Bertie

chump

As smooth as you like!

Give me some of that.

There's no doubt really why he is where he is.

Wishbone Ash

chump wrote:

As smooth as you like!

Give me some of that.

There's no doubt really why he is where he is.

"Im a tough guy, I'm a fit guy". Legend.

county

he was looking very beetroot wasn`t he

ninebeanrows

Everyone loves Bertie

He is the reason why Fianna Fail are going to Win.

After his interview the price on betfair fell to certainty.

He will be our next taoiseach and he is a good one no matter what anyone says.;) (even me)

The Sparrow

I think that performance is exactly why Bertie keeps getting elected. I thought it was a pretty masterful display by a true pro who managed to get subtle digs in while staying appealing and portraying himself as an everyman canditate.

I could never imagine Enda Kenny (or any other Irish politician for that matter) giving an interview like that.

boardsdotie

Heartfelt interview.

To be fair he has no reason to appeal to the public for another five years.

MisterAnarchy

Thought that he was very smug in that interview,very smug.
He was crowing as if he had single handedly created the celtic tiger.

aidan24326

The man is just a master of the old 'nice-guy Bertie' routine. That's why he's still where he is.

Rb

You'd swear it'd be funny/entertaining to have a clown as Taoiseach.


It's not.

Diamondmaker

rb_ie wrote:

You'd swear it'd be funny/entertaining to have a clown as Taoiseach.


It's not.

Agreed, we did not get the least charasmatic, clown of a Taoiseach, ever in Enda. Lucky break!;)

The very least an opposision leader needs to be able to do is out debate the taoiseach. Now this as we all know is not Berties strong point yet, Enda could not even manage this!

solas

rb_ie wrote:

You'd swear it'd be funny/entertaining to have a clown as Taoiseach.


It's not.

but they're funny and cuddly and he makes us feel warm and fuzzy...and strangely confident

Wishbone Ash

county wrote:

he was looking very beetroot wasn`t he

Yes, the panel beater, sorry I mean make-up artist, was on a night off.

stepbar

No doubt the grannies and grandads round drumcondra gave him the number 1. ****in lying eejid. Thats all I have to say.

Diamondmaker

chump wrote:

As smooth as you like!

Give me some of that.

There's no doubt really why he is where he is.

Pint a Bass.......;) smooth as!

Rowley Birkin QC

stepbar wrote:

No doubt the grannies and grandads round drumcondra gave him the number 1. ****in lying eejid. Thats all I have to say.

I voted for him, and I'm a student. Great post by the way.

stepbar

Good man vote for corruption so I suppose.....

Wishbone Ash

stepbar wrote:

Thats all I have to say.

Great - we won't have to read any more of your posts.

DoubleJoe7

Glad to see the panelist call Berite on his crap - specfically how he's a victim of "da meedja". I'm sick of him playing the martyr whilst simultaneously feeding Independent News and Media, and the Indo in particular, which of late may as well call itself the Irish Press.


Our leader of ten years, who looks like he's getting another five years doesn't think he's accountable to the public.

What is worrying is that there misguided individuals out there who don't think he is either.:(

Today's a sad reflection on the state of our country. When our self-canniblaising economy collapses well only have ourselves to blame for electing a party whih is wasteful with resources, and wont have the luxury of surplus budgets to get away with it

Rowley Birkin QC

stepbar wrote:

Good man vote for corruption so I suppose.....

Nah I just want to have a job when I finish college. Also I don't like the idea of Enda representing me by pointing his finger and waving a bit of paper at all the other world leaders.

Stark

rb_ie wrote:

You'd swear it'd be funny/entertaining to have a clown as Taoiseach.


It's not.

It's amazing how well you can cover over incompetence by being a clown. We've a guy in work who's consistently incompetent but manages to get everyone to laugh at his incompetence all the time, thereby avoiding any hassle. It's quite sickeningly really.

