General Election TV debates

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

You're obviously an avid SF supporter- regulars here know that. So can I ask you a question- do you think the SF approach in this election maximises their vote or could they have gone about things differently, a more fresh, modern approach?

They'll certainly increase their seats, that we know at this stage- but winning over older voters who may have been against them in the past? I don't think they've done half as much as they could have.

What's your view?

No reply Francie?

I know it's a difficult question but I thought you'd at least attempt an answer. SF avoiding the difficult questions again?

gmisk

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I think it was an Instagram video.
I'm not fully sure about the legalities of it.

He should be running the country and not at the gym.

Is he meant to be in work all day?! Is he not allowed to do anything outside of work? What an absolutely ridiculous comment.

FrancieBrady

Fairly much on the money here IMO.


Person 1: What’s all this about Paul Quinn? Who is he?

Person 2: He’s a young man from South Armagh who was brutally murdered by a gang of men in 2007.

Person 1: Yuck. Sounds ghastly.

Person 2: Apparently it was. I could give you details but I won’t.

Person 1: Thanks for that. But why is it in the news now?

Person 2: Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy at the time asked the local IRA if they were involved and they said they weren’t.

Person 1: Did anyone else agree with him?

Person 2: Yes indeed. The Taoiseach at the time, Bertie Ahern, said he believed it was part of a criminal feud.

Person 1: Did he base this belief on anything?

Person 2: He did. Reports from from both the gardaí and the PSNI, he said, who judged it was part of a criminal feud.

Person 1: Well, that’s that, then.

Person 2: Not quite. Paul Quinn’s mother has called on Conor Murphy to apologise for suggesting her son had any criminal links, to give the names of the people he spoke to back then to the PSNI, and to resign as Finance Minister.

Person 1: Crikey. Doesn’t seem to believe Bertie, then. Or the cops.

Person 2: It appears not.

Person 1: But all this happened in 2007, you say?

Person 2: It did.

Person 1: So why this sudden attention to the case? Has it anything to do with the election coming up on Saturday?

Person 2: Pass.

Person 1: But presumably Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have scrupulously avoided making this young man’s death an election issue?

Person 2: Au contraire. They’ve been using it like there were just three days to voting day and Sinn Féin were top of the last opinion poll.

Person 1: Yuck. A bit distasteful, that.

Person 2: But not unique.

Person 1: How’d you mean?

Person 2: Well, when Martin McGuinness was running for president in 2011, a man jumped in front of the TV cameras and accused him of knowing who killed his father.

Person 1: Oh.

Person 2: And in 2014, just before voting day, Gerry Adams was arrested about the death of Jean McConville.

Person 1: Mmm. Something of a pattern emerging then.

Person 2: There were those who predicted the kitchen sink would be thrown at the Shinners this week.

Person 1: But I’m sure Leo and Micheál are purely motivated by compassion for Mrs Quinn.

Person 2: You may be right. Both men have big hearts. Which ache over carefully selected tragedies.

Person 1: So housing and health are no longer top of the agenda in this election?

Person 2: Well yes. Except Leo and Micheál and the media both sides of the border seem to have largely shelved those issues.

Person 1: So are Leo and Micheál hoping to make political capital out of this tragedy?

Person 2: What a shocking thing to say. Leo and Micheál are honourable men. As are the members of their parties. They are all honorable men. And women.

Person 1: That sounds like Shakespeare. Julius Caesar?

Person 2: Correct. Mark Antony’s speech at Caesar’s graveside. He used Caesar’s death to whip up the mob.

Person 1: But that was just a play. Not real life.

Person 2: Of course.

Person 1: Are the voters raising the Quinn case at the doorstep?

Person 2: Don’t think so. More houses and jobs and health, really.

Person 1: But Leo and Micheál are – you surely don’t mean Leo and Micheál are using this death – which happened thirteen years ago – as a way of halting Sinn Féin’s rise in the polls?

Person 2: What a shocking thing to say. See you on Saturday. Toodle-pip.



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speckled_park

gmisk wrote: »

Is he meant to be in work all day?! Is he not allow to do anything outside of work? What a ridiculous comment.

I agree. And I'm not a fan of Leo

McMurphy

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

Paddy power are spilt on 5/6 over 28.5 seats and 5/6 under 28.5 seats

Was 24.5 just the other day.

freshpopcorn

freshpopcorn wrote: »

There's actually a video going around of Leo at the gym this morning and people were giving out that he was there.

Need to be fit if you're running around the country pressing the flesh- he's a regular jogger around the Blanchardstown/Castleknock area - Michael Martin also goes a mile a minute -I'd prefer my leader to be physically fit than some over-weight oaf :pac::pac::pac::pac:

realdanbreen

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I think it was an Instagram video.
I'm not fully sure about the legalities of it.

