Fianna Fáil Leadership Challenge Underway

goat2 · 17-01-2011 10:45PM

Mr.Micro wrote: »

She came across as patronizing, especially to the student. She will blow with the wind and with the likes of her calibre for FF leader Biffo has nothing to worry about.

she lost the young vote right there, he asked what would pay for his education as there are no jobs, and she still said stay in school, did not care if he had the backing or the money, she not living in real world for real, cowen is much better than her or any other for leader

gandalf · 17-01-2011 10:50PM

goat2 wrote: »

she lost the young vote right there, he asked what would pay for his education as there are no jobs, and she still said stay in school, did not care if he had the backing or the money, she not living in real world for real, cowen is much better than her or any other for leader

TBH no one in FF are living in the real world any more. They are like someone trying to get their hole off a date that passed away hours ago. They are entering the realms of political necrophilia at this stage.

ninty9er · 17-01-2011 10:54PM

Now is not the time to for people to declare leadership ambitions. If, and it's a big big if, Cowen doesn't win the vote tomorrow, then will be the time to get out of the traps. Unfortunately Martin has ****ed this up by going before the election.

Mr.Micro · 17-01-2011 10:58PM

goat2 wrote: »

she lost the young vote right there, he asked what would pay for his education as there are no jobs, and she still said stay in school, did not care if he had the backing or the money, she not living in real world for real, cowen is much better than her or any other for leader

It was like "there there now sonny run along back to school".

ninty9er · 17-01-2011 11:05PM

goat2 wrote: »

he asked what would pay for his education as there are no jobs, and she still said stay in school, did not care if he had the backing or the money

He didn't ask that. Pat asked her what she would advise him to do. He had already stated earlier that he would have to borrow to go to college, as is the norm in most countries with a functioning 3rd level sector. Ours is slowly losing that status.

The Black Oil · 17-01-2011 11:05PM

Of course Mary had to beat the drum of her former post, typical.

I despair at the standard of public debate in this country. Granted, it's not as toxic or overly dissected like aspectd of the U.S. political landscape, but our whole national conversation needs a kick up the arse, as does the electorate for that matter.

goat2 · 17-01-2011 11:08PM

ninty9er wrote: »

He didn't ask that. Pat asked her what she would advise him to do. He had already stated earlier that he would have to borrow to go to college, as is the norm in most countries with a functioning 3rd level sector. Ours is slowly losing that status.

i will have to listen to that back, as i reckon i did hear him ask something about financing

The Volt · 17-01-2011 11:20PM

Tony Killeen on Vincent Browne claiming that FF's connections with developers is a fallacy :pac:

SB-08 · 17-01-2011 11:26PM

Hanafin has blown her chances. I can only think her reasons for this are that she knows Cowen will win therefor is not willing to put her neck out. Her lack of decisiveness and leadership is frankly pathetic.

Martin needed a senior Minister to back him publicly - I believe Cowen will easily win tomorrow which bounds well for the

On another note - why is Martin not on Vinny B? I know why Clowen isn't on because he is scared ****less of VB but Martin has been on VB's many times so it is a surprise.

SB-08 · 17-01-2011 11:28PM

Voltwad wrote: »

Tony Killeen on Vincent Browne claiming that FF's connections with developers is a fallacy :pac:

Killeen is the typical FF stereotype - an absolute moron who waffles non stop. He has ignored Vinny's questions over and over as if he wasn't in the room. He would have been better simply issuing a statement and sending it in via email. An utterly pointless spoofer.

AnnyHallsal · 17-01-2011 11:29PM

Jesus, Killeen's the political equivalent of Fr. Stone, though after watching this evasive and deluded patter I'd rather vote for the latter.

hotmail.com · 17-01-2011 11:31PM

Was that the worst tv performance of a minister ever?

gandalf · 17-01-2011 11:42PM

Indo and Examiner saying B Lenihan will support Cowen tomorrow - mentioned on Vincent Browne just now.

SB-08 · 17-01-2011 11:59PM

gandalf wrote: »

Indo and Examiner saying B Lenihan will support Cowen tomorrow - mentioned on Vincent Browne just now.

If true, the game is up for Martin. Lenihan has no confidence in Cowen either clearly but would seemingly rather let him lead them intot he election and after will want to take over himself.

I hope Martin takes over after the election though - at least of the three he had the balls to go through with it. Lenny and Hanifan are spineless wafflers.

SB-08 · 18-01-2011 12:00AM

hotmail.com wrote: »

Was that the worst tv performance of a minister ever?

Usually Martin Mansleragh holds that post - or Conor Lenihan but I think you are right. Killeen truly was appalling. Kennedy wasn't much better frankly.

steelcityblues · 18-01-2011 12:01AM

Who is the bigger idiot- Cowen for wanting to stay on the Titanic, or Lenihan for further enabling him?

gandalf · 18-01-2011 12:03AM

I'd say this is a tactical move by Lenihan. Martin has now blown his load and there is a strong possibility that this damages him for the General Election so he may lose his seat. Lenihan has just deposed of one of his rivals.

Either way for those of us who want to see FF as damaged as possible this is excellent news. Cowen remains and the party is starting to fracture.

steelcityblues · 18-01-2011 12:05AM

gandalf wrote: »

I'd say this is a tactical move by Lenihan. Martin has now blown his load and there is a strong possibility that this damages him for the General Election so he may lose his seat. Lenihan has just deposed of one of his rivals.

Either way for those of us who want to see FF as damaged as possible this is excellent news. Cowen remains and the party is starting to fracture.

