Sinn Fein and how do they form a government dilemma

Very difficult for them to change course credibly either, given they've been in government so long. I'm predicting we get a lot of dog-whistling and 'tough' soundbites on immigration from the main parties between now and the election but very little substantial policy change...

Fine Gael serves the more liberal middle class compared to the more conservative rural Fianna Fáil. If any major party will pivot to the right it's FF.

FF, more so than any other party, draw their vote from pensioners. That gives them a solid floor in the short term but in the long run it's a demographic cul-de-sac. In the next decade they're going to have to decide what they stand for. In the old days, as the party of power they didn't really have to nail their colours to the mast on anything. They're unlikely to be able to get away with that in the future. Who knows? Under a different leader maybe they will move to the right.

With one TD? How likely is that?

We don't have a right wing economic party in Ireland and FG certainly aren't that. They have made a few noises in the past about helping those "who get up early in the morning", but never any action. We have an xmas bonus for long term unemployed but not those who were recently working for feck sake!

Certainly plausible that FF and FG could be recruiting independents to prop up another multi-faction government but if Peadar is making any serious demands on national policy he will be pushed to the bottom of the queue, way behind the guys whose support can be bought for a new bypass for Clonmel or something...

They have low taxes in common generally

More private enterprise orientated than public enterprise

Little government vs big government

So I'd disagree with you there

Where we'd meet is the current distortion of their traditional values as directed by Ché Guevara their current leader

The above is not a list to list of reasons why FG are the same as tories. It's just a vague list of things which could be similar for most parties

What is a "little government v big government" supposed to mean? size? number?

No idea what the referece to Che Guevara is

I suspect if you don't know the difference between big government and little government or why I refer to FG's leader as Ché Guevara, on a politics forum in a country where he's fostered the further growth of a social welfare system the UK Labour party's momentum wing would drool over,I think we're at nothing here tbh

Not a term I heard before but I have very little interest in US politics.

This issue is going to be absolute poison for SF.

Heard ML McD on radio this morn speaking out of both sides of her mouth and being allowed to speak for as long as she wants to , branching out into other areas not connected to the question at will , then ,” let me speak” “ let me answer the question “. She was in total control of the interview/ the narrative.

what was constantly coming to mind during it were floods of names such. As TOM OLIVER, JANE McCONVILLE and her SIX CHILDREN, as well as all those budgeoned to death in sheds, etc, with the proverbial BASEBALL BATH and ML McD Public utterances or lack of towards each case

That’s up to the top brass in SF to decide. They have to balance their message to young Turloch O’Traogain who became a Shinner when he started college with the approximately 15% of undecided voters who liked Mary Lou but have issues with things like climate change and immigration.

Delicate balancing act and there’s no one on the SF ticket who stands out as being able to resolve it. Mary Lou looks, acts, and sounds bored, Pearse is all fart and no follow through, Eoin makes Eoghan Murphy sound like a milkman, and Farrell seems to be losing the plot.

SF showing us all how clueless they are..

Is she predicting a recession or going to force it to 300k. Then the question has to be asked, what type of house and what location. I’m not affected by drop in value as I bought mine in 99. But my kids are definitely affected and the current house price trajectory is not sustainable for anyone. I would agree with her in principle but the question is a lot deeper than a headline.