George Lee resigns from Fine Gael and Dail!!!

gandalf

Drumpot wrote: »

To anybody who voted for Lee or who feel he has let down the electorate . .

Why did you vote for him ? Was he not voted in to make changes ? Was there not excitement because the belief was that we had somebody who could intelligently help the country progress in a time of crisis ?

This talk of "learning the ropes" is a lame attempt for FG to try and get some credibility out of a shocking situation that leaves them looking no less inept then the shower in power at the moment . . Who voted in GL so he could be moulded into the kind of politicians we have in their at the moment ?

Its just really sad that society constantly points fingers of blame at individuals instead of looking at the root cause of something . .

It appears that FG wanted him as a PR clown to enhance the credibility of other members, but they didnt want to use his professional expertise as they had their own idea's. .

To me that sums it up in a nutshell . .

To be honest you could exchange FG for any party and George Lee for any high profile person parachuted into an election in a constituency.

This is what is wrong with politics in this country, its just as bad as so-called politicial dynasties. You get people whose idea of normality is being politicians, they are separated from the ordinary working people of the country be they blue collar or white collar. The time has come to overhaul the whole system in the country from the way our politics work to the way our public services are delivered.

jmayo

Just a few thoughts running through my mind.

Lots of posters are always lauding Richard Bruton, so much so that they are saying he should be the leader.
They praise him for his view on economic policy.

Now people are saying that kenny should have given Lee more power and influence.
Does that mean they are saying that Lee should have been dictating economic policy of FG ?
What does that mean for Richard Bruton ?

Was Richard Bruton, long time member, TD since 1982, MPhil in Economics with thesis on Irish public debt, former minister of Trade and Enterprise, deputy leader and long time economic spokesman since 2002, supposed to roll over and let George short time member and famous rte star become economic spokesman ?

Could Lee have been a spokesman on Trade and Enterprise because there are little else positions that might suit ?
Did Lee just want to talk about economics and finance ?

I know if it was a choice for who I would like to see as minister of finance that Richard Bruton would win hands down everytime in preference to George Lee.
And no i don't want Bruton as leader, I want the strongest possible minister of finance and I don't see anyone else out there in the Dáil as good as Bruton.

Drumpot

Laminations wrote: »

On this front, I completely agree. But protesting can never result in magical integrity increases among members of the Dail. That comes at election time (by voting for the party with most integrity...even if its still far less integrity than you'd like to see). This leaves the other parties having to up their game in the integrity stakes.

Striking was just one suggestion . . But if we didnt just forget about scandals like JOD after paltry sacrifices and followed these things until the end, eventually politics would be cleaner . .

The very fact that we know JOD will get back in simply proves my point that as a nation we are not interested in national politics or cleaning it up . .

limklad

storybud1 wrote: »

does this mean that the recession will never end

For Irish Politics, The recession is more like depression where we never got into the boom years with decent Politicians. There has only been very few good ones to last the dirty parish politics. The good ones tends to get their heads cut off.

The Muppet

Laminations wrote: »

Him now resigning is more an indictment of politics rather than party. If you argue that G Lee leaving FG is terrible for the party then him joining in the first place must have been even more terrible for FF as he didnt even see them as fit to have him as a member

The fact still remains that George Lee, who is now being hailed as the best economic expert around chose FG over FF.

I think you'll find that Fine Gaee chose him. I assume they did so because of this analysis of our problems and they though he could help put the economy back on track. The electorate voted for him on that understanding. Fg have let the electorate down by not giving him the opportunities they said they would.

It's obviouse from his statement today taht Fine Gale didn't live up to their part of the deal and this resignation today is a huge blow to their chances of being elected as the next government.

Lee was supposed to be a new broom, to say he needed to learn the ropes is wrong, the country needs leaders with new ideas, not ones to follow on from where their predecessors have left off.

I'm a floating voter, I can't see myself voting FF in the near future and after today I'm very unlikley to vote FG either.

HQvhs

jmayo wrote: »

Just a few thoughts running through my mind.

