Sinn Féin the most popular party in latest poll (mod warnings in OP)

Dyr

alastair wrote: »

Nope - just place more regard in bringing a rapist to justice, than protecting a corrupted political party. Strange that, eh? That's just one if the reasons why SF have about as much transfer appeal as Ebola.

Which rapist? The fella who was acquitted of rape after Mairia Cahill threw her soother out of the pram because the trial was'nt being run the way she wanted?

You'd want to be a bit more careful with those allegations horse

sid waddell

The delusion is staggering. Gerry Adams is constantly said to be an electoral liability to Sinn Fein. People can keep saying this until they're blue in the face, but it will never make it true, no more so than if I keep repeating that tomorrow is Friday to myself. The reality is that he's a significant asset, and rightly so, as he's done more to bring peace to this island than anybody else. That's something that resonates hugely with people (far more than anything Enda Kenny or any other Dail politician will ever be able to achieve) and will never be easily forgotten. The constant attacks against Adams only strengthen him - there's an element of Kenny and the Sunday Independent being the boys who cried wolf - their attacks have been so constant and have always amounted to nothing that people don't take them seriously. The Sunday Indo has been at this stuff for over 20 years when they were vilifying John Hume for meeting Adams. They've found themselves on the wrong side of history ever since.

Adams has led Sinn Fein from almost nothing in the 26 counties to being a party who now have a realsitic chance of leading the government within the next decade - it won't be after the next election but they will have a realistic chance in 2021 or so.

If that's an electoral liability, it's an electoral liability that every other party would love to have.

handlemaster

Sinn Féin are very good at milking every opportunity, y ou can bank on it they will bite the bullet been fired at FG and hope FG along with Labour end up in an unmarked grave.

Sinn Féin have one policy move and thats higher taxes.

LuckyLloyd

sid waddell wrote: »

Every Sindo/Denis O'Brien media attack on Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein reinforces Sinn Fein's core support and pushes more people towards them.

The likes of Eilis O'Hanlon and Eoghan Harris are toxic for anybody or anything they support, and manna from heaven for those they oppose.

If:

- pointing out that the IRA murdered people during the troubles;
- accusing Gerry Adams of being in the IRA and making a big deal of his denials;
- trying to maintain a link between SF and the IRA;

was effective SF would have been killed a long time ago. Instead, these people keep banging their drum / the same media outlets keep trying to throw dirt and SF keep making strides.

The strategy doesn't work, and has been consistently failing for 20 years. They are incapable of anything else.

LuckyLloyd

For those heavily involved in the Cahill thread - particularly those who forcefully pushed the idea that SF would be damaged politically by the scandal - I would love to know what you make of this poll? Are you surprised? Why do you feel the scandal is not translating through to the poll?

I'm genuinely interested to get your perspective.

Timberrrrrrrr

Banjo String wrote: »

Someone should tax you from posting that exact same claim over and over again

If repetitive posts were taxed then i fear you would be penniless and homeless within a week.

michael999999

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

If repetitive posts were taxed then i fear you would be penniless and homeless within a week.

Its alright though. He could join the british army and plunder other peoples homes in a number of areas all around the world.

delthedriver

Polls are................simply polls !

If SF were doing badly in the opinion polls , this thread would not exist:cool:

delthedriver

michael999999 wrote: »

Its alright though. He could join the british army and plunder other peoples homes in a number of areas all around the world.

Good Morning! What has the above comment to do with SF opinnon polls?

Timberrrrrrrr

michael999999 wrote: »

Its alright though. He could join the british army and plunder other peoples homes in a number of areas all around the world.

Something tells me he wouldn't fit in.

Banjo String

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

If repetitive posts were taxed then i fear you would be penniless and homeless within a week.

When someone makes a claim, then admits that they are talking from their rear end....

Banjo String wrote: »

So they haven't said it will be privatised.

That's grand so.

BoJack Horseman wrote: »

No, just part-privatised, and to what extent we don't know.
(Not sure if that's okey-dokey for SF supporters though?)

The main thing is that the troops know what the generals are up to.

We'll see if/when they flip-flop on the IW share issue.

Expect me to call them out on it.

Dan_Solo

delthedriver wrote: »

Good Morning! What has the above comment to do with SF opinnon polls?

As much as the post it was replying to which you of course had no problem with.
Selective much?

RandomName2

My name is URL wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/1101/656305-poll-politics/

What happened to the 'irreparable damage' that so many people were claiming to have been done to the party over the last 2 weeks?

