SU Election Candidates - Mod Warning post 196

princess_calico

allandanyways wrote: »

Pretty sure mudslinging is a natural part of election, people will resort to ridiculous things in order to get elected.

Last year, before the whole facebook thing took off, there were some absolutely brutal rumours flying about about some of the people running, same as the year before, heck when I was in first year in 2007 and we had to elect first year rep, the amount of abuse that people got thrown at them in relation to stuff they'd heard about the candidates was ridiculous.

I'd always be very skeptical of a candidate who focused their time and energy on slating other candidates and their manifestos etc. Usually it's to distract attention from themselves. Like playground bullying in a way.

At the end of the day, are you going to vote for someone because they had a massive facebook argument with another candidate and created a load of scandal, or are you going to vote for the person who promoted themselves in a positive light and ignored the bullshít around them?

I'm not naming any names but basically I've been searching through one candidate's posts on facebook, both their posts and their status and they just seem to be focusing on insulting other candidates, myself and one other in particular.

princess_calico

Michellenman wrote: »

I saw his page... yer wan Basia (hot as she may be) is going mental at him about the mystery tour thing on his wall. Other than her lack of coherent spelling and correct punctuation her immature attitude and how she's picking at minor details of his manifesto are putting me off.

She's also been using her statuses to fire insults at other candidates

irish_goat

princess_calico wrote: »

Guys,

Just want to know what your opinions are on slating other candidates without provocation?

Just found out another candidate has been leaving negative comments about other candidates on their FB page... Is it just me or is that not on?

Tbh, I think that's going to do her more bad than good. She's making herself look like a twat.

Duddy

princess_calico wrote: »

Guys,

Just want to know what your opinions are on slating other candidates without provocation?

Just found out another candidate has been leaving negative comments about other candidates on their FB page... Is it just me or is that not on?

If you want to, you can report it to the Returning Officer, think its returningofficer@nuimsu.com
We had to deal with s**t like this last year too, the candidate will more than likely get a bollickin, and if they continue to smear-campaign, may be thrown out of the election.

the_Meh_Girl

princess_calico wrote: »

Guys,

Just want to know what your opinions are on slating other candidates without provocation?

Just found out another candidate has been leaving negative comments about other candidates on their FB page... Is it just me or is that not on?

hun don't worry about it, it just shows you are a threat, chin up and carry on!!!

PrivateEye

Looks more like a breakdown than a smear campaign, at least on the Pats 4 Ents page. Not fair to do that on another candidates page.

Now, today:

Spotted the Aengus machine out in force again.
Gavs people were about in good numbers
and we were quite heavy on the USI front too.

The battle of the chalk continues.

To Lydias folks, cheers for the lovely, lovely cupcakes. great stuff.

circa1990

LeixlipRed wrote: »

Would people not vote for a candidate due to their affiliation with a political party? I notice one or two candidates are FFers, instant fail? Or do people not care?

dont really think it's a big issue, like practically all the candidates running have some political affiliation. I dont necessarily think its a bad thing that FF have actually decided to get out there tbh, like what have we ever seen of them in the last 3 or 4 years?

As regards Princess_Calico's comment on political affiliations clouding a candidate's judgement, I disagree as most people seem to want to up the whole representative politics side of the SU. The individuals political persuasion is only one opinion, they'll still have to listen to the other 7,499 students' opinions.

princess_calico

Duddy wrote: »

If you want to, you can report it to the Returning Officer, think its returningofficer@nuimsu.com
We had to deal with s**t like this last year too, the candidate will more than likely get a bollickin, and if they continue to smear-campaign, may be thrown out of the election.

I really don't want to be seen as petty towards the situation, but I would hate the SU to be let down by someone whose campaign is based on nudity and attacking the other candidates. Like for the rest of us, it is a mature, fair campaign and I really do wish Pat and Cait good luck!

princess_calico

the_Meh_Girl wrote: »

hun don't worry about it, it just shows you are a threat, chin up and carry on!!!

How come you haven't gotten a b*llicking yet??
I said it to Pat earlier as well and I really do mean it when I say good luck!

markdy24

Thanks for the fantastic questions asked this afternoon guys, you had us all on our toes.....and my what a unnerving experience, never knew public speaking could be so amazingly fright enducing, though i wouldnt have missed it for anything....and well done rob on keeping such accurate answering to the questions, quite impressive :P

Michellenman

I'm actually really excited to see Rob at the Hustings next week!!

PrivateEye

Would people not vote for a candidate due to their affiliation with a political party? I notice one or two candidates are FFers, instant fail?

