If FG policies are so similar to those of FF, why would people vote for FG?

andrewire · 04-12-2010 09:01PM #1

Well? If people want some significant change in the way Ireland is managed by the political elite, then why would voters vote for another party with the same view of things? Even Enda Kenny has been criticised for his apparent lack of leadership and 'screen persona' when giving live interviews, which reminds me of Brian Cowen, although the latter is utterly despicable.

We need leadership and people that can handle the pressure of the economy and social problems we have inherited from FF's decades of mismanagement. If Enda Kenny becomes Taoiseach, we are f'ed: we certainly don't need a teleprompter leadership, we need someone with courage and able to restore confidence in our nation.

AlmightyCushion · 04-12-2010 09:01PM

They'd vote for them because they're not Fianna Fáil.

High energy · 04-12-2010 09:02PM

Because they don't have a history of lies, corruption and downright thievery.

arid · 04-12-2010 09:02PM

This kind of thinking is why FF keep getting back in.

Biggins · 04-12-2010 09:03PM

I wouldn't. They are two sides of the same damn coin!
Utterly in their positions for self gain and bought by big businesses!

...And both headed by useless plebs!

Mark200 · 04-12-2010 09:23PM

Eh Enda Kenny supposedly not having charisma has nothing to do with policies. You described nothing about policies in your post.

FG have excellent policies to deal with the current situation. It irritates me a lot that whenever FG are mentioned, a lot of people can't see past Enda Kenny's lack of charisma. So yeah, lets go with sound-byte Gilmore instead.

TanG411 · 04-12-2010 09:23PM

For change.

RMD · 04-12-2010 09:24PM

High energy wrote: »

Because they don't have a history of lies, corruption and downright thievery.

You sure about that?

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/youll-get-nothing-when-were-in-power-fine-gael-td-tells-garda-2343743.html

Earthhorse · 04-12-2010 09:25PM

Because the party in power is always more corrupt than the party out of powere. Vote in any new party, even an identikit one, and you wipe away over a decade of favours and cosy arrangements in one go.

The_Kew_Tour · 04-12-2010 09:26PM

FF & FG are both same just would be seeing different faces on TV.

And then you have Labour, Joan Burton sweet jesus imagine having her as minister?

Sinn Fein no thanks

mikemac · 04-12-2010 09:26PM

Bertie was a master at the live interviews, did the entire Brian Dobson one in one take. There are actors who couldn't do that.
Good at debates too
Are these the skills people vote for above all else?

I could care less about Enda Kenny's ability with the media or charisma, it's the policies I'm interested in

Mark200 · 04-12-2010 09:27PM

RMD wrote: »

You sure about that?

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/youll-get-nothing-when-were-in-power-fine-gael-td-tells-garda-2343743.html

What has that got to do with corruption, lies or thievery? That's just one retarded drunk TD

bonerm · 04-12-2010 09:28PM

I'm convinced UK Labour or the Tories could come over here and win an election, such is the uselessness of our traditional options. As things stand all Irish people have to vote for is the evil of two lessers.

Monty Burnz · 04-12-2010 09:29PM

RMD wrote: »

You sure about that?

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/youll-get-nothing-when-were-in-power-fine-gael-td-tells-garda-2343743.html

FG aren't squeaky clean, but for every one of those you will find, I can supply you with 20 Fianna Failures worse. And when a FG TD is found to be corrupt, he gets booted out (Lowry - who has been voting with FF since), whereas FF take their most corrupt guy and put him in charge of the party for a decade.

Yeah, Inda is not charismatic at all - the charisma of a potato. But I'll take a competent, honest, good organiser over a corrupt bull****ter like Bertie Ahern, so beloved of the Irish electorate for decade. How did that work out, folks?

The_Kew_Tour · 04-12-2010 09:31PM

feelingstressed wrote: »

Bertie was a master at the live interviews, did the entire Brian Dobson one in one take. There are actors who couldn't do that.
Good at debates too
Are these the skills people vote for above all else?

I could care less about Enda Kenny's ability with the media or charisma, it's the policies I'm interested in

From my years its seems to have been filling Potholes rather then Policies that got you elected.

Absurdum · 04-12-2010 09:32PM

Yes we can!

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 04-12-2010 09:32PM

Mark200 wrote: »

What has that got to do with corruption, lies or thievery? That's just one retarded drunk TD

Who was threatening to be involved in corruption. Its not hard to figure out.

RMD · 04-12-2010 09:34PM

Mark200 wrote: »

What has that got to do with corruption, lies or thievery? That's just one retarded drunk TD

Using your power and / or position to threaten a person I'd consider corruption.

Monty Burnz wrote: »

FG aren't squeaky clean, but for every one of those you will find, I can supply you with 20 Fianna Failures worse. And when a FG TD is found to be corrupt, he gets booted out (Lowry - who has been voting with FF since), whereas FF take their most corrupt guy and put him in charge of the party for a decade.