He should be running the country and not at the gym.

When will people realise that the politicians don't "run the country " They set policies and pass legislation but the public service runs the country.

gmisk

speckled_park wrote: »

I agree. And I'm not a fan of Leo

I am no fan either.
But a person is allowed to have a bloody life outside of work!
It's not as if he is going around clubbing seals!

FrancieBrady

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

MLMD has had the best publicity ever by making a tit of herself regarding the nefarious activities of SF.

Very glad she appeared on the debate. It is not that she was not a decent debater, it was more that she had to toe the party line regarding SCC, murders and so on. That's what got me. The rest of her debating was ok up to that.

But the Army Council had an earpiece in her ear anyway.

If you are going to respond at least answer the question in the post.


Who has wahh wahhed 'about being allowed on it'?

Jinglejangle69

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Fairly much on the money here IMO.


Person 1: What’s all this about Paul Quinn? Who is he?

Person 2: He’s a young man from South Armagh who was brutally murdered by a gang of men in 2007.
Still not voting SF Francie??


Person 1: Yuck. Sounds ghastly.

Person 2: Apparently it was. I could give you details but I won’t.

Person 1: Thanks for that. But why is it in the news now?

Person 2: Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy at the time asked the local IRA if they were involved and they said they weren’t.

Person 1: Did anyone else agree with him?

Person 2: Yes indeed. The Taoiseach at the time, Bertie Ahern, said he believed it was part of a criminal feud.

Person 1: Did he base this belief on anything?

Person 2: He did. Reports from from both the gardaí and the PSNI, he said, who judged it was part of a criminal feud.

Person 1: Well, that’s that, then.

Person 2: Not quite. Paul Quinn’s mother has called on Conor Murphy to apologise for suggesting her son had any criminal links, to give the names of the people he spoke to back then to the PSNI, and to resign as Finance Minister.

Person 1: Crikey. Doesn’t seem to believe Bertie, then. Or the cops.

Person 2: It appears not.

Person 1: But all this happened in 2007, you say?

Person 2: It did.

Person 1: So why this sudden attention to the case? Has it anything to do with the election coming up on Saturday?

Person 2: Pass.

Person 1: But presumably Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have scrupulously avoided making this young man’s death an election issue?

Person 2: Au contraire. They’ve been using it like there were just three days to voting day and Sinn Féin were top of the last opinion poll.

Person 1: Yuck. A bit distasteful, that.

Person 2: But not unique.

Person 1: How’d you mean?

Person 2: Well, when Martin McGuinness was running for president in 2011, a man jumped in front of the TV cameras and accused him of knowing who killed his father.

Person 1: Oh.

Person 2: And in 2014, just before voting day, Gerry Adams was arrested about the death of Jean McConville.

Person 1: Mmm. Something of a pattern emerging then.

Person 2: There were those who predicted the kitchen sink would be thrown at the Shinners this week.

Person 1: But I’m sure Leo and Micheál are purely motivated by compassion for Mrs Quinn.

Person 2: You may be right. Both men have big hearts. Which ache over carefully selected tragedies.

Person 1: So housing and health are no longer top of the agenda in this election?

Person 2: Well yes. Except Leo and Micheál and the media both sides of the border seem to have largely shelved those issues.

Person 1: So are Leo and Micheál hoping to make political capital out of this tragedy?

Person 2: What a shocking thing to say. Leo and Micheál are honourable men. As are the members of their parties. They are all honorable men. And women.

Person 1: That sounds like Shakespeare. Julius Caesar?

Person 2: Correct. Mark Antony’s speech at Caesar’s graveside. He used Caesar’s death to whip up the mob.

Person 1: But that was just a play. Not real life.

Person 2: Of course.

Person 1: Are the voters raising the Quinn case at the doorstep?

Person 2: Don’t think so. More houses and jobs and health, really.

Person 1: But Leo and Micheál are – you surely don’t mean Leo and Micheál are using this death – which happened thirteen years ago – as a way of halting Sinn Féin’s rise in the polls?

Person 2: What a shocking thing to say. See you on Saturday. Toodle-pip.



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Still not a SF voter Francie??

Spoof:)

FrancieBrady

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Fairly much on the money here IMO.


Person 1: What’s all this about Paul Quinn? Who is he?

Person 2: He’s a young man from South Armagh who was brutally murdered by a gang of men in 2007.

Person 1: Yuck. Sounds ghastly.

Person 2: Apparently it was. I could give you details but I won’t.

Person 1: Thanks for that. But why is it in the news now?

Person 2: Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy at the time asked the local IRA if they were involved and they said they weren’t.

Person 1: Did anyone else agree with him?

Person 2: Yes indeed. The Taoiseach at the time, Bertie Ahern, said he believed it was part of a criminal feud.

