Metal Warfare - Irish Metal Forum

It's that time again when lads will be at the doors frothing at the mouth with provable lies.

Personally, I'd like to hold them all over hot coals until they promise to actually stop being greedy self serving cunts, but given the unlikeliness of my getting that chance, I'll probably go independent with my choices.

I fucking Despise them all.

Anyway, are the rest of us here looking forward to any of it?

Independent all the way and looking forward to tearing the main parties a new one when or if they come to the door knocking

https://x.com/griptmedia/status/1854920007873937620?t=IPtcooXAwy9vzDqDgdvQNA&s=19

Fair play to Mary Lou, for ruling her party out of government over the last year or two. It's an amazing fall from grace from a party that only had to do anything even half right to run away with it this time round but they absolutely fucked it so bad that they are absolutely getting their shit pushed in already.

They completely abandoned their voter base and they are fucking toast. 2020 I was all for them and duly voted for them but then the real test of their mettle came during covid and they picked the wrong populism thread to follow and now they are fucked and I know a few local shinners and gave the nod to the local lad for the locals last time out because he's a decent skin but I told him I'd run him if he came near me for the GE and to mark my gaff as off limits for as much as a leaflet.

The party has destroyed itself and it won't be making any sort of comeback in this election. In fact I would say the big 2, the actually serious parties in this country, called it now while the Shinners are at their lowest ebb, the stupid soft in the head cunts.

Couldn't even do populism right. State of em.

Usual pick of which one do I hate least.

 FF/FG/Greens can all get fucked for pretty much everything they've done since being in power. SF have shot themselves in the foot as  a genuine alternative the last few years.  Not a hope of voting Aontu/National Party and their ilk,  same with People Before Profits and that end of things

The local Labour lad is one of the parents in my kids class and is bang on, tempted to throw him a preference but then Labour tend to give up their ethics once there's any chance of a coalition

Who's left, probably Social Democrats  and an independent or two?

Aontù seem to be the most coherent opposition party indeed but they are Christian fundamentalists for the most part and it's not something I'd be looking for at all. I find myself agreeing with a good bit of their shtick more than the rest of the actual parties though.

They will do well enough this time around, I think. Not enough to really do anything but a rise in their popularity should do something to put manners on the main parties. They're more popular than the greens already and will probably do about the same as whatever Labour do in the GE.

As for the far left parties, they may forget about it this time around. People are controlled for the most part by the money in their pockets and the security thereof, and all of the leftist parties feel like they will uphold neither of those things, so they are fucked beyond what few students can be arsed with voting for nonsensical things.

The mainstream version of the left is Sinn Fèin, which I've covered in my last post, so that's them ruled out along with the other one, who was Labour and they're at nothing as well.

Obviously I'm not even counting the likes of the National Party or Ireland First and Irish Freedom Party or People Before Profit because they are not serious people and the only thing i agree with them on is that I hate the current government, which is the case for any party not currently in said government.

The opposition vote will be badly fractured due to the lack of anything resembling a coherent effort or set of policies other than "coloured people are bad" for The Right or "rich people are bad" for The Left.

Thus, having considered the above points, I predict the return of the status quo and a reinforcing of the reasons that it has been the status quo for 100 years and counting.

It will be either FF, FG or the Seth-Brundle-in-the-final-third-of-The-Fly looking creature of a coalition that we've given the last 5 years watching: steal from us, run a legal human trafficking ring (there's no genuine argument to the contrary), try to impose a police state (only the stupid cunts are so inept that they couldn't keep enough police in the state to actually enact said police state lol fucking hell that's even worse written down lol lol), bury the evidence of the mother and baby homes (to protect whom, exactly?) and the best of all tried to censor online dissent (under the guise of giving a fuck about the rights of the few trannies and multi-gendered rainbow warriors in the place but it's actually about censoring the disseminating of unwanted opinions online) so that their policies may never be criticised or indeed highlighted again (because the legislation is so open ended. Again, not arguable).

So all that's left is actually a few independents and as far as my best guess goes, that's where any real gains will be made against sitting government members this time around.

All thoroughly depressing and predictable.

Edit: Actually the Social Democrats haven't even come on my radar,  which could be indicative of a good run for them. I'm sure when I go to the bother of looking into it, I'll find reason aplenty to despise them and all but for the average person who reads a few headlines and votes on it, the fact they haven't been heard of for anything bad (or at least very famously bad, unless I'm forgetting a big one) could do them wonders at the doorsteps because they might get to make a pitch instead of being ran at first sight. Yeah that could be great for them really

This might be useful for some of ye - how your views might align with party policies. (Usual health warnings apply, it will be used for data gathering etc..)

"VoteSmart is a collaboration between:
The Irish Independent - Professor David Farrell, School of Politics and International Relations at University College Dublin - UAntwerpen - Tree company - Bits of Love"

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections-2024/votesmart/votesmart-take-our-election-test-to-find-out-which-parties-and-politicians-align-with-your-views/a1537193874.html

QuoteYour views are most in line with PBP-Solidarity.

Your views are least in line with Fine Gael.

Not a very well made survey though imo, presumes too much detailed prior knowledge, which I guess the Indo presumes its readership will have, but it could have been better worded to get at what people actually care about rather than what they think they think about particular buzz words and acronyms.

Your views are most in line with Social Democrats

Well I guess that's settled then  :laugh:

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on November 09, 2024, 09:28:29 AM

QuoteYour views are most in line with PBP-Solidarity.

Your views are least in line with Fine Gael.

Not a very well made survey though imo, presumes too much detailed prior knowledge, which I guess the Indo presumes its readership will have, but it could have been better worded to get at what people actually care about rather than what they think they think about particular buzz words and acronyms.

Indeed - and basing views/questions on lots of 'populist' binary only options - little room for nuance other that the 'boost' options.

But in the absence of something better....

Screenshot_20241109_101621_Chrome.jpg

Right, so that's me none the wiser  :laugh:

I'm sure ye can guess what they told me :)

To move to Hungary?  :)

I did it twice cos there was a couple of questions that are too black and white and need further follow up questions.

SF followed by FF in one.
FF followed by FG in the other.

And yet I'm loathe to vote for any of those 3.

PBP bottom of the pile both times.

I'd love to know how pbp got top 3 in mine tbh, but the questions are very one or the other. Like "do you think asylum seekers should be placed in wealthier areas". Well, no. I think that particular industry should be dismantled altogether, but if we are to insist upon it, then yeah throw them all into the poshest parts of the country starting now.

So which is it? Is my yes answer construed as consenting to any of it? Well it isn't, but that wasn't an option.

Gript did similar lately with a survey about immigration with statements like this, designed to achieve a desired result but with nothing for those in the middle and it was equally shit and pointless. And to make it worse, you had to subscribe to the mailing list to see the results so I don't even know what the results were then because like fuck that.

Yup, which is why broader and more lateral questions are better for surveys like this.

Had my first canvasser there a minute ago. Fine Gael. Told me for a minute about how wonderful this local person was and blah blah blah.

So I pointed to Simon Harris on the leaflet and asked were they fully behind his "new energy"? Of course, they says. So I asked if they were behind his old energy, like during his meteoric rise to party leader and of course they were.

So then I asked what they thought of his treatment of kids with scoliosis during his time... and they started walking away without giving an answer so I asked them hang on a minute I see that he's going to be very supportive of the Gardaì going forward with this "new energy", and how exactly did he plan on doing that, seeing as we are hemorrhaging trained Gardai to Australia for better conditions and nicer weather and what was the plan to put a stop to that?

They actually didn't know, so I left them go at that. There was no point and they seemed a little hapless, like Hugh grant in 4 weddings sort of hapless where their bumbling silliness was almost slightly charming, but you just know they'll be figuratively giving it to a filthy crack whore down a dark lane the minute they are accepted back in.

As they were heading off, I asked did they have any indication at all of what this "new energy" might entail but they weren't having it, which is fair enough because I was obviously a waste of their time and efforts.

Now I don't believe in shouting at the doorstep or any of that and I meet them all with a smile on my face, but they really don't like questions usually and just want me to nod and agree while they extol the virtues of their pet career politician like fuck that carry on.

I'd love to get Mattie McGrath for the craic.

This is actually much more fun than the US election, even though the result is another Aliens vs Predator tag line of "whoever wins, we lose" but if the US election is the first AvP film, the Irish one is that fuckin high school yoke they called AvP 2.

Quote from: astfgyl on November 09, 2024, 12:34:12 PMI'd love to get Mattie McGrath  the Irish one is that fuckin high school yoke they called AvP 2.

Funnily enough I just watched that last week for the first time since going to see it in the cinema. Forgot how dark the whole thing is, there might be a decent enough action film hidden in there if you could see what the fuck was going on

Actually yeah, it was nearly as hard to make out as the Game of Thrones one where winter finally came but we couldn't actually see what happened when it did.

Sort of like government policy in a nutshell, but then I suppose it's hard to give a couple of weeks shape-shifting at the doors making false promises and telling provable lies and then come out the other side of the elections with any sort of coherent anything. Like Mickey Rourke at the end of Angel Heart...

"I know who I am I know who I am I know who I am....." while the place fuckin falls apart around them in a disaster of cronyism and spin.

Independent Ireland haven't been mentioned for some reason, they'll do well off the back of the revulsion people have for the current coalition of cunts, and then, assuming they get enough seats, they will go into coalition with the aforementioned cunts. 

Quote from: son of the Morrigan on November 09, 2024, 09:07:22 PMIndependent Ireland haven't been mentioned for some reason, they'll do well off the back of the revulsion people have for the current coalition of cunts, and then, assuming they get enough seats, they will go into coalition with the aforementioned cunts. 

They instantly sold out the minute even one of them got the sniff of Europe. I would write them off, personally.

Pity, but they are only a pretence of an alternative

If you want FF/FG back in, then you'll vote Lab/Soc Dems/Indo Ireland/Greens. That's how I see it anyway. I can understand people voting Soc Dems or Indo Ireland in terms of them not being tainted by not really being in government before (bar the ex Labour TDs that are in Soc Dems now) but it shows how extremely hard it is to move away from the 100 year stranglehold of FF/FG.

Politically stranded but my vote will go to all the nutjobs as a complete protest vote and if the mainstream parties realise more n more votes are going that way, my hope would be that they would have to move back to more sensible policies but even that seems pretty hopeless.

Man you're spot on. I'm actually going to vote for whatever is the most ridiculous looking option as well because anything else is meaningless

Quote from: The Butcher on November 09, 2024, 09:56:46 PMIf you want FF/FG back in, then you'll vote Lab/Soc Dems/Indo Ireland/Greens. That's how I see it anyway.

QuoteVote Labour get FG
Vote Independent get FF FG
Vote Green get FF FG
Vote Soc Dems get party open to FF FG
Vote Sinn Féin get party open to FF FG

Vote socialist get fierce opponents of this rotten two party state.

https://x.com/RebelTVIreland/status/1855559017172471983

I suppose many would contest that assertion as regards SF, but we'll see. As an aside, anyone who may be interested in genuine working class socialist perspectives could give that account a follow.

Speaking of crazy candidates this lad has been running for as long as I'm alive in wicklow. Always gets about 300 first preference, big GAA head and if he had his way we'd go back to famine times.

Quote from: astfgyl on November 09, 2024, 09:41:40 PM

Quote from: son of the Morrigan on November 09, 2024, 09:07:22 PMIndependent Ireland haven't been mentioned for some reason, they'll do well off the back of the revulsion people have for the current coalition of cunts, and then, assuming they get enough seats, they will go into coalition with the aforementioned cunts. 

They instantly sold out the minute even one of them got the sniff of Europe. I would write them off, personally.

Pity, but they are only a pretence of an alternative

I agree with ya man, they are a pretence of an alternative, but I wouldn't write them off when it comes to winning seats.

Quote from: Hellyeah on November 10, 2024, 11:11:47 AMSpeaking of crazy candidates this lad has been running for as long as I'm alive in wicklow. Always gets about 300 first preference, big GAA head and if he had his way we'd go back to famine times.

Why? Because he's religious? Or anti-abortion?

Quote from: Caomhaoin on November 10, 2024, 01:33:42 PM

Quote from: Hellyeah on November 10, 2024, 11:11:47 AMSpeaking of crazy candidates this lad has been running for as long as I'm alive in wicklow. Always gets about 300 first preference, big GAA head and if he had his way we'd go back to famine times.

Why? Because he's religious? Or anti-abortion?

Because he's GAA head. Nobody played football here until the 1860s.

Nice one 😂

Quote from: Caomhaoin on November 10, 2024, 01:33:42 PM

Quote from: Hellyeah on November 10, 2024, 11:11:47 AMSpeaking of crazy candidates this lad has been running for as long as I'm alive in wicklow. Always gets about 300 first preference, big GAA head and if he had his way we'd go back to famine times.

Why? Because he's religious? Or anti-abortion?

Non of the above. The votes are only from his GAA background/friends. He would be anti everything ie progress, new developments, immigration etc. Coming here taking our jobs, Ireland for Ireland and all that craic. Borderline racist.

