Kenny sacks Bruton

Villain

RTE reporting that Kenny has sacked Richard Bruton as his deputy leader and Finance spokesman.

Obviously trying to get his move in first, very bad move imo.

Judgement Day

Villain wrote: »

RTE reporting that Kenny has sacked Richard Bruton as his deputy leader and Finance spokesman.

Obviously trying to get his move in first, very bad move imo.

Nope I reckon Bruton has surged too soon and he has messed up his chances.

BenK

Bruton didn't give him any other option in fairness...

BenK

BenK wrote: »

Bruton didn't give him any other option in fairness...

This is true...ya couldn't make it up though...on the eve of the motion of no confidence FG just fall apart..Bruton dropped the ball here..it was stupid...kenny's performance in the dail lately has been quite good if ya can get past his accent..FF must be laughing..Bruton will be a loss from the FG front bench..

RATM

Kenny had to do this- think about the situation Bruton put him in- he had already called a vote of no confidence in Brian Cowen due for Wednesday yet at the same time Bruton thought it prudent to start a simultaneous no confidence motion in Kenny. And all because of one poll, which may yet turn out to be rogue. If the party wobbles on the basis on one poll then questions need to be asked.

Im not a fan of Kenny but Bruton has shown himself to be stupid in his timing on this one and now he has to pay the price.

On another note George Lee must be kicking himself right about now- if he had of stayed then he could be sitting pretty for the Finance portfolio right about now.

bleg

Kenny is panicking.

Bottle_of_Smoke

\Good god Fine Gael can't do anything right. How the f*ck could this not have been sorted out behind closed doors?

They're like politics answer to the England football team. No matter how good things are going for them they're always unfortunate enough to mess things up somehow.

Bruton's what traditional anti-fine gaelers like about fine gael. We're getting Fianna Fail in the next election, aren't we?

FlutterinBantam

Sacking Bruton was the worst thing possible, watch the pro Bruton supporters come out of the woodwork.


Kenny is a nice guy but doesn't bring people with him.

Perfectly cast iron obvious .


Time to go .

fontanalis

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

\Good god Fine Gael can't do anything right. How the f*ck could this not have been sorted out behind closed doors?

They're like politics answer to the England football team. No matter how good things are going for them they're always unfortunate enough to mess things up somehow.

Bruton's what traditional anti-fine gaelers like about fine gael. We're getting Fianna Fail in the next election, aren't we?

And the one after that, and the one after that etc

Judgement Day

Wasn't it John Bruton (Richard's brother) who somebody said of "if it were raining soup he would be out trying to catch it with a fork". What a bunch of clowns FG are, Fianna Fail on the rack and then they throw the ****ers a lifeline. Still it makes for entertainment.

mike65

Well now its war! Bruton has to gather his troops and challange Kenny (and win).

RayM

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

They're like politics answer to the England football team. No matter how good things are going for them they're always unfortunate enough to mess things up somehow.

In the words of Bishop Brennan, they couldn't organise a nun-shoot in a nunnery. I hate Fianna Fail as much as the next person, but this is one of those times where it's very easy to see how they've managed to cling on to power for so many years.

gazzer

How in gods name did FG so royally f*ck up this chance to oust Cowen from FF? All the newspapers this weekend should have been carrying stories about FF's disasterous placing in the Irish Times poll and about the no confidence motion on Cowen but instead all we get is wall to wall coverage of the infighting in FG. What a group of morons.

It was there on a platter and they go and once again snatch defeat from the jaws for victory.

rightwingdub

Any wonder why I won't Fine Gael in the next general election:(

walshb

Kenny has shown some balls here, proper order. Bruton was out to screw the leader, so Kenny screwed him. He was right to sack him. It's a pity others wouldn't do the same, fair ruthlessness is needed in politics and other walks of life.

Liam Byrne

Ridiculous timing by FG.

While it would still obviously be a disaster for the country if FF maintained power, FG have failed spectacularly this week to capitalise on the first clear proof that FF were complicit in the crash and that they've been blatantly lying through their teeth for nearly 3 years, referencing Lehman's at every opportunity.

It's Cowen that should be on the scrap-heap this Tuesday, not Bruton.

I tell ya, what a country we're living in:

Option A: A corrupt shower of incompetents that screwed the country
Option B: An inept group that score own-goals on the evening before a clear-cut victory
Option C: A group that refuses to clearly set out how it will tackle the PS bill
Option Potentially appealing, but includes the likes of Healy-Rae and Lowry

After this news, I reckon that Option C is the best

Any chance we could muster up 166 competent, non-vested interest, ethical independents ?

SarahBM

I personally dont have confidence in any politicians at the mo. None of them are in touch with reality never mind my generation.
But I did like bruton, and I think all this in-fighting in FG is destroying the party. I voted FG in the past, but I wouldnt vote for any of the main parties now.

We need a whole new political set up in this country. maybe this is the start.

