The Irish General Election 2016

Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
edited February 2016 in Off Topic Chat
Is anyone following this news since the Irish (i.e. the Republic of Ireland) General Election took place on Friday 26 February 2016?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35680750

Prime Minister Enda Kenny has conceded that his Fine Gael coalition with Labour will not return and there looks to be a hung parliament in the Dail in Dublin.

I live in Northern Ireland (thankfully still part of the United Kingdom) but I still find politics down South to be very interesting. Personally I'd have liked to see Enda Kenny returned with a Fine Gael majority as I think he was doing a good job (considering what he inherited) and is politically conservative (like myself).

This is the place to discuss the Irish General Election 2016 and I hereby open the floor to anyone who is interested and wants to leave a comment on this subject. :)

As a bit of an aside I've always thought that Enda Kenny bears a bit of a resemblance to Ian Fleming:

ireland-begins-its-eu-presidency-310x415.jpg
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).

Comments

  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    edited February 2016
    I'm not following it, but I did get a big laugh out of it, as at the start of the campaign
    Enda Kenny said he wanted no three party coalitions , with something about a wonky
    third leg on a milking stool. Which I found funny as it's odd to see politicians paint themselves into
    a corner like that, as given the state of Irish politics, a three ( maybe 4 ) party coalition, was on the
    cards. Then just the other day out canvassing he called voters " whingers !", I can't see that going
    down well with any voter.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    I'm not following it, but I did get a big laugh out of it, as at the start of the campaign
    Enda Kenny said he wanted no three party coalitions , with something about a wonky
    third leg on a milking stool. Which I found funny as it's odd to see politicians paint themselves into
    a corner like that, as given the state of Irish politics, a three ( maybe 4 ) party coalition, was on the
    cards. Then just the other day out canvassing he called voters " whingers !", I can't see that going
    down well with any voter.

    Yes, I read in the Independent on Sunday during my break at work that Enda Kenny ran a poor campaign and that he and the Labour leader Joan Burton would have a struggle to hold onto their jobs as leaders of their respective parties.
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Also with any coalition, the smaller party always takes a beating from the voters.
    I don't think the "Feel good" factor has kicked in, in the Republic of Ireland yet, so
    the economic recovery hasn't helped the government at all.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    Also with any coalition, the smaller party always takes a beating from the voters.
    I don't think the "Feel good" factor has kicked in, in the Republic of Ireland yet, so
    the economic recovery hasn't helped the government at all.

    Yes, and when you think about it that's exactly what happened when the Lib Dems imploded at last year's British General Election. So, in a way, the ROI is just following suit! :D
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I have noticed over the years that, when the voters want to kick a coalition government
    the smaller partner really gets hit. It will take years, if not decades for the Lib Dems to
    recover, if in fact they ever do.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    I have noticed over the years that, when the voters want to kick a coalition government
    the smaller partner really gets hit. It will take years, if not decades for the Lib Dems to
    recover, if in fact they ever do.

    Yes, and a similar thing happened to the National Liberal-Conservative Coalition of Prime Minister David Lloyd-George in the 1922 British General Election where the Liberals lost a lot of seats. So history definitely does repeat itself. This is where the 1922 Committee of the Conservative Party comes from as well as Andrew Bonar Law won the 1922 election with a Conservative majority although his premiership only lasted seven months due to ill health. He was succeeded by Stanley Baldwin as Prime Minister.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_general_election,_1922
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
    On Water Charges in the Republic of Ireland, a related topic, here is the Fine Gael Water Charges Prank on You Tube:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQO8Gs0nykA

    Very funny! :))
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    :)) Very funny, it's odd how everyone has such a low opinion of politicians. Listening
    to an old BBC comedy from 1972, about a guy called "Fiddle" joining the government
    they had a joke about "There's enough fiddling going on with them already !" :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    :)) Very funny, it's odd how everyone has such a low opinion of politicians. Listening
    to an old BBC comedy from 1972, about a guy called "Fiddle" joining the government
    they had a joke about "There's enough fiddling going on with them already !" :D

    Yes, I suppose that it's a case of:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nay0smS4j9g
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    In case anyone is interested, the election is long over and The Republic of Ireland
    still has no government, showing how unneeded politicians are. :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    In case anyone is interested, the election is long over and The Republic of Ireland still has no government, showing how unneeded politicians are. :))
    Heh, just like MY OWN country. -{
    Republics must give way to Socialistic Democracy. Automation & rampant Capitalism will 'make it so' in the end sooner or later anyway.
    The rich need not fear- they can always be rich, but forcing the issue will choke off the value of their precious money.
    OOOPS!! Sorry, I went all socio/economically/kinda-political there... 8-)
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • ChriscoopChriscoop Belize Posts: 10,458MI6 Agent
    Oh no not another political thread ?:)

    I predict a riot.......I predict a riot #
    It was either that.....or the priesthood
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    Do they offer whiskey in the voting booth? ?:)
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Not anymore they even charge for water now. ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • CoolHandBondCoolHandBond Mactan IslandPosts: 7,372MI6 Agent
    The Philippines election takes place on 9th May with Rodrigo Duterte leading the popular vote - fun and games at the moment as politics is a very passionate subject here.
    Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
    Higgins wrote:
    Do they offer whiskey in the voting booth? ?:)

    Judging from the election results, I'd say that they still do :D
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I think one of the problems with the Irish elections is that the public
    Hate and don't trust any of the main parties, and given how they've
    been lied to and had promises broken. I don't blame them. :)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    I think one of the problems with the Irish elections is that the public
    Hate and don't trust any of the main parties, and given how they've
    been lied to and had promises broken. I don't blame them. :)

    That and the fact that the elections are done under PR which produces weak coalition governments. Ireland's starting to look like the 2010–11 Belgian government formation! :D
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    No system is perfect, even first past the post gave us the
    Dave and Nick partnership. :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    No system is perfect, even first past the post gave us the
    Dave and Nick partnership. :))

    Well true, I could have done without Nick. :D
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    If ever a politican went from Most loved, to most hated. It has to be Nick. :D
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    If ever a politican went from Most loved, to most hated. It has to be Nick. :D

    Yes, I know that he was very sorry that he didn't keep his word!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUko6DTYFYE

    :))
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
    Well after a mere 70 days since the Irish General Election of 2016 I'm pleased to report that Enda Kenny TD has finally been appointed in the Dail as Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of another coalition government:

    http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0506/786503-dail-taoiseach-politics/
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    ...... but for how long, SM ? ;)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • Silhouette ManSilhouette Man The last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,865MI6 Agent
    Thunderpussy wrote:
    ...... but for how long, SM ? ;)

    Well, that's another matter TP, but I think he'll be there a year as PM and then they'll get someone else to head the coalition government. That seems to be the deal.
    "The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
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