What irreparable damage?

If you agree with bombing you're unlikely to bat an eyelid to anything else.

In other news "Irreparable damage to ISIS support following allegations of war crimes in Kobane"

Dan_Solo

RandomName2 wrote: »

What irreparable damage?

If you agree with bombing you're unlikely to bat an eyelid to anything else.

In other news "Irreparable damage to ISIS support following allegations of war crimes in Kobane"

So more people agree with bombing than last week?
People prefer ISIS to Enda Kenny sounds like the take home here.

RandomName2

Dan_Solo wrote: »

So more people agree with bombing than last week?

Nah, they don't care either way. They do care about water charges; hence the rise. Now, there are many other organisations which oppose water charges other than SF, but I suppose people want to identify with the most extreme of them when registering their discontent.

poteen o hooley

Finny Gale are DOOMED DOOMED DOOMED!!!

Only a matter of time before gov collapses.

If I was Lab TD I'd jump ship and join up with PBP or Uncle Joe Higgins and look for a new improved Socialist party after the election.

FG now plumbing depths of approbrium only previously investigated by pariah pioneers FF.

The rape of the poor by these multi pensioned abusers will not be bought off with packets of free water charges sweets.

alastair

poteen o hooley wrote: »

Finny Gale are DOOMED DOOMED DOOMED!!!

Only a matter of time before gov collapses.

Yep - next year at some point, and then we'll have a different FG-led government.

sonofenoch

Gerry Adams will head an Irish government in his lifetime.....it's his destiny

Rightwing

I said it before and I'll say it again. SF's hour is approaching.

FG have refused to make the hard decisions. Taxing people isn't hard. Setting up quangos isn't hard.

Reform the Public Sector. That's their challenge, and they are failing miserably. Then we read about farmers with hundreds of thousands in the bank and getting grants for college. Govern the country or go the way of FF.

SeanW

Will seriously considering emigrating if these tosswads get anywhere near power.

Pocoyo wrote: »

Non profit government factories that pay the living wage covering costs by producing goods or services.

They tried that, in Russia between 1917 and 1990 and in various other places and times. It didn't work very well.

ricero wrote: »

Sinn fein the peoples party

Like how North Korea, China, the Soviet Union were "People's republics?"

There a VERY big difference between people a "people's party" and a leftist party.

Scofflaw

This thread is not to become a reprise of the "level in the polls" thread. That means it does not become another Mairia Cahill thread (or another McConville thread) - and that means I'm looking at alastair specifically.

We all know what issues might have impacted support for SF in recent weeks, and their truth or falsity is not to be thrashed out yet again here. Please report posts that will drag the thread into such a discussion.

Strictly, with respect to the Cahill affair, those who refuse to accept the validity of an IRA court must use the phrase "alleged rapist", because from your perspective he has not been tried in a court of law, while those who accept the validity of IRA courts should use the phrase "rapist", because from your perspective he has.

Less humorously, everybody should use the phrase "alleged" because the law of the land - which we go by - doesn't accept the validity of an IRA court.

Dan_Solo, your contributions better be substantive.

Failure to follow this warning will lead to summary banning.

moderately,
Scofflaw

Rightwing

sonofenoch wrote: »

Gerry Adams will head an Irish government in his lifetime.....it's his destiny

That chap is a serious liability.

Doherty from Donegal should be the leader, but SF are probably being loyal to Adams.

poteen o hooley

Inda Inda Inda

OUT!!! OUT!!! OUT!!!

CZ 453

Still can't see Sinn Fein getting into Government. FF and FG have more in common and are more likely to go in together with another party before touching Sinn Fein.
Massive Sweeteners in the next budget I'd say.

dave ireland

I honestly do not care who is in charge of Sinn Fein , this water charge thing has opened my eyes and I want a change in politics, and a change is what I see in Sinn Fein. Martin Cahill or John Gilligan has more respect for peoples property than Enda Kenny has.

um7y1h83ge06nx

By the looks of things SF are going to walk the next election. Bertie was the Teflon Taoiseach, SF are the Teflon party.

You nearly need to read the history books to find a party that rose so quickly in such a short space of time.

Not sure whether to admire their savvy or be scared.

K-9

Gilmore got a bit carried away about this time from the last GE, Gilmore for Taoiseach and all that, polls are only snapshots and incomprehensible sometimes, FF were doing well a year ago! People have the budget in their heads but as shown by Shatter, it often takes time for the electorate to get the full implications of something.

