Enda looks a little sad.

Supercell

Just watched him interviewed on RTE and he really didn't seem to be overly happy with the FG results, he looks like he thought he would be replacing Bertie at the helm .

I have to say, he's a lot more likeable without the swagger and the jacket over the shoulder like in the debate with Bertie. That debate swung my vote to FF I have have to say.

Enda , be happy, this term will be a poison chalice - the economy is showing signs of creak, keep calm - FF have won a pyrrhic victory here, one that will hurt for a long long time imho.

Lennoxschips

Enda is much more likable and trustworthy. But the 42% of the Irish prefer rogues.

jmayo

Longfield wrote:

Enda , be happy, this term will be a poison chalice - the economy is showing signs of creak, keep calm - FF have won a pyrrhic victory here, one that will hurt for a long long time imho.

My one consoling thought.
Although have to admit I would like to have seen some of the arrogant so and sos get the chop.

Rowley Birkin QC

Delighted to see him knocked down a peg or seven. The man couldnt ever have been a leader of this country. That contract spiel got very old very quickly.

Sign the resignation as FG leader Enda, sign it.

Buceph

Lennoxschips wrote:

Enda is much more likable and trustworthy. But the 42% of the Irish prefer rogues.

People prefer Bertie because however corrupt he is he talked sense during the election. Unlike Enda who talked in generalities, about plastic chairs and what Mary down in Tralee want's. He came across as more of a taxi-driver than a countries leader.

And in fairness, this worked to a certain extent. But not enough to give him the election this year.

ninebeanrows

It's times like this you have to remind yourself, 59% of the country did not vote for Fianna Fail

Buceph

Weathercheck wrote:

It's times like this you have to remind yourself, 59% of the country did not vote for Fianna Fail

It's times like this that you have to remind yourself that Ireland doesn't use the first past the post system.

:roll:

Jonny Arson

Longfield wrote:

Enda , be happy, this term will be a poison chalice - the economy is showing signs of creak, keep calm - FF have won a pyrrhic victory here, one that will hurt for a long long time imho.

Too true. I'm gonna check out the odds for Kenny as Taoiseach for the next election. A large chunk of the electorate today have voted with their wallets and things are going to be so different next time round.

Vince135792003

Longfield wrote:

. That debate swung my vote to FF I have have to say.

.

I voted for Fine Gael but theres no doubt that Bertie won the debate hands down and it was totally down played by the media. I think the debate was the turning point.

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

Buceph

My point exactly.

Supercell

Buceph wrote:

People prefer Bertie because however corrupt he is he talked sense during the election. Unlike Enda who talked in generalities, about plastic chairs and what Mary down in Tralee want's. He came across as more of a taxi-driver than a countries leader.

And in fairness, this worked to a certain extent. But not enough to give him the election this year.

I think it boils down to the leader, Bertie has character like Blair and Bush and co, tbh Enda just doesnt come across as leader material even though he does seem to be a genuine guy (in defeat).
FG need someone like a Fitzgerald with charisma to lead them next time.

Villaricos

poor aul Enda he does seem a bit sad but I do agree with the others, FF may have one this battle but it may end up one they didnt want to win.

Plus is Bertie even going to hang on for another five years? Someone on RTE made the point how many people voted for Bertie rather than FF today. And when Bertie retires are people likely rally around his replacement as they do him? Bertie love him or hate him is a dynamic personality but will people really be as fond of someone like Brian Cowen?!

E92

Enda will still be the unquestioned leader of Fine Gael, despite John Deasys best efforts today. What has he to resign about? Why would you resign when your party has gained almost 20 seats,or increased the representation in the Dáil by 64%? Of course its very disappointing that the likelihood is that FG will be in opposition for another 5 years, but Thursday was still a very good day for Fine Gael. Clearly FF held steady, but the party that was supposed to be on its death bed by now increased its vote by 5% compared to 5 years ago. Where next for FG? To consolidate the vote achieved on Thursday, to fend off any threat of a resugance from the Greens, SF and ensure that those 2 parties take votes from FF. FG needs to try and aim for 31 % of the vote next time, increasing the number of seats to the low 60s, because its clear that either Labour wont do a deal with FG next time, or will soon enter Govt with FF, and either way they are going to go down, their vote has remained static over 10 years, and the only way realisticly that FG can get into power is with Labour and the Greens if necessary.

