Correction to your post, from original article: "Still a great deal of uncertainty, as only 68 percent of voters sure of their candidate"

TARJA IS SINKING LIKE TITANIC

Good bye, commie

“with only 51 point rating in the polls for Tarja”
If Tarja’s 51 point rating is “only” [remember 100 is the biggest possible rating] what do you call Niinisto’s 24? Pathetic?

What’s the story behind the Halonen poster with Arto Lahti’s number on it?

But how about this one: Most of the voters have been women. Women tend to support Halonen a way much more than men.

That’s definitely going to scare people, having the wrong number up there on the poster. I know I experienced a moment of worry…

Correction to your post, from original article: “Still a great deal of uncertainty, as only 68 percent of voters sure of their candidate”

D’oh!! Read the article to quickly. Thanks for telling me Pasi!

http://www.apinalinnantanssiaiset.com/

Being that i am an American, i can see why our country goes through a great deal of crap every time there’s a presidential election. I need not list the reasons why. However, why should anyone give a shit about the Finnish presidential election? The position has very little power. And from my observatons, the person in office does fuck all. Shaking people’s hands at that ID ball isn’t doing something. Even if it was someone else other than Tarja in office, i would still be sitting here watching people bitch about that person and how they’ve done jack shit – because that’s all they can do, jack shit.

So would someone please explain to me why this matters? I would appreciate it.

So would someone please explain to me why this matters? I would appreciate it.

People listen to them, more than just about anyone else in Finland. They can push forward issues that concerns them. That’s a very important thing in my opinion.

Even if it was someone else other than Tarja in office, i would still be sitting here watching people bitch about that person and how they’ve done jack shit – because that’s all they can do, jack shit.

Precisely! And you know what I think is so amusing? All these jokers like Niinistö and the rest, trying to convince everyone they will give (political) meaning to this modeling job. What all candidates should focus on, and what all voters should realise, is how well can he or she cut a ribbon? How does (s)he look next to Blair or Chirac? Imagine a handshake tv-marathon on dec 6th with Vanhanen! No, thank you please

Tarja! Our best symbol of ceremonial emptiness and anyone who thinks that a Finnish president is about NATO, labour market reforms, sustainable energy sources and ooops, globaliasation is better off voting for the famous duck! You morons!

There is something in Phil’s typing that tells me he was laughing when he wrote that comment #10

And while we are at it, let’s demolish the damn parliament with the president. They are just rubber-stamping Brussels directives, while participating in bullshit seminars as far away as possible and having free taxi rides…

We have had presidents with substantial record excluding the ribbon cutting and patronising ice-fishing contests. Some holders of the office have been among the finest people this damned nation has ever produced. Sure it is different with the new constitution, but still, if the president says something, must be a heck of a PM, who doesn’t listen and do something. It would just inflate the presidents prestige, if he/she would yack all the time, how to run the country. It is better to save it for the situations, where it is really needed.

It is true, that the candidates are discussing also questions with little relevance to the presidency and giving impression they could do something about them. But if everybody thinks it is indifferent, who yacks shit in the office, let’s vote the bloody Timo Soini in then.

Antti. I wanna vote for you!

I don’t know who to vote for. Suggestions?

i rekon that Tarja should be voted back in because she’s done an awesome job so far. if the country had gone to the shit while she was in power then something should be done, but she’s managing it all and Finlands still rocking and in no trouble – a good reason to vote for her? i damn well think so!!

if the country had gone to the shit while she was in power then something should be done,

Has she really improved anything in six years? I mean, even if Matti Nykänen were in office, things wouldn’t have gone to shit.

On a side note, I always find it funny how U.S. incumbents during the election season ask voters, “Are you better off now than you were 4/8 years ago?!?” – Well I hope you are, you’ve had 4 or 8 years to gain wealth, experience. Usually people are moving up as they get older.

People listen to them, more than just about anyone else in Finland.

It’s funny you should mention Matti Nykänen in your last post, Phil. It seems that everyone hangs on the words of him and other “celebrities” that have their faces plastered all over the tabloids here, more than they hang on the words of presidential candidates or the Finnish President. I maybe wrong but that’s how i see it – and i don’t think that’s a good thing.

Has she really improved anything in six years? I mean, even if Matti Nykänen were in office, things wouldn’t have gone to shit.

Well isn’t that the point? Who cares who’s in office because it doesn’t matter anyways. You can have a total fuck up like Nykänen in office and nothing will happen except for incessant incoherent babbling and a few one liners some will remember years later. It seems that if you want to try to make a difference for Finns then the way to go is the PM or the cabinet. Which is why i wondered to my wife why Vanhanen is running since it seems you are in a better position to do things if you are the PM.

Which is why i wondered to my wife why Vanhanen is running since it seems you are in a better position to do things if you are the PM.

Of course, he’s not only running for President. He gets a bonus campaign for the parliamentary elections. Also the less significant candidates get to advertise themselves and their parties. Why not jump at the opportunity?

Good point.