#presidency

#presidency

Our first leader helped define not only the character of the presidency but the character of the country. Washington modeled what it means to put the good of the nation over self-interest and selfish ambition. He embodied integrity and modeled why it's worth aspiring to. And he carried himself with dignity and self-restraint, honoring the office without allowing it to become invested with near-mythical powers.

The people have spoken and have given their president a powerful mandate to articulate their vision for a new republic, a republic worthy of its name where everyone is valued and diversity is cherished, where sustainable solutions are urgently implemented, and where a home is a fundamental human right.

The office of president is seen as a largely ceremonial role which involves hosting heads of state at the official residence, Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, and other diplomatic and civic engagements. The president must also consider whether legislation passed by the parliament complies with the constitution, and if they believe it does not, in consultation with the Council of State, they can refer it to the Supreme Court.

The greatest virtue of the Steven Spielberg biopic Lincoln, which the playwright Tony Kushner adapted from Doris Kearns Goodwin's book Team of Rivals, is that it's about the fundamental lack of virtue that comes with being president. For as much as Abraham Lincoln is flattened out into "Honest Abe," the universal choice for the greatest of all American presidents, his lionization papers over the horse-trading

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court and its carefully manufactured conservative majority will hear the first in a chain of cases that may well determine for the foreseeable future the survival of the system of checks and balances, and which also may well determine whether or not the presidency is turned into everything the founders were afraid it might.

Can the man who made history with the Dubs and saved Gaelic football prove a winner in the ballot box? We spoke to Philly McMahon, Colm Collins, Paul Curran and Tom Cribbin to find out what they think the former county manager would bring to Áras an Uachtaráin

In many ways, the race for the Áras is unique. Ordinarily, positions in public life are swayed by political expediency and partisanship, but the representative role of the presidency is less about the machinations of power and more about offering a relevant societal voice, reflecting our interests and identity. The office-holder is not burdened with concerns about the next general election, and ought therefore to have more of an eye for the next generation.

Michael D Higgins has ruined us for other presidents

The US supreme court allowing the president effectively to abolish the Department of Education only reinforces this sense; Sonia Sotomayor, in her dissent, explicitly wrote that the threat to our Constitution's separation of powers is grave.

"Like Joe Biden, Donald Trump is an elderly man, and he will become the oldest sitting president in U.S. history by the end of his second term."

Leavitt's confident assertions about Trump's historic presidency contrast sharply with the reality of a leader whose promises seem to lead to chaos and trauma.