All I know from polls is they are all a bit all over the place.

sid waddell

Del.Monte wrote: »

You're kidding right? The day this bunch of fascists and their fellow travellers get into power there's going to be an exodus from this country.

Fine Gael are already in power and they know all about fascism.

Rightwing

K-9 wrote: »

Gilmore got a bit carried away about this time from the last GE, Gilmore for Taoiseach and all that, polls are only snapshots and incomprehensible sometimes, FF were doing well a year ago! People have the budget in their heads but as shown by Shatter, it often takes time for the electorate to get the full implications of something.

All I know from polls is they are all a bit all over the place.

I'm not sure, give or take a few % points, it seems like a trend has developed.

Dyr

People are ignoring the fact that the independents/ an others are the second biggest grouping behind sinn fein. The big three parties that the media and business interests revolve around are losing their hegemony.

That's a fairly significant shift. Not only is there space for sinn fein to become a major player, there's also room for another new party to expolit.

Dan_Solo

Rightwing wrote: »

That chap is a serious liability.

Doherty from Donegal should be the leader, but SF are probably being loyal to Adams.

The most popular leader in Ireland's most popular political party... some liability!

Godge

Today's poll shows that a potential SF/FF coalition would have 46% of the vote. Given the fractured nature of the independent vote, that would be enough to gain them an overall majority should they agree a transfer pact.

Cuiv would do a deal with them, even if Martin wouldn't.

Sierra Oscar

Bambi wrote: »

People are ignoring the fact that the independents/ an others are the second biggest grouping behind sinn fein. The big three parties that the media and business interests revolve around are losing their hegemony.

That's a fairly significant shift. Not only is there space for sinn fein to become a major player, there's also room for another new party to expolit.

There will be a whole load of independents elected to the next Dáil. I still wouldn't rule out a SF / Labour / left independents coalition after the next election. It wouldn't last too long but when push comes to shove I think SF will be unable to resist the urge to be in power for 2016.

FF won't be entering government in any shape or form after the election. The party needs quite a bit more time to rebuild in opposition, and that process cannot really even begin properly until the party gets new faces elected to the Dáil at the next election.

Godge wrote: »

Cuiv would do a deal with them, even if Martin wouldn't.

O'Cuiv has 0 support within the parliamentary party. Martin will lead the party into the election given the fact that there is absolutely no one else really capable of taking over at the moment. Given what has happened in recent weeks between FF & SF relations I can't see a coalition on the cards.

A FG / SF coalition is more likely given that FG have a lot of their government agenda still to get through, and they will feel compelled to keep an eye on SF in government. I still think that is an unlikely outcome though, but more likely than a FF / SF coalition.

michael999999

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

There will be a whole load of independents elected to the next Dáil. I still wouldn't rule out a SF / Labour / left independents coalition after the next election. It wouldn't last too long but when push comes to shove I think SF will be unable to resist the urge to be in power for 2016.

FF won't be entering government in any shape or form after the election. The party needs quite a bit more time to rebuild in opposition, and that process cannot really even begin properly until the party gets new faces elected to the Dáil at the next election.

Under the stewardship of new face Michael martin?

alastair

Bambi wrote: »

People are ignoring the fact that the independents/ an others are the second biggest grouping behind sinn fein. The big three parties that the media and business interests revolve around are losing their hegemony.

That's a fairly significant shift. Not only is there space for sinn fein to become a major player, there's also room for another new party to expolit.

Given the disparity of ideology and goals of the independents you'd be hard pressed to know what manner of party that might be.

maccored

I cant see that happening, but the day it does is the day I stop voting SF.

Godge wrote: »

Today's poll shows that a potential SF/FF coalition would have 46% of the vote. Given the fractured nature of the independent vote, that would be enough to gain them an overall majority should they agree a transfer pact.

Cuiv would do a deal with them, even if Martin wouldn't.

nuac

Pocoyo wrote: »

Non profit government factories that pay the living wage covering costs by producing goods or services.

Won't work in an open economy such as Ireland's

twowheelsgood

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

There will be a whole load of independents elected to the next Dáil. I still wouldn't rule out a SF / Labour / left independents coalition after the next election. It wouldn't last too long but when push comes to shove I think SF will be unable to resist the urge to be in power for 2016.