Sully

E92 wrote:

Enda will still be the unquestioned leader of Fine Gael, despite John Deasys best efforts today. What has he to resign about? Why would you resign when your party has gained almost 20 seats,or increased the representation in the Dáil by 64%? Of course its very disappointing that the likelihood is that FG will be in opposition for another 5 years, but Thursday was still a very good day for Fine Gael. Clearly FF held steady, but the party that was supposed to be on its death bed by now increased its vote by 5% compared to 5 years ago. Where next for FG? To consolidate the vote achieved on Thursday, to fend off any threat of a resugance from the Greens, SF and ensure that those 2 parties take votes from FF. FG needs to try and aim for 31 % of the vote next time, increasing the number of seats to the low 60s, because its clear that either Labour wont do a deal with FG next time, or will soon enter Govt with FF, and either way they are going to go down, their vote has remained static over 10 years, and the only way realisticly that FG can get into power is with Labour and the Greens if necessary.

Exactly. Great post.

As for Enda not being "the part" - in fairness its going to be hard to battle against someone like Bertie who is great with figures and statistics and is a great public speaker with plenty of experience. Give him time, and I think Enda could be pretty good and a lot better. Its the first time in a while his party has done well, and its all down to him.

Leave him be for now I say.

AidoCQS

Jonny Arson wrote:

Too true. I'm gonna check out the odds for Kenny as Taoiseach for the next election. A large chunk of the electorate today have voted with their wallets and things are going to be so different next time round.

Agreed and good idea

DeepBlue

Longfield wrote:

Enda , be happy, this term will be a poison chalice - the economy is showing signs of creak, keep calm - FF have won a pyrrhic victory here, one that will hurt for a long long time imho.

Tbh I don't understand the mentality of "Oh just wait for the economy to come crashing down and then you'll all rush to vote for us".
If you stop to think about that for a second it means you'd prefer to see the country in the sh*t just so the party you support gets elected :eek: .

Wouldn't it be a better idea to put the work in on the ground and persuade the public at large to vote for you based on the belief that you can do a better job than the other crowd?

Sully

DeepBlue wrote:

Tbh I don't understand the mentality of "Oh just wait for the economy to come crashing down and then you'll all rush to vote for us".
If you stop to think about that for a second it means you'd prefer to see the country in the sh*t just so the party you support gets elected :eek: .

Wouldn't it be a better idea to put the work in on the ground and persuade the public at large to vote for you based on the belief that you can do a better job than the other crowd?

He may (or may not) have meant that the economy will have a slight effect, not devastating, which will make people realise that FF are not the "god of the economy" they make themselves out to be.

Hence people, who voted in FF as a result of this (mostly), will then go and vote FG.

Kind of see where he is coming from, and it probably will have a bad affect on FF if this does happen. Bertie tho might deny the economy is starting to get poor, like he did by saying "health is not in crisis".

Lennoxschips

i don't know if bertie is great with figures and statistics, he just mumbles on incoherently about random things when he's talking about his own stuff, and spends most his time trying to twist the words of his opponent. i thought enda was marginally better in the debate myself, i wasn't impressed with bertie at all, but many people seem to be impressed by his bully boy tactics. but if the terminator can win in california then i guess this kind aggroguff politics is taking over the world.

E92

Thanks very much Sully, as I say Enda will not resign, why should he? \he has already said that he wants to stay on, and the thing about Enda is that while those who dont vote for FG(and those who vote FF in particular) think that he is unconvincing or boring; the majority of people who always vote FG or are supporters and members of FG think hes fantastic. He reunited the party, before Enda became leader the party was divided, there was a lot of unease about John Bruton being there towards the end, and they stupidly got rid of him in 2001 as leader, there was an awful lot of people who didnt like Alan Dukes as leader of the party too,and when Michael Noonan was there we all know where FG went in the General Election. The difference with Enda is that the vast majority of the party is behind him, and I would be truely amazed if they get rid of Enda. Personally, I would be really annoyed if they get rid of him, I hope it doesnt happen, and besides the Bertie factor simply wont be there, he said he would not be leader of FF for the next General Election, that means he will be out of the equation, I think that one of the reasons why FF did so well, and well done to them is because of the potrayal of the Election as a Bertie vs Enda contest. That wont work next time, they wont be able to exploit Berties unquestionable popularity, since this is his last term as Taoiseach.

A lot of FG people credit Enda for the fact that FG has increased its Dáil representation by 64%, and increased its vote by 5%. Cowen would make a better Taoiseach, but he wont have the same appeal Bertie had IMO, I feel that while Bertie is a complete waffler, he comes across much better than Cowen, who is quite like Michael Mc Dowell in the way he comes across(arrogant, unexciting, a bit of a bully), and ultimately Bertie saved FFs arses for this election.

FF supporters are bound to say that if FG did so well as I say they did, and if Enda Kenny is so wonderful,then why arent FG in a position to form a Government? Well before the election the proposed alternative of FG and Labour were 38 seats behind the Government. Now the gap is 9. If you add the Greens the 3 parties are 1 seat behind FF. As Ivan Yeats said yesterday, FG need not be disheartned because there wont be the Bertie factor the next time, and who knows what the Mahon tribunal will throw out in the coming weeks.