Lots of posters are always lauding Richard Bruton, so much so that they are saying he should be the leader.
They praise him for his view on economic policy.

Now people are saying that kenny should have given Lee more power and influence.
Does that mean they are saying that Lee should have been dictating economic policy of FG ?
What does that mean for Richard Bruton ?

Was Richard Bruton, long time member, TD since 1982, MPhil in Economics with thesis on Irish public debt, former minister of Trade and Enterprise, deputy leader and long time economic spokesman since 2002, supposed to roll over and let George short time member and famous rte star become economic spokesman ?

Could Lee have been a spokesman on Trade and Enterprise because there are little else positions that might suit ?
Did Lee just want to talk about economics and finance ?

I know if it was a choice for who I would like to see as minister of finance that Richard Bruton would win hands down everytime in preference to George Lee.
And no i don't want Bruton as leader, I want the strongest possible minister of finance and I don't see anyone else out there in the Dáil as good as Bruton.

I'm sure there is room in any political party for more than one person with an expertise in economics. One man with an masters in economics does not an economic policy for the main opposition party make.

I agree, Richard Bruton would be a very strong Finance minister, or Trade and Enterprise minister. And George Lee would equally have been a very capable Trade and Enterprise minister also.

There is room for both in the party, it just seems to me that FG did not make room for him.

And in my eyes, as a Fine Gael supporter normally, the party has let me down considerably.

I wouldn't vote for FF, nor Labour or SF. But FG lately seem to be trying their hardest lately to convince me that they are not capable of running the country.

Joey the lips

He is on Q102 now. Why did he not run as an independent( Like killian forde etc recently) because it would be dishonest. He entered to make a difference and its not possible so he left.


Has my vote.

gandalf

The Muppet wrote: »

I'm a floating voter, I can't see myself voting FF in the near future and after today I'm very unlikley to vote FG either.

However if this instigates change within FG then it could result in a lot of floating voters like you moving towards them again. It all now depends on whether the powers that be within the party take the opportunity to change to win the next election or if they circle the wagons around Enda. If that happens they can kiss goodbye to power at the next election.

As for George Lee I think he will find himself either reporting from the four corners of the earth or doing "Special Interest" reports from now onwards. He should have stuck it out as an Independent if he was serious about politics.

Ally Dick

Joey the lips wrote: »

He is on Q102 now. Why did he not run as an independent( Like killian forde etc recently) because it would be dishonest. He entered to make a difference and its not possible so he left.

He joined Fine Gael because he had aspirations of formulating economic policy for the next government. He was deluded. He got his wings clips. Good riddance

rubensni

Maybe he'll join Newstalk and then quit after nine months because they hadn't given him Ivan Yates' job?

onq

Laminations wrote: »

Him now resigning is more an indictment of politics rather than party. If you argue that G Lee leaving FG is terrible for the party then him joining in the first place must have been even more terrible for FF as he didnt even see them as fit to have him as a member
The fact still remains that George Lee, who is now being hailed as the best economic expert around chose FG over FF.

There doesn't seem to be any logic to that.
This had nothing to do with working for the electorate.
Lee thought to turn his journalistic clout into political capital.
(Probably fed up like the rest of us with Floppy Haired Economics.)
When he realised he had developed a case of political negative equity he got out.
This was all to do with a bright guy looking for a soapbox, expecting the red carpet in Fine Gael politics.
In a political entity still seeking a good leader, Lee was doomed by various competing factions not allowing him pre-eminence.
Would the landed gentry in Fine Gael would allow a common upstart from a Television Station enter into politicla life and lord it over them?

More chance of having Hooky for Pope!

ONQ.

Joey the lips

Ally Dick wrote: »

He joined Fine Gael because he had aspirations of formulating economic policy for the next government. He was deluded. He got his wings clips. Good riddance

You did not hear the interview.... Its FG that got there wings clipped.

rubensni wrote: »

Maybe he'll join Newstalk and then quit after nine months because they hadn't given him Ivan Yates' job?