Lockstep

Enda Kenny wrote:

Et tu, Bruton

.

rightwingdub

SarahBM wrote: »

I personally dont have confidence in any politicians at the mo. None of them are in touch with reality never mind my generation.
But I did like bruton, and I think all this in-fighting in FG is destroying the party. I voted FG in the past, but I wouldnt vote for any of the main parties now.

We need a whole new political set up in this country. maybe this is the start.

We need a proper centre right political party in this country for starters, Ireland is a conservative country yet there are no proper conservative parties in this country.

I have no confidence in any of the political parties but Kenny was right to fire Bruton and will Bruton now have the balls to go ahead with a leadership challenge against Kenny.

themont85

This shite about the 'Dublin media' forcing this.

Its the opinion polls. Enda Kenny cannot draw the support of non FG people, FG have gone into themselves and may well keep Kenny. Massive mistake. Kenny may be the leader FG want but the wider public don't. Idiots.

bleg

walshb wrote: »

Kenny has shown some balls here, proper order. Bruton was out to screw the leader, so Kenny screwed him. He was right to sack him. It's a pity others wouldn't do the same, fair ruthlessness is needed in politics and other walks of life.

Disagree, If Bruton were leader of FG for the last election they would be in government now. I, and many like me would have voted FG.

In the last Irish Times opinion poll the majority of voters stated they'd prefer Bruton as taoiseach over Kenny.

Ruthlessness is not what's required here, it's humility.

FlutterinBantam

walshb wrote: »

Kenny has shown some balls here, proper order. Bruton was out to screw the leader, so Kenny screwed him. He was right to sack him. It's a pity others wouldn't do the same, fair ruthlessness is needed in politics and other walks of life.

Disagree there, he gave Bruton the 'cause'.

Look at all the polls over the years, all firmly pointing to the fact that Kenny is the block which prevents the undecided from rowing in behind FG.

Kenny should have read the public mood and stepped down, giving FG a cast iron win in the next GE.

Liam Byrne

rightwingdub wrote: »

Kenny was right to fire Bruton and will Bruton now have the balls to go ahead with a leadership challenge against Kenny.

They should have parked their differences until next week for the sake of the country.

Now this spat will overshadow tomorrow's debate on Cowen's incompetence.

Byron85

This is a massive mistake on Kenny's part. He had to face down Bruton yes, but this could have been done tomorrow and if Kenny won he would have shown to the country, and his party, that he is the man to lead Fine Gael. If he had lost then we would have been left with a good leader in the shape of Bruton and the whole thing would have been finished up by the weekend.

Instead what Kenny has done is portray himself to the country as being completely ruthless. While it can be argued that he had to do this, surely what I mentioned in the above paragraph would have been better. If he had lost the confidence motion he would have come out of it in an honourable position and even more so if he had won. What we are going to be left with now is an opposition party that will be fighting among themselves for weeks or even months to come. Labour will be left as the main challengers to Fianna Fail and that is a battle they won't win.

Kenny has just ruined his own party and the public's already tenuous perception of him.

Absurdum

Bruton just stuck the knife in on TV3 news...

Liam Byrne

T.W.H Byron wrote: »

Kenny has just ruined his own party and the public's already tenuous perception of him.

+1

Ask anyone in the country and - despite whatever lies Sam Smyth might like to spout - the two people that know their stuff in relation to finance are Richard Bruton and Joan Burton.

In fact, the one reason that some people didn't want Bruton to be leader of FG is because he'd be the obvious choice for finance.

Now FG are in a position where their key trump card has been sidelined.

rightwingdub

Absurdum wrote: »

Bruton just stuck the knife in on TV3 news...

What did he say?

efb

Kenny had no option but to sack Bruton, that's just a formality.

FG & Bruton know Cowen has the numbers to survive tomorrow evening.

Last week's poll was FG's dissenters first oppertunity to kill Kenny.

efb

Joan Burton knows the finance? Has Lab worked out how we are going to pay for all their proposals yet?

Byron85

rightwingdub wrote: »

What did he say?

Bruton on tv3 just said that he has no faith in Kenny as the leader of FG.

Liam Byrne

efb wrote: »

FG & Bruton know Cowen has the numbers to survive tomorrow evening.

So that means what.....that they shouldn't do their duty ?

Eliot Rosewater

People seem to like Richard Bruton. People don't like Kenny. If Kenny wins this one FG will only go down again, in my opinion.

Bruton is right to challenge. They're the lead opposition to what is probably the most unpopular government in the history of this country. Anything less that 40% is doing poor.

Liam Byrne

efb wrote: »

Joan Burton knows the finance? Has Lab worked out how we are going to pay for all their proposals yet?

Has Lenihan worked out how we are going to pay for his clandestine Sept 2008 meeting ?

Eliot Rosewater

Will the FF backbenchers jump ship in the Cowen vote, knowing that their lead contenders are in disarray? Never a better time for them to, I think.

rightwingdub

T.W.H Byron wrote: »

Bruton on tv3 just said that he has no faith in Kenny as the leader of FG.

