Are there any decent politicians left out there?

seipeal1

With the floods in Queensland this week, Anna Bligh, the Queensland Premier, came across fantastic on her regular news updated. She was really genuine and conveyed a sense of sadness but genuine will to get the place back on it's feet. That got me thinking about Irish politicians and which of them we could really trust in a crisis. I could not think of even one. Who is left that could be trusted?

whiteboy

I'd like to be a politician, what do I have to do?

bonerm

Joe Higgins. It's a rare Irish politician who has been in prison for something other than corruption or paramilitarism.

Hootanany

bonerm wrote: »

Joe Higgins. It's a rare Irish politician who has been in prison for something other than corruption or paramilitarism.

Plus one no party affilyated

chucken1

seipeal1 wrote: »

With the floods in Queensland this week, Anna Bligh, the Queensland Premier, came across fantastic on her regular news updated. She was really genuine and conveyed a sense of sadness but genuine will to get the place back on it's feet. That got me thinking about Irish politicians and which of them we could really trust in a crisis. I could not think of even one. Who is left that could be trusted?

We are in a crisis.

Biggins

From the north, John Hume.
If only he had of been this side of the border.

Vorsprung

Anna Bligh was hated until a day before the floods hit Queensland!

ilovesleep

Pearse is our only hope.

And Pearse is also very good looking and has a lovely accent too.

Sergeant

Julia Gillard has the most foul and repulsive Australian accent I've ever heard. I cannot physically listen to her speak.

Havermeyer

Hootanany wrote: »

Plus one no party affilyated

Ever hear of the Socialist Party?

Pherekydes

You're looking in the wrong places. OP.

There are plenty of decent politicians.

Ones that didn't vote for Ahern or Cowen in the current Dáil.

RoundyMooney

This all smacks of Rudy Guiliani tbh.

whiteboy

you've obviously never heard of Ron Paul, he was my hero back in '08

ascanbe

Vorsprung wrote: »

Anna Bligh was hated until a day before the floods hit Queensland!

Not surprising. The politics of empathy/sympathy is fairly simple to carry off well for any reasonably good communicator; not that i'm suggesting she isn't genuinely empathetic. In tragic circumstances, people are looking for a reason/voice to unite behind.
Even George W. Bush managed to play a blinder following 9/11; and his subsuquent poll-ratings reflected it.

ascanbe

ilovesleep wrote: »

Pearse is our only hope.

And Pearse is also very good looking and has a lovely accent too.

He died in 1916, unfortunately.

Trog

Michael D higgins, Joe Higgins, Leo Varadkar and Brian Lenihan are all competent, honest and capable in my book. Varadkar should be leader of FG-he's the only one to offer fresh ideas and not just spew party lines when interviewed.

FTGFOP

Whadayamean 'left'?

Conor108

Nucky Thompson

ascanbe

Trog wrote: »

Michael D higgins, Joe Higgins, Leo Varadkar and Brian Lenihan are all competent, honest and capable in my book. Varadkar should be leader of FG-he's the only one to offer fresh ideas and not just spew party lines when interviewed.

Brian Lenihan might be competent and honest in your 'book'; he's neither in reality, though.
For proof of this, check every action he's taken and every word that has come out of his mouth over the last couple of years.
Unless, that is, he willingly set out to bankrupt this nation for the benifit of foreign investors and certain people in this country; if that's the case, he's definitely competent.

Trog

ascanbe wrote: »

Brian Lenihan might be competent and honest in your 'book'; he's neither in reality, though.
For proof of this, check every action he's taken and every word that has come out of his mouth over the last couple of years.
Unless, that is, he willingly set out to bankrupt this nation for the benifit of foreign investors and certain people in this country; if that's the case, he's definitly competent.

This runs the risk of going off topic in a major way and ruining what I consider to be a great thread, so this is my only reply on the matter (here at least).

Lenihan bankrupt the nation? He made a MAJOR mistake in bailing out the banks, but there was an overwhelming support for this action at the time. Sinn Fein were the only ones who opposed it. You cannot blame Lenihan for taking a decision that almost every other TD would have done in the same position.

He also made a smaller mistake in raising the VAT rate, which he reversed, and admitted it was a mistake. That's the sign of an honest and competent politician, he admitted his mistake and reversed his decision.


He inherited an impossible position, and managed it well under immense pressure from all sides, including his taoiseach, who is the man you're really looking for in terms of blame. He speaks well, and is frank and up front to the media, when he can be. Unfortunately he's in a party that seem to have a strict policy against this practise, but you'll notice that all the lies about the economy that have come from FF, have come from Cowen's mouth. He's recognised as one of the most competent men for the finance job in the dail by the opposing finance spokespeople of all parties. If he were finance minister for a stable economy I have no doubt he'd do a sterling job. He's the only Fianna Failer I know of who's worth his salt.

When the titanic sank, people blamed the man who steered it into the iceberg, not the man who tried to bail the water out with a bucket and failed.

And yes, this is in my opinion. That's what politics is based on, opinions. I've thought about mine and am happy to stand by them no matter how many people disagree.

Edit: But not here, cos I wanna see where this thread goes if it stays ON topic.

Naikon

If you are somewhat decent, you don't go into politics.

Trog

If I thought I'd in any way make a difference, even if elected, without having to resort to corruption or joining a party who don't actually represent any political ideals I'd spend my entire life trying.

ilovesleep

@Trog

Lehinan is a liar.

"we've turned a corner"
"we're on the path to recovery".

He is also part and parcel of the government that brought us down. All of FF are toxic. That is all.

cjmcork

Tony Gregory RIP

Amhran Nua

Naikon wrote: »

If you are somewhat decent, you don't go into politics.

