Why didn't George Lee run in 2007?

Borstal Boy

This question begs to be asked; yet no one seems to be asking it.

George Lee has said that the reason he is running is because he believes the economy is a mess and he wants to do something about it. If he knew the economy was going in the wrong direction two years ago, as he says he did, then why didn’t he run at the last election, or the one before that, when he could have done something about it?

All this talk of “sacrifice” is a bit hypocritical of him. There’s no sacrifice in running a race that you know you’re going to win.

If he really cared about the economy, and the people that it affects, he would have stuck his neck out when it mattered most, instead of waiting for a safe bet when there was no risk to him at all.

viztopia

very good point imo

Joey the lips

I am not a george lee fan but its a common known fact amongst politicians the best way to get work done is to get on the council first. The last council elections were 2004. I think council elections are every 4 or 5 years. I get confused sometimes.

Anyway it costs a massive amount of money and work to run in a general election and parties only run first timers if they have to ans usually alongside a mainliner already there!

So tbh I think if george lee was unhappy he would have approched FG and they would have told him to wait! Although I reckon FG approched george lee and asked him to run in the locals. It happens! and has happend up where I live! They usually ask the person with the business brain! where as Sinn Fein ask community activists. I think labour asks community as well

aphex™

Personal reasons?
Because it's a good time in Dublin South?
Because people in 2007 were falsely deluded at the height of a property bubble and laughing at realistic economic advice?
Because FG didn't have a chance of getting into power in 2007? Everybody was in a frenzy about 'Bertie's Team' in 2007. (forgive the puke noises)
From now on it's time to get the groundwork in.

If only they had the balls to call a general election. Why not now when the public want it? That's the real question.

is_that_so

aphex™ wrote: »

Personal reasons?
Because it's a good time in Dublin South?
Because people in 2007 were falsely deluded at the height of a property bubble and laughing at realistic economic advice?
Because FG didn't have a chance of getting into power in 2007? Everybody was in a frenzy about 'Bertie's Team' in 2007. (forgive the puke noises)
From now on it's time to get the groundwork in.

If only they had the balls to call a general election. Why not now when the public want it? That's the real question.

He would have been a liability and his negative view a perfect target for the FF spin machine, especially in "good times".

It is Brian Cowen who has been given most of the credit for the resurgence of the FF vote in that last week. FG had no answer to the "you couldn't trust them" message. Bertie's popularity gave them an extra seat.

The only people who can call an election are the government by either resigning or by losing a vote of no confidence. Even then the resignation has to be accepted by the President.

turgon

Joey the lips wrote: »

Although I reckon FG approched george lee and asked him to run in the locals.

Hes not running in the locals, hes running in the Dail Dublin South by-election.

Borstal Boy

aphex™ wrote: »

Personal reasons?
Because it's a good time in Dublin South?
Because people in 2007 were falsely deluded at the height of a property bubble and laughing at realistic economic advice?
Because FG didn't have a chance of getting into power in 2007? Everybody was in a frenzy about 'Bertie's Team' in 2007. (forgive the puke noises)
From now on it's time to get the groundwork in.

If only they had the balls to call a general election. Why not now when the public want it? That's the real question.

I think you are missing my point.

If George Lee's priority was the welfare of the Irish people, as opposed to his own, he would have run when he had a chance to alter the course of the economy, instead of running when he was assured of winning.

PCPhoto

he's only running now because at this point people are so pi$$ed off with the current situation that they just want change ..... doesnt matter who else gets in as long as its not the shower that ruined the economic nation.

personally I think we need to overhaul the judicial system, the HSE, the education system and close a number of loopholes,
- increase benefits for genuine claimants and investigate and punish those bogus claims.
- create a proper driving system (everyone must learn first aid/basic car mechanics and minimum number of hours behind a car before getting a licence - and no more Learners on the road - lessons only)
- stop the ridiculous money wasted on tribunals - lets set up a tribunal to investigate the amount of money wasted on tribunals .... in order to do that we need to set up a committee to arrange the tribunal and oversee it.

I could go on for hours at length with some of my proposals/ideas/suggestions and have stopped a number of politicians with my questions - some answered favourably - some looked at excuses and couldnt answer properly ...... ie. waffled on with loads of political jargon - but never actually answered the questions asked.

Anyway - my feeling is that George Lee decided to go as "posterboy" as he feels that changes need to be made and in order to get elected at the moment all you have to do is emphasise what a shambles the current government and keep going with the mantra that its time for a change.

Politically I dont think he knows that he cant actually change anything fast - the process in this country is covered in red tape, when you bring a proposal to amend things they inevitably get defeated (not because they are the wrong thing to do at the time - but because of the changes that need to be made to facilitate the proposal, which in short means its too much hassle and takes too much time to change anything)

Why not bring in a dictatorship -- I for one welcome our new overlord !!!

is_that_so

Borstal Boy wrote: »

I think you are missing my point.

