Canvassers

CSC

What is the point of having canvassers that are not political activists or politically aware? Over the last week I have spoke to numerous canvassers who have come to my parent's house and tried to ask them questions about their party policies yet none could answer me or even engage in a conversation about politics. I don't think I spoke to one who was a member of a party but rather friends and relations of the candidate.

Joey the lips

Becaause out of the 350 doors I knocked at the other night only 2 people asked me about my party policies so its just easier to have the canidate go back and explain to them.....


Everybody does not know everything I would say most people involved in politics are single issues!

Sleazus

I don't think I spoke to one who was a member of a party but rather friends and relations of the candidate.

These are local elections after all - a lot of people in the community would support the individual because they know and trust them. And besides, I feel better being canvassed by someone who knows the person running rather than simply the party line. Both would be ideal, but hey, I'm not greedy!

turgon

Good point. I dont really engage canvassers, the two I did was FG and Sinn Fein. The FG guys looked blankly at me when I started talking, the only comment they made was that it was locals not general.

Sinn Fein guy was just going on about socialism, and about how FF had abandoned their principles when they moved to the right. He kept on mentioning "democracy" too. He seemed a lot more knowledgeable than the Fine Gaelers. Is suppose people in Sinn Fein tend to be more passionate.

I just told him I was ideologically opposed to Sinn Fein but that id take his leaflet to show the others in the house.

I didnt even bother talking to the FF's. At the time I was giving my buddy a grind anyway, but I just said that I would never vote for FF but that I admired that they werent cowering away from going door to door.

ninty9er

turgon wrote: »

The FG guys looked blankly at me when I started talking, the only comment they made was that it was locals not general.

Are you sure that was FG and not FF, because that's what we're really focussing on at the doors right now with our local candidates, we're trying to keep the abuse focussed on TDs.

turgon

No, it was because I mentioned that I liked FG's new health proposal that they said that. They seemed pretty brain dead though, they were just staring into space. It was kind of disheartening to be frank.

Sizzler

Sleazus wrote: »

These are local elections after all - a lot of people in the community would support the individual because they know and trust them. And besides, I feel better being canvassed by someone who knows the person running rather than simply the party line. Both would be ideal, but hey, I'm not greedy!

If thats the case they might as well go independent FFS. Like the FF guy who is trying to distance himself from FF in Cork, says people are voting for him and his record of getting stuff done in the community, nothing to do with the "profile" of being involved with FF.

Fact is people will distance themselves (I fully expect) from FF in the locals and FF will be decimated, wont mean fook all probably but if a local councillor feels that strong and doesnt want to be tarnished with his parties failings then get some balls and go it alone.

A sidenote, still waiting for the first canvassers to call to my door although I have seen them in other local areas. Very frustrating, looking forward to see exactly what they are claiming to do if they get in / stay on etc.

Lockstep

I've had people try to tackle me on the following;
Labour's stance on gay marriage
Michael D's pension
Labour's stance on the age of consent.

Whenever I try to explain that no, I have not been to labour head office, no I am unable to influence the Dail decisions etc etc, I get given a spiel. I even had one woman who when I suggested that it was fallacious to discount a local election candidate who she agreed with, purely because of a TD's stance on the age of consent, I was told that was what was wrong with irish politics. I would've thought it was the other way round.


Every time I've been asked to expalin why my local candidate was any good I've always gotten a good response. This evening, one woman said I was the first canvasser she'd had who was able to outline my canvasser's policies. FG had just told her to read the leaflet.

hellboy99

CSC wrote: »

What is the point of having canvassers that are not political activists or politically aware? I don't think I spoke to one who was a member of a party but rather friends and relations of the candidate.

Same here, out of all the parties the only ones up for election that called to my door was SF and they answered all my questions. I got a phone call from Libertas and a quick FF flyer through my letterbox, every other party member up for election, it was either family or friends and they either didn't want to talk or couldn't answer my questions.

Whats the point of asking for my vote when I don't know what I'm voting for :rolleyes:.

Erin Go Brath

FG are just riding in on a wave of anti-FF sentiment. They really have a sense of entitlement that they should automatically get all the power because of FF incompetence.

The sad part is there is very little differences between these two parties. Voting for FG is just really voting for more of the same.

Sleazus

Whats the point of asking for my vote when I don't know what I'm voting for:rolleyes:.

In fairness, I've made the trip from Louth to Lucan to canvas for an old friend several times since February. I simply can't know all the issues. I'm briefed on most of them - schools, dumping, bus routes, sliproads - but there is only so much I could possibly know.

It would be ideal if he could draft in only local folk ("this is a local canvass for local people") but what is he supposed to do with people from outside who want to help? It's a particularly big problem in Dublin, where I can cross several constituencies easily enough, and could conceivably help any number of colleagues in any number of areas with different issues.

Borstal Boy

There are definitely merits to being canvassed by non-political supporters.... especially female ones.

I was canvassed by some of Shay Brennan's supporters the other night. I was going to engage them on a few economic and local issues as I do with most canvassers, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

They were just too hot.... way too hot to let my inner geek repel them with talk of politics. I think I might have even said I'd vote for him... and I probably will. Sad I know. But even sadder that I didn't ask either of them for their phone number.

ninty9er

Borstal Boy wrote: »

There are definitely merits to being canvassed by non-political supporters.... especially female ones.

I was canvassed by some of Shay Brennan's supporters the other night. I was going to engage them on a few economic and local issues as I do with most canvassers, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

They were just too hot.... way too hot to let my inner geek repel them with talk of politics. I think I might have even said I'd vote for him... and I probably will. Sad I know. But even sadder that I didn't ask either of them for their phone number.

ROFL.

You are aware that they would have called Shay to do the economics talking anyway, yes??

PrivateEye

I like how despite the fact my folks have a 'No Fianna Fail or Green Party Candidates Wanted, Thank You' sign on the porch door, they still knock and say "But our lad is about local issues, not that crowd" or something equally ridicolous.

Fair few of the neighbours asked us to print off copies for them too afterwards, so I think government canvassers are having the wrong effect on the general public. Feck off means just that.

Our man in Havana

I have noticed that canvassers are very thin on the ground. I have only had 2 so far, FG and a local independant. No one else have bothered. Just a few spam leaflets by post for the euro elections.