Who to Vote for in Laois????

Shazanne

Hi,
I will be voting for the first time in Laois/Offaly in the forthcoming Election. I know little or nothing about the candidates and what they have achieved, particularly for Portlaoise.
I am not looking for party political broadcast, just some information on who's who and what's what??

adser53

Good thread Shazanne, I'd like to know this myself.

Personally, I've had a good few dealings with the Sinn Féin lads (Brian Stanley & Alan Hand) over the last 2 years about the estate and I can't speak highly enough of them. When the prospect of an election was but a mere dream, these lads were out giving us a load of help with the estate (and they approached us OFFERING to help:eek:)

This inlcuded knocking on doors with the different groups as we/they tried to set up committees for their roads, helping out on the clean-up days (unlike a lot of residents :rolleyes:), taking the rubbish away after the clean ups, providing signage for dog fouling, speed limits etc, attending the meetings organised by the different groups, chasing up the lake issue with the town engineer, street lights.....the list goes on. I know it's only a single estate but these lads put in more effort than any other politician I've ever had the (mis)fortune of meeting and genuinely care about the area.

But those other showers of eejits (Fianna Fáil and the Greens I'm looking at you!) never came near the gates of Esker Hills (in fact, they can keep walking by them IMO)but with an election on the horizon, you can bet they'll be buzzing around like flies on shi*te waving flags of Jabba Cowen & telling us their plans to harness the power of organic beans to help us all :rolleyes:

2011abc

Well if you had have said 15 or 20 years ago that Id consider voting for SF I would have said you were mad but now they seem almost the obvious default choice.FF and Greens ?Ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!FG only too willing to persecute the public sector even more .Labour ?In bed with FG and maybe a bit too 'pro working class' at the expense of middle class.
I'll almost certainly be voting SF if theres a candidate in my constituency.

artful_codger

adser53 wrote: »

But those other showers of eejits (Fianna Fáil and the Greens I'm looking at you!) never came near the gates of Esker Hills

perhaps because, you know, they're more concerned with national strategic issues instead of cleaning up your green areas? What you're describing is 'parish pump politics' and it is a cancer upon our heads; it is what has led us to where we are - led by a bunch of people who stand for nothing except re-election. It's Jackey Healy Rae politics - you take care of my sh*tty little concerns and you can have my vote, doesn't matter what your economic, fiscal, or social ideologies are, as long as you get the potholes fixed for me boss.

IMO, people who vote like this don't deserve one in the first place.

2011abc

"ALL politics is local ..." (Tip O'Neill)

adser53

artful_codger wrote: »

perhaps because, you know, they're more concerned with national strategic issues instead of cleaning up your green areas? What you're describing is 'parish pump politics' and it is a cancer upon our heads; it is what has led us to where we are - led by a bunch of people who stand for nothing except re-election. It's Jackey Healy Rae politics - you take care of my sh*tty little concerns and you can have my vote, doesn't matter what your economic, fiscal, or social ideologies are, as long as you get the potholes fixed for me boss.

IMO, people who vote like this don't deserve one in the first place.

You'll see the OP asked what they'd done in Portlaoise in particular which is what I answered from my very limited experience. Im the first to admit I have a lot of reading to do before I vote so that my concerns on a national scale are addressed. But I can tell you now, I can't see your bum buddies Cowen and Gormley and the sham parties they represent being high on my list

ILA

Good question, I haven't thought alot about elections. Brian Stanley has done a lot of work in the local community, I've had a good few issues which he made representations on my behalf for which I was extremely grateful. He'd be a good representative in the Dail judging by how he represents people locally.

Like 2011abc, If you'd told me five years ago that I'd be considering Sinn Fein as an alternative I'd have said you were mad, but having saw them in action locally, I've been pretty impressed with the effort they put into things especially in the estates.

I would dispute this notion of "parish pump politics", the job of elected representatives is to represent their communities, as well as consider national issues.

Kingdom

adser53 wrote: »

You'll see the OP asked what they'd done in Portlaoise in particular which is what I answered from my very limited experience. Im the first to admit I have a lot of reading to do before I vote so that my concerns on a national scale are addressed. But I can tell you now, I can't see your bum buddies Cowen and Gormley and the sham parties they represent being high on my list

That's fine and it's a totally understandable respsonse. What the other poster is getting at (I think) is that the local issues should be dealt with by local councillors, the likes of Mr Stanley, who tbf has a very good rep, is a member of a party, who if they get elected, have some policies that are questionable to say the least.
So that when selecting your candidate, you should be selecting him/her on what their party can do on a National level, not what the person can do on a local level.