Along with most floating voters.

efb

Liam Byrne wrote: »

So that means what.....that they shouldn't do their duty ?

It's means they need note waste the first oppertunity they have had in along time to oust Enda

Liam Byrne

Eliot Rosewater wrote: »

Will the FF backbenchers jump ship in the Cowen vote, knowing that their lead contenders are in disarray? Never a better time for them to, I think.

We can only hope and pray that 3 or 4 of them show some ethics.

That said, it would probably be self-interest that would cause them to do so, rather than the actual interests of the country, because they'd probably be banking on being "rewarded" at the next election.

PeterIanStaker

Liam Byrne wrote: »

They should have parked their differences until next week for the sake of the country.

But instead they behaved like a couple of teenagers. Bicker behind the scenes all ye want lads, but don't let it go public, RTE and INM are so pro - FF now they'll use this as "proof" FG are not Govt material. :rolleyes: Wait til the paid Indo/Sindo hacks wade in on this, then hope your passport's in date 'cos it'll soon be time to get outta Dodge. . . .

Liam Byrne

efb wrote: »

It's means they need note waste the first oppertunity they have had in along time to oust Enda

The main opportunity was to oust Cowen for his massive part in screwing up the country......anything else should merely have been an internal FG sideshow.

rightwingdub

PeterIanStaker wrote: »

But instead they behaved like a couple of teenagers. Bicker behind the scenes all ye want lads, but don't let it go public, RTE and INM are so pro - FF now they'll use this as "proof" FG are not Govt material. :rolleyes: Wait til the paid Indo/Sindo hacks wade in on this, then hope your passport's in date . . . .

The Sindo have been trying to get rid of Kenny for the last 2 years, Jody Corcoran and Brendan O'Connor have been very anti-Kenny recently.

efb

Eliot Rosewater wrote: »

Will the FF backbenchers jump ship in the Cowen vote, knowing that their lead contenders are in disarray? Never a better time for them to, I think.

Would Turkey's vote for Christmas? Two years' less expenses and slush funds is all they'd be voting for

T runner

Judgement Day wrote: »

Wasn't it John Bruton (Richard's brother) who somebody said of "if it were raining soup he would be out trying to catch it with a fork". What a bunch of clowns FG are, Fianna Fail on the rack and then they throw the ****ers a lifeline. Still it makes for entertainment.

Thats true. Worse again, there are some FGers on this site who actually think the whole thing is a FF plot!!!!! If it wasnt so serious it would be.....actually its just hilarious entertainment unfortunately.

efb

Liam Byrne wrote: »

The main opportunity was to oust Cowen for his massive part in screwing up the country......anything else should merely have been an internal FG sideshow.

How has things changed that anyone currently supporting the govt would now change? All the Tà's are clinging on for dear life!!!

SarahBM

http://www.politics.ie/fine-gael/131597-enda-kenny-statement-expected-soon-richard-bruton-sacked-front-bench-11.html#post2757332

statement from Kenny

PeterIanStaker

rightwingdub wrote: »

The Sindo have been trying to get rid of Kenny for the last 2 years, Jody Corcoran and Brendan O'Connor have been very anti-Kenny recently.

My point exactly. I bet those two are in hog heaven right now, and Harris probably has a hard on. :mad:

Hackysack

It's very poor timing, as mentioned already.

But I think it's about time that FG deal with the question of Kenny's leadership. He did great work in turning the party around, but I honestly don't think he can take them into government. They need someone much more charismatic and I think that Bruton is the man for it.

I'm very interested to see how this pans out.

Liam Byrne

efb wrote: »

How has things changed that anyone currently supporting the govt would now change? All the Tà's are clinging on for dear life!!!

We could always have prayed that a few of them would hit the "wrong" button again....I dunno.

But this is sickening on the evening before a potential ousting of the Minister for Finance who landed us in the ****.

I had been considering FG as a potential vote in the next election, based on them being the obvious best of a bad lot; even to the point where some FF supporters on here were viewing me as an FG supporter.......but after today I reckon it's a non-runner.

Labour v Independent....the viable options are narrowing by the day at this stage!

efb

Enda the Lion? Or is that End of the line...

mike65

PeterIanStaker wrote: »

and Harris probably has a hard on. :mad:

Eoghan Harris was just on Matt Coopers prog, saying Enda Kenny was basicly hounded out by the media, that they had decided he was to be their next victim. Talked about how if the Dub media don't like you, you're toast. He noted how Gilmore is liked by the Dublin media and gets an easy ride.

dartbhoy

The country is crying out for a new political party to get the country back on track and on the eve of a vote of no confidence in Cowen FG manage to make a complete show of themselves again!! Why oh why now did FG decide to have a leadership war!! Bruton should have challenged Kenny 12 months ago,FG are a complete laughing stock!

ANXIOUS

Kenny Hands in motion of confidence in himself to the whip. Will be debated Thursday.