So, any of ye in The Monk's constituency?  :-X  :laugh:
https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/11/10/anybody-can-run-mary-lou-mcdonald-unfazed-by-gerry-hutchs-election-bid/

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on November 11, 2024, 11:53:17 AMSo, any of ye in The Monk's constituency?  :-X  :laugh:
https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/11/10/anybody-can-run-mary-lou-mcdonald-unfazed-by-gerry-hutchs-election-bid/

It could be worse, he could be a teacher

 :laugh:

Is there any place that just gives a quick breakdown of each TDs voting history in the dail?

Been having a look on the Oireachtas site and can see full debates and how each member went, but looking for something much more simplified

Quote from: Trev on November 11, 2024, 12:29:13 PMIs there any place that just gives a quick breakdown of each TDs voting history in the dail?

Been having a look on the Oireachtas site and can see full debates and how each member went, but looking for something much more simplified

I think there's a way to do it. I have some of them, like the hate speech one and the vaccine passports one and the one where they turned down the proposal to charge 100 percent stamp duty to vulture funds but I got them off twitter. Leave it with me until this evening unless someone digs you out before then. Are there any specific deal breaker ones you're after?

Was an excel file going around last year showing the names of who did and didn't vote for the hate speech thing. It will probably appear again now during the week.

Quote from: The Heretic on November 11, 2024, 12:06:04 PM

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on November 11, 2024, 11:53:17 AMSo, any of ye in The Monk's constituency?  :-X  :laugh:
https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/11/10/anybody-can-run-mary-lou-mcdonald-unfazed-by-gerry-hutchs-election-bid/

It could be worse, he could be a teacher

Fuckin hell. Is he in Mary Lou's area? If he was, and did better than her it would be hilarious but also extremely depressing if he did well at all.

The calibre of candidate put forward in this country never fails to depress me.

The lads here in tipp are piss poor, so it'll be Lowry in the North and Mattie in the South as independents and the rest will be party men or women. Absolutely nothing to get excited about. I know one of the independents here and he's a sound skin and whatever but I seriously doubt he'll do the numbers. And I know the Sinn Fèin lad as well but he's out of the reckoning for me in the GE and he already knows it.

Every 5 years I think it's a missed opportunity for all those Judean People's Front and People's Front of Judea style parties who just can't get their shit together to form any coherent alternative.  :-\

The Monk stuff is depressing. The lad may well be revered in his locality but this perception of him as an "ordinary decent criminal" is wide of the mark. He was complicit, whether directly or indirectly, in an ongoing feud which cost the lives of numerous persons, his own family included. You can make the argument that much of the political class are crooks in their own right but anyone who really believes that this prick has the best interests of the working class at heart needs to give their head a wobble.

Quote from: astfgyl on November 09, 2024, 12:34:12 PMSo I pointed to Simon Harris on the leaflet and asked were they fully behind his "new energy"?

https://x.com/RebelTVIreland/status/1855976730382508459

(Ignore the PBP slogan at the end as ye see fit  ;) )

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on November 11, 2024, 02:16:49 PM

Quote from: astfgyl on November 09, 2024, 12:34:12 PMSo I pointed to Simon Harris on the leaflet and asked were they fully behind his "new energy"?

https://x.com/RebelTVIreland/status/1855976730382508459

(Ignore the PBP slogan at the end as ye see fit  ;) )

Perfect!!!

Quote from: astfgyl on November 11, 2024, 12:42:52 PM

Quote from: Trev on November 11, 2024, 12:29:13 PMIs there any place that just gives a quick breakdown of each TDs voting history in the dail?

Been having a look on the Oireachtas site and can see full debates and how each member went, but looking for something much more simplified

I think there's a way to do it. I have some of them, like the hate speech one and the vaccine passports one and the one where they turned down the proposal to charge 100 percent stamp duty to vulture funds but I got them off twitter. Leave it with me until this evening unless someone digs you out before then. Are there any specific deal breaker ones you're after?

Ah nothing really in particular,there was a graphic going around a while ago of the sanctions against Israel and who went against, thought it'd be good to see something similar for the other motions

Plus at the local/euro elections a while back, the Fianna Fail TD came canvassing for their guy running. My wife who's a nurse tore fucking strips off him because he voted against pay for the student nurses during covid. Was beautiful to see  :laugh: Be nice to pull something like that out for any of the others who knock on the door

Now this is more like it, back in the day there wasn't a poster that didn't get the groucho marx treatment or a dick drawn on it...

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections-2024/obviously-someone-didnt-like-my-face-election-hopefuls-react-after-faces-cut-out-from-posters/a1964190355.html (https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections-2024/obviously-someone-didnt-like-my-face-election-hopefuls-react-after-faces-cut-out-from-posters/a1964190355.html)

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on November 11, 2024, 02:16:49 PM

Quote from: astfgyl on November 09, 2024, 12:34:12 PMSo I pointed to Simon Harris on the leaflet and asked were they fully behind his "new energy"?

https://x.com/RebelTVIreland/status/1855976730382508459

(Ignore the PBP slogan at the end as ye see fit  ;) )

 :laugh:  :laugh:  :laugh:

Perfect!!

There's another beaut doing the rounds of the poster up in front of a homeless lad sleeping rough as well

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on November 11, 2024, 11:53:17 AMSo, any of ye in The Monk's constituency?  :-X  :laugh:
https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/11/10/anybody-can-run-mary-lou-mcdonald-unfazed-by-gerry-hutchs-election-bid/

Yep. He's got my number 1  :abbath:

I'll probably vote Fine Gael again. Centrist party with a little lean to the right. Experienced in running boring things. I'm not loaded but I'm not poor. Life is good. I can eat and drink whatever I like whenever I like. I can heat my home. I have a car. I have as much potential leisure activities as I could possibly imagine. People are obsessed with bad news and the idea that life and society is on a downward trajectory. If I step back and observe my own circumstances I'd have to admit things are pretty good, all things considered.

No way would I vote for thinly veiled cowboys like SF. No way would I vote for the insane PBP. Labour is pro dole so I'm out. Forever. The rest? A few maverick independents and non entity parties?? No. Not good enough.

I'll go with the central crowd that helped bring Ireland from a third world shithole 100 years ago to one of the best places to live on the planet. Warts n all!

What Grim Reality describes there is exactly why they will get straight back in.

I strongly disagree with a lot of it but those views are by far the most common and I can see why people would think it.

There is no credible alternative at all

We do have alternatives they may not be great but they can't be any worse than the path we are currently on. The problem is too many people are too lazy to look into things and they have swallowed the narratives coming from the likes of RTE that anyone who wants to make any changes is a far right lunatic.

How anyone could vote for the party that has taken free speech away from Ireland (that just being one of the many terrible things they have done) is beyond me but it's the reason why this country is gone. Then people wonder why politicians do the things they do it's because they know they will never face any consequences and people will just keep voting them in again and again.

The hate speech thing seems like classic 'split the opposition' shit to me, and if it is that then it's evidently already doing its job.

Vote in a way that best benefits the worst-off in society: that's my simple human principle.

https://x.com/RTEUpfront/status/1856104200255479884

Going by that link earlier to see which parties you're most aligned with, and having it done it twice with slightly different answers, I was getting high 50s and low 60s between FF, FG and SF, so not very conclusive. Taking those results into account I'm still no wiser what way to vote. But there were clearly parties that I'd be a fool to even consider. I suppose, only speaking for myself, I can't really dispute Grim Reality's post. I'd agree with pretty much all he said.

I don't go by those links of who you are most aligned with because as we all know, it's totally geared towards the main parties and most parties will promise everything under the sun and let's be honest, you could probably find statements from these politicians saying they agree/disagree on policy XYZ depending on who they are talking to.

While I agree the alternatives seem either similar/worse/bonkers etc - I think it's not healthy for a democracy to keep 2 parties in power for 100 years. I still stand by the idea of swapping your vote to a protest one, even in terms of pure stats that would freak out the mainstream into action, could be seen as a very very slight sliver of hope for some change.

I can only point towards my own summaries of past performances of these parties ->

The sad truth of it where I am is that the only local TD running is FG, so she'll probably get a reluctant nod from me. She was a county concillor and is currently a senator, she's actually got a lot of shit done around here over the past few years, and surprisingly for a rural/'big 2' party politician doesn't publicise most of it.

The town has been extremely neglected in recent years so we need some local representation - the SF TD elected last time out has an office in town but she's never there, she's more active and more interested in the far end of the constituency, where she's based/from.

QuoteThe [Fine Gael housing plan document] features a number of photos of housing, but reverse image searches suggest one is of a Dutch construction site and another is in the UK.

Likewise, the image on the cover of the document appears to be AI-generated, showing bricks across windows and uneven walls.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41514737.html

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on November 12, 2024, 10:48:56 AM

QuoteThe [Fine Gael housing plan document] features a number of photos of housing, but reverse image searches suggest one is of a Dutch construction site and another is in the UK.

Likewise, the image on the cover of the document appears to be AI-generated, showing bricks across windows and uneven walls.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41514737.html

They don't give a fuck about fine details, it's all about the spin and selling pigs in pokes.

https://x.com/RTEUpfront/status/1856104200255479884?t=ALGppJhiWMUnqGEzI2vEEQ&s=19

https://x.com/RTEUpfront/status/1856105076722401638?t=6bPWFipT6cbA7g1QGGMljQ&s=19

I can see that there's some context missing from the second clip but it still feels like rte have gone fishing with their choice of cases to highlight.

I also think that if the clips were reversed we would still see similar commentary from the fish.

Do you mean they've gone fishing for xenophobia by highlighting an Irish mother who hasn't gotten a house followed by an immigrant mother who has?

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on November 12, 2024, 11:40:31 PMDo you mean they've gone fishing for xenophobia by highlighting an Irish mother who hasn't gotten a house followed by an immigrant mother who has?

I don't think the second one is an immigrant at all. I'm inclined to think at least one of her parents is Irish, but yes I think they've gone fishing for exactly what you're saying.

It's rte themselves who left out the beginning part about her situation before the house offer. I don't know what it was myself but it's clear to see that's left out.

Now if it was the first girl who'd gotten the gaff and the second who'd lost it, I still feel that the commentary would be negative, and the same posters would be indicating that the second one can go back to wherever.

So yeah, fishing. For what reason I dunno. Maybe they think that's the way the wind is blowing (because there has been a noticeable shift to the right amongst a lot of people I've been speaking to lately, as part of a larger anti government sentiment), or maybe they just want some accounts to out themselves.

Maybe it's as simple as bad attention being as desirable as good attention to attention seekers such as advertisers and the television stations beholden to them. I'm sure there's a lot less people are watching rte than there once was, and a bit of groundbait here and there stops the fish from getting bored and moving on to another spot.

Who knows?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qUqEZHf7ow

https://x.com/gavreilly/status/1799038686438584778

Interesting little vid and thread about the Proportional Representation system we use here. I expect we all know how it works but I find the 2nd preference thing mentioned to be a bit of a flaw in it. TBH I don't vote all the way down anyway because it feels like anything more than 2 or 3 won't matter but maybe I'm wrong I dunno

Well that fuckin leaders debate was fairly shit. We're really lacking in a bit of charisma here aren't we?

Peadar Toibin came out the best out of it, but the best he could hope for would be that his party take the place of the greens in the next frankenstein coalition.

There's just nothing to get excited about.

Even the opposition canvassers are fuckin useless. Saw the local shinners doing the rounds the other morning in fuckin tracksuits canvassing and out of the 6 of em out on the trot, I can personally confirm that 5 of them have never worked a day in their lives and I'm not certain if the candidate himself is still doing a few hours either. Pathetic stuff but that was about the most entertaining event of the election for me so far.

So FG came out with a hit video on SF. Is that the first time we've gone full US politics on it?

Quote from: open face surgery on November 21, 2024, 11:55:18 AMSo FG came out with a hit video on SF. Is that the first time we've gone full US politics on it?

FG are fucking dirt. I've had to deal with Harris for work a bit and he's a ridiculous example of a human. Also between Martin being in the cabinet when the crash happened and FG destroying the housing in this country those two fuckwits have caused more damage to this country then the IRA ever did

Nah, FG have been at the yank style stuff for years now. At least 2 elections, 3 including this one. Don't think anyone believes them though.

They said sf were doing trump stuff then by calling out the media. Pitiful.

Has there ever been a more uninspiring GE overall though? This one isn't even being talked about on the street. Mad really given the carry on of the current crowd

Quote from: astfgyl on November 21, 2024, 02:01:00 PMMad really given the carry on of the current crowd

"How does it keep up with the news like that!?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnGaf0p9x1U

Quote from: open face surgery on November 21, 2024, 11:55:18 AMSo FG came out with a hit video on SF. Is that the first time we've gone full US politics on it?

This:
https://x.com/FineGael/status/1859192246890823797

Or something longer..?

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on November 21, 2024, 02:16:36 PM

Quote from: open face surgery on November 21, 2024, 11:55:18 AMSo FG came out with a hit video on SF. Is that the first time we've gone full US politics on it?

This:
https://x.com/FineGael/status/1859192246890823797

Or something longer..?

The fuckin state of that

Also 16bn that they "carefully saved up" - you mean the majority of which they spent our taxes on trying to repeatedly refuse?  The apple tax money they won't make a plan for so as to not be seen spending it?  Idiocy

Pathetic, utterly pathetic.

