Ireland Election 2020

[flypanam]

I still find the idea of anyone radical like that in Mayo hard to get my head around. Johnny Mee was old school old labour, but you wouldn't have got him talking about revolution like that.

Different times though, nearly every family has been affected by austerity, emigration, and the housing crisis. It's real life experience that is daily conflict with RTE, news and programming, IT housing porn, praise for the estate agent lifestyle that has allowed McHugh to be heard.

I think the referendums have allowed ideas that were previously seen as out there to become part of community life, with people reasoning if same sex marriage and abortion didn't rain down heavenly retribution, giving a hearing to someone talking about mild redistribution and farmers being natural conservationists isn't going to hurt them either.

I've often mentioned my Ma. Mass everyday, involved in a secular order (Franciscans?) used to vote FF, then SF, now is talking of voting for PBP in Cavan Monaghan. World upside down stuff.

eta she voted yes in both referendums.

 

[rekil]

Cork's greatest pop star, Craic Boy Mental, has recorded an appropriately themed tune.

Spoiler

SpineyNorman Gerry1time

Spoiler

 

[rekil]

Boyd-Barrettism failing to resonate amongst the junior proletarians of Dublin 8. Wreckers.

'He has a nice tone' - kids give their verdict on Ireland's politicians

Pupils from St Audoen’s National School give their verdict on our political leaders

www.irishtimes.com

 

[rekil]

Sinn Féin moves into second place ahead of Fine Gael, new opinion poll says

Fianna Fáil come out on top in yet another opinion poll with only a week to go until the general election.

www.thejournal.ie

FF - 23%
SF - 21%
FG - 19%
Green - 10%
Lab - 5%
SD - 5%
Sol-PBP - 5%
Independents/Loons/Others - 11%

My area is plastered with Varadkar posters even though it's not his constituency. It's like the DPRK.

 

[flypanam]

Boyd-Barrettism failing to resonate amongst the junior proletarians of Dublin 8. Wreckers.

'He has a nice tone' - kids give their verdict on Ireland's politicians

Pupils from St Audoen’s National School give their verdict on our political leaders

www.irishtimes.com

Obviously some of them are paid up members of the bourgeois death battalions while some of them are in a MLMcD ASU.

Sinn Féin moves into second place ahead of Fine Gael, new opinion poll says

Fianna Fáil come out on top in yet another opinion poll with only a week to go until the general election.

www.thejournal.ie

FF - 23%
SF - 21%
FG - 19%
Green - 10%
Lab - 5%
SD - 5%
Sol-PBP - 5%
Independents/Loons/Others - 11%

My area is plastered with Varadkar posters even though it's not his constituency. It's like the DPRK.

Fucking hell FF/FG not even getting 45% would be amazing. As for the Varadkar posters a little penis on his forehead would look lovely.

 

[rekil]

Obviously some of them are paid up members of the bourgeois death battalions while some of them are in a MLMcD ASU.


Fucking hell FF/FG not even getting 45% would be amazing. As for the Varadkar posters a little penis on his forehead would look lovely.

Is poster theft/vandalism a worthwhile use of time and resources? Who knows. Additionally certain types of Varadkar poster 'funny business' could be construed as being homophobic and/or racist and risks shoring up support. On the other hand, childish daubing is a medium that sort of worked out ok for banksy.

Andrew Neil fresh from boosting Gavin McInnes the day after holocaust memorial day.

 

[flypanam]

Is poster theft/vandalism a worthwhile use of time and resources? Who knows. Additionally certain types of Varadkar poster 'funny business' could be construed as being homophobic and/or racist and risks shoring up support. On the other hand, childish daubing is a medium that sort of worked out ok for banksy.

Yeah true enough. the eyes

eta maybe Neil's analysis comes from his grief over the death of his mate, Jeffrey Epstein.

 

[redsquirrel]

If SF were to break into the top 2 could that lead to the type of party collapse that's been seen in Europe, or are FF/FG too embedded for that to happen?

 

[flypanam]

If SF were to break into the top 2 could that lead to the type of party collapse that's been seen in Europe, or are FF/FG too embedded for that to happen?