I mean look at our constituency. The ar$e has fallen out of Port, Clara is a mess, Tullamore and Portlaoise are relatively ok, but this would be the case anyway due to their status as county towns. Yet the same heads will continue to get elected due to parish pump voting.

Funkfield

Kingdom wrote: »

That's fine and it's a totally understandable respsonse. What the other poster is getting at (I think) is that the local issues should be dealt with by local councillors, the likes of Mr Stanley, who tbf has a very good rep, is a member of a party, who if they get elected, have some policies that are questionable to say the least.
So that when selecting your candidate, you should be selecting him/her on what their party can do on a National level, not what the person can do on a local level.

I mean look at our constituency. The ar$e has fallen out of Port, Clara is a mess, Tullamore and Portlaoise are relatively ok, but this would be the case anyway due to their status as county towns. Yet the same heads will continue to get elected due to parish pump voting.

THIS is the most important thing anyone can think about coming into the next election.

blondie7

Well anyone from portlaoise who votes for cowen should be ashamed of themselves, not just for the mess the country is in but for what he has been trying to do for the hospital for as long as i can remember. He wants to move maternity and Paedeatrics to Tullamore. If he has his way portlaoise hospital will be closed and everything moved to Tullamore! People need to think seriously who there voting for, i mean labour continue to tell us how f**ked the country is but they have yet to say how they plan to fix it, And i refuse to vote FG just because i dont want Enda Kenny running the country.

Shazanne

In the constituency I came from I always had my finger on the pulse as regards who was who and what was what in terms of the candidates and their party policies. I am finding it difficult to get familiar with there here and am not finding the local media too helpful to be honest.
Obviously I don't have any great interest in the Offaly end of things but who are the likely candidates in Laois and which parties are running candidates? Is there a Green candidate for example as I would love to chew the head off one of them:eek: Am also very anxious to meet the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael candidates - the firmer for what they have done and the latter for what I believe they will do. Labour does not come into it for me - I cannot stand Eamon Gilmore with his arrogant sound-bytes!
Who are the Independent candidates here and are they any good? And, finally, does Portlaoise have an open meeting whereby the public gets to meet and question all the candidates together in advance of the Election? I have found this hugely beneficial in the past.
Thanks:)

wildefalcon

The SF candidates are very hard workers for the community. Mr Stanley is a very fine Local Representative. He'd be hard to replace in the town. So, locally, SF have it, no question.

However I do worry about their National policies, they are, an extreme Socialist Group, with a rather violent history. Which they've not, yet, fully opened up about.

The Gombeen parties, Labour/FG and FF, are much of a muchness, more about the "Party" than the country, and I'd find it very hard to give them a vote.

So that leaves independents.


None have appeared yet, but I suspect that there will be one or two strong candidates standing.

I'd give them my vote - as any independent will always be on their toes.

Kingdom

In terms of voting for an independent, fair enough, but what do you expect an independent to do for you in Leinster House? The days of the human turkey and the corrupt slieveen from Tipp holding government to ransom are over.

There will probably be more independents elected than ever before, but they won't play a part in government.,

Shazanne

Maybe it's the fact that I come from the "corrupt sliveen's" constituency originally:eek::D

I would always give Independents a listen - if not a vote! For the most part (sliveens aside!) they have a greater fire in their belly at Election time and they generally have the local interest as opposed to the party interest at heart. I will be watching out to see if any emerge here.
Overall it would seem to me from the replies I have received to date that Portlaoise is very much a SF town. This, I am assuming, is largely due to the strength of the candidate?

wildefalcon

Yep, Mr Stanley is one hard working guy.

Ideally I'd like the whole Dail to be filled with independents, that way EVERY vote has to make sense.

No more party whip, every one has to be there in order to vote.

ILA

Its got to the point where local politics is the same thing as national politics. All candidates are looking at the national picture and their solutions to the problems.

As far as I'm concerned the politics of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have clearly failed. They're literally the same policies in a different wrapping. A more equitable and sustainable society is necessary, and from the looks of things it seems only parties of the Left offer proposals towards that.

Having saw the calibre of Pearse Doherty recently along with what I've saw of Brian Stanley, I have no doubts that as far as political representation is concerned, my own vote would be in safe hands.

