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We have had crises before and recessions which resulted in mass lay-offs. But as Social Protection Minister Joan Burton pointed out to me this week, in an interview, we have never had the level of personal debt that abounds in this State.
There is a need for a proper debate about the presidency, what it is for and whether we need one at all. In that spirit I have assembled a few thoughts based on the constitutional provisions for the office. The President is not really meant to be a cheerleader although there is no reason why s/he cannot make inspiring speeches from time to time.
Greetings to y’all. Just back from a summer “staycation” and rarin’ to blog. Need one say how desperately quiet the political news is at the moment? Except, that is, for the presidential election which is the gift that keeps on giving.
UPDATE: We have known since lunchtime that Gay Byrne has pulled out.
I cannot see Fianna Fail even contemplating considering an outsider now.
Will it reflect badly on Micheal Martin?
It’s hard to know, given that it’s early and the party has – to be frank about it – very little to lose.
I think Fianna Fail will have to run a candidate now. You can’t have a situation where the leader was courting an outsider and when he rejected the advances, he still jilted all the internal suitors. That would just look desperate, really desperate.
So, it’s going to be Brian Crowley, in my opinion. And in such a strange line-up, I think he’s going to do exceedingly well.
I don’t think the candidate list is complete yet, though. I think at least one more independent candidate will emerge.
And below is the earlier blog post, where the analysis of Fianna Fail’s options etc is still valid, in my opinion.
What was that loud splash I heard? Surely, it couldn’t have been Micheál Martin’s presidential strategy bellyflopping spectacularly?
Micheál Glic has sat on his hand for many months and refused the media’s daily demands to name the party’s candidate… and name him now! In one way it was classic Micheál: the political equivalent of the newspaper editor whose indecision is final. (more…)
