Leo has lost his lustre

standardg60

Having been a fan initially i have to say i'm now finding him extremely dithery and am unhappy with the change of leadership. Can't help but feel the leaking controversy has affected him personally and rightly so, despite the official findings imo it was disgraceful behaviour for a Minister. MM seemed so much better as a leader and comes across as still being as such, feels a bit like king Charles after the queen, everybody knows Leo is now leader but it just justn't feel right.

I think he should have resigned now for both him and the Government as a whole, and for FG going forward. I don't see how he can occupy the moral high ground anymore.

A leader who gushes over and writes on official paper to Kylie Minogue and who is surprised that the real Downing Street is smaller and unlike the Downing Street portrayed in Love Actually, not to mention Instagramming his refrigerator, socks and other such fuckery cannot be taken seriously.

Can anyone actually remember why they got rid of Enda? In hindsight, he was quite likeable.

I wouldn't exactly be a major fan of FG, but that leadership change never made much sense to me.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058286205/leo-has-lost-his-lustre

MM seemed so much better as a leader and comes across as still being as such, feels a bit like king Charles after the queen, everybody knows Leo is now leader but it just justn't feel right.

I disagree.

Leo is a much better leader. When he got back he hit the ground running getting g lots done like the North sorted hopefully just waiting on them priks in the DUP to say they are happy if they are capable of that and other stuff. He is only human and there is only so much he can do but I thought the only reason MM was there was because they agreed to it and so he would not be the only FF leader to not be in power as Taioseach at some stage. Can't have that now can we.

FG and FF Agreed to having MM in for a bit and then Leo as that's why they decided to work together for the Country.

growleaves

On intnl women's day he was lecturing the nation about the division of household responsibilities.

The home is a private sphere Leo! Who does the ironing and what not isn't a Government matter so butt out

Water John

Leaving aside the politics, objectively Michael is a much better PM than Leo.

Loafing Oaf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120355330#Comment_120355330

He said in 2016 he wouldn't lead FG into another election. Any party leader who makes that sort of advance announcement of his retirement is basically a dead man walking and sure enough be barely lasted another year as taoiseach. Bertie Ahern did something similar and had an even shorter final stint as taoiseach. Micheal Martin appears to have learned from their experiences and is keeping everyone guessing about his retirement plans

Water John

The TDs in FF are always complaining Michael never tells them anything anyway.

Brussels Sprout

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120362234#Comment_120362234

PM?

Nice bit of alliteration there, op. Fair play.

Brussels Sprout

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120355330#Comment_120355330

The perception at the time was that he was too wooden in front of the microphone and cameras especially when it came to debates. In contrast, Leo Varadkar had cultivated a reputation for being a polished media performer and a lot of people in FG thought that he'd take them to the next level electorally. It.....hasn't worked out that way.

Anecdotally I know someone who who saw them both in action with American CEOs. She said that Kenny was amazing. Smooth, charismatic and had them eating out of the palm of his hand. In contrast, Varadkar was stilted, awkward and generally stand-offish.

Performing in front of the media and performing one on one are two entirely different skill sets.

FrancieBrady

Where had he it last?

Leo is an excellent performer in the Dail in debates against SF. He's good at media interviews and not afraid to speak his mind be it social welfare cheaters or advocating for those who want to work. That's what you want in a leader.

He's a qualified doctor. You don't get there by being a spoofer or without intelligence.

The most that people can pin on him is a GP deal that was mostly public or about to be made public. He's doing something right if that's all people can muster up.

The "Leo the Leak" sheep don't give a toss about GPs, don't know the first thing about GP contracts, or haven't even heard the National Association of General Practitioners until then.

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120362928#Comment_120362928

If any of that was true there would be electoral success. He hasn't achieved any really.

Loafing Oaf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120363003#Comment_120363003

In fairness I think this

He's a qualified doctor.

is probably accurate...

mrslancaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120355330#Comment_120355330

Will we see enda back for the next presidential election?

blade1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120362928#Comment_120362928

Hi Leo.

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120363023#Comment_120363023

My bad.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120363079#Comment_120363079

Doubtful.

Furze99

The snogging video story showed Leo in poor light. That's where I'd mark the fall from grace.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120363375#Comment_120363375

That shows up the creep how knew who it was, took out the phone to record before anything actually happened, then released the recording with the knowledge of the damage and intrusion of private life it entailed.

