There are six candidates contesting the Irish Presidential Election, which by my reckoning is about five too many. Michael D is expected to get about 2/3 of the votes which leaves the rest of them fighting a pointless race of irrelevance. To run for President takes several hundred thousand euro and despite it being a ceremonial role it tends to be a very vicious campaign. As the old joke goes, it is vicious because the stakes are so low.
Now some might say it is good for democracy to have a choice but to me, it all seems a colossal waste of money and effort. Michael is possibly the best Irish President ever. Now don’t get me wrong, the two Marys were a class act altogether but Michael D rocks. I mean, no one ever wrote a song about Patrick Hillery.
Was Éamon de Valera ever photographed bare-chested at a Dylan concert? I don’t think so.
Michael D. Higgins at Slane 1984 to see Bob Dylan. pic.twitter.com/aN540pbCPY
— Bank of Island (@Bankofisland) May 30, 2015
I am lucky enough to have visited Áras an Uachtaráin for a garden party and I can tell you even for an old cynic like me, it was a fantastic experience. He is a master of soft diplomacy and his secret weapon of big feckin’ doggies makes sure he is politically unbeatable.
Michael D's Presidential campaign should just consist entirely of pictures of his dogs. Guaranteed landslide victory #miggeldyhiggins pic.twitter.com/ZNDUgx9yOL
— Conor Sisk (@CSisk6) September 24, 2018
Michael D has likeability by the bucketload; he is cute. He may be a small man but he stands head and shoulders above other world leaders.
Leo Varadkar – officially 15ft taller than Michael D. pic.twitter.com/Th5tnRQOAj
— Kevin Coghlan (@kevin_coghlan) September 3, 2017
While he has to keep his gob shut as President he has form as a fantastic debater and defender of the people:
As this T-Shirt clearly illustrates, he is a legend.
Or how about a Michael Tea Higgins Tea Cosy?
Or a badge:
https://twitter.com/alanso1330/status/1045073441915842560
And while we in the North don’t have a vote yet in the Irish Presidential election, if you are a wavering voter in the Republic this is probably the most compelling reason for voting Michael D back in:
https://twitter.com/notstelfc/status/1038405480224366592
So do it for the doggies. Vote Michael D number 1:
How good is Michael D Higgins dog, Bród? The Ireland hockey team got to meet him at a reception to honour the women pic.twitter.com/N5qevVSmu8
— RSVP Magazine (@RSVPMagazine) September 8, 2018
I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism, I am not a member of any political party. Oddly for a member of the Slugger team, I am not that interested in daily politics, preferring to write about big ideas in society. When not stuck in front of a screen, I am a parkrun Run Director.
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