The Irony in that is interesting. Very interesting.

limklad

Now I understand why Ivan Yates quit Fine Gael. He saw the writing on the wall.

colly2010

Frankly, George Lee's decision to resign is honourable - not only does it prove that he is willing to make big decisions but that he did so to shake up Irish politics. How can you critise a man who has an economic vision for ireland? I think this means only one thing the party failed George.

Shayman

I won't lose any sleep for him. He thought all he had to do was turn up and they'd make him King? He's not bothered. He'll toddle off back to RTE and his little desk opposite his mate Charlie Bird and carry on at our expense. He's lost nothing. He's spent half of his time in the Dail on holidays and he has a nice well paid job to go back to. Typical blue shirt!

Ally Dick

limklad wrote: »

Now I understand why Ivan Yates quit Fine Gael. He saw the writing on the wall.

He saw the odds on the wall of his betting shop. Gambling was going to be a far more lucrative venture than politics

Amhran Nua

Red_Marauder wrote: »

There can be no such thing as entitlement in Irish politics - if we have learned anything from Fianna Fáil, it's that.

I'd have said we've learned the exact opposite from Fianna Fáil.

Joey the lips

Shayman wrote: »

I won't lose any sleep for him. He thought all he had to do was turn up and they'd make him King? He's not bothered. He'll toddle off back to RTE and his little desk opposite his mate Charlie Bird and carry on at our expense. He's lost nothing. He's spent half of his time in the Dail on holidays and he has a nice well paid job to go back to. Typical blue shirt!

I dont think they can take him back. He has nailed his colours to speak.

Personally I was never a lover of fine gael but I always look at what they try to achieve. I think it a massive loss to FG looseing him and I praise and admire the man for standing up to his principles.

Joey the lips

Amhran Nua wrote: »

I'd have said we've learned the exact opposite from Fianna Fáil.

You have the unique position that george less now finds himself in..... How can you say anything positive about another party when you have nailed your colours......;)

LookingFor

All I'm going to say is that it'll be farcical if RTE takes him back.

I had heard it was part of an agreement with RTE that he could go back. But for god's sake...that'd just be crazy. And entirely unfair on the other people who've moved up the ladder since he left.

kraggy

jmayo wrote: »

I didn't know you worked for clowen :eek:
Oh what am I saying, none of his gang ever resign. :rolleyes:



Yeah I do appreciate his idea of me helping contribute 11 billion in recapitalisation to the banks, 4 odd billion ?? of it going to Anglo.
That would be a bank whose branches are all over ???, oh yeah all over St Stephen's Green and new HQ would be down in the Dublin Docklands coutesy of a couple of their directors. :rolleyes:
As yet I haven't heard of any massive use of the recapitalisation for any lending to productive industry, nevermind the banks have given him the bird when he asked they listen to him about getting in outside executives.

Also must thank him personnally for making sure I (and probably my kids) will contribute towards accepting 13 billion of now worthless US property loans along with all the other sh**e that NAMA will inherit.
And wait for it, 10 billion of those US loans are coutesy of Anglo :rolleyes:
What a surprise.

Hell wait a few months and I can probably thank him for making me contribute to the mortgage of a defaulter I know who used his mortgage to buy a boat, a sportscar and a big jeep.

Fecks sake I would hate to see how much it would be costing me if lenny was'nt doing a great job :rolleyes:

Right so. What's your idea on how to get us out of this mess? Let the banks go to the wall and have the economy collapse altogether?

What would you have done? When Nama is up and running properly the banks will have more lee-way to get money out to SME's but until then, small business is suffocating as a result of lack of cash.

The banks were nearly gone at one stage. Letting things continue in the direction in which they were going would have confirmed their demise.

You sound like the typical anti-government bandwagon jumper-on who has loads of energy when it comes to bashing the government but never offers up one single idea. And you also sound like someone who doesn't fully understand the workings of the banking system. Yes we're giving money to the banks, but if they don't get it they run the risk of sinking. People seem to think that this money is for the pockets of the boards of directors! (yes I'm fully aware of overpaid bankers but they're not pocketing billions for themselves).

