Mary McAleese - last day in office

Skullsri · 10-11-2011 01:50PM

Ha ha ha wow some one got it wrong on the internet take it easy keyboard warriors...14 years 7 years doesnt matter..14 years just makes my point all the more valid..

ballsymchugh · 10-11-2011 01:52PM

LK_Dave wrote: »

She was a hypocrite

Treated the Pope with contempt by not wearing a hat when she met him but covering up when meeting mullahs or travelling in the Islamic world.
Did not raise any noticeable objection when she signed the protection of PLC debt to sovereign thus enslaving this and the next generation.
Did not object to denying the Irish people a voice when she stood unopposed for re-election for her second term due to a cosy agreement between the political parties.

We are well rid of her and her golf playing hubby

treating the pope with contempt....hmm. can open, worms escaping fast..

anyway, the president doesn't have the power to refuse to sign a finance bill.

did anyone, other than dana, hint at running for election in 2004? cosy agreement between the parties is not her doing.

ItsAWindUp · 10-11-2011 01:53PM

LK_Dave wrote: »

She was a hypocrite

Treated the Pope with contempt by not wearing a hat when she met him but covering up when meeting mullahs or travelling in the Islamic world.
Did not raise any noticeable objection when she signed the protection of PLC debt to sovereign thus enslaving this and the next generation.
Did not object to denying the Irish people a voice when she stood unopposed for re-election for her second term due to a cosy agreement between the political parties.

We are well rid of her and her golf playing hubby

What a load of nonsense.

vampire of kilmainham · 11-11-2011 03:22AM

most of yis here are talkin rubbish mary mc aleese was a great president it will be hard to get one as good as her again so there:p:p:p

challengemaster · 11-11-2011 03:38AM

Has to be said, the president does essentially nothing

darragh16 · 11-11-2011 03:41AM

Her and Martin are in the Aras tonight, smearing sh*t on the walls and clogging all of the jacks as a special leaving present.

14 years of that woman, would ye expect anything less??

randylonghorn · 11-11-2011 04:53AM

challengemaster wrote: »

Has to be said, the president does essentially nothing

Not true, actually. The main role is as the public face of the state, much like a type of ambassador to everywhere. A good president in one sense will never achieve anything concrete ... they don't make policy, pass laws, etc. etc. ... but they can *help* to achieve a lot by oiling all sorts of wheels.

I know an ex-Uni. president for example who swears that Mary Robinson managed more in 5 minutes to make a bi-lateral agreement with a foreign university happen than he and his team had achieved in 2 days. Suddenly, it was a done deal ... because his foreign counterpart felt that the fact that the President of Ireland had not only welcomed him (and with a sentence or two in his own language!) but had done her homework and could talk to him about why he was here was a mark of respect / honour.

And the income / net gain to that university from international students coming here since is probably the equivalent of Robinson's salary for several years. For 5 minutes of her time.

The President's constitutional role is actually only a small part of the overall package these days.

Arianna_26 · 11-11-2011 04:57AM

You know as a Galwegian, I should be really excited about Michael D becoming president but tbh I'm not.

I'm really going to miss Mary McAleese and Martin McAleese because any time I heard them speak they knew what they were talking about. They did this country proud over the past 14 years and I think today is a sad day.

I wish them all the best for the future. May they live long and prosper.

ColeTrain · 11-11-2011 05:01AM

It's a bit of a farce how little the president actually does when you look back on her 14 years.

I think the recent election and it's mud slinging contest gave us a welcome distraction. I propose we get rid of Michael D and hold a seven year general election. Was a bit of craic looking back on it.

Pompey Magnus · 11-11-2011 05:04AM

Arianna_26 wrote: »

You know as a Galwegian, I should be really excited about Michael D becoming president but tbh I'm not.

I'm really going to miss Mary McAleese and Martin McAleese because any time I heard them speak they knew what they were talking about.

On what subjects are you worried Michael D won't know what he's talking about?

Arianna_26 · 11-11-2011 05:09AM

ColeTrain wrote: »

It's a bit of a farce how little the president actually does when you look back on her 14 years.

