The Irish Times TNS mrbi Poll (May 2008)

A big boost for Fianna Fáil as Cowen takes the helm and a boost for governmental satisfaction. The figures are as follows:

FF 42 +8
FG 26 -5
LAB 15 +3
GR 4 -2
SF 6 -2
PD 1 -2
IND 6 -


The Greens finally are in some trouble since joining Government while the SF vote continues to ebb. The PDs are still in MoE territory.

Great stuff Ard-Taoiseach. I hadn't caught this. Ahah... More Cowenesque halo effect. At least in the short term... Not good for the Greens though... perhaps some natural FF voters returning home.

I'm not sure how soft that FF 8% is. I know of many who, like myself, will be a lot more sympathetic to FF now that Bertie has been fucked out.

ff own us

WorldbyStorm wrote:

Great stuff Ard-Taoiseach. I hadn't caught this. Ahah... More Cowenesque halo effect. At least in the short term... Not good for the Greens though... perhaps some natural FF voters returning home.

I heard that there was a poll from listening to the radio. I went searching and found the figures. FF are doing fantastically well this year.

lostexpectation wrote:

ff own us

Cowen reveals what's goin' on behind the podium...

Labour is showing signs of life.

cactus flower wrote:

Labour is showing signs of life.

Yeah, it's a great poll for them. They're finally making moves as the third largest party. They've been the 10% Party heretofore.

cactus flower wrote:

Labour is showing signs of life.

And about time too. I think Labour is due a PD type surge, I has a feelin the socialist lefty side of Irish politics is due a revival. 
I shall, however, remain an unrepentant capitalist pig.

I wonder how long it will be before the PDs have negative poll ratings?

cookiemonster wrote:

I'm not sure how soft that FF 8% is. I know of many who, like myself, will be a lot more sympathetic to FF now that Bertie has been fucked out.

I have never given FF a preference in my life but like you, I might be willing to do so in the near future. My distaste for FF under Ahern has little or nothing to do with what emerged from the tribunal but I absolutely detested his 'consensus based' leadership style. I suspect that might change under Cowen and in that case, I would be likely to vote Lab, Gr, FF. He's already made a good start in my eyes by getting rid of Mary Hannifin.

Good to see Labour on 15% although they have an absolutely massive amout of work to do.

unaligned wrote:

. He's already made a good start in my eyes by getting rid of Mary Hannifin.

I know. Bertie and that photocall Mary gone in one fell swoop and the Mary Coughlan for number 2... I might join if he keeps it up!

Woo Hoo. Great to see a wee boost for Labour.
Is this also because the Labour support was always there, but the Rabbitte support was not ??

surreptitiously drops link

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

I wonder how long it will be before the PDs have negative poll ratings?

The ridiculous nature of their situation was neatly summed up when Cannon issued a press release congratulating Mary Harney on her continued presence in government. If the leader of a government party, however small, is completely and utterly sidelined and irrelevant during the formation of a new cabinet then what hope is there?

cookiemonster wrote:

unaligned wrote:

. He's already made a good start in my eyes by getting rid of Mary Hannifin.

I know. Bertie and that photocall Mary gone in one fell swoop and the Mary Coughlan for number 2... I might join if he keeps it up!

I suppose the clincher will be when he brings McCreevy back as Minister for Finance in 2009.

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Woo Hoo. Great to see a wee boost for Labour.
Is this also because the Labour support was always there, but the Rabbitte support was not ??

surreptitiously drops link

Possibly. On a personal level I was incredibly disappointed by his leadership. I like Gilmore and I like to think that might be catching.

Nice website - Brian Collins is a great candidate (shame about the constituency)

unaligned wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

I wonder how long it will be before the PDs have negative poll ratings?

The ridiculous nature of their situation was neatly summed up when Cannon issued a press release congratulating Mary Harney on her continued presence in government. If the leader of a government party, however small, is completely and utterly sidelined and irrelevant during the formation of a new cabinet then what hope is there?