Yes FF got us into this mess. But now we need to get out of it. And what do we have? Labour and FG shouting like petulant children with no substance or imagination at all.

I'm not even FF. I want them out as well. But Lenihan is one bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

Shayman

Joey the lips wrote: »

I dont think they can take him back. He has nailed his colours to speak.

Personally I was never a lover of fine gael but I always look at what they try to achieve. I think it a massive loss to FG looseing him and I praise and admire the man for standing up to his principles.

I was never a Fine Gael voter but was planning to vote for them next election until Enda Kenny said on the Late Late that he would have nothing to do with Sinn Fein. Excluding them would be crazy because it's likely that the Tories will get into power next time in the UK and they won't want much to do with Sinn Fein. Excluding them will only push us all back a decade.... It was a stupid statement from Kenny?

jmayo

BeeDI wrote: »

Get over it :cool: No possible solution to the mess we are in is without pain, to you, me and every other citizen of the country, of this generation and probably the next one.
If you believe the "painless solution" spin from Gilmore, Kenny, the Shinners, McWilliams, Glee, and a few more idiots, you are in dreamland.

B

Ah yes the typical ff mantra of we all have to bare the pain, and we must all put our shoudlers to the wheel, hell we muct all be patriotic.
Oh here is another old one "We must all tighten out belts".
FFS ff have been using the same sh*** for 30 years and the electorate still haven't copped on.

Funny thing is, it's only some of us who ever have to tighten our belts.

Remember how clowen is still so well paid, expert expense man o'dondoghue is given Dail committee to run up some more expenses, senior public servants don't have to worry about paycuts since the poor souls lost their bonuses and former public sector incompetent and inept cheif execs get to keep their cars with a pension top up to see them off :rolleyes:

Ally Dick wrote: »

He saw the odds on the wall of his betting shop. Gambling was going to be a far more lucrative venture than politics

Maybe he saw that he could fleece the ffers and their supporters who were always going to the races.
Maybe he was one of the few outside the cosy tent in Galway that made a few quid ?

fontanalis

kraggy wrote: »

Right so. What's your idea on how to get us out of this mess? Let the banks go to the wall and have the economy collapse altogether?

What would you have done? When Nama is up and running properly the banks will have more lee-way to get money out to SME's but until then, small business is suffocating as a result of lack of cash.

The banks were nearly gone at one stage. Letting things continue in the direction in which they were going would have confirmed their demise.

You sound like the typical anti-government bandwagon jumper-on who has loads of energy when it comes to bashing the government but never offers up one single idea. And you also sound like someone who doesn't fully understand the workings of the banking system. Yes we're giving money to the banks, but if they don't get it they run the risk of sinking. People seem to think that this money is for the pockets of the boards of directors! (yes I'm fully aware of overpaid bankers but they're not pocketing billions for themselves).

Yes FF got us into this mess. But now we need to get out of it. And what do we have? Labour and FG shouting like petulant children with no substance or imagination at all.

I'm not even FF. I want them out as well. But Lenihan is one bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

Like a candle in a wind tunnell, unreliable.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

moonpurple

would be relaunching national debate, bringing an election closer, and bypassing the blockage created by the illness of thr finance minister.. in many ways it might be exactly what he has in mind,

time for richard bruton to take the helm,

Jip

donegalfella wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I can't see why seeing as he didn't hang around long to see what it was actually like in government.

IrishKestrel

I'm a member of FG - and for what it's worth, I think that Enda Kenny blew this one big time.

FG approached George Lee and GL was very open and transparent as to what he wanted to do if he accepted their nomination - have a direct impact on economic policy.

There is a lot of good to be said about FG, but that is not the topic of this thread. However, Enda regularly blows it.

I had to 'cringe' during the Leaders Debate when he blatantly tried to mispresent the Garda Numbers target.

I was 'livid' when I listened to him being caught out on the Water Charges question during the Ivan Yates / Newstalk interview recently.

