Most annoying politician at the minute

mariaalice · 02-04-2021 6:58pm

Yurt! wrote: »

Haven't been paying much attention to Chu, and don't know to what level she's been "playing the race card" so to speak, but I'll say the following:

Her parents were likely part of the first wave of Chinese / HK immigrants to Ireland, and these people didn't have it easy in a mono-ethnic Ireland. I recall when I was a kid there was one Asian kid in my class, looking back, other students did pick on him a fair bit and teachers weren't of much help to him either.

Ireland is also a desperately insider / outsider type of country to out detriment, and second-generation immigrants as talented as many of them are, often (understandably) have a little bit of a chip on their shoulder dealing with intra-generational networks and patronage that our country is riddled with.

I'd also say that someone moving to Ireland in adulthood and working in a defined profession for however many years is a different kettle of fish to bedding down into society. All well and good coming to work in Accenture or whatever, but wait until the immigrants try to muscle-in on the likes of Josepha Madigan or Marc McSharry's turf - then the sharp elbows come out.

Illustrative of this, I read an interesting article the other day about non EU doctors being almost completely shut out of further training opportunities and pathways to consultancy roles in our medical system. The unspoken rule is that these precious opportunities are reserved for the Irish scions of the classes that smuggle their precious darlings into UCD medical school by whatever means necessary. Fact is, they like their immigrants working in Starbucks, not out-competing their sons and daughters.

The chips on the shoulder are massive on that one, smuggles their offspring in to a 600+ point course in UCD? do you mean?

Get Real · 02-04-2021 7:00pm

Hazel Chu for me. How she turns any type of criticism into being a victim of racism. I welcome a more diverse and multi cultural political scene. But using race to shut down those that disagree with you is undemocratic.

Also, her Wikipedia page is carefully crafted and fits the narrative of a struggle to the top.

Rewording going to private boarding school as being sent there so her parents could work hard etc. I've no issue if you went to boarding school, but please, don't be so cringey. Your parents owned a business, were wealthy, and sent you to boarding school (and fair play to them) If they were struggling she'd be working with them to make ends meet.

To clarify, I am pro multiculturalism and love that we have a chance in this country to learn from each others cultures. I just think Chu is a one trick pony, and apart from one issue, has no political advantage. An issue that I believe she takes advantage of to the detriment of genuine victims of racism.

mariaalice · 02-04-2021 7:06pm

There are lots that are annoying but as I would not do the job for a million a year Id leaves them at it.

Any hypocrisy or trying to speak out of both sides of their month is an automatic fail for me or any gesture politics or seen-to-be-seen politics.

.

Edgware · 02-04-2021 7:19pm

antimatterx wrote: »

So if you question our system with Varadkard filling the second seat out of 4, how do you feel about the people who were elected after him?

Probably supports the party whose leader refused to allow a co runner in case she didnt get the poll topper title and doesnt understand how P.R. works

02-04-2021 8:00pm

BanditLuke wrote: »

He's an absolute weapon and a thick to boot.

In what way is he stupid?

He effectively lost the FG leadership contest because he was considered to be a great man for policy, but lacked Varadkar's vapid "charisma", or what passes for charisma in that party.

Fine Gael used to pride themselves in producing politicians of substance, accurately or not. I think they really missed a trick in not selecting Coveney. I support a different political group, but Coveney is someone that no politician would like to be measured against. Even disagreeing with his politics, he exudes sensibility and pragmatism. He is dull in the way that only a politician, or a senior civil servant, should be.

This country has always regretted personality-driven Taoisigh, from Varadkar back to de Valera through Bertie and CJH. Victory to the nerds, for the nerds shall inherit the earth (that was by jesus)

For Forks Sake · 02-04-2021 9:57pm

AllForIt wrote: »

He has an odd speaking manner, really slow with unnecessary pauses, defiantly annoying.

The pauses are a corrective mechanism for a speech impediment he had in early life.

https://www.hotpress.com/culture/simon-coveney-interview-14356299

Does it recur in moments of stress?

It’s not normally stress-related for me. It's a really weird condition. No one has a solution to it. Everything has been tried from breathing programmes to hypnosis to drugs.

