Will Leo be the shortest serving taoiseach in history?

Kermit.de.frog · 24-11-2017 01:47AM

Deleted User wrote: »

Agreed on this. But not only is there no alternative to them (frankly I'd love to see labour grab 70 seats in a snap election but ....)- they're not even a decent rotating alternative to each other and an election probably delivers the same result.

A govt in the national interest consisting of FF/FG locked in together had stability going for it but politics intervened.

For all my distaste for SF antics and lack of suitability to govern, I can't really fault them for thumping the current weak FG/FF alloy over this affair.

Politics. It stinks.

I'm not aligned to any of them. I'm just disgusted that we have a crisis with Brexit and face a hard border being put on our island and this is the sh!t going on??

We had one shot to show we were stable and at one in Europe on this. Shot to pieces.

Fcuk em all.

It's betrayal of the Irish people's interest for selfish political gain.

Water John · 24-11-2017 01:50AM

Was it Belgium or The Netherlands went 14 months without a Govn't. Don't have such an inferiority complex about our country. Just look at the UK

We are all on the one sheet here with regards Brexit.

McMurphy · 24-11-2017 01:52AM

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

I'm not aligned to any of them. I'm just disgusted that we have a crisis with Brexit and face a hard border being put on our island and this is the sh!t going on??

We had one shot to show we were stable and at one in Europe on this. Shot to pieces.

Fcuk em all.

It's betrayal of the Irish people's interest for selfish political gain.

Demanding our justice minister would be the pivotal role in seeing justice is carried out by the justice dept is betrayal?

24-11-2017 01:54AM

This bubble is going to burst in about a year and half and I'd prefer Fine Gael were in power when it happens. I'd be sick to see Fianna Fail get in now and be blamed for the inevitable bubble burst that is down the road but which formed on Fine Gaels watch, and this time wasn't triggered by a global recession. That said I'd love to see Leo out of power as I don't believe he served long enough or with enough distinction in his previous briefs to merit holding the office. The media basically selected him at an earlier stage to be a "future taoiseach" because it seemed like a good fit and they forced the narrative on the country.

24-11-2017 02:01AM

I'm not really understanding how this would affect Ireland's credibility in Europe regarding the veto threat.. Can someone explain?

Subcomandante Marcos · 24-11-2017 02:26AM

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm not really understanding how this would affect Ireland's credibility in Europe regarding the veto threat.. Can someone explain?

The issue is that Varadkar could be put in a position to be make a decision that he might not be in office to deal with the consequences of. It's not a credibility thing, it's a mandate thing.
How can he make decisions that affect our medium and long term economic projections irreversibly if he can't be sure he'll have a job in the new year?

Kermit.de.frog · 24-11-2017 02:34AM

If it was Tuesday (day of confidence vote) the government fell he would be literally having to threaten a veto on election day at the EU summit!

No credibility, no mandate. If EU happy with UK bill for leaving, mark my words they will tell him that.

We are seriously weakened.

Subcomandante Marcos · 24-11-2017 02:38AM

He has a week to tell Fitzer to jump before she's pushed.

Junkyard Tom · 24-11-2017 02:39AM

FF/FG should just merge and stop pretending they offer any substantive difference to the Irish electorate.

Oldtree · 24-11-2017 03:09AM

Still to early for FF to go. They may vote for the no confidence but will not vote the government out just yet so the sf follow on vote of no confidence in the government will fail.

The independents arnt ready to go yet either.

Leo still has the new boy goodwill extra few %. FF will strike when there is a real big muck up and a massive surge in public opinion sometime late next year I think.

Kermit.de.frog · 24-11-2017 03:23AM

Oldtree wrote: »

Still to early for FF to go. They may vote for the no confidence but will not vote the government out just yet so the sf follow on vote of no confidence in the government will fail.

The independents arnt ready to go yet either.

Leo still has the new boy goodwill extra few %. FF will strike when there is a real big muck up and a massive surge in public opinion sometime late next year I think.

FF must know the seriousness of the situation with Brexit?

This is the time Ireland has maximum leverage over the UK (first time in our history the tables are turned). Are we really going to piss it a way over this?

I agree maybe she should go. I just think the national interest should trump the nonsense until the end of the year at least.

