The wondrous adventures of Sinn Fein (part 3) Mod Notes and Threadbanned List in OP

But all the votes aren't leaving FF, FG and the Greens, they are still getting around 50% of the votes, enough for an overall majority next time out.

Furthermore, the big take out from this election is that FF and FG voters are transferring to each other for the first time in 100 years. That only increases the chances of the government returning. MLMD should start looking to 2030, and in the meantime shut up talking about a united Ireland and other far-fetched dreams like the 300k houses.

I wonder which votes SF lost the most of -

Was it the "New SF vote" from the last GE who decided there was no "change"?

OR

Was the "Traditional SF vote" from the last GE who decided there was too much "change"?

I realise that prima facie but on the overall scheme of things the 1st preference votes and overall national trends so and so forth are well down as stated by SF themselves. Why is there soul searching in SF and statements such as we "we need clearer policies" and "we will listen to the electorate" etc etc if it is such a success.

The only SF rep I heard put a brave face on things was Lynn Boylan who used your spin. That SF are up but did not do as well as hoped. But the reality is that is simplistic narrative as you no doubt are well aware.

SF basically have to back a horse now instead of trying to sit between two stools. It is fascinating to watch. But how do SF become a top of the class on the left, while also getting votes from the middle classes but at the same time not alienating traditional SF, and the SF cohort in NI? It is almost an impossible balancing act.

SF's only other alternative is to jettison NI SF and make a clean break from that NI jingoistic Republican mindset and usual tried phrases etc. But that is not going to happen as long as that cohort are still breathing.

But SF do have some advantages they can get away with a lot of stuff that would sink most other democratic parties. I think it is coming to the stage where the disadvantages are outweighing the advantages.

But that is the key point -

"They see the island as one. They would lose all credibility if they cut ties with NI."

—

But I would argue in theory only. The reality is there are TWO defacto SF parties for two jurisdictions with two different leaders tailored to the two different mindsets.

In theory SF can say "WE" are the only party who covers the whole island. However, in a practical sense they are two very different SF's with different rhetoric's as they have to deal with two very different poltical landscapes and mindsets. Yeah, they can join together at Republican funerals or the their Ardfheis or whatever.

But SF in both jurisdictions are on different paths to one another, as in order to get elected in the ROI it cannot be the the same as NI. SF will get "elected" in NI no matter what they say. And NI politics is not real practical politics it is fundamentally symbolism above all else. Pure symbolism does not cut in ROI politics. The electorate are more discerning.

The usual waffle..Family allegiances yada yada.

Shinners took a good tonking ..time to own up and stop the auld flapping around being outraged.

Good opposition doesn't owe its success by stuff like " We think they should have given more" We think it is a missed opportunity" "it showed lack of ambition" and other types of crud.

The taxpayer has to fund these projects, there is a limited sum to the taxpayers contribution, people are not stupid enough to believe that Shinners in Govt will suddenly, as they try to portray , solve everything at the drop of a hat.

Any family knows that you have to cut your cloth to suit your means otherwise its trouble.

There you go…..exactly as I described…. full flapper mode… no substance.

Pure facade.

The online SF accounts on boards are going back into full force at the moment, it's back to the good old days of McMurphy tactics to shut down SF threads across boards.

Seems to be the same across all social media, it looks like SF didn't take the results of the local election as well as some people are claiming, so they think the best option is to start attacking everyone online that doesn't agree with them.

Slow to learn SF, they haven't figured that online abuse for the last 4 years is not really getting the rewards they thought, so instead of stopping it they go full force

Not really worth the while stating clear policies when you change them to catch every passing headline, jump on any bandwagon

Judging by the local election results and SFs heavy drop in support, it would appear most people do not want FFG out at all.

I doubt you will, Pearse is good at the faux outrage in Dail to get a few clicks, apart from that he seems to struggle with doing his actual job

true but both parties still had more than double the number of seats that SF got. An October election seems likley, so that FFG can capitalise on the results and continue in govt for the next 5 yrs.

I think FFGs main focus now is just to stay in govt and avoid SF taking power. They then have 5 years to grow their imdividual party identities.

It is a Sinn fein thread

You seem to complain on every thread if Sinn fein is mentioned. Getting a little tiresome now.

On the thread in politics forum, the topic of a coalition with SF has been discussed in great detail and the concensus is joining SF by either FF or FG would kill the parties. Most people agree it won't happen and the only people pushing this angle is SF supporters

The coalition between FF and FG happened after the last election because of covid, the country was in turmoil and the politicians stood up with the Green party to form a government and try to do right by the people of Ireland

During this phase SF who claimed to "win the election" went into hiding and nobody could find them, not even the left parties who sent letters to the press asking them to surface. Some people might forget that, others won't

Can any a party just come out and say we are taking in too many, we need to cap and look after only genuine ones

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-41442280.html

Heard Doherty and MacDonald on about this earlier, they must be getting nervous about losing votes in working class areas especially in Dublin.

Too little too late I think and in all honesty this so called new immigration policy is practically the same as what the Government has.

Would concur there Bobby, seems to be a meltdown in southern SF.

Connolly House not at all pleased, its reported.

It would have been shrewd had she been able to avoid the hard questions in her car crash interview.