Weathercheck

Weathercheck wrote:

Everyone loves Bertie

I most certainly don't.

il gatto

He's not even as smooth as my hairy arse. He's a stammering, hesitant speaker with a nasal voice. He stands with a hump and looks ill porportioned. He looks wrong in a suit (back to the St. Bernard anoraks Bertie, becomes you more). When flustered (as he often is), he resorts to obtuse arguments, waffle, shouting down the opposition, lies and bully boy tactics.
He's not smooth. He's not even smart. He's sly. And in this f***ing country, it's all you need (that, and be a member of Fianna Fail.)
With the overwhelming support of the Irish media during the vital final week of campaigning (helped by Cowan's subversive pre-election meeting with Tony O'Reilly and R.T.E.'s usual pandering), how could the sneaky, self serving twat lose?
I could list a hundred reasons why Fianna Fail as a whole shouldn';t be returned to government, but as for Bertie alone, it's a falacy foisted on a seemingly gullible public that he's a capable, statesmanlike leader beloved by the public.
We've had 18 of the last 20 years of Fianna Fail (yet they still managed to blame John Bruton's government for a multitude of ills) and we've had 5 years of people continually bitching to Joe Duffy and anyone else who'd listen about rat infested schools, old people lying on trollys, public monies wasted and corruption. The Irish people deserve what they get.

DublinWriter

Wishbone Ash wrote:

Yes, the panel beater, sorry I mean make-up artist, was on a night off.

That'd be Paddy the Plasterer.

Wishbone Ash

DublinWriter wrote:

That'd be Paddy the Plasterer.

- you're on form lately DublinWriter!

uberwolf

il gatto wrote:

how could the sneaky, self serving twat lose?

take a week

redspider

Is it just me, but is everyone in RTE in love with Bertie an FF?

I've just been listening to RTE Radio 1 and the praise was way way over the top, more or less saying that he is Ireland's best politician ever!

Lets look at the cold facts of this election. FF didnt make any net gain in seats and their coalition partners were decimated. Its far from coming back into power with a significant majority.

FG were the big gainers in this election and stand opposed to the main policies that FF have been 'allowing', such as co-location, etc.

I have no problem giving praise where praise is due, but their teatment of Bertie and congratulations to him are just way way over the top.

RTE at times makes me sick !

redspider

Villain

Well John Bowman was insulted by his comments about Journalists being well paid people who say and write whay they have to in order to keep their job and rightly so it was a very cheap dig and belittled a man about to return to the office of Taoiseach.

Wishbone Ash

redspider wrote:

FG were the big gainers in this election

Yes but they started from a much lower base unlike FF.

redspider

irish1 wrote:

Well John Bowman was insulted by his comments about Journalists being well paid people who say and write whay they have to in order to keep their job and rightly so it was a very cheap dig and belittled a man about to return to the office of Taoiseach.

It wasnt much of a dig by Bertie in the first place, who Vincent Browne rightly pointed out later on that the Independent family of publications and Tony O'Reilly personally supported Bertie. It was a fake dig by Bertie who in practice wanted the 'media scrutiny' over his personal finances as that is and was a vote getter.

And instead of being Bertie taken to task by failing to win more seats, RTE and Mark Little lauded Bertie as the 'king of the country' and indicated that it was a major success. FF did have success, in the sense that they held on to what they have, and did not lose 10 seats as some had expected. But that in any neutal observation is not a major success. Holding for a 3rd term of Government is of course sucvccesful, even if the holding on is close.

John Bowman thought the dig wasnt on but he didnt interject in a major fashion, run across the studio or get too upset about it afterwards.

He did later on get stuck into John Lutz(sp?), more so than any politician during his whole coverage.

I think John Bowman is good, but RTE on average have to me been very much pro-FF. Even the holding of that debate between the leaders of FF/FG, put the smaller parties at a disadvantage, which they now realise, and it is questionable whether it is allowed by the RTE charter.

> Yes but they started from a much lower base unlike FF.

True, FG voters came back from many of the smaller parties which they had lent support to the last time so FG are coming from a low base. Yet, that base is what success needs to be measured by.

My current tallies are showing (note, more seats to be filled, so incomplete):

Party Gains Losses Net Change
FF 3 -3 0
FG 13 +13
Lab 2 -3 -1
PD -5 -5
GP 1 -1 0
SF -1 -1
Oth -5 -5

If RTE were neutral, they should have been 'lauding' Enda Kenny, if anyone.

