Independent socialist Catherine Connolly’s coolness to Brussels and hostility to Donald Trump put her at odds with the Irish government.
She’s slammed NATO, voted against EU treaties, been accused of offering propaganda boosts for dictators from Russia to Syria — and now she’s on track to become Ireland’s next president.
Catherine Connolly, a former mayor of the western city of Galway who’s spent the past nine years as an opposition socialist lawmaker in Ireland’s parliament, has built a commanding polling lead ahead of Friday’s election versus her only challenger, former government minister Heather Humphreys from the center-ground Fine Gael party.
The latest opinion poll, published Wednesday night, put Connolly on 55.7 percent support compared to Humphreys’ 31.6 percent. Results will be announced Saturday, but the surprisingly fleet-footed 68-year-old Connolly acts and talks like she’s already won.
- EU is not perfect, it’s OK to criticize, it’s only crazy if they think no EU is better than having EU. 
- What in the world are these self defeating mixes of opinions. - I don’t think any human being of good health could hold those opinions simultaneously and in good faith. - Keyword here is “accused.” Neoliberal media likes to accuse leftists of Bad Things™. - I must then ask, as someone not familiar with Irish politics. - Are they wrong? Does she actually want to leave the EU and or NATO? 
 
 
- The president is a powerless figure head so her opinions dont matter, I am disappointed we couldn’t vote Michael D again, atleast he brought his dogs out for meet and greets. 
- The president of Ireland holds literally no power. 
- Another fake socialist. - Here’s what she actually says about Ukraine, btw. Doesn’t seem like she’s a Russian propagandist. https://youtube.com/watch?v=FW8co4DMVSo - Seems reasonable in the video. - But the “NATO opposition” is a massive red flag that suggests a complete inability to read and understand the russians. - I will be for nato when it get rid of the usa and it’s influence and stop collaborating with Israel - I hope you and your family end up in a russian internment camp! - Libs when imperialism gets anything less than unquestioning support. - I am not a “lib”, the very term “liberal” isn’t even used correctly in North America. - This was a very specific answer to specific claims (get rid of the US, stop collaborating with Israel). These are ridiculous statements in context of NATO’s primary goal, defence against russian invasions. - These are ridiculous statements in context of NATO’s primary goal - They are facts. Opposing NATO doesn’t necessary mean not supporting Ukrainians. Countries has signed international conventions that gives right to support the occupied like Ukraine and Gaza without being in NATO. - Do you still trust the USA what the rest of NATO will do if the USA goes full Russian supporter? - NATO is a supporter of Israel which shouldn’t has anything to do with the area that they try to protect - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel–NATO_relations - https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_21331.htm?selectedLocale=en - A new Palestinian state would need help in disarming Hamas and other terrorist groups, while Israel would need reassurance that it would not have to bear the burden of protecting its citizens alone. And NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer’s openness to a NATO mission in Iraq bodes well both for bolstering a new Iraqi government and for rebuilding Alliance unity. - Look at how Nato can’t even condemn Israeli occupation and backing of settlements and violent settlers - I 
- Russia can’t even invade, let alone occupy Ukraine lmao, and Israel is entirely orthogonal if not detrimental to supplying Ukraine with weapons. - Find a new boogeyman to justify a “defense” organization that has never acted in self-defense. 
 
 
- deleted by creator 
- I hope you and your family end up get tortured in Israeli jail 
 
 
- Not that it matters in a purely ceremonial governmental position. - There is some truth to that, but I think you generally want savvy individuals even in ceremonial positions - Fair, but have you seen the other candidates? - I have not, no. 
 
 
 
 
 
- Seriously, these are a crazy mix of viewpoints. 
 
- One thing to recognise here is that neither governmental party was able to field a viable candidate against her. FF, the major government partner, had their candidate quit the race after the first debate. FG, the junior partner, nominated a candidate who clearly didn’t want to run, due to all the skeletons in her closet the media are now dragging out. - To be fair, however, the government always faces an uphill battle. Our President, despite being largery powerless, had been viewed in the past two decades or so as the moral counterweight to the immoral government. Nominating a former government minister was thus a very tone-deaf decision. 





