McKenna Quits Greens to Run as Independent

Mr. Incognito

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0506/breaking50.htm

Former MEP Patricia McKenna has confirmed she is to quit the Green Party and run in the forthcoming European elections as an Independent candidate.

Ms McKenna said she took the decision to leave the party because of its performance in government.

In an interview with Hot Press magazine, to be published tomorrow, she brands her Green Party colleagues in the Dáil as “nothing but hypocrites.”

“I feel embarrassed about being a member of the Green Party because of what we said in the past and the promises we made, which we failed to deliver on,” she said. “I just knew that I couldn’t run under a Green Party ticket and pretend that everything was alright because I’d be lying.”

She accused the party of “selling out” and said they would probably “be glad to get rid of me because I keep reminding them of the promises they have reneged on.”

She claimed Minister for the Environment John Gormley has lost all credibility and accused Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan of abandoning key Green campaigns. “I really don’t know how Eamon can live with himself after all his promises,” she said.

Ms McKenna became Ireland’s first Green Party MEP in 1994 when she was elected in Dublin. She lost the seat in the 2004 election.

She failed to be elected in the Dublin Central contituency in the last general election and lost out to Mr Gormley by a two-to-one majority in a vote to replace Trevor Sargent as party leader in July 2007.

She strongly opposed going into Government with Fianna Fáil and campaigned against the Lisbon Treaty in last year’s referendum, which was supported by the party’s leadership.

No real surprise- had been on the cards for a while.

As a green I've mixed feelings- she did a lot for the profile of the party but she's a bit ruderless to be honest. The reason she losts by 2 to 1 is that Gormley sent out an checklist of where he stood on the issues with his nomination and she sent out a generic, oh look, it's me Patricia, I'm great.

I do agree with her on the rowing back of Green issues tbh but as a minority party they're relegated to the portfolios they have. If they get reform of local government through I think it'll be a massive boost.

She's no loss imo.

Darsad

Its a pity the rest of the lying hypocritic members of the green party dont jump ship too ! There is no place for the Greens in this current economic mess

grahamo

Darsad wrote: »

Its a pity the rest of the lying hypocritic members of the green party dont jump ship too ! There is no place for the Greens in this current economic mess

Sooner the better they are out. Fianna Fail are cnuts but the Greens are complete Hypocrites.

Dirk Gently

nice timing, not the least bit opportunistic.

Het-Field

The Eurosceptic vote is now split between Simmons, Higgins, and McKenna, and to a lesser extent De Burca. It will only be to the benefit of the bigger parties. If she really cared she would have run for Libertas or the Greens. She is popular enough to be able to take a decent amount of votes away from all sides of the spectrum

MavisDavis

McKenna seems a bit nuts if you ask me.

P. Breathnach

MavisDavis wrote: »

McKenna seems a bit nuts if you ask me.

I don't go for such descriptions, which are close to being abusive. I see her as having been something of a loose cannon in the Green Party. I think she has an opposition mindset, always against the government, whoever they are, and whatever they do.

lostexpectation

she's still one up on deburca

MavisDavis

P. Breathnach wrote: »

I don't go for such descriptions, which are close to being abusive. I see her as having been something of a loose cannon in the Green Party. I think she has an opposition mindset, always against the government, whoever they are, and whatever they do.

I wouldn't say I was being abusive. The woman can act pretty nuts.

Daithinski

MavisDavis wrote: »

McKenna seems a bit nuts if you ask me.

Aren't they all?

What sane person would want to be a politician?

P. Breathnach

MavisDavis wrote: »

I wouldn't say I was being abusive. The woman can act pretty nuts.

There is a difference between commenting on a person and commenting on her actions.

mike65

I bet the Greens are just glad to see the back of her, she has bugger all chance of winning a seat in whatever the Pale constituency is called nowadays.

thebman

I don't know what to make of this politician because I don't know that much about her. I do get the feeling the green party are a sinking ship and FF are currently killing its support base as they fight with each other.

There will be a green party afterwards (unlike the PD's) but they probably be left with the hardcore green party members and maybe the others will form another green party. I think there will be a split at some point in the future between the business green and the actual environmentalists within the party. I think the people running it at the moment are all for the promotion of green business ideas and don't really care about the environment at all or have any ideals about corruption or they'd have pulled out of this government already.

slippy wicket

The words rat, sinking and ship come to mind

Raiser

Mckenna was able to quit cause she carries enough weight on her own to have a shot regardless.......

