''Leader's'' Debate - TV3 - 8.00PM

09-02-2011 1:41pm

K-9 wrote: »

So basically, its a core FG vote?

I'm not sure, he still has to face 2 debates so could lose more support, unlikely as that is with Gilmore and FF as the other leaders!

No it reflects the element that would not vote for FG with Kenny as leader or at least they say they won't.
The election will be very interesting as in the cold light of the election booth with the pencil in hand,hopefully they will give him a chance.
Better than giving a vote to the crowd of chancers we are about to sack.

I like Kenny.
I know he's terrible on Tv,I've gotten over that fact.
I think his front bench team at the moment is excelent.
I hope they get the chance to live up to expectations and that they don't let us down.
I'd trust Vradkar and Noonan with anything.
I couldn't stand Dr Reilly but ironically having seen him recently on the VB show I was impressed.
Watching him further I'm more impressed.
I don't think he's going to get his dutch model health system if labour have too big a say but then thats coalition for you.

Kenny will be on two 3 way debates and a five way.
If the RTE 3 way is done on the front line like the finance one this week,it will be very very good compared to the tv3 format.

stee.mc79 · 09-02-2011 2:11pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Kenny will be on two 3 way debates and a five way.
If the RTE 3 way is done on the front line like the finance one this week,it will be very very good compared to the tv3 format.

I still think as a political leader of 1of the main parties he should have been on the debate, what's going to happen if he dose become leader of the country and he dose not like the way things are going is he going to run off and hide and hope it's going to go away! We had that with brain cowen.
He should have put all feelings aside for VB and shown what he was about.

Denerick · 09-02-2011 2:12pm

stee.mc79 wrote: »

I still think as a political leader of 1of the main parties he should have been on the debate, what's going to happen if he dose become leader of the country and he dose not like the way things are going is he going to run off and hide and hope it's going to go away! We had that with brain cowen.
He should have put all feelings aside for VB and shown what he was about.

Kenny performs best when he's not present. Fact.

20Cent · 09-02-2011 2:18pm

Here's two hours of Kenny for those missing him so much.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0209/election_tracker.html#video

The first video is the heckler of course.
Another vid below that is the actual meeting.

Sizzler · 09-02-2011 2:46pm

I have to say that I have (stupidly) voted FF in the past but will NEVER vote for them again in my lifetime, I dont care if they offer every voter a ton in gold bullion.......but as much as it pains me to say it Martin left Gilmore punch drunk last night.

Gilmore lacked all the "C's" -

1 - Composure. None. He looked scared and quiet frankly out of his depth.

2 - Clarity. He waffled his way through the opening gambit, very unsure and apart from the "great country" comment there was very little I could have taken as a straighforward message from his speech.

3 - Competantcy. He was far from competant and the constant rebuffs from Martin made his policies look about as stable as Anglo Irish.

It was blatantly clear imho that Labour have done nothing more than become "en vogue" because they have shot holes in FF's mess ups, a feat which could have been managed by a Junior Cert business studies student, last night outed them for nothing more populist politics with a view to simpy just getting in.

Its like warren buffett is quoted as saying " When the tide goes out, you soon find out who has no swimming trunks on". Last night Gilmore was the man without the trunks.........

JohnfromGalway · 09-02-2011 3:10pm

Enda Kenny was the big winner yesterday.

Gilmore proved he doesn't have the gravitas & Martin only proved he had the same brass neck & detachment from reality as Cowen and Bertie.

Kenny looked statesmanlike by his absence from the political point-scoring theatre that was the TV3 studio.

scr123 · 09-02-2011 4:25pm

Excellent debate by two politicians well versed in all topics raised. Not to take away from Gilmore I believe Martin shaded it because of long experience in government and dealing with crises. Would say it was the best political debate I have ever seen on tv here in Ireland. Kenny did us all a favour by staying away and hopefully FG will get the message and keep him away from tv studios for the remainder of the campaign. FF have not a hope of coming to government this month so its certain Kenny will be Taoiseach. The important thing is that FG again get the message and make sure Kenny is removed within 6 months, earlier if possible

liammur · 09-02-2011 6:06pm

I was very disappointed with E Gilmore last night. The way he dealt with current ministers taking the golden handshakes was unbelievable. P Rabbitte is vastly superior imo

hotmail.com · 09-02-2011 6:42pm

What viewers did it get?

Drumpot · 09-02-2011 7:31pm

hotmail.com wrote: »

What viewers did it get?

450k for the whole thing spiking to up to 1 million at times . . This suggests that FG didnt have their finger on the pulse and that many people are finally starting to realise how important it is to get involved (in anyway) in politics.

Have to laugh/desair at people who say "sure nobodys interested in politics. Prob the same people who will be the first to moan about the bank bailout or the "corrupt politicians" without little clue that their ignorance on who runs our country played a very big part of the problems we face.

