Irish Presidential Election 2011

[odlum833]

Come on...a blueshirt presidency is what we need. Don't you get the cult of Enda yet?







Personally I think Cox should go for it regardless. I think he would make a brilliant President. The two gays can not beat Cox

[Catmalojin]

What makes Pat Cox so great, anyway? He's just another grey man in a grey suit to me, made even worse given his constant party-hopping - he's clearly looking out for himself.

I'd much rather have someone young (late 30s-early 40s) run, but that's unlikely.

[Catmalojin]

The Norris campaign has come to a sudden halt:

Leaked Seanad letters show Norris sought clemency for former partner – report

Updated at 16:15

SENATOR DAVID NORRIS used official Seanad headed notepaper to write appealing for clemency for his former partner Ezra Tizhak Nawi, it has been claimed.

The Palestinian activist has been convicted by an Israeli court of having sex with an underage Palestinian teenager in 1992.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Saturday View this afternoon, Trinity College lecturer Dr Elaine Byrne said that the letters had been leaked, but that no clear recipient is known. She said further details are expected to be published tomorrow in the Irish Mail on Sunday.

However, the newspaper said this afternoon that it would not comment on what it was or wasn’t publishing tomorrow and added that Byrne’s comments are “categorically untrue in every respect”, according to Suzy Byrne of Maman Poulet.

Elaine Byrne also said she spoke to members of Norris’ campaign staff who said they felt that the presidential candidate was not forthright enough with them and they were not aware of all the relevant information.

TheJournal.ie has not been able to make contact with Norris’ campaign team today.

Two senior members of his campaign staff resigned from their positions without offering explanations, according to newspaper reports today. At least three other campaign members said today they were resigning from the youth campaign team, but without elaborating further.

Journalist Una Mullally wrote:

Orlaith Foley said:

Earlier this year, Norris was involved in a controversy regarding comments he made during a 2002 magazine interview regarding pederasty.

TheJournal.ie

[odlum833]

FINAL.NAIL.IN.THE.COFFIN - no more to be said.

[belfastuniguy]

I doubt it, he'll get nominated.

[nordisk celt83]

While I don't agree with DN's actions, and as a member of the Labour party will ultimately vote for Michael D, I'm still sickened by the obvious smear campaign against him by the conservative right.

Why haven't the other candidates had their personal lives probed to the same extent? Some of them have skeletons in their closet as well, but rightfully this won't be brought to the public's attention.
In saying that, why isn't the fact that Gay Mitchell, in his capacity as a Foreign Affairs Spokeperson, abused his position to seek clemency for a murderer making the front pages?


I agree that this is the final nail in the coffin for David Norris' campaign.
However, it's also a victory for the uber right, who realised that the election of David Norris would have signaled a sea-change that would have marked a nail in the coffin for conservative Ireland.

They may have won this little battle, but they won't win the war, and their grappling at straws because they know their days are numbered!!!

Hopefully Michael D will lay his atheistic cards out on the table, romp home to the park, and piss off loads of uber conservative knobs in the process!!!

[odlum833]

I highly doubt he will get nominated because key members of his campaign team resigned presumably on the premise that he is unelectable. What right minded politician is going to tie themselves to this stuff? Let's face it - the guy is a walking disaster. I agree there is a smear campaign against him but he does himself no favours either..


Micheal D is also unelectable - for me anyway. We need someone younger....not someone who could keel over at any moment! I don't mean that in a disrespectful way against him but it's true.

[heatonparkincakes]

Yes he is a liability to himself and no one else. Yes it really makes yer skin crawl when the old right snidely criticise him. But some of this is just basis, that anyone in public service would just not do. However let's be real. He hasn't murdered anyone, wrecked an economy illegally invaded a country or criminally spied on fellow citizens.

I do not agree that even if he had been elected that he would hAve Been some remarkable turn of face in Irish politics. The right, urbanisation, modernity and the death of religious ireland are pretty much doing themselves in, moving the historical narrative towards a muddled centre left, without Norris being elected.

What Norris might unintentionally do though is open the gate for similar humanistic non conformist and independent types to be involved in politics. Who knows maybe we could see a president Ming Flanagan one day.

And yes I agree with you odlum that Michael D Higgins is perhaps not erm dynamic enough. But maybe that isn't such a bad thing given the times we face. Maybe it is though.

Could be worse. Imagine this. President Bono.

[odlum833]

My personal preference would be a centre slightly right candidate with solid business credentials. So I would be interested in voting for Séan Gallagher as a very successful entrepreneur. I think the office needs that type of representation abroad particularly now for trade missions and things like that.

We don't need anymore of the fluffy type of nonsense Mary McAleese went on with. I don't think I am being too harsh in saying that. It had it's time back in 1998.


Only thing really weighing Gallagher down in the public mind is a percieved closeness to Fianna Fáil which is going to damage his prospects either way.

Whilst Micheal D Higgins may be vulnerable to the charge of being a closet red - he is not FF at least!


And just back to Norris for a second. The dumbest thing about this latest farce is that he used Senate notepaper in his letters for clemency for a rapist! Basically using an office of this country for that - how stupid is that? If you want to write a letter - no problem with that at all. Just don't do it as if it is somehow acting on behalf of the state by using official paper.

Fergus Finlay, former Presidential candidate said: "The use of a public office to plead for clemency, it doesn't matter what the public office is - if it was a Government office or a member of the hierarchy - whoever did it, you would have to call for them to resign.