Have an election - let's have it in March when we are out of the woods for the while.

Let's not undermine ourselves at this point. Surely common sense should prevail?

I think we agree though

Oldtree · 24-11-2017 03:29AM

Self preservation will prevail. FF need to get much further ahead in the polls to go.

As for brexit if the UK don't pay for the hard boarder then the eu will, the eu can't take a chance that we would bail on the eu project as other countries would then follow and that's the end of eu. Nothing to worry about there.

24-11-2017 03:41AM

Subcomandante Marcos wrote: »

The issue is that Varadkar could be put in a position to be make a decision that he might not be in office to deal with the consequences of. It's not a credibility thing, it's a mandate thing.
How can he make decisions that affect our medium and long term economic projections irreversibly if he can't be sure he'll have a job in the new year?

Nonsensical

True of every decision maker ever.

jimmycrackcorm · 24-11-2017 04:13AM

Junkyard Tom wrote:

FF/FG should just merge and stop pretending they offer any substantive difference to the Irish electorate.

FF and SF should merge or become best buddies. They are both populist and willing to throw money around.

eagle eye · 24-11-2017 05:01AM

jimmycrackcorm wrote:

FF and SF should merge or become best buddies. They are both populist and willing to throw money around.

Why would Sinn Fein go with anybody? They are going to be a lot bigger after the next general election. The people who were holding them back will be gone. They will have a popular leader, a sympathy vote too because of the way other parties talk about them and then there is the growing bewildered section of the electorate who might be just ready to vote for them.
I'm not a supporter of any party, just really an observer of how the clock is ticking and right now I think it's looking really like Sinn Fein time.

Just look at the leaders of the other two main parties. You have Martin who many consider part of the disgraced Ahern/Cowan governments and then you have Varadkar whose party will get no votes from a sizeable percentage of the electorate just because he is gay.

Muahahaha · 24-11-2017 05:53AM

littelady wrote: »

"F all achievemeets prior to being Taoiseach" you do realise he is a doctor.

Is he a doctor? I seem to remember clearly that the awarding body for doctors fought not to make Leo a doctor because he has never actually practiced as a doctor in the way that all other doctors have done.

Varadkar is not a doctor in the true sense and no doctor who has earned their stripes sees him as one either. His Dr. prefix is just more of his own spin machine, it is all style and no substance. Why else did he have to threaten legal action to call himself a doctor?

emo72 · 24-11-2017 06:46AM

Muahahaha wrote: »

Is he a doctor? I seem to remember clearly that the awarding body for doctors fought not to make Leo a doctor because he has never actually practiced as a doctor in the way that all other doctors have done.

Varadkar is not a doctor in the true sense and no doctor who has earned their stripes sees him as one either. His Dr. prefix is just more of his own spin machine, it is all style and no substance. Why else did he have to threaten legal action to call himself a doctor?

Interesting. I never knew that. I assumed he had a practice.

24-11-2017 07:19AM

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

FF/FG should just merge and stop pretending they offer any substantive difference to the Irish electorate.

Will SF not go for a FF gene pool leader next in Mary Lou? She only left FF because her ambitions were frustrated by the presence of Brian Lenihan Jr.

Richard Hillman · 24-11-2017 07:26AM

We need to get this done before minimum pricing of alcohol comes to vote.

emo72 · 24-11-2017 07:28AM

Richard Hillman wrote: »

We need to get this done before minimum pricing of alcohol comes to vote.

The most pressing issue of our times. I like your priorities mate!

buried · 24-11-2017 07:34AM

I love an election so I do. I love the drama. Watching politicians faces sweat over a seat that their arses sit on will be a welcome early Christmas gift for me.

emo72 · 24-11-2017 07:37AM

buried wrote: »

I love an election so I do. I love the drama. Watching politicians faces sweat over a seat that their arses sit on will be a welcome early Christmas gift for me.

You're a complete sadist. Knocking on doors at Christmas, such cold wet nights. Bring on the political misery!

PeterParker957 · 24-11-2017 07:47AM

Muahahaha wrote: »

littelady wrote: »

"F all achievemeets prior to being Taoiseach" you do realise he is a doctor.

Is he a doctor? I seem to remember clearly that the awarding body for doctors fought not to make Leo a doctor because he has never actually practiced as a doctor in the way that all other doctors have done.

