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Off Topic Thread 3.0

Zzippy

All things non-rugby related here.

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Teferi

FWIW Kenny was a safe pair of hands and I rarely had too many issues with him, arguably a little too uncontroversial.

[Deleted User]

awec wrote: »

I'm always amazed he made it as far as he did. He has all the charisma of a bag of soil and would bore you to tears listening to him.

Done a good job though.

I've met him in person twice and I would say the complete opposite.

He spoke at a small function I was at with no material or speech prepared and he was hilarious.

I think he's been continually under rated which has potentially been to his benefit.

irishbucsfan

Deleted User wrote: »

I've met him in person twice and I would say the complete opposite.

He spoke at a small function I was at with no material or speech prepared and he was hilarious.

I think he's been continually under rated which has potentially been to his benefit.

.ak

I met him twice and he was as funny as porridge made with water.

Buer

.ak wrote:

I met him twice and he was as funny as porridge made with water.

This immediately conjures an image of you laughing uncontrollably if you see porridge made with milk.

Podge_irl

Teferi wrote: »

FWIW Kenny was a safe pair of hands and I rarely had too many issues with him, arguably a little too uncontroversial.

Yeah, I think with the mandate FG/Labour had last time round it would have been possible to push through some more controversial (but needed) reforms.

But feck it, I think he's done a great job all in all. It's, predictably, being portrayed now that the recovery had nothing to do with them and everything to do with European policies forced on us but that's coming from the same people who were encouraging them to tell Europe to feck off and do their own thing 5 years ago.

pickarooney

If Varadkar gets it then the leaders of my home and adopted countries would both be younger than me.

And I couldn't vote for either of them.

stephen_n

Deleted User wrote: »

I mean it.

I barely held onto my job in 2008 and the company I was in nearly folded with 80% of staff being let go.

The turnaround from then is massive. He's the most liberal Taoiseach ever and the first to directly speak out against the Church and Church orders. He is hugely popular in Europe and has represented Ireland well (bar a poorly thought out joke).

I don't think he's an exceptional politician but he's been exactly the type of steady non controversial leader the country has needed this last 6 years. FG have terrible PR but I think they should be given credit for getting us out of the sh1tter and importantly keeping the political landscape firmly in the centre as much of the world drifts hard right / left.

Personally I think if you had emptied the monkey house of Dublin zoo into the Dail for the last 6 years, the net result would have been broadly similar, or left Fianna Fail in power, which is roughly the same.

mfceiling

My favourite enda kenny one came from a friend who spotted him outside the Dail....

"Ah there he is Enda Kenny, forgotten but not gone"

Rigor Mortis

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Varadkar was favourite with PP when I saw the odds

Leo will be favourite with the public, the average FG member is a more conservative sort. They could easily pick the Cork prince.

Erik Shin

What would CJ Haughey think of a gay Indian Taioseach....shhhh...I can hear him rolling in his grave from here!

ClanofLams

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Quality Taoiseach and should be remembered and regarded highly. Wouldn't be a FG person but they've done an exceptional job of turning things around. 6.2% unemployment now from when they took over Government is astonishing.

Yep. He's done an outstanding job which will only be properly appreciated in the fullness of time.

Don't really see why Varadkar is favourite and wouldn't think he would be a good move for them, they're already strong in Dublin and it's hard to see him playing well in rural areas. No doubt Fianna Fail are praying he wins.

Buer

ClanofLams wrote: »

Yep. He's done an outstanding job which will only be properly appreciated in the fullness of time.

Don't really see why Varadkar is favourite and wouldn't think he would be a good move for them, they're already strong in Dublin and it's hard to see him playing well in rural areas. No doubt Fianna Fail are praying he wins.

Varadkar has a strong public image and is also very young; without bothering to look it up I assume he would be our youngest ever Taoiseach by a distance (SC may actually be the youngest too). He speaks well, is cosmopolitan and has a polished image. Putting him in place would sit well with a good chunk of the electorate...it may not sit well with others though as you say. It would be a gamble but the country has generally moved more to the left in recent years both fiscally and socially so it may not be as bad as we imagine.

If they put Varadkar into power, I can see it bringing a swell of approval from the younger voting element and that will carry through into election time. FF are biding their time and getting their affairs in order to take power again so this will be a big consideration, I imagine. The strategy for the next election will be already be under discussion tonight.

Coveney has a big problem if Richard Bruton throws his hat into the ring as is rumoured (his odds have come down from 25/1 to 11/1 today). Bruton doesn't stand a chance. He's 64 and very much part of the established old guard. But he'll take much more from Coveney than Varadkar in terms of votes.

If Bruton doesn't run, I think Coveney will get the gig. I believe it was he who put together the current government and that is well known and regarded in FG circles whilst LV apparently was happy to sit back and see how it all played out.

Rigor Mortis

ClanofLams wrote: »

Yep. He's done an outstanding job which will only be properly appreciated in the fullness of time.

Don't really see why Varadkar is favourite and wouldn't think he would be a good move for them, they're already strong in Dublin and it's hard to see him playing well in rural areas. No doubt Fianna Fail are praying he wins.

