Enda Kenny on Saturday Night With Miriam

Liam Byrne

The_Minister wrote: »

Bertie Ahern is very charismatic.

The fact that he managed to sink the country is irrelevant - he is still charismatic.

As I said earlier, I don't agree. So "charisma" is obviously subjective.

oscarBravo

Pretty sure I've said it before, but Enda is a very charismatic man when you meet him in person. He comes across as warm and genuine.

I've met Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen as well, quite a while ago and in different circumstances. Bertie has a certain amount of personal magnetism, but not nearly as much as Enda (in my experience). Brian had a few pints on him when I met him...

It's unfortunate that Enda's character doesn't come across as well on TV as in person, but it's even more unfortunate that that is anything other than a minor side issue.

The_Minister

oscarBravo wrote: »

Pretty sure I've said it before, but Enda is a very charismatic man when you meet him in person. He comes across as warm and genuine.

I've met Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen as well, quite a while ago and in different circumstances. Bertie has a certain amount of personal magnetism, but not nearly as much as Enda (in my experience). Brian had a few pints on him when I met him...

It's unfortunate that Enda's character doesn't come across as well on TV as in person, but it's even more unfortunate that that is anything other than a minor side issue.

Kenny is amazing on the one-to-one, I don't think I've ever seen such a skillful operator. I felt like I should be taking notes

Tbh, though, while I would like our politicians to care more about policies, it is important for our leader to be charismatic and able to lead the country.

pog it

The_Minister wrote: »

Kenny is amazing on the one-to-one, I don't think I've ever seen such a skillful operator. I felt like I should be taking notes

Tbh, though, while I would like our politicians to care more about policies, it is important for our leader to be charismatic and able to lead the country.

Agreed- on both points. Kenny is different in person, he's actually impressive face to face. But no way can I support FG any longer. Eamon Gilmore is the man for this country, in terms of intellect, leadership... and he has the all important charisma.

If people are commenting on Enda it's because more is expected of him, since he is the leader of FG, which used to always be the biggest opposition party. But honestly, he is weak, and that is why people are criticising him. And rightly so. We deserve better.

P. Breathnach

The_Minister wrote: »

Kenny is amazing on the one-to-one, I don't think I've ever seen such a skillful operator. I felt like I should be taking notes

But what is the skill?

I mean the question as a serious one, albeit expressed as rhetorical one. Many politicians have developed a skill for dealing with people which is nothing more than a performance for the punters.

I think that I have fairly good antennae, and know when a politician is taking what I say on board (not very often) or simply faking an interest in an effort to have a good encounter with me as a potential voter or supporter.

One of my minor entertainments is watching politicians working the room.

maynooth_rules

The_Minister wrote: »

Bertie Ahern is very charismatic.

The fact that he managed to sink the country is irrelevant - he is still charismatic.

I am not denying he had charisma (however this should not cloud his many many faults), but I was trying to say when it was apparent to everyone that Bertie was stepping down, and that Biffo would be becoming our unelected Taoiseach, nobody questioned his complete and utter lack of charisma. Its seems to be something that is constantly used to attack Kenny. Charisma is not that bloody important. Some of the best politicians in History had zero charisma. You are not buying a car off the person, you are depending on them to run the country. Charisma should be quite down in the important traits

Gravy Fanatic

maynooth_rules wrote: »

Why is charisma always discussed with Kenny. When it became quite clear that Biffo would be taking over from B. Ahern, I don't remember people questioning his lack of charisma. I wish people would remember that they are voting for a party and their policies, not just on a leader and whether he has bloody charisma

Sure I think the public has just been misunderstanding Brian, he has as much charisma as anybody, he just has struggled to show it yet. But thats what good about a fella like Brian, hes also practical and focuses on policies. He is been unfairly blamed for the recession, and this kind of thing isnt right because one man can only do so much. We didnt elect superman after all.

Wide Road

oscarBravo wrote: »

Pretty sure I've said it before, but Enda is a very charismatic man when you meet him in person. He comes across as warm and genuine.

I've met Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen as well, quite a while ago and in different circumstances. Bertie has a certain amount of personal magnetism, but not nearly as much as Enda (in my experience). Brian had a few pints on him when I met him...

It's unfortunate that Enda's character doesn't come across as well on TV as in person, but it's even more unfortunate that that is anything other than a minor side issue.

Oscar, judging by your post I would wonder who had a few pints in them?

jpfahy

Gravy Fanatic wrote: »

Sure I think the public has just been misunderstanding Brian, he has as much charisma as anybody, he just has struggled to show it yet. But thats what good about a fella like Brian, hes also practical and focuses on policies. He is been unfairly blamed for the recession, and this kind of thing isnt right because one man can only do so much. We didnt elect superman after all.

Why unfairly????? Was he not the minister for finance when the bubble was building and did nothing to defuse it?

Wide Road

maynooth_rules wrote: »

Some of the best politicians in History had zero charisma. traits

God bless us if you are now comparing Enda to "Some of the best politicians in History". A couple of weeks ago poor Enda was under severe pressure from his own comrades with some disregarding their party oath in order to get rid of him. Get a grip.

Liam Byrne

Wide Road wrote: »

God bless us if you are now comparing Enda to "Some of the best politicians in History". A couple of weeks ago poor Enda was under severe pressure from his own comrades with some disregarding their party oath in order to get rid of him. Get a grip.