I think we're seeing a collapse but it isn't a rapid collapse that are affecting the social democrats/socialist parties in Europe, although you could argue that the collapse of Labour mirrors their European sister parties albeit with a much smaller base and support. It's long drawn out affair much along the lines of the much talked about Tory decline, eg like a terminal cancer patient can survive far longer than expected given a unique set of circumstances.

I remember a few years ago butchersapron stating that what was happening mirrored something along the lines of Habermas's crisis of legitamacy, I think that is happening to FFG especially as the old bedrock of clientelism is waning.

However, FFG could endure if they manage to get a coalition partner they can push the blame onto when the shit hits the fan. The important thing is never to underestimate the stupidity of Irish "opposition" parties when the Mercs and Perks of office are dangled in front of them.

I'm sure Idris2002 and rekil would know more than me though.

 

[Oisin123]

RedC Poll published 2 Feb:

Fianna Fáil 24% (down 2)
Sinn Fein 24% (up 5)
Fine Gael 21% (down 2)
Green Party 7% (down 1)
Labour 5% (up 1)
Soc Dems 3% (no change)
Solidarity-PBP 1% (down 1)
Aontú 2% (up 1)
Independents 12% (down 2)

If this is something like the actual vote on Saturday, then decades of domination of Irish politics by FF and FG is coming to an end. To keep SF out of a coalition, they'd have to work something out between them and that would be like Republicans and Democrats in the US having to co-operate. It would put an end to the situation where discontent with one conservative party only ever led to the other getting in. So I'm very encouraged by this and am enjoying the election. Solidarity-PBP down is disappointing but the big picture changes are much more significant.

 

[LiamO]

RedC Poll published 2 Feb:

Fianna Fáil 24% (down 2)
Sinn Fein 24% (up 5)
Fine Gael 21% (down 2)
Green Party 7% (down 1)
Labour 5% (up 1)
Soc Dems 3% (no change)
Solidarity-PBP 1% (down 1)
Aontú 2% (up 1)
Independents 12% (down 2)

Is this just the ripple-out of the RIC/Black & Tans thing?

From listening to the young 'uns at work, it seems that whole debacle - and Mary Lou being excluded from the leaders debate - is really pissing them off.

I wonder what damaging 'revelations' the Indo et al will pull out of their arses before next Saturday. They already seem to be at peak loonery.

 

[krtek a houby]

RedC Poll published 2 Feb:

Fianna Fáil 24% (down 2)
Sinn Fein 24% (up 5)
Fine Gael 21% (down 2)
Green Party 7% (down 1)
Labour 5% (up 1)
Soc Dems 3% (no change)
Solidarity-PBP 1% (down 1)
Aontú 2% (up 1)
Independents 12% (down 2)

If this is something like the actual vote on Saturday, then decades of domination of Irish politics by FF and FG is coming to an end. To keep SF out of a coalition, they'd have to work something out between them and that would be like Republicans and Democrats in the US having to co-operate. It would put an end to the situation where discontent with one conservative party only ever led to the other getting in. So I'm very encouraged by this and am enjoying the election. Solidarity-PBP down is disappointing but the big picture changes are much more significant.

It's encouraging but there does seem to be a rise in support for right wing types. Obviously it's small in comparison to SF but even then, that party seems to be attracting a few headbangers from the right as well. Also, the targetting of Hazel Chu by Chem Trails O' Doherty's followers is vile, whether you like the Greens or not.

 

[flypanam]

RedC Poll published 2 Feb:

Fianna Fáil 24% (down 2)
Sinn Fein 24% (up 5)
Fine Gael 21% (down 2)
Green Party 7% (down 1)
Labour 5% (up 1)
Soc Dems 3% (no change)
Solidarity-PBP 1% (down 1)
Aontú 2% (up 1)
Independents 12% (down 2)

If this is something like the actual vote on Saturday, then decades of domination of Irish politics by FF and FG is coming to an end. To keep SF out of a coalition, they'd have to work something out between them and that would be like Republicans and Democrats in the US having to co-operate. It would put an end to the situation where discontent with one conservative party only ever led to the other getting in. So I'm very encouraged by this and am enjoying the election. Solidarity-PBP down is disappointing but the big picture changes are much more significant.

