Enda Kenny

dixiefly

I have to say that I think Enda Kenny has been coming over much better and statesmanlike in recent weeks (in my mind anyway).
Now before anyone asks, I am not a Fine Gael supporter and have voted FF in recent elections and have written here before that I regret voting for them the last time.

Kenny was on the 6 o'clock news a couple of times on Monday evening and I thought he came across very well. Also he is showing a bit of leadership with the initiative to reform the Dail. I also think he looks more statesmanlike in comparison with Cowan who, in my opinion, has come across very poorly in recent weeks. Coupled that with the total lack of any initiative in the reshuffle and Cowan is sinking lower and lower in my opinion.

Regarding Enda Kenny and his low ratings, I wonder is the fact that he has been much maligned over time that it is hard to remove that tag. I reckon if some foreign political commentators / public from other countries saw both of these guys performances in recent weeks they would perceive that there is no comparison between the two.

bamboozle

irrespective of Kenny and his abilities (or lack there of) the Fine Gael Front bench has some seriously qualified people in Bruton, Veradker, Reilly, Shatter who actually have qualifications and back grounds in finance, health, law,

at this stage anything could be better, i hear steve staunton is looking for a job again...he'd do better than Cowan!

anymore

He has been in politics for 25 years and Leader of the Opposition for ten or so years in a country that is economically dysfunctional , is being held afloat by the EU and has over 400,000 unemployed. How hard is it for the Leader of the Opposition to come across well in these circumstances ?
Even when David Cameron is screwing up, he come across better than Kenny !

Tricity Bendix

My main problem with Kenny is that after being in the Dáil for so long he has clearly become institutionalised. Too long playing the game means he doesn't come across as a human being. I don't see how someone who has been in and benefited from the system for so long can bring about anything other than cosmetic change.

Laminations

Thats the thing. I think if you asked johnny foreigner to pick between the two, they'd see someone who is a robotic and quite uninspiring cardboard cutout (but with a jobs strategy and qualified front bench) versus a giant potato with lips (with mary coghlan and co.
trying to dig upwards whith their spades).

For me its a no brainer.

dixiefly

anymore wrote: »

He has been in politics for 25 years and Leader of the Opposition for ten or so years in a country that is economically dysfunctional , is being held afloat by the EU and has over 400,000 unemployed. How hard is it for the Leader of the Opposition to come across well in these circumstances ?
Even when David Cameron is screwing up, he come across better than Kenny !

To be honest I dont think it is as easy as you are saying. For much of his leadership he had to contend with the Bertie bandwagon in which they virtually bought several elections and continued to tell us all that the good days would never end. Remember, Bertie was the Teflon Taoiseach. It cannot have been easy to take this on. People wouldnt have listened to Kenny if he had said what some (but not all commentators) were saying about the economy heading for collapse.
I still believe that Kenny's style has improved signicantly in recent times. I know this is partly viewed in comparison to Cowen who looks, sounds and acts way out of his depth.

Dannyboy83

Tricity Bendix wrote: »

My main problem with Kenny is that after being in the Dáil for so long he has clearly become institutionalised. Too long playing the game means he doesn't come across as a human being. I don't see how someone who has been in and benefited from the system for so long can bring about anything other than cosmetic change.

But what other way can you do it?

There is no other way, unless you change our political system.

In a parliamentary democracy like this, you have to do the time and work your way up to the top.
There is no such thing as Barrack Obama style outsiders in this political system, it just doesn't work like that.
(Even George Lee got a massive shortcut, but he spent years building up his profile through the media)

Idbatterim

Fg should get rid of Kenny post haste! you either are or are not up to the job! The horse has long bolted! All they need to do is get rid of Kenny and promise total reform of everything PS related and they will romp home at the next election!

anymore

dixiefly wrote: »

To be honest I dont think it is as easy as you are saying. For much of his leadership he had to contend with the Bertie bandwagon in which they virtually bought several elections and continued to tell us all that the good days would never end. Remember, Bertie was the Teflon Taoiseach. It cannot have been easy to take this on. People wouldnt have listened to Kenny if he had said what some (but not all commentators) were saying about the economy heading for collapse.
I still believe that Kenny's style has improved signicantly in recent times. I know this is partly viewed in comparison to Cowen who looks, sounds and acts way out of his depth.

No other opposition leader was provided with so much ammunitition on the sitting taoiseach. Truth is Kenny was singularily inpept for much of the time. That tag ' Teflon Taoiseach' was only a cliche to excuse the sheer lack of guts when it came to tackling Ahern. Kenny was cowardly for much of that time.

DublinWriter

Just remember this is the guy that once seriously touted the idea of refunding the initial Eircom shareholders.

IrishTonyO

DublinWriter wrote: »

Just remember this is the guy that once seriously touted the idea of refunding the initial Eircom shareholders.

Yeah as opposed to Cowen who is refunding the banks for their losses, let me see which would I prefer???????
I was never a fan of Enda Kenny but do agree that lately he has vastly improved, and if he even brings in half of the politic and public service reforms, then he would get my vote.

maynooth_rules

DublinWriter wrote: »

Just remember this is the guy that once seriously touted the idea of refunding the initial Eircom shareholders.

If only I could come up with bigger stupid ideas that Cowen has come out with/implimented :rolleyes:

anymore

DublinWriter wrote: »

Just remember this is the guy that once seriously touted the idea of refunding the initial Eircom shareholders.

Are you thinking of Michael Noonan ?
And given the billions we are pouring into banks, what was wrong with the suggestion ?

anymore

IrishTonyO wrote: »

Yeah as opposed to Cowen who is refunding the banks for their losses, let me see which would I prefer???????
I was never a fan of Enda Kenny but do agree that lately he has vastly improved, and if he even brings in half of the politic and public service reforms, then he would get my vote.

Isd this the same Enda Kenny who is going to pick up a teachers pension for the twenty years he wasnt a teacher ?

amacachi

Thought he came across very poorly during the reshuffle bit shown live on RTÉ. Was a perfect time to go to town and he stuttered and stammered his way through a speech.

MavisDavis

I'm a FG voter myself and I think Enda Kenny is a very good politician and an engaging speaker in person. However, I feel he doesn't come across well in the media to his detriment.
Also, while he has revitalised the Fine Gael party during his time as leader, he fails to see that it is now time for him to step aside. It just looks like his clinging because he knows he's near power and I find it distasteful.