Gilmore feels sorry for the Greens

Spiritoftheseventies

I dont know if he was been patronising but Gilmore was on radio this morning saying he felt sorry for the Greens while adding that under no circumstances would Labour being going into power with FF.
So can we assume Labour are looking to make a pact with Greens and go it alone in next election.
Do they have the numbers to take on FG.

IrishTonyO

Spiritoftheseventies wrote: »

I dont know if he was been patronising but Gilmore was on radio this morning saying he felt sorry for the Greens while adding that under no circumstances would Labour being going into power with FF.
So can we assume Labour are looking to make a pact with Greens and go it alone in next election.
Do they have the numbers to take on FG.

I doubt the Greens will have enough TD's next time to make a difference to anyone

meditraitor

The greens are certainly guilty of bad judgement and political inexeperience but on the whole they are not a bad lot, this is probably the reason for the statement. Out of the remaining lefty pack the greens are the only ones not mad as hatters so Labour would have an afinity for them.

They will be wiped out next election, maybe 1 TD left standing so I doubt gilmore had any alterior motives with the statement.

problemchimp

maybe if they changed their name to the yellow party they might stay true to their non principals.

anymore

I wonder if Mr Gormelss from the comfort of his Ministerial chair entertained such generous thoughts as regards the leader of the labour party over the past three years ? Hardly. And Gilmore is counting his chickens before the eggs are hatched.
Perhaps Mr Gilmore had a flashback and thought he was still President of the Students Union of Ireland and any old verabal rubbish from him would get a cheer from the mob.Or maybe he was thanking his lucky stars he wasn't still in the Dysfuntional Democratic Left.
Mr Gormless regardless of his faults has been reasonably consistent in whatever set of political values he has choosen to make his own unlike Mr Gilmore who chopped and changed to suit whatever way the prevailing politicial wind was blowing.

bijapos

Spiritoftheseventies wrote: »

So can we assume Labour are looking to make a pact with Greens and go it alone in next election.
Do they have the numbers to take on FG.

I don't think there will be a pact, on the other hand I doubt if they will be attacking each other either. Gormley had a couple of kind words for Labour councillors and rezoning in his speech at the Green convention a couple of weeks ago, in the same sentence he slated FG for their attitude.



I would be more inclined to think that Gilmore would be looking to not alienate Green voters entirely as he will be looking for nr 2 preferences off them at any future elections.

A good example of this would be Dun Laoghaire, goes from 5 to 4 seats, Cuffe has little chance but if there is a roll on for Labour they should be looking for a second seat here. He could do with the GP preferences in this case.

steelcityblues

Even on the incinerator issue, Gormley has been relatively quiet about it since becoming another government lackey. This used to be a focal point of his election campaigns here in Dublin SE.

He should be a goner here come the next general election!

IrishTonyO

bijapos wrote: »

I would be more inclined to think that Gilmore would be looking to not alienate Green voters entirely as he will be looking for nr 2 preferences off them at any future elections.

It's ok the Green Party has already alienated the green voters

meditraitor

IrishTonyO wrote: »

It's ok the Green Party has already alienated the green voters

I think you will find the green party has also alienated the green voters.

bmaxi

I doubt if Labour would form a pact with the Greens. Quite apart from the fact that there are unlikely to be any Green TDs in the next Dáil, it would be political suicide for Labour to be seen to be hand in hand with, who most people perceive to be, the Judas Iscariot of Irish politics.

bijapos

Labour should have a pact with nobody. Its about time they stood up and counted themselves as a proper alternative to FF-FG. They will probably still be the third placed party after the next GE but they should be looking 10, 20 years down the road when they can stand as a credible alternative to the two party dominance and attempt to break the FF-FG stranglehold, not just in the 4 and 5 seater urban constituencies but also more importantly in the 3 and 4 seater rural ones too.

bmaxi wrote: »

it would be political suicide for Labour to be seen to be hand in hand with, who most people perceive to be, the Judas Iscariot of Irish politics.

An award previously held by Labour - Dick Spring 1992 anyone? :pac:

Tail Wagger

bijapos wrote: »

Labour should have a pact with nobody. Its about time they stood up and counted themselves as a proper alternative to FF-FG. They will probably still be the third placed party after the next GE but they should be looking 10, 20 years down the road when they can stand as a credible alternative to the two party dominance and attempt to break the FF-FG stranglehold, not just in the 4 and 5 seater urban constituencies but also more importantly in the 3 and 4 seater rural ones too.




An award previously held by Labour - Dick Spring 1992 anyone? :pac:

I'm inclined to agree with you on this one, Labour should focus their attention on the younger generation, ie 18s - 35s as this is where a lot of votes are there for the canvasing.... these non voters have been deeply hurt by the FF ring masters over the past three elections.

Byron85

None of the opposition parties should prop up the Greens in any way, shape or form. Frankly they should be let die off just like the PDs. The Greens are a poisoned chalice and anyone from the opposition who goes near them is going to be brought down with them. People will simply not vote for a party that they know will go into coalition with the Greens.

bmaxi

bijapos wrote: »

Labour should have a pact with nobody. Its about time they stood up and counted themselves as a proper alternative to FF-FG. They will probably still be the third placed party after the next GE but they should be looking 10, 20 years down the road when they can stand as a credible alternative to the two party dominance and attempt to break the FF-FG stranglehold, not just in the 4 and 5 seater urban constituencies but also more importantly in the 3 and 4 seater rural ones too.




An award previously held by Labour - Dick Spring 1992 anyone? :pac:

Some would see Spring's walk from this Government, which led to the elevation of one Bertie Ahern to FF leader, as a greater sin than his entering it in the first place. Tough choice

moonpurple

I would feel pity for Gogarty the curser...if he had the debating skill and conviction of Mr. Gilmore it would be better...:cool:

Spiritoftheseventies

Yeah think its time Labour were allowed to take part in televised Leaders debate prior to next election which is what they are calling for. Kenny just not able to take on Cowen on his own.
Would be great to see Eamon draw another "thats beyond the pale" remark from Cowen.

Denerick

I suppose a left alliance might be plausible in the next election, but only if Sinn Féin are involved and only if Labour and SF get something like a 30% swing in votes nationwide. Otherwise its just typical hot air. The next government will be a typically uncharismatic FG/Labour coalition, with both some dull and un-visionary compromises being the order of the day.