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Prediction

Given that Ireland's presidency wasn't contested this year (leaving us with an unelected foreigner as our figurehead-of-state) I've been paying more attention to the US campaign. The first votes were cast a few hours ago, so this is the time for me to finally lay out my prediction, sans any semblance of justification. I think Kerry is going to win. Time will tell. II promise not to remove this prediction if I'm wrong, though I can't promise I won't complain loudly.

Update (3 November, 12:30): I think I can now safely say: Bah! You maniacs. I'm with Dunstan on this one.

Comments:
Tue, 02nd Nov 2004 (20:38)

Am I wrong in seeing a note of discontent in your characterisation of our exceptionally competent, intelligent and erudite first citizen? You claim that she was 'unelected' - this is quite simply not true. She was elected, in 1997, and the fact that she was unoppossed for re-election in no way negates that fact. If anything, it affirms the choice that the electorate made in 1997, and is reflective of the fact that President McAleese has conducted herself with such integrity that no party was willing to enter into a contest against her that was certain to prove unwinnable.

It is perhaps worth noting that article 12-4-5 of the Irish Constitution runs thus: "Where only one candidate is nominated for the office of President it shall not be necessary to proceed to a ballot for his(Sic) election."

by Stephen Brophy
Wed, 03rd Nov 2004 (00:20)

I won't have the opportunity to vote for the president of this country until I'm 28. Shouldn't there at least be a token loon to run against her? I'd be annoyed if not for the fact that the president is nothing but an ambassador, and we don't vote for them anyway.

by Rory
Wed, 03rd Nov 2004 (12:22)

Democracy is not a frivolous thing, and I can see absolutely no benefit and several drawbacks to having an idiot candidate who would have no chance of winning. In fact, the nomination process for the Presidency is designed specifically to keep random loons out. We should be thankful for that, given the amount of lunatic voters out there…

by Stephen Brophy

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This piece was posted on Tue, 02nd Nov 2004 at 14:22.

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