Why do we have people going around bars recording people? If it was someone recording young women getting the shift and releasing it, they'd be hounded.

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120363423#Comment_120363423

But it wasn't some young woman - it was the Tánaiste and leader of FG. Middle Ireland has looked at this and rightly or wrongly, passed judgement.

Seth Brundle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120363454#Comment_120363454

It was someone out for the night minding their own business. He was not there in a work capacity but someone thought that they had the right to record a moment between him and someone else in a setting where some patrons possibly don't want to be seen in public.

You may disagree with his politics. You may disagree with his actions. You may disagree with anything else in his public/work life but he is entitled to a private life!

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120363796#Comment_120363796

Fully agree Seth. I also totally disagree with Furze that this was were the rot set in, It wasn't, the man failed at his first election as leader.

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120362730#Comment_120362730

Never thought he had the charisma anyway, what he espoused was the honest politician, getting up early in the morning and above any accusation of acting through personal interests. That is gone now so not sure what he has left.

Coveney seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth meanwhile, not sure what's going on there.

Brussels Sprout

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120363079#Comment_120363079

I actually backed him at 40/1 about a year ago as I thought that he came out of his political career relatively unscathed and FG has never had a President before. Now it looks like if Mairead McGuniness goes for it (and she'd be the FG horse) that she'd be the big favourite (just checked and Kenny is still 40/1).

Augme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120363796#Comment_120363796

If some patrons don't want to be seen in public then they probably shouldn't be in a public bar.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120364364#Comment_120364364

It was the release of the recording that was wrong, not seeing him in public and not the actual recording itself. The person who released it is so petty and small minded, probably frustrated at their own failures in life, that he had to resort to sharing someone else's life in public.

Can't have someone whose smarter, wealthier, more articulate and more successful having a night out now could we.

Strumms

Before he was even Taoiseach he never struck me as a person who’d I’d trust politically, like and want to vote for.

he only really had lustre with his own supporters. Not many people on the fence with this individual.

he accepted the position of and acquired the responsibility for and as the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport….around 2011 I think….

On being queried as to his suitability for a sporting portfolio .. he said that while he knew "a lot of facts... I don't play ‘the’ sports."

which was a totally disgraceful disingenuous statement…. “ I have no interest in sports “ was the correct, accurate and truthful answer. At odds with his initial statement..

subsequent to this statement, the media were given opportunities by him to film and photograph him swimming and playing rugby….as if to lend credibility to his appointment….a conniving PR exercise.

lost his lustre ? I’d say you can’t lose what you never had, he’s just being found out, great to witness it… be nice if his constituents would choose more wisely at the next election.

growleaves

I never knew much about Leo until he became Taoiseach.

His micro-management style just drives me crazy though.

He personally took a hand in, along with Frances Fitzgerald, the cancellings of George Hook and Kevin Myers. He also made a statement about that Kerry priest controversy while it was raging.

I would like someone as Taoiseach who when asked about some stupid controversy just says, (in paraphrase) "We don't comment on that because its beneath our notice. We govern the country and author legislation, we're not trying to manage people's lives in real time."

Unfortunately due to the size of the country and the way it is settled it is just about feasible to daddy everyone. Hence McQuaid-style paternalism in the past and latterly a kind of politically liberal paternalism.

Brussels Sprout

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120364423#Comment_120364423

Vardakar should have been wiser too though.

I think most people would agree that he's entitled to a private life and if he's not breaking the law then more power to him. However it's 2023. Famous people, like him, are likely to be recorded in public, especially if they put themselves in scenarios like he did. Ideally it wouldn't happen but that's the reality of the situation. He should know that better than anyone since there have been many videos taken surreptitiously of him in public over the years.

Putting himself in that situation shows a lack of judgement, naivete or even recklessness in his own behaviour.

Cluedo Monopoly

I was a fan of Leo pre 2011 and I thought he would become a great leader. My hopes were dashed.

But hey let's not get carried away about Enda. Less of the revisionism. He was a brutal leader. He achieved nothing. He had zero vision and little courage. He was leader of a government that achieved a massive majority and effectively has no opposition (FF were disgraced). He had massive opportunity to reform this country (Health, Public sector, Garda Corruption, Justice System, Planning etc etc). What did he do? Nothing. As I said he had zero vision and achieved nothing. Many of his TDs learned to be as adept at cronyism and corruption as the FF boyos.