Depends what they're running for really.

The big seat for example. If students are under threat from a Fianna Fail government, do we want a member of Ógra Fianna Fail representing us nationally as S.U President? I wouldn't think so. I think it's damaging to the student movement at that level to have too many Ógra Eff-Effers in its ranks at the minute in truth, especially if these people are leading 'Fight Fees' type rallies in the future.

If they ran for President and were open about Fianna Fail membership then thats fair enough, though I'd hope at the minute they wouldn't get too close to the top seat. I don't think, personally, one can pay subs into Fianna Fail and carry placards down O' Connell Street at the same time.



Spot the UCD SU President (current)

Running for a position like Ents, or Clubs and Socs or something? Meh, knock yourselves out.

If their being a member of a government party doesn't affect the position, then it shouldn't be a problem in the slightest.

Being in Fianna Fail at the minute seems to be like being in the German Communist Party in 1942 but. You never know do you.

PrivateEye

Irish_goat gave a great summary of Presidental Hustings yesterday, anybody at Welfare today and care to do the same? Was running very late from the far end of Dublin to home even, and didn't make it.

circa1990

PrivateEye wrote: »

Depends what they're running for really.

The big seat for example. If students are under threat from a Fianna Fail government, do we want a member of Ógra Fianna Fail representing us nationally as S.U President? I wouldn't think so. I think it's damaging to the student movement at that level to have too many Ógra Eff-Effers in its ranks at the minute in truth, especially if these people are leading 'Fight Fees' type rallies in the future.

If they ran for President and were open about Fianna Fail membership then thats fair enough, though I'd hope at the minute they wouldn't get too close to the top seat. I don't think, personally, one can pay subs into Fianna Fail and carry placards down O' Connell Street at the same time.




Spot the UCD SU President (current)

Running for a position like Ents, or Clubs and Socs or something? Meh, knock yourselves out.

If their being a member of a government party doesn't affect the position, then it shouldn't be a problem in the slightest.

Being in Fianna Fail at the minute seems to be like being in the German Communist Party in 1942 but. You never know do you

I think that's a bit of an exaggeration. Just because you affiliate to a political party, doesn't necessarily mean that you fully support every decision they make. They're not idiots.

"paying subs to fianna fail", you make it sound like they're all handing Cowen and Lenihan brown envelopes! Really, this is a bit much!

Also, as much as you say students are under threat by a fianna fail government, i think it would benefit NUIM Students to have a few Ógra FF members on the exec as they're in a better position to get ministers ect to speak on issues like fees that say someone from FEE. Marching with placards is all well and good, but do you not think it's getting a bit old?

And as regards hiding they're affiliation, I don't think any of the FF candidates have, in fact, i don't think they will. But let me ask you this, would you have the same issue with Aengus O'Maoilan hiding his labour affilation or Tara Clarke hiding her affiliation with the Greens or Liz Murray hiding her Sinn Féin persuasions or is it just because certain candidates happen to vote Fianna Fáil? If so, I hardly think that's being just.

PrivateEye

The Student Unions have to engage with Ministers, its part of their job. I'd rather not have members of the Youth wing of the Government sitting down to discuss their concerns over fees with Batt O' Keefe.

Marching with placards is all well and good, but do you not think it's getting a bit old?

Yep, I do actually.

That's why I'm pushing for USI reaffiliation. Student Unions HAVE to sit down with the Government in a real way at the table. Its not up to left-wing campaign groups to do that really in fairness.

Again, it just comes down to who you want to have talking with the Government.

would you have the same issue with Aengus O'Maoilan hiding his labour affilation

If Labour were in Government and implementing savage cutbacks, then yes.

circa1990

PrivateEye wrote: »

The Student Unions have to engage with Ministers, its part of their job. I'd rather not have members of the Youth wing of the Government sitting down to discuss their concerns over fees with Batt O' Keefe.


Again, it just comes down to who you want to have talking with the Government

They have to engage yes, but ministers are much more likely to sit down with people who share the same core beliefs. As regards Batt O'Keefe, I think you'd be hard pushed to find an Ógra FF member who actually doesnt physically spit at the man. I think having some Ógra FF-ers in there would benefit maynooth tbh. I think perhaps you're unwilling to see past the candidates personal voting privelages, which are entirely their own.

PrivateEye

I'd have no problem voting a member of Ógra for Ents, Clubs and Socs Officer, Irish Officer etc. In fact, I'm doing so in at least one case of the above.