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on November 21, 2024, 02:09:42 PM

Quote from: astfgyl on November 21, 2024, 02:01:00 PMMad really given the carry on of the current crowd

"How does it keep up with the news like that!?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnGaf0p9x1U

You fuckin serious? OK so, tell me which part of current government policy you would like me to critique that I haven't already critiqued on this forum here and I'll have a good go at slaking your thirst for informed opinions.

Otherwise you must be fucking joking, being the very fella who can write a fucking treatise on aspects of policy in a country you don't even fuckin live in, based on ideology instead of the actual lived experience of the reality for working stooks who do live here getting poorer by the day in real life.

I only wish I'd had something to say when the French were having the election so I could have experienced you stroking your fucking pubes explaining to me about how I couldn't understand it because I'm not there.

So do go on and tell me which part of what you're saying doesn't come out of a fucking opinion machine like the cartoon you decided would best illustrate what I was saying. Where could you have gotten any of this first hand? Were you on fuckin holidays lately or something, or have you been reading things but not seen any of it?

I'd love to know, given you haven't actually experienced living here since whenever but think your opinion or indeed your attempt at belittling mine is worth publishing.

The reason the election is uninspiring is because the general public have resigned themselves to the fact that the result will be FF/FG/WHOEVER. Nothing will change at all and everyone knows it. There's no feeling in the air, there's no revolutionary or charismatic leader of anything to tie the general sentiment together. The opposition consists of the people's front of judea vs the judean people's front and a load of racist shite instead of actual decent policy on anything.

Go on, someone tell me why they are enthusiastic about any single candidate in their area and why.

There's fucking nothing.

You really need to do that count to 10 before replying thing dude  :laugh:  The Simpsons joke is about government being consistently bad, to the extent that generic critique always sounds topical. I was using it to joke that "given the carry on of the current crowd" is similarly a statement that would have sounded topical at almost any point in Irish history over the last X number of decades.

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on November 21, 2024, 07:05:14 PMYou really need to do that count to 10 before replying thing dude  :laugh:  The Simpsons joke is about government being consistently bad, to the extent that generic critique always sounds topical. I was using it to joke that "given the carry on of the current crowd" is similarly a statement that would have sounded topical at almost any point in Irish history over the last X number of decades.

Ah sorry then, I was like a dog when I thought it was about me.

Woops.

I did look at it twice as well and all I could see was me getting called out for inane views.

Tbf it is inane because it's so ridiculously bad and wait fuck it has been the same thing said forever.

I think I'm just annoyed about how far wrong things have gone combined with the powerlessness to do anything about it because of the options available.

Maybe I was a bit of a cunt in the reply

Don't worry man, I only read the first line  :)

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on November 21, 2024, 07:28:13 PMDon't worry man, I only read the first line  :)

Go on you absolute bollix  :laugh:

If FF and FG get back into power again

(https://frinkiac.com/meme/S04E17/388804.jpg?b64lines=IFNPIExPTkcsIFNPQkVSIFBMQU4u)

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on November 21, 2024, 02:16:36 PM

Quote from: open face surgery on November 21, 2024, 11:55:18 AMSo FG came out with a hit video on SF. Is that the first time we've gone full US politics on it?

This:
https://x.com/FineGael/status/1859192246890823797

Or something longer..?

That's the one.

Simon Harris is an insidious little cunt. His statement on the ICC issuing warrants today is fuckin disgusting.
Any clip I've seen of him canvassing is cuntish as well. He is condescending and passive aggressive about anything that isn't blowing smoke up his arse. Did someone say that he's never worked a real job?

So far we have only had 1 canvasser at the door for Sinn Fein, looks like no one gives a fuck!

We had 3 the week the election was called (FF, FG & SF, thankfully all when we were out) and leaflets through the door from some far right crowd (we were there for that, but I heard them trying to get the flyers through the letterbox as quietly as possible). Nothing since. Nobody wants the election, nobody seems to be pushing it. The relative inactivity from FFG suggests their putsch deal is already made.

Quote from: Carnage on November 22, 2024, 10:14:47 AMWe had 3 the week the election was called (FF, FG & SF, thankfully all when we were out) and leaflets through the door from some far right crowd (we were there for that, but I heard them trying to get the flyers through the letterbox as quietly as possible). Nothing since. Nobody wants the election, nobody seems to be pushing it. The relative inactivity from FFG suggests their putsch deal is already made.

Yep it's a done deal and they don't want to handbag each other too much to rock it, have the election at the run up to Xmas when everyone is otherwise engaged and also caught up in the Trump circus as they sneak in the back toilet window to nail us to the wall with TV licence changes which they don't have to balls to do right now in case it costs them, cunts one and all!

https://x.com/rtenews/status/1860065445295890495
"No you weren't"  :-\

New Energy in being a cunt.

Quote from: astfgyl on November 21, 2024, 06:37:31 PMI only wish I'd had something to say when the French were having the election so I could have experienced you stroking your fucking pubes explaining to me about how I couldn't understand it because I'm not there.

This sentence made me laugh out loud, several times. Thanks for that  :laugh:

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on November 23, 2024, 01:36:10 AMhttps://x.com/rtenews/status/1860065445295890495
"No you weren't"  :-\

Wow, that was a badly handled interaction. Not even an attempt at fake sincerity, just straight in with a dismissal.

He's all contrition today because of the backlash, wants to meet her and 'engage'. Damage limitation, it's Gordon Brown and the "awful woman". Sure the FG cult will excuse him for it all day.

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on November 23, 2024, 01:36:10 AMhttps://x.com/rtenews/status/1860065445295890495
"No you weren't"  :-\

Sums them up, he knew well that wasn't going to be a good interaction from the get go so decided to double down on his "new" energy

He doesn't give a shite, same guy that threatened to fine nurses if they went on strike, oversaw the childrens hospital farce, scoliosis and cervical check scandals...I honestly can't fathom why anyone would vote FG and have another seven years of this cunt

Not saying that the older generation were any better (they weren't...look at the likes of Haughey, Aherne etc) but there's something extremely naive and privileged about this new generation of politicians. Harris and McEntee are both in politics since their very early twenties, and are still relatively young. If you look at their CVs, it seems they just went straight into politics from 3rd level and have no real world experience whatsoever. No experience of what it's like as a working man or woman to pay taxes, pay childcare, pay rent. Michael O'Leary drew a bit of criticism recently for saying there were too many teachers in the Dáil. Well, at least teachers have a bit of experience of working in the real world.
The future isn't bright with these lads at the helm.

What do we all think we'll end up with when all this is said and done?

I think we're going to get the two headed beast again tbh, but not with the greens

FF/FG/Labour or the Independant party*, whatever they're called. For all their bluster, they back the government on every motion as it is, so that deal's probably been done for years.


*That's a fucking joke for a start.

I'm thinking labour myself but maybe the likes of the social Democrats or aontu might fill the prop up spot.

I am fairly sure I'll fill 2 boxes and they're independents but in the grand scheme of things it does feel like pissing into the wind

Quote from: astfgyl on November 23, 2024, 01:13:10 PMWhat do we all think we'll end up with when all this is said and done?

I think we're going to get the two headed beast again tbh, but not with the greens

I think the greens will be fine, the people who vote for them would be pleased with the stuff they got through

They'll keep a seat or two in and around south Dublin but I reckon they'll be wiped out elsewhere. All they've done is cost people money and nobody living in the real world can afford having them in government.

I said to the FF lad at the door that all the other problems would melt away if we had money in our pockets but they've fucked that up. He was inclined to agree but then again the shape-shifting cunt would have said anything

Greens will definitely not get 10 TDs this time out - more 1-4 max. Labour lucky to get 3-5, Aontu the same. Soc Dems I think will take a lot from people who used to vote Labour with some SF/Green vote. SF will do around the same, I think FG/FF will dip a bit and Indos/others to nab the rest.

FF/FG will try cobble together Greens+Indos, or Labour/Greens or Soc Dems/Indos.

If I weren't so busy quaffing champagne and grooming my luscious pubes, I'd drop home and vote strategically for whichever local option would best contribute to the first proper Dail shake-up in a century, because more than anything else that imo is what the country, and certainly its complacent FFG political class, needs.

I agree, but there's fuck all doing here in tipp that would constitute a shake up. Last time out I voted for the shinners but I just can't bring myself to do it this time. Of all the parties, SF have let me down the most with their absolutely pathetic performance as the strongest opposition. I would have loved for them to be a feasible alternative, I really would.

If we get FFG again I'm going to shave off my pubes in protest

Quote from: Carnage on November 23, 2024, 11:56:13 AMHe's all contrition today because of the backlash, wants to meet her and 'engage'. Damage limitation, it's Gordon Brown and the "awful woman". Sure the FG cult will excuse him for it all day.

Could they not have found somebody who wasn't an absolute wanker, to provide this new energy? Like fuck it's a joke. These cunts are definitely living in a bubble.

Saying that though, the only thing more shit than what we have is the absolute lack of a credible alternative.

Fully agree with the Shepherd that the whole thing needs a shake up but I can't see how we'll get it.

Sure it's on brand. Varadkar was worse, completely out of touch with the reality of life for people who didn't have doddy's money behind them all their life. He played the role of a caring yet patronising Führer, whereas the current cabbage can't even be bothered to do that much. The gaslighting cunt.

Quote from: astfgyl on November 23, 2024, 04:49:22 PMIf we get FFG again I'm going to shave off my pubes in protest

As this will indeed happen, I'm happy to get you a post shave balm for your bollox.

Quote from: Emphyrio on November 23, 2024, 07:13:10 PM

Quote from: astfgyl on November 23, 2024, 04:49:22 PMIf we get FFG again I'm going to shave off my pubes in protest

As this will indeed happen, I'm happy to get you a post shave balm for your bollox.

Yeah I've the feeling I'll be needing it  :'(

Looks like Aontu have shot themselves Sinn Fèin style on the nationalism front with Toibìn saying he wanted to tackle ethno-nationalism head on and it has no place etc etc. He'd have been as well off to skirt around that one, even though I get what he's saying and broadly agree.

He will have lost a fair few potential votes to the National Party and The Judean People's Front with that comment.

It's the biggest mistake Sinn Fèin made, not taking into account how many of their voter base were still associating them with the IRA and freedom from foreign invasion and so on, even though they haven't changed tack on their immigration stance at all that I can see - they still should have done their homework on who it is that votes for them and tried not to antagonise them.

Ah well, hard luck Peadar and Mary Lou...

Remember to get out and vote today  y'all.  :)

I agree with pretty much all of your contributions there lads. Astfgyl, when's the new stand-up show or podcast? Some great one liners! 😜

Id love to see a shake up as Shepherd said but realistically I can see FF/FG doing well for several reasons. One being a lot of voters across different age groups but mostly older, not having read a line of any manifestos will vote FF/FG as if the candidate is an independent because "Ah he's a grand fella". There's Nimbyism and also someone mentioned a great point earlier in the thread, that some people are secretly delighted with their lot and want this to continue. I think that's definitely true.

Long story short:
More of the same with Labour/Aontú in place of greens.

Quote from: astfgyl on November 27, 2024, 08:59:33 PMLooks like Aontu have shot themselves Sinn Fèin style on the nationalism front with Toibìn saying he wanted to tackle ethno-nationalism head on and it has no place etc etc. He'd have been as well off to skirt around that one, even though I get what he's saying and broadly agree.

He will have lost a fair few potential votes to the National Party and The Judean People's Front with that comment.

It's the biggest mistake Sinn Fèin made, not taking into account how many of their voter base were still associating them with the IRA and freedom from foreign invasion and so on, even though they haven't changed tack on their immigration stance at all that I can see - they still should have done their homework on who it is that votes for them and tried not to antagonise them.

Ah well, hard luck Peadar and Mary Lou...

Peadar already did that during the local elections the week of he came out and said anyone who had any issues with the refugees getting a vote was a racist. Mary Lou has said over and over again that it's our duty to look after those that come here looking handouts. Sinn Fein were also all for the hate speech bill then back tracked on it a few months ago when they realised how unpopular it was and tried to claim they had been against it from day one. Then of course they did nothing when it was pushed through last month.

It's just sad that the next 5 years is going to be more of the same and people just happily accept it. Imagine what state the country will be in by the time the next election comes around.

The best we can hope for in this election is that cunt McEntee and the prick O'Gorman are both gone. Too many people in Ireland with short memories and no interest whatsoever in looking properly into who they are voting for. Once they have that can of larger and the Champions league life is all good.

Was chatting to my Latvian workmate today and she says to me fuck sake I'm getting so sick of dealing with foreigners all day :laugh:

I asked her if she could vote but she isn't a citizen and doesn't want to be and thinks non citizens shouldn't be voting because it's not their country. She has been here 13 years. Thought it was interesting to hear it from that perspective. I don't think refugees should be able to vote tbh, shaping the policies in a country where they are guests, but the political parties don't seem to see it that way at all. I know they're not saying that for any decent reason so I think it's just that they're making money off it and could buy a few votes at the same time.

I hear a lot of people where I am say they're going to go independent, as I am myself in a few minutes but there isn't a great choice here really and lots of new faces that I know nothing about so yeah I'm with Mick on this one, nothing will change in any meaningful way.