Well since she helped build bridges between the north and south of Ireland and she welcomed the British Queen to Irish soil for the first time I don't think you could consider her a farce.

I think that if you look more closely at things, than the layman might, you will see just how powerful an effect Mary McAleese and her husband have had... I think it's very bad form to write her off as nothing.

daddydick · 11-11-2011 05:10AM

There are a lot of people spouting crap on this thread.

Mary was a great President and will be remembered as that

ColeTrain · 11-11-2011 05:15AM

Arianna_26 wrote: »

Well since she helped build bridges between the north and south of Ireland and she welcomed the British Queen to Irish soil I don't think you could consider her a farce.

I think that if you look more closely at things, than the layman might, you will see just how powerful an effect Mary McAleese and her husband have had... I think it's very bad form to write her off as nothing.

I didn't actually call her a farce, just the job itself.

She welcomed the Queen alright but should that justify her salary? Also, do you think that in itself makes her 13 previous years to be completely overlooked?

I think the average person wouldn't have the opinion that she did anything "powerful".

Pompey Magnus · 11-11-2011 05:23AM

ColeTrain wrote: »

I think the average person wouldn't have the opinion that she did anything "powerful".

She kept her head down and didn't make any massively obvious f*ck-ups so she certainly gets a pass mark for her time in the role.

It was a bland, instantly forgettable 2 terms but she didn't show up the country on the global stage so that is something to be thankful of anyway.

Arianna_26 · 11-11-2011 05:27AM

ColeTrain wrote: »

I didn't actually call her a farce, just the job itself.

She welcomed the Queen alright but should that justify her salary? Also, do you think that in itself makes her 13 previous years to be completely overlooked?

I think the average person wouldn't have the opinion that she did anything "powerful".

I didn't say she was powerful as a person just the effect she had at times as president. I think she justified the salary a lot more than the incoming president to be fair. She was good at her job and she did the best she could in any situation. The job has no power per se I understand that but Mary McAleese made the best of that and did what she could. I don't think we, as Irish citizens, should underestimate the impact she has had despite the fact that no powers were written in stone for her.

ColeTrain · 11-11-2011 05:28AM

Pompey Magnus wrote: »

She kept her head down and didn't make any massively obvious f*ck-ups so she certainly gets a pass mark for her time in the role.

It was a bland, instantly forgettable 2 terms but she didn't show up the country on the global stage so that is something to be thankful of anyway.

I suppose that's the best we can expect which says a lot. No scandals, wore decent clothes, didn't run up any massive ESB bills in the Aras and had a nice public image. Let's see if Michael D can manage not to fall over when greeting other figureheads.

ColeTrain · 11-11-2011 05:35AM

Arianna_26 wrote: »

I didn't say she was powerful as a person just the effect she had at times as president. I think she justified the salary a lot more than the incoming president to be fair. She was good at her job and she did the best she could in any situation. The job has no power per se I understand that but Mary McAleese made the best of that and did what she could. I don't think we, as Irish citizens, should underestimate the impact she has had despite the fact that no powers were written in stone for her.

I don't see the effect personally. As Pompey said, she kept her head down and didn't cause any trouble. I think me or you could do a decent job as president. Maybe not as good as Mary but if I was paid her salary then you better believe I wouldn't be throwing house parties in the Phoniex park.

Arianna_26 · 11-11-2011 05:37AM

ColeTrain wrote: »

I don't see the effect personally. As Pompey said, she kept her head down and didn't cause any trouble. I think me or you could do a decent job as president. Maybe not as good as Mary but if I was paid her salary then you better believe I wouldn't be throwing house parties in the Phoniex park.

Hmm, maybe we best revisit this in 7 years and you can tell me who did a better job Mary or Michael D? That is if you keep track.

Pompey Magnus · 11-11-2011 05:37AM

ColeTrain wrote: »

Let's see if Michael D can manage not to fall over when greeting other figureheads.

