Are the wheels coming off the Fine Gael Wagon?

galway2007

It does not surprise me but it looks like Fine Gael are starting to lose support
Are people starting to realize that a vote for Fine Gale is a vote for Enda Kenny to become Taoiseach?
http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0201/politics_poll.html

GSF

one poll does not an election make.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

galway2007

GSF wrote: »

one poll does not an election make.

have to agree but enda has made massive **** ups in the last week

tomo75

True, but I would sooner vote for Enda that ever voting for a guy who didn't see things comming form a mile away aka Bertie and his kin

Sir Oxman

It'll be up and down for all parties over the next four weeks.

If opinion is so fickle that it goes by TV performances, I predict FF will be down 4% in the next poll due to new front bench man Peter Power on Primetime just now!

Sulmac

galway2007 wrote: »

have to agree but enda has made massive **** ups in the last week

Such as...?

galway2007

gambiaman wrote: »

It'll be up and down for all parties over the next four weeks.

If opinion is so fickle that it goes by TV performances, I predict FF will be down 4% in the next poll due to new front bench man Peter Power on Primetime just now!

But Kenny’s rating has to improve
In this poll he is up 1% but if that was to show a drop in a poll before an election it would not be good for Fine Gael
At least FF are still stuck on 16% so no bounce there

Lawrence1895

GSF wrote: »

one poll does not an election make.

Wasn't Enda Kenny always behind others in the polls, whereas FG support was relatively high?

Sir Oxman

galway2007 wrote: »

have to agree but enda has made massive **** ups in the last week

I think his point about Martin's election debate gambit was correct - leader's debates in this country have been between the outgoing Taoiseach and the expected incoming one.

Martin won't be next Taoiseach, he's not even the outgoing one and the guy who is the outgoing Taoiseach is the first in Irish history to not contest the election.


IMO, Kenny and FG took the right tack and opened the leaders debate to all 5 parties - I would much rather hear the best each party has to offer in their portrfolios to put forward their parties policies than any of the party leaders stuttering and mumbling and not giving full, precise answers.

That's my opinion on it anyway - it's not only about who is Taoiseach to me - I agree Kenny would have taken a hit from voters who see the election as voting for only a Taoiseach though and that's what Martin wants.

Sir Oxman

galway2007 wrote: »

But Kenny’s rating has to improve
In this poll he is up 1% but if that was to show a drop in a poll before an election it would not be good for Fine Gael
At least FF are still stuck on 16% so no bounce there

I agree based on opinion polls, Kenny has a public image problem and he'll be targetted bigtime over the next 4 weeks which is fair enough , that's elections for you.

However, his party has steadied their ship at mid-30's (bar tonight's snap poll) with margin of error could be hitting 40% which is more likely than them deflating towards 30% IMO.
I guess they could be higher in the polls if Bruton had won last summer though.

galway2007

Sulmac wrote: »

Such as...?

When Kenny was asked on a local radio station
why was he hiding from the media?
His reply was Brian o driscoll dose not take all the conversion for Ireland
I give up this idiot dose not even know who kicks conversion for Ireland on the rugby field and he want to run the country
Here is another one
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/elections/enda-trips-up-on-twitter-and-rte-gives-him-silent-treatment-on-day-of-glitches-2515942.html

Sir Oxman

galway2007 wrote: »

When Kenny was asked on a local radio station
why was he hiding from the media?
His reply was Brian o driscoll dose not take all the conversion for Ireland
I give up this idiot dose not even know who kicks conversion for Ireland on the rugby field and he want to run the country
Here is another one
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/elections/enda-trips-up-on-twitter-and-rte-gives-him-silent-treatment-on-day-of-glitches-2515942.html

LOL!
Now come on Galway2007

Sulmac

galway2007 wrote: »

When Kenny was asked on a local radio station
why was he hiding from the media?
His reply was Brian o driscoll dose not take all the conversion for Ireland
I give up this idiot dose not even know who kicks conversion for Ireland on the rugby field and he want to run the country
Here is another one
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/elections/enda-trips-up-on-twitter-and-rte-gives-him-silent-treatment-on-day-of-glitches-2515942.html

You vote for politicians based on their sporting knowledge and ability at Twitter?

And as for "hiding from the media", kind of funny asking him that when he's on a radio show. He's been on television or radio practically every day the past week or two.

I've yet to see any evidence of a "massive **** up".

Mr.Micro

The 4% drop I attribute to FF stating it would support a FG minority Government......toxic and I suggested FG would lose support, particularly if FG did not comprehensively refuse that offer. Watch out FG any dealings with FF even tentative will lead to disaster.

