Presidential Election 2025

Again i think that topics are being fudged, and misframed.

Same sex marriage and Abortion rights, should hardly be called Liberal in this day and age. If you want to compare these topics, to how they are treated in the US, then yes. They are Liberal policies, by comparison to the Republicans in the US, and to the HARD right in Europe. Even if I agreed and framed FFG as liberal on societal issues - are you saying you consider them 'centre' on economics?

You correctly state that Social Welfare rates rose, by 12 euro, starting in January. Did the costs of living rise at the same rate? Can it be credibly claimed that a 12 euro increase maintains a persons ability to live, moving forward? Not that they gained more, but even remained stationary with inflation and costs of living?

True in the US, and elsewhere, the right wing would want to reduce social welfare payments, and more tightly control who even gets them. But you could hardly call FFG a centre coalition government, to say nothing of placing it on the left.

Everything is relative. I think it was Anthony Eden who returned from the US, and claimed they had two conservative parties - and they do, by comparison to Europe. Im not going to be led by Americanization of Irish Politics, into being content with FFG. I wont support parties who announce budgets that pay no attention to housing, or homelessness; but feel an obligation to discuss the national sheep heard at length. FFG have been in power perpetually in Ireland, and we have watched the soaring cost of housing since the 90s. FFG's policy in dealing with this, represents their particular strand of Irish conservatism. They incentivize developers to build more houses, and they do so; but not at a rate that would tackle homelessness, or the cost of housing in general. They play it the market capitalist way, so as to maintain the staggering price of houses in this country.

Once again, i will ask; where is Slaintecare? How is it progressing? For 10 years FFG have ranted and raved about a new era in Irish healthcare, and how it will represent a proper Irish National health service!! How is that progressing? Was it even mentioned in the budget, or the last 5 years tbh!? After pulling all cost of living payments and energy credits, surely i must have missed, where these funds were being re-directed to Slaintecare, that must have been it - was it?

You think this represents the 'centre' - im asking you, because i dont want to put words in your mouth.

Genuinely, you are prepared to frame FFG as a centre, liberal coalition?

The bit that I remember most was this message

"Catherine Connolly made a living as a barrister working for banks in home repossessions"

I'm sure there's others in there but I'm sure you will agree that it's a very hard watch since it's so full of misleading crap

You're all about you though! In an earlier post I see you weren't happy about the choices you have, but Maria Steen is repugnant to you and shouldn't be anyones choice. Are you trying to say choices should only be left or center left?

CC is the agreed candidate of the united left in Ireland for this election, you're not happy, it's to the left you should be looking for fault for that, not FF/FG. They had chances to put at least three candidates in the field.

Also has spent the last 15 years doing everything in his power to get under Micheal Martin's skin…

Still there.

I'd say many in FG would have it down in a heartbeat so embarrassing is it.

Tune in next week if the polls are correct, the recriminations will begin.

Actually,the pertinent question,the one you should be asking,is why FF and Fine Gael want Catherine Connolly’ out of the Dáil

What are the serious tax incentives and credits if you're on a high wage?

Look I am actually quite straight forward TBH. I just dont mutually exclude things that do not require it.

• Criticizing FG for engaging in a smear campaign against CC - is not mutually exclusive to - acknowledging that CC is too radical on issues regarding Foreign Policy
• Criticizing Maria Steen and her supporters as being a branch of the new Christian Right - is not mutually exclusive to -criticising the Humphreys for running a terrible campaign, which will probably elect a far left president.
• I have criticized the left since day one, for nominating a fringe radical left winger for this election - this is NOT mutually exclusive to - my wish to see FFG out of government, and have them replaced by a Left Wing alliance.
• Stating that we do not have enough candidates in this election - is not mutually exclusive to - stating clearly that Maria Steen would make an awfully regressive candidate for president.

Its straightforward and non-tribal. I wont VOTE FOR CC, to kick FFG. But I cannot vote for HH due to her horrendous candidacy, combined with the current smear campaign. You are welcome to disagree and state why, but i am confident in my posiotions. I should also state that - this is a politics forum, and when im typing my opinions; Yes, it kind of is all about me! That is how it works. Unless im responding to someone, or debating with people (which im always happy to do) then, what I type is going to be about me, and my views

Your vote is yours, do with it as you will. The smear you speak of is not a smear at all, it's a questioning of motives even if the Humphreys campaign/FG are wrong on it, its about factual things, including her foreign policy, work and how she employed a person out of prison in the dail. All are facts even if they're accepted as being legitimate.