Kenny knows he has more to lose by going on debates. My problem is that I am actually quite happy to have him as our next leader, I am just very dissapointed that FG are quite happy to engage in the same kind of political posturing that FF get so much abuse (rightly) for, by doing what is more important for their party then what is right/fair for the people of Ireland.

In truth, it looks like we are going to get much of the same kind of political BS whoever is in power. The very fact that FF have left such a mess means that the inadequacies of the incoming government will not be seen until at least 2 years into their stint.

Reducing the Taoiseachs wage is a small start but nowhere near scratches the surface of what true political reform is required. If there was nothing else but the phrase "ACCOUNTABILITY" brought into Irish Politics (and the public service) we would already be making good inroads to encourage a morally superior public body. Sure, it doesnt solve everything, but its a great start.

For example a certain senator who broke the rules and still managed to be "vindicated" let off simply by the manner in which he was disciplined. In these cases it makes far more sense to continue the inquest on whether or not they were guilty and only if it transpires they were innocent, should any talk of damages be even considered.

People in public service positions (particularly higher ones with bonus) should be held accountable for underperformance or negligence. We have seen ridiculous payoffs of people who's apparant iron clad contracts meant they still had to get paid for clearly not performing their duties properly.

NeedaNewName · 09-02-2011 10:50pm

I'll add my 2 cent.

I was a bit worried during the first 10 minutes or so that there was going to be a TV3 stitch up. When EG interupted MM the camera always gave a glimpse of Gilmore but when MM did same the camera stayed on EG leaving me with the impression that MM was an irritating dog barking rudely in the back ground, BUT seems to have been just bad camera/producer work as it stopped happening after the first 10 minutes.

As for the actual debate MM won hands down for some simple reasons. He had nothing to lose. EG on the other hand did and it was obvious he knew that and still had to do general populist electioneering.

He came across very aware of his situation, trying to get across a populist message while not getting dragged into detail that would undermine him.

MM on the other hand had no issues getting into the dirt, if only to drag EG into it.

That is how I saw it pan out.

Wished I'd watched that travellers wedding thing instead though. They were all talking about it at work

:pac::D

Liam Byrne · 09-02-2011 11:24pm

After Matt Cooper's summary of the debate last night, today was the first day I didn't listen to him. Think I've lost all respect for him after him waxing lyrical about last night's fiasco being "brilliant".

SB-08 · 09-02-2011 11:29pm

A 1M peak is very impressive. I bet more of that 1M would have remained watching to increase the average had Vinnie been allowed to intervene and do his classic cross examination of Gilmore and Martin. It would have made it a lot more interesting. His only asking the questions and keep the time was annoying at time, especially during a lot of the waffle. You could tell he was grinding his teeth at one stage.

09-02-2011 11:32pm

Well I heard matt doing an item on digital terrestrial tv on his show once that was so badly researched and showed so much lack of basic knowledge of the subject from Matt,that It made me wonder what else does he know so little about and what else is he pontificating about that he knows nothing about.

So basically when I saw him last night,I too just laughed.
I also thought cabbot cove Ursella halligan bigging up the whole show afterwards was funny.
Completely full of themselves.

Mr.Micro · 09-02-2011 11:36pm

SB-08 wrote: »

A 1M peak is very impressive. I bet more of that 1M would have remained watching to increase the average had Vinnie been allowed to intervene and do his classic cross examination of Gilmore and Martin. It would have made it a lot more interesting. His only asking the questions and keep the time was annoying at time, especially during a lot of the waffle. You could tell he was grinding his teeth at one stage.

If Vinnie had been let loose smug sanctimonious Martin would have been knocked of his new pedestal instead of being allowed to behave like a FF grandee. Ugh.

nesf · 09-02-2011 11:37pm

Liam Byrne wrote: »

After Matt Cooper's summary of the debate last night, today was the first day I didn't listen to him. Think I've lost all respect for him after him waxing lyrical about last night's fiasco being "brilliant".

You had respect for him? o_O

Scottie Dundee · 11-02-2011 2:13pm

I put this wee song on you-tube yesterday. Feel free to check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26MvibngbJQ Joe Guevara (The Reluctant Revolutionary)

Sir Oxman · 13-02-2011 3:27am

Looks like Kenny not taking part meant absolutely nothing to those polled and neither did his excuses, nothing for either Labour or FF from the debate.
Martin's bounce is just not happening in the polls.
Labour at a standstill.
SF beginning to fall.
Independents (inc ULA) rising.

SBP/RedC over Tues-Thurs last week:
FG 38% +3
Lab 20% -2
FF 15% -2
SF 10% -3
Ind 14% +3
GP 3% +1

FG are on course for the prize of an overall majority considering the leading party usually get an election day boost *upwards and with every other grouping at 20% or below the seat bounce is looking good for FG.

*Barring any calamities!

''Leader's'' Debate - TV3 - 8.00PM

Comments