Conor Lenihan on Vincent Browne tonight

Liam Byrne · 21-01-2011 02:14AM

Wide Road wrote: »

Conor is brilliant like that.
He really made Vincent sound like an idiot.
Vincent uses too many words to make a simple point.

Agreed on the last line.

Browne has the right ideas - exposing self-interest and double-standards - but he sometimes loses the run of himself and as a result sounds unreasonable, thereby letting the interviewee play the victim.

Instead of letting the question hang and letting the viewer draw the obvious conclusions when the interviewee dodges the question or changes the subject, Browne seems to feel the need to hammer home what he's spotted so that he looks clever.

Mind you, given some people's view of the crisis, maybe there unfortunately are people who can't join the dots and need stuff spelt out to them.

But Lenihan's tactic was simply to shout Browne down in a typical FF "I don't accept that" fashion.

Car crash TV, and a sad indictment of what passes for politics in this country.

hotmail.com · 21-01-2011 02:20AM

VB was basically making the point that the national interest often coincides with the personal interests of individual politicians.

Anyone that knows anything about Irish politics knows that this is 100% factual.

Now for Lenihan he made the point that he does not support Cowen but won't resign for the sake of the national interest.

VB challenged him on this and Lenihan lost the plot, with a view to holding onto his seat in Dublin South West.

Like Elaine Byrne said afterwards, where was all this passion for the last 3 years?

hinault · 21-01-2011 02:21AM

Vincent Browne did seem to get under the collars of Dan Boyle and Conor Lenihan.

Lenihan took extreme umbrage at the questions posed by Vincent Browne and his reaction seemed to be genuine annoyance.
I do take the point that others have made about how quickly Lenihan seemed to calm down.

It is hard to know if Lenihans annoyance was actually genuine.

Browne was correct though, if Lenihan opposes Cowen why not simply resign?

goat2 · 21-01-2011 02:25AM

i have to admit i have great respect for lenihan tonight, i thought he would walk out he got so revved up, but fair dues he was good, i do think vb brought out the real person no acting there just the real thing, the programme was so good it felt like it was on for only 15 minuits instead of the longer period of over an hour, mr lenihan has earned a bit of respect tonight, he was brilliant

Jim Stark · 21-01-2011 02:27AM

Judgement Day wrote: »

Jeez, gone fierce quiet now. I wonder will Vincent throw some petrol on Dan Boyle again before lights out?

Haha, VB was like a bulldog tonight. He really tore into Dan Boyle, and Lil' Lenihan, to the point I thought one of them was going to lunge across the desk for him! In fairness to Brown, he never loses his cool.

bhovaspack · 21-01-2011 02:30AM

goat2 wrote: »

i have to admit i have great respect for lenihan tonight, i thought he would walk out he got so revved up, but fair dues he was good, i do think vb brought out the real person no acting there just the real thing, the programme was so good it felt like it was on for only 15 minuits instead of the longer period of over an hour, mr lenihan has earned a bit of respect tonight, he was brilliant

Hmm. Not convinced myself. I consider him and his ilk duplicitous to the point where they no longer even realise themselves when they are lying.

Clip is now on the tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHtOp8gBFmc

hotmail.com · 21-01-2011 02:30AM

goat2 wrote: »

i have to admit i have great respect for lenihan tonight, i thought he would walk out he got so revved up, but fair dues he was good, i do think vb brought out the real person no acting there just the real thing, the programme was so good it felt like it was on for only 15 minuits instead of the longer period of over an hour, mr lenihan has earned a bit of respect tonight, he was brilliant

Brilliant or mad?

goat2 · 21-01-2011 02:32AM

hotmail.com wrote: »

Brilliant or mad?

brilliant,
sometimes the best can be brought out in people when they are angry,

hinault · 21-01-2011 02:35AM

bhovaspack wrote: »

Hmm. Not convinced myself. I consider him and his ilk duplicitous to the point where they no longer even realise themselves when they are lying.

Clip is now on the tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHtOp8gBFmc

If Lenihan had the courage of his convictions about opposing the leadership of Cowen, he would resign.

