FF/FGs "celebrity" election candidates.

It's about winning, that's what elections are always about. Party faithful and their members know that. In a EU election, given the size of the areas, name recognition is absolutely huge. In reality, very few TDs would pick European over being a TD either unless a well known TD is willing to run a parties options could be limited.

If the electorate aren't concerned about the quality of candidate, why should a political party be?

Mairead McGuinness didn't go up for election as an MEP this time around. She served 2 terms (I think) as an MEP.

putting. N Carberry up was a very novel choice that worked out for FG. So it must have done its homework. The only thing that she , APPARENTLY’ has going for her is her skill as a jockey and also ‘dancing with the stars’. She was quite a successful rider IN A MANS ‘ WORLD. She had to negotiate that field - both on and off it. She also had to ‘deal with ‘other jockeys’ at various levels and on various issues along with dealing with stable yards, owners and trainers’,. She also had to manage her financial affairs, negotiating income payments, investing savings, etc. and because of the business she was in she had to be well organised re scheduling planes, transport , rides, accommodation, eating regime, etc,etc.

Overall’ she had to be VERY DISCIPLINED in order to get to where she got.

A lot of the above experiences are VERY transferable to her current position - dealing with MEN, negotiating, constantly travelling, ability to fully engage in issue at hand, very disciplined.

So , I would definately write her off at this point in time. I would give her 4 years + to show her METAL. The bar is low anyway when you consider some of the MEPs’ we have elected back the years

Serious question about Carberry. A lot of jockeys leave school before their leaving cert. To go work in yards and to train to become jockeys.

Did Nina Carberry finish school. As in did she do her leaving cert. No disrespect to her if she didn't. But I did get visited by canvassers who claimed she didn't.

I think there are more requirements to be a good politician than "having guts"

Tommy Robinson had guts to go out and be openly racist and have your family and friends and everyone else connected to you now associated with a despicable human being. Having guts does not mean you are any good at any thing, just that you stuck out and did something different.

Being a female jockey does not automatically mean you have the skills to be a good policitian, a negotiator for Ireland at the European stage, someone able to weave through the massive bureaucracy that is EU parliament.

The left tend to turn their politicians into minor celebrities, the centre is a bit of both and the right seems to be "weird hair" celebrities/politicians.

Larry Goodman , Pierce Doherty , Simon Harris , et al come to mind

Assange like Snowden is probably more of a libetarian figure then a left figure. A large cohort of the left hate Assange.

EDIT: I am also pretty sure that is not Assange in the photo.

he is the ‘spitting image ‘of that ultra right leader in the Netherlands - could be even his twin!!!!!!!!!!!!