Phoenix magazine reckon that the only reason that they are doing this is to raise their profile and do a bit of PR work. They know they haven’t a hope of winning and would probably opt for Mary Lou McDonald as a candidate.

I think Finian is more than capable of that with or without David Norris or anyone else for that matter

A possibilitie, just like “Dustin the Turkey “

Will you require them to at least say publicly that the murder of Irish men & women is wrong?
I mean, even if they weren’t members of the IRA themselves (like Gerry), they still support the notion that the murder of civilians is acceptable…

Paul, i think you’ll find that no member of SF will say the killing of civilians is or ever was acceptable. Unfortunately many civilians were killed during the Troubles but there is an almost unanimous agreement from all sections of society that this was wrong.

Also this post is about the Presidency but from some of the comments here you think there hasn’t been a peace process or that most people are moving on & trying to build a better future for our country.

less likely than putting man on the moon perhaps, but surely its pretty oblivious that its more likely than a banker standing trail……

Sound like you are the hater Hugh ?

Are you suggesting that Mary Lou McDonald is a murderer? =/

I don’t see why SF shouldn’t run a candidate. I would be highly unlikely to vote for one but they have as much right to put a candidate forward as any other democratically elected party.

You know Eddie, I suppose I’m vulnerable to the charge that I hate much of what SF stands for and stood for. Yep, vulnerable to that charge.

Mind you, at least I’m not vulnerable to the charge that I engaged in organized conspiracy to rob, kidnap, torture and murder other Irishmen and women. And I’m pretty clear that I don’t want a President who has much tolerance for that either.

Hugh. There is more going on at the moment, more important issues than listening to the likes of you, sound like the Irish Times from the 1870’s on about the fenians. Look at the calendar, move on.

I think it’s a bloody shame we are the one western industrialised nation on the planet who would give such criminals a Democratic mandate to be capable of putting forward a candidate.

Interesting view there Anthony, which criminal members of Sinn Fein are you referring to and what offences did they commit or were charged with? BTW I’m not a Shinner myself I’m just interested to know who you are talking about so that the nest time Sinn Fein come knocking on my door I can hit them with a few facts.

Anthony Nicholas …. Fine Gael are responsible for murdering more people on this Island in the last century than the provisional IRA. It is an inconvenient truth for alot of you guys that the establishment parties including labour all had an active part in armed sruggle. Over 5000 people were killled during the 18 months of civil war 1922-23, 2000 more people than in the entire 30 year conflict in the North. Fine Gael’s founding fathers authorsided and carried out extra-judicial killings – that’s unlawful murder if you don’t understand the term.

Do you think that the likes of Collins and others were blowing kisses at one another in the 1920s and before you go off on one about times were different – they weren’t – killing a person in 1921 is the same as killing someone in the 1970s, 80s or 90s, there is no different. Fine Gael even organised a facist paramilitary organisation to enforce their political ideology in the 1930s.

So spare us the historically illiterate rant about western democracy.

@Anthony. FG have been elected so you’ll just have to stuff it. No doubt their covering up and protecting the bombers behing the Dublin/Monaghan bombing, the killers of Seamus Ludlow and many others, all of whom were known to the Guards and had evidence against, all investigations that were ordered stopped by FG in Govt, the files destroyed. All were left go, as it did not fit in to the storyline that FG wanted to betray. Yes they set the Special Branch on to the survivors and victims families for years after Dublin.Monaghan for daring to question why the biggest atrocity in the conflict was only investigated for 6 weeks before being shutdown. The envelopes of cash mush have been flying around FG at that time. Yes they undermined the constitution in the 70′s and forced a decent, honourable president to resign because he upheld the law, at the vulgar ramblings of a chronic alcoholic , who no one would put out of the cabinet because he was FG Royalty. Yes they have countless gombeen men in their ranks and have bankrupted the state once.Yes Garrett got soft loans from a bank that he used tax payers money to bailout. Yes they tried to cover up the poisoning of women with Hep A and attacked them with the full rigour of the state when it was found out.

I don’t like them, they are just a different spin on FF but criminal and treacherous though they may be, they still have the right to run.

”killing a person in 1921 is the same as killing someone in the 1970s, 80s or 90s”
”So spare us the historically illiterate rant about western democracy.”

First of all, maybe you should go learn what illiterate means.
Second of all, I’ll have to disagree. You seem to be completely ignoring the political environment that existed in the 20′s.

You also ignore the fact that Fine Gael did not exist until 1933. Although it is the predecessor of the party which committed those harmful unspeakable acts, it is in no way comparable or even recognisable to the modern day party.

”they still have the right to run”
Yes they do. I acknowledged that when I mentioned they have a Democratic mandate. But just as they have the right to run, I have the right to have issue with it.

Anthony Nicholas, if you don’t approve of the use of the word illiterate how about ‘ignorant’?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumann_na_nGaedheal

Cumann na nGaedheal became Fine Geal and all the founding TDs of Cumann na nGaedheal and indeed FF were TDs in Sinn Féin.

In my opinion the discrimination faced by Northern nationalists in the 1960s was probably worse than that faced by southern nationalists in the 1920s when they were demanding independence. Also, Have you ever been denied employment or hosuing because of your nationality or religion? If not, I don’t think you are in a position to be pontificating on this topic.

You don’t seem to have read what I stated. And there is no need to be rude!

I am perfectly aware CNG was the predecessor of Fine Gael. I mentioned it. My point was that it is no way recognisable or comparable to its origins today. Sinn Fein is.

”opinion the discrimination faced by Northern nationalists in the 1960s was probably worse than that faced by southern nationalists in the 1920s”.

If that is your argument for the actions of the militant wing of Sinn Fein, then this conversation isn’t going anywhere.

Apart from that, I may pontificate on whatever I wish, Nolan. There is a comment section for a reason. That is a very bizarre logic to have. The day we can only have opinion on matters that directly affect is would be a sad day indeed.

"Murder and mayhem"? You’re the one holding a weapon in your profile pic.

Primary members of all our main parties (FF, FG, Labour, SF) were linked to violence in the past be it during the War of Independence, Civil War or the more recent Troubles but all have moved on. You should to.

And the more candidates running for Uachtarán the better, no matter what party they’re associated with.