David Norris for President....would you vote for him?

Penitent man · 17-04-2011 11:00PM

Will a vote for Norris give him a mandate??

:pac:

My name is URL · 17-04-2011 11:19PM

brokenhinge · 17-04-2011 11:30PM

I like him as a person/politician, but he's too far left for me.

I'd be too worried he'd cause some sort of diplomatic incident by criticising the US/Israel or something like that.

Deckof52 · 18-04-2011 01:25AM

I would vote for Norris for many reasons:

His fight for human rights (Women, Gay and Disability) have changed this country over all for the better. He's helped so many people feel apart of a country, tried to make it in inclusive, so that nobody is left out and alone in this country.
He's helped rebuild a lot of Georgian Architecture in this country, including working for restoration of parks and the botanic gardens.
He's well qualified (Trinity Graduate-1 of top 50 Universities in the WORLD), elected (Directly elected by a voting system in our constitution that was directly chosen by citizens of the time in 1937, i.e our grandparents) and an experienced man in public life (24 Years in Office, helping make things better and being active in his role and mandate).
He has a vast knowledge of Joyce, known world-wide as a Joycean scholar. Some people might see this as pretentious, and maybe their right. But it brings in a lot of tourism euros and that's worth something to everyone in this country.
He is an affable, lovely, intelligent and good natured man. I've met him myself at Gay Prom 2010, asked for a photo and he obliged. I think he was a lil drunk at that stage tbh :P Good craic though

I think people don't realize the value of having a man like Norris in an office that's used as a Sales Rep for Ireland Inc. In the outline i've stated above Norris would be the perfect sales rep to a tourism industry that brings in €2 Billion a year. You have someone who is an academic, rights activist, arts enthusiast and eccentric personality who knows how to talk...He is essentially a cultural buddha and we could gain largely financially from having him in the Aras. We actually will gain more from Norris than any other candidate considering he has offered to withdraw taking a salary or forward it on to charity.

I'm an 18 year old gay man, I only came out two years ago. The biggest factor for me in voting would be to affirm David Norris' life's work. I don't believe I'm 'camp', I think I would be described as 'straight-acting'. But the idea of flauting my gayness is intriguing. I've grown up in a very 'straight' manner, I set up my secondary schools student council and started a debating team, green flag committee, peer mentoring for young students and attend University and worked towards helping people as a natural off spring of knowing that it is a good action, all done as a 'straight'-gay man. In the past two years Ive been a young facilitator (leader) in the lgbt youth network known as Belong2, where they help lgbt kids feel apart of something and go beyond just their sexuality and create an understanding that they are human beings and nothing about them is bad, because still today that has to be clarified to them! I've recently set up an lgbt youth group for my area and 25 young people attend, that's huge in terms of any youth group. I'm working towards helping young people and providing them a support service so that they don't do anything harmful to themselves. Which a significant number do : Page 21 http://www.tcd.ie/childrensresearchcentre/assets/pdf/Publications/LGBT_Lives_web.pdf

Knowing that feeling of being alone, afraid, stressed and awkward over something that didn't affect you the week you weren't out but could effect you the week after your out. There is huge loneliness in that situation. David Norris has been that helping hand to so many people who felt alone; that voice for those people and showed that will and determination to pursue a belief that he saw as fundamental. He stood up as a fairly young man to fight for something that would help people in Ireland, that would make people feel part of a society, that would make them feel more than illegal and harmful and bullied, but as human beings. David Norris has ensured that people are counted as citizens of this country! He inspires people around him to help other people because it is good. I honestly don't know who would be more qualified to be President of Ireland than a man that in his work has helped to include people into society and encourages brotherhood and charity. As a young person who see's the intolerable bullying that goes on, that tries to support kids at the age of 14 that ask, "Does god hate me?", that see's the actual hardship and the side effect that exists for people out there, It would be a progressive Obama-esque moment for this country.

BTW
I can understand an aspect of flauting 'gayness' but you should not dislike someone who embraces their eccentric personality.

How can you justify disliking someone for a slip of the lips that causes a lisp?
How can you justify disliking someone who wears certain clothes?
How can you justify disliking someone who styles their hair a certain way?
How can you justify disliking someone who marches for commemorations, progression and fun? (That's what Pride is!)
How can you justify disliking someone for something as trivial as any of the above?

In justifying that. Your justifying having a negative outlook on people because of something that is either a small part of them or something they have no control over, and when we begin to trivialize and target people like that that's when it becomes dangerous. Wars, terrorism, battles and bullying all have some foundation in creating a specific view of 'a people' and then separating them from being 'people'! So please don't embrace the negative, because in the long run if people had that perception, I would be hunted and so would a large number of people in the world for no more than being different.

-Deck of 52

Agent Smith · 18-04-2011 01:32AM

Would Norris Not have a Problem getting a Nomination? I cant see 4 county Councils giving him a Endorsement, FG will Nominate someone, FF will as well, As will Labour. Where's he going to get 20 Votes in the Dail?