I think this comes down to the matter of who we want representing us nationally.

ministers are much more likely to sit down with people who share the same core beliefs

The Minister is obligied to sit down with USI and Student Unions, be the student representative on the far side of the table Labour, Sinn Féin, DUP or the Peoples Front of Judeua.

banquo

@privateeye, welfare hustings are back a few pages.

Ian Beale

The dirty tricks are already starting, seen a group of girls taking certain posters and leaflets off tables and binning them, wish I knew who was telling them to do that :mad:

banquo

Take a pic and report them. I've no time for that ****e.

K4t

Ian Beale wrote: »

The dirty tricks are already starting, seen a group of girls taking certain posters and leaflets off tables and binning them, wish I knew who was telling them to do that :mad:

You should have confronted them.

PrivateEye

Went through the Welfare stuff there, thanks a million Rob.

On USI, I see you mentioned a candidate said better to spent the 40,000 on services at NUIM?

What bloody 40 grand? The money doesn't exist. Are they proposing a referendum where we charge students an extra fiver for services, as opposed to one where we charge students an extra fiver for USI?

Makes me grrrr.


Still, sounds like an interesting Hustings.

banquo

Anyone who wants to help me out on wednesday by wearing my tshirt and getting votes gets access to a serious post-election pissup in Caulfields

mickstupp

Maybe this is slightly irrelevant, but anyway I need a bit of a rant, it concerns something that is in my opinion utterly pointless. Yesterday, at those blue seats of death in the Arts block... I was sitting there attempting to read as per usual (the pain keeps me awake and it's not as distracting or diseased as the reading room) and every couple of minutes it seemed someone was passing by dropping yet another election-related leaflet on the table. The table already had a bunch of rubbish on it... and every extra leaflet or flyer just looks like more rubbish. Who the hell is going to go rooting through what genuinely amounts to rubbish to read a flyer that's also pasted every 17 inches in any direction you could possibly move? Seriously, the amount of wasted paper (and time) is astonishing! It's like these people have printed 83000 flyers and they MUST distribute them all, on pain of death, even if the table they distribute to already has 482 copies of the flyer already. People need to get a feckin grip.

When you put a flyer on top of rubbish, it becomes rubbish, even more so than it perhaps already is.

Every candidate demonstrating this approach is automatically not getting my vote, and the vote of everyone I can grab to give out to. And as for what amounts to chalk graffiti everywhere, no vote for them either. And no vote for anyone with a flyer promising things that would be unobtainable even if we all lived in happy happy fantasy land. Realism, honesty, and a lack of muppetry will get my vote more than a mountain of wasted paper that's going in the bin shortly. Although... that might end up meaning no-one gets my vote...

Actually... I'll vote for anyone who'll run a regular "Put your rubbish in the bin yeh scumbags!" campaign on campus.

Ian Beale

K4t wrote: »

You should have confronted them.

I did, they didn't see me until I went over to them and told them to take them back out of the bin, they tried to lie and said they didn't until I walked over to the bin myself and pulled one out:rolleyes: funny thing to they threw the leaflets in to a general waste bin and there was a paper recyling bin right next to it as well:rolleyes: they didn't have any other candidates leaflets or anything to show who they were doing it for though, who do you report that kind of thing to btw?

banquo

Ian Beale wrote: »

The dirty tricks are already starting, seen a group of girls taking certain posters and leaflets off tables and binning them, wish I knew who was telling them to do that :mad:

Can you tell us what candidate they were doing it for?

irish_goat

Ye see Mick, it works, that's why candidates do it. It's a tried and tested methods used by all political parties (how many times do you see the same party poster on a drive home?).If you're sitting around those tables, and are a normal human being, you will probably get curious and pick up whatever reading material has been left there and give it a look over and it might just convince you to vote for someone.

Besides that, election literature encourages students to get involved, read up on candidates and actually get out and vote.

And no vote for anyone with a flyer promising things that would be unobtainable

Ah sure ye'd have to pick it up and read it to find out that though.

mickstupp

irish_goat wrote: »

Ah sure ye'd have to pick it up and read it to find out that though.

Ah! But they were the ones handed to me. And if the candidate can't remember attempting to hand the same person a flyer 5 times... no vote for them.

Actually I went and read all the flyers. There's some fierce grammatical abuse going on!

If you're sitting around those tables, and are a normal human being ...

Yes, that second bit is most likely my problem...:p

PrivateEye

And no vote for anyone with a flyer promising things that would be unobtainable

If I am elected President, I promise there will be a new canteen by October. I can promise these things, because I am the kind of person who owns a High-Vis jacket and a hard hat and understands the fundamentals of building things.