I think individuals have to find a way through. You’ll rarely see me read a speech, because I like to choose my words as I speak. People who stammer know the words and the syllables that they will have difficulty with, and so they tend to avoid them. Often, for example, people stutter on words that begin with C. So instead of talking about cows in the field, I might talk about the Friesians in the field (laughs).

My stammer started to get a lot better when I was 15 or 16. Who'd have thought that a spotty teenager, as I was, with a stammer, would end up as a government Minister who’s literally giving three or four speeches every day?

And speaking on television debates without having any difficulty with my speech, most of the time. Hopefully the two or three per cent of people in
the country that do have a stammer, particularly younger ones, will get some encouragement from that.

Pythagorean · 02-04-2021 10:43pm

Mary Lou "Chucky" Mc Donald.....Michelle "Tiffany" O' Neill..... Aengus "Fungus" O' Snodaigh......David "Up the Ra" Cullinane.

Dakota Dan · 02-04-2021 10:46pm

His hole Martin, can’t stand the sight of him and as for his babbling on without actually saying anything, don’t get me started. He was with the government when they fcuked the economy last time round and now he’s a UN puppet following orders to do even more damage to the economy and when the worlds elite have their plan in place they’ll cast the clown aside.

Yurt2 · 02-04-2021 10:48pm

Dakota Dan wrote: »

His hole Martin, can’t stand the sight of him and as for his babbling on without actually saying anything, don’t get me started. He was with the government when they fcuked the economy last time round and now he’s a UN puppet following orders to do even more damage to the economy and when the worlds elite have their plan in place they’ll cast the clown aside.

QAnon has entered the building.

Dakota Dan · 02-04-2021 10:48pm

Pythagorean wrote: »

Mary Lou "Chucky" Mc Donald.....Michelle "Tiffany" O' Neill..... Aengus "Fungus" O' Snodaigh......David "Up the Ra" Cullinane.

Miss piggy with her sister set to clean up with the forced jabs, she’s more vile than the three stooges.

Hamachi · 02-04-2021 10:57pm

Stephen Gawking wrote: »

I haven't seen her in a few years but she honestly believes that no matter what she is the cleverest in the room. The quintessential child who never learned to share. Has also gone uber woke in the last few years it seems. Always got the impression that the more she got rejected by the electorate the less she thought of them.

Assumed that was the case. Was very surprised to see that another poster described her as very normal and highly pragmatic. That description is very far removed from the image she projects in the media.

I guess it’s all highly dependent on perception. One man’s normal is another’s quintessential nightmare.

Badabing · 02-04-2021 10:58pm

Paul Murphy. He hates people working

02-04-2021 11:02pm

Badabing wrote: »

Paul Murphy. He hates people working

He hates people working for exploitative purposes. Under socialism, everyone has to work. Socialists aren't so keen on shirking.

Not trying to defend him, it's just weird how this trope has crept in that socialists are anti work. If anything, a workers' republic is the opposite.

Badabing · 02-04-2021 11:05pm

He despises small to medium businesses aswell, thinks a coffee shop with 1-3 workers is as bad as Amazon. Never happy or supportive of big jobs in the country. Always moaning. Everything is a disgrace. RBB the same if not worse

lawred2 · 02-04-2021 11:06pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Any examples of this thickness?

You'll be waiting a long while for a response.

Daniel2021 · 02-04-2021 11:06pm

Micheal Martin ..jesus christ I didnt think it possible to have a worse Taoiseach than Enda Kenny for public speaking. He inspires zero confidence. I have done a fair bit of public speaking in the past as part of my job and I really question how our Taoiseach can be so poor at it.
The last company I worked for gave us all training with someone who specialises in this sort of thing. Surely the government can spring for some training for ministers and Micheal.

I'm from Cork and have friends from the same area as him (Turners Cross) and his accent makes him sound like he is the country bumpkin but Turners Cross is Cork City. I don't know if he puts it on or what but it wrecks my head when I hear him talk.

