05.22.07
Last word on the election
It’s time to focus people.
Do you REALLY want those fools Dick Roche and Martin Cullen back in office?
Do you REALLY want Mary Hanafin in office whose special mission in life is to deny adequate services to autistic children?
Do you REALLY want to say that its cool for the Taoiseach to take cash from his mates and pay no tax?
Do you REALLY want that ignorant bully Cowen puffed up even more than he is now?
Do you REALLY want to re-elect a government that guaranteed the Health Board people their jobs, then hired HSE bureacrats on top of them, THEN officially gave up on the notion of a public health service by calling in their mates the builders to build private hospitals?
Do you really want the millionaires shrieking with delight on Friday when they realise their best friends are back in power?
Do you really want McDowell back in Justice passing his draconian legislation which horrifies criminal lawyers?
Do you really want Michael Martin back in, who sat back in DoH meetings and cheerfully ignored the nursing home crisis?
If that’s what you want fine. The builders will be pleased as they’ll have plenty of business getting the contracts to build hospitals and nursing homes and charging you all for what you should be entitled to for free.
But if you don’t want that then you have to vote Fine Gael or Labour.
graham said,
May 22, 2007 at 12:09 pm
My blood was boiling watching Q&A on RTE last night. What really stood out for me is the bullyboy antics of Cowen and the way in which he was allowed to dodge questions, legitimate questions while at the same time make ludicrous and innaccurate statements about the opposition. Was it just me, or were the audience all very biased too?
irishpancake said,
May 22, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Sarah, I see you have not mentioned the third component of the prospective Rainbow Government.
Just in the interests of fairness, what about the Green element, and what would be your advice regarding continuing preferances to Green candidates, as every preferance will count in this Election.
Also, do you have a comment regarding the Green’s attitude to the new M3, which as you know will be absolutely essential for those commuters from Meath.
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2007/0514/breaking68.htm
Sarah said,
May 22, 2007 at 12:33 pm
1. Q&A. I was talking to the sister. She said af first watching it she was frustrated with Coveney for letting himself be interrupted. She said to herself “He’s too polite”. Then she realised the trap she had fallen into. Politeness is somehow a bad thing now? A bully like Cowen has set the standard and we think those who don’t descend to his rude behaviour are somehow lacking? Coveney is a gentleman. Perhaps people really are stupid enough to think a bully is better than a gentleman. If so, they deserve to wait on trolleys while the upper classes avail themselves of the fancy new hospital next door.
2. On the Greens. Weeeeell I haven’t changed my stance. Sure they are welcome and will most likely be necessary BUT BUT BUT they are still weak on the coalition with FF issue and I think this will harm them. No point voting Green unless I know who they are going to deal with.
3.On the M3. Weeeeeeeell, you see I’ve made my point on this too. I think the M3 is in the wrong place. Maybe there is some way to build a fly over or something. But the road is needed and the NRA don’t listen to anyone. If the the NRA were ordered to build over it or around it and it could be done relatively speedily, then fair enough. But I think the people of Meath would keel over if a whole new route had to be planned. Also, I don’t think that’s going to happen. Greens or no greens. It’ll be compromise no. 1. “Documentation by record” by another name…
Sean said,
May 22, 2007 at 12:59 pm
We prefer the “we’re better becuase… ” reasons rather than “don’t vote for them because…” reasons.
People are aware of FF faults but are still struggling to be convinced by the competency of a Kenny/Rabitte government.
Owen MacMahon said,
May 22, 2007 at 2:39 pm
The cleverest piece of Spin put out there by FF is this long-term, drip-feed, “Ah but sure who else would ye vote for?” It has slowly and inexorably made its way into the public consciousness. As long as a year ago, I was hearing people who have no FF links or affiliation saying, “Show me the viable alternative.”
My read on this is very simple. The two jobs of a government are to (1) manage the economy and (2) provide efficient, effective public services with the revenue they collect from us. On point 1, credit where credit is due – the incumbents have not screwed up that I can see. On point 2, they have screwed up and wasted money on every service on every level I can think of.