Of course a national poll won't reflect how SPBP are doing in the constituencies they are standing.

 

[Idris2002]

Hey, I've been away a long time. So don't assume I have any specialist knowledge.

Maybe FF/FG are in terminal decline, well at least I hope so. But the collapse of the social-democratic parties that we've seen in mainland Europe happened because those parties turned their back on their traditional core voters, whose ranks had been eroded, or at least changed, by the rise of postindustrial social orders. The traditional cores of FF/FG still exist: the professions and big shopkeepers, and strong farmers for FG; the "national bourgeoisie" and other layers for FF. Their ranks may be thinned, but will they ever truly go away?

In other news:

Spoiler

Spoiler

 

[Pickman's model]

Hey, I've been away a long time. So don't assume I have any specialist knowledge.

Maybe FF/FG are in terminal decline, well at least I hope so. But the collapse of the social-democratic parties that we've seen in mainland Europe happened because those parties turned their back on their traditional core voters, whose ranks had been eroded, or at least changed, by the rise of postindustrial social orders. The traditional cores of FF/FG still exist: the professions and big shopkeepers, and strong farmers for FG; the "national bourgeoisie" and other layers for FF. Their ranks may be thinned, but will they ever truly go away?

In other news:

Spoiler

Spoiler

he's an impressive loon

 

[Idris2002]

he's an impressive loon

The combination of the papal keys and the hammer and sickle certainly takes me back.

 

[rekil]

A delusion that is not uncommon. He followed it up by saying that there are a lot of "backwoodsmen" in Fianna Fáil.

New poll.

Sinn Féin leads way in Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll with highest support ever

Fianna Fáil remains most popular choice for government, with more voters preferring coalition government involving party

www.irishtimes.com

The state of the parties, when undecided voters and those unlikely to vote are excluded, is as follows: Sinn Féin 25 per cent (up four), Fianna Fáil 23 per cent (down two), Fine Gael 20 per cent (down three), Greens 8 per cent (no change), Labour 4 per cent (down one) and Independents and small parties 20 per cent (up two).

Solidarity-People Before Profit is at 2 per cent (no change), the Social Democrats is at 2 per cent (no change), Independents4Change is at 1 per cent (no change), the Independent Alliance is at less than 1 per cent (no change), Aontú is at 1 per cent, non-party Independents are on 10 per cent (no change) and other groups and parties are on 3 per cent (no change)

 

[flypanam]

New poll.

Sinn Féin leads way in Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll with highest support ever

Fianna Fáil remains most popular choice for government, with more voters preferring coalition government involving party

www.irishtimes.com

In that same article it says that a FF coalition with Labour and the Greens is favoured. It certainly would finish Labour as a party in Ireland, it would also do great damage for the greens, who despite their boosters in the press don't seem to be having a very dynamic campaign at all.

Maybe Ferriter's dream will come true for the Prof Diarmaid Ferriter: Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael may have to consider coalition

 

[Idris2002]

Irish Times gets ready for the mother of all reverse ferrets:

Una Mullally: Perhaps we are all a bunch of socialists after all

The election campaign suggests people value a booming society over a booming economy

www.irishtimes.com

Next week: Ross O'Caroll-Kelly joins the SWM.

 

[Pickman's model]

Irish Times gets ready for the mother of all reverse ferrets:

Una Mullally: Perhaps we are all a bunch of socialists after all

The election campaign suggests people value a booming society over a booming economy

www.irishtimes.com

Next week: Ross O'Caroll-Kelly joins the SWM.

should just be sterref

 

[rekil]

In that same article it says that a FF coalition with Labour and the Greens is favoured. It certainly would finish Labour as a party in Ireland, it would also do great damage for the greens, who despite their boosters in the press don't seem to be having a very dynamic campaign at all.

Maybe Ferriter's dream will come true for the Prof Diarmaid Ferriter: Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael may have to consider coalition

There was a predictable but amusing meltdown from Coveney today via whatever shitty comms company they've commissioned. The same day as a teachers strike as well.