But - I was prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt because the word in the organisation is that he was the great 'organiser' and 'communicator' internally within the organisation. I had never seen this firsthand myself (ever!) - on the contrary, I think there are huge problems internally within the organisation. But that was the impression that was being given.

This incident removes the only credibility that Enda had left, imo. Whatever about GL's motives - Enda's handling of this high profile member was catastrophic. He CLEARLY cannot LEAD!

Time to go, Enda!

If he survives this, then it's time to leave the Party for good.

Tricity Bendix

Whatever about the political implications of this, George Lee employed a parliamentary assistant and a secretary who only found out at ten this morning that they're out of a job. For that alone, I've lost all respect for him.

dlofnep

donegalfella wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

What, like the American Republican party? We know what your change is - and it's not for the betterment of Ireland.

rightwingdub

Shayman wrote: »

I was never a Fine Gael voter but was planning to vote for them next election until Enda Kenny said on the Late Late that he would have nothing to do with Sinn Fein. Excluding them would be crazy because it's likely that the Tories will get into power next time in the UK and they won't want much to do with Sinn Fein. Excluding them will only push us all back a decade.... It was a stupid statement from Kenny?

Didn't Frank Flannery admit last year that FG were in talks with Sinn Fein after the 2007 election? Kenny would go into power with anyone.

Mezcita

Tricity Bendix wrote: »

Whatever about the political implications of this, George Lee employed a parliamentary assistant and a secretary who only found out at ten this morning that they're out of a job. For that alone, I've lost all respect for him.

Do you not think he would have told them before hand that he was leaving?

Tricity Bendix

Mezcita wrote: »

Do you not think he would have told them before hand that he was leaving?

I know for certain that he didn't.

Not sure if FG will go out of their way to find alternative employment for them, either.

dlofnep

rightwingdub wrote: »

Didn't Frank Flannery admit last year that FG were in talks with Sinn Fein after the 2007 election? Kenny would go into power with anyone.

Did you miss Enda's interview with Tubbridy?

Eliot Rosewater

Ive always maintained the George Lee was political gold for Fine Gael. Here was a politician that was as near to a celebrity as a perty will ever get. Unfortunately the maintainers of the status quo in Fine Gael were clearly threatened by him and had him "quietened".

I don't look less on Lee because of this; I was as naive back then as he was. I though that Fine Gael could take the opportunity to become the party of the future of Ireland. However all that has emerged is complacency and backward minded thinking. Fine Gaels potential to become the largest party in Ireland on a permanent basis has been scrambled by the present petty whims of their TD's.

A sad day for politics in Ireland.

Mezcita

Tricity Bendix wrote: »

I know for certain that he didn't.

Not sure if FG will go out of their way to find alternative employment for them, either.

Meh. Could hardly expect him to stay on just to keep two people employed. God forbid anyone thought they had a job for life.

Lee on the news now.

rightwingdub

dlofnep wrote: »

Did you miss Enda's interview with Tubbridy?

I wouldn't believe a word that Kenny comes out with.

Stench Blossoms

Dobson is giving him a good grilling on the six one.

"You where only in there a wet week"

Joey the lips

rightwingdub wrote: »

I wouldn't believe a word that Kenny comes out with.

Now thats interesting..... You dont think enda would be right wing with his views????

rightwingdub

Joey the lips wrote: »

Now thats interesting..... You dont think enda would be right wing with his views????

Kenny doesn't stand for anything he tries to all things to all people, he's a populist who has no clear ideological beliefs.

MementoMori

It all raises a couple of interesting points.

Clearly a blow to Kenny and FG - can't see his handling of this impressing many of the floating voters. Given the massive questions about the general public doubts about his ability to be Taoiseach, this could be a fatal flaw.

If FG had Richard Bruton as leader I would expect them to be somewhere about 15%-20% ahead
of where they are now in the polls. I believe there is a quite sizable contingent of people who simply won't vote FG will Enda as leader, who would consider it with an alternative leader.

