David Norris
Posted on 02/22/2010 12:42:07 PM PST by TaraP
A major effort is underway to elect Senator David Norris, the Dublin-based politician, as the first openly gay president of Ireland.
Norris, 65, a former Trinity College Dublin lecturer who has led the campaign for gay rights in Ireland for a generation, is a highly respected figure in both literary and political circles known equally for his Joycean expertise as his advocacy of liberal causes.
The Irish presidential election is scheduled for 2011, when current occupant Mary McAleese steps down after two terms.
The Irish President does not play a role in party politics, which is left to the Prime Minister, but has a powerful symbolic and legal oversight function. Occupants such as McAleese and former President Mary Robinson have greatly increased the visibility and importance of the job
A group of influential liberal supporters have now begun circulating a petition and forming a Facebook site for Norris to run for president.
The online petition states in part:
"In 2011 we will have the opportunity to change Ireland again. We accomplished great feats and broke long-standing barriers with Election of President Mary Robinson in 1990. We believe it is time to make history again, We believe it is time to put real vision and passion back into the role of the president, and to reignite national debate on Ireland's future.
“We believe that Senator Norris is an individual of principle, pride and social justice and that his values reflect those of a changing Ireland.
We only ask for you signature, a small part in ensuring that the best Candidate becomes Ireland's next Head of State.”
Norris may well have good prospects for the job. The negative attitude towards party politicians in the current recession means he may be in a position to capitalize as an independent voice.
Norris is also a skilled campaigner and debater and would appeal to the more upscale Dublin electorate who voted heavily for Mary Robinson when she ran.
Last year Norris acknowledged that he has macular degeneration in his eyes, a progressive condition that could eventually blind him.
However, he stated that so far the condition has not affected him appreciably apart from giving up night driving.
David Norris
Barry O’Bama?
My Irish friends are crying in their Guiness’!
Patrick Fitsnorris and Norris Fitspatrick??
Known in Ireland as ‘shite pushers’.
good freakin’ grief
Ben Doon and Phil McAvity!
Our first and only ‘dandy’ President (Buchanan) led to one of our greatest (Lincoln). Maybe Ireland will turn a corner after him.
We beat Ireland to it.
They’re always after his lucky charms..
stop it boy, y’r killin’ me....
By over 150 years.
Visions of the Lucky Charms leprechaun.
That was tears-in-my-eyes funny, right there.
When’s the last time the headlines read “Elects Openly Heterosexual White Christian Male”?
LOL!
LOL
Q - How many Irishmen does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A - Two. One to hold the light bulb, and one to drink until the room starts spinning.
One day an Irishman, who has been stranded on a desert island for over ten years, sees an unusual speck on the horizon. “It’s certainly not a ship”, he thinks to himself.
As the speck gets closer and closer, he begins to rule out the possibilities of a small boat, then even a raft.
Suddenly, emerging from the surf comes a drop dead gorgeous blonde wearing a wet suit and scuba gear.
She approaches the stunned man and says to him, “Tell me how long has it been since you’ve had a cigarette?”
“Ten years,” replies the Irishman.
With that, she reaches over and unzips a waterproof pocket on her left sleeve and pulls out a pack of fresh cigarettes. He takes one, lights it, takes a long drag and says, “Faith and begorah! Is that good!”
“And how long has it been since you’ve had a sip of whisky?” she asks him. Trembling, the castaway replies, “Ten years.” she reaches over, unzips her right sleeve, pulls out a flask and hands it to him. He opens the flask, takes a long swig and says, “ ‘Tis absolutely fantastic!”
At this point she ; starts slowly unzipping the long zipper that runs down the front of her wet suit, looks at the man and asks, “And how long has it been since you’ve played around?”
With tears in his eyes, the man falls to his knees and sobs, “Oh, sweet Jesus! Don’t tell me you’ve got a set of golf clubs in there too.”
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