Won't Martin be able to peddle the 'I stood up against the Taoiseach' angle to his constituents now? I think he will keep his seat!

Wide Road · 18-01-2011 12:07AM

hotmail.com wrote: »

Was that the worst tv performance of a minister ever?

No, try a Minister for Health fighting a patient on the steps of the high court. He later became leader. Remember the TV series?

Wide Road · 18-01-2011 12:12AM

SB-08 wrote: »

Usually Martin Mansleragh holds that post - or Conor Lenihan but I think you are right. Killeen truly was appalling. Kennedy wasn't much better frankly.

Try Ml Noonan as health minister during the Hep C scandal.
They even made a TV series of Ml's time as Minister.
I can't remember anyone else having the same airtime, can you?

gandalf · 18-01-2011 12:15AM

Wide Road I was sure this thread was about the FF leadership challenge surely as a loyal supporter you could talk about that. Or are you a closet Fine Gael supporter as you appear to talk about them all the time?

SB-08 · 18-01-2011 12:23AM

What happened with Noonan and the Hep C scandal again? I recall the outrage about it but what did Noonan himself do?

Since Noonan returned to front line politics and became the Finance Spokesperson he has proven to appear very competent and knowledgeable. His Prime Time debate with Lenny in particular - he destoyed Lenny and exposed how incompetent Lenny is in a calm and rational manner, and did it with such ease. He appears to have an excellent grasp of the issues he talks about. There is simply no comparison with someone like Killeen who is just uttery delusional and should propose to lecture political students how to waffle effectively after he retires. :rolleyes:

And I am very much a floating voter btw - I think Enda Kenny is an appalling communicator and I feel it will be his lack of effective communication and inability to think on his feet in interviews that will ensure FF don't do as badly as current polls suggest. Even though Cowen will waffle non-stop I believe he will frankly destory Enda Kenny in a live debate. It would be in kenny's interest frankly to ensure Gilmore is included in the debate so they can gang up on Cowen. Cowen shouting and screaming won't win much support as we have already seen from polls - however in a one on one debate it will dent FG support a lot imo as Enda is simply not capable of out-waffling Cowen and will be percieved as being weak imo.

ArtSmart · 18-01-2011 12:35AM

gandalf wrote: »

I'd say this is a tactical move by Lenihan. Martin has now blown his load and there is a strong possibility that this damages him for the General Election so he may lose his seat. Lenihan has just deposed of one of his rivals.

.

yeah, i did consider that. and MM comes across pretty weak so far.

have to say it's all a bit weird. and could get ugly.

cowen knows his leadership is over - if not now, in a few months time (no matter what the election results are)

so why's he hanging on, creating disunity in a party he 'loves so much?'

me confused. (or not cynical enough)

ETA. of course the cynic in me is saying cowen and lenny did a deal, that when cowen goes a few months after the election, lenny will decide next leader. (dont know if he'll take it himself - he might) but didnt blair offer that deal to browne and see how that went...

Wide Road · 18-01-2011 12:43AM

gandalf wrote: »

Wide Road I was sure this thread was about the FF leadership challenge surely as a loyal supporter you could talk about that. Or are you a closet Fine Gael supporter as you appear to talk about them all the time?

Yawn, if you are so motivated, why do you make your views based on the quotes of others?

Fitzerb · 18-01-2011 12:50AM

ArtSmart wrote: »

yeah, i did consider that. and MM comes across pretty weak so far.

have to say it's all a bit weird. and could get ugly.

cowen knows his leadership is over - if not now, in a few months time (no matter what the election results are)

so why's he hanging on, creating disunity in a party he 'loves so much?'

me confused. (or not cynical enough)

ETA. of course the cynic in me is saying cowen and lenny did a deal, that when cowen goes a few months after the election, lenny will decide next leader. (dont know if he'll take it himself - he might) but didnt blair offer that deal to browne and see how that went...

I think MM has picked the wrong time for himself. His head has to be melted considering his recent loss. You just couldnt be thinking straight if that happened to you. I think he should have stayed away from the issue.

ArtSmart · 18-01-2011 12:55AM

Fitzerb wrote: »

I think MM has picked the wrong time for himself. His head has to be melted considering his recent loss. You just couldnt be thinking straight if that happened to you. I think he should have stayed away from the issue.

perhaps.

mistermouse · 18-01-2011 01:56AM

I'd leave Cowen in for now as if he gets to the back benches, just like Bertie, he would not have to answer for anything he has done in the past few years, he'd get away with keeping a low profile

davepatr07 · 18-01-2011 06:13AM

I don't understand it, one minute we hear of FF ministers uncomfortable with Cowan's leadership next they are backing him to continue.

I remember hearing that Lenny and BIFFO were not getting on at one stage. Now he (Lenny) is backing him. Didn't I hear of Mary O' R saying that it would be best for change of leadership, now she is backing him to stay too.

Unbelievable shower the lot of them. I hope for the sake of the country he is f$*ked out. He may have democratically been elected leader of the party but he hasn't been democratically elected leader of the country!

ilovesleep · 18-01-2011 09:15AM

Today will be pointless. Really dont think they are going anywhere. They wont give us an election either.
Useless shower of pricks.

Noreen1 · 18-01-2011 10:36AM

ilovesleep wrote: »

Today will be pointless. Really dont think they are going anywhere. They wont give us an election either.
Useless shower of pricks.

Nail on the head. IMO, all of the behind the scenes "discussions" have the sole objective of ensuring that FF can play for more time before being forced to call a GE.:mad:

"The party" is behaving in typical democratic fashion :rolleyes: - again!!

Fianna Fáil Leadership Challenge Underway

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