How can Kenny become more Taoiseach-like?

[Question R24U]

The obvious answer is -become taoiseach and the gravitas will follow. But i want to see if anyone has any advice to to get him there by projecting a more professional image. This week he has successfully managed the media by staying out of it and delegating roles to those more competant on specific issues. He should stress that his role as leader will be more as a chairman rather than chief but he should cut down that front bench to about 8 big hitters. He should avoid on the hoof interviews were his folksy charm betrays him. He should tell his frontbench attendees at press conferences what he intends to say. He should try and set the agenda rather than follow the irish times/morning ireland agenda. All of these points as obvious so why is he not doing them?

[yehbut_nobut]

Don't know, but if it means becoming more like Cowen or Ahern then God save us.

[Catalpa]

Dye his hair black, grow a little moustache and wear a blue shirt.

And stop agreeing with FF 90% of the time!

[wombat]

He needs to move the focus from himself to members of his team. The media like to pretend we have a presidential system because they are lazy. The role of Taoiseach is modelled on the Britsh Prime Minister rather than the American president and our more successful Taoisigh have acted as chairman rather than leader of govt. This has become more important now that single party govt. has become unlikely.
FG failed to gain power in the last election because they failed to convince the people that their team was more competant than FF's. The leader is important but its a team sport.

[Question R24U]

Shots of the frontbench arriving for weekly shadow cabinet meetings might be a good start. If they actually announced a policy decision or two after them, it would be even better.

[PhoenixIreland]

Close his bank account and keep all his cash in a suitcase under his desk.

Develop selective amnesia

[hiding behind a poster]

The obvious answer is -become taoiseach and the gravitas will follow

He actually needs to lose a bit of the exaggerated gravitas that he seems to put on when speaking in media. When you meet Kenny in person, he's funny, engaging, and certainly able to speak off the cuff on any issue. But for some reason, when in front of a microphone, every sentence has about ten sub-clauses added to it, so he ends up saying "In my opinion, and in the opinion of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, this decision is shameful, callous and disgraceful" - whereas he could just say "this is a disgraceful, shameful, callous decision" and it would sound more punchy.

This week he has successfully managed the media by staying out of it and delegating roles to those more competant on specific issues.

That's not really true. The Finance spokesmen get all the attention on Budget week anyway, regardless of what a leader says or does.

He should stress that his role as leader will be more as a chairman rather than chief but he should cut down that front bench to about 8 big hitters.

No, absolutely not. The media go looking for the big hitters like Hayes, Bruton, Varadkar, Reilly, Flanagan etc anyway, but there are 15 ministers that need to be shadowed, need to have their every word studied and attacked if necessary. We may not notice that work, but its very important, even in the portfolios that don't seem important. That's how the press releases about every tiny issue, that generate no national attention, but become big issues in local media outside Dublin, get produced. Also, by putting someone on the Front Bench, you're at least suggesting that they MIGHT become a minister next time. And that's good for votes.

He should try and set the agenda rather than follow the irish times/morning ireland agenda.

It may not look that way, but the media agenda is often set by the parties, and followed by the media. But even when it isn't, what's the point, if Morning Ireland ring to say "we want you on to talk about Issue X, because there's a report out today about it", and you say "No, I'll come on, but only if I can talk about Issue Y instead". And RTE then say "well, we're not covering that story, so sod off". And they go off and ring Labour.

All of these points as obvious so why is he not doing them?

Because they're not.

[Keith-M]

silk
purse
sow's
ear

[Big Bobo]

He just isn't bright enough full stop.

[junketman]

Jack Lynch was 'Taoiseach like'...so was Charlie, Bertie and Brian Cowan now....

Because you are 'Taoiseach like' it doesn't follow that you make a good Taoiseach...you can surround yourself in the pomp and circumstance of the office and still be an imcompetant fool...

The problem at successive elections in this country is that we keep voting for the wrong party based on what say they will do when in government, not on what they actually will do.