President Connolly

Personally I think Connolly is lining up as a better President than Higgins already in tone and manner, due to how careful she is. And is even more subtle than Robinson ever was in her statements. And could arguably end up the best of the modern Presidents if she continues as she has begun. I didn’t think I would be saying that, back when the Presidential Election campaign was on.

Mod: attack the post & not the poster!

Somebody did say during the campaign that history shows that attaining the office makes you more presidential. Connolly had coolness and calm before and during the campaign and it was noticed.

 She is fundamentally incapable of arguing her positions on their own merit.

Harsh and exaggerated Podge.
One of the reasons I thought she was head and shoulders above Heather and Jim was her career long contributions in the Dáil etc and her intelligent analysis of the issues she was highlighting.
I get that folk don't agree with her or are of another political persuasion but that's ^ not a fair summary of her.

Connolly given the Freedom of Galway City today. Popped in, and listened to a most factual, concise speech. Decades of practice shows. Roughly 40%-50% of it as gaeilge, which by glancing around many attendees did not seem to follow.

CC is president, already has a prestiges high profile job, why the feck are they giving her freedon of the city ? What did she do to deserve it ? She blocked every development project for the past 20+ years..not even one sinle rubbish bin can be seen in her local area of Claddagh.

freedom of the city should be given to ordinary people who go above and beyond the call of duty for goodwill, charity and other unpaid work and contribution.

I didnt vote for CC, I was saw through her shite for years. My mother was a fan of hers, until she welcomed the Congo minster few weeks ago. Now my mother has changed her opinion about her.

The president has no choice except to welcome State guests, that is her job. During the campaign, she was asked if Trump popped around would she be welcoming, and she said yes as that is what the role demands

Who else does your mum think she shouldn’t meet? Saudis? Iranians? Cubans? Drimnagh ICA?

Are you referring to the letter to the Irish Times she co-signed? A reply to an OP-ED piece by Sparrow?

Seems to me that the content of the letter is logically aligned to her entire political career concerns, humanity and empathy for ordinary people when they need it. There isn't much 'intellectual heft' required to do that.

If Sparrow was indeed 'advocating withholding of humanitarian aid from very vulnerable people' then a real humanitarian of any standing was entitled to and indeed was legitimate in challenging them even if it meant pointing out - not what it definitely was, but what it 'seemed' to be a part of.

Sparrow was fully entitled and not barred from answering the letter and did. The WHO organisation did the same when similarly accused by Sparrow. It could be said that Sparrow's address to the Dáil was an effort to 'defame' what Ireland and others were doing btw.
Sparrow, no more than Connolly, is immune from criticism and questioning if she brings her view into the public domain or the political arena of the Dáil and those she is addressing have a right to reply, however much you think they should remain silent.

It did counter. Advocating the removal of aid was wrong.

You can disagree with that view but that would have been the effect in reality. There was no secure or consistent access from Sparrow's preferred route.
As WHO pointed out no means of getting aid through was perfect, and some aid is better than none if your goal is to help those in need.

Your last sentence is possibly the most over wrought and over blown one I have heard in relation to an ordinary TD doing their job.