Any solid evidence why I should not vote for Higgins

Happyman42

LordSutch wrote: »

Just heard Higgins say something on the radio that I would like clarification on; Regarding Hamas, is he pro Hamas or Anti Hamas? or what? I found it very hard to get a clear picture of his stance on Hamas and their actions in the middle east.

He said his personal views are of no importance when he is President. I don't think Kenny should have let him off so lightly on that one, given RTE's attacks on McG's associations.

meditraitor

How many of the posters above are hiding in Politics.ie posting the same garbage about higgins supposed anti american and pro hamas stance?

And for 1 dollar, who are they supporting?

LordSutch

meditraitor wrote: »

How many of the posters above are hiding in Politics.ie posting the same garbage about higgins supposed anti american and pro hamas stance?

And for 1 dollar, who are they supporting?

Well I want to support Higgins (or Gallagher)? but I am no fan of Hamas, hence my question.

cardwizzard

LordSutch wrote: »

Just heard Higgins say something on the radio that I would like clarification on; Regarding Hamas, is he pro Hamas or Anti Hamas? or what? I found it very hard to get a clear picture of his stance on Hamas and their actions in the middle east.

Me too.

I think he is pro, but am open to correction on this one. Would it really make a big difference do you think? I don't think people really care.

steelcityblues

Being a member of one of the useless mainstream parties for decades, might be the best reason not to vote for the guy.

meditraitor

LordSutch wrote: »

Well I want to support Higgins (or Gallagher)? but I am no fan of Hamas, hence my question.

you really should use your internet browser, fabulous piece of tech,


He has never supported Hamas. His only mistake(among others) was to propose that an unelected EU sub committee at least discuss making hamas an illegal organisation in the name of the EU.

Check out his Dail speaches or his own website for comments made by the man and not the likes of
markhumphreys.com (I would consider this site on terms with stormfront)

Pride Fighter

LordSutch wrote: »

Well I want to support Higgins (or Gallagher)? but I am no fan of Hamas, hence my question.

Why not? Without Hamas there can be no peace. I think Israel is slowly realising this, hence their negotiations with Hamas for the release of Gilad Shalit.

I dont think Higgins is a Hamas supporter though. Himself and Proinsias DeRossa were the Labour spokespeople on Palestine before the last general election. Basically their stance was to condemn Hamas terrorist actions as well as condemn the Israeli Defence Forces incursions against the Palestinians, that in the words of Martin Luther King, an injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere. They both condemned the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit.

Michael D is a supporter of Palestinian statehood and peace in the Middle East, plain and simple.

jonniebgood1

Liam Byrne wrote: »

Every single one of the candidates has had some skeletons in their closets, dodgy associations and/or some seriously objectionable views - apart from, it seems, Higgins.

Anyone have any reasons not to vote for him ?

Firstly I think he is the best choice from the candidates availiable though not perfect as I will explain.

There are reasons not to vote for him:

-He is an established politician for a long time hence he is part of the establishment. He makes a big deal of his knowledge of the constitution but this makes me think he will just be a puppet that would not push the role to its maximum benefit.
-His party is the Labour party, the party of the workers yet it is hard to know if he or other ruling members are in touch with the ordinary people. I'd say not. He earns a fortune in pensions already and has made a virtue of the fact that he will stop drawing them if he is elected.

Mr Higgins has a pension income of just under €110,000, including a 90,000 Dáil and ministerial pension, and a university teaching pension of just under €20,000. Mr Higgins said he would not be drawing any pension from his Oireachtas service if he is elected. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1004/breaking57.html

So he would make do with the free house, chaffeur driven car and salary of a quarter of a million! Good man. It is obscene the bubble that these people in positions of power live in. Obviously it is not Higgins fault but he does seem to be part of the problem rather than the solution.
-Foreign policy. This may be glossed over but his personal views are there although he claims they will not affect his role.

demolitionman

I'd give him my number two if he wasn't an atheist.

Sponge Bob

Higgins never explained why a TD who always REFUSED to do constituency work spent so much of taxpayers money on a constituency office and not forgetting the amount of family he employed at the expense of the state.

The figures are here.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=70459398

oppenheimer1

demolitionman wrote: »

I'd give him my number two if he wasn't an atheist.

Hes not an atheist. Sure he's a leading member of the Legion of Mary in Galway

Pride Fighter

demolitionman wrote: »

I'd give him my number two if he wasn't an atheist.

He believes in god, so he's not an atheist.

kraggy

What the hell has religion got to do with it?

What, because a god is mentioned in the consititution we should only elect a believer?

Ok, let's all vote for Dana. Or some lunatic Immam for that matter.

McTigs

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Higgins never explained why a TD who always REFUSED to do constituency work

Higgins has actually helped out myself and a few others i know, all constituants, on various matters that we have approached him on. None of them planning permission mind.

edanto

This thread on Higgin's skeletons in the closet sure is a lot less busy than the other threads on Gallagher!

Liam Byrne

edanto wrote: »

This thread on Higgin's skeletons in the closet sure is a lot less busy than the other threads on Gallagher!

Indeed! The biggest issue Higgins' detractors (other candidates' fan-boys) have is trying to predict how close Higgins is to becoming his own skeleton.

edanto

To which of course the best rebuttal is to compare the amount of presidential pension that might be paid to Gallagher or Higgins after their 7 year term....

steelcityblues

Liam,

Would John Waters waxing lyrical about the guy today, prevent you from voting for him?

Michael D begins his speeches quietly, restrainedly, in a kind of deceptive, almost whispered falsetto. There is a kind of exaggerated politeness about him at this point, which makes what follows even more spectacular. Gradually, as he builds his case, his voice develops weight and timbre, his tone, pitch and modulation shifting from bar to bar, from tenor to baritone to bass to baritone, up and down his considerable range of passion. As the aria builds, he moves his hands and arms, as though conducting himself :rolleyes:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1021/1224306217538.html

stakerwallace

demolitionman wrote: »

I'd give him my number two if he wasn't an atheist.

I'm sure like many atheists he might prefer the description "humanist" which might allow for some evidence of transcendentalism to be considered, if and when that happens: nothing to report so far, however!

Liam Byrne

steelcityblues wrote: »

Liam,

Would John Waters waxing lyrical about the guy today, prevent you from voting for him?

Michael D begins his speeches quietly, restrainedly, in a kind of deceptive, almost whispered falsetto. There is a kind of exaggerated politeness about him at this point, which makes what follows even more spectacular. Gradually, as he builds his case, his voice develops weight and timbre, his tone, pitch and modulation shifting from bar to bar, from tenor to baritone to bass to baritone, up and down his considerable range of passion. As the aria builds, he moves his hands and arms, as though conducting himself :rolleyes:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1021/1224306217538.html

Is that seriously meant to be proper journalism ?

I know what he's on about, but compared to Norris's OTT camp marbles-in-mouth shouting, it's practically nothing, and given the issues with some of the candidates I'm stunned that you'd think something the above would impact on my vote; it might if everything else was equal, but given the likes of McGun, Gallagher & Dana in the race, Higgins's intonations might actually seem endearing!