Varadkar is not a doctor in the true sense and no doctor who has earned their stripes sees him as one either. His Dr. prefix is just more of his own spin machine, it is all style and no substance. Why else did he have to threaten legal action to call himself a doctor?

Utter rubbish.

The moment you complete your medical degree you are entitled to call yourself Dr.

I work in a medical school. This is standard practice.

ianobrien · 24-11-2017 07:49AM

Muahahaha wrote: »

Is he a doctor? I seem to remember clearly that the awarding body for doctors fought not to make Leo a doctor because he has never actually practiced as a doctor in the way that all other doctors have done.

Varadkar is not a doctor in the true sense and no doctor who has earned their stripes sees him as one either. His Dr. prefix is just more of his own spin machine, it is all style and no substance. Why else did he have to threaten legal action to call himself a doctor?

Ah, I think you will find he worked in St James's as a non consultant hospital doctor before going into the Dail. I know people who worked alongside him there.

McMurphy · 24-11-2017 08:14AM

littelady wrote: »

"F all achievemeets prior to being Taoiseach" you do realise he is a doctor.

How.did he get on as health minister so? 'Being a Dr' must surely have been a real welcome additional feather in his cap?

Jawgap · 24-11-2017 08:20AM

Muahahaha wrote: »

Is he a doctor? I seem to remember clearly that the awarding body for doctors fought not to make Leo a doctor because he has never actually practiced as a doctor in the way that all other doctors have done.

Varadkar is not a doctor in the true sense and no doctor who has earned their stripes sees him as one either. His Dr. prefix is just more of his own spin machine, it is all style and no substance. Why else did he have to threaten legal action to call himself a doctor?

Looks like he's doing a bit of the ol' doctoring here:

Minister or not I doubt he'd be let within an ass' roar of a sick person if he didn't have the quals.

McMurphy · 24-11-2017 08:35AM

Both FG and FF have held emergency meetings, and both say they are prepared for any election.

Leo is reported to have said 'forcing an election isn't within the country's interest, but neither is forcing out the Tanaiste'

It looks like both have locked horns, and first to blink will be showing their weakness.

I would have to agree with Ivan Yates here, it appears Leo (who never had a mandate based on the number of TDs his party has) is seeking one by way of an election.

That strategy worked out well for his heroes the Tories.

Edward M · 24-11-2017 08:38AM

Muahahaha wrote: »

Is he a doctor? I seem to remember clearly that the awarding body for doctors fought not to make Leo a doctor because he has never actually practiced as a doctor in the way that all other doctors have done.

Varadkar is not a doctor in the true sense and no doctor who has earned their stripes sees him as one either. His Dr. prefix is just more of his own spin machine, it is all style and no substance. Why else did he have to threaten legal action to call himself a doctor?

Can you link to that, I never heard that one.
It seems an election is now inevitable anyway, unless Fitzgerald falls on her own sword.
https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2017/1123/922187-fitzgerald-politics/
I'm in her constituency, she has plenty support here.

FrancieBrady · 24-11-2017 08:38AM

Never quite saw anger like there was on display in the various political programmes last night.
Eoin Murphy was red in the face with arrogant apoplexy over this last night, almost tears. flailing around trying to land any punch on Mary Lou McDonald. It was fabulous to watch and a bit like this forum tbh.

It should be remembered that SF wanted to call a minister to account, (as she should be), it is FF who are pulling out of government. But so entwined in the power swap are these two parties the focus will be on it all being SF's fault.

That never goes well with the electorate. Have they learned nothing from Enda's attempts?

Edward M · 24-11-2017 08:41AM

Rick Shaw wrote: »

Both FG and FF have held emergency meetings, and both say they are prepared for any election.

Leo is reported to have said 'forcing an election isn't within the country's interest, but neither is forcing out the Tanaiste'

It looks like both have locked horns, and first to blink will be showing their weakness.

I would have to agree with Ivan Yates here, it appears Leo (who never had a mandate based on the number of TDs his party has) is seeking one by way of an election.

That strategy worked out well for his heroes the Tories.

Its odd to compare it that way! The situation is totally different.

Will Leo be the shortest serving taoiseach in history?

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