The upside is that FF have not seen an increase and one would expect a bit of jockeying with voters for the other parties.

Sir Oxman

Mr.Micro wrote: »

The 4% drop I attribute to FF stating it would support a FG minority Government......toxic and I suggested FG would lose support, particularly if FG did not comprehensively refuse that offer. Watch out FG any dealings with FF even tentative will lead to disaster.

The upside is that FF have not seen an increase and one would expect a bit of jockeying with voters for the other parties.

^^This

Toxic. Poison. Untouchable.

gandalf

One bad poll and the wheels are coming off for FG, please give me a break. If the Red C poll says similar then I will sit up and take notice. But compared to FF where in some constituencies the organisation is tearing itself apart the loss of a couple of points in a single poll pre election is nothing .

How can Michael Martin even think about presenting himself as any sort of leader when his party is imploding and nearly all the senior members of the party are jumping ship.

The wheels have fallen off and the engine has dropped out as well for FF

Mr.Micro

Sulmac wrote: »

You vote for politicians based on their sporting knowledge and ability at Twitter?

And as for "hiding from the media", kind of funny asking him that when he's on a radio show. He's been on television or radio practically every day the past week or two.

I've yet to see any evidence of a "massive **** up".

Instead we have been inundated with the bloated F Failures polluting the airwaves courtesy of the RTE.:rolleyes:

galway2007

gambiaman wrote: »

I think his point about Martin's election debate gambit was correct - leader's debates in this country have been between the outgoing Taoiseach and the expected incoming one.

Martin won't be next Taoiseach, he's not even the outgoing one and the guy who is the outgoing Taoiseach is the first in Irish history to not contest the election.


IMO, Kenny and FG took the right tack and opened the leaders debate to all 5 parties - I would much rather hear the best each party has to offer in their portrfolios to put forward their parties policies than any of the party leaders stuttering and mumbling and not giving full, precise answers.

That's my opinion on it anyway - it's not only about who is Taoiseach to me - I agree Kenny would have taken a hit from voters who see the election as voting for only a Taoiseach though and that's what Martin wants.

He won’t do a 3way because he would get to much questions and time
When there are 5 there is less chance that he will be slaughtered and FG know that and Enda knows that
So the question to ask if he is not able to take the heat in a 3way debate how the hell is he going to get us out of this hole we are in and why should the Irish people vote for a coward?
Enda has to get some back bone now, he has to get out there and take them head on
The next poll will be interesting

Sir Oxman

I'm sure all have noticed the new FF mantra - reform, reform, reform!

This from a party that held power for 14 years and when asked why they hadn't reformed a single thing, eh we were too busy dealing with the banking crisis. Oh, wait we reformed the expenses regime (no, you allowed yourselves to still put in unvouched claims which is seen nowhere in any reality I live in)

-Peter Power (Young Gun #2 from Limerick), Primetime tonight

If it wasn't so pathetic I'd laugh.

darragh16

tomo75 wrote: »

True, but I would sooner vote for Enda that ever voting for a guy who didn't see things comming form a mile away aka Bertie and his kin

So Enda Kenny an his crew did see that the collapse inevitable 4 years ago, but didn't warn us?

Sir Oxman

galway2007 wrote: »

He won’t do a 3way because he would get to much questions and time
When there are 5 there is less chance that he will be slaughtered and FG know that and Enda knows that
So the question to ask if he is not able to take the heat in a 3way debate how the hell is he going to get us out of this hole we are in and why should the Irish people vote for a coward?
Enda has to get some back bone now, he has to get out there and take them head on
The next poll will be interesting

Tell me, what would a 3 way debate tell you that a 5 way debate wouldn't or even better a proper, devoted debates from each parties spokespeople on the nitty gritty of policy?

This is exactly why Martin did what he did (I'm not criticising him, he's after percentage points like they all are)

And why should Martin be in that debate?

gandalf

galway2007 wrote: »

Enda has to get some back bone now, he has to get out there and take them head on
The next poll will be interesting

Actually I would say that Michael Martin has some neck dictating how the debates should be run given the state of FF at the moment with polls that have hit as low as 8%.

Why should he be given a slot at the debating table at 16% and Sinn Fein be refused a place at 13%?

To me it sounds like Martin and FF are scared of Sinn Fein and hiding behind the three way debate arguement because they are cowards and know that Sinn Fein are eroding the republican side of their support.

