Electioneering

We're off to the polls again on 27th October, this time to elect a new President.

The cat among the pigeons in terms of candidates is definitely Martin McGuinness, nominated by Sinn Féin. Apart from that, the on-off-on campaign of Senator David Norris has stolen most of the headlines (a nasty, orchestrated smear campaign led to his withdrawal, but a groundswell of bring-back-David opinion convinced him to return).

Nominations only closed a week ago, so the campaign is now in full swing. Of course, that means that every lamppost, telegraph pole and other suitable site has been commandeered by the candidates' campaign teams as targets for promotional posters. I don't mind the posters that much (though the more of them there are, the more I tend to be switched off by them), but I do object when the ugly plastic ties are left behind when the votes are countered and the posters are taken down.

The recent strong winds have torn several posters off their poles, and this one was just one of many which I spotted while out today. It was face down on the grass, but I turned Michael D over for this photo op. The same Michael D has been on the political scene here for what seems like centuries, and is doing reasonably well in the opinion polls. If he does get the job, I hope somebody gives him a haircut and teaches him how to tie a proper knot in his tie. He could also do with a few pairs of platform shoes, since he's not the tallest of people.

Only three weeks to go. Thanks be.