Are the Irish people mad? As I thought I had made clear in yesterday’s blog, Sinn Fein are a party of economic illiterates. We have that on good authority from at least two parties – Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. Three, if you add the late lamented Progressive Democrats, who coined the phrase and who are so progressive they have vanished off the political map. RTE are also clear, judging by their questions of the Sinn Fein by-election candidate in Roscommon, that the Shinners would need to take off their shoes to count to ten. Why is it,then, that we have this morning’s feature in the Irish Times?
For one the SF leader, Gerry Adams, is up two points in the popular opinion of those questioned. This is clearly absurd – all the intelligent commentators in the south, and a few in the north,are agreed that Adams is a liability to the party and they’ll never really get ahead until they dump him and appoint a leader who has, so to say, no past. Yet here he is,up two points,while both Micheal Martin and Enda Kenny, the leaders of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael respectively, men without pasts, are down in popular opinion. A word of comfort,though, to those right-thinking people depressed by this news: Joan Burton the Labour Party leader, is found to be the most popular party leader, so clearly the poll is half-cocked.
The poll shows that Sinn Fein are at their strongest in the Dublin area, which is why they are odds-on to win the by-election there tomorrow. They’re particularly popular with the working class and the young, which is very puzzling. As all right-thinking people know, SF are a one-note party, obsessed with partition, and yet here we have the two groups who arguably have suffered most in the recession showing confidence in the party. On the other hand, the more money people have, the less likely they are to be fond of SF. I know there’s a political moral in there somewhere but for the life of me I can’t think what it is. The grim fact is that, at 24%, Sinn Fein is neck-and-neck with Fine Gael.
But let’s end on a positive note, shall we? Ms Burton’s party, the Labour Party, have increased in popularity. They now stand at 9%. That fact, coupled with their leader Joan’s new-found popularity (and new-found lower-register voice, a la Maggie Thatcher) should warm the heart of the most dispirited anti-republican. Better days ahead, chaps. Not tomorrow in Dublin West or Roscommon,of course, but some day.
It’s all scare mongering once the real vote happens the truth will out
That Joan Brutal is the most popular PL methinks is a windup!
FF attacks on SF will start to gather pace.
The people of Cork and Galway are on alert as a result of high tides, thunder, lightning and flooding while anti-water meter protests continue in Dublin. The leader of the Labour Party, the most popular leader, since the last leader, is clearly concerned about the plight of individuals who are vulnerable, disabled, ill, unemployed or working for the minimum wage. She has articulated her anxiety about the fact that protesters have been obliged to resort to “expensive phones, tablets and video cameras” as a method of providing feedback to elected representatives. Engineers are striving to deal with the unusual atmospheric conditions which have interfered with some television channels. Viewers have been advised that colour and political bias transmissions will resume as soon as possible.
Don t forget the print media in the good auld “free state”,the daily mail told those foolish enough to read their paper that Sinn Féin would wreck the country!The clown s running it has done such a good job……
The End for Enda ?
The Sarah Yawn of the Labour P
And the Enda Eckstein of Fine G
Now, alas, seem somehow
Like passing strangers now
That she registers in a lower key.
O you thing of beauty, Perkie…
When has the party in power ever faired well in an off year election? Second, Dublin West is the most left leaning district in the entirety of the ROI. If SF didn’t win, and they may not, a further lurch left might be necessary.
Thanks for thoughts, Virginia. I agree – by-elections, parties in power tend not to fare well. I’m not sure how you know Dublin West is most left-leaning in the ROI. Paddy Power seems to think SF will take it – but if they didn’t and Sinn Féin became more left-inclined, would that upset you? It wouldn’t me.
Jude, as someone who has always considered myself as Working Class, Very political literate – and lives down in the South – and has been rightly screwed over by both FF & FG over the last few years – it genuinely saddens me to read this blog.
Unfortunately – i’d typed a lengthy response – but omitted to fill in my name and e-mail, so lost as i was in my reply – then submitted, only to get a message from WordPress (to that effect) – and my reply was lost in the ether.
Quite why Sinn Fein’s rise in the Polls etc sends ‘A chill down your spine’ is beyond me – also the fact that you’ve decided to throw the kitchen sink at them as well – rather weakly in terms of what can only be described as a ‘paper-thin blog’ also saddens me. I’ve come to expect a more thorough political discourse from you over the months.
Sadly, this was far, far from your usual standard. And if SF do gain Dublin & Roscommon – what effect will it have upon yourself?
Quite a few of us down here do have brains in our heads y’know – And we’re sick of being done over time after time, and want someone who we believe can do better (they certainly can’t do any worse than the last 70 odd years of gombeen’ism and cronyisms, tribunals etc etc.
And as for (Saint) Joan – the days of chaining herself to picket lines are long, long gone – a memory that will have no doubt disappeared from her mind.
John – I’m sorry the internet has buffeted you and I hope it wasn’t my blogsite that was part of the mugging… Re blog: I did put in brackets (or warm your heart) as I remember it. And it’s also good to remember there’s a thing called irony. That said, I’m delighted to hear there are people south of the border who have brains (esp as I’m married to one). It’s just that the noise of the south’s media tends to drown out intelligent responses most of the time – except maybe in the Letters page. Anyway, good to hear your thinking and I promise you, my spine remains totally unchilled. Quite warm actually…
Jude
Are polls good now? Is the Irish Times no longer part of the media conspiracy against the shinners?
O brave new world….
I just report ’em, gio. You know they don’t mean a thing, don’t you?
“They don’t mean a thing if they don’t show a swing” as Duke Ellington might have said!
I like it, gio. I like it.