Faust, explain this

[Cain]

Probably Scallon's meds.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

Probably Scallon's meds.

Oh, damn!

[Faust]

So the presidential debates were on this evening. Some nasty stuff aired on this guy

The Dragon (Seán Gallagher): Entrepreneur and self made millionaire Seán Gallagher is selling himself entirely on his Randian appeal and his celebrity persona as one of the Dragons of the business investment program Dragons Den. (I'm probably going to vote for this guy).

He was delivering bribes for the then in government party. No way would I vote for him now.

The Relic(Michael Dee Higgins): Very soothing voice, probably a good choice for international relations but there is a strong chance he would die in office (presidency of Ireland is 7 years), if not during this presidential campaign.

This guy though is a brilliant speaker with an even more brilliant mind. I feel guilty for ribbing on his age because even if the worst comes to the worst and he did die in office he is the ONLY candidate suitable out of this shower of shits.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

Well- the way I understand the role of the Uachtaran within the Irish government, is that they have about the same amount of power as the Queen, excepting that they're elected for 7 year terms. I almost always hear only about the Taoiseach, unless it happens to be a Presidential election year. Wouldn't really be so bad if you elected a decent dude for the job and have him die in office. Would be less disastrous than here, especially if he had a shite veep.

[Faust]

Well- the way I understand the role of the Uachtaran within the Irish government, is that they have about the same amount of power as the Queen, excepting that they're elected for 7 year terms. I almost always hear only about the Taoiseach, unless it happens to be a Presidential election year. Wouldn't really be so bad if you elected a decent dude for the job and have him die in office. Would be less disastrous than here, especially if he had a shite veep.

The two Marys changed that, its now basically a trumped up Ambassador position, they go out and seek trade for Ireland and have to be involved in the peace process. The last two Marys have left some big shoes to fill.

[Faust]

Anyone interested in watching this mess you can do so here:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1025/president.html#video

[Nephew Twiddleton]

Anyone interested in watching this mess you can do so here:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1025/president.html#video

Watched part of it but it halted after the first commercial break. Will reattempt shortly.

Also, this is probably as good of a place to mention it.

It confuses me that (Irish) Americans' views on Irish politics are somewhat incompatible with their American politics and vice versa.

For example, you see among those here who take at least a passing interest, some sort of support for Sinn Fein on the grounds of nationalism, ignoring the fact that Sinn Fein is just as linked to Socialism, at least historically, as it is to Unification. But they would never support any Socialist party. No. Those Socialists are evil Socialists!

Conversely, there will be people generally affiliated with Fianna Fail or Fine Gael who are opposed to abortion (interesting spin on it- I noticed over there the media describes "pro-choice" as "pro-abortion") which is illegal in Ireland, don't give a crap about gay rights, and are generally socially conservative in other ways. But they fucking hate the GOP, especially Bush, and they fucking love the Democratic Party, especially Kennedy and Clinton.

I suppose it makes some sort of sense, at least from the Irish perspective. America is Ireland's lumoxy, tantrum-prone friend. It's more about the foreign policy than America's internal politics.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

Oh, this debate is pretty lulzy.

I feel bad for the moderator. It's like herding retarded cats at times.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

Also, any Irish spags plus Cain,

What do you think of the proposed 29th and 30th amendments being voted on?

I don't really have the background on this to form a decent opinion. Not that Ireland allows me to vote anyway, since I'm not a resident, but just for interest's sake.

[Faust]

Oh, this debate is pretty lulzy.

I feel bad for the moderator. It's like herding retarded cats at times.

Never feel sorry for Pat Kenny, that man has more power then any of those candidates. He has to but speak a word and a legion of pensioners will rise up to do his bidding.

Also, any Irish spags plus Cain,

What do you think of the proposed 29th and 30th amendments being voted on?

I don't really have the background on this to form a decent opinion. Not that Ireland allows me to vote anyway, since I'm not a resident, but just for interest's sake.

One is to reduce judges pay; I'm in favour they are overpaid.
The other is to allow the government the right to publically discuss confidential material and personal details of people bypassing a court ruling allowing them to do it: fuck no

[Cain]

The 30th sounds terrible.  It puts the inquiry process under the direct control of the government.

[Faust]

The 30th sounds terrible.  It puts the inquiry process under the direct control of the government.

On the bright side, if for whatever reason it got through, our government would have no idea how to use it.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

The 30th sounds terrible.  It puts the inquiry process under the direct control of the government.

On the bright side, if for whatever reason it got through, our government would have no idea how to use it.

Ugh.

The Republic is some messy business, from what I've been hearing lately.

[Faust]

The 30th sounds terrible.  It puts the inquiry process under the direct control of the government.

On the bright side, if for whatever reason it got through, our government would have no idea how to use it.

Ugh.

The Republic is some messy business, from what I've been hearing lately.

It's.... mixed.
Its still one of the best places to live in the world, the government isn't too intrusive, I mean when the only issues it can be largely faulted on are abortion (which can be bipassed with an 80 euro ticket), and gay marriage we really dont have it too bad.

[Nephew Twiddleton]

The 30th sounds terrible.  It puts the inquiry process under the direct control of the government.

On the bright side, if for whatever reason it got through, our government would have no idea how to use it.

Ugh.

The Republic is some messy business, from what I've been hearing lately.

It's.... mixed.
Its still one of the best places to live in the world, the government isn't too intrusive, I mean when the only issues it can be largely faulted on are abortion (which can be bipassed with an 80 euro ticket), and gay marriage we really dont have it too bad.

Well, I do plan on retiring there. The climate at least holds no surprises and you don't get the extremes that you do in Boston. I also imagine that Irish liberalism will catch up by that time due to a dying off of staunch Catholicism in the next 25 years.