grafter1 wrote: grafter1 wrote: LLCOOLJ14 wrote: Canterbury wrote: McCloud wrote: Think that will have a big knock on affect for Kenny. Very creless to lose someone of Lee's standing in the public's eyes. Pity a bit of a waste. FG have lost a gem in Lee, madness by Kenny and FG. Ive found him unimpressive in person-why do you think he's a gem?He was an ok reporter, but did make mistakes from time to time that professionals in the relevnt industry would prob only recognise granted...  I have to say of all the posts LL - yours are some of the best.   I assume with your vast knowledge someday you'll replace Lloyd Blankfein or Jamie Dimon and end of working for a future US president as secretary of state.  I'm not actually slagging you - just admiring your self confidence - which in my opinion is a good trait Sorry that wasn't very clear - i meant replace Blankfein or Dimon as head of Goldman or JPM and after a distinguished career in investment banking you'd go into politics ala Rubin, Paulson etc

Thanks (I think)!

It was a genuine qs I asked thou, as Lee hasnt impressed me in person...it just strikes me that many that think he would have been any use would also wet themselves if the opportunity arose to vote for D McWilliams/Eddie Hobbs or some other populist economist out there... I do admire his resignation thou, if it truely is for the reasons he has given.

Think this reflects badly on both FG and Lee himself.

For FG this is a PR disaster, Lee could have been utilized more effectively given his public profile.

For Lee it makes him look very naive and a bit of a clown if he believed that he was going step in and immediately have major influence(no matter what inda might have promised).

 

I think it shows how pampered RTE employees are. Between Charlie whinning about nobody knowing him and stopping him in the street in Ireland, and now GL, it seems like there is some serious ego massaging going on in Donnybrook.

bosh12 wrote: I think it shows how pampered RTE employees are. Between Charlie whinning about nobody knowing him and stopping him in the street in Ireland, and now GL, it seems like there is some serious ego massaging going on in Donnybrook.

I'd like to massage Sharons ego......

SkullinPints wrote: bosh12 wrote: I think it shows how pampered RTE employees are. Between Charlie whinning about nobody knowing him and stopping him in the street in Ireland, and now GL, it seems like there is some serious ego massaging going on in Donnybrook. I'd like to massage Sharons ego......

If Kenny does'nt stand down, FF will win election.

fg had o'donnell ahead of him, now thats a tad mad ted

Rebelettepaddy wrote: SkullinPints wrote: bosh12 wrote: I think it shows how pampered RTE employees are. Between Charlie whinning about nobody knowing him and stopping him in the street in Ireland, and now GL, it seems like there is some serious ego massaging going on in Donnybrook. I'd like to massage Sharons ego......

  Wouldn't we all.

bugler wrote: Call him naive if you like, but his exit says more about the Irish political system than it does about George Lee.

+1

Lee is a clown and he has let his constituents down.

He better not be getting a pension out of his whimsical stint in the Dáil. What a tool.

scotscor wrote: fg had o'donnell ahead of him, now thats a tad mad ted

O'Donnell comes from a very old Fine Gael family. FG are a deeply conservative party and they'd be damned if an upstart, like Lee, would be parachuted in to a senior role.

It's been two hours now, Lee has been all over the News at One (RTE) and has done the entirety of The Joe Duffy Show.

Have Fine Gael had a spokesperson yet on any station? If not why the hell not?  They're sinking imho.

Just on Joe Duffy now. They did a phone poll, of which there were 16,000 respondents withing 10 minutes.

More than 13,000 (83%) of those agreed with George Lee's decision to leave FG and the Dáil.

grafter1 wrote: I've said previously on othe threads that FF have already won the next election.  FF/SF/Ind government is my bet.

Can't see that combination having the numbers, SF are in serious trouble in Dublin and can't see them making gains anywhere outside of the North West. FF/Lab or else another Rainbow - FG/Lab/and the dregs of the Greens and a few independents would be my call, with the former not as unlikely as it might seem.

I know Joe Duffy has a lot of listeners but.....

Kavy wrote: It's been two hours now, Lee has been all over the News at One (RTE) and has done the entirety of The Joe Duffy Show. Have Fine Gael had a spokesperson yet on any station? If not why the hell not?  They're sinking imho.

Both Olivia Mitchell and Michael Ring were in Newstalk within minutes of the announcement. Not sure about RTE.

bosh12 wrote: I think it shows how pampered RTE employees are. Between Charlie whinning about nobody knowing him and stopping him in the street in Ireland, and now GL, it seems like there is some serious ego massaging going on in Donnybrook.

Theres definitely some element of that in RTE.  I was on rte.ie once waiting for an election broadcast from the RDS and they had the feed on before the tv broadcast started (they were about to switch over for a news live item) and Bird was standing there waiting. 

He was told maybe twice to be ready but it was delayed both times.  He then threw a strop and started complaining about the delays and went off but you could hear the producer pleading with him to come back and that they were ready for him now.  Fuppin Tool should have been let walk and held accountable

Kavy wrote: It's been two hours now, Lee has been all over the News at One (RTE) and has done the entirety of The Joe Duffy Show. Have Fine Gael had a spokesperson yet on any station? If not why the hell not?  They're sinking imho.

He was on Newstalk too. He clearly loves the limelight

 

This shows up all that is wrong with politics in Ireland. Guys with ability like g.Lee are not going to get involved in the archaic practices that pertain in Irish political parties and so we will be left with the gombeenmen like JH Rea and P Flynn B Cowen and E Kenny.

bosh12 wrote: It just shows how poor the opposition are. I never have and never will vote for FF, but the opposition parties have not provided one plausable alternative to the voters. Its actually disgraceful. FF will be re-elected at the next general election, and I think it will push me over the edge!!! Emigration looms.

I voted for FF in the last election this may come as a suprise to Point

However this has been my issue for a long time that FG aren't a great alternative but I feel that Ireland needs change so will still vote for a FG TD next time around (probably Kieran O Donnell).

I still don't think FF will get into government next time around and hopefully not.

 

Anybody got a link to the joe duffy show ?

George Lee looks very silly now - echoing what has been said above, how naive was he going in? This is a PR disaster for Enda Kenny.

I doubt he would go to America even if RTE offered him the job. He has teenage children as far as I know. It would be a lot of upheaval for his family and if he went on his own, we wouldn't want him getting lonely like Charlie Bird.

Like so many things in Ireland, politics is about who you know and what clan you belong to, rather than talent.

It's possible to break through this but only if you start at 14 and tow the party line.

Change in official Ireland is almost impossible.

BTW I don't see this as a FG failing per se, the whole polical system is fcuked up. Reform of the political system - PR system, term limits, constituency changes are badly needed.

That's the real lesson of today. Goerge Lee's resignation is not the story - the real story is the malaise of the system that allows a men like Cowan and Ahern lead the country and concentrates the top 3 jobs in the country and the opposition leader in the hands of former TDs.

Wonderful news. Just spent the weekend in dispare after watching
boring rugby and a great game starts today.

He is an utter fool and throwing the rattle from the pram shows what
is actually all about - hot air. This will bring down Kenny who was the
only person in Fine Gael who wanted him. Olivia Mitchell and Alan
Shatter must be delighted to see the back of him.

He made many friends in the party especially after calling for the
abolition of the Senate during his maiden speech to Dail Eireann.

I must get the posters printed I've a By-Election coming up.

I wonder will he use his free parking for life as an ex TD?