How about we make FF TDs an offer they can't refuse?

[Simbo67]

FF are in an uniquely weak position at the moment. Why don't we start thinking of ways of furthering their destruction further and making Irish politics a united FF-free zone? Its time we went for the jugular (and not only FG but Labour too).
Either before or after the general election (surely this year), we start offering FF TD's a place on the FG ticket or in the FG party? No point going after the family history FFers but surely as self proclaimed home of "pragmatists" there are surely a few FFers who realise that the next decade is unlikely to see them with any influence. We give them a version of an amnesty (i.e. they will have a decent chance of promotion and their past history won't count against them). It could be worth it to peel a few FFers off and it would cause panic in the ranks.

What you think?

[AMCW177]

You'd have to be very careful about who you approach. Nobody with the slightest whiff of corruption about them - if you can kind such a person in FF! But there's a load of anonymous lobby-fodder backbench FF TDs who only care about pothole-fixing and being the big man in their local area. You might be able to detach a few of them.

It may well not play well with the electorate though!

[DCon]

FF will only come if you give them cash or favours.

[TimBuckII]

No! They need to be accountable for their actions or else we are back to square one.

[Victor Meldrew]

You would be buying them with a place on the ballot paper.

Grassroots will lynch them at the convention, no-one will canvass for them. Especially ambitious FG councilors who would be sidelined, (PD councilors were hard enough to stomach in the locals).
Finally, this would represent "Accountability free politics" something we are trying to stamp all over....

[Simbo67]

Now is the time to be ruthless, we peel some soft pragmatic ffers off and cause mass panic in the rest of the party.

[An Gilladaker]

Offer them intimidate membership of FG this would help to heal their old wounds

[Question R24U]

FF are in an uniquely weak position at the moment. Why don't we start thinking of ways of furthering their destruction further and making Irish politics a united FF-free zone? Its time we went for the jugular (and not only FG but Labour too).
Either before or after the general election (surely this year), we start offering FF TD's a place on the FG ticket or in the FG party? No point going after the family history FFers but surely as self proclaimed home of "pragmatists" there are surely a few FFers who realise that the next decade is unlikely to see them with any influence. We give them a version of an amnesty (i.e. they will have a decent chance of promotion and their past history won't count against them). It could be worth it to peel a few FFers off and it would cause panic in the ranks.

What you think?

Brilliant- why didn't people think of this sooner? But jumping to fg might be one too far for some - what about labour eg jim mcdaid and joe behan types (up to now it would have been unthinkable). Grealish must be vulnerable. Lowry could be bought off - eg go easy on the ff connection in tipp and be reintroduced when he is cleared by moriarty. Could john mcguinness join george. Lee's fg? What about other exministers? Probably not, but it is worth asking.

[Simbo67]

Brilliant- why didn't people think of this sooner? But jumping to fg might be one too far for some - what about labour eg jim mcdaid and joe behan types (up to now it would have been unthinkable). Grealish must be vulnerable. Lowry could be bought off - eg go easy on the ff connection in tipp and be reintroduced when he is cleared by moriarty. Could john mcguinness join george. Lee's fg? What about other exministers? Probably not, but it is worth asking.

Why not, if it works we get a few extra TD's and the rest of them start looking for exit strategies. We look at some of the newer TD's tell them that everything is going to be OK in FG (or labour). We have to think outside the box here, of course it will cause consternation at the constituency level but that is what the Taoiseach's nominations are for!
I am being completely cynical here but the end maybe justifies the means?

[odie1kanobe]

Nice way of accepting that FG hasn't got competent enough candidates going forward....well done.