Leo worrying about meeting Kylie? WTF

Dakota Dan

Wheeliebin30 wrote: »

Trump, May, Macron?

Are these the type you prefer?

When were any of them Taoiseach?

Yurt2

"Dear Kylie.

I've been watching you afar for quite some time now. I recently got a new job with attendant fancy letterhead, and thought this an opportune time to write to you to ask if you wished to meet me. It gets lonely in this dusty old office; sometimes I think you're the only one that understands me. When I get angry and my social media ideas are shot down for being 'unethical' (what the hell do they know anyway?), I send my advisors out of the office and tell my secretary I'm not taking calls - then I put in my Apple Airpods and do the Locomotion until I calm down and don't think of hurting little animals and the poor any more.

So what do you say? Please don't let me down again Kylie.

Your biggest fan,

Leo

P.S, I hope you like the drawing of me in the bath I sent you for your birthday."

Anteayer

It could be a lot worse, Trump sends notes like that to Kim Jong Un and Putin.

I don't think Kylie Minogue is going for that kind of world domination. It's still very cringey though.

He's learning how developing the gravitas of office works, the hard way.

Dakota Dan

Yurt! wrote: »

"Dear Kylie.

I've been watching you afar for quite some time now. I recently got a new job with attendant fancy letterhead, and thought this an opportune time to write to you to ask if you wished to meet me. It gets lonely in this dusty old office; sometimes I think you're the only one that understands me. When I get angry and my social media ideas are shot down for being 'unethical' (what the hell do they know anyway?), I send my advisors out of the office and tell my secretary I'm not taking calls - then I put in my Apple Airpods and do the Locomotion until I calm down and don't think of hurting little animals and the poor any more.

So what do you say? Please don't let me down again Kylie.

Your biggest fan,

Leo

P.S, I hope you like the drawing of me in the bath I sent you for your birthday."

I couldn’t read his scribble but that sounds like a man that has a bit of a want.

Tacklebox

Leo is having a great time as Taoiseach, if he looses the next election he'll still get his pension.
As a young man he has a bright future ahead of him.

He's probably made a mistake with the Kylie thing, but he'll be alright....

Just a man who's made a bobo....

Guy:Incognito

Dakota Dan wrote: »

And don’t tell the whole country about it.

Who did he tell?

lbc2019

Yurt! wrote: »

"Dear Kylie.

I've been watching you afar for quite some time now. I recently got a new job with attendant fancy letterhead, and thought this an opportune time to write to you to ask if you wished to meet me. It gets lonely in this dusty old office; sometimes I think you're the only one that understands me. When I get angry and my social media ideas are shot down for being 'unethical' (what the hell do they know anyway?), I send my advisors out of the office and tell my secretary I'm not taking calls - then I put in my Apple Airpods and do the Locomotion until I calm down and don't think of hurting little animals and the poor any more.

So what do you say? Please don't let me down again Kylie.

Your biggest fan,

Leo

P.S, I hope you like the drawing of me in the bath I sent you for your birthday."

Anyone else hear Dido playing in the background while reading that?

zell12

lbc2019 wrote: »

Anyone else hear Dido playing in the background while reading that?

More like

oLoonatic

Slow news day as usual in the rags.

ifElseThen

Director of Comms for Irish Rugby to Leo's right. Sorted for the oul tickets.

Anteayer

I'm a bit conscious of this being a bit crazy tabloid storm in a tea cup too. I mean yes, it has taken him a few months to start acting more Taoiseachly and layering on the gravitas, but I wouldn’t think this is the area where I’d be critical.

How many previous Irish major politicians have been utterly fixated on horse racing, football, hurling, soccer, rugby etc.

My view of it is if you’re going to send those kinds of letters though in an official capacity, you reserve them for congratulating and encouraging Irish artists or international artists where there’s some official reason to do so.

I’ve no issue with the Taoiseach sending someone a friendly letter but it’s just you’re writing on behalf of the nation when you do.

Franz Von Peppercorn

As the day goes on I get more sympathetic to him. This is what we get from a major attempt by a major paper to get the dirt on Leo, using the FOI? If only we had that kind of journalism in the era of the Charvet shirts, the brown bags, the missing bank accounts.

Franz Von Peppercorn

Anteayer wrote: »

I'm a bit conscious of this being a bit crazy tabloid storm in a tea cup too. I mean yes, it has taken him a few months to start acting more Taoiseachly and layering on the gravitas, but I wouldn’t think this is the area where I’d be critical.

How many previous Irish major politicians have been utterly fixated on horse racing, football, hurling, soccer, rugby etc.

My view of it is if you’re going to send those kinds of letters though in an official capacity, you reserve them for congratulating and encouraging Irish artists or international artists where there’s some official reason to do so.

I’ve no issue with the Taoiseach sending someone a friendly letter but it’s just you’re writing on behalf of the nation when you do.

In reality the only issue was the paper he sent it on. Vradker can leave his office and do what he wants within the law. No doubt he can call in some favours, as can most.