Here is the letter FWIW

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0730/norrisletter.pdf

[odlum833]

Apparently an evening newspaper has the story that Norris is to withdraw from the campaign this afternoon.

[odlum833]

The Isreali Embassy has issued a statement regarding leaks

EMBASSY of ISRAEL DUBLIN



PRESS RELEASE 2 AUGUST 2011



Re: Allegations made regarding publication of letter by Senator David Norris



The Embassy of Israel wishes to state that allegations made in the media by some Irish public figures that the Embassy was involved in the publication of a letter written by Senator David Norris to a court in Israel have absolutely no foundation. No such letter was or is in the possession of the Embassy; as in Ireland, the judicial system in democratic Israel is entirely separate from the Government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.



Successive ambassadors of Israel have enjoyed a friendly, if combative and mutually critical, relationship with Senator David Norris over many years. There is much admiration in Israel for Senator Norris' work in Ireland in the cause of human rights and in particular for his endeavours for reform of the laws relating to homosexuality.



The Embassy further wishes to state that Israel does not intervene in the democratic political contests of other states on behalf of, or against, particular candidates. It wishes all candidates in the Irish Presidential election equally well and looks forward to a mutually friendly relationship with whomever the Irish people choose as their next President.

Norris withdrawal statement video

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0802/norris_statement.html

[Catmalojin]

Oh, suffering fuck.

Dana considers presidency bid - reports
Updated: 18:54, Wednesday, 3 August 2011

Sources close to Dana Rosemary Scallon have said she is considering seeking a nomination for the Presidential election.

According to Highland Radio, she is thinking of seeking the backing of 20 TDs and Senators following the withdrawal of Senator David Norris from the race.

The local radio station cited sources close to the former MEP.

Story from RTÉ News:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0803/president.html

That's just what we need, another loony ultra-conservative-Catholic candidate.

On the plus side, this would cause a split in the vote with Gay Mitchell.

For me at the moment out of the four 'confirmed' candidates it has to be Higgins - he's the best of a bad bunch. This is followed by Davis, just to have a 'number two'. No way will Gallagher or Mitchell get any vote from me.

[belfastuniguy]

Dana?

LOLOL

[odlum833]

God loves a trier.

[odlum833]

...

Calls for Mitchell to explain letter seeking clemency for double murderer


A FINE GAEL TD has called on the party’s presidential nominee Gay Mitchell to explain a letter he sent seeking clemency for a convicted double-murderer who was on death row in the US eight years ago.

The Irish Daily Mirror quotes Aine Collins, the Fine Gael TD for Cork North West, as calling for Mitchell to explain his letter to Florida governer Jeb Bush asking for anti-abortionist Paul Hill to be taken off death row.

Hill was convicted of murdering two people at an abortion clinic in 1994 and later said that he did not regret the killings adding later that in order to stop abortions you have to “do what you have to do to stop it.”

In 2003, Mitchell wrote a letter to Bush, brother of former US president George W, asking him to take the former Presbyterian minister off death row, arguing it only perpetuates the cycle of taking life.

Hill was executed by lethal injection on 3 September 2003.

Collins told the Mirror: “We heard what David Norris had to say, he did the right thing. I think Mr Mitchell absolutely [has questions to answer] he should come out and speak about that.”

A spokesperson for Mitchell said that the appeal did not bear any resemblance to Norris’ appeal on behalf of his former partner who was convicted of statutory rape, an appeal which has ended the Senator’s presidential hopes.
thejournal.ie

[Catmalojin]

Fully agree that Mitchell should be held accountable for his actions, as Norris was.

This case though, is far more serious as it involves a double-murder where the killer showed absolutely no remorse for his actions. Furthermore, Mitchell didn't even know the guy!

Fair enough if he's against the death penalty (I am too), but unless he wrote on behalf of every single person on death row around the world it's clearly because it was a murder committed by an anti-abortionist (with a political aim - we're straying into terrorism here!).

I think (I hope!) a lot of people in Fine Gael are starting to realise how unattractive Mitchell is as a candidate, never mind President.

[Catmalojin]

Mitchell also opposed an equal age of consent and supported Rocco Buttiglione's nomination to the European Commission. Buttiglione has said...

The family exists in order to allow women to have children and to have the protection of a male who takes care of them.

As I said, a loony ultra-conservative-Catholic candidate

[belfastuniguy]

I expect those that supported Norris to turn against some of the others and release some of their skeletons.


Just right to! Tis politics after all.

[Catmalojin]

Originally Posted by belfastuniguy

I expect those that supported Norris to turn against some of the others and release some of their skeletons.


Just right to! Tis politics after all.

Agreed.

Gay Byrne sits on Presidential fence
Updated: 13:16, Saturday, 6 August 2011

The broadcaster, Gay Byrne, has responded to speculation about his entering the race for the Presidency.

In an intervew with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio, Mr Byrne questioned whether at his time of life he had need of embarking on a nationwide campaign tour to secure votes.

The 77-year-old said he would rather continue with this broadcasting career.

However, Mr Byrne also left open the possibility of entering the race.

Story from RTÉ News:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0806/byrneg.html

Fuck. Sake.

Do people not realise that the presidency shouldn't be some sort of popularity contest/reality TV show? It's embarrassing, some of the suggestions.

We need people like Robinson and McAleese - academics with some political/legal experience and knowledge of how the system works. Not fucking 'celebrities'.

[odlum833]

Is Gay Byrne looking for a retirement home?


Sean Gallagher said today, rightly IMO, that basically some of the potential candidates are too old.