Race for the ARAS 2025

[Rossfan]

24th October.
Councils meeting this week or next. Odds are they won't nominate any Independents.

[Blowitupref]

sc**bag McGregor has "withdrawn" from the race.

needed 4 councils to say yes to him to get on the ballot paper and apparently was to get none so pulled out before he embarrassed himself further while  making a silly excuse for his "withdrawn" from the race.

[DaleCooper]

His tweets were barely readable, I always feel sad when I see those clips of MMA/BOXERS before and after say ten years. The cognitive decline and function being so obvious, especially when much wasn't there to begin with.

[Baile Brigín 2]

What's with SF not putting forward a candidate? Is there a reason for not doing so in such a major election?

They couldn't persuade MLMD. They are confirming one way or another on the 20th.

Letting them all eat themselves before making a call I'd say. Jim Gavin has been far from impressive,  Heather Humphrey's the most 'polished' but the whole issue around the husband and OO membership does not sit well. Catherine Connolly the most principled but not sure if she has the gravitas to carry the job. SF may back her but you never know who they might push out now. Humphrey's likely to be the winner as things stand but don't think she is the right fit personally

HH and the whole OO thing could be a positive down the line for a United Ireland. Small first steps and all that.

Then own it. Don't refuse to answer the question.

If FG want to push her religion as a plus, they should have seen this coming. Same old inability to run a good campaign. Did they not do a background check?

But this does leave the possibility that the 'first gentleman' is a sectarian bigot who has a role in the Presidency, lives in the Aras, while not recognising the office or indeed the Republic.

[brokencrossbar1]

What's with SF not putting forward a candidate? Is there a reason for not doing so in such a major election?

They couldn't persuade MLMD. They are confirming one way or another on the 20th.

Letting them all eat themselves before making a call I'd say. Jim Gavin has been far from impressive,  Heather Humphrey's the most 'polished' but the whole issue around the husband and OO membership does not sit well. Catherine Connolly the most principled but not sure if she has the gravitas to carry the job. SF may back her but you never know who they might push out now. Humphrey's likely to be the winner as things stand but don't think she is the right fit personally

HH and the whole OO thing could be a positive down the line for a United Ireland. Small first steps and all that.

Then own it. Don't refuse to answer the question.

If FG want to push her religion as a plus, they should have seen this coming. Same old inability to run a good campaign. Did they not do a background check?

But this does leave the possibility that the 'first gentleman' is a sectarian bigot who has a role in the Presidency, lives in the Aras, while not recognising the office or indeed the Republic.

That's my read on it too. Non issue of his or her religion but failing to deal adequately with the questions around the husband shows at a minimum a lack of understanding that it might be an issue or at worse an arrogance to think she's above that.

SF may be holding fire and winning an election by default

[Rossfan]

What's with SF not putting forward a candidate? Is there a reason for not doing so in such a major election?

They couldn't persuade MLMD. They are confirming one way or another on the 20th.

Letting them all eat themselves before making a call I'd say. Jim Gavin has been far from impressive,  Heather Humphrey's the most 'polished' but the whole issue around the husband and OO membership does not sit well. Catherine Connolly the most principled but not sure if she has the gravitas to carry the job. SF may back her but you never know who they might push out now. Humphrey's likely to be the winner as things stand but don't think she is the right fit personally

HH and the whole OO thing could be a positive down the line for a United Ireland. Small first steps and all that.

Then own it. Don't refuse to answer the question.

If FG want to push her religion as a plus, they should have seen this coming. Same old inability to run a good campaign. Did they not do a background check?

But this does leave the possibility that the 'first gentleman' is a sectarian bigot who has a role in the Presidency, lives in the Aras, while not recognising the office or indeed the Republic.

Do 26 Cos members of the Orange Order really not recognise the State or the office of Uachtarán?

[Tubberman]

What's with SF not putting forward a candidate? Is there a reason for not doing so in such a major election?

They couldn't persuade MLMD. They are confirming one way or another on the 20th.

