People caring about who the next President will be

c_man

To demonstrate our 'smart economy' and display our commitment to it to businesses and other countries, I propose that our next President be a cyborg.

foxyboxer

orourkeda wrote: »

Why would you turn and vote for "I do not want a president" when staying at home or abstaining serves the same purpose

We should be given the option to dissolve the office of President and if that option won the day then the constitution would be amended. If Michael D say won out over the option to dissolve then well that's democracy and the president's role would stay but I'd still have exercised my right to vote.

foxyboxer

orourkeda wrote: »

They only have two candidates.

2 candidates have 3 debates. Not like our little island, with the Late Late, Vincent Brown, Frontline etc etc

mickrock

The next president should at least be from this country.

Having someone from the UK as president for 14 years is queer!

mikom

longhalloween wrote: »

Has anyone realised yet that it doesn't MATTER who the next president will be?

So it doesn't make a blind bit of difference who gets in. The president does what they're told, end of. Any decision they make has to be approved by the government, any real work* is done by the Taoiseach and ministers.

You wouldn't mind if Larry Murphy got the gig so.

randylonghorn

harrythehat wrote: »

I think Fine Gael are laughing at the moment - They don't care about the fact that Mitchell isn't going to win because this election has gotten the economy off the headlines for weeks.

I do think there's probably a fair bit of truth in this.

It's also meant that very little public attention has been given to the two referenda, the second of which (inquiries one) is seriously dodgy IMHO.

hondasam

randylonghorn wrote: »

I do think there's probably a fair bit of truth in this.

It's also meant that very little public attention has been given to the two referenda, the second of which (inquiries one) is seriously dodgy IMHO.

I'm having a read of these later to see what we are voting to change.
At the moment I have not got a clue about them.

languagenerd

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

It's all about who will be the least embarrassing President

Nah, it's all about which one we think is most deserving of a fancy house, €325000 a year and several all-expenses-paid trips abroad :pac:. Sure tis practically a reality show! :P

Pherekydes

mickrock wrote: »

The next president should at least be from this country.

Having someone from the UK as president for 14 years is queer!

When did this happen?

All presidents are citizens of Ireland.

nibtrix

orourkeda wrote: »

foxyboxer wrote: »

The US only have 3 debates normally. Whereas we have had 5 FFS.

They only have two candidates.

To be fair, they usually have a no-hoper third candidate as well, we just never hear about them...

Gee Bag

nibtrix wrote: »

To be fair, they usually have a no-hoper third candidate as well, we just never hear about them...

Is Dana going to run in America as well? Is that why she became a US citizen?

mickrock

Pherekydes wrote: »

When did this happen?

All presidents are citizens of Ireland.

In 1997.

She couldn't vote in the election herself, though.

seanbmc

Is the President in charge of the army?

Mal-Adjusted

KTRIC wrote: »

Do you mean shoot the odd foreign dignitary, steal some sod and molest some babies ?? It'd fit in well with some of the candidates that are in the running.

My word! I assure you my monocle has fallen into my glass of brandy in shock! Which president did that? I trust you have some sort of proof?

longhalloween

seanbmc wrote: »

Is the President in charge of the army?

Technically the President is Supreme Commander but the responsibility and real power lies with the Minister for Defence and the government.

Pherekydes

mickrock wrote: »

In 1997.

She couldn't vote in the election herself, though.

Mary McAleese is an Irish citizen, and was so in 1997. If you think an accident of a person's birth defines a person's nationality for the rest of their life you are so wrong.

mickrock

Pherekydes wrote: »

Mary McAleese is an Irish citizen, and was so in 1997. If you think an accident of a person's birth defines a person's nationality for the rest of their life you are so wrong.

I'd love if a staunch Unionist ran for president, for a laugh, and got in.

Badgermonkey

seanbmc wrote: »

Is the President in charge of the army?

Yes.

It's the Presidents job to whistle for them at night and let them out for a pee first thing in the morning.

Ellis Dee

Of course it matters to all of us who represents us on the international stage. Naturally, the President has to act within the parameters of his or her constitutional powers, but there is always some room for manoeuvre and style plays a big part. I certainly don't want a religious fundi or a former bagman for a failed political party embarrassing us in the world media. That's why I could live with McGuinness, Michael D, Norris (all of proven ability), but would be very worried about the others.:cool:

Ellis Dee

Badgermonkey wrote: »

Yes.

It's the Presidents job to whistle for them at night ...

What's the point of doing that? Aren't they all deaf?:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Pherekydes

Ellis Dee wrote: »

What's the point of doing that? Aren't they all deaf?:rolleyes::rolleyes:

No, only partially deaf. Tinnitus, mainly.

celticcrash

foxyboxer wrote: »

What exactly does the President do that a minister can't do?

Meet foreign dignitaries? Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Turn a Sod? Minister for Agriculture.
Kiss Babies? Minister for Children.
Create Employment? Department of Jobs, Enterpriseand Innovation, Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment.

And what's the story with all the debates? The US only have 3 debates normally. Whereas we have had 5 FFS.
I guess, the whole thing fills the news and papers. When it's all over it's back to saving the euro etc etc.

And who did the U.S.A vote in twice, George W Bush.
I would like to see more TV debates, after a while they start to
Show their true colours, like losing their composure, temper, knowledge
The more they are on TV debates, the more we can see what they
Are made of.
And what I have seen so far, is that martin MG
Is the only true statesman up there.
He not cosy with the bankers, political elite who watch out only
For them selves, He will take a 80% haircut on the presidental wage.
All other candidates want their 250,000 euro a year.
All other candidates have ducked the question of pay.
All the other candidates are afraid to rock the rotten political landscape.
And if there was a country that needed to be rocked, it`s Ireland.
Martin McGuinness is the only one there that can do that.

Sergeant

celticcrash wrote: »

All the other candidates are afraid to rock the rotten political landscape.

The bold Martin rocked plenty of landscapes in his time.

Dannyg90

Saila wrote: »

just let the current one keep it for another term, I know shes had her time but she did a grand job

a grand job? her only real job is to make sure laws passed in the Dáil are in line with the constitution and she couldn't even do that. Allowing the banks to be bailed out = against the constitution as it is paying back private debt
she should've done her job and refused to to sign the banking bill into law, she didn't even refer it to the supreme court for **** sake

donutface

I care op, Paddy Power will pay for my xmas shopping if my chosen candidate wins.

SafeSurfer

longhalloween wrote: »

Has anyone realised yet that it doesn't MATTER who the next president will be?

All they have to do is meet the odd foreign dignitary, go to GAA games, turn a sod, cut a ribbon, meet old people and kiss babies.
THAT'S IT!

So it doesn't make a blind bit of difference who gets in. The president does what they're told, end of. Any decision they make has to be approved by the government, any real work* is done by the Taoiseach and ministers.

It's purely a symbolic office, the same as the monarchy in England, so to all those saying the Gallagher is going to bring jobs, McGuinness is going to unite Ireland, Norris is going to legalise gay marriage, it's all pure sh1te.

the term 'real work' may not actually refer to real work

Well the president does have the nuclear launch codes so it is a pretty responsible position.