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120363796#Comment_120363796

He may well be entitled to a private life but note I said 'rightly or wrongly, passed judgement'. For some people, that maybe approval or indifference, others would disapprove. The relative numbers you can debate but I suspect most would think it unbecoming for a tánaiste. These are the facts of political life and nought to be done about it.

Furze99

Personally I have no problem with Leo being the first openly gay taoiseach and leader of FG, a welcome breath of fresh air. But in this situation he needed to manage that private life very, very carefully and with the utmost probity. The electorate still have a sense of conservatism on such matters.

blanch152

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120366236#Comment_120366236

I don't think he needed to manage his private life very, very carefully.

All the video did was shine a light on some of the hidden bigots out there.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120366236#Comment_120366236

In fact it seems to have made zero difference to polling, one way or the other. I think a vast majority of the Irish electorate would just as soon be well served by their politicians and not give a stuff about their private lives, so long as they aren't straying into the criminal or corrupt.

As it happens, I think FG did choose the wrong leader with Varadkar over Coveney and I think he has proven to be a better ditch hurler than half-forward menace, but he hasn't been dreadful either, just given to lowering himself to some of the muck thrown at him, which he hasn't needed to do.

As an FG supporter, I have heard rumours he may hang it all up before the '25 election though and l can see the plausibility of that suggestion. So we could see a leadership contest in late 2024, with Leo retaining the big chair until the Dáil is dissolved and the new leader going to the Country.

whisky_galore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120366236#Comment_120366236

I don't think many people had a problem with it, it isn't the 1950's anymore.

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120366920#Comment_120366920

Maybe I'm just reflecting the greater conservatism of rural Ireland? But then maybe rural Ireland is not where future elections will be won or lost. I dare say though that the FG TDs would know what I mean.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120366934#Comment_120366934

Of course they would, but then, they were the ones that voted him into the leadership and his sexuality and home life was already something he'd spoken publicly about by then, so any reservations now would be hypocritical.

FrancieBrady

Lost his lustre in the Clinton house too. Has he no filter?

https://www.newstalk.com/news/varadkar-apologises-for-off-the-cuff-remark-about-clinton-and-lewinsky-1447467

He’s a bit too fond of snide remarks and it results in gaffes.

The reality is that he’s the Taoiseach and there’s a level of diplomatic awareness involved in that role. Seriously, where did he think he was!? It’s not a chat with your buds in the pub or a cringy speech at a wedding…

Let’s just hope the audience has a sense of humour. Although, being the US there’s an element who are quite capable of being completely literal, unable to comprehend slagging, utterly pro-faced, hyper sensitive end very easily offended by any criticism.

I don’t think the usual format of those speeches is a ‘roast’ …

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120367889#Comment_120367889

I'm sorry for him personally but it's a cringefest at this stage

bucketybuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120366920#Comment_120366920

There was more of a problem with him attending a festival in London that his government would have banned in Ireland at the time.

pjohnson

Leos speech writer must've been off that day.

Embarassing.

whisky_galore

Bit of a kerfuffle in the States, Leo turned down an invitation to lunch with business people who have invested billions in Ireland only to lunch privately in the very same hotel.

https://extra.ie/2023/03/16/news/irish-news/varadkar-snub-american-business

FrancieBrady

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120368579#Comment_120368579

He seems to have a knack of having a disater every time he goes over. Remember how a previous trip became all about him and favours for Trump because he had no filter on what he said publicly.

Count Dracula

I really like him, i mean that. He stands up to chunts and anyone who does that gets my vote.

But I do think he is a bit doomed to failure here. The cosy PR that initiated the spring of young 30 something Fine Gael TD's has become worn out. It has lost its hue and to be honest I am not sure how much fight there is left in the dog. What is Lucinda Creighton doing now? What is she up to, what is she pioneering and being ignored at? It kind of epitomises the sojourn of your average female, head nodding politician clinging along wondering if they will ever be listened to. Wondering where Mary Robinson developed her unparalleled eumph, drive and verve from?

He cannot seem to cross the popularity barrier, he is kind of hammy in an uncomfortable way, he seems awkward. I feel sorry for bigots who can't fathom with his heritage, there is an unsavoury fervent undercurrent of patriotic narcissism in most Irish Political Parties. Like there is definitely a cohort of Fine Gael morons who deep down would rather taste the soup with Coveney, who has also capitulated from buoyant, posh school rebel, to pinstriped nepotist facilitator and kind of a "know all" suddenly? I am not feeling much Cu Chulainn off of him to be fair? He is more salad than hot stew? He has been seasoned and eaten up, we cannibalising his potency, he tastes like a Yorkie bar. Diplomacy awaits, this is what happens in the Foreign office, they develop notions and end up spoofing shight with other bureaucrats for too long. It is all posh dinner, show room interior and the substance of dried Bran Flake at 9.32 in the morning, stuck to the table like cement. Too much leering over interpreters, smiling handshakes and not enough international trade agreement.