On Lee it raises massive questions about himself personally. It does sound like FG didn't have any sort of plan as to how to use him apart from attracting crowds to events around the country. He should probably have had some idea of what life would have been like as back-bencher. I really can't think where he will go to next but I really can't see him going back to RTE as he would have no journalistic credibility whatsoever.

It also raises some interesting points about the calibre of people choosing to go into public life. People are on about parachute candidate as opposed to party loyalists. I would imagine in the vast majority of cases a parachute candidate would be better qualified for the job than someone who was only ever a politican. I can't see any good coming out of this in terms of enticing too many high-calibre candidates down the road.

Rb

orla wrote: »

Dobson is giving him a good grilling on the six one.

"You where only in there a wet week"

Yeah, particularly liked where he quoted a question put to him at the time of the election about what he was expecting, which Lee replied was to represent the people of South Dublin and that he was content that he got it, and is now going back on it and is drop kicking the toys out of the prams because, indeed, he had much higher expectations privately.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

jmayo

kraggy wrote: »

Right so. What's your idea on how to get us out of this mess? Let the banks go to the wall and have the economy collapse altogether?

What would you have done? When Nama is up and running properly the banks will have more lee-way to get money out to SME's but until then, small business is suffocating as a result of lack of cash.

The banks were nearly gone at one stage. Letting things continue in the direction in which they were going would have confirmed their demise.

You sound like the typical anti-government bandwagon jumper-on who has loads of energy when it comes to bashing the government but never offers up one single idea. And you also sound like someone who doesn't fully understand the workings of the banking system. Yes we're giving money to the banks, but if they don't get it they run the risk of sinking. People seem to think that this money is for the pockets of the boards of directors! (yes I'm fully aware of overpaid bankers but they're not pocketing billions for themselves).

Yes FF got us into this mess. But now we need to get out of it. And what do we have? Labour and FG shouting like petulant children with no substance or imagination at all.

I'm not even FF. I want them out as well. But Lenihan is one bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

May I ask are you a banker, you must be since you are so fond of NAMA and claim not to be ff ?

You appear to be of the opinion that no price is too high to pay to save THE BANKS.
Well I think some prices are too high.
We are mortgaging the country, we are affectively paying something like 30,000 per person to save the banks through NAMA.
Now to me that is much too high a price.

Ok it is not on the country's balance sheet per say through some creative accounting, but if you really look at health of Ireland Inc you are still going to think about the 50 to 70 billion that is owed by guess who the taxpayers.

It is marvellous how the government and banks can move loans/debts they don't want to talk about into SPVs.
Here why can't we normal joe soaps do it as well ?

Why the f*** did we save a bank that was run as a cash machine for the well connected primarily developers.
This is a bank that didn't have high street joe soap borrowers and lenders.
(BTW it has since come out that Anglo didn't even perform valuations on some loans they dished out and this is the entity you think is worth saving.)

It is always spun by ff, by bankers and some other vested interests that it was systemic, part of the system, and that if Anglo had gone it would have destablised the whole banking system.
Then in that case if IN had gone would it have destabilised the system ?
Is it a case that if any banks goes it will destabilise the system ?

Why didn't they let it go, and immediately move to provide guarantee and recapitalisation to the other primary banks.
Nationalise them and not the sh** we have now where the taxpayers shoves in money ad infinitum on some pretence that they will get it back in some levy or God forbid a loan.

According to you when NAMA is up and running then the banks will have more leeway to get money out to SMEs.
BULLSH**.
When NAMA is up and running there is no guarantee of this, the only guarantee we have is that the banks will need more recapitalisation funds, because even with 30% discount on loans taken over by NAMA the banks are still under capitalised.

Anglo will never function as a bank again.
Watch the next time bonds are issued by the banks as it is being mooted the rating agencies are changing their rating methods.

No foreign investors want to touch the Irish banks, so we are left with them in limbo limping along sucking the life out of the economy.

The bank guarantee is our Stalingrad.
Smart generals know when to cut their losses and run to fight another day, whereas the unsuccessful ones keep digging in, in the faint hope that something comes along to save them.
So with NAMA whose premise for making return or breaking even is based on property prices going back to bubble dimensions.