In my mind, there is something seriously wrong with our system when a member of a 2% party can be in charge of our Govt's biggest departmental budget. I think there should be a cut-off at 5% or something for cabinet eligibility.

Or even 50% ? This is indeed the downside of PR

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

unaligned wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

I wonder how long it will be before the PDs have negative poll ratings?

The ridiculous nature of their situation was neatly summed up when Cannon issued a press release congratulating Mary Harney on her continued presence in government. If the leader of a government party, however small, is completely and utterly sidelined and irrelevant during the formation of a new cabinet then what hope is there?

In my mind, there is something seriously wrong with our system when a member of a 2% party can be in charge of our Govt's biggest departmental budget. I think there should be a cut-off at 5% or something for cabinet eligibility.

Well if anyone from the 42% party had the balls or even the basic competency to take on the roll that would certainly be nice. I reckon she has a year. She is an excellently placed fall-guy (lady?) and I suspect there's another 2% in cutting her loose before/after the locals.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

unaligned wrote:

. He's already made a good start in my eyes by getting rid of Mary Hannifin.

I know. Bertie and that photocall Mary gone in one fell swoop and the Mary Coughlan for number 2... I might join if he keeps it up!

I suppose the clincher will be when he brings McCreevy back as Minister for Finance in 2009.

Then the question will be what made FF great, Cowan's moves or Cookie joining,

unaligned wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Woo Hoo. Great to see a wee boost for Labour.
Is this also because the Labour support was always there, but the Rabbitte support was not ??

surreptitiously drops link

Possibly. On a personal level I was incredibly disappointed by his leadership. I like Gilmore and I like to think that might be catching.

Yeh, I was fond of PR, but I think Gilmore is mucho bettero. His maiden conference speech in Wexford last Nov. was feckin brilliant.

unaligned wrote:

Nice website - Brian Collins is a great candidate (shame about the constituency)

You like ? It's brand new, just finished last night and published today. Do you remember the old one ?

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

unaligned wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

I wonder how long it will be before the PDs have negative poll ratings?

The ridiculous nature of their situation was neatly summed up when Cannon issued a press release congratulating Mary Harney on her continued presence in government. If the leader of a government party, however small, is completely and utterly sidelined and irrelevant during the formation of a new cabinet then what hope is there?

In my mind, there is something seriously wrong with our system when a member of a 2% party can be in charge of our Govt's biggest departmental budget. I think there should be a cut-off at 5% or something for cabinet eligibility.

I think she's the best Health Minister we have had for quite some time. She has more than earned that position. She could be off there in some cushy job as Minister for Foreign Affairs or Arts, Sports and Tourism. She isn't, she chose this position and is making great things out of it.

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

unaligned wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Woo Hoo. Great to see a wee boost for Labour.
Is this also because the Labour support was always there, but the Rabbitte support was not ??

surreptitiously drops link

Possibly. On a personal level I was incredibly disappointed by his leadership. I like Gilmore and I like to think that might be catching.

Yeh, I was fond of PR, but I think Gilmore is mucho bettero. His maiden conference speech in Wexford last Nov. was feckin brilliant.

unaligned wrote:

Nice website - Brian Collins is a great candidate (shame about the constituency)

You like ? Thanks. It's brand new, just finished it last night and published it today. Do you remember the old one ?

I can't say I ever actually saw the old one to be honest. I live in
Meath East so I only have a passing interest in what goes on over the
imaginary border.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

I think she's the best Health Minister we have had for quite some time. She has more than earned that position. She could be off there in some cushy job as Minister for Foreign Affairs or Arts, Sports and Tourism. She isn't, she chose this position and is making great things out of it.

I wasn't commenting on Harney's performance one way or the other, just the fact that I don't really feel she has a mandate to be in cabinet.

Eamonn Gilmore, Party leader and personal valet.