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Post by hibernicus on Feb 11, 2011 14:30:22 GMT
This blog reproduces a flyer from David Bradley, an independent "Christian" candidate for Louth, based in Drogheda. This is a good example of how not to run "Christian" politics - no policies, no arguments, just an assurance that if we only appeal to God everything will be all right. From the terminology I suspect he is a born-again evangelical or Pentecostal Protestant, rather than one of our Catholic loonies - however since there is no likelihood of his getting elected it may be worthwhile giving him a protest vote before transferring to more serious candidates. irishelectionliterature.wordpress.com/2011/02/10/flyer-for-david-bradley-christian-candidate-louth-2011-ge/
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Post by humphrey on Feb 13, 2011 12:17:06 GMT
I agree that the a wholesale reform of the constitution along the lines of forming a "second republic" should be opposed.
My problem with the list system is that it is being proposed as method to install experts into power not to widen the range of opinions expressed. Something similar to the German system. Still it is only the Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and the Greens are proposing the list system. I agree that right wing economics are not synonymous with Catholic morality. I would love to see something like Australian Democratic Labor Party in Ireland.
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Post by humphrey on Feb 13, 2011 12:28:21 GMT
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Post by Askel McThurkill on Feb 13, 2011 19:45:39 GMT
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Post by hibernicus on Feb 15, 2011 13:36:52 GMT
Can you tell us more about any of the candidates?
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Post by Askel McThurkill on Feb 16, 2011 13:05:37 GMT
A couple come to mind in New Vision.
First of all, Martin Daly in Mayo gives an unequivocally pro-life message.
John McGuirk, who was associated with Declan Ganley is the candidate in Cavan-Monaghan. He runs on the basis of free market economics plus traditional values.
Then there are the Blaney brothers - MacDara in Donegal North East and Éamon in Dublin North East. These are Neil T. Blaney's sons who never accepted Independent FF's merging with FF. It is hard to say with them - their father combined traditional nationalism and traditional rural values with some left wing and even environmentalist views. The sons are certainly less stridently republican than the father, but present him as a model. MacDara may take votes from both FF and SF in Donegal, but I doubt he can stop Padraig MacLochlainn.
Finally, the one New Vision candidate reasonably certain of a seat is Luke 'Ming' Flanagan in Roscommon South Leitrim. If we assume his advocacy of the decriminalisation of canabis is, like his 'Ming the Merciless' hair and beard (which would deny him communion in St-Nicholas-de-Chardonais) is exhibitionism more geared towards getting him on the news with all its free publicity, he is very serious about representing the concerns of a rural constituency. He may not be totally live to our concerns, but he will listen to his constituency and I suspect the views of fellow Castlereagh man, John Waters, may be a very good influence. However, this is a high risk candidate.
Well - that's five of the 19.
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Post by hibernicus on Feb 16, 2011 13:44:37 GMT
I think Ming's cannabis and hairstyle pre-date his political career, which started as a joke and became serious when he actually won a council seat. I think he's a bit high-risk. I would be a bit suspicious of the Blaney brothers unless I knew more about them. Their father's views are no guarantee of their own (cf the difference between Charlie Flanagan and his father) and Kevin Rafter's mid-90s book on the elder Blaney quotes him as commenting resignedly re abortion that these sort of things always went on but were hushed up before. I think a lot of Irish politicial dynasties are like the Daleys in Chicago - the father was staunchly Catholic and stalwart on the social issues, the sons have endorsed the liberal agenda. I don't think deep thoguht was involved in either instance - theyw ent with the tide in their bailiwick. It is good to hear that some of these people do declare themselves pro-life. I wonder how much of this is due to the influence of American "fusion" conservatism [i.e. the attempt to ally social and economic conservatism] which has always had its difficulties?
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Post by shane on Feb 16, 2011 15:02:58 GMT
I think hibernicus' last para hits the nail on the head. I have a strong distate for the terms 'social conservatism' and 'economic conservatism' (which on the continent is more accurately called economic liberalism). To be a conservative means to champion the status quo; I don't think that describes my position at all. On economics I believe that capital should be made subordinate to the common good. I certainly don't believe in an unlimited, deregulated, free market. I suppose I take a 'corporatist' view of society. (Bishop) Con Lucey had interesting comments on that. I think co-operatives like Mondragon show that there is a viable alternative to the twin evils of liberalism and statism. As for social issues, gay marriage specifically, I think I agree with Vox Nova: Gay marriage is inevitable. It became inevitable when legitimate achievements in reducing discrimination against gay people ran headlong into an altered definition of marriage that came to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s. Instead of being seen as a social institution geared toward the bearing and rearing of children, it emphasized the fulfilment of individual desires. Instead of a sacrament of mutual self-giving, it became a civil institution for the pursuit of mutual happiness. When looked at this way, there is no reason why gays should be denied entry into this institution, any more than they should be barred from certain kinds of employment. So if you want to blame anybody for this state of affairs, don’t blame homosexuals. Blame the heterosexuals who have chipped away at the institution of marriage over the years. Blame people like Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh.
