Mary Lou for President

[NattyO]

I fear your posts are falling on deaf ears - there are those so entrenched in their beliefs and ideologies that they are incapable of any meaningful critical thinking.

You’re right, I’m a sucker for banging my head against brick walls sometimes. I think the idea that there are no foreign criminals or layabouts in the country is so hilariously audacious a claim that it deserves to be ridiculed, but I suppose it should be obvious that anyone trying to make that claim is so lost that there’s really no point in arguing with them.

[schmittel]

So the good news is Tony Holohan has read the room correctly and declared he will not pursue any interest in running. He was concerned the criticism of him would be overwhelming, and I suspect he is right.

Sadly that's the only good news relating to potential candidates for our President.

[ceannairceach]

So the good news is Tony Holohan has read the room correctly and declared he will not pursue any interest in running. He was concerned the criticism of him would be overwhelming, and I suspect he is right.

Sadly that's the only good news relating to potential candidates for our President.

Heather Humphreys gets it and it’ll be three female presidents. Only one of which isn’t a complete tool.

[NewBroom]

I'm not entirely convinced by Humphreys. She'd be a step up from the McGuinness one and better than that crackpot called Kelly who wants us all on the same time zone as Brussels. I suppose it is very hard on the poor lad to change his watch when as he jets to & fro. Idiot.

But there'd be a gap between Humphreys public reputation and how she ran her departments I think. Any worthwhile politician makes sure to reply when citizens write to them on matters of importance, or that they get a reply and follow up. She seemed to think she was above that.

Mary Lou would wipe her out if she runs. Flatley is still the unknown jester - if he can get a nomination, he'd catch the imagination to be shure.

[schmittel]

So both Heather Humphries and Seán Kelly are going for the FG nomination, that will liven things up a bit.

Apparently FF want to make a "contribution" to the election, whatever that means.

For sheer political theatre the ideal scenario plays out like this:

FF stall to see who wins FG nomination.
Kelly wins a highly acrimonious FG nomination contest in September.
Mary Lou decides to run knowing she'd handily beat both Connolly and Kelly.
FF and FG have a total panic about an SF president, and FF cannot find anybody they're confident will beat Mary Lou.
Micheál Martin is backed into a corner and declares he will run as FF candidate, and obviously will have to stand down as Taoiseach.

Stranger things have happened!

[schmittel]

^^^ that aged well!

[schmittel]

It seems like Seán Kelly is not throwing in the towel on the FG nomination.

Ireland South MEP Seán Kelly has dismissed the suggestion that there are not sufficient votes to get him a nomination to be Fine Gael’s candidate in the upcoming presidential election.

The former GAA president told The Echo there were two weeks to go until the nominations close, and he would take current speculation “with a grain of salt”.

Whats going on here? 41 of the parliamentary party have already endorsed Heather Humphreys, leaving it mathematically impossible for Kelly.

Presumably Kelly is not stupid enough to announce his intention to seek the nomination without canvassing beforehand to ensure he had the numbers. And if he was assured he had the numbers, was the party subsequently whipped to endorse Humphreys.
And if so how does Kelly think he can come back from that?

All very strange.

https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-41690277.html

[Berties_Horse]

Heather Humphreys will suffer under the microscope, she is allergic to difficult questions. True colours won't endear her to the electorate, haughty entitlement only goes so far.

[NewBroom]

Heather Humphreys will suffer under the microscope, she is allergic to difficult questions. True colours won't endear her to the electorate, haughty entitlement only goes so far.

Yep, the media reputation she has is a bit manufactured. No fan of Kelly but he'd have deeper roots in the overall community.

[NewBroom]

It seems like Seán Kelly is not throwing in the towel on the FG nomination.
Whats going on here? 41 of the parliamentary party have already endorsed Heather Humphreys, leaving it mathematically impossible for Kelly.

Switchers. Not over till the fat lady sings and any vote is held.

[NewBroom]

Kelly wins a highly acrimonious FG nomination contest in September.
Mary Lou decides to run knowing she'd handily beat both Connolly and Kelly.
FF and FG have a total panic about an SF president, and FF cannot find anybody they're confident will beat Mary Lou.
Micheál Martin is backed into a corner and declares he will run as FF candidate, and obviously will have to stand down as Taoiseach.

That'd be great entertainment.

[Bubblypop]

Heather Humphreys will suffer under the microscope, she is allergic to difficult questions. True colours won't endear her to the electorate, haughty entitlement only goes so far.

Heather Humphries will romp home. There is no one that can come near her. A favourite among the electorate and politicians. She's a decent woman and will make a good president.

[schmittel]

Heather Humphries will romp home. There is no one that can come near her. A favourite among the electorate and politicians. She's a decent woman and will make a good president.

No doubt she will if her only competition is Catherine Connolly.

But sounds like both FF and SF parliamentary parties want their own candidate to get behind.

I'd wouldn't count Humphreys' chickens before we know for sure who the other candidates are.

[schmittel]

Micheál Martin has endorsed former Dublin GAA football manager Jim Gavin as FF candidate, so that looks like a slam dunk despite Billy Kelleher's interest and rumblings of discontent from the parliamentary party.

Heather Humphries looks like a slam dunk as FG candidate despite Sean Kelly's interest and rumblings of discontent from parliamentary party.

Labour officially endorsed Catherine Connolly, and Alan Kelly is telling anyone who will listen that he won't vote for her and it was a mistake to endorse her.

What looked like a fairly dull election could get spicy yet!

All eyes on SF's next move, I still have fingers crossed for Mary Lou as the candidate.

[knownunknown]

I’ve lived in countries with the list system, and they seemed happy enough with it, but, like the European Parliament, I feel it isolates politicians from the wishes their electorate (through the PR system here does that pretty effectively too).

