Is it the preacher of the Socialist message to whom you refer? President for all the People….of the Left.

Was Gallagher a socialist as well as everything else?

Who brought up Gallagher? Not me. Did MDH tell us he was going to use the Presidential pulpit to preach a partisan message? And if he had, would he have been elected? This should not be about Left versus Right or anyone versus anyone. He applied for the job. He got it (with a little help from his friends). Now he should either do the job as it’s meant to be done or quit.

Has MDH overstepped the mark? I think he got elected because people knew what to expect from him, as well as being probably the most articulate, honest and principled of the candidates, not because of a little help from his friends, whatever that means.
I’m no constitutional expert but I’m sure there is some mechanism the Government can use to shut him up if they want, but until that day I hope he continues to contribute to the welfare of this country and all its people, as he has done all his life..

Rommel Burke, If I may indulge in a little speculation I’m guessing you agree with MDH that Socialism is superior to Capitalism. Many, many people, myself included, think otherwise. Now suppose the Fake Tweet hadn’t been put to Gallagher or had been corrected as soon as it was known to be bogus (that’s part of the “little help” thing). And suppose Gallagher had been elected, and had then gone on to lecture repeatedly about the wonders of Capitalism and the intellectual bankruptcy of Socialism, would you think Gallagher had crossed a line? In fact, while I was no great admirer of Gallagher (though I preferred him to MDH) I don’t think he would have dreamt of using the Office in that way, and if he had, the bit of him that would have survived being torn to shreds for having the temerity to win the election would have been stamped on mercilessly by the Left, and rightly so in the latter case. I actually thought Higgins was going to keep within the lines once elected. But he hasn’t.

Mark
Capitalism is an economic system not a political ideology. To suggest that MDH is favouring socialism over capitalism is not to say that he is favouring the left over the right.
Most political commentators of both the centre left or the centre right would agree that unfettered and unregulated free market capitalism caused this economic mess. If we had had a government of the mainstream left in this country over the last ten years I’ve no doubt the economic outcome would have been exactly the same, and probably worse! Berties famous ‘I’m a socialist’ remark rings even hollower in hindsight!
I do not accept that MDH’s criticism of unregulated free market capitalism is in any way indicative of a political impartiality and if the word social has any relevance to the remarks he has made I would consider it’s in the context of social responsibility rather than social(ism).

John (or should I say Murphy), I agree with a lot of what you say but MDH has quite clearly used his Office to advocate for a Leftist agenda, for instance invoking writers, economists and thinkers beloved of the Left,It seems to me that on the whole, societies that have strogly favoured Capitalism are far more successful than their counterparts on the Socialist side are or were. Take the two Koreas for instance. I appreciate you are drawing a distinction between Capitalism/Right and Socialism/Left. I don’t think our President i doing so.

Mark
That’s an interesting point.
I certainly accept that the thinkers, writers, poets etc. that inform and influence MDH’s intellectualism and thought are of a liberal/leftist philosophy; I think to deny that would be a disservice and it is one of the things that attracts me to him.
I do, however, think that to extract from this that he might be in anyway impartial in the more tangible matters of politics and the role of his office is rather unfair. The essence of MDH’s makeup is well known from his years in public life and the manner of his ways, and I for one would be very disappointed if he was forced by the diktats of his office to become an empty shell on a throne.
Of course I agree that the he must operate within strict guidelines regarding political impartiality but that should not stop him speaking out on matters of social concern where his comments might be seen to favour or disfavour one side or other of the political and social spectrum as long as those opinions do not imply a bias regarding the more bread and butter issues of parliamentary politics.
The office of the president does go beyond a purely ceremonial role and a browse through the constitution will show that he has many functions regarding the welfare and self belief of the people as a nation.

Just browsed John, didn’t see those functions. Anyway, my point is that he is bound by the diktats of his office.That’s the nature of the job. My subsidiary point is that I think he has a very rosy view of Socialism/Leftism which has been at the heart of some horrific regimes (of course the other side has many blemishes also, but not to the same extent in the last 150 years or so, in my humble rightish opinion).

John. His name is Charles. You’re confusing him with Mark Rogers. You’re always doing that. Hi Charles. Charles is younger than Mark and slightly less Conservative. Slightly…

Reada
Those two have me all confused! ‘Conservative!’ I’d forgotten that one. Hey you two!

