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So Michael D IS running again!

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    #302
    AGC
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,648 ✭✭✭AGC


    Jim2007 wrote: »
    He was not on a state visit to Switzerland. And in such situations the visiting head of state is the responsibility of the embassy and as already pointed out standard protocol was followed. Any any given day in Switzerland we probably have between 10 and 20 heads of states in the country.

    More BS digging for no good reason other than trying to find cause for complaint.

    Point taken in Geneva, along with New York probably most visited city.

    No BS digging from here but it is not just reserved for State visits. It also would have been the PMUN office and not the Embassy involved.

    Who do you think picks up the tab when Modi, the Royals or Biden are in Ireland?


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    #303
    batgoat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,423 ✭✭✭batgoat


    Dr Brown wrote: »
    He could only find a hotel room for 3k ? I don't buy it.

    If he could only find a room for 500 Euro per night then fair enough, but 3k is just taking the piss.

    Higgins is the very definition of a champagne socialist/limousine liberal.

    We actually don't even know if it was paid for by the state or the organiser. So it's a pretty overblown scandal at moment... :) Also suspect he isn't particularly involved in choices of hotel.


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    #304
    dulpit
    Registered Users Posts: 10,359 ✭✭✭✭dulpit


    batgoat wrote: »
    We actually don't even know if it was paid for by the state or the organiser. So it's a pretty overblown scandal at moment... :) Also suspect he isn't particularly involved in choices of hotel.

    Yep, it's the Department of Foreign Affairs that does it.. Storm in a teacup comes to mind, and sour grapes from Gerard Craughwell.


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    #305
    jm08
    Registered Users Posts: 11,300 ✭✭✭✭jm08


    Jim2007 wrote: »
    Would you now? Well you were wrong. So how much more digging do you want to do???

    Have you some sort of proof that the UN didn't pay for the keynote speaker's accommodation.

    You also say that Switzerland has approx. 20 heads of state staying at any one time. Surely for security reasons alone they would have approved accommodation, all within the same area? Like when it comes to embassies, for security reasons they are usually all fairly close to each other - makes it easier to protect.


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    #306
    Dr Brown
    Registered Users Posts: 1,283 ✭✭✭Dr Brown


    batgoat wrote: »
    We actually don't even know if it was paid for by the state or the organiser. So it's a pretty overblown scandal at moment... :) Also suspect he isn't particularly involved in choices of hotel.




    The fact that Higgins office has remained silent indicates that the state did pay for the hotel.


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    #307
    eastwest
    Registered Users Posts: 1,610 ✭✭✭eastwest


    Dr Brown wrote: »
    The fact that Higgins office has remained silent indicates that the state did pay for the hotel.

    I'm not sure it does. A little bit of 1+1=3?


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    #308
    AGC
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,648 ✭✭✭AGC


    Dr Brown wrote: »
    The fact that Higgins office has remained silent indicates that the state did pay for the hotel.

    Why would they? The president can’t be FOI’d so why would this non story warrant a reply over many that could have been in the past.


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    #309
    Loafing Oaf
    Registered Users Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭✭Loafing Oaf


    Loafing Oaf wrote: »
    Any sign of any of the bookies offering odds on this election. Usually the solidest indication of where the land lies in any political contest...

    Well PP have finally got the finger out http://www.paddypower.com/politics?tab=ireland

    MDH 1/5, which is verging on foregone conclusion but not quite there. My money's on Mattress Mick.:P


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    #310
    Sierra Oscar
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 8,464 CMod ✭✭✭✭Sierra Oscar


    Loafing Oaf wrote: »
    Well PP have finally got the finger out http://www.paddypower.com/politics?tab=ireland

    MDH 1/5, which is verging on foregone conclusion but not quite there. My money's on Mattress Mick.:P

    Not bad odds for Sean Gallagher at 16 / 1 considering the latest speculation is that he is set to enter the race in the coming days.

    I doubt he would enter unless he has done significant polling to show he can win it.

    This expenses stuff could do serious damage to Higgins if it gets traction in September.


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    #311
    eastwest
    Registered Users Posts: 1,610 ✭✭✭eastwest


    Sierra Oscar wrote: »
    Not bad odds for Sean Gallagher at 16 / 1 considering the latest speculation is that he is set to enter the race in the coming days.

