Charles Haughey Has Died + Poll

Deleted User wrote:

As a matter of interest, Tony Blair and his party got a million from Bernie Ecclestone during the smoking debate. Anyone know if the British have spent the intervening years wailing and gnashing their teeth and raging against the injustice of it all?

Deleted User wrote:

Incidentally, how much did Denis O'Brien make during the Rainbow Coalition? Wht happened the tribunal on CIE and the ESAT mobile phone lines? Noone jumping up and down, noone making an issue of it, Denis made millions, no convictions, but then again it's easier to make Haughey the hate figure and absolve other people and parties.

Saintly wrote:

The state funeral will be a pretty hollow affair – few in the public will mourn this man or lament his passing. Listening to the radio commentary today was a reminder of the complexities of the man – highly intelligent, sharp decisive mind, ruthlessly efficient at times, imaginative and creative, charming and persuasive. This same man was arrogant, driven by self motivation and interest, lacked integrity, moral fibre or principles, a fine example of the backslapping boy's club with a penchant for high and fast living in his personal and professional life.

Ultimately – and I think this is the tragedy from a FF perspective, Haughey had the potential to be a truly great leader, one who could have towered in the history books. Many of the ingredients for success were there. His own greed, personal motivation and ambition prevented him ever reaching anything resembling greatness. Any successes in office should be remembered, but hardly lauded – the man was paid to do a job and one would expect/hope that he would perform well, just like any other servant of government. The horror of Haughey was his complete lack of integrity and accountability – (something that remains endemic in government circles today) and his wilful disregard of the judicial system, public opinion and the laws of the land. People here have commended the man, saying 'sure we did well out of him', despite his illegal behaviour. Others have talked about preferring a crooked leader who governs well rather than a saint who governs badly. These points represent everything awful (and Haughey-ish) about Irish politics to me. It is actually possible to have integrity in politics – the public and the parties just have to insist upon it.

Haughey's legacy is his corruption. On a side note, I find it hard to understand why his family have accepted a state funeral, given the poor public opinion of CJ – though this may swing to a more affectionate stance in the days to come. I presume a state funeral is something he himself wanted?

Finally, I wonder how FF will remember Haughey – will it be rose tinted glasses memories of The Boss at party gatherings – or a more temperate outlook on a man whose contributions to Irish political life will and should always be overshadowed by his corruption? IMO, this could be a time of change for FF. I really wish they would bury with Haughey, that lingering effect of his reign – lack of accountability. They should do what Haughey never did – take responsibility and push integrity back into politics.

A gal can dream can't she?!!

Saintly