If Fianna Fáil do back Norris it’d certainly do them no harm after the Gay Byrne thing. They’d show the public they are willing to listen to what we want on this issue, and it’d also throw a spanner into the works for Fine Gael and Labour. I hope he re-enters, whether he wins or not, because it can’t be denied that he has had the strongest public backing and we at least need to able to choose who we want for ourselves.

If Norris re-enters the race before next Friday, then he won’t be on the Late Late next Friday. Broadcaster-balance and all that.

(yeah, I realise there are plenty of people who reckon, with some quite reasonable thought, that RTE is about as balanced as a drunk guy wandering up Grafton Street at half two on a Saturday night. But they still won’t have him on the show on his own if he declares before that.)

Let the people decide, let the homophobes be homophobic, let people decide to completely reject Norris or let the people accept him. Don’t leave it up to the political powers that be to decide OUR fate. Let the republic choose.
He has my vote

“Nominations close on…[date]” would be a helpful addition to this story.

Danny has a very good number of points and I share his belief that the political system in Ireland needs a massive overhaul to break free from the current apathy amongst voters and self serving smugness of politicians and parties alike. The presidential election has descended into what the Bandon Opinion magazine describes as ” (resembling) a beauty contest in Kilnaskully”. Let the people decide who they want as a candidate and as president not parties with their own agenda’s who tell the people who they can and can’t vote for. If people want Norris then they will vote for him, if not then somebody else will get elected.

What I find interesting is the anti-Norris side who are fuming that Norris may re-enter the race after seeing the support that has has got. I mean how dare he and his supporters actually think that they are allowed to express their opinions or engage in a democratic process. Who gives them the right to campaign for the wish’s of 30-40% of people who want Norris on the ballot paper if for nothing else to show big parties and vested interests that we have had enough of being lied to, conned and talked down to by political parties and gombeen men. Who do Norris supporters think runs this country? Surely they don’t think that the ordinary voter actually has a voice in how things get done. I mean don’t they know how Irish democracy works?

Another thing to note is the fear of the anti-Norris bloc that he will re-enter the race because of the fact that he might just win! My, wouldn’t they look like idiots and down right foolish (Louise Lowe take note). The use of half quotes from unverified sources, emotional language and incorrect statements of “fact” seems to be the corner stone of their vitriolic campaign against him. They read a story in the media of from other questionable sources and couldn’t be arsed to verify the truth or accuracy of those sources. Instead they engage in name calling of Norris or his supporters ( see Louise Lowe as an example above) whereas others use snide corner of the mouth comments or down right slanderous misrepresentations or lie to cover up their inability to form a reasoned, intelligent argument to support their cause. If Norris does run for the office you can be guaranteed that the fear that these people have will turn to sheer terror at the thought of being exposed as small minded anti-democrats who want to stop a large part of voters having their say.

If they reject that charge then I say support Norris’s bid to be on the ballot paper, let Norris stand and let the people have their say. Let democracy decide who will be the next president and let there be no ambiguity about it. If Norris wins then so be it, if he doesn’t then what harm is done. It might be the imputous that is needed to rethink how we elect our officials and how both parties and politicians need to actually start listening to the people.

The reaction to this shows that David Norris has become a controversial figure in Irish politics since the Letters scandal. And you know what, I think for that reason alone he should get back in there. We need a kick in the stones to shake us from the cynical apathy that has clouded the race since he left, if people don’t want him there than let them be heard and if people want him there then let them be heard also.

If people can villify Norris for his actions, why aren’t we tearing Gay Mitchell a new one for getting stuck in a murder case in the US, or Michael D who must surely have some skeletons in his closet? I don’t want to participate in a political system that reacts so violently towards anybody who upsets the status quo, and I don’t want to call myself Irish if it means I would live in a country that is so selective in it’s outubrsts of moral outrage

Let’s use this whole fiasco to have a national debate on what we want our politicians to be like and how we expect them to behave, and more importantly where we want our politics to go in the 21st century. We have an tremendous, once in a lifetime opportunity right now to reshape this country’s political order and if the people want that David Norris should be the vehicle by which that change is delivered then he should run and I will certainly vote for him. If not, however, it is then the duty of whoever does get their name on the ballot to do so and I will choose my vote accordingly and I would expect others to do the same.

This country and campaign is turning into a big joke!!!

As I have previously stated, let the people of Ireland decide on the ballot paper on the day.. I believe he, David Norris is entitled to be judged by his electorate, otherwise whoever wins the election without his name on the sheet, will only be winning by default. Good luck to all who run!

Very well said Brian.

Norris is gone from the race. End of.

He left, not because he wasn’t able to get on the ballot, but because he realised that his actions in the past compromised his ability to win the race and to have the confidence of the people.

Nothing has changed since he left to warrant his return. This is just another media rumour gone astray.

As for the “We want Norris” campaign: I’d suggest asking Norris himself whether he’ll return instead of aimlessly wandering Grafton Street looking for signatures. It all looks a bit delusional to me. No amount of signatures will convince Norris back. The polls showed he had many hundreds of thousands of people willing to vote for him, but he knew that would shrink after the controversy.

What a horrific signal this will send to the many victims of child sexual abuse in this country and the world.If this clown re-enters the race Ireland may hang its head in shame.
Norris should remain under his rock.

Fianna Fail are nut done trying to ruin the country it would seem.

Well said Liam! Let the Irish people decide!!! I will be voting for David Norris.. I want to be given that choice!!!

An article published in Magill Magazine, in which he was quoted as saying there was “something to be said” for “classic paedophilia”
Something to be said alright it’s PERVERTED…
The deluded pro dorris camp can rant all they want but some words cannot be taken back.

The deluded Norris supporters who think he can still be president are even crazier than the rugby heads who think Ireland can win the World Cup. Take a step into the real world you foolish people.

How about Jedward for President. We’d get 2 for one and heaven knows this pitiful pillaged country and it’s useless leaders needs a bargain right now.