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There are many ways to pick up informed news on what's happening in the world, and in fairness, RTE are pretty fair in their coverage, unlike those two bastions of democratic discourse in your country, Fox and CNN. We should be defending our instruments of democracy really, when you see what autocratic regimes do to the "free press" .
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1958 - 10/12/2025 09:38:02 2647758 Link 1 |
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You seem to be an expert all thingsAmerican, and fair play to you. You probably are American and that's as it should be. But you might read up on the constitutional guidelines governing the selection of candidates for a largely ceremonial role as president of this country. Last time there were many more made it through. Twenty odd runners for each party in primary's is great, as they were for positions as lawmakers. Running for the Dail or county councils here could have many candidates, which is again, as it should be, as the positions are again, for lawmakers and legislation.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1958 - 10/12/2025 09:46:50 2647761 Link 1 |
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Remind us again, which ones ?
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1958 - 10/12/2025 09:48:57 2647762 Link 0 |
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They are fair in which coverage exactly? If you think they are less partisan in their coverage than Fox and CNN I have a hill of beans to sell you.
alalalalalum (USA) - Posts: 158 - 10/12/2025 10:24:53 2647766 Link 0 |
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Sorry but your markers for healthy democracy are not relevant. Democracy is a lot more than how many people are on the ballot paper. I don't know what relevance your media references are about either. The point was that even RTE, which has a perception of being on side with the government of the day, is still able to robustly interview government reps, unfortunately not consistently enough, and hold them to account. Altering interviews and whatever partisan angles demonstrates an inept media. In America Trump will only answer questions he's comfortable with and throws personal insults at journalists who ask legitmate uncomfortable questions. So one pillar of democracy, the ability of the media to hold government to account, is not working in America. On elections, sure there is only ever 2 candidates for the US presidential election! A person who has way more power than our ceremonial president. The Irish one normally has more candiadtes just not this time. For Dail and council elections we have a PRSTV system which is one of the most democratically inclusive voting systems you can have. That has allowed for a wide range of parties, independents and people of varying views. You have two parties in America in a first past the post system. Its an horrendous system which encourages least worst option voting and some districts will never vote a different party. Your point that there was 25 Reps and 24 dems is pointless, sure it's still the same two parties. Add to that constant gerrymandering of voting boundaries. It's like the bloody north under unionist rule. You also have the office of President which has way too much executive power. No one person in Ireland could hold that much power. Not to mention the ridiculous college vote which stems from the 1700s and allowing states with high rates of slavery to have disproportionate power relative to their white population. You can't run either for Pres in the USA unless you are bankrolled to the gills. The entire American system is antiquated and stuck in the 1700s. They might as well still be going around in breeches and knee high white socks. FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 507 - 10/12/2025 10:37:01 2647771 Link 0 |
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Completely agree on both points re media and the FF selection. Huge mistep for FF, a party candidate like Kelleher or even O'Cuiv would have done very well. MM was way too eager to get a celeb candidate. I think Jim OC as leader would be a good move for FF.
FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 507 - 10/12/2025 10:41:02 2647773 Link 0 |
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Has he not got things settled between Isreal and Palestine compared to mess he inherited? India and Pakistan agreed to ceasefire The info is out there if you think freely and not have trump derangement syndrome As I've said dont like him but just criticising his bad and not calling out things he has done well is not very balanced jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1792 - 10/12/2025 10:57:47 2647776 Link 1 |
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India and Pakistan, that's all you have? 500 approx killed since ceasefire in Gaza and Israel just biding their time. Russia ploughing ahead. Trump now getting involved in Venezuela because of oil and other natural resources. Iraq mark 2. You accuse others of TDS but yet you don't debate any of the mad stuff or highlight it?
TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8666 - 10/12/2025 11:53:07 2647787 Link 0 |
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Not sure what your point is on CBS. So two parties for the primary elections? The same two parties for every presidential race....which you can only enter if you are bankrolled to the gills. Constant gerrymandering of electoral districts. USA is stuck in the 1700s, the same out dated system since the Puritan republic was founded. FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 507 - 10/12/2025 11:59:00 2647788 Link 0 |
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The news media can be broken into two factions: those that never praise Trump and those that always praise Trump. Both are equally useless. I can't hate the media enough for what they ignore and/or what they overreport on.