There will also be no fees.

Ian Beale

banquo wrote: »

Can you tell us what candidate they were doing it for?

It was for one of the VP positions, I think the posters had david something not 100% sure but I'll be around the same place at lunch and can double check.
Edit: Sorry better clarify I know you meant to say who were they doing it too.

Rozabeez

I saw a Liz Murray sticker on a door in JH earlier, is that not considered graffiti/littering? Unless someone's going to remove them all with label remover afterwards I wouldn't be too impressed.

mickstupp

^There was one on the door of the mens toilets in Arts too.

Rozabeez

Definitely not the way to go about things IMO.

Michellenman

I also hope this Lydia one doesn't just let the rain wash all the chalk shit off and actually makes an effort to get rid of it. It looks so horrible.

Nision

circa1990 wrote: »

Liz Murray hiding her Sinn Féin persuasions

WHAT????
HOW???
Proof please, you shouldn't throw that accusation around lightly.

PrivateEye

I second the above comment.

I know the Ógra Shinn Féin Cumann in NUI Maynooth quite well at this rate.

Poor form saying someone has 'Sinn Fein/ Fine Gael/ Labour/ Workers Party/ Socialist Party' (delete as appropriate!) 'persuasions' unless its backed up, not really fair on Liz.

Don't really know whats meant by ' persuasions' either, compared to say party membership? "I voted them once in the locals" kind of thing?

Pajoe89

I agree on the whole Party issue, especially in terms of Fianna Fail.
Not intending to come across as anti-FF but to be honest i wouldn't trust a F.F candidate as far as i could throw him/her considering most of em are doing it cause mam n dad did cause there granddad was a fan of Dev and against the treaty.
Time we put stupid things like that behind us and vote with our heads. I know it's a little off topic but it does filter down to student elections when in my opinion all students should be left leaning (until they get a high paid job anyway)

circa1990

Nision wrote: »

WHAT????
HOW???
Proof please, you shouldn't throw that accusation around lightly.

she's told me herself before on many an occasion. by persuasion I mean that she supports the party although i don't know if she's a member of the ógra shinn fein cumann on campus

but what does it matter anyway? people are entitled to support what ever political party they want. it shouldnt affect anyone's opinion on them personally. end of! the way you guys are talking about it you'd think I was slating her. She's getting my 1st preference, which shows that I intend to vote on the merit of the individual candidate and not according to each of their political creed.

PrivateEye

people are entitled to support what ever political party they want. it shouldnt affect anyone's opinion on them personally

yep, by and large I agree 100% with this.

I think it came off badly, the point I was trying to make was that I don't personally think election Ógra Fianna Fail reps to Presidental or VP places in student unions is wise at present. They're obviously more than entitled to run. Personally, I'll end up voting at least one member of ÓFF in the process of the election, but for the positions involved- its irrelevant. I'm voting them because they're capable in those areas, and party affiliation would not be an issue in those areas in the slightest.

As for the Sinn Féin thing, I've personally no problem with them and have worked with the party (On and off campus) on many occaisons. Again I think the point made was just that none of us had ever heard her say it, and anyone can say anything on boards.ie so it could be picked up as mud-throwing. It obviously wasn't.

No biggie smalls.

Good luck to her and the other candidates!

banquo

Liz Murray isn't a Shinner,
if she was it still doesn't matter.

Thwip!

banquo wrote: »

Anyone who wants to help me out on wednesday by wearing my tshirt and getting votes gets access to a serious post-election pissup in Caulfields

count me in for that...pming number

banquo

PM'd.

Jayo4Prez

princess_calico wrote: »

Guys,

Just want to know what your opinions are on slating other candidates without provocation?

Just found out another candidate has been leaving negative comments about other candidates on their FB page... Is it just me or is that not on?

If the criticism concerns tactics or policy, then yes, it is on because that is called DEBATE, something sadly lacking so far.

However, personal attacks on a candidates, their associations or mates is not on. I will agree with you on that.

Jayo4Prez

BarryDoodles wrote: »

Also i was talking to some guy who is running for president..his views were interesting; everything should be nationalised etc etc think socialist with a hint of BNP, heard he got kicked out of FEE for being to extreme.

Please let there be other candidates, i'd like to see joe byrne go through

The name is Whelan, Jason Whelan and yes, I am running for President!!!!!!!!

Hi guys, Barry is obviously doodling again. Reckon Bertie would be proud of a synopses like that. Full of generalised fiction. :cool:

Soooooooo..........