By people of your persuasion, I mean people who are, shall we say, enthusiastic about welcoming all and sundry to the country with little thought of the consequences.

When China tried to impose their list of representatives to be elected on the people of Hong Kong nearly 1/3 of the country took to the streets in protest which led to many violent confrontations and the storming of parliament.

[NewBroom]

Micheál Martin has endorsed former Dublin GAA football manager Jim Gavin as FF candidate, so that looks like a slam dunk despite Billy Kelleher's interest and rumblings of discontent from the parliamentary party.

Heather Humphries looks like a slam dunk as FG candidate despite Sean Kelly's interest and rumblings of discontent from parliamentary party.
All eyes on SF's next move, I still have fingers crossed for Mary Lou as the candidate.

Can't imagine why many will vote for Gavin, who is he? Some army chap and a GAA bloke - no thanks. Bertie is the obvious choice for FF,

MaryLou waiting in the shadows to pounce alright if FF/FG screw this up. Connolly is out of it.

[schmittel]

Can't imagine why many will vote for Gavin, who is he? Some army chap and a GAA bloke - no thanks. Bertie is the obvious choice for FF,

MaryLou waiting in the shadows to pounce alright if FF/FG screw this up. Connolly is out of it.

Bertie is a very high risk strategy. If he was FF candidate I could envisage a scenario in which he both wins the presidency and damages FF in the election.

[NewBroom]

Bertie is a very high risk strategy. If he was FF candidate I could envisage a scenario in which he both wins the presidency and damages FF in the election.

Bertie certainly is high risk but faint heart never won fair lady. Bertie is box office still and a bit like the fella across the Atlantic, he has many black marks that it'd be hard to pin too much on him. Sort of lovable old rogue is how many would view Bertie at this stage.

Connolly got a good grilling on the news at one today and wasn't entirely comfortable. AK47 done her serious damage.

Going to be fun and games if FF allow any sort of ballot on who goes and partic if Bertie can get his name thrown in. Would he go as an independent? Not so sure.

[NewBroom]

Flatley's been very quiet, maybe a few skeletons in the cupboard.

[schmittel]

Bertie certainly is high risk but faint heart never won fair lady. Bertie is box office still and a bit like the fella across the Atlantic, he has many black marks that it'd be hard to pin too much on him. Sort of lovable old rogue is how many would view Bertie at this stage.

Connolly got a good grilling on the news at one today and wasn't entirely comfortable. AK47 done her serious damage.

Going to be fun and games if FF allow any sort of ballot on who goes and partic if Bertie can get his name thrown in. Would he go as an independent? Not so sure.

I think there is no chance Bertie goes as Independent as I think he'd lose if doesn't have the core FF vote no matter what. I do think he'd win it if he managed to get the FF nomination. I agree there is a certain teflon element to him, he'd wipe the floor with other candidates in debates, and he is a wily operator. For all the lows associated with him, he'd managed to get the highs plenty of airtime too.

What I meant by high risk for FF is that although I think he'd win, the criticism and damage to the party would linger. Hell of a stick to hand to opposition to beat them with at every opportunity for the next 7 years. For FF the risks of winning the presidency with Bertie outweigh the rewards!

I think that's why MM will fight tooth and nail against a ballot for the FF nomination, and why he has come out early and strongly for Jim Gavin. If there is a contest, wouldn't put it past Bertie to find some backers to force the door open!

Heard Connolly on RTE this afternoon, wasn't given an inch, the longer the sole focus is on her the more damage is being done to her campaign.

[PogMoThoin22]

The media bias against Conolly is so obvious, she has a lot of support
https://www.rte.ie/news/presidential-el ... -election/

Speaking of inappropriate visits

[ceannairceach]

Yes, you could make whatever claims you want over and over, but there is no evidence whatsoever to prove your claims. Thanks for proving it.

Hello kettle - you’re black!!!

Signed. Pot.

[NewBroom]

The dance continues... Kelly steps out and Saint Bob steps in!

If FG settle on Humphrey it'll be all the proof we need that they are too long in their seats and out of touch. This idea that she is terribly popular is nothing more than a figment of their own publicity.

Gavin is a cardboard cut out figure.

All set for someone with a bit of charisma and street cred to come in and sweep the board.

[schmittel]

The dance continues... Kelly steps out and Saint Bob steps in!

If FG settle on Humphrey it'll be all the proof we need that they are too long in their seats and out of touch. This idea that she is terribly popular is nothing more than a figment of their own publicity.

Gavin is a cardboard cut out figure.

All set for someone with a bit of charisma and street cred to come in and sweep the board.

I'd agree we are crying out for a candidate with charisma and street cred. That's certainly not Sir Bob though.

Nor is it Joanna Donnelly, despite how highly she thinks of herself. That was a very weird intervention but presumably her potential candidacy is already dead in the water.

Still awaiting to hear from Mary Lou. The longer they leave it, the more I think Mary Lou herself will run.

Quite a clever strategy really. Declare at the last minute, and in the meantime let the media tear strips off CC, HH and whoever FF have in the running.
Once she declares it will be box office and she will totally dominate the airtime. Despite the media's hatred of all things SF I think the excitement of the whole thing will overcome them and they will give her a more favourable run than any other SF candidate.

I genuinely believe if she goes for it she stands a high chance of winning it - it will all depend on how much FG & FF circle the wagons to stop her. One of the advantages of leaving a declaration late is to allow FG and FF to establish their own identities and divisions re the presidential campaign.

[PogMoThoin22]

Why would anyone vote for someone who hates Ireland and hasn't lived here for 50 years