Luke "Ming" Flanagan is one of Ireland's most successful independent candidates ever. Ming regularly shares advice with those who want to follow in his footsteps. He recently told The Irish Times:

‘The one thing you’ve got to do is be remembered in politics’

When news reports appeared about Gerry Hutch, a.k.a. The Monk entering politics, Daniel Pocock, candidate for Dublin Bay South remembered his old friend Hutch Hussein, formerly President of the Victorian state branch of the Australian Labor Party.

Is there room for two Hutches in the world of politics?

Putting it in the context of Ming's advice, Hutch's wikipedia entry captures the things Hutch Hussein is remembered for:

Hatice "Hutch" Hussein is an Australian feminist, activist, and social worker. She served as the elected State President of the Victorian branch of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) between 2016 and 2019. Upon taking this role, she became the first President in the party's 125-year history to be from an ethnic minority background, from a Muslim background, and from the LGBT community.

Another wikipedia page reminds us that the Hutch-Kinahan feud is an "ongoing" feud and that:

Special Crime Task Force was created within the national Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) to combat crime gangs, especially the Kinahan and Hutch gangs. Manned by at least 10 gardaí and three sergeants, the task force was scheduled to close in 2021; however, despite at least 18 people being killed in the feud, their success in preventing 50 other murder attempts means it will continue operating.

What are friends for? Daniel Pocock has registered all permutations of Hutch domains like GerryHutch.com and GerryHutch.ie to uphold the good name of Hutch Hussein.

For those who want to know more about The Monk, Mr Pocock has registered TheMonk.ie for good measure. Don't forget to read it before you vote on 29 November 2024.

Here are some videos of Hutch Hussein and Daniel Pocock:

Hutch Hussein speaks to Australian Fabian Society, June 2018

Daniel Pocock at the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights, November 2018

Mr Pocock makes the point that social control media gives activists like Hutch Hussein a false sense of empowerment. People have come to see the truth in this during 2024 as Elon Musk's Twitter / X appeared to help one US election candidate more than the other. The Guardian newspaper recently decided to stop using the Twitter / X platform.

Mr Pocock's point is equally valid for all enterprises, whether they be political parties, non-profits, small businesses or whatever.

Let's not forget Operation Trojan Shield, whereby the secure messaging app ANOM was really controlled by the FBI and Australian Federal Police (AFP). Social control media is really not much better than this and unlike an app operated by the police, social control media can sell information about their users to just about anybody.

Read more about TheMonk.ie and then remember to ...

Vote [1] Daniel POCOCK

Voters have a choice. If you would like to vote for a professional who can think about the things that mainstream candidates overlook Vote [1] DANIEL POCOCK and remember to follow Daniel Pocock's blog at DanielPOCOCK.com

Daniel Pocock, Dublin Bay South

Vote [1] Daniel POCOCK