Which means you will be ruled forever by the corrupt and incompetent. Good plan there.

I've met all sorts of politicians in my travels, from honest and decent people with a good track record to those who would give spivs a good name, to be blunt about it. There are a lot of unsung heroes quietly working away within the system, the biggest problem they face is the system itself rewards local politics and cronyism to the detriment of all else.

Change the system, change the rules, and you'll get a better calibre of politician.

galwayrush

Vorsprung wrote: »

Anna Bligh was hated until a day before the floods hit Queensland!

Our gob****es had floods and snow/ ice and couldn't milk the crisis.

snubbleste

Anna Bligh was deeply unpopular until mother nature gave her a chance to shine.
Luke Flanagan aka Ming gets my vote. He says things like it is and is not beholden to anyone else.

ejmaztec

If there are any decent politicians, they must be in the minority, because it's the majority vote that's screwed the population and taken us all back to the middle-ages.

It's a great pity that they can't be put on the bread-line like much of the rest of the people here.

CrazyRabbit

whiteboy wrote: »

I'd like to be a politician, what do I have to do?

1. Be a very convincing liar. You must be able to convey false emotion with real conviction. Your primary job is convince everyone that you actually care about them, and that you really do know how to fix the economy.

2. Whilst you don't need any background in running the finances of a large organisation, you will need to read a book or two about it so that you can sound like you know something about it. Pay attention to learning the right buzz words and key phrases.

3. You need to willing to change your policies & goals depending on who 'donated' the most money to your retirement fund.

4. You need to coat yourself in Teflon (figuratively). I'd suggest studying Bertie Ahern to see how this is done masterfully.

5. You need to have decent writing skills. This is so you can publish an autobiography after you have finally been ousted from office.

6. You need to learn how to play golf...but not too well. Those wealthy people you'll be buttering up to don't like to lose.

JerryHandbag

Ming the Merciless

Naikon

Amhran Nua wrote: »

Which means you will be ruled forever by the corrupt and incompetent. Good plan there.

I've met all sorts of politicians in my travels, from honest and decent people with a good track record to those who would give spivs a good name, to be blunt about it. There are a lot of unsung heroes quietly working away within the system, the biggest problem they face is the system itself rewards local politics and cronyism to the detriment of all else.

Change the system, change the rules, and you'll get a better calibre of politician.

In the real world however...

Face it, people don't go into politics for purely non selfish reasons. I am sure most company CEO's want to help the little guy to the non detriment of his/her organisation. Actually, no, I am not deluded. Politicians and CEO's in general bend the truth imo for their benefit imo.
I know if I was ever to go into politics, I would not go in with false assumptions about "helping" the community and such other nonsense. Popularity contest imo. The real decisions are not calculated by politicians. There serve as a great vessel to manipulate the masses after all.

Balmed Out

I cant understand how someone mentioned leo varadkar, i find him so so so annoying. He always seems to be trying non stop for self publicity and the only opinion he ever has is whatever the government think ill think the opposite.

superfish

decent politician two words never to be used in a sentence

stevejr

cjmcork wrote: »

Tony Gregory RIP

Had the priviledge of meeting the man once...very decent guy.

Also met Haughey once in his prime....not an honest politician, but he was a real Machiavelli.

hekate

JerryHandbag wrote: »

Ming the Merciless

Absolutely agree and seems that alot of other people do. I was in a FB discussion this morning. People are delighted that Mayor Luke Flanaghan 'Ming' is running. Yes, some people do go into politics in order to alleviate and improve communitie's lives at all levels. Some find it very difficult not to become tainted in the proccess of manipulation and favoritism that reign the political sector. The Ethical bankkrupcy ruling at the moment is like a mud slide...If the right system is there to contain corrupting power and create a healthier society, politics can be a good thing. I have heard Mayor Luke 'Ming the merciless' in several occassions. Love his fresh, clear, informed and honest approach...in other cases i would pray that he wont become tainted...in this i bet he wont!

PeterIanStaker

Politicians are like priests in a way - occasionally individual ones may be decent, but the organisation as a whole is corrupt, untrustworthy and irreparable.

Lumen

Emma Kiernan looks pretty decent.

sollar

I think pearse is a decent guy and i think leo varadaker is decent too. He should be leader of FG as soon as they can get shot of enda.

I have a hard time seeing any fianna fail politicians as decent people let alone decent potiticians

SeaFields

I'll propose two senators -

David Norris - for his human rights campaigns

Shane Ross - for his involvement in highlighting the serious short fallings in our banking sector

darragh16

Depends though, What makes a decent/good politician? Do you want a politician who works on a local level or on a national level? There are many politicians who do so much for the community or the constituency but are given a hard time due to political affiliation or standard on a national level. (And I don't mean Michael Lowry).

FatherTed

Decent Politician. Now that's an oxymoron if I ever heard one.

COYW

galwayrush wrote: »

Our gob****es had floods and snow/ ice and couldn't milk the crisis.

Are you comparing, the minor localised flooding and the 6 inches of snow we had, with the natural disaster that occured in Queensland?

The map below will give you an idea of the size of the area affected.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1458011/Queensland-flood-map

newtadis

1 Mayor Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

2 Gordon Mc Ardle

slave1

no

ilovesleep

ascanbe wrote: »

He died in 1916, unfortunately.

I meant Pearse Doherty. You silly billy

dubbie82

I think Dominic Hannigan is very decent. I had some issues a few years ago and he couldn't have been more helpful and really went out of his way to solve the problems. I moved out from his constituceny by now but I hear a lot praise from people who approached him for help.
He will be running for east meath in the elections I suppose.