If George Lee's priority was the welfare of the Irish people, as opposed to his own, he would have run when he had a chance to alter the course of the economy, instead of running when he was assured of winning.

FG wouldn't have had him in that constituency with three other FG candidates and Seamus Brennan the regular poll topper in there as well. It would have completely splintered the FG vote and they would have done well to even pick up two seats.

SeanW

Borstal Boy wrote: »

I think you are missing my point.

If George Lee's priority was the welfare of the Irish people, as opposed to his own, he would have run when he had a chance to alter the course of the economy, instead of running when he was assured of winning.

The last election had plenty of candidates whose priority was the welfare of the Irish people (Fine Gael, Labour, and even though I don't agree with either of them but they are doing what they think is best Sinn Fein and the Socialist Party), but the electorate were too busy enjoying the bubble and being taken for suckers by FFs spin team to vote for anyone but Teflon Bertie and his mates.

At that time George Lee was little more than a hugely maligned bad news bear.

If Lee had run in 2007, he would have almost certainly lost. What good would that have done?

meglome

is_that_so wrote: »

He would have been a liability and his negative view a perfect target for the FF spin machine, especially in "good times".

It is Brian Cowen who has been given most of the credit for the resurgence of the FF vote in that last week. FG had no answer to the "you couldn't trust them" message. Bertie's popularity gave them an extra seat.

The only people who can call an election are the government by either resigning or by losing a vote of no confidence. Even then the resignation has to be accepted by the President.

I think this is exactly it. Up to 2007 anyone who spoke out of turn on the economy was savaged. People didn't even want to hear any warnings about the economy since the value of their over priced properties they had been buying might fall.

nesf

I don't think it reflects badly on George Lee at all to run in the present by-elections. Politics is about seizing the moment and given that running for election would pretty much end his career at RTE it is not a decision he could afford to make lightly.

I'd also disagree somewhat with the above, George Lee commanded a lot of respect even when Bertie was dismissing the nay sayers. He was for many people their primary (or sole) outlet for economic news, and most importantly economic analysis. He is, from most people I've talked to over the years about him, generally viewed as likeable, intelligent, level headed and sober which are qualities quite a large segment of the populace respect in politicians (not all obviously, or else Conor Lenihan et al wouldn't be returned year after year) but most importantly he'll draw votes from across party lines in a way that few people who make their name within the party can. Similar to Sean Kelly who's standing for FG in the European South Constituency. He is going to get quite a few high preferences/first choices from FF people who would normally never give any preference to a FG candidate.

paddyboy23

i think george lee got a call from god himself or as he likes to be known on earth edna saying your country needs you and after smelling the gravy train and the fact that RTE presenters are all taking pay cuts old georgie wants a raise hes not doing for the love of his country thats for sure i wonder would he go hand in cap back to RTE or would he stick by god or enda like the rest of the fools if hes not one of the most hated men in ireland and not one of the spineless fools will stand up and say i think it time to step down god or enda will old georgie be the one.i wouldnt hold my breath

sceptre

paddyboy23 wrote: »

and the fact that RTE presenters are all taking pay cuts old georgie wants a raise

I'm sure the figures were quoted here at some point but if I remember correctly (and I'm pretty sure I do), getting elected as a TD would give him a massive wallop of a pay cut compared with what he's currently earning. Far more than the 10% cut being touted around Montrose.

paddyboy23

sceptre wrote: »

I'm sure the figures were quoted here at some point but if I remember correctly (and I'm pretty sure I do), getting elected as a TD would give him a massive wallop of a pay cut compared with what he's currently earning. Far more than the 10% cut being touted around Montrose.

would you think george would be able to smile and say thank you il do that for you sir as he puts an envalobe in his pocket theres his pay raise the same as the rest of them

sceptre

paddyboy23 wrote: »

would you think george would be able to smile and say thank you il do that for you sir as he puts an envalobe in his pocket theres his pay raise the same as the rest of them

I'm afraid that supposition and making stuff up aren't things we tend to have any regard for here so no points for you today I'm afraid. Try starting a blog.

SkepticOne

]I think he said he was on 150K with RTE so there would be a bit of a pay cut though he'll still be comfortably off as a TD.

Zuiderzee

opportunity knocks, FF are fairly ****ed, politics is ot a fair fight - so when there on the ground, take your chance to kick them in the nuts.

paddyboy23

sceptre wrote: »

I'm afraid that supposition and making stuff up aren't things we tend to have any regard for here so no points for you today I'm afraid. Try starting a blog.

this is not making stuff up every single one of them are on the take im not wanting points of you anyway im just telling how i see it i can name at least 10 who have been caught taking kick backs can you name one who hasnt i rest my case mr fg man

994

Because he was on a spiritual vision quest in the Burren, communing with the essence of Erin before returning to the human world to rescue us.