Yes, it wouldn't last long, which is why SF would be mad to go for it. But yeah, the 1916 stuff would be a carrot for them they might find hard to resist.

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

FF won't be entering government in any shape or form after the election.

I wouldn't bet too much that they won't!

alastair

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

There will be a whole load of independents elected to the next Dáil. I still wouldn't rule out a SF / Labour / left independents coalition after the next election. It wouldn't last too long but when push comes to shove I think SF will be unable to resist the urge to be in power for 2016.

The numbers just aren't there. And that's ignoring the record of infighting amongst the various 'far' left parties. Labour are going to have precious few seats after the next election and certainly will be adverse to going into any sort of coalition - they'll need to step back and rebuild.

guinnessdrinker

alastair wrote: »

Given the disparity of ideology and goals of the independents you'd be hard pressed to know what manner of party that might be.

Would hopefully at the very least be better than the lack of ideology from the current government parties!

twowheelsgood

maccored wrote: »

I cant see that happening, but the day it does is the day I stop voting SF.

There are no babes for SF in the Dáil ballroom!

You have to get into bed with someone. There may not be much of Labour left next time out so if you rule out FF, do you think SF will be enthused about teaming up with FG?

But you are exposing the kind of problems that SF will encounter once they countenance entering government. They will have to make difficult decisions that their supporter won't like.

And any realistic coalition party they opt for will see many people, like you, dessert them.

dave ireland

I do not understand why the lesser ranks of F-Gael don't do something, look whats going on around them. Rome burns while Nero plays, Hitlers bunker, why don't they do something.

alastair

guinnessdrinker wrote: »

Would hopefully at the very least be better than the lack of ideology from the current government parties!

What would? My point is that there's space for whatever shade of ideology you would care to point to, libertarianism possibly excepted, or indeed another ideology-free pragmatic grouping. The nature of what people want in a party that they're not getting from the existing parties, isn't evident from the broad swath of independents they do vote for.

twowheelsgood

guinnessdrinker wrote: »

Would hopefully at the very least be better than the lack of ideology from the current government parties!

If ideology is your thing. Personally I would be thrilled with any government that could match the economic recovery that the current government is delivering.

michael999999

dave ireland wrote: »

I do not understand why the lesser ranks of F-Gael don't do something, look whats going on around them. Rome burns while Nero plays, Hitlers bunker, why don't they do something.

As long as the wages are going in every week, there happy!

rozeboosje

Sadly, I'm not surprised. One major political party completely flurked up this country when they were in power. Then the other one took over, bulldozed its junior coalition partner into an untenable position as all too often happens in coalitions such as these, and then proceeded to rape the people who were already suffering over and over and over again in order to balance the books. All of this plays perfectly into the agenda of populist scumbags, just like it always has. I dare say the outcome will also be only too predictable.

Dan_Solo

rozeboosje wrote: »

Sadly, I'm not surprised. One major political party completely flurked up this country when they were in power. Then the other one took over, bulldozed its junior coalition partner into an untenable position as all too often happens in coalitions such as these, and then proceeded to rape the people who were already suffering over and over and over again in order to balance the books. All of this plays perfectly into the agenda of populist scumbags, just like it always has. I dare say the outcome will also be only too predictable.

Ah yes, if you don't like something popular call it populist.
You think FG and FF are bending arse over tit to be populist and get some votes?

K-9

Rightwing wrote: »

I'm not sure, give or take a few % points, it seems like a trend has developed.

Bambi wrote: »

People are ignoring the fact that the independents/ an others are the second biggest grouping behind sinn fein. The big three parties that the media and business interests revolve around are losing their hegemony.

That's a fairly significant shift. Not only is there space for sinn fein to become a major player, there's also room for another new party to expolit.

Well yes, the 2 and a half party system is gone, that's for sure, but there has been no major change yet from the elections, the polls are too unpredictable.

SF were doing poorly in the polls a few months back, now doing well. I don't see what the reason is for either tbh, the 2 opposition parties have been poor for me and it's more disillusionment from Labour voters and even a few FG that's causing the unpredictability.

Dan_Solo

twowheelsgood wrote: »

If ideology is your thing. Personally I would be thrilled with any government that could match the economic recovery that the current government is delivering.

Interesting economic recovery where everybody has less and less money every year.

alastair

Dan_Solo wrote: »

Interesting economic recovery where everybody has less and less money every year.

1. Everybody does not have less money each year.
2. The state and therefore everyone that benefits from the state, is better off in terms of economic security.