Let me start today, by saying two things very clearly. Firstly, I congratulate Helen McEntee without the slightest hesitation, on retaining her late Dad's seat in the Dáil. Secondly, I didn't know Shane, although I did meet him a few times, and found him a likeable fellow. My colleagues in the Dublin based media confirm, however, that he was all of that, and more. His untimely death, a few days before Christmas, was a dreadful tragedy. I wanted to get that out of the way, before I say anything more.
However, this has been an interesting by-election campaign to watch unfolding.
From the very start, it was shaping up as a race between Helen McEntee and Thomas Byrne, the Fianna Fáil candidate. Despite the drubbing his party received at the polls in 2011, Byrne is a popular character, who still attracts a personal vote. With Fianna Fáil currently enjoying a comeback in the opinion polls, he was always destined to do well. Incumbent governments rarely win by-elections, and FF saw this as an opportunity to demonstrate that they're "turning things round" with Micheál Martin at the helm.
Labour are feeling the pinch that all junior coalition parties feel, and probably a worse one, because of the decisions they've taken and supported since entering Government. Their candidate, Eric Holmes, I also have to say, wouldn't endear the floating or undecided voter. He had that "something about you I don't like" look about him.
I know little or nothing about Sinn Féins man - except that he seems to have spent time in what I call "Shinnerversity", that mysterious finishing school the party appears to have for its representatives, where they are turned into smart, articulate, and exceedingly well spoken debaters. If there's one thing I'll always give Sinn Féin, it's their ability to coach their personnel on media presentation and performance. However, much of that slick performance is based on the safe knowledge that they're not going to be in Government any time soon, because nobody will coalesce with them.
Then there are the others. Ben Gilroy, for example, who became a YouTube celebrity, waving around a copy of the Bunreacht, and now fronting a party that says its not really a party at all. A number of independents made up the rest of the ballot paper. It wasn't the most inspirational bunch that ever stood for election, I'll grant you that, but at least they stood and they put themselves before the people.
Yet more than 60% of the people stayed at home.
Now, I am a daily reader of The Journal.
It's an excellent news website, arguably better than the papers. I wouldn't feel my morning was complete without a good browse. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the site is the "comments" section. I don't take part in it, because I prefer to observe, but on politics in particular, its hyperactive. Hundreds of comments that become debates on their own, diverting your attention away from the original article. Those taking part vary from the level headed and intelligent, who likes a good discussion, to those who are most charitably described as "a little bit bonkers". There are hundreds of them, and they have plenty to say. I assume there are a fair few of them based in Meath East, as well.
So where were they yesterday?
At the close of the poll in Meath East last night, significantly less than 40% of the electorate had bothered to make their way to a polling station. For all their talk, they stayed at home. They slugged on their tay, and did nothing. They couldn't be bothered to go and make a scratch for somebody. They just couldn't be bothered. By not being bothered, they silently supported the establishment. A low turnout always favours the two big parties. It always has and it always will. By staying at home, by taking the lazy option, by not being bothered their ass, they actually voted, by not voting at all. They supported the very "establishment" they want to topple.
Far, far be it from me to ever quote that insufferable gobshite, Dr. Phil, but "..How's that workin' for ya.."
I've covered politics as part of my job for more than 20 years. I've listened to all the rhetoric, heard all the promises, and learned to keep a straight face when faced with various shades of bullshit. The worst bullshit of all, however, is the bullshit of those who demand "change", yet stay at home sat on their arses and do sweet FA about it.
Well, this time, like every time before, they've gotten what they deserve. As a wise man said.. "If you only ever do, what you've only ever done, you'll only ever get, what you only ever got."
In the meantime the establishment is laughing all the way to the next General Election, which will, and mark my words it will, result in a coalition of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Why wouldn't it, when over half those who vote, vote for one or the other.
It's coming, as sure as Christmas - and the only ones who can prevent it, couldn't be bothered their ass..
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