......... The rest of the people she has branded as embarrassing Hypocrites will stay on defending the indefensible until they do ultimately get laughed of the stage.......and that day is coming - mark my words.

De Hipster

I commend Patricia McKenna on her convictions & failure to be bought ala Trevor Sargent & John Gormley.

After the charade of the recent Government I will NEVER vote green again, wave a fiver at them & the morals, convictions & party are on the market.

Best of luck to Patricia, woman with a spine.

is_that_so

It is unlikely to have any effect on the final vote although it will splinter the Green/Independent vote. DeRossa should get back in. Gay Mitchell has a decent chance and Ryan will do well to hang on. The last seat I reckon will be between Mary Lou and Joe Higgins. Libertas should come bottom of the pile and be eliminated first.

Raiser

De Hipster wrote: »

I commend Patricia McKenna on her convictions & failure to be bought ala Trevor Sargent & John Gormley.

After the charade of the recent Government I will NEVER vote green again, wave a fiver at them & the morals, convictions & party are on the market.

Best of luck to Patricia, woman with a spine.

But.....

If The Green Party wasn't on an similar popularity level as the Greed, Defraud and Botch Party - would Trish still have left???

- Its not a difficult decision to leave a rotten-hulled, sinking ship, that's in flames with a blind, drunken, low-IQ Captain at the helm that's about to be hit by lightning and a Kamikaze dive bombing mission.........in a Gale.......In the Bermuda Triangle.

Looks like a "save my own precious skin" mission to me.......

- Ideally Tricia shouldn't be left off the hook; In my opinion she should still be recognised as a guilty representative of one of the Nations worst ever chapters of shameful, political history; a sorry, sorry saga, bereft of any redeeming qualities whatsoever.

De Hipster

Raiser wrote: »

But.....

If The Green Party wasn't on an similar popularity level as the Greed, Defraud and Botch Party - would Trish still have left???

- Its not a difficult decision to leave a rotten-hulled, sinking ship, that's in flames with a blind, drunken, low-IQ Captain at the helm that's about to be hit by lightning and a Kamikaze dive bombing mission.........in a Gale.......In the Bermuda Triangle.

Looks like a "save my own precious skin" mission to me.......

- Ideally Tricia shouldn't be left off the hook; In my opinion she should still be recognised as a guilty representative of one of the Nations worst ever chapters of shameful, political history; a sorry, sorry saga, bereft of any redeeming qualities whatsoever.

Patricia strongly oppossed the coalition of Green & Fáilures in the first place, this decision has been brewing since then...as I said; "Woman with a spine".

monellia

lostexpectation wrote:

she's still one up on deburca

De Burca made a very good case for the Greens earlier today on the Matt Cooper show. McKenna is very stubborn and wants to achieve everything she wants in government, which makes her unsuited to being in a coalition. Matt himself told Patricia that she was being unrealistic and to stop promising everything under the sun, moon and stars. She doesn't seem to have any concept of compromise, in which case I commend her decision to back out and do her own thing. The Greens have supported Patricia throughout her Euro campaign and put up with her these past few years despite their differences. But still she was highly and unnecessarily critical of her former colleagues in the Green Party when she announced her decision. If she can't cope with the transition from small party politics to coalition govt that's fine but to me she just seems to be an irreverent attention-seeker.

lostexpectation

deburca and greens put ff back in power( yes along with the electorate)

Darsad

lostexpectation wrote: »

deburca and greens put ff back in power( yes along with the electorate)

Please dont over inflate her ego Gormley , Ryan , and the unelected Boyle are responsible for giving Bertie another term she got a vote just like the rest of the rank and file three huggers.

Firetrap

I'm not surprised at this. It's amazing she's hung around the party for as long as she has.

padd b1975

Patrica Mckenna is a politician!! holy crap! I thought she was just yet another reality TV nobody!!

Seth Brundle

monellia wrote: »

De Burca made a very good case for the Greens earlier today on the Matt Cooper show. McKenna is very stubborn and wants to achieve everything she wants in government, which makes her unsuited to being in a coalition. Matt himself told Patricia that she was being unrealistic and to stop promising everything under the sun, moon and stars. She doesn't seem to have any concept of compromise, in which case I commend her decision to back out and do her own thing. The Greens have supported Patricia throughout her Euro campaign and put up with her these past few years despite their differences. But still she was highly and unnecessarily critical of her former colleagues in the Green Party when she announced her decision. If she can't cope with the transition from small party politics to coalition govt that's fine but to me she just seems to be an irreverent attention-seeker.