Deckof52 · 18-04-2011 01:37AM

Agent Smith wrote: »

Would Norris Not have a Problem getting a Nomination? I cant see 4 county Councils giving him a Endorsement, FG will Nominate someone, FF will as well, As will Labour. Where's he going to get 20 Votes in the Dail?

Hopefully the twenty independents, or most of them with some help from the Seanad. Its members from both houses that can nominate candidates. xD

Annasopra · 18-04-2011 01:38AM

Agent Smith wrote: »

Would Norris Not have a Problem getting a Nomination? I cant see 4 county Councils giving him a Endorsement, FG will Nominate someone, FF will as well, As will Labour. Where's he going to get 20 Votes in the Dail?

He needs 20 oireachtas members. Between ULA, other indos and the 6 university senators there is loads - plus of course sinn fein

Annasopra · 18-04-2011 01:42AM

Oh and I don't think the role of president should be reduced to just being a salesperson and i think the term Ireland Inc is frankly a horrible term. We are a nation not a corporation.

Deckof52 · 18-04-2011 01:54AM

Johnnymcg wrote: »

Oh and I don't think the role of president should be reduced to just being a salesperson and i think the term Ireland Inc is frankly a horrible term. We are a nation not a corporation.

We'll that's what its going to be about. Mary Robinson's campaign was about change and actually getting the President to do something; Mary McAleese's campaign was about peace in Northern Ireland and the next campaign is going to be about what the President can do financially for the country.

I honestly don't think its being reduced; I would say your making something more of the role. Allowing it to go beyond just the cultural and expanding it to do more for the Irish people, 'More Bang for your Buck' as the Americans would put it. x

I'm only using terms that journalists of The Times & The Independent use, and most times its used as a way of showing the business/financial motivation of the country & government.

Johnnymcg wrote: »

We are a nation not a corporation.

Is that a People Before Profit slogan btw? :S

Annasopra · 18-04-2011 02:50PM

Deckof52 wrote: »

We'll that's what its going to be about. Mary Robinson's campaign was about change and actually getting the President to do something; Mary McAleese's campaign was about peace in Northern Ireland and the next campaign is going to be about what the President can do financially for the country.

I honestly don't think its being reduced; I would say your making something more of the role. Allowing it to go beyond just the cultural and expanding it to do more for the Irish people, 'More Bang for your Buck' as the Americans would put it. x

I'm only using terms that journalists of The Times & The Independent use, and most times its used as a way of showing the business/financial motivation of the country & government.

I don't necessarily agree that the role should be cheapened by saying we want someone to sell us - I want a president who can continue the roles of Robinson and McAleese in broadening out the role - presenting us with a vision for Ireland - not just a sales pitch for the economy. Just because journos use a term it doesn't mean that term is correct or worthy of respect. The country is much more than an economy and Im sorry Ireland Inc is a term that doesn't recognise societal needs and reduces us to some sort of existence for the sake of business and profit.

Deckof52 wrote: »

Is that a People Before Profit slogan btw? :S

No - I made it up myself

Deckof52 · 18-04-2011 03:51PM

Johnnymcg wrote: »

I don't necessarily agree that the role should be cheapened by saying we want someone to sell us - I want a president who can continue the roles of Robinson and McAleese in broadening out the role - presenting us with a vision for Ireland - not just a sales pitch for the economy. Just because journos use a term it doesn't mean that term is correct or worthy of respect. The country is much more than an economy and Im sorry Ireland Inc is a term that doesn't recognise societal needs and reduces us to some sort of existence for the sake of business and profit.

I'm not fully agreeing with that being the sole role of being the President. I'm just telling you what people will want; journalists will write about and politicians will want people to believe.
It's not right, but that's how the presidential race is going to be...economy is the push button issue and it's gonna be shaped that way.

Johnnymcg wrote: »

No - I made it up myself

Cool, sell it to them they might buy it! :P

(Please see the irony in my last statement. Jk xD)

Deckof52 · 08-05-2011 11:42PM

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0509/1224296493605.html

FG is to block David Norris nomination,
FF to allow Free Vote.
What do people think?

Cavehill Red · 08-05-2011 11:47PM

Deckof52 wrote: »

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0509/1224296493605.html

FG is to block David Norris nomination,
FF to allow Free Vote.
What do people think?

The Zanu-FF free vote is to allow them to nominate that Dragons Den lad Gallagher to run as an allegedly independent (but covertly FF) candidate.
It won't benefit Norris one iota, as an article in yesterday's Sindo revealed. Gallagher running will take crucial nominations from Norris among the independents, making it all the harder for him to be nominated.
Of the many flaws in the presidential nomination system (see McAleese's reappointment for the last such debacle), it would be the biggest failure of all for the nation if FF and others are able to prevent such a popular and honest candidate from running.
I hope that enough of our elected representatives will see fit to do their job and facilitate the democratic process by nominating Senator Norris.

oceanclub · 08-05-2011 11:48PM

Deckof52 wrote: »

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0509/1224296493605.html

FG is to block David Norris nomination,
FF to allow Free Vote.
What do people think?

Hurray for FF!

(I'm going to have to have a little lie down after saying that.)

P.

