Connolly, because of her Foreign Policy positioning, but I am now reluctant to support HH since the Barrister/Repo smear. I honestly dont know, il be going down in the morning, and il make my mind up at the ballot box no doubt.

“How exactly does that cause hurt among Labour party members? As far as I can tell he is 100% correct”

I haven’t a clue why you’re asking me- I never mentioned “hurt” - no less any of the other stuff you mentioned

More of a general question, not necessarily targeted at you. I think we are largely in the same boat looking at the Labour party here and saying "eh, what" in unison

Boyle Sports has Connolly on 1/33 and Humpreys on 14/1. Are these the worst odds ever for an FG candidate for the presidency?

Without checking I'd say there were worse odds for Gavin Duffy in 2018 or Mary Davis in 2011.

Remember that CCs main voter base is a section of our society famously known for not showing up to vote, ie young people. The real question is if she has motivated them just to show up and vote because if she did then she will absolutely sail home. If she didn't we could easily see a situation where all the polls are wrong

"As for my vote on this occasion, I remain torn. "

Same boat - There is always the third option.. - I've never considered spoiling my vote - but in this case "None of the Above" is sounding tempting - The bookies in the street know who is going to get the job - i'm thinking it might be good let know some are not overjoyed with the process and tactics that has limited us to these two - there will be commentary on this after the election.

Ah right, sorry, gotcha now- thanks.
Don’t have time to think about it right now as working away, (thankfully), but yeah, I’ve always thought there was a major role for Labour to play, especially to keep FF and FG in check- I would have occasionally but not always voted for them #1 depending on who the candidate was-but always included them high up on the ballot paper as I always felt a Labour coalition had the potential to bring social justice issues into play far more than if FF or FG were left to their own devices - either they’ve lost their way or SF have taken a considerable part of their membership - maybe it’s a leader thing? MLMCD is high profile so maybe it’s the leader that attracts the big following not the party policies - who knows these days