IIRC they tried to have her excluded from various voting sessions, etc.
IMO the greens have been trying to suppress her and to keep her out of the way of the main green body!

Still, you have to admire the GP for still considering her as one of theirs.
http://www.greenparty.ie/en/people/patricia_mckenna

Joey the lips

I have always been very fond of patricia mckenna and think this is the best move she has made. I dont think she should stay out in the wilderness though and feel that her nationalist principles could only be accomadated by someone like Sinn Fein or labour with a vibrant republicaian kick

Best of luck Patricia

“The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.” Thucydides

Sleazus

Looks like being in coalition with Fianna Fail is killing the Greens a lot quicker than it killed the old Progressive Democrats. What is it about Ireland that makes us singularly unsuitable for small political parties? (Probably our relatively small population and political conservatism)

And I think deBurca was correct - compromise is fairly essential part of being in government and, since we're a loooooong way off a single-party Green government, it'll have to do for now - but I can see why the Green Party base (or a large section of it) might not see it that way. There aren't too many shades of green, as it were. I have little time for McKenna, but she clearly speaks for a sizable ticked-off minority within the party, and I cans ee where they're coming from.

thebman

Sleazus wrote: »

Looks like being in coalition with Fianna Fail is killing the Greens a lot quicker than it killed the old Progressive Democrats. What is it about Ireland that makes us singularly unsuitable for small political parties? (Probably our relatively small population and political conservatism)

What is killing off the smaller parties is the bigger parties in government getting them to take the blame for a larger portion of the problems than they are responsible for.

It is no coincidence that FF were in power with PD's and then Green's and both small parties are dying.

Smaller parties should learn the lesson about what happens when you go into government with FF and refuse to go into coalition with them.

petronius

I think the greens shafted McKenna - trying to push her out since she didn't sit nicely with their vision of the GP in bed with Fianna Fail
Condemning the use of Shannon by the US
Campaigning against the Lisbon Treaty!

Not selected for the Dublin Euro election which she had previously won twice
Not selected for the Dublin Central by election which she had previously stood in
Not selected even for a council election ward...

DeBurca? why did the Greens deem it appropriate to choose a former Wicklow/Bray cllr for running in Dublin, was there no Dublin based representatives available!

lostexpectation

i think DdeB is from dublin originaly, but seriusly lack green mep candidates around the country

RiverWilde

The Greens sold out any principles they may have touted when they went into coalition with FF. They really are (or used to be) representative of a section of Irish society that breathes the rarified air of delusion.

Riv

Irlbo

If she was running in an area in the North East of Dublin such as Malahide/Howth/Sutton/Swords etc,or the South East Dalkey/Killiney/Sandyford/Foxrock etc,she may have some regard,but the fact she runs in Dublin Central,which is a no-nonsense predominatly working class area,nobody in the likes of the Inner City,Glasnevin,Cabra,Stoneybatter,East Wall etc,were people are worried about just getting by are going to have any time for a woman sprouting on about the environment and pie in the sky nonsense,the womans a 'kook'

lostexpectation

even though environmental problems have most effect on the poor

Sonderval

Try explaining that to uneducated people though

Sleazus

Sonderval wrote: »

Try explaining that to uneducated people though

I don't buy that argument. We're European. I'd say that the vast, vast, vast, vast majority of us accept global warming is happening. And the overwhelming majority of us accept something needs to be done.

Whether or not most of us accept McKenna's approach to it is another discussion. You could legitimately say that what we do as a small country is next to irrelevant - well, even what we can do as the Western World as a whole, so long as China, India and the developing nations continue polluting. I'm not supporting the argument one way or another, but I don't think "people are too uneducated to realise we need to fight climate change" is an appropriate generalisation.

I think McKenna's biggest problem is her own inability to accept compromise as a necessary facet of political life. Unless she gets made supreme dictator for life, all the good ideas in the world won't move her anywhere she can use them if she doesn't accept the need to compromise.

Spacedog

sorry to dig up an old thread from the past, but as it turns out She did meke the right decision (if a little late). If I was her I'd have left the moment Corrib and Shannon were not on the table for discussion.

There 2 issues were the platform on which the greens stood before the last election (as well as the surge of intrest in global warming). As clearly indicated by recent wikileaks releases the US embassy have secret informal in place with FF and FG for the use of Shannon. and Shell have no moral/ethical difficulties bribing politicians on other countries.