Yurt2 · 02-04-2021 11:11pm

Badabing wrote: »

He despises small to medium businesses aswell, thinks a coffee shop with 1-3 workers is as bad as Amazon. Never happy or supportive of big jobs in the country. Always moaning. Everything is a disgrace. RBB the same if not worse

Does he really though?

Badabing · 02-04-2021 11:12pm

Yurt! wrote: »

Does he really though?

Yep. Always on the Attack with ISME

Yurt2 · 02-04-2021 11:19pm

Badabing wrote: »

Yep. Always on the Attack with ISME

I know he had a ding-dong with ISME about sick pay rights. Are a lobby group the high priests of what's right and wrong now? That is to say to think he's making the argument that a coffee shop owner is a rapacious global capitalist isn't a credible one. You're entitled to criticise who you want, but your comment was silly; and I'm one of the people that said Murphy has a smug head

jmlad2020 · 02-04-2021 11:23pm

CONEHEAD

Badabing · 02-04-2021 11:25pm

Yurt! wrote: »

I know he had a ding-dong with ISME about sick pay rights. Are a lobby group the high priests of what's right and wrong now? That is to say to think he's making the argument that a coffee shop owner is a rapacious global capitalist isn't a credible one. You're entitled to criticise who you want, but your comment was silly; and I'm one of the people that said Murphy has a smug head

Fair enough, He is very smug. In that particular exchange with ISME the guy was well able for him and handed him a lesson in doin homework and less bull****.

UDAWINNER · 02-04-2021 11:27pm

Pythagorean wrote: »

Mary Lou "Chucky" Mc Donald.....Michelle "Tiffany" O' Neill..... Aengus "Fungus" O' Snodaigh......David "Up the Ra" Cullinane.

Sensing you don't like a particular party:)
Leo for me along with Charlie Tan and not to be sexist Regina Doherty along with that fool Madigan

Degag · 03-04-2021 12:53am

Etc wrote: »

Alan Kelly / David Cullinane

The latter most definitely. The grass is often not greener..... not sure i want to contemplate if he was health minister.

He showed his true colours in that pub a few years back.

Degag · 03-04-2021 12:59am

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

The Healy-Rae brothers.

Danny or Michael, my hatred of them is interchangeable.

But probably Danny wins out for taking 3-4 minutes to say what anyone else could speak in no more than 25-30 seconds.....

Always seems drunk or extremely hung over.

Rather odd seeing as he doesn't drink no?

Your Face · 03-04-2021 1:36am

Simon Coveney. I get a weird vibe when I hear him being interviewed.
Like he is into something greasy like Illuminati sex parties or worse.

03-04-2021 1:38am

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Fine Gael used to pride themselves in producing politicians of substance, accurately or not. I think they really missed a trick in not selecting Coveney. I support a different political group, but Coveney is someone that no politician would like to be measured against.

I'm not so sure he will be the next FG leader either. Paschal Donohoe is starting to look like a shoe-in amongst the FG faithful.

Coveney will be the President of the EU.

Hangdogroad · 03-04-2021 6:05am

Daniel2021 wrote: »

Micheal Martin ..jesus christ I didnt think it possible to have a worse Taoiseach than Enda Kenny for public speaking. He inspires zero confidence. I have done a fair bit of public speaking in the past as part of my job and I really question how our Taoiseach can be so poor at it.
The last company I worked for gave us all training with someone who specialises in this sort of thing. Surely the government can spring for some training for ministers and Micheal.

I'm from Cork and have friends from the same area as him (Turners Cross) and his accent makes him sound like he is the country bumpkin but Turners Cross is Cork City. I don't know if he puts it on or what but it wrecks my head when I hear him talk.

He has a regular Cork City accent, dont know what you're on about.

Dakota Dan · 03-04-2021 6:43am

Hangdogroad wrote: »

He has a regular Cork City accent, dont know what you're on about.

Mumbling and babbling? Hardly.

rorrissey · 03-04-2021 7:00am

Jack Chambers irks me to the core, and I can't manage to figure out why exactly that is...

angel eyes 2012 · 03-04-2021 7:49am

rorrissey wrote: »

Jack Chambers irks me to the core, and I can't manage to figure out why exactly that is...