He polls higher across all ages bar over 55s and in Dublin and Leinster. Coveney pols higher in Munster and C/u. He polls about 5. Points higher w women and 4 higher w men.

In terms of rural areas, the popularity of leaders will be of less influence than urban areas. Party loyalty and candidate strength will be a greater feature in deciding rural votes.
Also, onDublin, they are stronger thanf ff, but there is significant scope for improvement and there is a major challenge to be met.

Like I said, I don't think Leo will win, but I think if FG put electoral maths first he would.

thomond2006

RIP Chris Cornell

https://youtu.be/ltc5EsuyBh4

DGRulz

Bloody hell, this morning has been bad news after bad new for me. This was sudden. RIP.

swiwi_

thomond2006 wrote: »

RIP Chris Cornell

https://youtu.be/ltc5EsuyBh4

Cocaine strikes again, I would not be surprised.

ClanofLams

Rigor Mortis wrote: »

He polls higher across all ages bar over 55s and in Dublin and Leinster. Coveney pols higher in Munster and C/u. He polls about 5. Points higher w women and 4 higher w men.

In terms of rural areas, the popularity of leaders will be of less influence than urban areas. Party loyalty and candidate strength will be a greater feature in deciding rural votes.
Also, onDublin, they are stronger thanf ff, but there is significant scope for improvement and there is a major challenge to be met.

Like I said, I don't think Leo will win, but I think if FG put electoral maths first he would.

Do you have a link to the poll/polling? Couldn't find anything that specific on google. Worth noting that over 55s are a very important category given that they can be relied upon to turn out and are also the most likely demographic to vote FG/FF.

I don't see much scope for further improvement in the short term
in Dublin, there may be potential to add a seat in a couple of the five seaters but that's about it and they're going to lose one in Dun Laoghaire given no ceann comhairle there this time.

I think the exact opposite to you, that Varadkar will win but that Coveney would be their best option from an electoral point of view.

Interesting to see how it shakes out anyway.

Erik Shin

swiwi_ wrote: »

Cocaine strikes again, I would not be surprised.

I'm open to correction, but I believe be had issues with depression and that may be a factor

irishbucsfan

Erik Shin wrote: »

I'm open to correction, but I believe be had issues with depression and that may be a factor

He was in rehab before. Not sure there's any concrete info out there.

Erik Shin

irishbucsfan wrote: »

He was in rehab before. Not sure there's any concrete info out there.

No point in speculating at the moment, the story will be out by the end of the day I guess

Rigor Mortis

ClanofLams wrote: »

Do you have a link to the poll/polling? Couldn't find anything that specific on google. Worth noting that over 55s are a very important category given that they can be relied upon to turn out and are also the most likely demographic to vote FG/FF.

.

http://www.redcresearch.ie/fine-gael-leadership-battle-play/

http://www.redcresearch.ie/can-leo-simon-stir-current-political-status-quo/

[Deleted User]

Latest season of Fargo has been hard work to be honest.

First two seasons were absolute gold. Last season had one of the best episodes of TV ever made.

awec

Deleted User wrote: »

Latest season of Fargo has been hard work to be honest.

First two seasons were absolute gold. Last season had one of the best episodes of TV ever made.

I watched one episode of that and couldn't get into it at all. Just seemed...weird?

[Deleted User]

awec wrote: »

I watched one episode of that and couldn't get into it at all. Just seemed...weird?

There have been a couple of moments but in my opinion they are way off the mark this season and miles off the standard that was set by the previous two.

It's getting a much cooler critical reception also so seems they've gone a bit too obscure this season. It's oddly similar to the movie in the same way that season one was but the story just isn't captivating or intriguing and the main antagonist is a bit hallow in comparison to previous efforts.

On the plus side, better call saul is having it's best season to date and American Gods whilst really f'*ing weird is promising. Have yet to watch season 2 of the Expanse and House of Cards / Game of Thrones is just around the corner.

Synode

HBO's Silicon Valley is excellent. Highly recommend

errlloyd

Ah lads. There is too much TV these days

irishbucsfan

Does anyone watch filums?

They're quite good. They might actually be as good as TV these days. Having a great time catching up with the many I missed over the past 5 years when I was working long hours overseas. Watched Looper, that's a good one.

molloyjh

I watch feck all myself. Game of Thrones and Walking Dead. I might watch a few other bits and pieces here and there, but nothing else would see me turn the TV on specifically for it. You could spend your life in front of the TV for all we have access to these days. That thought isn't a nice one to me.

molloyjh

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Does anyone watch filums?

They're quite good. They might actually be as good as TV these days. Having a great time catching up with the many I missed over the past 5 years when I was working long hours overseas. Watched Looper, that's a good one.

Went to see Alien Covenant last week. Anyone seen that? It's a film that really absolutely nails it in patches, is utterly frustrating in others and doesn't have the most satisfying of endings. I really couldn't tell if I rated it or not when I left. One of those ones where it has so much right, yet so much wrong at the same time.