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Thread: Mara and Gleeson will head up FF's crack election team

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    Politics.ie Founder David Cochrane's Avatar
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    Mara and Gleeson will head up FF's crack election team

    RENOWNED PR guru Eileen Gleeson will run Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's crucial nationwide tour for the general election as Fianna Fail continues to strengthen its campaign team.

    And veteran PJ Mara's imminent appointment as Fianna Fail director of elections was confirmed by party sources last night. - Irish Independent
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    Why was Mara only appointed NOW? Other parties have had their teams in the field for ages. Being so late appointing a director of elections pretty much sums up the state of the FF campaign so far . . . a sense of drift and of "we'll be all right on the night".
    Nill illigitimi carborundum - don't let the b*stards get you down.

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    Politics.ie Member baldur0300's Avatar
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    He might have only been officially revealed now but he's been working behind the scenes for at least two years now. So stop your usual anti-FF spin Analyser
    “Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen” - Albert Einstein

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    FF has been the last of the major parties to set up its election HQ, the last to appoint someone to run the leader's tour, the last to co-ordinate arrangements with the media, and the last to appoint a director of elections. Normally they are the first. It doesn't exactly suggest they have much confidence, or know what they are doing. The contrast between their brilliant campaign of 2002 and the mess that is 2007 so far is stark.

    And if Mara has been working behind the scenes for a least two years, at they are still facing the biggest meltdown in their electoral history, it doesn't say much for his skills then, does it?
    Nill illigitimi carborundum - don't let the b*stards get you down.

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    Politics.ie Member baldur0300's Avatar
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    Well I can only speak for the grassroots and we're plenty fired up for the next few weeks. The leaders tour is indeed important but when how long before hand its organised is irrelevant or how long beforehand the media are told. They'll follow him around even if they are given the schedule on 5 minutes notice.

    The grassroots are plenty organised, fired up and ready for this campaign, don't you worry.

    And Mara has been involved in FF elections for decades. The last one we lost was 1982. Says a lot for his skills and the party's ability, doesn't it!
    “Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen” - Albert Einstein

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    Fianna Fail haven't 'won' a general election since 1977 and we all know what happened then! Fianna Fail has managed to stay in power since 1987 - except for a brief rainbow - so great as to be in power seems to be the only goal of FF but to pretend FF has 'won' elections is ridiculous. The core dream of FF is a single party government - end of.

    There are no policies, no non negotiable issues or any deep beliefs except one party government and it hasn't had that since 1977. So if Mara's aim at each election was a single party FF gov then he has failed everytime even under the ever popular Bertie FF failed.

    It'll be interesting to see how many former FF ministers re offered positions on the boards of companies after the election if they retire. Few I bet.

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    Quote Originally Posted by The Earl of Desmond
    Fianna Fail haven't 'won' a general election since 1977 and we all know what happened then! Fianna Fail has managed to stay in power since 1987 - except for a brief rainbow - so great as to be in power seems to be the only goal of FF but to pretend FF has 'won' elections is ridiculous. The core dream of FF is a single party government - end of.

    There are no policies, no non negotiable issues or any deep beliefs except one party government and it hasn't had that since 1977. So if Mara's aim at each election was a single party FF gov then he has failed everytime even under the ever popular Bertie FF failed.

    It'll be interesting to see how many former FF ministers re offered positions on the boards of companies after the election if they retire. Few I bet.
    Right so, Fine Gael have never won a general election, correct?
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    Fine Gael havent won an election since 1982 but Fine Gael are under no illusions about the task they face or their electorial history.

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    Fine Gael, Labour, Greens, PDs etc are all policy driven and want power to implement polcies - regardless of whether you agree with their policies - whereas all FF want is power.

    Fair enough but please stop pretending FF is about policies as FF will do a deal with whoever it takes if the numbers add up - FF and SF if thats what it takes without batting an eyelid.

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    Quote Originally Posted by The Analyser
    if Mara has been working behind the scenes for a least two years, at they are still facing the biggest meltdown in their electoral history, it doesn't say much for his skills then, does it?
    It's called Rope-a-dope: Mara's strategy is to conserve energy and allow the opponent to strike FF repeatedly, in hopes of making him tire and open up weaknesses to exploit in the eventual counter-attack. FF envisages a reprise of the Rumble in the Jungle with Ahern taking the role of Ali to Kenny's George Foreman. The advantage of waiting, is that FG have already played their best cards - Stamp Duty, briefcase smear, bizarrely slanted MRBI poll. Personally I agree Ahern should have gone late last year. But the Ard Fheis address showed him hungry and fighting fit. On the stump and on TV, the Taoiseach will come out punching, for an omnipresent, barnstorming three weeks.

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