SouthGalway (Galway) - Posts: 120 - 10/12/2025 12:03:06 2647789 Link 0 |
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I agree with you as far as the differences between the whole Presidential Election setup in the USA vs Ireland and yes as you say the Irish President is mostly Ceremonial but what about all the spoiled votes? Does that seem like a very satisfied populace? Satisfied with what candidates were LET in?
SouthGalway (Galway) - Posts: 120 - 10/12/2025 12:10:46 2647791 Link 0 |
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I don't debate thr mad stuff as I agree with you no defending it or do you want an echo chamber where we all just talk about someone's faults You ignore due to your TDS that I've said he's soft with Russia and Isreal, that the way he speaks to reporters women in particular is pathetic also Some of his appointments have been crazy too You mentioned Russia that happened between his terms and is a mess not of his doing. I find it odd considering he's so soft on vlad that putin choose to start invasion after he was no longer president You mention India Pakistan as all I have can you not just say yes it's good that those two nations have a ceasefire Can you not say he has improved things between in Gaza because they have still horrible what's happening but it's clear deaths have reduced Like you are so off on him you couldn't even see him winning election when it was wide open for him I have same tds with Man Utd can flgive them no credit jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1792 - 10/12/2025 12:21:55 2647795 Link 1 |
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You don't debate or highlight the mad stuff but you come on here acknowledging things you think he does well? Have you any idea how daft that sounds? No thoughts on Venezuela i see? I called the election wrong. I know. Like do I have to keep admitting that? And does that mean I can't highlight the crazy stuff ? TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8666 - 10/12/2025 12:44:05 2647799 Link 0 |
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I have seen TDs in recent months refuse to answer questions from a journalist and was in fact called out by r rest of press crew
jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1792 - 10/12/2025 13:03:39 2647808 Link 1 |
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I don't know about venesuela what happening so would be silly to comment on something I don't know about I literally have posted a list of his mad stuff I think he does wrong and have constantly it's there in my last post. One more time he's soft on Isreal and Russia I don't like how he speaks to reporters Particular women and some of his appointments are a bit mad. Now can you not acknowledge an India Pakistan ceasefire is good and he has improved situation in Gaza? What may happen I future I can't predict jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1792 - 10/12/2025 13:20:03 2647814 Link 1 |
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I don't debate stuff I agree with how can I
jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1792 - 10/12/2025 13:21:21 2647815 Link 1 |
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That's a really bizarre way of looking at things. Only having a pop at posters who highlight all the mad stuff.
TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8666 - 10/12/2025 14:54:59 2647834 Link 0 |
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There you go again calling people who disagree with Mr T Deranged. That's straight out of his lexicon. I happen to think that Mr T is the worst thing that ever happened to America, Europe and the rest of the world Hardly enough to put me in the deranged category - but if it makes you feel better, so be it.
Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1958 - 10/12/2025 14:57:03 2647836 Link 0 |
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Read again I did not call anyone deranged for disagreeing with him. People who cannot give him credit for anything I put in that bracket It's deranged if you can't acknowledge he has improved things in Gaza compared to situation under Biden watch. Feel free to call out his failings of which there are many He could turn water into wine and you'd complain it's not beer. Your opinion is just that. Don't think he's up to much either and he's a nasty person I'd put him slightly ahead of Biden as president. From shows I've watched recently I'd put time mcveigh and Koresh below him in terms of Americans worse then him jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1792 - 10/12/2025 15:43:07 2647852 Link 1 |
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No if someone says something I agree with ie David Clifford is best footballer in Ireland I will give it a thumbs up. A debate involves two opposing views. I am in fact balanced I call out both sides ie I'll call out Barney for nonsense and you and freethinker on other side Like see how you cannot give him an iota of credit. I can criticise and give credit where due jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1792 - 10/12/2025 15:48:50 2647854 Link 1 |