This was the most scuppered I've been trying to decide who to vote for. On paper all parties have stuff I align with but by the same token, they all have policies I completely disagree with. On paper, FFG would be closest aligned but because they're such sheisters, I couldn't in good conscience have them up near the top. Independents here are also either nobodies or right wing fuckin galahs so voted mostly left wing-ish.

Won't count a jot, of course, but you're not entitled to complain unless you exercise your vote.

Went in a couple of hours ago, nobody around. Turnout seems to be low around the country, ~40%.

Met one of the candidates at the door, two people I met since have said she was there at different times. So much for the 300m exclusion zone.

I went independent almost all the way in the end, other than givingthe 3rd choice to the Sinn Fèin chap that I told not to come near me this time out.

There wasn't a single right wing straight up racism candidate in my constituency. Wouldn't have voted for them anyway, same as in the locals and euros. Chatting to a few people down the polling station and all seemed to be going independent, which will likely see us back at the booths again before we know it, such is the state of things. There seemed to be a feeling of resignation and defeat among the voters, as if all they could do was stop the parties forming a government rather than change anything in any meaningful way

Talking to the workers and they said they were getting the same feeling and that the turnout was only so so as well, so that backs up what I was thinking, that there was nothing to excite anyone at the end of the day and the turnout would be low as a result. In 2020 at least we had Sinn Fèin giving us a hope of change but that's long dead after their performance in opposition.

Quote from: Emphyrio on November 29, 2024, 07:19:56 PMWon't count a jot, of course, but you're not entitled to complain unless you exercise your vote.

That's the part that bugs me. People fucking banging on cribbing about things but none of them getting off their holes and even doing the most basic thing. Didn't see any of the local hardcore unemployed there at all

400k have registered to vote this year with a late surge this month so it may mean something. I suppose we'll know soon enough.

I did not know that. Quite a significant number tbf

Exit poll: "SF and FG almost level on 21.1% and 21%, with FF just behind on 19.5%"

I'd call that a "wait for the actual count" poll result.

Ugh

QuoteSinn Féin - 21.1%
Fianna Fáil - 19.5%
Fine Gael - 21%
Independents - 12.7%
Social Democrats - 5.8%
Labour - 5%
Green Party - 4%
Aontú - 3.6%
People Before Profit - 3.1%
Independent Ireland - 2.2%
Others - 1.9%

No breakdown for the independents, so excluding them there's very, very roughly the makings there of:
Some form of "Left alliance" - 39%
FFG - 40.5%

Won't be holding my breath though  :laugh:

Went in at dinner time here. Decent turnout at that stage, but my Ma went in around 2 and there was nobody there.

I can't see huge change here really. Obviously, FF and FG, and probably SF (who have a strong base here, but have been less than useless IMO) will likely be shoe ins. The likes of Aontu and the smaller parties will probably struggle to oust the independents like Verona Murphy. But then, you never know. I thought the same of the locals, and some pretty strong looking independent contenders didn't make the cut at all, despite what looked like well run campaigns, and the candidates themselves being well respected in the town.

I honestly can't understand how people can still vote FFG after the shitshow they've run between them the last 15 years or so

I can understand there's a bit of a 'better the devil you know' attitude, but it's blatantly fucking obvious the country needs a change and that's never going to happen with those cunts

The alternative just doesn't exist is why I think people still vote ffg rather than them being liked or trusted. I dunno how accurate exit polls are in general I don't remember any but I thought independents would have a better showing. I'm sure the count will be convoluted enough anyway so we'll have to wait and see

Quote from: astfgyl on November 29, 2024, 10:48:33 PMThe alternative just doesn't exist is why I think people still vote ffg rather than them being liked or trusted.

Yeah, I can get that, but I think nearly any alternative is worth a shot at this point. Same thing over and over, madness, etc

Or maybe I'm just a rake of cans in and thinking too much about it, time for some tunes instead of exit polls!😂

FF/SF/SD

Or back to the vote again

Quote from: astfgyl on November 29, 2024, 09:12:58 PMDidn't see any of the local hardcore unemployed there at all

20241130_004218.jpg

From Paul Murphy on twitter

Was projected at 40% here (Galway East / Roscommon South) earlier. Shit turmout, same cunts will be voted in. I despair.

Quote from: open face surgery on November 29, 2024, 09:48:52 PM400k have registered to vote this year with a late surge this month so it may mean something. I suppose we'll know soon enough.

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/bloated-voter-register-raises-the-risks-of-electoral-fraud/34366376.html

Article from 2016 BTW, in case anyone thinks I'm going American on it

Quote from: Carnage on November 30, 2024, 12:50:02 AMWas projected at 40% here (Galway East / Roscommon South) earlier. Shit turmout, same cunts will be voted in. I despair.

It feels like there wasn't even an appetite for change with this numbers. 2020 felt much busier

Given the lack of activity and/or urgency from the main parties, it seems that they all thought it was in the bag. Depressing.

Stephen Donnelly got only 12 votes in one Greystones box.
Philip Dwyer only 1 in a Newtownmountkennedy box that gave 126 to Harris.

I can only express the deepest cringe at folk from round my way voting presumably on basis of "local boy done well" and giving Harris 30% of first preferences.

First count done in tipp. Lowry, Kelly, and the FF lad look to have it sorted. No change. Ah well.

Look, if the people decide they want more of the same, that's democracy for ya. Obviously I'm in the minority of voters because the status quo seems to be what is being repeated up and down the country

Analysis coming in that FF have outperformed the exit polls and look set to take largest first preference share.

Looking like the Independant Ireland clown is walking it here, SF and FF for the other two seats. FF guy is the only new TD, never heard of him but he's a right weirdo.

As much as SF annoy me, so we see any hope of them forming a government with anyone? They look like they'll come out on top in terms of seats but will that just be for another few years as useless opposition?

Hutch comes fourth in the first count. Holy fuck. Could actually get in.

Sums up the whole lot of it really, the fact he got anywhere at all. Some country

No seat for Hutch in the end. Don't think there'll be any more elements of particular interest this time round. IrelandIsFull crowd absolutely crashed and burned, interesting though that the biggest share (around a fifth) of Gavin Pepper's transfers went to PBP's Conor Reddy (who has also since been eliminated I think).

Quote from: astfgyl on November 30, 2024, 06:22:47 PMAs much as SF annoy me, so we see any hope of them forming a government with anyone? They look like they'll come out on top in terms of seats but will that just be for another few years as useless opposition?

Yes. They're down about 5% on 1st preference votes from 2020 so they're probably gonna end up with about the same, or fewer seats than last time.

From the way the predictions were going I thought FF/FG might have to try and form a government with both Labour and the Social Democrats but half the seats are filled now and it's looking like they'll only need one, or even neither.

Yeah the early indicators were that SF would increase their seats a bit but that looks to be out of the question.

Well the last 5 years have been just brilliant so it's no surprise people voted to keep it going

Stephen Donnelly probably gone is a bit of fun and Roderic O'Gorman is gonna be close if he makes it. Catherine Martin too. 3 sittings ministers.

Yeah it'd be nice to see oul Rodders getting the boot after the absolute scandals of tusla. And Donnelly as well, he's beyond useless.

Can't believe McEntee sailed back in though, it's like doing a good job or even just treading water isn't a requirement.

I do get that people will vote for government TDs in their own areas though, to have a bit of pull so that's likely a lot of it

Ya, can't understand obvious failures being re-elected.

At least Donnelly is gone. He is in the classic shnakey mé féiner mould.

McEntee's success is a testament to short memory and cronyism in Irish politics. She presided over the Dublin riots and the general lawlessness in Dublin City Center (and other large population centers...Cork, Galway etc also gone to the dogs). But sure, she comes from good political stock so that's enough for a lot of people. Same old.

Yeah fuck that lad from a great height. One of the better political TV moments over the years was Vincent Browne making shit of Donnelly, and it was well deserved.

I'd have liked to see Nick Delehanty get in having followed him for a while on twitter he's a great lad to expose a bit of corruption but he was in a tough constituency.

Otherwise, I thought Aontù would do a lot better than they did but it wasn't to be. I'm not mad about them but I thought it was preferable to another far left mudguard making us poorer at every turn

Quote from: astfgyl on December 01, 2024, 07:02:52 PMOtherwise, I thought Aontù would do a lot better than they did but it wasn't to be. I'm not mad about them but I thought it was preferable to another far left mudguard making us poorer at every turn

Look like they might pick up a 2nd seat in Mayo. Also close in Dublin West but now looking more like Rodric will hold on. More importantly I think with this result they will be eligible for state funding the next go around.

Indeed they will, which will help them but it's a very slow game and I'd be personally hoping for something a bit more charismatic to coalesce the opposition next time out

https://x.com/Caolanmcaree/status/1863301319584321801
 :laugh:

I hope the sheeple enjoy their new stealth taxes, broadcasting charge and continuing "fuck you pay me" approach to the children's hospital.

Cuntish enough. Lowest voter turnout in 100 years. If you didn't vote, you're not in a position to criticise.

Tis annoying to see either arse cheek of FFG in pole position, but speaking of historic worsts, FF are number one on the back of their second worst 1st pref performance in history (2011 was their worst). The decline may be going slowly, but tis still going surely all the same. For the moment anyway.

Myself and the missus were discussing last night but is there any appetite for mandatory voting to get people off their holes and participate?

Some commentator on Newstalk the other day made the point that there's a reluctance among the left to accept the primacy of SF as the major left party in this country. This fragmentation among the left means they're absolutely incapable of mounting a serious challenge to the established status quo. I think there's a degree of merit to that argument. Not that I particularly want a leftist government or anything, but the likes of PBP, for all their bluster, seem  content to sit on the sidelines. What's the point of coming up with a program for government etc when there's zero chance of ever making any meaningful change? As long as FF/FG are will to do business with each other, nothing will change without a decent opposition.

I got the impression PBP were most instrumental in the 'vote left transfer left' movement (which really worked in a lot of constituencies) and that the bigger left leaning parties were the less enthusiastic for it..? After the 'success' of a left alliance in France, Paul Murphy was the first to suggest doing similar in Ireland. If anything, it could maybe be argued that SF themselves are the ones who still need to decide to fully don the mantle of being the major left party.

You could be right, I don't really follow this stuff closely enough to give a properly informed opinion, it was just something I picked up on the other day off the radio. That said though, regardless of who's engaging with who on the left, they probably need to work together in order to pose any real alternative to the FF/FG partnership. This result was depressingly inevitable.

"It reminded me of a hurling match... because it could have been a different result," Thomas Gould, Sinn Féin.

"There's no point in standing on the sidelines. You've got to consider going on the pitch and playing," Alan Kelly, Labour.

At least they agree on worn-out metaphors!  :laugh:

And the final spread, SF scraping through to 2nd place:

QuoteThe final seats have been filled for the 34th Dáil.

Fianna Fail 48

Fine Gael 38

Sinn Féin 39

Independents 16

Labour 11

Social Democrats 11

PBP-Solidarity has three seats

Aontú has two seats

Independent Ireland is on four seats

100% Redress Party has one seat

I think this has possibly been the worst election I've witnessed in my lifetime....2007 is close though  :laugh:

Turnout of 59.7%, marking the lowest since 1923...at least we've gone from FF alone getting about 41% back in 2002 and within 20 years FF/FG are now struggling to get that COMBINED. They are attached to the hip now unless something drastic happens but this has given the opposition a chance to build since 2016 and have utterly failed to do so. I mean what did SF really promote in terms of policies that people could get behind and get excited about? Tinkering around the edges in terms of budgetary measures and that they would build 50 BILLION more housing units? We didn't have a viable opposition for the last number of years, very very poor and all the left leaning parties, too fragmented and way too many of them splitting the votes because of ego/narcissism/stupidity. Same can go for "others".

Apathy, a plague on all your houses and the devil you know seems to be the theme of this election. I look forward to the absolute disaster of the next government 🙂 FF/FG first stop will be enticing Labour in, then SocDems or if that all fails, go with some dopey Indos like the Healy Raes.

words schmwords and all that, but Marie Sherlock said tonight that Labour won't be number fillers for FFG:
https://x.com/RTEUpfront/status/1863716688056684767

if Labour do refuse on some kind of "moral" ground, Soc Dems will look awful shitehawks if they accept.

could a "left alliance" try to strong arm FG out of the equation? giving something like FF-SF-SD-Labour?

Quote from: open face surgery on December 02, 2024, 10:10:34 AMCuntish enough. Lowest voter turnout in 100 years. If you didn't vote, you're not in a position to criticise.

That's mental, especially with the state of the place.

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on December 03, 2024, 12:20:13 AMwords schmwords and all that, but Marie Sherlock said tonight that Labour won't be number fillers for FFG:
https://x.com/RTEUpfront/status/1863716688056684767

if Labour do refuse on some kind of "moral" ground, Soc Dems will look awful shitehawks if they accept.

could a "left alliance" try to strong arm FG out of the equation? giving something like FF-SF-SD-Labour?

Surely with 86 seats there won't be any serious negotiations with labour or anybody else anyway, they just need a few independents onboard, some of who they already have a working relationship with. If they had come out with 70 seats it might have been different.