Mr.Micro

galway2007 wrote: »

He won’t do a 3way because he would get to much questions and time
When there are 5 there is less chance that he will be slaughtered and FG know that and Enda knows that
So the question to ask if he is not able to take the heat in a 3way debate how the hell is he going to get us out of this hole we are in and why should the Irish people vote for a coward?
Enda has to get some back bone now, he has to get out there and take them head on
The next poll will be interesting

At 14% FF should not even be allowed into a 3 way debate and most of the country would rather honest Enda than sneery Martin who is part of the gang of 3. Martin,Hanifin,Lenny, ( Coughlan does not count)

galway2007

gandalf wrote: »

One bad poll and the wheels are coming off for FG, please give me a break. If the Red C poll says similar then I will sit up and take notice. But compared to FF where in some constituencies the organisation is tearing itself apart the loss of a couple of points in a single poll pre election is nothing .

How can Michael Martin even think about presenting himself as any sort of leader when his party is imploding and nearly all the senior members of the party are jumping ship.

The wheels have fallen off and the engine has dropped out as well for FF

But it was sinn fein that have made the gains not FF
FG dont need to worry about FF they need to watch the others

gandalf

galway2007 wrote: »

But it was sinn fein that have made the gains not FF
FG dont need to worry about FF they need to watch the others

According to one poll commissioned by a newspaper who are known for their slanted bias towards FF

Mr.Micro

galway2007 wrote: »

But it was sinn fein that have made the gains not FF
FG dont need to worry about FF they need to watch the others

So long as FF are put into the wilderness for as long as possible.

cancercowboy

darragh16 wrote: »

So Enda Kenny an his crew did see that collapse inevitable 4 years ago, but didn't warn us?

They did warn. They warned over and over. Go ahead and look up Richard Bruton's and Enda Kenny's Dáil speaches after the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 Fianna Fáil budgets. Fine Gael warned constantly of the housing bubble, the unregulated banks and inflation. You just weren't listening.

PeterIanStaker

There's been an overload of polls recently and the media love them because they are essentially gossip generators. This poll hardly means the game's over for FG. Its the rise of SF that would cause most sane people to worry, but then again its the Indo and SF are their bogeyman as I've said before.

nesf

gandalf wrote: »

One bad poll and the wheels are coming off for FG, please give me a break. If the Red C poll says similar then I will sit up and take notice. But compared to FF where in some constituencies the organisation is tearing itself apart the loss of a couple of points in a single poll pre election is nothing .

Exactly.

nesf

PeterIanStaker wrote: »

There's been an overload of polls recently and the media love them because they are essentially gossip generators. This poll hardly means the game's over for FG. Its the rise of SF that would cause most sane people to worry, but then again its the Indo and SF are their bogeyman as I've said before.

Nah, sane people will realise than in recessionary times protest parties like Sinn Fein do very well because they give the stereotypical angry at the establishment voter someone to back.

It's rare for there to be enough of those voters to actually put a protest party in power though in a system like Ireland's, plus the other parties are a generation away from actually wanting to go into coalition with Sinn Fein so again not something sane people will worry about.


Won't stop journalists turning it into inches of text though.

galway2007

how could you vote for them

Its press conference ended in farce as the senior front bench marched out and refused to answer or explain specific questions.
The party also failed to back up a pledge to end borrowing for day-to-day spending in the next five years with any proof of how it was making the bold prediction.

But its finance spokesman Michael Noonan could not provide any figures to back up his claim that Fine Gael would balance the budget for the day-to-day running of the country by 2016.

So you don’t vote FF and you could not vote FG so who do you vote for?

But if we let a party who turned up to a conference without answers run this county then we are ****ed

Leo varadkar could not even give the answers on primetime last night. Would you not expect him to have put a few ideas together after seeing how the party press conference went?

RonMexico

I'd be far more worried that a vote for Labour is a vote for Joan Burton as Minister for Finance.

Give me Enda as Taoiseach over that scenario anytime, and I can't stand the guy.

mike65

RedC / PaddyPower 2nd Feb: FG 37 +4

gingernut79

RonMexico wrote: »

I'd be far more worried that a vote for Labour is a vote for Joan Burton as Minister for Finance.

Give me Enda as Taoiseach over that scenario anytime, and I can't stand the guy.

+1

_Bella_

RonMexico wrote: »

I'd be far more worried that a vote for Labour is a vote for Joan Burton as Minister for Finance.

Give me Enda as Taoiseach over that scenario anytime, and I can't stand the guy.

I have no idea why Ruairi Quinn will not be the Minister for Finance, he has to be the best candidate for the job.