Person 1: Did he base this belief on anything?

Person 2: He did. Reports from from both the gardaí and the PSNI, he said, who judged it was part of a criminal feud.

Person 1: Well, that’s that, then.

Person 2: Not quite. Paul Quinn’s mother has called on Conor Murphy to apologise for suggesting her son had any criminal links, to give the names of the people he spoke to back then to the PSNI, and to resign as Finance Minister.

Person 1: Crikey. Doesn’t seem to believe Bertie, then. Or the cops.

Person 2: It appears not.

Person 1: But all this happened in 2007, you say?

Person 2: It did.

Person 1: So why this sudden attention to the case? Has it anything to do with the election coming up on Saturday?

Person 2: Pass.

Person 1: But presumably Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have scrupulously avoided making this young man’s death an election issue?

Person 2: Au contraire. They’ve been using it like there were just three days to voting day and Sinn Féin were top of the last opinion poll.

Person 1: Yuck. A bit distasteful, that.

Person 2: But not unique.

Person 1: How’d you mean?

Person 2: Well, when Martin McGuinness was running for president in 2011, a man jumped in front of the TV cameras and accused him of knowing who killed his father.

Person 1: Oh.

Person 2: And in 2014, just before voting day, Gerry Adams was arrested about the death of Jean McConville.

Person 1: Mmm. Something of a pattern emerging then.

Person 2: There were those who predicted the kitchen sink would be thrown at the Shinners this week.

Person 1: But I’m sure Leo and Micheál are purely motivated by compassion for Mrs Quinn.

Person 2: You may be right. Both men have big hearts. Which ache over carefully selected tragedies.

Person 1: So housing and health are no longer top of the agenda in this election?

Person 2: Well yes. Except Leo and Micheál and the media both sides of the border seem to have largely shelved those issues.

Person 1: So are Leo and Micheál hoping to make political capital out of this tragedy?

Person 2: What a shocking thing to say. Leo and Micheál are honourable men. As are the members of their parties. They are all honorable men. And women.

Person 1: That sounds like Shakespeare. Julius Caesar?

Person 2: Correct. Mark Antony’s speech at Caesar’s graveside. He used Caesar’s death to whip up the mob.

Person 1: But that was just a play. Not real life.

Person 2: Of course.

Person 1: Are the voters raising the Quinn case at the doorstep?

Person 2: Don’t think so. More houses and jobs and health, really.

Person 1: But Leo and Micheál are – you surely don’t mean Leo and Micheál are using this death – which happened thirteen years ago – as a way of halting Sinn Féin’s rise in the polls?

Person 2: What a shocking thing to say. See you on Saturday. Toodle-pip.



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Did you not get the memo? SFHQ have officially apologised. You no longer need to "defend" the party line.

Check your emails and texts- the party line has now officially changed. Ceasefire!

Suckit

realdanbreen wrote: »

That's true I suppose BTW did you see the head of Gerry lately. He's like something out of Harry Potter!

Nope, probably wouldn't recognise him. I see Bertie scurrying about the place like a red nosed rodent, though.

But to be honest, it wasn't his looks that made me dislike him.

It'd be a special kind of voter that looks for that in a politician.

FrancieBrady

FrancieBrady wrote: »

If you are going to respond at least answer the question in the post.

If only you would Francie-Baby- if only you would.

realdanbreen

[Deleted User] wrote: »

No reply Francie?

I know it's a difficult question but I thought you'd at least attempt an answer. SF avoiding the difficult questions again?

Ssshh. Francie is after nodding off.Poor little lads been on the keyboard all night and day defending SF.

gmisk

realdanbreen wrote: »

When will people realise that the politicians don't "run the country " They set policies and pass legislation but the public service runs the country.

But TDs are the heads of the departments with the public servants no?
Well they have been in my experience.
I worked for the department of education, DPER and a few others over the years.

FrancieBrady

Deleted User wrote: »

No reply Francie?

I know it's a difficult question but I thought you'd at least attempt an answer. SF avoiding the difficult questions again?

Apologies, missed that.

I think SF strategists got it all wrong this time actually. I think they thought they'd be treading water at best.

I think they'll be very happy. Regardless of the 'victim exploitation' that was always going to come, they'll be seriously energised by this campaign, north and south.
The demographic that won't consider voting for them at all is getting smaller and smaller too.

Snow Garden

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I think it was an Instagram video.
I'm not fully sure about the legalities of it.

He should be running the country and not at the gym.

That's stupid thinking.

I think all the party leaders are looking wrecked and in need of a break.

If I am honest I think Leo had performed better than all the other party leaders in the last week. FG wont get my vote this time because of the caliber and greed of several of their TDs but Leo and Paschal are making good arguments.

FrancieBrady

Jinglejangle69 wrote: »

Still not a SF voter Francie??