Quote from: The Butcher on December 02, 2024, 11:30:30 PMI think this has possibly been the worst election I've witnessed in my lifetime....2007 is close though  :laugh:

Turnout of 59.7%, marking the lowest since 1923...at least we've gone from FF alone getting about 41% back in 2002 and within 20 years FF/FG are now struggling to get that COMBINED. They are attached to the hip now unless something drastic happens but this has given the opposition a chance to build since 2016 and have utterly failed to do so. I mean what did SF really promote in terms of policies that people could get behind and get excited about? Tinkering around the edges in terms of budgetary measures and that they would build 50 BILLION more housing units? We didn't have a viable opposition for the last number of years, very very poor and all the left leaning parties, too fragmented and way too many of them splitting the votes because of ego/narcissism/stupidity. Same can go for "others".

Apathy, a plague on all your houses and the devil you know seems to be the theme of this election. I look forward to the absolute disaster of the next government 🙂 FF/FG first stop will be enticing Labour in, then SocDems or if that all fails, go with some dopey Indos like the Healy Raes.

All of that. An unbelievable missed opportunity for SF, who really need to have a good look at themselves after not even being able to take advantage of 2 and a half years of covid shit or anything. They won't though because they're already acting like the result is some sort of victory but it's ridiculous that they had no strategist in the party that could help them think of a way to capitalise on the general unhappiness.

I called it wrong though in thinking independents would have a better showing due to unhappiness with parties but it just didn't go that way at all. We really are a crazy country who like to complain but won't cast a ballot. I think not casting one has the same effect as actually casting one in a way, because you're leaving the choice to the party faithfuls who certainly will

The head of the electoral body, An Coimisún Toghcháin, has acknowledged that the electoral register is "not as accurate as it should be" and that there could be as many as 500,000 people who should not be on it. (https://www.rte.ie/news/election-24/2024/1203/1484435-electoral-register/)

While they claim that there's no evidence of voter fraud so far, SF are experts at it in the North.

Well SF underperformed on many predictions, so if they did attempt fraud then they bollocksed it up rightly :laugh:

Quote from: Pain Medicine on December 03, 2024, 11:58:46 AM

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on December 03, 2024, 12:20:13 AMwords schmwords and all that, but Marie Sherlock said tonight that Labour won't be number fillers for FFG:
https://x.com/RTEUpfront/status/1863716688056684767

if Labour do refuse on some kind of "moral" ground, Soc Dems will look awful shitehawks if they accept.

could a "left alliance" try to strong arm FG out of the equation? giving something like FF-SF-SD-Labour?

Surely with 86 seats there won't be any serious negotiations with labour or anybody else anyway, they just need a few independents onboard, some of who they already have a working relationship with. If they had come out with 70 seats it might have been different.

But the classic mudguard of the two parties would be missing. Labour took the big hit from going in with FG in 2011 and Greens took the hit this time. You could say confidence and supply agreement from 2016 between FF/FG hurt both at the 2020 election so if they just had a few indos with them this time around, focus would be on them again. I think they will seriously discuss formation with Labour/SocDems before going elsewhere.

Quote from: Pain Medicine on December 03, 2024, 11:58:46 AMSurely with 86 seats there won't be any serious negotiations with labour or anybody else anyway, they just need a few independents onboard, some of who they already have a working relationship with. If they had come out with 70 seats it might have been different.

I'd say if they could get Labour to essentially replace the Greens as potential fallout guy (not for the first time either), then they'd take that option [edit: was typing exactly the same thing as The Butcher above!]. But you're right they don't need them. Another eventuality is that FF decide they want, long-term, to re-establish a distinction between themselves and FG and see shacking up with SF as a means of doing so. FFG + Indo seat fillers does still seem most likely though, yeah.

I don't think there's room for 2 nationalist parties, even though the days of FF being that are long gone, so they will avoid a coalition with SF. FF are more than happy with their current mongrel situation.

Just in general, and without even going into great detail on what was wanted or why:

Is there anyone here on the board who wanted the government we're about to get?

Asking because every single person I've met who wasn't actually running for election is throwing their eyes up at getting more of the same, and yet the vote speaks for itself. Really odd

Well I voted FG and the two girls didn't get in so my transfer helped elect a FF who I'd never usually back. But these are strange times so I felt I should act strategically.

Astfygl, in fairness to you, you are about the most transparent on this board on this issue and have said who you'd vote for, and why. Everyone else is calling it a shitshow, the state of the country, we need "change" etc etc. Who the fuck did ye vote for? What is this nebulous change ye want?

I posted once on this previously and I think explained my thinking for the way I vote.

The centre is your only man.
With such a wide array of interests, perspectives, motives, beliefs etc in society I don't believe any form of extremism will have an overall benefit on society. With the Centre, nobody gets totally shafted and nobody gets complete victory. You can be a layabout cunt and the state will mind you. You can be a power hungry entrepreneur and you can succeed. You can be religious or pretend religious and have your kids do communion rituals while the fucking angelus is still played before the news. You can be as gay as anyone in the world or declare yourself the other gender if you like. The Centre tries to accommodate all.

Who were the alternatives? You asked this yourself Astfygl and admitted there were very little. So who did ye all vote for or what imaginary politicians would you have liked to vote for? What qualities and policies would they have?

Sinn Fein are still in with the IRA. I'm only in my 40s but remember enough to find it incredulous that ordinary citizens would turn a blind eye to the history and vote for them. The main reason I won't back them though is their half cooked socialist stuff. I wouldn't trust them to govern. They have no experience except in undermining the state. Did ye vote for them cos they promised ye a free gaff? I don't think I believe in a right to housing by the way.

Labour. Too socialist for me. I believe socialism is inherently unnatural to man. Metal heads should find this obvious!

Soc Dems. Will be gone in a few years. Bring back the PDs.

Independents. The odd one is ok but there's too many now. What power do they have? You need a party to navigate Leinster house and Brussels.

All that's left then is fringe lunatics like PBP and the National Party. Who on here voted for the likes of them?

A lot on here are going on about the country being in a terrible state. There are issues such as housing crisis, immigration, cost of living. These are global issues!!!! FF or FG did not create them. The same way the PDs did not cause the financial collapse of 2008 yet they were blamed for it and folded a year later. The world is a much bigger and more complex place than fucking Martin or Harris making a cunt of things in Ireland. Of course they could make better decisions within the space they have. But I'd prefer an established and experienced party making those decisions than the opposition, which is pitiful.

Ireland is a grand spot to live as illustrated by the thousands of legal and illegal immigrants trying to get in. Maybe some of ye might like to try out Slovakia, Romania or Poland to see how things are done better?

Great Post. I do like a bit of socialism but only to the extent that the free stuff equally applies to the people who did a bit better than the lads who did nothing. We have every chance of making a great country out of this one with what we have but I can't agree with either the far left or far right on anything because they're all just too stupid.

So I actually agree with your post more than I feel I'd like to in many ways and I think despite all the complaining, many folks in the country feel the very same and voted accordingly.

Have heard Poland is really on the way up though

You're right that those are global issues GR. In an increasingly neoliberal and decreasingly socialist world in which wealth inequality is as prevalent as it was a century ago, to be precise.

But have FFG been merely just as bad as the governments of other socioeconomically comparable nations?

Play around with this interactive map, have a look notably at the national wealth shares of the richest 1% and 0.1% as well as that of the poorest 50%:
https://ourworldindata.org/economic-inequality

You'll see Ireland has one of the highest levels of wealth inequality in Europe. Are any and all politics aiming to even that out a bit too "socialist"? Is that level of wealth accumulation inherently natural to man?  People in the middle who don't want things to change because they're doing "grand" are doing a far bigger favour to that 1% and 0.1% than to anyone else, including themselves. I'm doing "grand" but I know that with more equitable resource distribution and access I'd still be doing "grand", just along with a lot more people who currently aren't doing grand at all.

As to what should and shouldn't be obvious to metal heads, Norway and Sweden are two of the most historically socialist countries in Europe  :)

Socialism like free school books and public transport and medical care for all is fine for me and if someone happens to have done well enough to get a bigger house they should also certainly be entitled to the same, given it's their taxes and not those of the lads at the bottom that would actually pay for that. I don't agree with my tax money being spent on giving free shit to layabouts and if I had my way I'd have the gestapo come and drag many of them out of bed in the morning and set them to work in a chain gang on projects for the greater good so yeah I'm a real socialist myself. I'd have the ipas lads out of the hotels working sure if they're fleeing such persecution etc they should be only delighted with the security of working here for it instead of being bored in the hotels with nothing to do, or even worse being back in their own places in terror of death or starvation. I'd have lads down the dole queue taking lads out of it to work. Nothing crazy, just 9 to 5 stuff so they'd be net contributors rather than the drain on money and resources they currently are. And if any of them were suffering we'd have free mental health services, free nursing homes for those who needed them after working all their lives. For those who couldn't work due to disabilities or caring for someone full time we'd have publicly funded services for that too, but none of that would work without serious reform of the whole taxation system as well as not going down a silly road such as saying the fella doing fuck all should have the same as the fella who does do a bit. People would be free to get rich and other People would be free to work less but couldn't claim on top of it without doing the government work, but with all the publicly funded free stuff, there'd be a real possibility for people to do that instead of being constantly backed into a corner. I would take all utilities into public ownership to keep the prices down and prevent the astronomical profits of shareholders being the foot on the head of those on more meagre means, but by fuck would I not just give people a load of free shit so that people just like me who can be arsed don't feel like getting up and going to work every day is a constant kick in the face.

Am I a socialist or a capitalist, and which political parties best represent my world view in this country? I don't think there's any tbh.

So yeah there may be global issues yeah but there's issues in other parts of the town here and I'm responsible for what goes on in my house so that's no excuse for ineptitude here, that other places are stupid.

I'm politically homeless myself but I fully understand why we got what we got in the election and must stand by the result given the extreme lack of anything serious as an alternative, no matter what the shinners might be saying in the dole queue.

Also the above post is not to be taken without the humour intended in it, but we just have a lot of things upside down at the minute, and I'm really not going with that whole equity thing while being a great believer in equality.

Therefore there's no party that wants to do anything I agree with for the most part, hence my agreement with Grim Reality on the grim reality of the situation

Your take is grim reality. Grim Reality's take, ironically, is grand reality. Mine is... improvable reality, I suppose.

I suggested about 20 ways to improve it in a single post. I don't think Sinn Fèin would be doing any of the things I want so the reality is that there will be no alternative for at least 5 years and that is due to the poor effort at proposing anything I want from any of the non government parties. That would be the first thing that could be improved would be the quality of opposition because they are really really shit. So I do agree with Grim that what we're after getting is still better than whatever else was on offer. I'm happy reality, grim reality and improvable reality all at once

I would tend to disagree that what we're after getting is better than whatever else was on offer. Despite SF ballsing up in a couple of respects recently, I don't think they are "worse" than FFG, or rather I don't think we can judge them as worse until they've failed, as FFG have done, in power. Personally I'd tend to think that people who will be "grand" under an umpteenth repetition of FFG would also have been "grand" under SF + whoever, but with the added at a minimum bonus of FFG having the complacency (and Micheal Martin the smirk) smacked off them.

Also, it should be clear from Grim Reality's posts that his position (which is a totally valid one even if I disagree with it) isn't so much that the opposition was "shit" in the sense you mean it, but rather that what the opposition (SF, Soc Dems, PBP, Labour) claim to be aiming for, even if they did so perfectly, is wrong per se, or "inherently unnatural."

But the result is also "grand" for me in the sense that it continues the trend of FFG gradually losing their grip on the country's politics, and doing so in a progressively progressive rather than reactionary direction, notably in that SF's slip down from 2020 didn't translate into an uptick for FFG:

Edit to flesh that out:
FFG first preference voter share by general election so far this century:
2002 - 64%
2007 - 69%
2011 - 54%
2016 - 50%
2020 - 43%
2024 - 43%
https://www.facebook.com/groups/irelandspolitics/posts/1221225752287013/?_rdr

Quote from: Grim Reality on December 03, 2024, 10:45:37 PMSoc Dems. Will be gone in a few years. Bring back the PDs.

Soc dems have doubled their vote in each election. They're going nowhere. Can see them being the fourth biggest parry by the next election.

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on December 04, 2024, 09:41:36 AMI would tend to disagree that what we're after getting is better than whatever else was on offer. Despite SF ballsing up in a couple of respects recently, I don't think they are "worse" than FFG, or rather I don't think we can judge them as worse until they've failed, as FFG have done, in power. Personally I'd tend to think that people who will be "grand" under an umpteenth repetition of FFG would also have been "grand" under SF + whoever, but with the added at a minimum bonus of FFG having the complacency (and Micheal Martin the smirk) smacked off them.

Also, it should be clear from Grim Reality's posts that his position (which is a totally valid one even if I disagree with it) isn't so much that the opposition was "shit" in the sense you mean it, but rather that what the opposition (SF, Soc Dems, PBP, Labour) claim to be aiming for, even if they did so perfectly, is wrong per se, or "inherently unnatural."