Cake and eating it springs to mind.

lugha · 21-01-2011 02:36AM

goat2 wrote: »

i have to admit i have great respect for lenihan tonight, i thought he would walk out he got so revved up, but fair dues he was good, i do think vb brought out the real person no acting there just the real thing, the programme was so good it felt like it was on for only 15 minuits instead of the longer period of over an hour, mr lenihan has earned a bit of respect tonight, he was brilliant

Oh please :rolleyes:. He didn't even try to disguise that his concern (lets be charitable and assume it was genuine) was for the future of FF. He did occasionally have enough shame to add in the odd "and the country" when he contemplated the bleakness of the future. But his greatest concerns were for his beloved party.

hotmail.com · 21-01-2011 02:39AM

goat2 wrote: »

brilliant,
sometimes the best can be brought out in people when they are angry,

You are aware there's an election in 7 weeks. I think you've fallen for this cynical piece of theatre to secure his seat in Dublin South West.

Slideshowbob · 21-01-2011 02:39AM

Wide Road wrote: »

Conor is brilliant like that.
He really made Vincent sound like an idiot.
Vincent uses too many words to make a simple point.

Have to disagree entirely with u on that. I'd say it's the other way round

steelcityblues · 21-01-2011 02:42AM

goat2 wrote: »

brilliant,
sometimes the best can be brought out in people when they are angry,

Shame it wasn't there in 2008, 2009 or 2010.

Sir Oxman · 21-01-2011 02:54AM

hotmail.com wrote: »

VB was basically making the point that the national interest often coincides with the personal interests of individual politicians.

Anyone that knows anything about Irish politics knows that this is 100% factual.

Now for Lenihan he made the point that he does not support Cowen but won't resign for the sake of the national interest.

VB challenged him on this and Lenihan lost the plot, with a view to holding onto his seat in Dublin South West.

Like Elaine Byrne said afterwards, where was all this passion for the last 3 years?

Yes, he managed despite looking like he was heading for a coronary, to slip in 'Tallaght' the major part of his constituency.
The guy's a joke and ever was thus. He trotted through every govt lobby over the past three years specifically, so don't mind if I don't take his umbrage too seriously.
Remember too, that his FF rival in DubSW is Charlie O Connor who nailed his colours to the Cowen mast emphatically since last weekend (maybe poor old Charlie was offered a spot at the cabinet table) so Lenihan is going to ramp up the anti-Cowen claptrap as much as possible to save his own lizardy skin.
Rats, each and every one of them

Wide Road · 21-01-2011 02:55AM

Jim Stark wrote: »

H
In fairness to Brown, he never loses his cool.

Are you having a laugh?
He lost it several times.
Why can't he ask all the party's the same questions?

Jim Stark · 21-01-2011 02:58AM

SB-08 wrote: »

He HAS to be sacked in the morning for his amazing attack on Cowen today. "He can sack me if he wants" is what he shouted.

On a side note - why does Conor keep looking over at the other guests constantly when ranting? It's very odd.

I noticed that about Conor too, it was like; "Am I getting away with this, is everyone actually buying all this bs I'm spouting right now?"

I don't think his brother will be too pleased with him either, on top of Cowen, with Vincent coaxing an admittance of disappointment, and then Vincent followed up like a vulture; although I think he was just having fun at this stage, by asking Conor if he would support his brother for Taoiseach! Very funny!

Wide Road · 21-01-2011 02:59AM

Slideshowbob wrote: »

Have to disagree entirely with u on that. I'd say it's the other way round

Count Vincents words after.

hinault · 21-01-2011 03:02AM

SB-08 wrote: »

On a side note - why does Conor keep looking over at the other guests constantly when ranting? It's very odd.

He seemed to keep looking in Dan Boyles direction, for some reason

jank · 21-01-2011 03:10AM

Expect to see alot of this in the next few weeks. Alot of them know they are done for good so it will be every man for himself. The line "Im in it for the public server" is one that will be well beaten!

Liam Byrne · 21-01-2011 03:15AM

Wide Road wrote: »

Are you having a laugh?
He lost it several times.
Why can't he ask all the party's the same questions?

Probably because all parties are answerable for their own actions?

"Enda, why did you lie to the tribunal investigating you?" doesn't make a lot of sense, now does it?

Or "Eamonn, what did you discuss at that clandestine meeting in Sept '08?"

