George Lee resigns from Fine Gael and as a TD

[hiding behind a poster]

It will be two FFs and two FGs next time around. Regan will get in on FG transfers as they will only run two candidates to account for the lack of a 5th seat. Andrews and Hannafin will feed off each other as both have good support network. Barrett is safe as houses and will probably bring Regan in. The danger is that RBB or Cuffe, one might have enough transfers to support the other. If Cuffe goes first, RBB will have some hope, but if RBB goes, they won't transfer as easily to Cuffe.

Sorry Supermanpolitician, but Dun Laoghaire is a 4-seater next time. So unless you think Gilmore will lose his seat, your theory ain't stackin' up.

[FakeViking]

It will be two FFs and two FGs next time around. Regan will get in on FG transfers as they will only run two candidates to account for the lack of a 5th seat. Andrews and Hannafin will feed off each other as both have good support network. Barrett is safe as houses and will probably bring Regan in. The danger is that RBB or Cuffe, one might have enough transfers to support the other. If Cuffe goes first, RBB will have some hope, but if RBB goes, they won't transfer as easily to Cuffe.

I cannot see both Andrews and Hanafin both retaining their seats (and I echo the comments of the above poster about Andrew's competence).

[Baron von Biffo]

No, they won't use that line, as it'd focus attention on Cowen, which they don't want either.

You're into 'Your mad uncle is more embarrassing than ours' territory all right.

[punditt]

George Lee - the Limerick:

A man in a hurry called Lee
Won votes and became a TD.
When the going got tough
Boy George cried "Enough!"
He should never have left RTE.

[CookieMonster]

No-one was shafted. If more members of FG in Dublin South had wanted O'Leary, he could have stood and won at convention.

I love that you believe that. Makes me all warm and cuddly inside that there are still people in FG so incredibly naive. Bless.

[myksav]

We now know they know feck all. They loved Bertie Ahern, didn't they?

Did they? Or was it that Ahern had the ability to persuade? Which trait Enda seems to lack on a national level. At least he lacks it enough to have not gotten FG into power.

All this is actually amusing from an non-Party persons perspective. The blame seems to be being shifted from one spot to another.

Interestingly, FF supporters have been keeping quiet on this in public, as a rule. In private, there's bursts of laughter, qickly stifled behind hand, when this comes up.

[hiding behind a poster]

I love that you believe that. Makes me all warm and cuddly inside that there are still people in FG so incredibly naive. Bless.

Its not naive. I know Headquarters produced Lee, but equally the fact remains that had more of the membership wanted O'Leary than wanted Lee, he'd have got the nomination. They obviously saw Lee as a better candidate, and its hard to blame them.

[hiding behind a poster]

Did they? Or was it that Ahern had the ability to persuade? Which trait Enda seems to lack on a national level.

In Ahern's case, its a very fine line between "ability to persuade" and "con".

At least he lacks it enough to have not gotten FG into power.

So if Kenny was so unconvincing in 2007, why was that Labour LOST a seat, the Greens gained NO SEATS, Sinn Fein LOST a seat, while Fine Gael GAINED TWENTY?

[myksav]

Its not naive. I know Headquarters produced Lee, but equally the fact remains that had more of the membership wanted O'Leary than wanted Lee, he'd have got the nomination. They obviously saw Lee as a better candidate, and its hard to blame them.

Why did FG see Lee as a better candidate? His "celebrity" status as an economist? Why didn't FG use Lee in a manner that was visible to the public?

FG wasted a usable asset in a politically stupid manner. And that concept has started to sink into the publics consciousness.

[myksav]

In Ahern's case, its a very fine line between "ability to persuade" and "con".



So if Kenny was so unconvincing in 2007, why was that Labour LOST a seat, the Greens gained NO SEATS, Sinn Fein LOST a seat, while Fine Gael GAINED TWENTY?

Given the hames that FF have made of the country, the question is "GAINED ONLY 20 SEATS??"

If Kenny was so persuasive, FG should now be the leading Party in a coalition Gov't.