But the result is also "grand" for me in the sense that it continues the trend of FFG gradually losing their grip on the country's politics, and doing so in a progressively progressive rather than reactionary direction, notably in that SF's slip down from 2020 didn't translate into an uptick for FFG:

Edit to flesh that out:
FFG first preference voter share by general election so far this century:
2002 - 64%
2007 - 69%
2011 - 54%
2016 - 50%
2020 - 43%
2024 - 43%
https://www.facebook.com/groups/irelandspolitics/posts/1221225752287013/?_rdr

SF pretended to oppose vaccine passports by leaving enough TDs out to make sure it would pass, including Mary Lou herself (coincidentally, Mary Lou's sister is a shareholder in a company called Vaccitech, which I'm sure has no bearing at all but it's a thing all the same). Then they voted for hate speech laws in a far more stringent version than the one they eventually opposed due to a shit version of half arsed populism which they couldn't even do right. Half of their candidates are fucking bums, I know because I know all of the Tipperary chapter and half of them never worked in their lives. I completely disagree that they'd do anything better at all than the rotten fucks we have because even when in opposition they couldn't do fuck all. Beyond useless.

Quote from: astfgyl on December 04, 2024, 12:36:59 AMSocialism like free school books and public transport and medical care for all is fine for me and if someone happens to have done well enough to get a bigger house they should also certainly be entitled to the same, given it's their taxes and not those of the lads at the bottom that would actually pay for that. I don't agree with my tax money being spent on giving free shit to layabouts and if I had my way I'd have the gestapo come and drag many of them out of bed in the morning and set them to work in a chain gang on projects for the greater good so yeah I'm a real socialist myself. I'd have the ipas lads out of the hotels working sure if they're fleeing such persecution etc they should be only delighted with the security of working here for it instead of being bored in the hotels with nothing to do, or even worse being back in their own places in terror of death or starvation. I'd have lads down the dole queue taking lads out of it to work. Nothing crazy, just 9 to 5 stuff so they'd be net contributors rather than the drain on money and resources they currently are. And if any of them were suffering we'd have free mental health services, free nursing homes for those who needed them after working all their lives. For those who couldn't work due to disabilities or caring for someone full time we'd have publicly funded services for that too, but none of that would work without serious reform of the whole taxation system as well as not going down a silly road such as saying the fella doing fuck all should have the same as the fella who does do a bit. People would be free to get rich and other People would be free to work less but couldn't claim on top of it without doing the government work, but with all the publicly funded free stuff, there'd be a real possibility for people to do that instead of being constantly backed into a corner. I would take all utilities into public ownership to keep the prices down and prevent the astronomical profits of shareholders being the foot on the head of those on more meagre means, but by fuck would I not just give people a load of free shit so that people just like me who can be arsed don't feel like getting up and going to work every day is a constant kick in the face.

Am I a socialist or a capitalist, and which political parties best represent my world view in this country? I don't think there's any tbh.

So yeah there may be global issues yeah but there's issues in other parts of the town here and I'm responsible for what goes on in my house so that's no excuse for ineptitude here, that other places are stupid.

I'm politically homeless myself but I fully understand why we got what we got in the election and must stand by the result given the extreme lack of anything serious as an alternative, no matter what the shinners might be saying in the dole queue.

I'd be 100% with you on that first paragraph. Always thought that way. I'm not against socialist actions provided they don't only benefit one section of society and penalise (tax) the other. Let the lads who don't want to work tip around all day doing whatever, going to the bookies, the library, for a walk, whatever. But don't give them extra at my expense! If SF or Labour want to "house" someone for free or cheap then I want 100k to help pay off my mortgage.

Chris you're a gas man and I've great time for your auld shite in general but I'm in work now and haven't the time to respond to your convoluted nonsense  :laugh: Apart from to say that enforced socialism across the board is unnatural. A caring type of socialism for those in need (as suggested by astfygl) is inherently natural to man. You see it can be both?!?!

Maybe later. Good to have a civilised discussion all the same.

Quote from: Grim Reality on December 03, 2024, 10:45:37 PMA lot on here are going on about the country being in a terrible state. There are issues such as housing crisis, immigration, cost of living. These are global issues!!!! FF or FG did not create them. The same way the PDs did not cause the financial collapse of 2008 yet they were blamed for it and folded a year later. The world is a much bigger and more complex place than fucking Martin or Harris making a cunt of things in Ireland. Of course they could make better decisions within the space they have. But I'd prefer an established and experienced party making those decisions than the opposition, which is pitiful.

Just my opinion here but to excuse issues off as global really gives governments a big big pass on it's responsibilities. Can definitely argue a case for the creation of these issues but there is no excuse for not keeping a balance/oversight and when to reign things in. In the 2000s we suffered a great deal more than any other country due to the size of our property and banking bubble. That was our fault. There was zero attempt by FF/PDs to slow down any of it in like a responsible government would have done. In fact they promoted it, encouraged people to buy at the heights of it. The stats speak for themselves during that era and once that bubble burst, unemployment went soaring to 15%, a €64 billion bank bailout (40% of GDP back then!), plus a decade of austerity and emigration. If you weren't touched by that at all, fair play for escaping it but others, not so lucky. We don't have long term thinking in this country - evident that the Labour party in 2013 spent taxpayers money demolishing ghost estates across the country. On principle alone, from that bubble era I wouldn't give FF a preference. And that's not even going into the sheer incompetence and corruption.

Same applies to the big issues of today - immigration for example while happening across the western world at different levels - we of course have to top the charts when it comes to the sheer amount we bring it and supply/demand shows we cannot cope in terms of services/infrastructure/housing/health. Our natural fertility rate has never gone beyond 2 in the last 20+ years so all the extra population growth has come from outside Ireland. I believe we are now at the start of where upcoming generations will have a degraded quality of life compared to previous generations. The only way I could let this be known was to vote for all the nutjobs, knowing they would never see the light of day in the dail but as a warning statistic for these "centre" type parties - that their vote is being eroded away if they don't act. I don't think it's good for democracy to have the same 2 parties at the helm for 100 years. The experience you speak of - Simon Harris - has he ever had a job in the real world?

*Extra rant for anyone who wants to read on further*  :laugh:

I'm sure they are being told by various groups that if we don't take in huge numbers then we'll end up with an upside down pyramid by 2040 in terms of an aging demographic which will strain our health/pension sectors hugely. But no one seems to be thinking of how AI/Automation will impact jobs in a very drastic way in the next 10-20 years and then left with many people without work, some with no real affinity to our values/culture. I can see huge social fragmentation and a race to the bottom beginning (why hire an Irish programmer looking for 75k when you can hire an Indian on a work visa for 45k who will split a rental with 4 others in bunk beds - only picked Indian because there's an average of 2000 a month coming into the country currently). This is just the reality of the data - we can pretend this isn't happening but it's shifting the landscape of this country.

Look at the coffin beds in densely populated Asian cities and see what people start to accept, you can start to see a very bad path for western countries to go down. I think one problem is every system needs to have checks/balances otherwise it eventually tends towards corruption/cronyism.  Let capitalism run amok with no consequences for the crash in 2009 for banks, then you can see why in the end we got vulture funds, foreign funds with huge (one could say in context of Ireland - unlimited) purchasing power sweeping across and picking up land/property. There is money to be made in taking advantage of others and some do it with a smile pretending to help.

By the way Grim, that wasn't all directed at you, just the point on global issues ::)

Socialism is, at base, the idea that if you focus on and take care of society then quality of life will be better on the whole for all individual members of society also. The number of individuals who struggle to make ends meet due to wealth inequality far outweigh, on the national level, the numbers of those who might bottom feed off a system designed to help the former. Strange that the bottom 1% strike you as more parasitic than the top 1%. I wonder where an FG voter might have gotten such an idea from  :)

https://archive.is/4aR1j

https://x.com/gavreilly/status/1864300873435824557

New technical group for FF/FG to ponder.

https://www.rte.ie/news/election-24/2024/1203/1484435-electoral-register/

This is interesting.

Quote from: mickO))) on December 04, 2024, 08:44:28 PMhttps://www.rte.ie/news/election-24/2024/1203/1484435-electoral-register/

This is interesting.

I know someone who hasn't lived in this country for over twenty years, yet he's still on the register, and the election flyers still get sent to his family's place each election.

Quote from: mickO))) on December 04, 2024, 08:44:28 PMhttps://www.rte.ie/news/election-24/2024/1203/1484435-electoral-register/

This is interesting.

Aye it needs to be sorted alright. Herself has a voting card in cork and one at home. Like you have 5 years between elections to sort it. Hire a few people and it'd get sorted in a year. I don't think theres any widespread voter fraud though.

Haven't ever even seen a mention of election fraud in Ireland other than the time it was the local elections and one of the candidates paid my missus (in booze, as he was a publican) to go to each voting centre (edit: polling stations) in the town (about 5 but it was years ago, could have been one more or less) with a different voting card to vote for him so I'm sure it was only herself who was asked and I'm sure it would never happen on any scale here.

For this general election I wasn't asked for any form of ID whatsoever, even though I had the licence on me after being asked for it diligently for the last referendum. Dunno why it was different this time.

Anyway, I guess the point is that paper ballots puts a stop to any of that lark

That's a fair enough post @the butcher. I wouldn't really be arguing with you over it.

The Ghost Estates. Fucking hell I'd forgotten that term! And for it to flip in a few years to this housing crisis. There's so many factors at play its beyond me to try and explain or understand it.

Regards immigration I think it's close to out control. In my day job/industry we have plenty of the example you gave of the Indian tech worker taking a fraction of the salary an Irish person would expect as its unreal money for them in comparison to their homeland. These are Indians but also Polish, Portuguese, Italians, Romanians, Brazilians etc etc. I'll admit I've contemplated voting for some of the anti immigrant loons in the locals as a protest vote, just like you, but didn't do it.

Regarding AI, automation etc. That's a whole different topic. The changes we and our kids will see will be bananas and I'd love to be optimistic about it. I listen to the odd bit of Rogan and he has a few folk on who are optimistic about the future. Elon among them!

Black Shepherd Chris - I don't know if I'd regard the bottom 1% as more parasitic than the top 1%. I didn't mean to imply that anyway if that's how you read it. But certainly I don't generally begrudge rich people their wealth, though obviously I'm aware there are various nefarious methods used to arrive at that place. I'm in favour of the bottom 1% being cared for in a socialist fashion. Free shit etc. No expectation to work. Some people aren't cut out for it. In a mature and prosperous society we should look after all our citizens. But I wouldn't take from others (rich or plain old middle class) to pay for them without giving a few breaks to those who are going out and contributing to a functioning society as well.

It reminds me a bit of the run up to the US election. There was this talk from the left of 'how are these rural redneck, mechanic, farmer types all voting for Trump? How can they relate to this filthy rich obnoxious New Yorker?' Well, they admire him. Admire what he's achieved and all the cool shit he has. They want to be like him. "He's done well, he looks like he knows what he's doing". Not all people view wealth inequality as something to be broken down. Many view it as something to aspire to.

US citizens who live in deprivation are lied to by means of those myths of the American dream and the self-made man. A lot of them buy it and I don't blame them personally for that: I don't criticize "good faith" MAGA supporters, only those who should know better or do know better (i.e. the cynical ones). But as a result of those myths and the evangelizing (pun intended) power of the various media and personality cult figures who push them loudest, wealth inequality in the US is more comparable to certain developing nations than it is to, say, anywhere in Europe. I take the US and its myths as a socio-economic lighthouse signalling territory to be avoided not aimed for. FG's welfare cheat diversion was a steer in that kind of direction imo, a real low point in cynical dishonesty wrt where the average Irish person's attention should be as regards financial cheats. And yeah, plenty of governments have historically carved similar myths of control out of "socialism": many lessons, many lighthouses, many territories to be avoided.

I see Eoin Hayes of the Social Democrats is in spot of trouble. He is on the free Palestine bandwagon while at the same time he made 200k from selling shares he had in a US software company that supplies the Israel Defense Forces. Claims he sold his shares in June before entering politics and becoming a councillor but now it looks like that was a lie and they weren't sold until July.

He's been "suspended" from the party over it.

Unrelated to that but relevant to the election, there's also this from today:

Quote[The Standards in Public Office Commission] completed an investigation into Robert Troy – which found the ex-junior minister's failure to declare properties was a "serious matter" – five weeks before the general election but only published its findings yesterday.

The Ditch asked SIPO – which usually publishes reports within days of completion – three days before the general election if it had progressed its investigation into Troy. SIPO responded to say it hadn't published the report – but didn't comment on its status.

The watchdog found that Troy breached ethics law – "in some respects negligently" – over his failure to declare property interests, which led to his resignation as trade promotion minister after reports published by The Ditch.

https://www.ontheditch.com/sipo-completed-troy-report/

https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/1213/1486339-garda-commissioner-hutch/ (https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/1213/1486339-garda-commissioner-hutch/)

QuoteCommissioner Harris also said the motives as to why people voted for Mr Hutch are not clear to him, but he does not think that people could have been ignorant of him and all that he has been associated with down the years.

He said he did not think it was a problem with information or An Garda Síochána but a society problem of an attitude towards criminality.

The most concerning thing, he said, is that an individual like Mr Hutch receives so much support from the electorate.