Anteayer

I do think there's an element of tabloid sensationalism to it alright. Also frankly it does somewhat stink of homophobia and I mean that in the sense that they're having a good laugh because it's basically fan mail to Kylie, who to be fair is a gay icon.

If it were a similar letter to say a major international sports icon or a similar, would anyone in the tabloids care?

Taoiseach invites All Blacks to Lunch in Government buildings? Would anyone bat an eye lid or would the sports pages being going on about it in a positive way?

My only point is that I think there should be protocol around writing letters of that type and they should be considered in the context of the fact that it's the office writing, not the individual who holds the office and that's ultimately the people of Ireland.

That being said, there's nothing controversial, negative or anything else about Kylie. She's by all means a talent pop star and seems to be a very positive individual too who's been pretty inspirational for a lot of people who've survived cancer too.

I just think the whole thing could have been handled a lot better, and even from a purely public affairs point of view - he could have done something like invite her to a relevant event or something like that if he was that keen on it. Or, even host something for Irish-Australian relations.

I mean there are plenty of reasons why you might want to welcome her to Ireland, it's just maybe do it in the context of leading Ireland rather than a personal capacity?

Riskymove

Tacklebox wrote: »

Leo is having a great time as Taoiseach, if he looses the next election he'll still get his pension.

not until he is 65

Anteayer

Riskymove wrote: »

not until he is 65

To be fair to the previous FG/Lab government, they did scrap the idea of politicians getting paid pensions until pension age. There was a fairly substantial clean up of those kinds of practices.

pxdf9i5cmoavkz

bri007 wrote: »

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/leo-varadkar-under-fire-sending-14216020


Would suit him better to focus more on his role of Taoiseach than looking to meet and greet Kylie... seriously!

Crap. It's clear that the Taoiseach's programming has been corrupted. The automaton is displaying perfectly normal human behaviour such as being a fan of a (once) popular singer.

I can't wait till you discover that the Taoiseach also uses the bathroom. The look on your face is going to be priceless.

Anteayer

I think you also have to remember that politics is politics - within reason, a political figure has to get themselves into the limelight to get elected. It's always going to be the way no matter what you do. There aren't all that many successful political figures who are pure technocrats. They all have to play the game with the media to stay relevant.

The only criticism here is that he needs to be aware of the fact that you can't act in a personal capacity on official stationary.

Dick phelan

The guy is such a PR driven clown, he's such a spin doctor. Nothing authentic about him in the slightest. As far as i'm concerned he's failed in every position he's ever had now as leader and before in his ministerial positions.

Anteayer

To be fair, he hasn't failed in all of his previous ministerial positions and I don't think any minister who's held the health portfolio has been able to make a success of it. It's a poison chalice that has destroyed many a political career.

If you look at the people who got out of it without serious damage, they've all managed to keep their stint short or focused on issues that were easier to manage e.g. the smoking ban.

Anyone who tries to tackle serious health reforms here basically is destroyed.
That's why I think the only way of solving the Irish health problems is to handle it in a cross-party health committee and as a national crisis. It's a system that is almost unreformable because it's so full of vested interests.

I'm actually at the stage that I don't think we'll ever manage to reform health. It's just a complete and total out of control disaster of a system. I don't remember any time when it wasn't in crisis, even during the boom days of the celtic tiger it was lurching from crisis to crisis to crisis.

It doesn't matter what party they're from, they'll be chewed up and spit out by the politicised chaos that is the health system here and that history goes all the way back to 1948 and the very left leaning Dr. Noël Browne and in modern times to right leaning politicians like Harney.

It's like the health system here is some kind of parallel universe that's beyond political control.

Irish Guitarist

Both he and those fucking dickheads from LCD Soundsystem came across as right gobshites a couple of years ago.

He should have learned his lesson and just go to concerts in his spare time without licking the arse of whoever he's going to see.

Dakota Dan

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Who did he tell?

If he did it in private it wouldn’t have been available to the public, use your imagination.

Guy:Incognito

Dakota Dan wrote: »

If he did it in private it wouldn’t have been available to the public, use your imagination.

You're trying your best to get any angle of this none story going arent you.

Some gob****e "journalist" with literally nothing to be doing with themselves dug it out under foi from where no one would have looked or cared enough to look.

Have you really nothing important to be outraged about.

McMurphy

Of all the things to give out about ref Leo, this must surely be near the bottom, and then some.

He's a fan, leave him at it.

Horsebox9000

Anteayer wrote: »

I'm not his biggest fan, but I don't really see the issue.
I don't really have any expectations that a taoiseach should have exclusively non-pop music taste.
He likes Kylie. Big deal!

She did churn out some cringe inducing pure cheese in the early days but her last incarnation was actually fairly credible electronica influenced pop.

I would rather we focus on how he's doing in terms of delivering policy. I think he's doing quite well on Brexit and global affairs and his government has delivered on a lot of key sosial policy issues : marriage equality, bringing Irish abortion law to some kind of vaguely sane situation, getting rid of blasphemy as an offence and probably dealing with the crazy divorce laws in may too.

However, his government isn't delivering on health or housing in kind of radical way that is clearly necessary. I appreciate there's a lag in getting houses built but we need to be pulling out all the stops and getting things moving.

