McDowell gone, good or bad? (Vote).

Tim Robbins

Well a disappointing day for me. He ignited my interest in politics about 15 years ago when I saw him in a debate with Claire McKeon and some other TV presenter. I was impressed, how blunt and knowledgable he was.
Now the Dail has lost one of its finest performers. I agree he was arrogant, but for me saying what you believe is far more important.

As much as everyone gives out about some of his legislation, I can't see any other party repealing any of it. A point that should be observed.

Mods, I was trying to put a simple yes or no poll on this thread, can't seem to do this.

Money Shot

Short answer - a very good thing in my opinion.

Heinrich

Tim Robbins wrote:

Well a disappointing day for me. He ignited my interest in politics about 15 years ago when I saw him in a debate with Claire McKeon and some other TV presenter. I was impressed, how blunt and knowledgable he was.
Now the Dail has lost one of its finest performers. I agree he was arrogant, but for me saying what you believe is far more important.

As much as everyone gives out about some of his legislation, I can't see any other party repealing any of it. A point that should be observed.

Damn! The Boards voting register has not sent me a voting card! I wanted to avail of my democratic right.:D

JerkyBoy

I'm glad he's gone.

He was scraping the barrel as a politician, spreading lies about opposition policies, no positive or progressive message of his own, and also staging ridiculous stunts around Bertie's finances which destoyed all credibility, flip-flopping so many times it was making people dizzy.

He was entertaining at times...but really the man was a joke...and as such was probably responsible for the liquidation of his party.

In summary: A divicive, manipulative, political bottom feeder we are probably better off without.

My €0.02

jhegarty

Heinrich wrote:

Damn! The Boards voting register has not sent me a voting card! I wanted to avail of my democratic right.:D

Strange, I had two votes...

wyndham

He achieved a lot in Justice such as the referendum that stemmed the tide of asylum seekers (John O'Donoghue was a disgrace in Justice), taking on the POA, pushing forward the new prison plans (even though they the amount paid for the site was scandalous), garda reserve, fireworks legislation,etc

He stepped on a lot of toes in the process and made few friends. The latest criminal justice bill was a step too far IMO. Particularly the removal of the right to remain silent and not have this construed as an admission of guilt.
It was time for him to go really. He has left his mark on the department in a big way.

Cyrus

JerkyBoy wrote:

I'm glad he's gone.

He was scraping the barrel as a politician, spreading lies about opposition policies, no positive or progressive message of his own, and also staging ridiculous stunts around Bertie's finances which destoyed all credibility, flip-flopping so many times it was making people dizzy.

He was entertaining at times...but really the man was a joke...and as such was probably responsible for the liquidation of his party.

In summary: A divicive, manipulative, political bottom feeder we are probably better off without.

My €0.02

a joke? michael mcdowell was one of the most intelligent politicians we have had in years. i am very upset he has gone, irish politics will indeed be diminished.

the strength of his convictions, his speed in responding to inadequacies in our legislation will not be seen again for some time.

probably not suited to party leadership as he alienated too many with his strong capitalist views, but again you can only admire a man who never tried to sugar coat his beliefs for general consumption.

if every politician spoke his mind like him the country would be a better place.

Attractive Nun

wyndham wrote:

It was time for him to go really. He has left his mark on the department in a big way.

I think that could be said for the PDs themselves, in a way. In a relatively short amount of time, they achieved to a great extent what they set out to in Irish politics. Their economic policies are for the most part now the status quo in this country. The church's influence on Irish politics has waned. And, although admittedly Bertie's financial dealings certainly raise some questions, the corruption that plagued Irish politics when the party was founded has dissipated somewhat. Whether we can thank the PDs for all this is another question, of course, but I think it's probably true to say that the PDs aren't as necessary as they once were. I voted PD in this election, but to be honest I wouldn't be surprised or even particularly disappointed if the party remerged with Fianna Fail in the coming years.

Bad.

Bit like Joe Higgins getting dumped out. The Dail will be a less colourful place for their absence.

endplate

The Mr X case. McDowell's response I didn't know he was let out. The man didn't know what was going on in his own department. He's no loss. Gangland killing on the increase too

Cyrus

his department let mr x out???

and its his fault irish gangs are shooting each other, is it mr harneys fault when someone gets cancer or contracts HIV?

Jonathan

Bad day for us. Great day for organised crime

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

yomchi

I won't personalise it, I'm sorry for him that he lost, but Ireland can do without his politics, so its good that he's gone - performer or not, its not a circus.

Good for my political view points bad for politics as a whole IMHO

jjbrien

In my opion its a good thing hes gone. But he could have been given a little space when he lost his seat. I got made redundant once and I know what its like to loose a job. But he lost it in a very dramatic style.