Clearly, old RUC/PSNI habits die hard.

https://thebrokenelbow.com/2019/11/17/did-drew-harris-cops-bribe-trick-their-way-into-the-boston-college-archive/ (https://thebrokenelbow.com/2019/11/17/did-drew-harris-cops-bribe-trick-their-way-into-the-boston-college-archive/)

Quote from: TheRuts on December 16, 2024, 07:59:28 PMhttps://www.rte.ie/news/2024/1213/1486339-garda-commissioner-hutch/ (https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/1213/1486339-garda-commissioner-hutch/)

QuoteCommissioner Harris also said the motives as to why people voted for Mr Hutch are not clear to him, but he does not think that people could have been ignorant of him and all that he has been associated with down the years.

He said he did not think it was a problem with information or An Garda Síochána but a society problem of an attitude towards criminality.

The most concerning thing, he said, is that an individual like Mr Hutch receives so much support from the electorate.

Clearly, old RUC/PSNI habits die hard.

https://thebrokenelbow.com/2019/11/17/did-drew-harris-cops-bribe-trick-their-way-into-the-boston-college-archive/ (https://thebrokenelbow.com/2019/11/17/did-drew-harris-cops-bribe-trick-their-way-into-the-boston-college-archive/)

One thing I really love is Oliver Cromwell for the Irish hero he really was at the back of it all. All he really wanted to do was purify us all

Edit: Does anyone remember how the vote of confidence in Drew Harris went the last time it was put to the gardaí

Accident double post quote myself etc

Quote from: astfgyl on December 16, 2024, 11:15:17 PM

Quote from: TheRuts on December 16, 2024, 07:59:28 PMhttps://www.rte.ie/news/2024/1213/1486339-garda-commissioner-hutch/ (https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/1213/1486339-garda-commissioner-hutch/)

QuoteCommissioner Harris also said the motives as to why people voted for Mr Hutch are not clear to him, but he does not think that people could have been ignorant of him and all that he has been associated with down the years.

He said he did not think it was a problem with information or An Garda Síochána but a society problem of an attitude towards criminality.

The most concerning thing, he said, is that an individual like Mr Hutch receives so much support from the electorate.

Clearly, old RUC/PSNI habits die hard.

https://thebrokenelbow.com/2019/11/17/did-drew-harris-cops-bribe-trick-their-way-into-the-boston-college-archive/ (https://thebrokenelbow.com/2019/11/17/did-drew-harris-cops-bribe-trick-their-way-into-the-boston-college-archive/)

One thing I really love is Oliver Cromwell for the Irish hero he really was at the back of it all. All he really wanted to do was purify us all

Edit: Does anyone remember how the vote of confidence in Drew Harris went the last time it was put to the gardaí

Over 90% voted no confidence. The rank and file loathe the man.

You just can't have an RUC man as garda Commissioner. End of story

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/revealed-the-boost-in-store-for-taxpayers-from-today-as-budget-changes-kick-in/a1190299798.html

Just reading this and inflation has far outstripped anything on offer here. Really does nothing for the working man or woman

Soc Dems have let Hayes back in. They should have made him do a Gaza flotilla run first to prove whatever change of heart we're supposed to swallow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIYJPsxDcT0

I like the way he thinks he can portray himself as a decent, upstanding gentleman.

We might have opposing views on various issues on this forum, from politics, to science, to history, but I think we can all agree that that lad is a fucking dick.

Quote from: son of the Morrigan on September 05, 2025, 12:51:49 PMWe might have opposing views on various issues on this forum, from politics, to science, to history, but I think we can all agree that that lad is a fucking dick.

Agreed. Fucking gombeen of the highest order.

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on September 05, 2025, 10:46:18 AMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIYJPsxDcT0

It is depressing that a not-insignificant number of people will gladly vote for him. Absolute fucking orc of an individual.

"Ahern said he wouldn't consider running as an Independent because he respects the party too much."

More like if he had to run as an Independent, he'd have to use his own money for the campaign.

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on September 05, 2025, 10:46:18 AMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIYJPsxDcT0

What the fuck type of accent is he trying to put on?! :laugh:

All of the bluster and weighing in from the usual American and UK gimps with neither them nor Conor himself copping that he is simply not eligible. You cannot "run for president" the same way here.

A real poster boy for the Faustian deal of getting repeatedly hit in the fucking head for a living.

Was reading an article earlier about the fuckin mallethead, smooth brained prick. He claimed last week to have everyone needed on board to run and the speech yesterday was asking people to hound their local tds to get him the nomination. I really can't get over how thick he is.

Quote from: Trev on September 05, 2025, 09:07:31 PM

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on September 05, 2025, 10:46:18 AMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIYJPsxDcT0

What the fuck type of accent is he trying to put on?! :laugh:

Jesus lol the fucking accent oh Lord

He's some fucking tit, and a rapist

What a completely fucking dense cunt.

He sounds like he is convinced that if he uses a diction style that's quite sharp it equates to intelligence, worthiness and sincerity.

The best part was when he blessed himself.
It's embarrassing.

I can't remember the name of the fella ,some
American comedian on a podcast was going on about how shocked he was at the way McGregor was viewed here.
He was under the impression; many of them still are that McGregor is seen as some sort of hero in Ireland.

It's like a serial version of the  film Idiocracy.

I have no doubt he is viewed as a hero by some young lads. Banging, fighting, snorting, minted- the ALPHA! I find it a real shame that he has turned out to be such a complete piece of shit. With his back story, coming from an ordinary sort of existence to working his way to the top of MMA, he could have really become a positive role model for disaffected young lads. Now he's just selling them a glorified drug dealer/ enforcer image. Maybe if he does run for president (that holiest of offices in Ireland) some eejit will take him out. Come on Antifa, finally do something worthwhile   :laugh:

Quote from: Circlepit on September 08, 2025, 08:00:49 AMI can't remember the name of the fella ,some
American comedian on a podcast was going on about how shocked he was at the way McGregor was viewed here.
He was under the impression; many of them still are that McGregor is seen as some sort of hero in Ireland.

Because of shite like this:
(https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:sfghe7argsyfxfea5m2in3jx/bafkreifi4whani3mbhynqpjmgofbd3ty34wnifxbnnwvkdzsslmss4c5ny@jpeg)

"frontrunner"  :laugh:  :laugh:  :laugh:

Fucking mad shit.

Blocking independent candidates seems mental. That fuckin eejit won't get anywhere regardless. Mongo.

Agreed: given the atmosphere, was a very miscalculated move from Harris. Not really much of a surprise there. Though as I've said before, the louder minority far right views get in Ireland, the more it suits FFG. For as long as they're a minority anyway!

No reason to break his streak now. Ya, they are coasting on the divide. Horrible cretins.

My reading of it was that they didn't want FG councillors to nominate someone that would run against the FG candidate. Either way it just plays right into the hands of terminally online crazies and cataclysmic spastics like Musk.

Also didn't the "petrified" comment originally come from that shambles of a page TheLiberal.ie ??

FG/FF have never been good with optics. Should have let all the independents run and split the vote. The polling doesn't show them as frontrunners - but they are probably more afraid of the potential during a campaign run - they don't want the fringes talking about all sorts that could cause a stir.

Quote from: The Butcher on September 08, 2025, 04:26:21 PMFG/FF have never been good with optics. Should have let all the independents run and split the vote. The polling doesn't show them as frontrunners - but they are probably more afraid of the potential during a campaign run - they don't want the fringes talking about all sorts that could cause a stir.

Probably don't want a repeat of the Peter Casey campaign.

After a gruelling 12 day campaign, Conor Thaddeus McGregor has respectfully withdrawn from the Presidential race.

Next stop - celebrity bake off 2026.

Some cakes are gonna get fucken raped.

We're not here to take part.

Some good points here on the shit tapping out https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-41705987.html

I enjoyed the WWN article about his tapping out also due to his newly acquired accent straining his brain  :laugh:

Quote from: Snare on September 15, 2025, 07:30:58 PMSome good points here on the shit tapping out https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-41705987.html

I enjoyed the WWN article about his tapping out also due to his newly acquired accent straining his brain  :laugh:

"In a novel approach to wooing voters, he was determined never to meet any of them in person".

  :laugh:  :laugh:  :laugh:

Best presidential campaign ever. A quickly but not quickly-enough deleted campaign video for Heather Humphreys: "Here in Belfast, image of the Reichstag in Berlin appears on screen I'm reminded that..." 😅😅

https://bsky.app/profile/newschambers.bsky.social/post/3m2ocwq4dx22n

Lots of gold Jim Gavin stuff out there too...
(https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:7qlnwxkut4osbdgz37mzuzul/bafkreiayljjgkrhc53buiiv4c7v2q2rum5r6aiz5ewj4jc72hf7czbv2ya@jpeg)

If I've got things right, it turns out that the tenant he's owed money to for 16 years went on to be the deputy editor of the Sunday World, which is how it fast-tracked up the news cycle. Shit out of luck Jim!

Wonder how much he spent on his campaign, compared to having it derailed over owing a few grand

It's the grey haired lad Niall thats always on the podcast with that Nicola fool. I didn't realise it was him until I heard them saying it on the radio this morning. To be honest if he didn't work for a newspaper the story probably would have been buried just like Jim tried to bury all of the stories about his extracurricular activities. He even had people posting on social media on his behalf about suing anyone that mentioned it.

It doesn't really matter anyway all three candidate's are in lockstep with the Government so they will be happy no matter who wins. Farce of an election.

We are just one more political scandal away from someone winning the election by default  :laugh: wonder will Humphreys be found blasting a fox with a shotgun  :laugh:

Humphreys seems to be in balls deep with Banty McEnaney and his multi million euro IPAS business.

QuoteHeather Humphreys is among those spreading misinformation that Oireachtas political staff need so-called garda clearance – they don't, according to policy documents obtained by The Ditch.

Humphreys's former party colleague and ex-justice minister Alan Shatter has also joined in, posting a fake document on X – likely first generated using artificial intelligence– purporting to be official policy on Oireachtas vetting.

https://www.ontheditch.com/heather-humphreys-alan-shatter/

I'd say there isn't an Irish citizen alive who wants Connolly to lose more than former FG and current Likud minister Alan Shatter  :laugh: 

Quote from: mickO))) on October 08, 2025, 01:47:27 PMHumphreys seems to be in balls deep with Banty McEnaney and his multi million euro IPAS business.

Oul Banty is the salt of the earth lol

Alan Shatter is a ballbag who should stick to writing dirty books

Quote from: astfgyl on October 08, 2025, 07:16:05 PM

Quote from: mickO))) on October 08, 2025, 01:47:27 PMHumphreys seems to be in balls deep with Banty McEnaney and his multi million euro IPAS business.

Oul Banty is the salt of the earth lol

It's insane it has been estimated that his entire family combined have been paid just under 1 billion euro so far of tax payers money for running IPAS centres.


I see now Connolly is getting heat for representing the banks in the repossessions of peoples homes when she worked as a lawyer  :laugh:

Humphreys had a photo of the Reichstag in Berlin in a new video saying it was city hall in Belfast.

On RTE news tonight they said Martin was shaking and extremely anxious when explaining what went wrong with Gavin to the rest of the party. I am sure he will be the same as Harris and refuse to step down.

Quote from: mickO))) on October 08, 2025, 09:53:56 PMI see now Connolly is getting heat for representing the banks in the repossessions of peoples homes when she worked as a lawyer  :laugh:

She should use this heat as proof that she'll have no problem fulfilling her diplomatic role with respect to visiting amoral and/or criminal foreign dignitaries  :)

Did she not already prove that when she met one of Assads buddies a few years ago.

Quick on the draw tonight Mick!  :laugh:

It's all so grubby. As the position is supposedly "above politics", it seems candidates are attacked for personal, private life flaws rather than political ones. It's so... American.

Quote from: Emphyrio on October 09, 2025, 07:05:23 AMIt's all so grubby. As the position is supposedly "above politics", it seems candidates are attacked for personal, private life flaws rather than political ones. It's so... American.

Ivan Yates, grubby and proud:
https://bsky.app/profile/robosullivan.bsky.social/post/3m2rctamjwc2j

Perfect example.

Quote from: Emphyrio on October 09, 2025, 07:05:23 AMIt's all so grubby. As the position is supposedly "above politics", it seems candidates are attacked for personal, private life flaws rather than political ones. It's so... American.

True, to a degree, but they're all cunts at the end of the day anyway. Especially Jim Gavin.

I've become disillusioned by it all at this stage. Does it even matter? probably a defeatist attitude on my part though.

Martin has to be gone surely after this one but he has a brass neck so who knows

Regarding the presidential election thing I wasn't going to bother voting at all because I really don't care about it but now that Gavin has withdrawn I'm thinking of getting out and voting for him just to stick a spanner in the works. It'll be like a spoiled vote that actually does something.

I said this to a chap who's like rte and The Journal leaning and his response was that it's a bad idea because the taxpayer will foot the bill for the next one and then I thought about the budget we've just had and I think I actually will do this now  :laugh:

Stumbled upon a couple of heads in discussions on FB today, going on like utter morons, who happened to have changed their profile pictures to an AI generated pic advocating for vote spoiling.

Quote from: astfgyl on October 10, 2025, 07:39:23 PMRegarding the presidential election thing I wasn't going to bother voting at all because I really don't care about it but now that Gavin has withdrawn I'm thinking of getting out and voting for him just to stick a spanner in the works. It'll be like a spoiled vote that actually does something.