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Post by colemanatlarge on Feb 16, 2011 22:08:48 GMT
Tonight on Coleman at Large we will be discussing abortion alongside other pressing ethical concerns. Coleman at Large 22:00-0:00 Newstalk 106-108FM
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Post by shane on Feb 16, 2011 22:50:55 GMT
colemanatlarge, I take it you are Marc Coleman himself? Welcome to the forum.
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Post by hibernicus on Feb 17, 2011 22:24:53 GMT
VOx Nova, known to its critics as the Debating Club at Auschwitz, is a discussion forum for (mainly) US catholics who are often seriously at variance with the Magisterium. Their point quoted above is pretty much on the button, however.
I should also clarify a point in my recent post. I don't know what the Blaneys' positions are on "traditional values" - I just wanted to sound a warning that because their father held certain views this does not mean that the sons do so.
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Post by Askel McThurkill on Feb 18, 2011 12:12:03 GMT
Hib's point on the Blaney brothers is well taken. Ruairi de Valera (the President's grandson) is running as an independent in Wexford. That means nothing either.
However, I heard it all now - 'Bishop' Michael Cox is running as an independent in Laois-Offaly.
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Post by Alaisdir Ua Séaghdha on Feb 18, 2011 14:17:17 GMT
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Post by hibernicus on Feb 18, 2011 22:09:42 GMT
I saw it this morning. Oddly enough, there is a sense in which this is a move away from incompetence- what they have always lacked is a clear sense of identity and a concerted policy on transfers. Unfortunately it's a move from incompetency to lunacy. I suspect that we are seeing Richard Greene's influence here, given that defaulting on bank debt and letting the financial system collapse was the major plank of the short-lived "People's Party" he tried to launch last year, and that he has always had very strongly republican views. Essentially, this is a policy based on the idea that Ireland can and should try to return to economic autarky as a means of reasserting cultural and political sovereignty. The trouble is that the Irish economy is so interwoven into the international economy and so dependent on foreign trade that this is a complete non-starter, unless you believe (as Justin Barrett certainly does and Greene may do) that triggering an economic apocalypse is a necessary first step to national reconstruction, and that the present system is so corrupt that nothing about it is worth preserving. This amounts to advocating the transformation of Ireland into a North Korea or Burma, though I suspect they don't realise this is what it entails (not to mention that it could never gain popular support and could only be maintained by the sort of regime that exists in Burma and North Korea). THis is really a policy of despair, and amounts to retreating from the country as it actually exists into a world of fantasy. The belief that Sinn Fein is reliably pro-life also tends to ignore the strong leftist and secularist strain in the party (though admittedly this may have been weakened by recent defections of Trots who disliked the military-style control exercised by the Northern leadership, and Gerry Adams and Co would adopt any policy if it gave them power). There is always a tendency for some Catholic-nationalists to treat Irish nationalism/republicanism as if it was an integral part of the Creed, and I fear this is an example. If I had a vote in the Republic I would still cast a protest vote for the CSP, but I would not do so if I thought they had the least chance of putting these policies into practice. Re other candidates - I am glad to see Mary Hanafin still has a chance of making it back in Dun Laoghaire and considerably less glad to see the IRISH TIMES gives Ivana Bacik a strong chance of election there. Anyone who reads this and has a vote in Dun Laoghaire should make sure to vote, to fill out their ballot in full and give her their very last preference. If anyone wonders why I am saying this, I suggest they consult her book KICKING AND SCREAMING with its demand for the total secularisation of Irish society. Eamon O Cuiv is I think about as socially conservative as any mainstream politician is likely to get nowadays. If I were in his constituency I would certainly vote for him.
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Post by Beinidict Ó Niaidh on Feb 21, 2011 11:48:01 GMT
I would encourage people to use the Pro-life Campaign's virtual post-card: www.prolifecampaign.ie/virtualpostcard/ It allows you to send a message to all candidates in anygiven constuency. I tried it for Louth already and the only response I got was from the Independent Frank Godfrey (a former Mayor of Drogheda). It was positive. Councillor Godfrey is a rank outsider, but he's worth a number one in Louth on the basis of declaring himself a pro-lifer. If I hear anything else I will post it.
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