At this stage it looks like FF will get back into power if the 2x PD's and some independents (Flynn, Healy-Rae) also join in. Its questionable whether GP's would join with them, and I suspect they wouldnt unless the PD's were left out. Then there is that burning issue about health, co-location, private health insurance, etc, which the GP have stong views about. I reckon that for now they will stay out.

Redspider

gandalf

I think we'll call this album "The great Fianna Fail swindle".

Hopefully Mahon will put Bertie back up on his media cross over the next few weeks and just imagine the shock of all the "grannies and grandads round drumcondra" when they see Taoiseach Biffo's face smiling out from de telly at them.

Will Bertie have one of the shortest terms as Taoiseach? One can certainly hope

Wishbone Ash

gandalf wrote:

Biffo's face smiling

Biffo smiling?

gandalf

Wishbone Ash wrote:

Biffo smiling?

If he gets Taoiseach I'm sure he will be

I like Biffo he is one of the few FF senior members that actually is capable. Hmmm I wonder who would get Minister of Finance then, Martin Cullen, Dick Roche (ROFLOL!).

Wishbone Ash

Jesus, he's cracking jokes on the radio at the moment! :eek:

BMH

He's cunning and canniving but that's unfortunately what I'd like in a Taoiseach.
I'm no fan of Fianna Fáil's corruption and I think a new government would have helped clean up the place a but but Pat Rabbitte is the only other non Fianna-Fáiler I'd like to see as a Taoiseach at the moment.

johnnyrotten

Well done

Duckjob

A lot of posts get written on here slagging off Americans as stupid and clueless for putting corrupt and unscrupulous idiots such as Bush into power - we've just done exactly the same.

It's truly a dark day for Ireland.

BMH

Duckjob wrote:

A lot of posts get written on here slagging off Americans as stupid and clueless for putting corrupt and unscrupulous idiots such as Bush into power - we've just done exactly the same.

It's truly a dark day for Ireland.

Everyone will bitch about him and his swindling (and rightly so) for the next 5 years as well, but FF will probably only get kicked out when people's pockets start hurting.

Macha

It is so sad that the personality of the leaders of the parties should decide a general election. Its all too reminiscent of the cult of the personality that surrounded people like Stalin, Mao and Louis XIV.

What happened to the real issues like the state of our health service, the shocking lack of public transport and the corruption? Is it OK for Bertie to be completely incompetent as long as he's 'smooth? The amount that some people are fawning over him in this thread is ridiculous.

I don't care if the Taoiseach wears a suit or a jacket or if he's 'smooth'. I care about his policies on health care, public transport - real issues.

Ireland is still in the dark ages when it comes to politics.

Heinrich

Duckjob wrote:

A lot of posts get written on here slagging off Americans as stupid and clueless for putting corrupt and unscrupulous idiots such as Bush into power - we've just done exactly the same.

It's truly a dark day for Ireland.

Indeed! And look at the Iraq mess that those american voters can share the blame in!

Still, as long as the ESB can supply the electricity and we can afford the light bulbs things won't be too dark, even viewed through rose tinted glasses.;)

johnnyrotten

Duckjob wrote:

A lot of posts get written on here slagging off Americans as stupid and clueless for putting corrupt and unscrupulous idiots such as Bush into power - we've just done exactly the same.

It's truly a dark day for Ireland.

It's truly a great day for Ireland

solas

holy jesus people, he's not that bad. For the record I didn't vote FF (I knew I wouldnt have to) but per the statement regarding being the most successful politician, the stats seem to bear out his own personal popularity.
Im not especially concerned with how he looks talks or acts and its not corruption that worries me, its FF incompetence or lack of ability in specific depts that should be put under the microscope.

Duckjob

BMH wrote:

Everyone will bitch about him and his swindling (and rightly so) for the next 5 years as well, but FF will probably only get kicked out when people's pockets start hurting.

My guess is that would be some time in late 2008 when our basketcase economy really goes down the shítter.

