The Race for the ARAS.....

[Ulick]

Of all the Dublin based commentators, Sam Smyth would have the least insight to the workings of SF.

[mayogodhelpus@gmail.com]

Sam Smyth was on Radio Ulster this morning saying that "the smart money in Dublin" is that Sinn Fein will put up Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin as their candidate.

Think if they are going to run anyone it will be him as he would be the natural choice

He would actually get one of my lower preferences.

[glens abu]

Sam Smyth was on Radio Ulster this morning saying that "the smart money in Dublin" is that Sinn Fein will put up Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin as their candidate.

Think if they are going to run anyone it will be him as he would be the natural choice

He would actually get one of my lower preferences.

Thank God

[Maguire01]

Of all the Dublin based commentators, Sam Smyth would have the least insight to the workings of SF.

Does that mean he's wrong?

[5 Sams]

Fianna Fail have approached Micheal O Muircheartaigh to run for President and he's considering it:

http://www.herald.ie/news/gaa-icon-micheal-considers-ff-offer-of-aras-bid-2848525.html

They must be desperate asking a man in his 80s to consider running. The same way talk of John Hume (in his 70s) was desperate.

From what I hear I don't think John Hume's health would allow him to do the job properly. Although a few years ago he would have been the perfect candidate.

[5 Sams]

MÓM on RTE news this morning not ruling anything out...I'd say he'll stand and give it a good rattle...

[Ulick]

Of all the Dublin based commentators, Sam Smyth would have the least insight to the workings of SF.

Does that mean he's wrong?

No, broken clocks and all that, but there's as much chance of Theresa Ferris, P O'Neill or Martin Sheen standing for SF at this stage. They haven't chosen a candidate and won't be doing so for at least another month. 

[Hardy]

Fianna Fail have approached Micheal O Muircheartaigh to run for President and he's considering it:

http://www.herald.ie/news/gaa-icon-micheal-considers-ff-offer-of-aras-bid-2848525.html

They must be desperate asking a man in his 80s to consider running. The same way talk of John Hume (in his 70s) was desperate.

Ageism is one of the few forms of casual discrimination left that nobody challenges. Replace the term "man in his 80s" with "woman", "black" or "lesbian" etc. and see how long it take for someone to challenge it.

[Tubberman]

Fianna Fail have approached Micheal O Muircheartaigh to run for President and he's considering it:

http://www.herald.ie/news/gaa-icon-micheal-considers-ff-offer-of-aras-bid-2848525.html

They must be desperate asking a man in his 80s to consider running. The same way talk of John Hume (in his 70s) was desperate.

Ageism is one of the few forms of casual discrimination left that nobody challenges. Replace the term "man in his 80s" with "woman", "black" or "lesbian" etc. and see how long it take for someone to challenge it.

Ah come on. The reality is that a person in their 80s does not have the energy that they would have had in their 50s or 60s. And they're not going to get any healthier.
In all likelihood, they're not going to as mentally sharp as they would have been at a younger age, and that's not going to improve either.
And you have to consider life expectancy. I just googled it. I have no idea how accurate these figures are, but I wouldn't say they're too far out:

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.19 years
male: 77.96 years
female: 82.55 years (2011 est.)

[Hardy]

What would people say if I said a single mother wouldn't have the energy to be president and run after a houseful of kids at the same time? Or that a pregnant woman would be absent from the job for the best part of six months, so she shouldn't be considered? Or that statistics show that black people are x% more likely to be involved in crime, so no black president here?

And how much energy do you need to pull a cloth off a plaque three times a week?

[Hardy]

By the way, those life expectancy figures are for the population as a whole at birth and take into account infant deaths, deaths from congenital diseases, motor bike accidents, etc., etc. The life expectancy of a healthy 80-year-old male (who doesn't own a motorbike  ) is not 77.96 years.

[muppet]

Fianna Fail have approached Micheal O Muircheartaigh to run for President and he's considering it:

http://www.herald.ie/news/gaa-icon-micheal-considers-ff-offer-of-aras-bid-2848525.html

They must be desperate asking a man in his 80s to consider running. The same way talk of John Hume (in his 70s) was desperate.

Ageism is one of the few forms of casual discrimination left that nobody challenges. Replace the term "man in his 80s" with "woman", "black" or "lesbian" etc. and see how long it take for someone to challenge it.

Surely we should simply elect the oldest person in the country President each time and save ourselves all the unpleasantness.

[Hardy]

Looking at the list of candidates, we're in for seven years (at least) of unpleasantness.

[Shamrock Shore]

Is Ronan 'God willing' Keating 35 yet?

I hope there is a 'None of the above' option.

MOM won't run.

[whiskeysteve]

looks like its only a matter of time before Weeshie Fogarty throws his hat in the ring