How about "Pat Rabbitte, why did you resign as a Minister today? Is it to get the higher pension?"

Jim Stark · 21-01-2011 03:21AM

Wide Road wrote: »

Are you having a laugh?
He lost it several times.
Why can't he ask all the party's the same questions?

The only laugh I'm having is at the thrashing both Dan Boyle, and Conor Lenihan received tonight, and rightly so, in the name of exposing their failings in their positions, and their pathetic self-preserving tactics.

Never have I seen Vincent Browne lose the head like the other two, tonight, or any show before.

I also don't get this appraisal of Conor Lenihan tonight for his display of "passion". All I see is a cat in the corner with it's claws out, and that refers to Brian Cowen also.
We need more people who are passionate about doing good for the country, and not just themselves and their own party.

filthymcnasty · 21-01-2011 05:56AM

+1

We can probably expect to see more of this contrived indignation from FF'ers (and others) in the next few weeks- it detracts from real issues while giving an illusion that because they lose the head this some how makes them 'passionate'. Biffo does it a lot.

Also it gets attention and presumably makes them feel better about themselves.

SB-08 · 21-01-2011 09:58AM

Wide Road wrote: »

Are you having a laugh?
He lost it several times.
Why can't he ask all the party's the same questions?

Are you for real? Vincent attacks every party constantly. He is always attacking Labour, FG and SF too. Constantly. To such an extent in fact it is hard to know how he will vote for any of them. He's probably the type that will vote Independent.

leincar · 21-01-2011 10:02AM

Here is a you tube link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8kdnjvFg4E

JonathanAnon · 21-01-2011 11:03AM

Reminded me a bit of Paul Gogarty when he was accused of being insincere by Emmett Stagg. tbh, it is a bit rich Conor expecting people to take credence in what he says since he has been quiet about Cowen for almost the full five year term of the Dáil... He was defending Cowen on VBs show earlier this week ffs...

And now expects people not to think his three day 180 degree turn is a cynical attempt at vote getting in the coming election. He's had FIVE YEARS to let people know that he had issues with Cowens leadership, and it does seem like it's the "happy coincidence" that Vincent portrayed it as..

Devilman40k · 21-01-2011 11:37AM

Hes turning the screw on Cowen again on Pat Kenny... backbenchers were offered Ministerial posts as early as last Friday!!!

What the hell did Cowen think he was playing at?? :mad:

Cartman78 · 21-01-2011 11:42AM

He's really trying to save his ass now....too late i'm afraid to convince anyone other than himself.

Dan Boyle must be relieved that Conor stole all the limelight - Vincent Browne tore him to pieces last night. He tweeted this "sendboyle Dan Boyle
Horrible horrible day but at least we now have certainty about election date and the new Cabinet appointments weren't made." before going on the show - I'd say he's in a catatonic state this morning

JonathanAnon · 21-01-2011 11:44AM

Devilman40k wrote: »

Hes turning the screw on Cowen again on Pat Kenny... backbenchers were offered Ministerial posts as early as last Friday!!! What the hell did Cowen think he was playing at?? :mad:

Yeah he's effectively said that he believes the Green's side of the story.. i.e. that they left the Taoiseach in no uncertain terms with the opinion that they would not approve of him refilling the front benches five weeks before the election.... very damaging for Cowen personally...

SB-08 · 21-01-2011 11:48AM

I think it is his intention to appear on every TV/Radio show demanding Cowen resign until Cowen gives in. Cowen will never go though. When FF lose the election he will announce that he doesn't accept that result and feels it was a stunt by the media to mis-represent the facts and how it is his firm belief that FF had actually won the election. They will have to physically remove him from his office.:mad:

Devilman40k · 21-01-2011 11:49AM

JonathanAnon wrote: »

Yeah he's effectively said that he believes the Green's side of the story.. i.e. that they left the Taoiseach in no uncertain terms with the opinion that they would not approve of him refilling the front benches five weeks before the election.... very damaging for Cowen personally...

If anything the Greens come out of this with an ounce of dignity (not much I know) and Cowen finally has his bully boy tactics exposed to the world !

I don't think March 11th will be the election date with all the back-biting and in-fighting. I wouldn't be surprised to see the dail dissolved by the end of next week!

Conor Lenihan on Vincent Browne tonight

Comments