None of them have a stitch on Mary Lou, she is like that really sound bird you have been sharing cigarettes with out the back door for the last 25 years? You really like her, she is sound out. She has bundles of old school charisma, she is an Irish politician. She talks crap, winds up the government and looks like she is enjoying it?

In saying that the Smurfs are really just molding into a rehash of old Fianna Fail, Chicken,chips and Gravy. Deep down they are goosepimple on cold tweed Irish, itchy bollick and tea drinking, always a safe bet for 55 seats or so? They must be getting the heebies now, like in less than a couple of years they are going to be starting up the tractor. That's right, I can really envisage that turning and regurgitating into something different, if nothing else. Mass government approved housing schemes, the Luas being stretched to Arklow type pf craic? I am looking forward to the Galway traffic crisis being solved by building a ski lift from the Cathedral to Eyre Square, 2 euro a go. If they had any cop they would link the north and south pier, but that makes too much sense. I reckon the Galway City Transport strategy will somehow or other be the turning point in the 100 years since we started dropping the ball full time as a nation. It is going to be catalyst for a new era in Irishness, a fresh new start full of old money generated by a dysfunctional ownership model. Like our very own Elephant in the room...an Eilifint sa seomra? I can see the Smurfs landing in their first full budget by chopping a full 80 cents of the price of scoops. That should get the public back down the boozer where they can start getting on with their lives again, it has been too long.

It really is not looking good, the only thing we can hope for is a Black Swan event to get us out of our drab misery. Maybe some pioneering Dutch pharmacist will reinvigorate the Nazi Geriatric treatment plan using synthetic processed brain inhibitors, which result in everyone indulging.... receiving intense rushes of positive emotion and Euphoria for about 5 hours, resulting in them dancing around the Mansion House in shiny tracksuits sniffing Vicks vapo rub and screaming yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh off the tops of their lungs.... stranger things have happened?

But Leo is sound enough, I wouldn't fancy having to chin wag over roast lamb in the White House or anything. That would not work for me at all, but I do like him. He is erstwhile and whilst he lacks savvy he will always be the man who shut Paul Murphy up, in plain truthful realisation that he had sacrificed the solidarity of his comrades, in favour of whipping up a riot and ringleading a carjacking in Baile an Obair, can you imagine bullying a woman? He nailed Murphy for life with that, no one else had the imagination. I am telling you, Varadkar might be melting marmite on the burning tarmacadam of his political relevancy, but he is the only person in existence to ever convince Murphy to a have a hard look at what an absolute pillock he is. Tony Gregory is a working class hero, at least Leo never pretends to be one, are you reading this Richard?

I must hit the coffin, enjoy your day mortals. I reckon the rumours about St Patrick speaking Welsh are not true. He was speaking something else. Shean Gaelige or post modern Saxonism. To think he was born 3500 years after they built New Grange. Wow, someone has been telling us porkies.

lots of them.

whisky_galore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120366934#Comment_120366934

Rural Ireland is probably far more concerned about FFFGs Green partners and their policies than any of Leo's.

I think he is regarded with more indifference rather than anything else rurally. Even Bertie had the common man schtick, Leo has none of that. He is aloof, charmless and perceived not to understand regular peoples' lives. You could imagine having a pint with Bertie, or even Enda. But not with Leo, a cold fish.

pjohnson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120368604#Comment_120368604

He doesnt have the same amount of handlers managing his output/appearances hence he makes more messes.

whisky_galore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120367889#Comment_120367889

Just goes to show if you're charismatic and powerful (and being good looking helps) you'll get away with what would be called grooming these days.

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120368604#Comment_120368604

Agree, Leo has been given a reputation for saying it as it is. Not sure if that's quite warranted - I think it's more the case that he doesn't always think about what's coming out of his mouth next or the consequences of certain things he does. The snogging thing isn't really important at all, but was just another moment when 'middle Ireland' winced, disapproved and the lustre was tarnished. Far more important issues at hand but these gaffs are also what voters remember.