    I doubt he would enter unless he has done significant polling to show he can win it.

    This expenses stuff could do serious damage to Higgins if it gets traction in September.

    It won't. Anyone with an ounce of sense will know that the President doesn't book hotel rooms for official business. He doesn't drove the car either, or change the oil in it. Or cook for visitors to the Aras.


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    #312
    pixelburp
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 35,941 CMod ✭✭✭✭pixelburp


    It's an obvious attempt to generate controversy on what has amounted to the least controversial and broadly well-liked politician on the island. In a world of Trump and political leaders upending the kind of basic decency we used to expect of statesmen, some outlets are clearly gagging to stir up some bad faith towards Higgins. 3000 is a ludicrous amount for a hotel, but I'm not going to hold the President personally responsible, or indulge in selective outrage because - gasp - people at the highest levels of government get the good stuff.

    This thread was only started because of various chips on shoulders over Higgins' past, but as President the man has operated with tact, grace and for all the blather about his age & running again, his seniority and generally positive demeanour has given him a "nice grandad" image that has gone down well with the public at large. It'll take a lot to undo that, short of evidence Higgins ... I dunno, eats puppies for breakfast.


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    #313
    honeybear
    Registered Users Posts: 5,648 ✭✭✭honeybear


    Gemma O Doherty also wants to run


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    #314
    dulpit
    Registered Users Posts: 10,359 ✭✭✭✭dulpit


    honeybear wrote: »
    Gemma O Doherty also wants to run

    Who?


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    #315
    Strazdas
    Registered Users Posts: 18,098 ✭✭✭✭Strazdas


    dulpit wrote: »
    Who?

    She's a freelance journalist : not that well known though


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    #316
    Sad Professor
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,671 CMod ✭✭✭✭Sad Professor


    Part of the reason she's not better known is because of the Irish media's radio silence in response to her firing from the Indo for poking around too much.

    I wouldn't vote for her personally, but it would be fun to watch the squirming if she got on the ballot and had to be given a platform.


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    #317
    dulpit
    Registered Users Posts: 10,359 ✭✭✭✭dulpit


    Sad Professor wrote: »
    Part of the reason she's not better known is because of the Irish media's radio silence in response to her firing from the Indo for poking around too much.

    I wouldn't vote for her personally, but it would be fun to watch the squirming if she got on the ballot and had to be given a platform.

    I've taken a look at some of her tweets. It comes across that she's a little bit conspiracy-related. She seems to be anti-vax, anti-wind farms and bizarrely has been endorsed by Jim Corr. I see this going well...


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    #318
    Hurrache
    Registered Users Posts: 10,151 ✭✭✭✭Hurrache


    Sad Professor wrote: »
    but it would be fun to watch the squirming

    The squirming would be from everyone watching in embarrassment.


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    #319
    Sad Professor
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,671 CMod ✭✭✭✭Sad Professor


    dulpit wrote: »
    I've taken a look at some of her tweets. It comes across that she's a little bit conspiracy-related. She seems to be anti-vax, anti-wind farms and bizarrely has been endorsed by Jim Corr. I see this going well...

    Have you seen the tweets or are you going on what others are saying? Because from what I've seen, the evidence for her being anti-vax is pretty pathetic. But yeah she does seem to have gone a bit conspiratorial.


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    #320
    Turnipman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 789 ✭✭✭Turnipman


    eastwest wrote: »
    It won't. Anyone with an ounce of sense will know that the President doesn't book hotel rooms for official business. He doesn't drove the car either, or change the oil in it. Or cook for visitors to the Aras.

    So what does he do? (In additions to writing and delivering long-winded speeches that, more often than not, bore their listeners to sleep, and supporting the Galway hurlers/footballers/soccer players and Connacht rugby from the VIP seats?)

    One of the main reasons that I'm not protesting about the Pope's visit is that I'm aware that the poor man will probably have to visit the Aras and sit through an interminable b0llocking from the great Castro supporter - a fate worse than death!)


