Fine Gael National Conference 2010 - Killarney

[James Healy]

Can you just imagine Enda proclaiming "Yes we can" - and then remembering he's not really Obama and getting all embarrassed, and blushing, and going all shy like a little puppy. Ultimate cringe

Let him say "Sea is feidir linn". Cowen says let them eat cake.

[MadAsHell]

A question I ask how much racism is there directed against Enda Kenny, because he is from Mayo. .

Racism because Enda is from Mayo? I don't think so

[Tomas Mor]

I think there is a lot of it in fact, Mayo God help us. Do we find the same bilge directed against Cowen, or Albert Reynolds who sang put your sweet lips a little closer..and spoke about dehumanising the health services ? One of the grfeatest media failures was the way they portrayed Bertie, his love life, Celia, hanging baskets and all that while his policies ruined this great little nation.

[Sailor]

Racism because Enda is from Mayo? I don't think so

Agree - being from Mayo is the least of his problems

[hiding behind a poster]

Watch FG. When they are going well de always shoot themselves in de foot. Dont know how to manage success. Change leaders, reject new ideas, cope with Cretin/Rings/Deacys/Coveneys.

At least we can spell.

[Tomas Mor]

Agree - being from Mayo is the least of his problems

Oh I forgot to mention, Luz Enda Cretin is from Mayo also, but she has decamped to D4, and they can be the worst types, those who defect I mean

[hiding behind a poster]

I suspect that a lot more people than usual will tune in for his speech, despite the deeply rooted cynicism out there, many are looking for some coherent policy and change.

People don't generally look for policy in Ard Fheis Leaders' speeches. They look for a vision, for whether they can see the party leader as a Taoiseach in FF and FG's case, or in government in the cases of the other parties.

It's also worth pointing out that the Obama factor in speechmaking has lifted peoples expectations of delivery/tone etc from speeches of this type (this is not in reference policy et al, but in delivery)

Yes and no. Obama sets the bar so high that's its basically a given at this stage that no-one can match his delivery. Therefore not matching doesn't mean the speaker has failed.

Does a teacher from Mayo have the ability to convince a hungry nation that he (and his party) has the ability to feed them?

Enda Kenny hasn't been a teacher since 1975. He's a professional, full-time politician.

if it's just the "shout" Enda, well I for one may switch to some mindless reality show.

You should YouTube his Ard Fheis speeches. Generally they're very good. And just as an aside, my dad, who's in his mid-eighties and has seen a lot of politicians, says Kenny is the best orator (not, not Dail speaker, but orator) he's heard since James Dillon.

[wombat]

Enda Kenny hasn't been a teacher since 1975. He's a professional, full-time politician.

I have been thinking about how his being a teacher is used as a criticism. Why do people think that being a country solicitor or trade union official equips someone better to lead a country than being a teacher? Cowen is a better debater than Kenny, where has that got us?
I have met Kenny at meetings and he is quite good in front of a crowd, he listens to questions and gives fairly straight answers, including saying that he doesn't agree with the questioner.
I think that some of this may be his teacher training coming through. It may also explain his patience with some of the childish questions he gets from our brilliant media

[Tomas Mor]

Kenny is most underrated. So was Bruton. Kenny will shine as Taoiseach. Cowen supposed to be a genius, but what a flop, like Gordon Brown. Ni mar siltear bitear.

[spidermom]

I actually think that Enda may be running out of time...I've met him in person too and found him quite impressive....have to say I thought he was dreadful in the Dail re the Tallaght x-rays...if the speech does not go well...and if he does not do well this week in the Dail with the reshuffle he could be in trouble!!