Yeah, Inda is not charismatic at all - the charisma of a potato. But I'll take a competent, honest, good organiser over a corrupt bull****ter like Bertie Ahern, so beloved of the Irish electorate for decade. How did that work out, folks?

FG aren't squeaky clean yes, but they do have a much better track record than FF. I'm not a FF fanboy, I just hate when people talk crap like that. FF are the scum of the earth and certainly wont be getting my vote.

It's a sad reflection of Irish politics when there's only 2-3 parties to effectively choose from, and not one of them appeals that much at all.

Mark200 · 04-12-2010 09:34PM

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

Who was threatening to be involved in corruption. Its not hard to figure out.

So he wasn't corrupt. Right. Really... trying to compare that to FF's antics is really weird.

MagicMarker · 04-12-2010 09:35PM

Biggins wrote: »

I wouldn't. They are two sides of the same damn coin!
Utterly in their positions for self gain and bought by big businesses!

...And both headed by useless plebs!

The same can be said of all parties.

Ulysses Gaze · 04-12-2010 09:35PM

andrewire wrote: »

We need leadership and people that can handle the pressure of the economy and social problems we have inherited from FF's decades of mismanagement. If Enda Kenny becomes Taoiseach, we are f'ed: we certainly don't need a teleprompter leadership, we need someone with courage and able to restore confidence in our nation.

Lol. Why are we f'ed if Kenny takes charge. Please elaborate?

Because he doesn't have the gurrier "Man of the People" BS persona that Ahern had?

Listen, FG have far more capable people surrounding Kenny than FF have now or had under Ahern. I don't really give a toss if Kenny has the personality of a robot. It means nowt to me as long as he gets the job done.

The last thing we need is an Ahern-type "Cult of Personality".

Bertie was a master at the live interviews, did the entire Brian Dobson one in one take. Good at debates too. Are these the skills people vote for above all else?

I'd respectfully disagree with this. Ahern was great at glib soundbites and cosseted interviews (like Dobsons or Tubridy's).

Noonan took Ahern apart in the leadership debate back in 2002. Didn't matter in the end, but he tied Ahern up in knots. I was waiting for Ahern's inner gurrier to explode out.

Aldebaran · 04-12-2010 09:36PM

I kind of like the way Fine Gael and Labour haven't destroyed the country.

But that's just me.

CoalBucket · 04-12-2010 09:37PM

High energy wrote: »

Because they don't have a history of lies, corruption and downright thievery.

ehh Michael Lowry

Nothing in comparison to FF but a history of corruption all the same and should not be ignored.

Biggins · 04-12-2010 09:44PM

MagicMarker wrote: »

The same can be said of all parties.

Maybe - but so far (and I am NOT a supporter) Labour have yet to be caught soliciting companies, bankers, and builders on race tracks, golf courses and wining and dining them consistently!

Mark200 · 04-12-2010 09:45PM

Biggins wrote: »

Maybe - but so far (and I am NOT a supporter) Labour have yet to be caught soliciting companies, bankers, and builders on race tracks, golf courses and wining and dining them consistently!

That's because they prefer the unions.

Monty Burnz · 04-12-2010 09:47PM

CoalBucket wrote: »

ehh Michael Lowry

Nothing in comparison to FF but a history of corruption all the same and should not be ignored.

Lowry was kicked out of the party when he was exposed. Compare Charlie Haughey Beverly Cooper Flynn, Liam Lawlor, Bertie Ahern - ffs, even Ivor Callely quit the party rather than be kicked out!

Fianna Failure supporters I have spoken to (going back to the mid-90s when I became interested in politics) think everyone is out for themselves, and they have massive respect for those who get away with corruption (i.e. are good at it). Another good reason I hope to see the club set up for these people wiped out.

Biggins · 04-12-2010 09:48PM

Mark200 wrote: »

That's because they prefer the unions.

Yes, but while the unions have been shown to be a pain, they are not out to rob from the public pockets/purse for sake of big businesses and foreign bank accounts and self gain in the form of screwing the expenses system and under the counter envelope shuffling!

Ulysses Gaze · 04-12-2010 09:49PM

Mark200 wrote: »

That's because they prefer the unions.

But which party is responsible for Benchmarking and essentially, buying of said Unions?

It ain't Labour.

Absurdum · 04-12-2010 09:49PM

CoalBucket wrote: »

ehh Michael Lowry

Nothing in comparison to FF but a history of corruption all the same and should not be ignored.

he was forced out when those revelations came out in public, and iirc John Bruton made sure he wouldn't be allowed back into the party

Mark200 · 04-12-2010 09:49PM

Biggins wrote: »

Yes, but while the unions have been shown to be a pain, they are not out to rob from the public pockets/purse for sake of big businesses and foreign bank accounts!

No, they're just out to rob for their members.

dabestman1 · 04-12-2010 09:50PM

Because as a group of voters, we are that damn stupid. Go through fine gaels pre budget, it mirrors that of fianna fails "protect the rich strtategy".
wouldnt be surprised to see a FG-FF coalition in the next govt.

If FG policies are so similar to those of FF, why would people vote for FG?

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