It will be more interesting to see if they can avoid accidentally falling over him :pac:

Another thing I have to point out about Mary McAleese's presidency is that I honestly thing the Queen's visit was blown way out of proportion in terms of significance. Had it happened 30 or 40 years earlier it would have actually been massively significant but in 2011 it was very easy to pull off, the lack of any serious opposition to the visit showed it up for the non-event it should have been seen as.

ColeTrain · 11-11-2011 05:41AM

Arianna_26 wrote: »

Hmm, maybe we best revisit this in 7 years and you can tell me who did a better job Mary or Michael D? That is if you keep track.

I'll be keeping track alright, let's see if Micky D can bring over a controversial head of state and put on a show like Mary did.

See you in seven.

10green bottles · 11-11-2011 05:43AM

There is certaintly a Limerick in this:

A nationalist woman from the ardoyne.......

Arianna_26 · 11-11-2011 05:44AM

ColeTrain wrote: »

I'll be keeping track alright, let's see if Micky D can bring over a controversial head of state and put on a show like Mary did.

See you in seven.

You know I'm wishing him the best since I'm a Galwegian too, but I don't know I think Mary had more energy and was elected at a more pivotal time in Irish history. I guess what I'm saying is I prefer Mary to him.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 11-11-2011 05:55AM

Arianna_26 wrote: »

I didn't say she was powerful as a person just the effect she had at times as president. I think she justified the salary a lot more than the incoming president to be fair. She was good at her job and she did the best she could in any situation. The job has no power per se I understand that but Mary McAleese made the best of that and did what she could. I don't think we, as Irish citizens, should underestimate the impact she has had despite the fact that no powers were written in stone for her.

I don't think you can justify the kind of money she was on, she was earning more than the US president at one stage. The role is that of a glorified party host meeting and greeting other Heads of State. I believe she just like every other president we've ever had made no real impact here or abroad.

10green bottles · 11-11-2011 06:00AM

The role of President should draw a salary of about 40 k with VERY few add on's.
Anyone that reaches that posution is already fecking rich enough !!

Arianna_26 · 11-11-2011 06:04AM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

I don't think you can justify the kind of money she was on, she was earning more than the US president at one stage. The role is that of a glorified party host meeting and greeting other Heads of State. I believe she just like every other president we've ever had made no real impact here or abroad.

I think the austerity the nation is facing at the moment has driven most people crazy. I know that it's not fair but we always need a good president and I can't think of one incident in 14 years where I thought 'she shouldn't be there?' She was a great president and worth far more than any of our layabout ministers are on.

Ellis Dee · 11-11-2011 08:08AM

ColeTrain wrote: »

I'll be keeping track alright, let's see if Micky D can bring over a controversial head of state and ---.

But we've already had a visit by the Protector of Paedophiles Everywhere.:D:D

Pompey Magnus · 11-11-2011 10:20AM

It should also be pointed out how invisible she has been during the greatest crisis the State has faced since WW2, at a time when there was the potential for the President to act as a rallying point to a despondent population she stayed more or less invisible apart from being involved in the flop that has been "Your Country, Your Call" project which resulted in just 2 jobs being filled at the cost of over €1 million, 1 job being created between the 2 winning entries and the other being Martin McAleese getting a nice earner in the Seanad.

gk5000 · 11-11-2011 11:48AM

Pompey Magnus wrote: »

It should also be pointed out how invisible she has been during the greatest crisis the State has faced since WW2, at a time when there was the potential for the President to act as a rallying point to a despondent population she stayed more or less invisible apart from being involved in the flop that has been "Your Country, Your Call" project which resulted in just 2 jobs being filled at the cost of over €1 million, 1 job being created between the 2 winning entries and the other being Martin McAleese getting a nice earner in the Seanad.

But she was busy..she had to visit JP McManus when he flew in

Killer Pigeon · 11-11-2011 12:03PM

Up the Dee!!

Snakeblood · 11-11-2011 12:13PM

Arianna_26 wrote: »

I didn't say she was powerful as a person just the effect she had at times as president. I think she justified the salary a lot more than the incoming president to be fair.

I don't really understand what you mean by this. He hasn't been president yet, and if you're comparing public service pre presidency, then Michael D. wins hands down.

Mary McAleese - last day in office

Comments