# I pit the Irish Presidential election **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 25, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573 "2011-09-25T18:03:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Scathach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Scathach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scathach)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573/41 "2011-09-27T12:01:11Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > Dana is pretty much the full on shield-banging Catholic - IMO Mitchell would be a better choice. Nah, Mitchell is too anti-gay & conservative for me to vote for him. I’m sure Dana probably is too but I’d never consider voting for her anyway 🙂 Actually went looking for Micheal D. on youtube there - great clip of him going mental at Micheal Graham (some conservative from the US who George Hook always has on a Friday and drives me up the walls). [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOxKnsT-XZg](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOxKnsT-XZg) And speaking pro civil unions [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9cSSH6imyM](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9cSSH6imyM) Actually the more I watch the more I like him 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573/42 "2011-09-27T12:52:59Z")
He’s too old, writes bad poetry, can’t keep his mouth shut and is a midget (which will make meeting foreign leaders and inspecting the army awkward). ---
**Author:** ![Hrududu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Hrududu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hrududu)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573/43 "2011-09-27T15:49:27Z")
Such an unispiring bunch. The only reason for me to vote is to keep McGuiness out. If Norris doesn’t get into the race then it looks like Michael D might be the one to get in. ---
**Author:** ![Scathach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Scathach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scathach)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573/44 "2011-09-27T17:56:16Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > He’s too old, writes bad poetry, can’t keep his mouth shut and is a midget (which will make meeting foreign leaders and inspecting the army awkward). I find it less awkward than having a bigot or a terrorist doing it. ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573/45 "2011-09-27T19:35:11Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > and is a midget (which will make meeting foreign leaders and inspecting the army awkward). Actually, I’d say it’ll make meeting Sarkozy a whole lot \*less \*awkward. I think ‘shortarse’ is considerably less terrible in a president than ‘bigot’ or ‘seriously??’ ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573/46 "2011-09-27T19:50:05Z")
> [@Hrududu](#): > > Such an unispiring bunch. The only reason for me to vote is to keep McGuiness out. Something interesting about McGuiness I have noted from my Facebook page. I am seeing a lot of status messages like; > [@](#): > > And will NEVER vote for sinn mc Guinness innocent people were killed , blood on his hands I think it is interesting the way a lot of southerners feel about McGuiness. It seems he is simply a terrorist to them, they have a black and white idea of him as a murderer. Whereas in the North we did not have the luxury of taking a moral stance on his history, we had to accept him and his party in the need to forge a peace process. In effect the country where he aided terrorism elected him, while the country not directly affected by the troubles have no trouble getting on their high horse and judging him. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573/47 "2011-09-27T20:34:31Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > 1. a terrorist, Former terrorist, former terrorist. He hasn’t killed a civilian in cold blood for quite a while, now. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573/48 "2011-09-27T21:16:23Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > Something interesting about McGuiness I have noted from my Facebook page. I am seeing a lot of status messages like; > I think it is interesting the way a lot of southerners feel about McGuiness. It seems he is simply a terrorist to them, they have a black and white idea of him as a murderer. Whereas in the North we did not have the luxury of taking a moral stance on his history, we had to accept him and his party in the need to forge a peace process. > > In effect the country where he aided terrorism elected him, while the country not directly affected by the troubles have no trouble getting on their high horse and judging him. I think it’s because even at the height of the Troubles supporters of physical force republicanism were a small percentage of the population of the Republic. ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573/49 "2011-09-27T21:23:04Z")
And just to take this from the most serious issues to the pettiest: it drives me nuts that we’re supposed to say ‘Danarosemaryscallon’. If you don’t want people thinking about your singing career (which of course she does), just call yourself Rosemary Scallon. If you do want people thinking about your singing career, just call yourself Dana Scallon. Everyone except RTE calls you Dana anyway. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573/50 "2011-09-27T21:40:40Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I think it’s because even at the height of the Troubles supporters of physical force republicanism were a small percentage of the population of the Republic. I don’t mean to imply I supported what he did (I pretty much reject all those tossers back home), but he was a product of his times and his beliefs, and it seems that a lot of people are happy to overlook that and paint him as a black and white terrorist. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573/51 "2011-09-27T21:57:07Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > I don’t mean to imply I supported what he did (I pretty much reject all those tossers back home), but he was a product of his times and his beliefs, and it seems that a lot of people are happy to overlook that and paint him as a black and white terrorist. I understand the complex set of circumstances that led him to do what he did, but I _still_ wouldn’t vote for him. I think I’ll be comfortable voting SF in a few decades. I can imagine the likes of Pearse Doherty being President (or even Taoiseach) one day if things don’t ever deteriorate again in the north. ---
**Author:** ![Doughbag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Doughbag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doughbag)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573/52 "2011-09-28T12:58:18Z")
… all kinds of everything… ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573/53 "2011-09-28T13:40:12Z")
Once Gay Gay Mitchell or Dana don’t get it I’m happy. I’ll probably throw my vote to the apologist for child abuse(using the OP’s phrase). He’s handled the whole affair terribly but he was my choice for years now so I’msticking to it. ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573/54 "2011-09-28T15:55:04Z")
Loving the Michael D. posters where he’s got his hands out. ‘I’m Michael D and it’s THIS BIG.’ ---
**Author:** ![Hrududu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Hrududu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hrududu)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573/55 "2011-09-28T16:26:00Z")
The Michael D poster did actually make me laugh when I saw it. The Mary Davis posters look like a Dunnes Stores Fashion ad from the 1980s. ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573/56 "2011-09-28T16:33:58Z")
That’s exactly it! I was trying to put my finger on what they reminded me of (ad for some kind of herbal product to help women through menopause?) but yeah, it’s '80s Dunnes. ---
**Author:** ![Scathach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Scathach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scathach)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2011, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573/57 "2011-09-28T19:51:22Z")
> [@Hrududu](#): > > The Michael D poster did actually make me laugh when I saw it. > > The Mary Davis posters look like a Dunnes Stores Fashion ad from the 1980s. I saw them and thought they were ads for Boots. The little blue “vote Mary” thing looks like the Boots logo when you’re driving past. ---
**Author:** ![williambaskerville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@williambaskerville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/williambaskerville)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573/58 "2011-09-29T06:21:50Z")
In other news, Mary Davis has proposed renaming the President’s residence. That’s certainly an issue that was at the forefront of my concerns, and she’s got my vote. I’m thinking we could maybe call it the President’s Residence, and translate that into the first official language, Irish. Anyone got any other ideas ? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573/59 "2011-09-29T06:26:10Z")
The Love Shack? It would have a kick ass theme song. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573/60 "2011-09-29T22:30:28Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > I think it is interesting the way a lot of southerners feel about McGuiness. It seems he is simply a terrorist to them, they have a black and white idea of him as a murderer. Whereas in the North we did not have the luxury of taking a moral stance on his history, we had to accept him and his party in the need to forge a peace process. Not being Irish, I have a question. I see that McGuinness is currently the deputy first minister of Northern Ireland, and he’s also running for President of the Republic of Ireland. Is it common for both Irish countries to trade politicians like this? And for that matter, are most Northern Irish also citizens of Ireland? I’m asking because it sounds odd to me, like if a Albertan provincial cabinet minister were running for Governor of Montana. But of course the links between Ireland and Northern Ireland are closer than what I’m probably used to see between different countries. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-irish-presidential-election/597573.md?page=4)