Letting them all eat themselves before making a call I'd say. Jim Gavin has been far from impressive,  Heather Humphrey's the most 'polished' but the whole issue around the husband and OO membership does not sit well. Catherine Connolly the most principled but not sure if she has the gravitas to carry the job. SF may back her but you never know who they might push out now. Humphrey's likely to be the winner as things stand but don't think she is the right fit personally

HH and the whole OO thing could be a positive down the line for a United Ireland. Small first steps and all that.

Then own it. Don't refuse to answer the question.

If FG want to push her religion as a plus, they should have seen this coming. Same old inability to run a good campaign. Did they not do a background check?

But this does leave the possibility that the 'first gentleman' is a sectarian bigot who has a role in the Presidency, lives in the Aras, while not recognising the office or indeed the Republic.

Do 26 Cos members of the Orange Order really not recognise the State or the office of Uachtarán?

I'd find it extremely hard to believe that the man could refuse to recognise the state that his wife served as TD and minister.

[Eamonnca1]

Jesus this is a long drawn out malarkey!

When is it being voted on?

Just wait till you see American presidential elections!

[Eamonnca1]

Hillarious how the media's reporting McGregor pulling out of the race. As if he was ever in it.

[Baile Brigín 2]

What's with SF not putting forward a candidate? Is there a reason for not doing so in such a major election?

They couldn't persuade MLMD. They are confirming one way or another on the 20th.

Letting them all eat themselves before making a call I'd say. Jim Gavin has been far from impressive,  Heather Humphrey's the most 'polished' but the whole issue around the husband and OO membership does not sit well. Catherine Connolly the most principled but not sure if she has the gravitas to carry the job. SF may back her but you never know who they might push out now. Humphrey's likely to be the winner as things stand but don't think she is the right fit personally

HH and the whole OO thing could be a positive down the line for a United Ireland. Small first steps and all that.

Then own it. Don't refuse to answer the question.

If FG want to push her religion as a plus, they should have seen this coming. Same old inability to run a good campaign. Did they not do a background check?

But this does leave the possibility that the 'first gentleman' is a sectarian bigot who has a role in the Presidency, lives in the Aras, while not recognising the office or indeed the Republic.

Do 26 Cos members of the Orange Order really not recognise the State or the office of Uachtarán?

I'd find it extremely hard to believe that the man could refuse to recognise the state that his wife served as TD and minister.

Why not?

Did he suddenly change his core beliefs overnight?

All she needs to do is to explain the situation.

I read he says has no intention on moving into the Aras.

[Wildweasel74]

McGregor in the race was a laughing stock, but the bollacks did have a valid point on how a candidate is put forward. Due to councils been lopsided along political party lines, independents have a harder time getting elected. Should it not be people rather that the politicians who decide who can run and who cannot. I don't think Gavin would make a good president, what's his political knowledge of world affairs. Any tine I seen him on tv football related, he put you to sleep!

[Armagh18]

McGregor in the race was a laughing stock, but the bollacks did have a valid point on how a candidate is put forward. Due to councils been lopsided along political party lines, independents have a harder time getting elected. Should it not be people rather that the politicians who decide who can run and who cannot. I don't think Gavin would make a good president, what's his political knowledge of world affairs. Any tine I seen him on tv football related, he put you to sleep!

Agreed. Let the electorate make a fool out of him, this way he can yap about democracy being denied.

[Baile Brigín 2]

McGregor in the race was a laughing stock, but the bollacks did have a valid point on how a candidate is put forward. Due to councils been lopsided along political party lines, independents have a harder time getting elected. Should it not be people rather that the politicians who decide who can run and who cannot. I don't think Gavin would make a good president, what's his political knowledge of world affairs. Any tine I seen him on tv football related, he put you to sleep!

The past 3 Presidents have been independents. Connolly is an independent. The problem is the slops going forward this time.

[Baile Brigín 2]

I can fully understand if the mods dissappear this post, but a rumour swirling about Gavin and his friends daughter. And it's from a fair few different sources.

A tough one to manage as nobody will directly confront him with it. He can't exactly make a statement about it either.

[Rossfan]

You can't have a tital free for all with loads of single issue candidates etc.
Maybe 10 Oireachtas members or 2 Councils be enough?
Anyway it would have to be voted on by the people and there are bigger issues than how to get nominated to contest an Election for a pretty powerless post.