We can split straws till the next downturn about the violence of the past, but remember its said that if you spend all your time occupied with the past you'll miss the future. I refuse to part take in a new version of "civil war" politics which has brought the country to its knees.

madred006

Unfortunatly I could not see myself vote for Sinn Fein as they still have many branchs to their bow and we all know about them ,so that leaves Labour and Fine Gael ,the former having shafted a man who worked tremendously hard for people in his area and indeed still is to replace him with a surfing budda , so its fine gael im afraid

sydthebeat

there will be labour and sinn fein, but id also bet there will be 3-4 independents.... maybe single issue, maybe more.

Fianna Fail will NOT be getting any of my votes!!!!!

Anyone who votes FF in the upcoming election should take a long hard look at themselves and what theyre voting for. If they vote for local politics, then they should be ashamed!!!!

MickShamrock

Shazanne wrote: »

Overall it would seem to me from the replies I have received to date that Portlaoise is very much a SF town.

Very small sample size.

Shazanne

Fair point. But noone seems to be making a convincing argument for any of the others?
I am combing through the local papers trying to form my own opinions at this stage but now getting too much solid information.
I really want to vote in this election and I want that vote to count!

Evolution Enter

Is there a list of Laois candidates yet though?? FF haven't announced their ticket, is Flanagan running with a Laois running mate? I know Stanley and Whelan are obviously running, but who else??

LizT

blondie7 wrote: »

Well anyone from portlaoise who votes for cowen should be ashamed of themselves, not just for the mess the country is in but for what he has been trying to do for the hospital for as long as i can remember. He wants to move maternity and Paedeatrics to Tullamore. If he has his way portlaoise hospital will be closed and everything moved to Tullamore! People need to think seriously who there voting for, i mean labour continue to tell us how f**ked the country is but they have yet to say how they plan to fix it, And i refuse to vote FG just because i dont want Enda Kenny running the country.

Source? There's no room for maternity in Tullamore.

danlen

ILA wrote: »

Its got to the point where local politics is the same thing as national politics. All candidates are looking at the national picture and their solutions to the problems.

As far as I'm concerned the politics of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have clearly failed. They're literally the same policies in a different wrapping. A more equitable and sustainable society is necessary, and from the looks of things it seems only parties of the Left offer proposals towards that.

Having saw the calibre of Pearse Doherty recently along with what I've saw of Brian Stanley, I have no doubts that as far as political representation is concerned, my own vote would be in safe hands.

We can split straws till the next downturn about the violence of the past, but remember its said that if you spend all your time occupied with the past you'll miss the future. I refuse to part take in a new version of "civil war" politics which has brought the country to its knees.

The close comparisons between the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael policies do tend to be remarkably similar. For that reason I probably wont first preference Fine Gael candidates.

That of course leaves Labour and Sinn Fein as the alternatives. As you correctly pointed out, Pearse Doherty has proved himself to be a very competent politician. He speaks well but he speaks fact, which is a rare trait within the present government.

However, I am very wary of voting Sinn Fein. Looking past their historical role in Ireland and focusing solely on politics, I feel they have a huge flaw: Gerry Adams. To me he has a very poor knowledge base of the main political issues affecting this country, especially economics. If you havn't heard his interview he did with a local radio station in his constituency a few days ago, have a google for it. He shows on several occasions a lack of understanding of the meanings of certain processes and also fails to explain how Sinn Fein would raise the 14-18bn he is talking about. This also goes back to the infamous 2007 debate where he was destroyed due to his lack of undertanding and coherance.

That leaves me to feel that Labour are the alternative. Which tbh isn't a bad thing as I believe they do have some very good politicians. I would be much happier with Gilmore in charge with Burton as finance minister than I would with any other combo right now.

dotsflan

john leahy is a very interesting candidate, he is a man who is dedicated to politics and is very much a man for the people, ive heard and seen lot of good stories about him so he'll be getting my vote

Shazanne

Ok - thanks for that! Can you tell me a little more about him? Where is he based? Is he affiliated to any party? Is this his first time out? Sorry for the questions but this is my first time to vote here!

dotsflan

Shazanne wrote: »

Ok - thanks for that! Can you tell me a little more about him? Where is he based? Is he affiliated to any party? Is this his first time out? Sorry for the questions but this is my first time to vote here!

http://www.offalyexpress.ie/news/Leahy-declares-Dil-ambition.6404048.jp

heres a link which should answer all your questions

Is mise le key

Here are all the candidates on wiki,

2011 general election

I would have to draw your attention to the United Left Alliance candidate Ray Fitzpatrick, having worked for Labour for years finally had enough when they have imposed their ex journalist in over all nominations from the party without even consideration to any of them.