I have to say that I find it strange that you automatically assume that this reflects Enda Kenny's position, with no deference towards the possibility that some of them might have been doing it in order to further their own aspirations.

I also have to add 2 things:

1) I'm delighted that the "party oath" doesn't preclude FG members from voting confidence in a leader that they might not think is up to the task; compare and contrast with FF voting confidence in someone who was singled out as being severely at fault for the recession

2) Kenny proved himself to be a leader by meeting the challenge head-on

Am I convinced Kenny is good enough to lead us out of this mess ? No.

But I'd have a lot more faith and trust in him than Cowen (which is still not saying an awful lot, because even 10% faith would be a lot more than 0% ).

Wide Road

Liam, during the FG leadership battle. Richard said he wouldn't serve under Enda if he lost. That's when he went against the "party oath". I know you don't believe Enda can or would lead us out of the recession.

Wide Road

I also forgot to mention your remarks on "power". John showed his appetite for power when he joined with DL. I wonder as Im sure you do too if a chat between the 2 Brutons had an influence in Richards timing for power. It would be some story alright 2 brothers one Taoiseach and the other as President. Na, they wouldn't speak about it cos they're the wrong party to think such things as power etc. How could one reach such a conclusion?

The_Minister

Wide Road wrote: »

Oscar, judging by your post I would wonder who had a few pints in them?

Sorry, but on a personal level, Enda is fantastic.

When giving speeches, not so much, but on the one-to-one he is undeniably impressive.

Liam Byrne

Wide Road wrote: »

Liam, during the FG leadership battle. Richard said he wouldn't serve under Enda if he lost. That's when he went against the "party oath".

My point was that Kenny said to his party to quit the bitching and vote on it. Democratically. Which contrasts with FF's unanimous vote of confidence in Cowen. The "party oath" (never knew one existed, tbh) and "party whip" concept is despicable to me, as you well know. People should vote with their conscience, making small, non-ethics-related concessions where appropriate.

Wide Road wrote: »

I know you don't believe Enda can or would lead us out of the recession.

How do you know this ? I'm not even sure.

I've said it before, I think the only politician who might actually have the leadership required to lead us out of the recession in a fair manner would be Shane Ross.

But given a choice between Cowen and Kenny, it's a no-brainer. Cowen fuelled the fire and added significantly to our woes.

Do we need better than Kenny ? Yes.

Is it available ? No.

Wide Road

Liam, you have a selective brain.

CerebralCortex

Liam Byrne wrote: »

But given a choice between Cowen and Kenny, it's a no-brainer. Cowen fuelled the fire and added significantly to our woes.

Do we need better than Kenny ? Yes.

Is it available ? ....

...maybe. How does Gilmore shape up?

I agree on the choice between Cowen and Kenny, Kenny wins hands down!

Liam Byrne

Wide Road wrote: »

Liam, you have a selective brain.

Care to explain ?

CerebralCortex wrote: »

...maybe. How does Gilmore shape up?

I agree on the choice between Cowen and Kenny, Kenny wins hands down!

This jury's out, tbh. I was well impressed that he took the initiative against the Bull(****ter), and he certainly highlights the problems caused by FF without invoking the type of pointless schoolboy-level FF v FG animosity that passes for "debate" between those two parties.....although O'Donoghue's cringeworthy village-idiot style cow-and-fly rant the other day was almost enough to make me cry, that my taxes are being used to pay for a platform for such childish rubbish; hardly Gilmore's fault, though.

I believe that given the blatant failure of unrestrained capitalism and the resultant socialising of the losses, a normal-person, worker- and consumer- related focus would be a massive improvement, but I'm not completely convinced that Labour or Gilmore would tackle the public service issues in the right manner; loads of people in the PS do damn fine jobs and shouldn't be the victims of the FF-inspired "us vs them" campaign, but productivity and wages do need to be looked at, as do the self-interested overpaid sods at the top level of the unions.

If I could be convinced that Labour would solve those issues correctly and fairly, maybe by simply doing a new "benchmarking" scheme where pay rates, staffing levels and productivity were reviewed realistically, then yes, I'd put Gilmore ahead of Kenny.

maynooth_rules

Wide Road wrote: »

God bless us if you are now comparing Enda to "Some of the best politicians in History". A couple of weeks ago poor Enda was under severe pressure from his own comrades with some disregarding their party oath in order to get rid of him. Get a grip.

Because I said some of the best politicians in History had zero charisma does not mean in any way that I am claiming he is one of the best politicians in History. FFS, you are putting 2 and 2 together from what I said and getting 114. Perhaps you should get a grip :P

Wide Road

Liam, my reason for saying you have a selective brain is due to your choice of posts that you reply to. You pick and choose your replies, fair enough, disect them and ignore other postings, some that are maybe more relevant to the thread that people are posting on. It seems fine at first but after a while one realises why you have no party to interact with. You Liam don't seem to have a political outlet aside from this website mainly due to your non political stance. Fair enough but I suggest your use your talents before they are lost forever. It's your choice, your shout but don't let the chance slip you by. You deserve better.

vampire of kilmainham

Can stand Enda Kenny he's just wants power like the rest of em bring on the trumpets bring on the trumpets bring on the trumpets:D:D:D