Health is complicated and goes back decades but where did this promise of major reforms and single tier health cover go?!

Those two issues are really all I'll be focused on as negatives.

I also find the jibes between FG and SF annoying. I'd doesn't make me want to vote for either of them. I'm not into negative campaigning and tribalism.

I've no issues whatsoever with his taste in pop music and I also have no issues with him just being himself. I'd frankly prefer if he felt he could loosen up a bit.

My vote will come down to policy though not pop music or personality.

Excellent comment. However most people with blind allegiances to opposition parties will call you a FG shill because you dare speak objectively

FrancieBrady

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

Of all the things to give out about ref Leo, this must surely be near the bottom, and then some.

He's a fan, leave him at it.

Not having a go Johnny, having a laff. It's kinda cute but funny. I'm a fan of Miss Minogue myself. And her music is ok too.

kneemos

Kylie is like a miniature.

Guy:Incognito

kneemos wrote: »

Kylie is like a miniature.

A sexy miniature.

paleoperson

I think it's fine. Shows a bit of character.

Would be a bit different if it was Kylie Kardashian.

Anteayer

At least he didn’t go on, and on, on and, on and on demanding governmental intervention to override planning pension for a Garth Brooks concert.

FF even published a bill to try and resolve that one.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/government-urged-to-save-garth-brooks-gigs-with-planning-laws-1.1858060

Now that was cringe inducing stuff.

kneemos

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

A sexy miniature.

Well,yeah.

lbc2019

A sexy 50 year old lads

branie2

He just cant get her out of his head!

griffin100

It’s not that long ago we had Taoiseach who stole money from funds raised to pay for a friends medical treatment, bought entire islands with no obvious means to do so, handled cash only with no bank account, appeared drunk on morning radio, were openly corrupt............this is cringe but no more than that.

Anteayer

Well many ppl have higher standards for the other tribe in politics.

ChikiChiki

Plenty of whataboutery idiots in this thread.

Health, housing enough said. FG/FF have been utterly appalling here. we want action and not hollow soundbites. It is criminal how the government has not fallen from cervical check and the childrens hospital. A sign of Irish apathy.

Why is a meeting with Kylie even newsworthy anyway. Leo has an enormous over inflated ego in comparison to his achievements and capabilities.

Galwayguy35

Should have guessed it was that gobsh1te O Riordain that was whinging about this non story, Jim Larkin must be spinning in his grave.

Wilberto

If I was him I probably would have done the exact same thing except with Taylor instead.

pgj2015

what sort of man goes to kylie minogue concerts? its ridiculous.

Dakota Dan

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

You're trying your best to get any angle of this none story going arent you.

Some gob****e "journalist" with literally nothing to be doing with themselves dug it out under foi from where no one would have looked or cared enough to look.

Have you really nothing important to be outraged about.

I could ask you the same getting outraged about what posters write on a public forum, pot kettle?

Anteayer

Health system is a disgrace tbh. I spent from 7 to 5 in the morning in the Mater A&E with a very old relative a few weeks ago and it's going to be informing my voting decisions.

The problem is I'm seeing nothing from FF/FG on that issue. It’s been a permanent crisis in health for my entire lifetime.

This stuff is just tabloid nonsense.

Dakota Dan

pgj2015 wrote: »

what sort of man goes to kylie minogue concerts? its ridiculous.

A gay man.

AllForIt

pgj2015 wrote: »

what sort of man goes to kylie minogue concerts? its ridiculous.

:rolleyes:

Not manly enough?

Perfer it if he went to Iron Maiden concerts and shook that head up and down wildly?

368100

Sure he's meant to have no social life, live like a hermit and be generally zero craic. Surely he should know we all begrudge him being happy in his personal life.

Teyla Emmagan

I don't really care about Leo going to Kylie, but I did have a good uncharitable laugh at the photo of him and all of his mates having their photo taken with her. 6 grown men looking beside themselves with excitement and her like a mummified pixie it the middle. It made my lunch break.

pgj2015

AllForIt wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Not manly enough?

Perfer it if he went to Iron Maiden concerts and shook that head up and down wildly?

Obviously not.

fonecrusher1

Teyla Emmagan wrote: »

I don't really care about Leo going to Kylie, but I did have a good uncharitable laugh at the photo of him and all of his mates having their photo taken with her. 6 grown men looking beside themselves with excitement and her like a mummified pixie it the middle. It made my lunch break.

I'd say they all just think she's fabulous.

FrancieBrady

Maybe it isn't important in modern 'texting, posing with celeb days' but I'm surprised there have been no comments on the handwriting. My young fella was writing better at 8 or 9.

smurgen

368100 wrote: »

Sure he's meant to have no social life, live like a hermit and be generally zero craic. Surely he should know we all begrudge him being happy in his personal life.

What have government headed letters got to do with his personal life?

pgj2015

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Maybe it isn't important in modern 'texting, posing with celeb days' but I'm surprised there have been no comments on the handwriting. My young fella was writing better at 8 or 9.

have you never seen doctors writing on the prescriptions.