May I make something fairly solidly clear. I do not, nor never have, condone the tactics or philosophies of the BNP.

Also, if you want to comment on my affiliations to groups, at least get it right. I was a member of FEE last year and at the start of this year. I LEFT the night of November Union Council after a motion that I put forward was defeated. The lads from FEE felt that I should have consulted them. I didnt. Clash of opinions and I left. I would like to think that I have remained on good terms with the lads since.

Finally, my beliefs on how the world should operate financially or globally are about as relevant to this campaign as an empty coke bottle!!!!!!!!!!;)

Jayo4Prez

LeixlipRed wrote: »

Think I know who you're on about. Small tubby guy, a complete tool.

Quite cute!!!!!!!!!

All I will say is, while this is all fine and dandy, at least everyone knows who I am and know that I will address any and all questions and criticisms.

Also, my waistline hasn't stopped me covering much more ground than the other candidates.

Plus, if I am a tool, how is it that I can do all my own talking, instead of getting campaign managers to do it for me?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D:D:D:D

Jayo4Prez

karlsmith88 wrote: »

Gavin Brady(Gav) will be running for president, tall rugby looking guy. and a small tubby dude sharky his nickname is also.
No campaigns can be started til the 16th of feb.

What is with the waisteline!!!!!!!!!!! I'm still covering more ground and dancing on more floors despite it!!!!!!!!!!!

Jayo4Prez

mickstupp wrote: »

Maybe this is slightly irrelevant, but anyway I need a bit of a rant, it concerns something that is in my opinion utterly pointless. Yesterday, at those blue seats of death in the Arts block... I was sitting there attempting to read as per usual (the pain keeps me awake and it's not as distracting or diseased as the reading room) and every couple of minutes it seemed someone was passing by dropping yet another election-related leaflet on the table. The table already had a bunch of rubbish on it... and every extra leaflet or flyer just looks like more rubbish. Who the hell is going to go rooting through what genuinely amounts to rubbish to read a flyer that's also pasted every 17 inches in any direction you could possibly move? Seriously, the amount of wasted paper (and time) is astonishing! It's like these people have printed 83000 flyers and they MUST distribute them all, on pain of death, even if the table they distribute to already has 482 copies of the flyer already. People need to get a feckin grip.

When you put a flyer on top of rubbish, it becomes rubbish, even more so than it perhaps already is.

Every candidate demonstrating this approach is automatically not getting my vote, and the vote of everyone I can grab to give out to. And as for what amounts to chalk graffiti everywhere, no vote for them either. And no vote for anyone with a flyer promising things that would be unobtainable even if we all lived in happy happy fantasy land. Realism, honesty, and a lack of muppetry will get my vote more than a mountain of wasted paper that's going in the bin shortly. Although... that might end up meaning no-one gets my vote...

Actually... I'll vote for anyone who'll run a regular "Put your rubbish in the bin yeh scumbags!" campaign on campus.

Couldnt agree more. Thats why I have used my cards and TALKED TO PEOPLE....... What a novel approach......... talking to the people who could potentially vote!!!!!!!!!

hypersquirrel

Jayo4Prez wrote: »

Couldnt agree more. Thats why I have used my cards and TALKED TO PEOPLE....... What a novel approach......... talking to the people who could potentially vote!!!!!!!!!

Your attitude here is most certainly not going to convince me to vote for you and if you are you talk the way you type then maybe the leaflets are a better idea for ya.

Clearly people have said things about you that you don't like but if you get offended by them and feel the need to go on a defensive then maybe the position of President is not for you. A position where every decision you make will be judged and critiqued. It requires a level of maturity which your posts seem to be lacking.

PrivateEye

Somebody vandalised 2 posters for one candidate in the notice board by Callan Hall. Grow up folks.

Next week should see a new 'Vote Yes' leaflet, some tshirts and a new FEE poster up, if time permits it all over the weekend. Exciting election/referendum, loving it so far.

Rob,your posters look great in real life btw. A friend with a keen eye for design was very impressed too.

mickstupp

Jayo4Prez wrote: »

Couldnt agree more. Thats why I have used my cards and TALKED TO PEOPLE....... What a novel approach......... talking to the people who could potentially vote!!!!!!!!!

I don't like being agreed with, whether in reality (since that'd make you as grouchy and narrow-minded as me) or just for the sake of making a point about the way you approach your campaign.

No vote for you.

Besides, I noticed the other day how you spoke and offered cards to two young ladies sitting beside me, and didn't even bother with me. And I wasn't wearing headphones at the time either. I may have been scowling but that's not unusual...