Of course you believe I should be grateful that my kids inherit this sh**.
As George Hook pointed out it is the first time in the history of the state that one generation is leaving it in far worse condition than they got it.

dlofnep

donegalfella wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Opposed to the Conservative alternative which has a hissy-fit at the idea of state-supported healthcare? Yeah, great philosophy there. Interesting your choice to have a dig at the "vulnerable". Who are these vulnerable that you speak of? The 12.7% who are without work, and are losing their homes?

Every country should ensure the welfare of it's citizens is taking care of. The Republican philosophy is "only the strongest survive". Not my kettle of fish.

Tricity Bendix

Mezcita wrote: »

Meh. Could hardly expect him to stay on just to keep two people employed. God forbid anyone thought they had a job for life.

No, but one could expect him to be more professional in how he treated them, rather than them being an afterthought. Some sort of warning and an effort to see well by them wouldn't have gone amiss.

Mezcita

MementoMori wrote: »

It all raises a couple of interesting points.

Clearly a blow to Kenny and FG - can't see his handling of this impressing many of the floating voters. Given the massive questions about the general public doubts about his ability to be Taoiseach, this could be a fatal flaw.

If FG had Richard Bruton as leader I would expect them to be somewhere about 15%-20% ahead
of where they are now in the polls. I believe there is a quite sizable contingent of people who simply won't vote FG will Enda as leader, who would consider it with an alternative leader.

Agree 100%. There is no way I'd vote FG with Enda still around. Too much finger pointing and little substance.

MementoMori wrote: »

On Lee it raises massive questions about himself personally. It does sound like FG didn't have any sort of plan as to how to use him apart from attracting crowds to events around the country. He should probably have had some idea of what life would have been like as back-bencher. I really can't think where he will go to next but I really can't see him going back to RTE as he would have no journalistic credibility whatsoever.

Not so sure. Surely FG would have made certain promises to Lee when they asked him to come on board. Lee said on the news that he wasn't after a front bench position but just wanted to influence their economic policy.

Regarding his next move, RTE said earlier that he is on one year unpaid leave which is up in May. After that time employees can come back but are not guaranteed the same position.

All in all a massive gaff by Enda.

Red_Marauder

It was interesting to hear Lucinda Creighton and Leo Varadkar this evening.

Creighton described Lee as being totally detached from the FG party since the Dail reconvened last Autumn, saying that he did not integrate with them or come forwards with ideas.

Varadkar said that he was more sociable with Lee than others might have been but said he was mystified by the fact that Lee failed totally to convene any meetings of the economic forum he chaired for FG or initiate any motnions.

What kind of behaviour is that for someone who sees himself as having a key role in Irish economic policy?

Alan Dukes also expressed surprise that Lee felt he had to be consulted. he pointed out that when you're a backbencher, you don't ask for attention, you don't ask for opinion, you get out and give it.

Lee was a shrinking violet in the Dail and comes across as a bit of a loner figure. He has shown himself to be incapable of the cut and thrust of politics, totally detached from reality.

What good is he to Irish public life in that respect? Like I said, easy come, easy go.

I think the most pertinant question today is why did RTE sign up to this long standing agreement with him, knowing his position was going to be compromised by way of his political leanings.

Mezcita

Tricity Bendix wrote: »

No, but one could expect him to be more professional in how he treated them, rather than them being an afterthought. Some sort of warning and an effort to see well by them wouldn't have gone amiss.

Disagree. Lee tendered his formal resignation today but was in talks with Kenny last week. If he had tipped off his staff that he was leaving he risked the news getting out and therefore heaping even more embarrassment on the party.

Not sure if you are any way linked to his former staff members.

Tricity Bendix

Red_Marauder wrote: »

I think the most pertinant question today is why did RTE sign up to this long standing agreement with him, knowing his position was going to be compromised by way of his political leanings.

I hardly think that is the most pertinant question in this whole affair, but from what I can tell it is common practice to allow a years unpaid leave.