Hi John, Réada, It has become one of my challenges (totally voluntary) to try to keep the Lefties around here on their toes. Many, I suspect, would prefer an echo-chamber. Present company definitely excepted.

A Dr. Who like telephone box, rather than a echo chamber, would do me right now for all this leftie type zipping around. In either case on my toes is where you ‘av me!

Rėada’s last comment made me wonder, did anyone ever on Journal.ie opine on whom on the Left was more or less liberal than whomever else? If they did, it passed me by. I’ll set a precedent and suggest that Réada is more than a little more “liberal” than John. As for the age thing, I’m staying well away from that grenade.

We’ll all line up and present ourselves someday. There’s a treat!
As for the age thing? I’ll head for the bunker when you pull that pin.

Charles. Don’t tell Mark, but you’re my favourite Conservative. I’ll make a liberal socialist out of you yet… If it’s the last thing I do.

John. It was Mark had the bunker…

You can tell Charles, I’m younger than John. No senior moments for me yet. I remember everything.

Especially when peace is so fragile.

Crazy eyes. Jeez…

Point is McGuinness is very selective about what he will speak about. He reminds me of Bertie with the arrogance of his answers and denials, which are obvious lies

She asked each candidate what they thought of him.. But harsh

Conor. She asked him had he got confession fgs. Come on. It was embarrassing. She should have been fired. Very unprofessional.

And I should mention I thought that even though I voted for Michael D Higgins.

McGuiness did claim to be a Catholic, his claim, not Miriam’s. Asking him how he squares Catholic teaching with his own endorsement of the IRA seems fair enough.

And would she have asked Dev the same question? He was a president too and responsible for many a murder of Irishmen. Like it or not…

If she had been around we could.have saved ourselves having that awful man as president.

It was a fair question.

Réada, fair point about Dev but Martin McGuinness is pretty disingenuous about his IRA past. Painting himself as a whiter than white alter boy just goads the meadia on to ask him these kinds of questions.

Vincent Browbeat (jeez, look at that for predictive text) pulled out 6 or 7 books to support his interogation of Mcguinness. Just happened to have ‘em handy. Sooo, why did Martina complain about Miriam?

MMcG in fairness never denied being in the IRA. I voted for MDH but I did welcome the debate MMcG brought to the debate about a United Ireland. And as a pacifist I welcome the fact that MMcG put his head above the firing line and chose peace, at a risk to his life.

Asking him did had he got Confession was a step too far. None of your bloody business Miriam! Come on lads.

Oh fgs. Ye forgive queen Elizabeth commander-in-chief of the British armed forces for bloody Sunday and ye can’t forgive MMcG for joining the IRA as a young fella in Derry prior to Bloody Sunday. Why do ye think there was the need for a Civil Rights march??? Do ye know your history at all?

Give me strength. It seems Ireland will bend over backwards to be seen as a good little child. Grow up!

I’ll try and make this my last comment. Pretty obvious this is something I feel passionately about.

If we, in the 26 counties, continue to treat Sinn Féin like they are beyond forgiveness and acceptance, what message are we giving to dissident republicans? How many more Ronan Kerrs do ye want to die?

Rather than thumb me down, answer the question. Please?

I accept that Miriam O’Callaghan behaved unprofessionally, but there’s no surprise there. She’s about the most biased and unprofessional journalist to grace RTÉ with their presence. Does anyone remember her post-2008 austerity budget with Lenihan and Richard Bruton? Might as well have been a party-political broadcast for FF.

Nevertheless, McGuiness still has serious questions to answer about his past. Réada, we are ready to forgive, though never forget, but it requires some greater acknowledgement on his part of his past. Also, if he could help the numerous families who don’t to this day know where their loved-ones lie after brutal and unnecessary murders, then it would be a significant step forward. Even if he didn’t have a hand in those murders, people he has links to and influence over do. It’s time he gave some clear answers.

Fair play Conor. At least you answered. There is all this hushed talk about a Truth Commission. Isn’t it time that there was one? Perhaps the British state could take the lead. A state army and government should be expected to behave above the law and we all know they didn’t.