So, to use their argument. Who would you rather have? The bunch of people whom you absolutely 100% know are devoid of vision, ideas, energy and basic competence when it comes to providing public services or a bunch of untested people from alternative parties?
If my choice is the cowboy plumbers who have flooded my house and left airlocks and leaky joints at every turn on every visit and a bunch of unknown plumbers from down the road – I’ll take the unknowns every time. How much more cowboyism can we take?
JC Skinner said,
May 22, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Or Greens, or Sinn Fein, or…
Frankly, it’s an abnegation of our democratic process to suggest that only the two choices presented by Kenny and Ahern matter.
Just as important are the choices expressed by voters prioritising minor parties or independents who more accurately represent their concerns.
I will personally be voting for Alan Beirne of the Fathers Rights and Responsibilities Party, as I consider the state’s denial of rights to fathers to be the biggest current scandal of our age.
Having registered that preference, I will then give consideration to the make-up of the government I would like in subsequent preferences.
That’s MY focus. It is indicative of those activists within the big two parties to seek to make the general election an either/or event. It is not.
Paul Newton said,
May 22, 2007 at 4:17 pm
What the hell is an “abnegation”
I’m running for the “simple language we can all understand” party.
Sarah c’mon and admit it, you have a sneaking admiration for the Cowen performance of the last while, it started about a week ago when he tore strips off Richard Bruton on the news at one, and continued all week culminating in a superbly petulant display on Q & A last night…. I won’t be voting FF but i was bloody amazed with the ferocity he set about Pat and Simon last night.
Can’t agree with the Bully description, if he was to come across as a bully he would have lost votes, as it was he played it about perfectly, the incredulity card won the day and the contract has been torn apart…. for bettger or worse i don’t know overall, but for FG’s worse without a doubt.
Have given my overall views over on the blog, but for the moment i think you gotta hand it to the Biffo, how ever grudgingly. He’s a pup.
ben said,
May 22, 2007 at 5:29 pm
I REALLY don’t think that FG has anything to offer and I think that’s made abundantly clear by their pathetic platform of “at least we’re not them, and, look, we’ve got Labour with us, aren’t they nice?” Fine Gael is an empty vessel, a nonsensical mis-spelled name attached to a pastel colour, a contemptible scheming group of numbers and tired old tribal allegiances and seats and swings; not a political group based of policy or principle. Fine Gael’s natural constituency is the worst of Ireland: grasping, property-obsessed prudes, myopic fumblers in greasy tills, rosary-reciting lace-curtain twitchers, book-banners and censorious pope-licking meddlers. Fine Gael is exactly what is wrong with Irish politics; Fine Gael needs to be destroyed in order for Irish politics to mature.
brian t said,
May 22, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Are we there yet? No?
Gordon Davies said,
May 23, 2007 at 11:38 am
Drowning our sorrows would be more appropriate if the yahoos get back in
Elizabeth said,
May 23, 2007 at 11:46 am
I live in Dublin Central and a car with loudspeakers has just driven down my street, with a voice intoning “Vote Bertie Ahern No.1″ (no mention of his running mates, as per usual) to the strains of Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow”. Of course, the sound was turned down after the first two lines of the chorus. Do they think people won’t continue to sing the next two lines in their heads?! Also, are they unaware that Clinton used this song as his anthem in 1992 when he was advocating a change of government? The whole point of the song is to stop thinking about the bad things that have happened in the past and to focus on a changed future! Here are the full lyrics to sing on your way to the polling centre:
If you wake up and don’t want to smile,
If it takes just a little while,
Open your eyes and look at the day,
You’ll see things in a different way.
Don’t stop, thinking about tomorrow,
Don’t stop, it’ll soon be here,
It’ll be, better than before,
Yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone.
Why not think about times to come,
And not about the things that you’ve done,
If your life was bad to you,
Just think what tomorrow will do.
Don’t stop, thinking about tomorrow,
Don’t stop, it’ll soon be here,
It’ll be, better than before,
Yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone.