Deckof52 · 08-05-2011 11:58PM

Cavehill Red wrote: »

The Zanu-FF free vote is to allow them to nominate that Dragons Den lad Gallagher to run as an allegedly independent (but covertly FF) candidate.
It won't benefit Norris one iota, as an article in yesterday's Sindo revealed. Gallagher running will take crucial nominations from Norris among the independents, making it all the harder for him to be nominated.
Of the many flaws in the presidential nomination system (see McAleese's reappointment for the last such debacle), it would be the biggest failure of all for the nation if FF and others are able to prevent such a popular and honest candidate from running.
I hope that enough of our elected representatives will see fit to do their job and facilitate the democratic process by nominating Senator Norris.

I don't think a Free vote on FF's part is anything negative compared with FG. The implications of actively saying no to him is hugely undemocratic and smacks of old Ireland blue shirt religious conservatism.
Grr...I wouldn't be as annoyed if this had only been the first time the FG party has tried to block the social advancement of lgbt people in Ireland.
They're the reason why Civil Partnership was so slow and the reason why the getting equal tax rights was taken off the final Finance Bill of the last Dail.

Cavehill Red · 09-05-2011 12:04AM

Deckof52 wrote: »

I don't think a Free vote on FF's part is anything negative compared with FG. The implications of actively saying no to him is hugely undemocratic and smacks of old Ireland blue shirt religious conservatism.
Grr...I wouldn't be as annoyed if this had only been the first time the FG party has tried to block the social advancement of lgbt people in Ireland.
They're the reason why Civil Partnership was so slow and the reason why the getting equal tax rights was taken off the final Finance Bill of the last Dail.

Norris is running to be President of all the citizens of Ireland, not just the gay ones. If he does get nominated and elected, I hope that the gay lobby won't be suddenly disappointed to find that, as he does in the Seanad, he focuses on many other issues than his own sexuality.
As for FF's nomination stunt, it would be more honest of them to seek to run their own candidate than to slyly and secretly back a pseudo-independent. If, as expected, FG run a candidate of their own, that's their right. Same with Labour.
Let FF run Ahern or that Munster MEP or whoever under their own banner honestly and see what the people think of their candidate, instead of trying to slide their man in through the backdoor by pretending he's not theirs.

Deckof52 · 09-05-2011 12:10AM

Cavehill Red wrote: »

Norris is running to be President of all the citizens of Ireland, not just the gay ones. If he does get nominated and elected, I hope that the gay lobby won't be suddenly disappointed to find that, as he does in the Seanad, he focuses on many other issues than his own sexuality.
As for FF's nomination stunt, it would be more honest of them to seek to run their own candidate than to slyly and secretly back a pseudo-independent. If, as expected, FG run a candidate of their own, that's their right. Same with Labour.
Let FF run Ahern or that Munster MEP or whoever under their own banner honestly and see what the people think of their candidate, instead of trying to slide their man in through the backdoor by pretending he's not theirs.

TBH I just want Norris elected. Mary Robinson getting elected saw a watershed moment for women in the country without actually doing anything but hold the office.

I'd be happy if Norris stayed quiet in the Aras, being there is what's important for a social advancement.

We'll I just hope a portion of FF TD's will back him through a push from their Ogra organizations and good political acumen. It's probably unlikely because it has become a very rural party and only got elected on the eye-goop and hip replacements of country voters.

conscious · 09-05-2011 12:13AM

If jim corr was running I'd vote for him!

Cavehill Red · 09-05-2011 12:16AM

Deckof52 wrote: »

TBH I just want Norris elected. Mary Robinson getting elected saw a watershed moment for women in the country without actually doing anything but hold the office.

I'd be happy if Norris stayed quiet in the Aras, being there is what's important for a social advancement.

We'll I just hope a portion of FF TD's will back him through a push from their Ogra organizations and good political acumen. It's probably unlikely because it has become a very rural party and only got elected on the eye-goop and hip replacements of country voters.

Golden rule with FF - ignore every word they say (assume it's lies, you'll rarely be wrong) and watch instead what they do.
They'll SAY they're having a free vote. What they'll DO is nominate Gallagher en masse.

alchemist33 · 12-05-2011 01:34PM

Having expressed some reservations earlier in the thread, I then heard him on George Hook's show. Despite some baiting by Hook, he really impressed me. There was some issue about commemmorating 1916 and he put it to bed neatly. At the moment, I don't see any stronger candidate.

RachaelVO · 12-05-2011 02:06PM

alchemist33 wrote: »

Having expressed some reservations earlier in the thread, I then heard him on George Hook's show. Despite some baiting by Hook, he really impressed me. There was some issue about commemmorating 1916 and he put it to bed neatly. At the moment, I don't see any stronger candidate.

Fair play to ya, being honest enough to say that! I agree I don't see any stronger candidate either, and I do genuinely think he's the right man for the job!

kfallon · 12-05-2011 02:13PM

I'd say he enjoys the odd 'sneaky finger' from time to time so I'd vote for him!

Don't want the aforementioned 'sneaky finger' off him tho! We might be joined by our mutual admiration of the ould 'rinstinger' but we are poles apart when it comes to our taste in sexual partners! :pac: