Can Sinn Fein Recover

[Cael]

Sinn Fein has a lot to learn. Firstly, it must be seen has having the potential of representing all members of society. Secondly, a majority of people in the south don’t care about the peace process(whether you like it or not).Thirdly, Dublin is the centre of Ireland and not Belfast, in simple terms having northern Sinn Fein Politicians as spokes person annoys people. Finally, Sinn Fein to get a proper understanding of economics. Of course the easiest solution is to join a real republican party Fianna Fail who does its best to represent all the people and that’s why it’s successful.

I dont think its possible to represent all members of society. FF come closest to this ideal, but the reality is that they are faking it. They represent the land owners and developers along with every sort of local gombeen man - at the great expense of everyone else. The amazing thing is they fake it so well that working class people actually vote for them before anyone else.

[FTA69]

The National question remains the core issue for republicans and the peace strategy is about building popular support North and South to bring about re-unification

The core issue for Republicanism is social change, unity is simply a part of that. A large and necessary part yes, but not the one and only issue. The national question alone may be the issue for the Belfast-based leadership that controls Sinn Féin, but it is certainly not the issue which led to them growing in the south. It was the hard community work of the likes of Dessie and Larry which propelled Sinn Féin in Dublin and got them 14% of the vote in that city. It wasn't liberal warblings and the promotion of a northern process in which people have zero interest. They are now down to 4.3% in Dublin, so obviously cynical jumps to the centre mid-election and the taking of the base for granted didn't help your agenda at all did it?

[quote:2g0uap5h]Any party that grows in strength naturally will move closer to the centre as broader strands of opinion come into the party.

[/quote:2g0uap5h]

Bullsh*t. We already have a plethora of centrist parties, what makes you think you'll do any better than them? And one thing is for sure, when it comes to tackling Fianna Fáil in that sort of politics, they will win hands down. What drove Sinn Féin was its distinctiveness and its hard work, two things which that party has lost and the fact you haven't even learned that lesson after such a disastrous election doesn't augour well to be honest.

[Ulsterlad]

The National question remains the core issue for republicans and the peace strategy is about building popular support North and South to bring about re-unification

The core issue for Republicanism is social change, unity is simply a part of that. A large and necessary part yes, but not the one and only issue. The national question alone may be the issue for the Belfast-based leadership that controls Sinn Féin, but it is certainly not the issue which led to them growing in the south. It was the hard community work of the likes of Dessie and Larry which propelled Sinn Féin in Dublin and got them 14% of the vote in that city. It wasn't liberal warblings and the promotion of a northern process in which people have zero interest. They are now down to 4.3% in Dublin, so obviously cynical jumps to the centre mid-election and the taking of the base for granted didn't help your agenda at all did it?

[quote:14nvskh3]Any party that grows in strength naturally will move closer to the centre as broader strands of opinion come into the party.

Bullsh*t. We already have a plethora of centrist parties, what makes you think you'll do any better than them? And one thing is for sure, when it comes to tackling Fianna Fáil in that sort of politics, they will win hands down. What drove Sinn Féin was its distinctiveness and its hard work, two things which that party has lost and the fact you haven't even learned that lesson after such a disastrous election doesn't augour well to be honest.

[/quote:14nvskh3]

I am not a Sinn Fein member so perhaps the party will in reflection of the election will go back to basics with regards its core principles.Generally i think you are wrong if you think that the party view social change as its priority.My view is that Sinn Fein will do what is necessary to gain popular support for its all-Ireland agenda.
I dont think a handful of tds and a powersharing administration in the North is what the IRA had in mind when it decided to abandon the armed struggle.
I dont think people didnt vote for Sinn Fein because they allegedly changed their policies closer to the centre.They simply stated that the current tax take was sufficient to improve public services.I would say that because they kept their policies wishywashy people felt they had nothing to offer.I m sure if they had shouted from the roof tops that they were going to increase corporation tax and capital gains tax they may well be making their arguments outside the Dail because they would have nobody inside.
It seems to me that they did not have the people on the ground for this election that is necessary to make the gains they targeted.I live in Cavan and normally have had Sinn Fein canvassers around but this time didnt see them.I remember last election listening to O Caolain speak to people in a pub in my town rallying the troops but this time he wasnt around.