The Irish verson of "None of the Above" from Brewster's Millions?
Would that make Connolly and Humhprey a pair of overgrown wharf rats then?  :laugh:

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on October 10, 2025, 09:28:08 PMStumbled upon a couple of heads in discussions on FB today, going on like utter morons, who happened to have changed their profile pictures to an AI generated pic advocating for vote spoiling.

I can't get my head around spoiling votes like you'd have to go all the way to the polling station just for it to not count. Is there a logic to it that I'm missing?

Spoilt votes are counted but just doesn't go contribute towards who will win. Personally I couldn't give either two candidates left any legitimacy and I'll always go and vote so spoilt vote for me. Can't endorse the current nomination system at present, always thought it wasn't fit for purpose.

Quote from: The Butcher on October 11, 2025, 12:02:24 PMSpoilt votes are counted but just doesn't go contribute towards who will win. Personally I couldn't give either two candidates left any legitimacy and I'll always go and vote so spoilt vote for me. Can't endorse the current nomination system at present, always thought it wasn't fit for purpose.

I get that it's a protest vote but do they not simply disregard them and if 99 percent of votes are spoiled won't they just elect someone from the 1 percent that are legitimate?

I was thinking voting for Gavin would fuck it up better than simply disregarding it but I'm open to correction on that point

No, if Jim Gavin was to get the most votes and after saying he wouldn't take the office, it goes back to square one where the whole process starts from scratch. That probably wouldn't be the worst thing in the world but I think they need to change the criteria for the application process so we can have a wider choice. 

FFG really fucked this one up anyway. I haven't at any point gotten the impression that there was any kind of positive support base for Gavin or Humphreys as candidates (as opposed to simply being the chosen party representatives). You'd think there'd be at least some kind of party membership vote on a candidate, no?

Vote for Gavin if he gets 12.5% of the vote then FF get their money back which I don't want to see happen  ;D I could actually envision Gavin accepting the will of the people and taking on the role after all  :laugh:

Going by social media, Connolly has more views, likes and comments overall compared to the other 2 and also ahead in the polling. Humphreys is that airhead type of politician with a grating voice that is Joan Burton lite, no way could I take 7 years of that :-X

Quote from: astfgyl on October 11, 2025, 10:35:10 AM

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on October 10, 2025, 09:28:08 PMStumbled upon a couple of heads in discussions on FB today, going on like utter morons, who happened to have changed their profile pictures to an AI generated pic advocating for vote spoiling.

I can't get my head around spoiling votes like you'd have to go all the way to the polling station just for it to not count. Is there a logic to it that I'm missing?

The number of spoiled votes has to be released and say for example 50% or more are spoiled for this election it's going to make the Irish Government look really bad internationally. It will have people asking questions, it could very easily lead to resignation's and who knows what else.

If you are unhappy with the Government deciding for you who can / can't run like they have in this election or just unhappy with them in general then I would suggest spoiling your vote.

What do you mean "like they have in this election"? Did something about how to qualify change for this election compared to previous ones?

Like I get that idea that it looks bad but someone still gets elected. Wouldn't it be a great idea that if say 50 percent of votes were spoiled, then it had to go back to the drawing board automatically. It would properly have a point to it then

Quote from: astfgyl on October 11, 2025, 03:33:09 PMLike I get that idea that it looks bad but someone still gets elected. Wouldn't it be a great idea that if say 50 percent of votes were spoiled, then it had to go back to the drawing board automatically. It would properly have a point to it then

Going out and voting for either of the hand picked candidates that the Government have decided on for you isn't the answer either it's just letting them know that people are willing to put with this. Not voting at all isn't going to do much good as low turnouts can easily be explained away. If you are pissed off spoiling seems to be the only option.

Loads of shit in FB comments and groups regarding how everyone should go out and spoil their votes now that McGregor isn't involved and Maria Steen didn't get through and the level of astroturfing is phenomenal.  Both recommending spoiling and not showing up.  American accounts and faceless accounts on a huge amount of what I have seen.  Puts me in mind of what happened in Trinidad & Tobago years back when fake grassroots social media stuff took over during an election and drove a load of people not to vote or spoil their votes.  Turned out Cambridge Analytica were involved anyway and then (or people like them) were hired by the government to drive people not to vote in order to scupper the opposition who were otherwise succeeding in polls against the candidate from the legacy party there.

Gavin might break 10% of first preferences, but I'll be surprised if the spoiled vote gets that high.

Quote from: ochoill on October 11, 2025, 04:03:10 PMLoads of shit in FB comments and groups regarding how everyone should go out and spoil their votes now that McGregor isn't involved and Maria Steen didn't get through and the level of astroturfing is phenomenal.  Both recommending spoiling and not showing up.  American accounts and faceless accounts on a huge amount of what I have seen.  Puts me in mind of what happened in Trinidad & Tobago years back when fake grassroots social media stuff took over during an election and drove a load of people not to vote or spoil their votes.  Turned out Cambridge Analytica were involved anyway and then (or people like them) were hired by the government to drive people not to vote in order to scupper the opposition who were otherwise succeeding in polls against the candidate from the legacy party there.

Yup, this in particular is driving home the point that we are the most targeted nation in Europe for bullshit bot activity. I don't think people realise it but it's properly dark shit

Quote from: Yung Led Zeppelin on October 11, 2025, 11:33:06 PMYup, this in particular is driving home the point that we are the most targeted nation in Europe for bullshit bot activity. I don't think people realise it but it's properly dark shit

Internet is basically unusable on major sites for it.  Every single argument is also a fuckin gish gallop if you interact with anything so I gave up years ago.  Where's the graph where's the graph

Screenshot_2025-10-12-16-35-01-719_com.instagram.android-edit.jpg

There's the graph.

Quotenew Business Post/Red C poll

The survey puts Ms Connolly's support at 36%.

Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys is at 25% support.

Jim Gavin, who pulled out of the election last Sunday, but whose name remains on the ballot paper, is at 12% and a substantial 27% remain undecided.

When Mr Gavin's first preferences are redistributed based on second preference patterns, Connolly's support rises to 39%, while Humphreys' increases to 31%.

https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/1011/1538072-presidential-opinion-poll/

Edit for relevant info: "The online survey of 1,001 people was conducted on the dates between 2 to 7 October.

This is significant as Jim Gavin withdrew from the contest on the late evening of Sunday, 5 October."

QuoteA group of people have turned up to Catherine Connolly's canvass in Naas asking about Enoch and Elijah Burke.

They have asked Connolly if she's a Freemason...

https://bsky.app/profile/newschambers.bsky.social/post/3m35jbitogc2d

Both were poor on Pat Kenny this morning. Very much a case of voting for least worse.

On the Special Criminal Court issue, which Pat was a bit of a prick to Connolly over (asking her a direct question on it then interrupting her as she tried to answer with "The Special Criminal Court isn't the point"  :eyeroll: ) :

Quotethe Special Criminal Court was opposed trenchantly and for compelling reasons by Mary Robinson before she became President; its continued existence has been criticised by the UN Human Rights Committee, UN Special Rapporteurs, the Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission (IHREC and its predecessor IHRC), Amnesty International, ICCL and numerous academics.

https://bsky.app/profile/donnchalaw.bsky.social/post/3m35tx4nids27

Quote from: Emphyrio on October 14, 2025, 04:08:10 PMBoth were poor on Pat Kenny this morning. Very much a case of voting for least worse.

Cheers. I was in the mood for a bit of Type O and I couldn't decide which album  :laugh:

Tis the season....hohoho

Latest poll:

Connolly - 38%
Humphreys - 20%
Gavin - 5%
Undecided - 18%
Not voting - 12%
Spoiling vote - 6%

https://archive.is/2hqV1

Minimal extra analysis: Connolly has only gone up 2% since last poll. Humphreys has gone down, in other words has gained nothing from Gavin withdrawing.

Humphrey's has brought nothing to any debate apart from "look at what Connolly did!" I reckon that coupled with the blatant free ride she's getting from the media is going to keep dragging her down

She's an absolute dose and, frankly, acting like a moron:
(https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:tf2mq2rqn56ezh7u44pqxseo/bafkreifnusz4fna3kdbfix4hp6sbefevqcvtbawewpunwl3fzem4djs2ie@jpeg)

What's she suggesting here? That Paul Murphy, who is not Connolly's campaign manager, subliminally persuaded her to defame him as part of a "strategy"?  :laugh:  He's absolutely right to sue her, I'd say he's fucking sick of being falsely accused of shit.

Connolly shouldn't even make herself available for further interviews or debates. The only thing that could harm her now is saying something very stupid.

As an aside, Paul Murphy is a total dumbass.

Was chatting about it with some folk there and it really is a pity, for everyone, that McGuinness had to pull out. I'd say at this stage, she and Connolly would be neck and neck, and it'd be a much more enriching public debate. Humphreys has nothing going for her whatsoever: inarticulate, terrible record, petty personality, which all means the only thing she can do is fling the same muck at CC over and over again, making for, as you called it, a grubby affair.

Humphreys is a pure nothing between the head candidate. I can see only her polling numbers go down as we get closer to polling day but half won't bother to vote while Connolly voters seem more enthused by her. Bertie also going mad things didn't go his way :laugh: so there's been some positives to be taken from the whole thing - the whole Gavin landlord shambles is pure FF and should push forward Martins demise as leader...but looks like FF are in a complete vacuum - no ideas, no leaders, no quality. FF and FG since 2016 are now attached to the hip for survival.

The fact that spoiled votes are polling above Gavin is something that will embarrass the government further, if it gets to 10% or so, I reckon that's international headlines - 6% I saw someone say is around 90,000 votes if we get a similar turnout like last election 43%, but I think it will hover around 40% (lowest turnout).

I think the moral of this story is... don't trust Clare Daly and Mick Wallace.

QuoteMs Connolly is pictured with other members of an Irish delegation in the company of Saed Abd Al-Aal, who led a pro-Assad armed group responsible for killing and starvation in a refugee camp in Yarmouk, a southern district of the Syrian capital Damascus.

https://archive.is/XOLYr

Her association with those 2 clowns is the major black mark I have against her. It's been a shit campaign with fairly poor candidates. It's the first election I can understand why people might spoil their vote. I hope they ease the nomination criteria going forward.

Do we even think this will get to 40 percent turnout?

Nearly everyone I've spoken to has zero enthusiasm for it whatsoever. I really don't care which one of them gets it because they're shit and hopefully the whole thing just amounts to a lesson learned about the general quality of candidates going forward.

Very very poor altogether

It's going to be a record low turnout I'd say, which is a bad look for the government, so at least there's that.

I think the Irish presidency is about as relevant as the British Royal family these days

Had last night's debate on in the background this morning. Must have shouted "Shut up! Shut uuup!" in the direction of the screen about 20 times. Mainly at Miriam and yer wan. Essentially repeating the same questions four, five, six times. And all questions already heard a dozen times over the last couple of weeks.

(https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:swknwdgyvbkrbda6fdhhwefj/bafkreihcdvdhce2owdho6laemd2xulcze46jhs2kmnuxelkt46qrgx7xjy@jpeg)

They're 2 boring candidates so I just check in on the morning after reports. Heard 1 debate on Pat Kenny and by all accounts everything since has been much the same, apart from the new FFG-led smear campaign.

Latest (and last) poll results, with a bit of demographic break down, for anyone interested:
https://archive.is/olzUT

Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on October 11, 2025, 04:08:35 PMGavin might break 10% of first preferences, but I'll be surprised if the spoiled vote gets that high.

Colour me surprised. Looks like Gavin won't break 10% and spoiled votes is heading for maybe as high as ~15%, potentially half as many, at final tally, as voted for Humphreys. Out of them, polling suggests just over half said neither candidate represented their views, and around 40% said they thought neither candidate was good enough.

It's all a bit academic really, at most it involves signing off on the odd bit of legislation (on the say so of the government) and attending a few international matches and shaking hands. That Connolly wan doesn't tally with my own political views tbh, and anyone who gets the backing of Paul Murphy would automatically be a hard no for me, but she's grand like. Inoffensive, speaks well and looks like your gran. A bit like Michael D.

Her husband taught me in secondary school. His nickname was Scutters as he liked a drop. Nice fella though.

She'll be grand, at least she's coherent, unlike the other two cabbages.

Not really a fan of Mick Clifford at the best of times but this is a good take

Mick Clifford: Connolly bank case row shows how outrage depends on who's in the firing line https://share.google/RiuZbGZCtIjuttehU

The left gave her a pass on the whole Banks issue but interesting how they used the "she was only doing her job" line. If, for example, it had been an ex-Garda Commissioner who oversaw the water protests policing, would they have taken the same angle?

Speculation²

AI cuntery

https://www.rte.ie/news/analysis-and-comment/2025/1026/1540488-deep-fake-concerns/

I've seen a couple, Pascal and David McWilliams, and while good, most Irish people would recognise them as fake. That one above, however, is very realistic.

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/aontu-fires-youth-leader-and-five-others-over-secret-racist-whatsapp-chat-group/a306331531.html

 :-\

Unpaywalled version:
https://archive.is/4NODK

Colour me not surprised in the slightest on that one.

https://kevcunningham.substack.com/p/who-are-the-people-who-spoiled-their