Around that time the spindoctors in the FF circus will start to shout loudly and often about how no-one could have predicted this downtown etc etc, even though all the non-VI economists have all been giving us warnings for the last number of years.

MisterAnarchy

taconnol wrote:

Ireland is still in the dark ages when it comes to politics.

It always was and will be for the foreseeable future.
You have scarecrows getting elected for Fianna Fail,rampant nepotism (3 members of one family,2 of another getting elected),and woefully inept candidates.
The system must be overhauled and properly qualified and suitable candidates run .
It seems neck and brazenness are the two main traits rewarded by voters at the moment.

Goodluck2me

bigkev49 wrote:

Nah I just want to have a job when I finish college. Also I don't like the idea of Enda representing me by pointing his finger and waving a bit of paper at all the other world leaders.

QFT. ditto.

redspider

MisterAnarchy wrote:

You have scarecrows getting elected for Fianna Fail,rampant nepotism (3 members of one family,2 of another getting elected),and woefully inept candidates. The system must be overhauled and properly qualified and suitable candidates run.

The population at large gets the TD's that it votes for, so whilst what you say is true, unfortunately, the electorate are voting for those types of people.

For example, many think that Dick Rochie is incompetent, yet 10,000+ and a near quote gave him their 1st pref in his constituency. Willie O'Dea got over 2 times the quota. One of his 'services' to his community is going to as many funerals as he can.

Dont blame the politicians, they are a reflection of the electorate.


> He's cunning and canniving but that's unfortunately what I'd like in a Taoiseach.

> I'm no fan of Fianna Fáil's corruption

does not compute ..... look-up the greek word logos !


Most of the population have no problem accepting corruption which is a crime. Irocically, at the same time, people are looking for more security on the steets and protection from crime. We get what we vote for. If we vote for politicians that commit crimes, it is a contradiction to request a system to reduce crime. The people are shooting themselves in the foot, and we do get what we deserve alas.

If you want to change it, start/join a party and work to change the system. Not that doing so is easy.

redspider

irish_bob

Today, 11:23 #38
taconnol
Registered User



Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 218
Adverts | Blog | Friends It is so sad that the personality of the leaders of the parties should decide a general election. Its all too reminiscent of the cult of the personality that surrounded people like Stalin, Mao and Louis XIV.

What happened to the real issues like the state of our health service, the shocking lack of public transport and the corruption? Is it OK for Bertie to be completely incompetent as long as he's 'smooth? The amount that some people are fawning over him in this thread is ridiculous.

I don't care if the Taoiseach wears a suit or a jacket or if he's 'smooth'. I care about his policies on health care, public transport - real issues.

Ireland is still in the dark ages when it comes to politics.




fianna fail voters have always engaged in idolotry of their leaders
you will often meet people who think any kind of objection towards what fianna fail do by the opposition is unaceptable

ive always said that irish people are not bothered by a bit of corruption in politicians , this is especially true of fianna fail voters


that said , i will acknowledge that bertie is a master when it comes to politics , he is as skillfull a politican as thier is anywhere in the world at this time
i said poltican , that doesnt mean i like him as a person
i find his evasiveness unnerving and his inability to answer even the most simple striaghtforward question with a straight answer, he hasnt an idealogical or radical bone in his body yet has been a huge success in his job
this has happend without him having ever made any hard unpopular descisions , what i mean is bertie been so reluctant to anger any single group for fear of loosing votes , unions , etc , while he was brilliant on the north , this involved him encouraging others to make descisions , not him , he does not possess any classic leadership qualitys when you think about it

but as someone once said to me about bertie , he suits this country as a leader , we are not an idealogical people and perfer somone who tries to get on with everyone and not fall out with anyone over something like principals

Bertie looked a worried man, not someone that peformed an election ressurection.

The Mahon tribunal resumes next week this wounded bertie act is a bid to stirr up public support for stopping the tribunal over the coming weeks.

The big question is will Bertie be called again before he has time to form a government.

nesf

irish_bob wrote:

fianna fail voters have always engaged in idolotry of their leaders

I think that's a human trait in general really. It's just being such a small country it's more intense or something.