 

[flypanam]

Coveney says the word change has been 'ambushed' and accuses Sinn Féin of 'con job'

Senior Fine Gael ministers went on the attack today as recent polls show them in 3rd place.

www.thejournal.ie

What an idiot

TÁNAISTE SIMON COVENEY today said he was making a “direct appeal” to the Irish electorate to consider how the country “has built something hugely valuable” in the last nine years.

No one will listen to you simon.

Mind you Mickey wasn't any better yesterday bigging up shit paying service jobs in tourism

“I was in Killarney yesterday, thriving in tourism, the Sinn Féin tax proposals would destroy the enterprise that was so evident yesterday in Killarney and has made Killarney what it is, in terms of employers’ PRSI and all of that. And I just have to say, do not underestimate the strength of will within the Fianna Fáil party.”

 

[rekil]

What an idiot

No one will listen to you simon.

Remember that Coveney pulled Varadkar up on his "non-FGers are all shiftless wasters" attitude during their leadership contest because he knew what a shitty dead end it is. Last night Martin brought up Varadkar's comments about why bed shortages are good - it keeps the lazy nurses on their toes.

More hospital beds can slow down staff, claims minister Leo Varadkar

More beds and additional resources can lead to a slower work rate among hospital staff, Health Minister Leo Varadkar has claimed.

www.independent.ie

 

[flypanam]

How did McDonald do?

eta all she has to do is say these two are the same and look what they've done. Although I don't think she's a great performer or orator.

 

[Idris2002]

How did McDonald do?

eta all she has to do is say these two are the same and look what they've done. Although I don't think she's a great performer or orator.

Apparently, her accent is audibly more "nortsoide" even though she hails from the other side of the river (not sure I can hear that one myself). RTE were asking her hard questions about a 2007 murder case, but I doubt if that's going to stick with SF's core vote of young wans who aren't old enough to remember the bad old days.

 

[krtek a houby]

How did McDonald do?

eta all she has to do is say these two are the same and look what they've done. Although I don't think she's a great performer or orator.

I don't know if it was brought up in the debate but I believe the Paul Quinn murder is being played up by those sympathetic to FF/FG. Not that it should be ignored, of course, but it could impact on Saturday...

 

[Idris2002]

I don't know if it was brought up in the debate but I believe the Paul Quinn murder is being played up by those sympathetic to FF/FG. Not that it should be ignored, of course, but it could impact on Saturday...

The Quinn thing is definitely a black mark against them. But I'd like to know if Quinn's mother raised this on her own initiative, or as a result of cold-calling by the meejia. Because if it's the latter, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[rekil]

Apparently, her accent is audibly more "nortsoide" even though she hails from the other side of the river (not sure I can hear that one myself). RTE were asking her hard questions about a 2007 murder case, but I doubt if that's going to stick with SF's core vote of young wans who aren't old enough to remember the bad old days.

The special criminal court stuff as well. Housing and health are the runaway key issues even for the most incoherent FGers. What kind of oddballs are they aiming this nonsense at other than hacks. She is privately educated btw. Eoin O'Broin (Blackrock) as well. I was informed of this at the weekend as if it was a gotcha by an FG person who told me last year that private schoolkids are cleverer than the normals because their parents are wealthy.

Varadkar lied about Berlin's rent freeze being a failure. It has only just come into effect. The idea that it'd be implemented here is laughable but it's good that even the thought of it gives him the heebie jeebies.

Beginning in early 2020, Berlin’s left-leaning government will freeze rents for five years. Landlords will be required to show new tenants the most recent rental contracts to prove they aren’t jacking up prices. They’ll also have to follow new rent-cap rules, which for many landlords could mean lowering rents by as much as 40%. Those who don’t comply will be hit with fines as high as €500,000 ($553,000) for each violation.

No City Hates Its Landlords Like Berlin Does

 

[Idris2002]

"Varadkar lied".

God I hate him.

 

[N_igma]

The Quinn thing is definitely a black mark against them. But I'd like to know if Quinn's mother raised this on her own initiative, or as a result of cold-calling by the meejia. Because if it's the latter, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

It wouldn’t surprise me to be honest.

Everyone from south Armagh knows that Paul Quinn was a scumbag and was definitely involved in criminality so what Conor said was actually true. But it’s one of those situations where you have to lie in order to save face. That being said he didn’t deserve to be killed.