Are there any decent politicians left out there?

I'd like to be a politician, what do I have to do?

Pearse is our only hope.

And Pearse is also very good looking and has a lovely accent too.

This all smacks of Rudy Guiliani tbh.

Michael D higgins, Joe Higgins, Leo Varadkar and Brian Lenihan are all competent, honest and capable in my book. Varadkar should be leader of FG-he's the only one to offer fresh ideas and not just spew party lines when interviewed.

ascanbe wrote: »

Brian Lenihan might be competent and honest in your 'book'; he's neither in reality, though.
For proof of this, check every action he's taken and every word that has come out of his mouth over the last couple of years.
Unless, that is, he willingly set out to bankrupt this nation for the benifit of foreign investors and certain people in this country; if that's the case, he's definitly competent.

This runs the risk of going off topic in a major way and ruining what I consider to be a great thread, so this is my only reply on the matter (here at least).

Lenihan bankrupt the nation? He made a MAJOR mistake in bailing out the banks, but there was an overwhelming support for this action at the time. Sinn Fein were the only ones who opposed it. You cannot blame Lenihan for taking a decision that almost every other TD would have done in the same position.

He also made a smaller mistake in raising the VAT rate, which he reversed, and admitted it was a mistake. That's the sign of an honest and competent politician, he admitted his mistake and reversed his decision.


He inherited an impossible position, and managed it well under immense pressure from all sides, including his taoiseach, who is the man you're really looking for in terms of blame. He speaks well, and is frank and up front to the media, when he can be. Unfortunately he's in a party that seem to have a strict policy against this practise, but you'll notice that all the lies about the economy that have come from FF, have come from Cowen's mouth. He's recognised as one of the most competent men for the finance job in the dail by the opposing finance spokespeople of all parties. If he were finance minister for a stable economy I have no doubt he'd do a sterling job. He's the only Fianna Failer I know of who's worth his salt.

When the titanic sank, people blamed the man who steered it into the iceberg, not the man who tried to bail the water out with a bucket and failed.

And yes, this is in my opinion. That's what politics is based on, opinions. I've thought about mine and am happy to stand by them no matter how many people disagree.

Edit: But not here, cos I wanna see where this thread goes if it stays ON topic.

If I thought I'd in any way make a difference, even if elected, without having to resort to corruption or joining a party who don't actually represent any political ideals I'd spend my entire life trying.

Ming the Merciless