The Irish Times TNS mrbi Poll (May 2008)

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

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.

You're right. She is the best Health Minister we have had for quite some time. Unfortunately, that doesn't necessarily mean a whole lot. But I take your point, I think she is there for the right reasons.

I think it is a bit ironic that it is essentially a freak of the PR-STV system that has her there, yet she is the only member of the Dail that could be considered truly free from the shackles of that system. In that respect, she is uniquely placed to meet the challenge.

unaligned wrote:

You're right. She is the best Health Minister we have had for quite some time. Unfortunately, that doesn't necessarily mean a whole lot. But I take your point, I think she is there for the right reasons.

I think it is a bit ironic that it is essentially a freak of the PR-STV system that has her there, yet she is the only member of the Dail that could be considered truly free from the shackles of that system. In that respect, she is uniquely placed to meet the challenge.

Yep, all us DMWers have to do is keep voting her in and she can get at it!

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.

Will that be the 2009 Kildare By-election or the 2009 General election ?

Jeez, that would be spectacular, a European, General and local election on the same day in June 2009.

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

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.

Will that be the 2009 Kildare By-election or the 2009 General election ?

Jeez, that would be spectacular, a European, General and local election on the same day in June 2009.

Could have a re-run of the Lisbon Treaty vote as well? Busy day for you, EvotingMachine.

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

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.

Will that be the 2009 Kildare By-election or the 2009 General election ?

Jeez, that would be spectacular, a European, General and local election on the same day in June 2009.

Yep, the whole bloody lot, the whole waterfront. A National Get-the-Fers-Out-and-keep-the-Fers-In Day.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

unaligned wrote:

You're right. She is the best Health Minister we have had for quite some time. Unfortunately, that doesn't necessarily mean a whole lot. But I take your point, I think she is there for the right reasons.

I think it is a bit ironic that it is essentially a freak of the PR-STV system that has her there, yet she is the only member of the Dail that could be considered truly free from the shackles of that system. In that respect, she is uniquely placed to meet the challenge.

Yep, all us DMWers have to do is keep voting her in and she can get at it!

And all she has to do is continue standing for election. But the good times are numbered in that regard.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

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.

Will that be the 2009 Kildare By-election or the 2009 General election ?

Jeez, that would be spectacular, a European, General and local election on the same day in June 2009.

Yep, the whole bloody lot, the whole waterfront. A National Get-the-Fers-Out-and-keep-the-Fers-In Day.

Shane Ross thinks you might like the new man.

cactus flower wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

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.

Will that be the 2009 Kildare By-election or the 2009 General election ?

Jeez, that would be spectacular, a European, General and local election on the same day in June 2009.

Could have a re-run of the Lisbon Treaty vote as well? Busy day for you, EvotingMachine.

And a new Constitution Referendum and the Referendum on the rights of the Child while we're at it. EvotingMachine would clean up on over-time. The Gormanstown economy would sky-rocket.

cookiemonster wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

unaligned wrote:

You're right. She is the best Health Minister we have had for quite some time. Unfortunately, that doesn't necessarily mean a whole lot. But I take your point, I think she is there for the right reasons.

I think it is a bit ironic that it is essentially a freak of the PR-STV system that has her there, yet she is the only member of the Dail that could be considered truly free from the shackles of that system. In that respect, she is uniquely placed to meet the challenge.

Yep, all us DMWers have to do is keep voting her in and she can get at it!

And all she has to do is continue standing for election. But the good times are numbered in that regard.

Yeah, it will be interesting where her vote goes next time out.

cookiemonster wrote:

Eamonn Gilmore, Party leader and personal valet.

Good one Cookie.

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

Eamonn Gilmore, Party leader and personal valet.

Good one Cookie.

Nice, cookiemonster. I suppose it's all part of keeping Labour as the party of the working man. He who serves is he who leads.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

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.

Will that be the 2009 Kildare By-election or the 2009 General election ?

Jeez, that would be spectacular, a European, General and local election on the same day in June 2009.

Could have a re-run of the Lisbon Treaty vote as well? Busy day for you, EvotingMachine.

And a new Constitution Referendum and the Referendum on the rights of the Child while we're at it. EvotingMachine would clean up on over-time. The Gormanstown economy would sky-rocket.

