tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20008671.post2002280300038068912..comments2023-10-10T15:24:59.808+01:00Comments on The Dreaming Arm: THE EFFECTS “UP NORTH” OF THE IRISH ELECTIONCWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01352092020697710430noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20008671.post-59335096304612528272007-09-17T21:13:00.000+01:002007-09-17T21:13:00.000+01:00Anon, I would agree with some of the points you ma...Anon, I would agree with some of the points you make there. Sinn Fein probably do have a chance of posing themselves as a 'New' Sinn Fein - a 'totally' democratic, non-armed, non-violent means political party. <BR/><BR/>I suspect that as issues of government continued in Ulster - to form a govt, or not to form a govt - played some part in the Irish peoples minds at the recent election as to suggest they haven't changed.<BR/><BR/>There are a lot of psychological/emotional issues within the Irish electorates' minds comparable to Unionists who regard Sinn Fein as the IRA - however it may now be suggested that this view is changing due to Ian Paisley's decision to enter Government with Sinn Fein.<BR/><BR/>However I pose the question - can Sinn Fein deliver? If they do deliver in terms of policy etc in Northern Ireland they may have a chance with the Southern electorate. This is maybe a reason why Fianna Fail will contest elections in Northern Ireland. They recognise that Sinn Fein pose a threat to their voter base now that they have fully evolved from a 'war' mindset to democratic politics. This mind set will be bred in the minds of their new electorate i.e. the new and next generation of Sinn Fein voters.Andrew Charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02972898306227643157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20008671.post-41097251008623178892007-09-16T16:37:00.000+01:002007-09-16T16:37:00.000+01:00I think there are some excellent points in here, b...I think there are some excellent points in here, but one factor that should be pointed out is that Sinn Fein did not contest the Irish election in any way that posed a serious threat of meaningful engagement with either the Irish electorate or the main policy issues of the election. Therefore your argument that there was a pre-election perception on behalf of the Irish electorate that Sinn Fein was a 'Northern' party and that this perception was the reason for their failure is perhaps correct, but the electorate's perception was probably dramatically strengthened by Sinn Fein themselves. In this way, the party - who were really contesting the election for the first time as a realistic contender in the eyes of many - failed to challenge old ideas held by the Irish electorate. I would suggest perhaps that were they to have campaigned more effectively - though there's an argument here that it was the simple matter of their policies themselves that were at fault - they would have done much better. I'm not convinced that they are destined to suffer poor performances in the South based on their activities being primarily Northern Irish, but just that they need to develop as a party to pose a challenge. Of course you may say that this would be a 'new' Sinn Fein and so any future success this 'new' party would have wouldn't fall outside your thesis, but I believe you can't ignore the fact that their campaign was a shambles.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20008671.post-60261894983184361532007-09-16T13:46:00.000+01:002007-09-16T13:46:00.000+01:00I think Sinn Feins performance demonstrates one th...I think Sinn Feins performance demonstrates one thing - they are out of touch with the Southern electorate and only concerned about engaging in the sectarian politics that has engulfed Ulster for many decades. This does not correspond to the Sinn Fein electors in Northern Ireland who continue to support this former terrorist organisation in hope of a United Ireland.<BR/><BR/>The Southern electorate have accepted partition (doing so long ago) and recognise Northern Irelands position within the United Kingdom - a position which Sinn Fein has now finally recognised after engaging in a 30-year bloody terror campaign against innocent people. As the Republics economy has grown identity politics no longer has any foundation in the Irish state; with families, young professionals and graduates concerned about their financial wellbeing and future.<BR/><BR/>Sinn Feins performance has peaked in the Republic and unless they change their appeal they will face electoral alienation. It doesn't help when your 'Northern' membership leads the party, with Sinn Feins membership mainly based in Ulster with little support existing in the Republic by comparison.<BR/><BR/>The key outcome from this election is that it demonstrates that whilst Sinn Fein have grown in electoral performance in recent years, both North and South of the border their day has perhaps come. However this depends a lot on nationalist rivals in Northern Ireland and as to whether they can offer a strong alternative.Andrew Charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02972898306227643157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20008671.post-5085710834768028222007-07-20T21:16:00.000+01:002007-07-20T21:16:00.000+01:00Good post, Phil. I think one significant factor he...Good post, Phil. I think one significant factor here is the lack of floating voters in the north compared with south of the border - ie we all know that if you wrap a donkey in a tricolour and stand it for election in West Belfast or South Armagh it will get elected. In the south with parties like the Greens, Labour and Fianna Fail all competing for votes with the Shinners, given the current economic stability and SF's intention to increase taxes they weren't going to get far. Their current northern-based leadership is largely out of touch with the southern voter.CWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01352092020697710430noreply@blogger.com