McKenna was clearly on the ball a year and a half before the rest of the greens.

later12

Spacedog wrote: »

As clearly indicated by recent wikileaks releases the US embassy have secret informal in place with FF and FG for the use of Shannon.

eh, what now?

liberal use of the word 'clearly', there spacedog.

conorhal

thebman wrote: »

What is killing off the smaller parties is the bigger parties in government getting them to take the blame for a larger portion of the problems than they are responsible for.

It is no coincidence that FF were in power with PD's and then Green's and both small parties are dying.

Smaller parties should learn the lesson about what happens when you go into government with FF and refuse to go into coalition with them.

As loathe to quote Mary Harney as I am, she was right in saying that "your worst day in power is still better then your best day in opposition."

You can either effect the change that you are capable of or you can, like McKenna, sit about on your ideological high horse and spout a load of sound and fury signifying nothing.

Like most ideologues, I suspect that she is happier not to be in power and thus, never face a single tough decision that might force her to face the realities of her position.
A politician with no intrest in actually serving in the trenches is like a prostitute that's determined to hang on to her virginity.....feckin pointless

Spacedog

later10 wrote: »

eh, what now?

liberal use of the word 'clearly', there spacedog.

excuse my grammer, I meant to say "secret informal agreement in place "

Which they do. The cable of sept 06 indicated clearly, an agreement was in place with the irish government for the use of Shannon.

...Shannon remains a key transit point for U.S. troops and materiel bound for theaters
in the global war on terror, while yielding diplomatic
benefits for the Irish Government and significant revenues for the airport and regional economy...

The second cable about Dermot Ahearn in 2007, quoted the FF politician requesting the US ambassitor to brief FG on the situation, after which FG never raised a question about Shannon in the Dail (please provide evedence if this is incorrect).

"Ahern declared that the IHRC report contained no new information, but warned that opposition parties Fine Gael and Labour could be expected to continue to raise the issue from time to time in efforts to politically embarrass the Fianna Fail-run Government..."

"...Ahern said that a public response by the Embassy would not be useful, but suggested that the Ambassador personally engage Fine Gael leadership to explain the U.S. position."

Of course this has all been established and discussed here by people who have already read the source information and know what they are talking about.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056122210

LostinBlanch

conorhal wrote: »

As loathe to quote Mary Harney as I am, she was right in saying that "your worst day in power is still better then your best day in opposition."

So Green apologists are quoting Harney now? You'll notice that the quote is very self concerned. I think you'll find that most people feel the price for her worst days in power are too much to bear and would prefer that she was in opposition. Still, discredited politicians with a penchant for spunking taxpayers money on themselves must stick together I suppose.

conorhal wrote: »

You can either effect the change that you are capable of or you can, like McKenna, sit about on your ideological high horse and spout a load of sound and fury signifying nothing.

No, you balance the price of your actions with whatever little baubles are being shoved in your face. I'm not talking the personal price but the price to all citizens of this country.

conorhal wrote: »

Like most ideologues, I suspect that she is happier not to be in power and thus, never face a single tough decision that might force her to face the realities of her position. That may be true, but then again it may just be an easy stick to beat her (or others who feel the same way) with.
A politician with no intrest in actually serving in the trenches is like a prostitute that's determined to hang on to her virginity.....feckin pointless

Well at least she didn't f**k the country like Gormless and his cabal are still doing!

Spacedog

conorhal wrote: »

As loathe to quote Mary Harney as I am, she was right in saying that "your worst day in power is still better then your best day in opposition."

You can either effect the change that you are capable of or you can, like McKenna, sit about on your ideological high horse and spout a load of sound and fury signifying nothing.

Like most ideologues, I suspect that she is happier not to be in power and thus, never face a single tough decision that might force her to face the realities of her position.
A politician with no intrest in actually serving in the trenches is like a prostitute that's determined to hang on to her virginity.....feckin pointless

So politicians who sell out are prostitutes?

Thankyou for proving my point with this excellent argument.

Have you considered career in broadcasting?

Seth Brundle

conorhal wrote: »

As loathe to quote Mary Harney as I am, she was right in saying that "your worst day in power is still better then your best day in opposition."

You can either effect the change that you are capable of or you can, like McKenna, sit about on your ideological high horse and spout a load of sound and fury signifying nothing.

Like most ideologues, I suspect that she is happier not to be in power and thus, never face a single tough decision that might force her to face the realities of her position.
A politician with no intrest in actually serving in the trenches is like a prostitute that's determined to hang on to her virginity.....feckin pointless

So the greens actions on the economy for one have been better than anything they did while in the opposition?
I'm confused.


Still give it a few months and the greens will be back to having days in opposition (if people are still dumb enough to vote for them again)!

