Holy Shit, There's an Election On!
So on May 24 there'll be the general election in the ROI and my poor hapless fiance will be text messaging me the results while I work because just like the Assembly elections I'm too much of a political fanatic to wait until I get home. Let me contrast this with the US presidential in 2004 in which the high light of my day was that I got a free hat from work (though it was a nice hat I have to say).
So many other sites have been following them religiously that it would be ludicrous to try to reinvent the wheel and go over everything so I'm going to throw out a couple of things that struck my fancy. One is that Cedar Lounge is doing as excellent job at it all. Not only has their canvasser been an entertaining read they've also picked up on the fact P.ie kind of sucks right now. That's not to say that David Cochrane isn't doing a good job but as has been noted so many new identities are popping up that you can hardly wade through the shit to get to something quality (and that's assuming that Cael and his ilk countenance quality dialogue). Although from going there just now I must admit that as long you don't get involved in any of the Latest Discussions you'll be great actually and to be even more honest as long as you take the rest with a grain of salt you'll have an interesting read regardless. Again Fealty has gotten in on the action blogging the election repeatly (no word if he's been campaigning with anyone in the Republic yet). Something of interest that Mick did bring up was the specific targetting or avoidance of certain areas by SF. From the results of the Assembly election I doubt if they avoided too many areas in West Belfast and Attwood's 3,036 is hardly the 10,000 he was shooting for, but it reminds me of an entry by JC Skinner in which he... wait, you were supposed to read the link you fuck head. Though why he gives them a D- for simply calling like it is is beyond me. Actually the point of this post was to repost a Sinn Fein election video for the Free State. In it Gerry Adams narrates a video and makes a series of promises. The only thing that was left out and the one that would have won my vote (if I had the great misfortune to be Irish) was the one where they promised to find all the cute little puppies of Ireland loving homes. Though honestly due to the fact that I honestly prefer animals to people this argument would persuade me almost as much as the fact that Labour are acting like a bunch of suck monkeys for FG. What I'm really impressed with is that Gerry actually had some statictics to quote (and didn't have to look down at his note cards). Regardless of where any party stands, the issues of child poverty, class sizes and 40,000 families on a waiting list for housing is something that needs to be tackled and that's not "right's based BS". Nice avoidance of class "issues" by referring middle and lower income families. To be honest forget the radical socialist/Marxists label, all SF opponents have to do is say that SF are tax spend liberals, which to me would be an even more damning insult. Promises to make the Celtic Tiger work for everyone will never be compatible with keeping the boom going. Damnit well I can't seem to figure out how to post youtube videos and I've got to get to bed, but at least I've got something before hand and will most likely be blogging something this weekend.
7 comments:
That's very good of you, yourcousin.
re SF, did you catch the debates on RTE, they're still on the website and then you get a real good look at G. Adams?
WBS,
For some reason now when I try to log onto the interviews themselves it comes up 404. Tp be honest I didn't watch the whole thing. It's funny that as much as I love politics, I loathe politicians. I'm actually around them almost everyday but I still find myself repulsed by them (even potential politicians annoy me).
As you and others noted GA didn't exactly seem to have his finger on the pulse as he had on other occasions (bar the episode just before the assembly elections up north).
I myself am torn as to whether his unpolished and at times nonsensical approach to economics in the south is an attempt to be folksy and anti-spin (something which they are accused of in the north) or just that he has no grasp of these things.
I also often wonder that if Mary Lou does get elected will she be the new speaker for SF in the south (I am taking for granted that she will be the new head for SF in the Dail) or will GA still take up the mantle next time around.
Hi again,
Probably took them off, maybe even because of the moratorium. Anyhow. Yeah, know what you mean about politicians, snap, that's my job too.
GA was okay. But then, like McDowell, appealing to the base. Fair enough if it works. My own sense, FWIW is that MLM will get the seat amongst others. That will change SF in the South, perhaps make it more amenable to southern politics.
Are you based in the North? Sorry, it's just I couldn't get my head around the About Me part on your blog!
WBS,
For me saying that GA was playing to the base just doesn't seem to quite cut it. Because unlike the North there's no one unified base to speak of (that does a gross disservice to the Northern base but we'll leave it alone for now). No one can say that Ferris plays to the same audience as Crowe, let alone MLM. That to me is where they are hitting their glass ceiling.
As I had previously communicated to Malcolm in an email that the low double digits is as about as far as SF can go and still be all things to all men. Sooner or later Southern SF will have to craft a "national" identity. Something beyond "up the RA", something more than "A vote for SF is a vote for peace" and now that they actually seem to be a relevant player they're dropping their socialist coat like it was on fire. Another cycle or two and they'll be down to Rabbitte's red tie.
I think that SF will probably form that identity in their next round in the opposition as the main "left" opposition party. Because regardless of which main party gets in, Labour is going to be left like exactly what they are, tools for the man.
Oh wait, I forgot to address your last question about where I was based. To be honest I'm based out of Golden, Colorado.
They got d- for not even trying to persuade me of their merits.
JC,
Apologies about the lack of timely response, I was out of town (and away from my computer).
So say your "honey trap" had ignored your accent and outlined the facts that while the Celtic Tiger had indeed created a new Ireland there was a need to be careful about what kind of Ireland it you want it to be. The income gap is widening, with Ireland having the highest level of poverty in Western Europe. Consider the fact that when the boom does come to an end (which it will obiovusly) the level of poverty level and income gap will remain the same if not widen. Not too mention the fact that basic infastructure is being ignored (cue Galway water and highway system). Sinn Fein wants to address these issues (assuming this is what she would/should have said) so that everyone can enjoy the fruits of the Tiger and ensure that the fruits will still be there for our children.
In their drive to gain power both Labour and FG have neglected the fact that we are quickly destroying rural Ireland with the drive for economic prosperity and are becoming extremely hypocrytical in our views on immigration.
The Irish people more than anyone should be able to empathise with the plight of the economic migrant in their search for a better life. Sinn Fein are uniquely positioned through our work with the worker's struggle and immigrant community to appreciate boths the positive and negative impact of immigration in our communities though we feel the debate should be free of xenophobic rhetoric such as that spewed by Rabbitte and his FG compatriots. It should also be something more than cheap labor to be exploited by contractors who pour money into Bertie's reelection campaign.
I am going to skip the health issue and that of the North for now and unless pressed.
Had she said that would you have said, "Yes I will give my first preference to candidate X, or at least will give you a transfer".
Post a Comment