I was scrolling to see if anyone mentioned him. Hasn't demonstrated that he has any of his own views or original thought, just seems to spoof his way up the political ladder while being completely manipulated by the FF machine in D15.

03-04-2021 9:43am

angel eyes 2012 wrote: »

I was scrolling to see if anyone mentioned him. Hasn't demonstrated that he has any of his own views or original thought, just seems to spoof his way up the political ladder while being completely manipulated by the FF machine in D15.

Not to mention his unbelievable smugness on anything.

03-04-2021 9:48am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I'm not so sure he will be the next FG leader either. Paschal Donohoe is starting to look like a shoe-in amongst the FG faithful.

Coveney will be the President of the EU.

Ya, and O'Donoghue is cut from some good cloth. It's about time we had a Taoiseach who reads Wittgenstein and has been to Glastonbury. I wouldn't vote for Pascal in a month of Sundays, but I'd rather have him than some pasty-for-Thatcher. Above all, a Taoiseach should be a nice guy.

So I wonder why Coveney is so overlooked here, but will do well abroad? Is it because the EU takes better to technocrats? We've only once installed a technical-minded Taoiseach, Garett fitzGerald, and sorry to say that despite his bumbling likeability, the man was a disaster.

Mad_maxx · 03-04-2021 12:59pm

Roisin Shorthall, ultimate hurler on the ditch , a career waffler and never off the radio or tv

.anon. · 03-04-2021 1:57pm

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

So I wonder why Coveney is so overlooked here, but will do well abroad? Is it because the EU takes better to technocrats? We've only once installed a technical-minded Taoiseach, Garett fitzGerald, and sorry to say that despite his bumbling likeability, the man was a disaster.

He also keeps a lower profile and doesn't talk a lot unless he has something to say. A big part of Varadkar's success is that he craves publicity and gives the Sunday Independent plenty to write about every week. He's very much a Public Figure, while Coveney is a private person who just happens to do a public job. The fact that he does it very well means nothing to the kind of people who want politics to be some kind of vacuous soap opera.

I wouldn't be a fan of Simon Coveney's politics, but he's undoubtedly one of the most able and thoughtful members of the government. Brian Lenihan Jr was cut from similar cloth - his career was stifled by Bertie Ahern for years because he was well-read, multilingual, enjoyed classical music and wasn't one of 'the lads'. If he was still alive, he'd probably be Taoiseach now.

lawred2 · 03-04-2021 2:14pm

rorrissey wrote: »

Jack Chambers irks me to the core, and I can't manage to figure out why exactly that is...

Giggity

03-04-2021 5:44pm

Dakota Dan wrote: »

Mumbling and babbling? Hardly.

Regular cork accent right there.

freshpopcorn · 03-04-2021 6:31pm

I hear a bit about Holly Cairns since I'm from Cork.
She was going out with a Fine Fail lad but that ended.
He's meant to have got her a fair her transfer votes of the FF vote.
Any time I hear about her she's offended or put out by something. People here comment about her looking good.(She wouldn't be impressed).

Dempo1 · 03-04-2021 6:46pm

angel eyes 2012 wrote: »

I was scrolling to see if anyone mentioned him. Hasn't demonstrated that he has any of his own views or original thought, just seems to spoof his way up the political ladder while being completely manipulated by the FF machine in D15.

I'm sure Jack is back at school, have 5th years returned yet?

Hard to take him seriously

AdrianBalboa · 03-04-2021 6:56pm

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Ya, and O'Donoghue is cut from some good cloth. It's about time we had a Taoiseach who reads Wittgenstein and has been to Glastonbury.

Has or hasn’t?

03-04-2021 7:48pm

There's a few. I find Stephen Donnelly to be....I don't know really. There is something about him I can't warm to and that makes it difficult for me to see how competent or not he actually is. He was on The Hard Shoulder talking to Kieran Cuddihy last week and he called him "Ciarán". That annoyed me. It might be disdain I'm picking up from him.

That Josepha Madigan woman and her "person" holes. I mean. Surely we have more pressing issues in this country.