Stop it now. You're making my ballot modules wobble.

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Will that be the 2009 Kildare By-election or the 2009 General election ? 

Oooh, Bye bye Aine bloody Brady...

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

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.

Will that be the 2009 Kildare By-election or the 2009 General election ?

Jeez, that would be spectacular, a European, General and local election on the same day in June 2009.

Could have a re-run of the Lisbon Treaty vote as well? Busy day for you, EvotingMachine.

And a new Constitution Referendum and the Referendum on the rights of the Child while we're at it. EvotingMachine would clean up on over-time. The Gormanstown economy would sky-rocket.

Stop it now. You're making my ballot modules wobble.

OK EvotingMachine, your MP3 children will have great Christmas presents next year with all that work.

cookiemonster wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Will that be the 2009 Kildare By-election or the 2009 General election ?

Oooh, Bye bye Aine bloody Brady...

Agh, why did you have to go and remind me of her.

What is it with Dáil dynasties in this country.

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Will that be the 2009 Kildare By-election or the 2009 General election ?

Oooh, Bye bye Aine bloody Brady...

Agh, why did you have to go and remind me of her.

What is it with Dáil dynasties in this country.

It's easier to get elected if you have a familiar surname.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Will that be the 2009 Kildare By-election or the 2009 General election ?

Oooh, Bye bye Aine bloody Brady...

Agh, why did you have to go and remind me of her.

What is it with Dáil dynasties in this country.

It's easier to get elected if you have a familiar surname.

With a few notable exceptions http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=3905

unaligned wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Will that be the 2009 Kildare By-election or the 2009 General election ?

Oooh, Bye bye Aine bloody Brady...

Agh, why did you have to go and remind me of her.

What is it with Dáil dynasties in this country.

It's easier to get elected if you have a familiar surname.

With a few notable exceptions http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=3905

Well...he's the exception that proves the rule!

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

It's easier to get elected if you have a familiar surname.

I don't understand that whatsoever. It's a form of nepotism, at total odds with the concept of merit.

Getting back to Harney for a minute, I keep thinking she looks tired or stressed or something. I really thought she would have used Cowen's ascension (can't spell) to get out of cabinet.

unaligned wrote:

With a few notable exceptions http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=3905

Groovy names are good too..

FF won't get too excited about this poll. The tough times are here and it is going to be a struggle one way or the other. The honeymoon will end and nobody is fooling thmselves about that.

Labour must be genuinely happy that, unlike all the other non-FF parties, they and their leader have made progress. In particular, they will be heartened by the fact that they are doing wel in Dublin. I see this as testament to Eamonn Gilmore's excellent handling of Bertie and the Tribunal and also as a kick back at the overt aggression of Varadker. Labour will be hoping that it will be unpwards and onwards as the Governments difficulties presents labour with more and more opportunity.

As much as FG will spin this, the total of 42% FF and 15% Labour must cause some trepidation in their ranks. If they stay static after the locals, then Enda will need to get out the bullet-proof vest, with extra armour for the back.

clareman51 wrote:

As much as FG will spin this, the total of 42% FF and 15% Labour must cause some trepidation in their ranks. If they stay static after the locals, then Enda will need to get out the bullet-proof vest, with extra armour for the back.

I wonder if our own boys Dooley and Killeen have gotten over the Shannon trouble last year and whether the Independent James Breen will run for the Dáil the next time? He is running for the locals next year alright.

It seems FG can do nothing - either FF are up or FF are down - the other parties suffer accordingly.

The swing to Labour is interesting - I wonder is it from the Greens?

A difficult poll to read with the passing of power to Cowen.

Certainly seems to be the case that soft FF vote that drifted to FG/GP/SF becuase of Ahern has gone back to them, which we're pretty much back where we were 10 years ago.

The one I can't understand is Labour. Their vote seems to swing up and down like a fiddlers elbow, and never seems to be connected with anything they are actually doing.

Could perhaps be explained by FG voters moving to Labour 'cos of Enda Kenny being portrayed as Bertie's nemesis. Certainly very hard to see who it can be related to Labour themselves.

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.

Cabinet appointments should be based on who is best qualified to do the job.

Harney doesn't have a politicial inheritance to protect, and is immune to pester power from unions and other vested interests, so she is by far the best person to be Minister for Health.