Gosh

jjbrien wrote:

In my opion its a good thing hes gone. But he could have been given a little space when he lost his seat. I got made redundant once and I know what its like to loose a job. But he lost it in a very dramatic style.

And he was the only one to lose his seat ??? No, but he was the only one to use the occasion to 'cry like a baby' and resign - his other candidates were fighting a losing battle and he just ducks out - he could have waited until after the election today to make his statement - would have appeared more honourable ...

AidoCQS

jjbrien wrote:

In my opion its a good thing hes gone. But he could have been given a little space when he lost his seat. I got made redundant once and I know what its like to loose a job. But he lost it in a very dramatic style.

Yeo, there is a bloodport edge to this process that needs lookin at

Smarmore

Gosh wrote:

And he was the only one to lose his seat ??? No, but he was the only one to use the occasion to 'cry like a baby' and resign - his other candidates were fighting a losing battle and he just ducks out - he could have waited until after the election today to make his statement - would have appeared more honourable ...

Well said!! As usual he played up to the cameras. Tom Parlon was very unhappy about it. He was very open and honest with the reporters gathered around him while McDowell was creating a pantomime. The PDs might have been better with Parlon as their leader. All that rubbish McDowell went on about how much he loves Ireland was sickening. And then he stood outside the car for a minute or 2 waving to everybody. He looked like he was departing the country after being over on a royal visit.

Pherekydes

JerkyBoy wrote:

I'm glad he's gone.

He was scraping the barrel as a politician, spreading lies about opposition policies, no positive or progressive message of his own, and also staging ridiculous stunts around Bertie's finances which destoyed all credibility, flip-flopping so many times it was making people dizzy.

He was entertaining at times...but really the man was a joke...and as such was probably responsible for the liquidation of his party.

In summary: A divicive, manipulative, political bottom feeder we are probably better off without.

My €0.02

Thanks jerkyboy, you saved me 2 cents!

Victor Meldrew

jmccrohan wrote:

Bad day for us. Great day for organised crime

I don't think he was much cop (excuse the pun) as minister of justice. What did he really do that was constructive? He talked the talk , but beyond SF & IRA bashing it was just noise.

I'd have liked someone who actually represents those affected by crime to have the justice portfolio, they'd get a harder time of it and might do more.

Tim Robbins

Victor Meldrew wrote:

I don't think he was much cop (excuse the pun) as minister of justice. What did he really do that was constructive? He talked the talk , but beyond SF & IRA bashing it was just noise.

I'd have liked someone who actually represents those affected by crime to have the justice portfolio, they'd get a harder time of it and might do more.

He brought in a load of legislation. Have a look at it.

Cyrus

as opposed to a barrister who understands the law?

Colonel Sanders

I'll miss McDowell. i alwyas listened when he spoke and like most PDs said what he thought rather tham coming out with bullsh!t like Bertie (I'm a socialist for example). A lot will disagree with me but he's a loss to Irish politics.

Victor Meldrew

Tim Robbins wrote:

He brought in a load of legislation. Have a look at it.

Fair point, i'm not saying that he's not a brilliant legal mind and a hard worker, but Legislation is usless without gardai to enforce it and prison places for offenders. Tallaght has one Garda station for 90,000 people, I'm 5 miles from the garda station there. They are always on the N81, but seldom around the estates and industrial parks to catch anti social behavior, Same all over the country...

gonk

Tim Robbins wrote:

He brought in a load of legislation. Have a look at it.

Wonderful legislation like the law which requires telecoms providers to retain your phone call and mobile location data for 3 years and provide it to the Gardai on demand, if they suspect any crime, no matter how minor, has been committed?

Zebra3

I'm absolutely delighted McDowell has gone.

Irish politics has one hypocrite less now.

He said they'd be FF's watchdog in 2002, but when the it came to crunch, he hadn't got the bottle to pull the plug on the government. Too much money to lose?

He also was happy to slate people leaking info when it was against his agenda, but as Misiter for Injustice & Inequality, he was happy to leak info to the media when it suited his agenda.

Cyrus

and do you not think this might be a helpful thing in catching criminals?

like most laws if you have done nothing wrong you have nothing to worry about.

Zebra3

So if they propose to put CCTV in your house you won't be bothered as you've nothing to hide?

Read Nineteeneightyfour.

AidoCQS

See the big problem with Barristers or Solicitors in Politics, is this...

Solicitors are trained to protect one side of a dispute, take one view and stick with it, defend it at all (usually somebody else's) costs. They do not ever have to move off that view because they have the luxury of presenting that view to a Judge who will then find middle ground between opposing arguments.

In politics you simply do not have that luxury... you never have that luxury unless you choose dictatorship or totalitarianism or something.

Voipjunkie

Tim Robbins wrote:

He brought in a load of legislation. Have a look at it.

How much of it did we actually need and how much of it was making it appear that he was doing something.


Good that he is gone