All I want is to see you smile,
If it takes just a little while,
I know you don’t believe that it’s true,
I never meant any harm to you.
Don’t stop, thinking about tomorrow,
Don’t stop, it’ll soon be here,
It’ll be, better than before,
Yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone.
Don’t you look back,
Don’t you look back.
irishpancake said,
May 24, 2007 at 9:26 am
OK Sarah, the fateful day has arrived.
I am still firmly undecided, as I am exiled in Meath West.
As you may have gathered, I’m a died-in-the wool Lake County person.
But I have a vote, and I want to and will exercise my constitutional right.
Looks as though nationally it is too close to call, and will go down to the last preferances.
So the advise surely should be
GO OUT AND VOTE
regardless of who you vote for, and go down the list.
Which combination do you think a large turn-out will best suit?
or the converse with a low poll?
The Crewser said,
May 24, 2007 at 9:47 am
Good advice irishpancake. Its important that as many as possible exercise their right to vote. It may be close overall but at this stage I think most people are agreed that Bertie will be back as Taoiseach. And rightly so.
Looking at the wonderful achievements of the last two Governments anything else would be a travesty. Also he is the preferred choice by a long way for the job.
I was just jotting down the list of achievements during his two terms and they speak for themselves. Peace in Ireland delivered thanks to Bertie,Blair and Clinton chiefly. The country is transformed with infrastructure over the last decade thanks to FF and PDs also. Full employment delivered. Net inward migration of workers from Europe and elsewhere. Much better living standards for workers and pensioners and continued reductions in personal taxation. There are vastly improved social conditions all round for everyone.
Why would anybody want to destabilise the future of our great country by throwing out one of the most successful Governments anywhere in the civilised world. So go forth proudly irishpancake and do the right thing.
irishpancake said,
May 24, 2007 at 9:54 am
Hey Crewser
No fair man……
I wanted THE last word, and I was trying to be even-handed and non-party political and helpful.
But you just couldn’t leave it alone, could you.
You certainly have persuaded me just how to cast my little vote this evening.
It will defo be anti-this-outgoing-government
and pro new government/new alliance.
The Crewser said,
May 24, 2007 at 9:59 am
No change there then in regard to what you intended to do yesterday. Alliance is right but what will they be for and against and what will they do to our economy. Ask yourself that my friend.
irishpancake said,
May 24, 2007 at 10:15 am
Crewser said: No change there then in regard to what you intended to do yesterday.
No idea what you are on about there, a chara.
However, if you mean my post on 22nd May, referring to the Green component in the prospective Rainbow Govt. you have entirely misread my intentions, as the link I posted there will show.
Thanks for making up my mind for me.
Mark Waters said,
May 24, 2007 at 10:26 am
To be honest I think the economy has a life of its own and external factors have more influence than any government policy. No matter who’s in government all they can do is hang on as best they can as the rollercoaster takes us up and down between ECB interest rates and US consumer confidence. We can tinker around the edges to try an mitigate some of the pressures (e.g. mortgage interest releief to offset ECB interest rate increases) but we’re totally exposed to factors beyond our control. Where government can make a difference is on the spending side.
Not saying that the alternative would have done any better but if the government were so instumental in creating the booming economy then surely they should have also predicted the need for the infrastructure that an economic boom would demand. Instead they peddle the line that “we are victims of our own success”.
The huge surpluses in the finances year after year would suggest to me that they had no idea of the nature of the economic boom. If they had they would have been able to predict the increased tax take and adjust their spending budgets accordingly.
I don’t think the opposition would have done any better/worse. As I said the economy is a rollercoaster and the government just hangs on as best it can.
The Crewser said,
May 24, 2007 at 10:34 am
I dont agree Mark atal. Economies and their proper functioning are all about sentiment these days, right around the World. By putting in a patchwork of left wing / green etc it would send out the wrong signal to industrialists and investors and potential investors. When you create something really good like our well geared economy its important to protect it. I know the Irish people will do that today.
Sarah said,
May 24, 2007 at 10:50 am
Ok, I’ve done the deed…I’ll do a post..