I know i can tell you that he is 100% straight up guy & is totally opposed to the lies & corruption that has got us where we are.

artful_codger wrote: »

perhaps because, you know, they're more concerned with national strategic issues instead of cleaning up your green areas? What you're describing is 'parish pump politics' and it is a cancer upon our heads; it is what has led us to where we are - led by a bunch of people who stand for nothing except re-election. It's Jackey Healy Rae politics - you take care of my sh*tty little concerns and you can have my vote, doesn't matter what your economic, fiscal, or social ideologies are, as long as you get the potholes fixed for me boss.

IMO, people who vote like this don't deserve one in the first place.

While i am in agreement with you on your fundamental point, i would have to point out that if you are advocating FF in conjunction with this point you are miles off base, FF have proven that they cannot handle 'national strategic issues'!

Take a look around you, we are in ruins.

Funkfield wrote: »

THIS is the most important thing anyone can think about coming into the next election.

Agreed, the facts are that anything that is affecting your family then into your community, then into your county council, then to a national level has all been brought to bear by international influence in our affairs.

madred006 wrote: »

Unfortunatly I could not see myself vote for Sinn Fein as they still have many branchs to their bow and we all know about them ,so that leaves Labour and Fine Gael ,the former having shafted a man who worked tremendously hard for people in his area and indeed still is to replace him with a surfing budda , so its fine gael im afraid

Well if you were inclined to vote for Labour befor they imposed whelan, then why not vote for one of the Labour members that left because of it?

Ray Fitzpatrick.

wildefalcon

Ray is a very bright guy, I have a lot of time for him. He's a seriously qualified individual - aeroplane engineer, BER advisor and all!

He is not one to suffer fools, which would count in his favour in my book, but could annoy a lot around L/O.

I think that my first will be going to the Hesh McCormack, though. Jackie Healy Rae, without the class.

Is mise le key

Well every one can make up their own mind but dont forget to give a 2 or 3 to the guy you think next deserves a transfer over the crooks & me feiners.

sydthebeat

after seeing and hearing Sinn feins economic poilcy over the last few days i for one will not be touching them with a barge pole!!!!

they expect us, as a nation, to default on our debt... then they expect to raid the pension reserve fund to pay for our day to day spending on health, social welfare etc.. .and when that runs out, we're supposed to go back to the very bodies that we have burnt by our default and expect them to loan AGAIN to us to continue our current spending....

MADNESS!!!!

regardless of the bank mess (which IMHO should be resolved by the major bondholders taking a significant bashing).... we are still spending way more than we are taking in.. so its either cut seriously our public services, social welfare payments etc until such time our spending meets out tax take (whcih would set us back 40 years IMHO)... or we must accept this bailout, in a restructured form of agreement, and incrementally reduce our public spending and increase our tax take by creation of jobs.

Is mise le key

Well firstly, even the major hedge fund operator george Soros has said making Private debt sovreign debt was totally wrong & should never have happened.

So if we eliminate the €50B allocated to the banks that leaves us retaining €17B of the pension reserve fund for the states use, the fact that sinn fein have advocated using this to get the state back on its feet is shocking to you, is not as shocking to me that you think it is OK to go to the private losses of the bondholders.

Lets be clear here,

Private debt & Sovreign debt are seperate.

If we didnt cover the €50B of the banks (rightly & Justly so) & retained all €24B of our pension reserve fund, that only leaves a gap of €11B left if our borrowing requirments are €85B.

Now if we raised our Corporation tax by 2.5% as Dr. Michael Smurfit advocated for 4 years only by a few percent still leaving a huge incentive for companies to stay here as we would revert back to the 12.5% after the four years we would increase our CORP Tax intake by approx 3 billion extra a year given the projections on our exports going up to over €170B this year.

This alone would put us in a position of gaining €12B extra over four years & we are needing to cut €15B out of our public finances if we go by the EU deadline.

Now that leaves us with a borrowing requiment of €3B over four years if i have broken that down correctly as oppoosed to €85B we are going to be put into hock to.

There really is other ways to solve this but the patter coming out of FF & no doubt the incoming government is that they are taking the hard choices with the cuts, the truth is the hard choices are to make the Banks, Bondholders & Big Business pay for their mistakes.

Private losses are not sovreign debt, if we ditched this private debt we could solve our problems a lot easier & faster.