The Greatness of Haughey

[CJH]

"People like you have been saying that about the PDs for 20 years and we're still around."

We'll be right some day. Sure didn't you yourself think that the PDs would only get 2 seats in 2002? The reason they got more was due to a once-off campaign by McDowell, which they won't be able to repeat next time round. McDowell is the only useful PD TD; Harney is tired and poor in health, and the others are gob************************es.

[Badnarik_Eire]

Des O'Malley "achieved far much more for the country than anyone else at the time", despite not having all the levers of power that being Taoiseach provides.

This rubbish is consistently spewed out by the PDs and their fellow travellers. Unfortunately for them, it has no basis in fact. The economic reforms brought about by Haughey were instigated between 1987 and 1989, when the PDs were in opposition and had no influence. Alan Dukesw can claim some credit, O'Malley cannot. O'Malley is probably the most over-rated politician of the last 30 years, a man who achieved nothing yet is feted by some deluded souls as the man who saved the country. He left FF in a huff because he couldn't accept the will of the majority of the party to go and form his own little niche grouping, who thankfully will be reduced to a tiny rump after 2007. That is his legacy, nothing else.

Well look at the joke that was the will of the majority at the time, moronic notions like opposing condoms.

[CJH]

"Well look at the joke that was the will of the majority at the time, moronic notions like opposing condoms"

That was only a front, FF had opposed condoms for years before that and he hadn't complained. And if I'm not wrong, he was out of the PP by that stage anyway.

[Badnarik_Eire]

He was fighting with them over alot of things as far as I remember, including CJ's very childish attitude to NI (United Ireland or nothing attitude)

CJ was not all bad, but the bad outdone the good.

[mjcoughlan]

"People like you have been saying that about the PDs for 20 years and we're still around."

We'll be right some day. Sure didn't you yourself think that the PDs would only get 2 seats in 2002?

Did I tell you that? I suppose I must have, how else would you know? As it happens I always like to be pessimistic, that way you'll never be disappointed.

The reason they got more was due to a once-off campaign by McDowell, which they won't be able to repeat next time round. McDowell is the only useful PD TD; Harney is tired and poor in health, and the others are gob************************es.

Very in depth analysis there. The PDs will be around for a long time to come whether we have 4 seats or 8. There is a niche there for us. We don't pretend to be a catch all party that FF are proud to be (for some reason!). We are the only party in this country that does not claim to be socialist. Even FG have their socialists. But we in the PDs have been standing by the Republic for 20 years now despite all the criticism, and all the mockery and we have stood by our principles since our foundation.

[CJH]

"Did I tell you that?" - You've said it a number of times on this site. I always take note of what you say.

"As it happens I always like to be pessimistic, that way you'll never be disappointed." - Happen to agree with you on that. But if so, you should be an atheist. But that's a totally different question

"We are the only party in this country that does not claim to be socialist. Even FG have their socialists" I might not like the PDs, but I realise and welcome that McDowell brings something different to political debate in Ireland. I hope he is your next leader, because if he isn't the PDs truly will be a waste of space

[mjcoughlan]

"Did I tell you that?" - You've said it a number of times on this site. I always take note of what you say.

Yes I'm getting a bit nervous about all the stuff I say on this. If I'm ever running in an election, I can see half my comments being dragged up out of it. Better practice my responses.

"As it happens I always like to be pessimistic, that way you'll never be disappointed." - Happen to agree with you on that. But if so, you should be an atheist. But that's a totally different question

did you just say the "A" word???

"We are the only party in this country that does not claim to be socialist. Even FG have their socialists" I might not like the PDs, but I realise and welcome that McDowell brings something different to political debate in Ireland. I hope he is your next leader, because if he isn't the PDs truly will be a waste of space

Strange to see a FF person who has warmed to McDowell's influence!!

[CJH]

"If I'm ever running in an election" - When will see Mark J Coughlan on a ballot paper? May I suggest that you run in the DSE constituency, or perhaps in a local election in Greystones or Malahide or somewhere like that - I don't know much about Waterford but at a guess your high Tory principles may not be the most popular down there.

"Strange to see a FF person who has warmed to McDowell's influence" - Now don't get carried away. I am not the minister's biggest fan. But I admire that he is one of the few politicians in Ireland who is willing to say things that are not of the mainstream, and he is certainly true to his convictions. The problem with Irish politics is that most of the parties are very centrist, and there are not very many interesting characters, which results in it being quite dull and unimpressive at times. McDowell is one of the few people in the Dail whom everyone has an opinion on, and he's one of the few with a fully-formed and pretty coherent ideology. That doesn't mean I agree with it, but I respect him for it. Therefore, I hope he keeps his seat in 2007 and I know that if he became leader of the PDs he would increase its profile and would cause all sorts of problems for FG in particular.

[Gael]

Is this the Greatness of McDowell thread?

[mjcoughlan]

"If I'm ever running in an election" - When will see Mark J Coughlan on a ballot paper? May I suggest that you run in the DSE constituency, or perhaps in a local election in Greystones or Malahide or somewhere like that - I don't know much about Waterford but at a guess your high Tory principles may not be the most popular down there.

Yes Waterford is a highly unionised city. A lot of leftist attitudes amongst people who should know better. Which is all the more reason why this city needs a good dose of Toryism to sort the place out.

Therefore, I hope he keeps his seat in 2007 and I know that if he became leader of the PDs he would increase its profile and would cause all sorts of problems for FG in particular.

I agree with you

Now beware, the last time I said that to someone, it proved to be the kiss of death.