Hazel Chu. OK we get it. You're Asian Irish or Irish Asian or just Irish or maybe Asian. We don't care. Just do your thing.

Micheál doesn't annoy me but he does concern me. I think he is a most inept leader. A very nice man I'd say but not cut out to run a country. Leo on the other hand was far more competent but lacking in integrity and decency. I'd wager he has a personality disorder.

Pascal Donohoe is excellent. I remember listening to his budget day speech and feeling almost empowered. He was talking about finances and issues that don't directly affect me but there was a security in what he was saying. He strikes me as a most capable man and I'd be glad to see him as Taoiseach. Same as Simon Coveney.

The RBB's and the Paul Murphys are dreadful. Then again I'm not a socialist. I just don't believe in them and there are no women politicians that instil hope in me which is a shame. In saying that I think Mary Lou is strong but I wouldn't want her in charge.

Simon Harris Gods bless him. I'd say he's a lovely lad but another who isn't the most competent. Eamonn Ryan is another pitiful soul lost in the swamp of Dáil Éireann. He should have remained in opposition.

padd b1975 · 04-04-2021 2:06pm

hawley wrote: »

Ruth Coppinger, I know she isn't currently an elected official. Looked at her Twitter and she got carried off by the Gardai last night at a protest.

She's spent the last few days moaning that RTE didn't cover it.

Hamachi · 04-04-2021 2:23pm

padd b1975 wrote: »

She's spent the last few days moaning that RTE didn't cover it.

An appalling creature. How she was ever an elected public representative is a mystery. The problem with social media is that it gives nutjobs like Coppinger a platform. In the past, she would have slunk off into obscurity after being resoundingly rejected by the electorate.

04-04-2021 2:30pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Not to mention his unbelievable smugness on anything.

A good example of confidence being mistaken for competence. Being smug and confident gets you far in politics.

ButtersSuki · 04-04-2021 2:44pm

Had a quick glance at the thread and can’t see a mention of either Eoghan Murphy or Regina Doherty......forgotten already?

For me at the moment it’s Norma Foley by a nose over Stephen Donnelly, with Helen McEntee and Leo tied for third.

Fwiw, I’ve been in the room with two of the above at meetings. It would be an understatement to say that neither were inspiring.

BENDYBINN · 04-04-2021 2:47pm

Any votes for Noel Grealish?

04-04-2021 3:10pm

Arlene foster/peter robinson......utter self-serving bigots,who'se distain of the poor is only bettered by hatred of all things irish....while wrapped in a smug sense of middle class respectability

Mary butler,a woman so dense,its difficult to describe or put into words,.....should never have risen to level of county councillor,no mind level of junior ministry.....an example of whats wrong with irish politics

04-04-2021 4:23pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Arlene foster/peter robinson......utter self-serving bigots,who'se distain of the poor is only bettered by hatred of all things irish....while wrapped in a smug sense of middle class respectability

I saw Arlene Foster on the TV recently saying (in summary) 'people in the republic don't get it, they think we are deluded Irishmen/women but we feel ourselves as part of the UK just as they feel part of ireland and a border poll won't change that'.

I am fully behind a United Ireland, but she has a point. I don't think she's a bigot at all. I think we sometimes fail to understand life from her perspective. Imagine if the public in this country voted to rejoin the UK, would you accept it? I hope not.

Well let's not get into a debate about reunification but when you are the beneficiary of some great public services, you do feel a bit of loyalty to the community that provided that service. I think we badly need to get our act together, especially in terms of healthcare, before we think we can entice the north into our fold.

As for class politics, Foster would slip seamlessly into a southern party. No problem.

its_steve116 · 04-04-2021 8:00pm

Bolsonaro with Farage a close second.

ted1 · 04-04-2021 8:05pm

Badabing wrote: »

Paul Murphy. He hates people working

Cant stand the f€€king ejeit

Hamachi · 04-04-2021 8:08pm

BENDYBINN wrote: »

Any votes for Noel Grealish?

On what basis? Seems relatively innocuous.

Most annoying politician at the minute

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