PeterIanStaker

I'd say a few FF minnows, maybe even larger fish, will try the "running as an Independent" ploy this time around.

Stroke Politics

IF she had no interest in serving the people then why would she re-mortgage her house to take the case that ultimately resulted in her victory in the Supreme Court in 1995, in which she argued successfully that it was unconstitutional for this state to spend taxpayers money promoting only one side of the argument in referendum campaigns? This led to the setting up of the Referendum Commission.

If we had more like her, the country would have been completely different, and decisions like the nationalisation of AIB would not have been allowed to be held in-camera, and away from public view in an obscure upstairs family law court room two days before Christmas when the legal term had ended........

PeterTwo

She's in my Junior Freshman Law class in TCD, seems very bright and approachable.

Bill2673

Stroke Politics wrote: »

IF she had no interest in serving the people then why would she re-mortgage her house to take the case that ultimately resulted in her victory in the Supreme Court in 1995, in which she argued successfully that it was unconstitutional for this state to spend taxpayers money promoting only one side of the argument in referendum campaigns? This led to the setting up of the Referendum Commission.

If we had more like her, the country would have been completely different, and decisions like the nationalisation of AIB would not have been allowed to be held in-camera, and away from public view in an obscure upstairs family law court room two days before Christmas when the legal term had ended........

Thats why I admire her more that any other irish politician. Thats not to say I agree with her on everything. But she has huge conviction about what she believes in, unlike the 95% of Irish politicians (and lets face it, Irish people, myself included) who just follow the herd.

Biggins

This stunt of Patricia McKenna to move away from the Green party, is a trick you will see many try before the next election takes place.

Given the poor outlook/light that many see individual (two) parties in, some will distance themselves from such parties, not want that organisation name attached to them or more importantly be seen to be attached to them on the likes of election literature and street posters.
Its a stunt that in the last few years has become all to common, especially amid Fianna Failers.

Bill2673

Biggins wrote: »

This stunt of Patricia McKenna to move away from the Green party, is a trick you will see many try before the next election takes place.

Given the poor outlook/light that many see individual (two) parties in, some will distance themselves from such parties, not want that organisation name attached to them or more importantly be seen to be attached to them on the likes of election literature and street posters.
Its a stunt that in the last few years has become all to common, especially amid Fianna Failers.

I would disagree completely......McKenna always made her views very clear, going way back. It was clear for a long time that the Green Party was moving to the centre but that she wasn't moving with it.

Again, not saying I agree with her on everything, am saying she has conviction.

Plus, by way of reminder, she's not a TD.....its not like she is trying to protect her income here.

Biggins

Bill2673 wrote: »

I would disagree completely......McKenna always made her views very clear, going way back. It was clear for a long time that the Green Party was moving to the centre but that she wasn't moving with it.

Again, not saying I agree with her on everything, am saying she has conviction.

Plus, by way of reminder, she's not a TD.....its not like she is trying to protect her income here.

Thats a fair comment and assessment - however I haven seen the type of stunt mentioned above, pulled by a number of folk, I am very suspicious when just before an election date is announced, there might be a influx rise in her type of distancing actions.

You could be right but going on previous actions of others, you can't blame others for being highly suspicious.

Bill2673

Biggins wrote: »

Thats a fair comment and assessment - however I haven seen the type of stunt mentioned above, pulled by a number of folk, I am very suspicious when just before an election date is announced, there might be a influx rise in her type of distancing actions.

You could be right but going on previous actions of others, you can't blame others for being highly suspicious.

Bear in mind that the Fianna Failers who retiring - are doing just that, retiring.....they are not leaving Fianna Fail, they are leaving their jobs as TDs, but will get big pensions when they do leave. McKenna situation is different.....for example in first Nice Treaty vote, she was one of the main No protagonists, while Greens were in Yes camp from memory. But she was still in the party then i think.

Biggins

Bill2673 wrote: »

Bear in mind that the Fianna Failers who retiring - are doing just that, retiring.....they are not leaving Fianna Fail, they are leaving their jobs as TDs, but will get big pensions when they do leave. McKenna situation is different.....for example in first Nice Treaty vote, she was one of the main No protagonists, while Greens were in Yes camp from memory. But she was still in the party then i think.

I will go on your word then in this case, you come across as well clued in to whats going on.

I will point out to others just to keep an eye out for the type of stunt I outlined previously. Its happened before and I have no doubt will happen again.
In regard to McKenna I defer to your good judgement and stand corrected.