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    #321
    blanch152
    Registered Users Posts: 27,238 ✭✭✭✭blanch152


    dulpit wrote: »
    I've taken a look at some of her tweets. It comes across that she's a little bit conspiracy-related. She seems to be anti-vax, anti-wind farms and bizarrely has been endorsed by Jim Corr. I see this going well...

    Another anti-vax candidate?

    We already have the SF anti-vaxxer. The only good thing is that the anti-vax position would likely be completely discredited in a campaign.


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    #322
    Annasopra
    Registered Users Posts: 40,877 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    Jim2007 wrote: »
    Would you now? Well you were wrong. So how much more digging do you want to do???

    Sorry what are you talking about? What evidence is there on any of this 3k hotel room

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



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    #323
    Annasopra
    Registered Users Posts: 40,877 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    honeybear wrote: »
    Gemma O Doherty also wants to run

    She is against choice in pregnancy, vaccinations and trans rights. On that basis its a definite no from me.

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



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    #324
    eastwest
    Registered Users Posts: 1,610 ✭✭✭eastwest


    Hurrache wrote: »
    The squirming would be from everyone watching in embarrassment.

    If she runs, she'll be open to the kind of scrutiny and analysis that she has avoided up to now. I kinda feel sorry for her, she'll be discredited and rubbished as soon as she puts a policy position together. A lot of conspiracy theorists tend to be vulnerable people.


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    #325
    Sad Professor
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,671 CMod ✭✭✭✭Sad Professor


    Joeytheparrot wrote: »
    She is against choice in pregnancy, vaccinations and trans rights. On that basis its a definite no from me.

    As president, she would have no ability to impact those things. Or any of the things she claims she wants to do for that matter..

    She doesn't want to be president, she just wants to use the platform of a presidential election to attack the establishment.

    Anyway, I don't think she has a chance in hell of getting the 20 nominations from TDs required to get on the ballot.


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    #326
    VinLieger
    Registered Users Posts: 17,666 ✭✭✭✭VinLieger


    Much like duffy and the rest of the gombeens throwing their hats into the ring she has no clue of the actual constitutional role of the president and what she is allowed/not allowed do and say


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    #327
    realdanbreen
    Registered Users Posts: 8,142 ✭✭✭realdanbreen


    VinLieger wrote: »
    Much like duffy and the rest of the gombeens throwing their hats into the ring she has no clue of the actual constitutional role of the president and what she is allowed/not allowed do and say

    Are you suggesting the position should only be open to a constitutional lawyer?


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    #328
    VinLieger
    Registered Users Posts: 17,666 ✭✭✭✭VinLieger


    realdanbreen wrote: »
    Are you suggesting the position should only be open to a constitutional lawyer?


    No im simply pointing out the people running for it have not read the job description and are making wild claims about what they will do that directly conflict with it


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    #329
    blackwhite
    Registered Users Posts: 8,530 ✭✭✭blackwhite


    realdanbreen wrote: »
    Are you suggesting the position should only be open to a constitutional lawyer?

    I don’t think it’s unfair to expect a potential candidate to have actually bothered to read up and understand what the powers & duties of the role actually entail.

    If they want to run for election, surely a basic requirement is to understand what they’d actually be obliged to do if elected??


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    #330
    Bradlin
    Registered Users Posts: 49 ✭Bradlin


    Gemma O'Doherty would be an excellent President.

    She has no political allegiances and would not be afraid to ask the hard questions or upset the Establishment.

    And she's not a pygmy that deviously gave an undertaking to only remain in office for 7 years, if elected. Only a seasoned politician could be cynical enough to renege on a commitment like that, with an embarrassing explanation that "I have more work to do".

    Disgusting.


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    #331
    VinLieger
    Registered Users Posts: 17,666 ✭✭✭✭VinLieger


    Bradlin wrote: »
    Gemma O'Doherty would be an excellent President.

    She has no political allegiances and would not be afraid to ask the hard questions or upset the Establishment.

    And she's not a pygmy that deviously gave an undertaking to only remain in office for 7 years, if elected. Only a seasoned politician could be cynical enough to renege on a commitment like that, with an embarrassing explanation that "I have more work to do".

    Disgusting.


    Okay please explain how she will get around article 13.7 of the constitution to be able to do as you describe?


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