Spoof:)

Did you not hear. Francie is voting 1 and 2 for SF and independents after that then Lab, then the Greens.

For the first time in his life I am voting for SF in a GE and more importantly, not giving FF or FG a preference at all.

Spanish Eyes

Can see SF with minimum 25-30 seats, Won't make any difference, FF/FG will not want to coalesce with them. But I am getting a feeling that FF might for some reason, haven't really worked it out in my head, as long as MM is Taoiseach there may be the usual words of compromise. But Then again maybe not. same might apply to FG but honestly, can you see it?

Such an interesting election really.

Jinglejangle69

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Did you not hear. Francie is voting 1 and 2 for SF and independents after that then Lab, then the Greens.

For the first time in his life I am voting for SF in a GE and more importantly, not giving FF or FG a preference at all.

Yeahhhhhhhh riiiight!!!!

Spanish Eyes

FrancieBrady wrote: »

If you are going to respond at least answer the question in the post.


Who has wahh wahhed 'about being allowed on it'?

I think you doth protest too much. Shoo.

gmisk

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Can see SF with minimum 25-30 seats, Won't make any difference, FF/FG will not want to coalesce with them. But I am getting a feeling that FF might for some reason, haven't really worked it out in my head, as long as MM is Taoiseach there may be the usual words of compromise. But Then again maybe not. same might apply to FG but honestly, can you see it?

Such an interesting election really.

I said before this all started, it will be the similar as it is now, only with FF taking the lead and FG propping them up. They will between them get the numbers

FrancieBrady

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Apologies, missed that.

I think SF strategists got it all wrong this time actually. I think they thought they'd be treading water at best.

I think they'll be very happy. Regardless of the 'victim exploitation' that was always going to come, they'll be seriously energised by this campaign, north and south.
The demographic that won't consider voting for them at all is getting smaller and smaller too.

I disagree with you on the bolded part above, but in fairness fair play, you've answered the question. Thanks. Personally, I think they've missed a great opportunity and it may not come again- we'll agree to disagree.

Suckit

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Can see SF with minimum 25-30 seats, Won't make any difference, FF/FG will not want to coalesce with them. But I am getting a feeling that FF might for some reason, haven't really worked it out in my head, as long as MM is Taoiseach there may be the usual words of compromise. But Then again maybe not. same might apply to FG but honestly, can you see it?

Such an interesting election really.

If FF need them, 100% MM will form a coalition if SF agree to it (of course they would).

It may have been said before, but there is no way MM is going to let himself go down in history as the first FF leader to not become Taoiseach.

FrancieBrady

Jinglejangle69 wrote: »

Yeahhhhhhhh riiiight!!!!

Exactly the same reaction that Mary Lou would have gotten no matter what way she answered the 'have you stopped beating your husband' question (which is basically what the 'victim exploitation' stuff is designed to do).

Her answer would have been 'Wrong', no matter how she responded.

ThunbergsAreGo

freshpopcorn wrote: »

There's actually a video going around of Leo at the gym this morning and people were giving out that he was there.

And people wonder why we have **** politicians? Especially in government (regardless of the money,)

Why would anyone do it , its just an open forum to be abused

gmisk

ThunbergsAreGo wrote: »

And people wonder why we have **** politicians? Especially in government (regardless of the money,)

Why would anyone do it , its just an open forum to be abused

Very true.
Also see people protesting outside Simon Harris house...really ridiculous stuff.

Suckit

Suckit wrote: »

If FF need them, 100% MM will form a coalition if SF agree to it (of course they would).

It may have been said before, but there is no way MM is going to let himself go down in history as the first FF leader to not become Taoiseach.

I think the reality will be that people who may have wished to return to the fold, won't do so as he's still a relic of the old guard who helped to nearly destroy the country and place us in the position we're still trying to emerge from- he has to go- he'll never be Taoiseach, FF will win less votes than they ever thought they would, and he'll be replaced after the voting finishes.

realdanbreen

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Apologies, missed that.

I think SF strategists got it all wrong this time actually. I think they thought they'd be treading water at best.

I think they'll be very happy. Regardless of the 'victim exploitation' that was always going to come, they'll be seriously energised by this campaign, north and south.
The demographic that won't consider voting for them at all is getting smaller and smaller too.

+ as you said earlier you will be voting SF for the first time! It's all so exciting!

ThunbergsAreGo

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Can see SF with minimum 25-30 seats, Won't make any difference, FF/FG will not want to coalesce with them. But I am getting a feeling that FF might for some reason, haven't really worked it out in my head, as long as MM is Taoiseach there may be the usual words of compromise. But Then again maybe not. same might apply to FG but honestly, can you see it?

Such an interesting election really.

What way are you swaying on voting (if you don't mind me asking)?

Agree with alot of your comments