If you want to talk smears, have a look at social media and look at the pics and posts with reference to HH and her ethnicity. Even this morning I seen one with her appearing to be acting like a hound chasing a fox. I'm not saying the Connolly campaign itself is responsible for this, but it's backers somewhere are.

I dont think its fiscally responsible economics on display from FFG. They have been in perpetual power, since the housing crisis really began in the late 90s. Since then housing prices have sky rocketed, and they have done nothing to hault this. Arguably their fiscal policies have tended to incentivise developers to build an appropriate amount of houses, so as to maintain demand, and ever increasing prices.

You can frame Left wing policies as magic beans, but again- they have never actually held power. Eoin O Broins policy on housing, and tackling the ever increasing costs seemed sensible. We need a government led initiative which forces developers to deliver adequate amounts of social housing. We need to remove parish pump politics, that blocks housing developments from moving forward, thereby haulting the 'not in my backyard' approach to this crisis. All of this is doable, but it will not be done by FFG. Their method will always remain, dont upset the housing market, leave it to the developers to handle. And throw them more and more tax breaks, while receiving little back in return. These seem to represent your political views, so effectively this debate is - Left versus Right - call yourself centre Right if you wish, but if you think you are centred and liberal, and fiscally responsible - honestly - do you really think that!?

Even your take on why we shouldnt do this, is more about actually maintaining the costs so as to avoid reducing peoples existing property prices. In a housing crisis, you are content to leave things as they are, so as not to upset people whos houses might lose value - Centre? Really!!! Honestly, this is 'responsible fiscal policy of the centre'?

@almostover - you can call FFG centre - but you are parroting Centre right economics, and quite honestly, im shocked that dont seem to realize that. You are entitled to your opinion, more than entitled to argue on those lines. But dont 'piss in my pocket' and call it 'centred fiscal responsibility' - all due respect 🤣

I notice you made no mention of the Slaintecare - (are you waiting for the 'centre political parties' to get back to you on this! good luck so, with the waiting!)

Social welfare payments have never tracked inflation, and i dont expect them too. But let me ask you, has an annual cost of living increase since 2024, risen by about 12 euro per week? Would you care to say that, your costs have risen by about 12 euro a week since last year

@almostover Im not actually having a go at you, and im happy to debate, but honestly. Get off the high horse. If you need to 'reframe' FFG as centred, so as to justify your also, 'centred' views - come off it pal! Honestly! We can debate this, now, and in the future but be realistic on your positioning! Happy to debate but seriously!!!!😂

Where do these twits get the money?

And have these lawyers no shame?

• Foreign policy - CC is absolutely radical left, and Anti EU - Not a Smear
• The German Analogy - total hogwash on the part of CC, and she should have received even more pushback. I wrote a long form response debunking her position - Not a Smear
• The Eirigi fiasco - absolutely correct that it was covered, and CC repeatidly dodged the topic in favour of framing it as 'rehabilitation' - Not a smear
• CC working as a barrister, for whom ever she was assigned and duty bound to serve - Smear - absolutely 100% Smear -

Thats my take, iv posted numerous times, in long form, outlining these points - Respectfully il agree to disagree at this point.

Well i didnt mean to imply that you wanted a more far right wing - that wasnt my intention. Apologies if it seemed like that!

An economy that perpetuates the housing crisis, in order to not impact the housing market, or prices - I dont call that leftwing, and in my opinion, neither should you.

@blanch152 I do have to say that, its a funny old thread. You and I have been on side RE Catherine Connollys candidacy, and iv been repeatidly attacked as a 'soft lefty', or 'centre left' - i cant remember who it was, but someone claimed that I like to 'appear left', but really i am anything but!!! Now im being attacked as though im a MAOIST!!! 😂 - not directing anything at you, genuinely. Just wondering if the irony is lost on everyone but me!🤣

😁✌️ - I meant the Solicitors, not the Barristers but I take your point