A Truth Commission would require some degree of forgiveness on both sides. Won’t be easy but something we should move towards. We have to keep pushing forward through all the sh!t. We have to cos we can’t go back.

This actually occurred during the Good Friday negotiations between Sinn Féin and the Irish government. McGuiness said he would have to consult the Army Council before agreeing to a particular point. He was most put put out when one of the government delegation suggested that he should go to the jacks cos it had a mirror in there.

Absolutely agree with you on the Truth Commission Réada. It won’t serve anyone’s interests to beat anyone with a stick, but everything needs to come out into the open so we can move on!

I’m not a SF supporter, but I would like to see a day where a SF candidate can engage in public debate without the need to deflect questions about The Troubles. However, this won’t happen until we see more openness.

I wouldn’t hold my breath to wait for the British to take the lead, but perhaps. This state could, our conduct can never be said to have been perfect.

Fair play to you, Réada. You constantly talk sense on this website against the tide of anti-republican comments. You must have the patience of a saint. Fair balls to you.

PS- Unusual but beautiful name. Never heard of it before.

TAL

Without a T&R it is unreasonable to expect transparency from SF. And I agree that the conduct of Irish governments is less than truthful. Nothing new there.

It’s also pathetic the way any time an elected member of SF ask any question in the Dáil that their counterparts’ 6 county past is brought up. FF, FG and Labour are perpetuating the hatred and its time they stopped. Do the decent thing for Ireland and demand a Truth Commission. We want to hold on to peace on our island.

Thanks Kevin. I’m an Irish mammy of 4 so patience is a given. I love my country and would talk about this every day god love me. ;)

Reada, you are female?

Nobody asks FF, FG or the labor party about their IRA past…

Come on Réada,
The sooner SF candidates start being honest about exactly what went on the better, and until they refuse to be honest they will be open to such questions. Mind you, I did feel the way the question was asked was sly but perhaps Mrs O’Callaghan felt she had to wire her way in through Mr McGuinness’ stonewalling since – until he was confronted in the shopping centre – he fire walled every question about his past. With respect to Dev/Collins etc it is clear and accepted that they ordered killings/operations or that they killed… however, in the case of Mr McGuinness he accepts the publicity and stature that comes with his past but he refuses to be honest and to accept that he killed and ordered killings. So, either he says no I did not do these things but I did agree with them or yes I did do these things or whatever the case may be…but he should not be living on the propaganda if it is fake and he should admit it if it is true.

Hopefully he will be able to soon Robert. Maybe Enda and eamonn and Bertie and noonan and Cowan will follow and start telling the truth too. Wouldn’t that be great. TDs we could trust. Think I’ll sleep on that lovely thought. Night.

Yes!!!! Bloody hell Mark!
What dancing partners us two would make! What ya like with two step? Or should I watch out for me corns.

“I hold up my hand and admit I was one of the idiots who dismissed Berties obvious lies because I was fooled in to believing he was doing a good job” <— this.

Many in this countries history were part of the IRA and went on to play various roles in the development of this State, Dev probably being the most obvious. How do you think this start came into being? McGuinness has every right to be involved in Irish politics. She lost a lot of my respect because her bias shone through and I don’t even vote SF

Bollox!! the ira McG was part of were/are a murdering shower of criminal bastards!

You can label many groups that way if you want to. Question is when is the past the past and do we move on, because surely no one, bar a few, want to go back?

By your reasoning that makes you responsible for all the murders carried out by the British army and unionist terrorists Is that why you are afraid to stand by your true identity

Grow up.

Missing the point…

When the complaints against Pat Kenny are dismissed, do you think that he will receive the decision in a brown envelope? Or perhaps he will be notified via one of your €30.00 ‘off-the-shelf’ FF websites that cost the state €3,000.00 each?

Fianna Failed puppet, we can see the strings.

I’d hardly say that Seán Gallagher was hard done by. The man accepted dodgy payments and it was both morally correct and in the public interest that this be brought to light.

Like to add to that that Sean did cry about his “unfair” treatment (lol) on the Frontline debate. But it was his answers that actually got him in trouble. Could you imagine if that tweet had been directed at MDH. I’d have lived to see his indignation. ;)

I see the armchair Republicans lack a sense of humour.