John Gormley talks about the PD's ... Feb 2007

[OceanFrog]

Very very interesting comments from Minister Gormley ... from the Green Party website Feb 2007.

Prophetic much John?

Quote ... “Not only have the PDs failed to deliver on their promises, they have managed to deliver on things which they did not promise, such as the privatisation of the health service. They have absolutely no mandate for this ill-conceived proposal. The major plank of the Progressive Democrats’ campaign at the first election was that a single party government was undesirable and they would keep an eye on Fianna Fáil. The PDs have not only kept an eye on them – they are now indistinguishable from the bigger party. The last five years have been particularly damaging for the PDs and it is unlikely that they can recover at this stage.”

[atlantic]

Pathetic John the career politician

[dunno]

The PDs got their agenda adopted wholesale. I wonder if the Greens will have a fraction of that influence, even with Green ideas being the fashion nowadays.

[Greener]

Quite appalling.

The PDs did far more in favour of Irish society then the Greens ever did. They are a joke of a party, who are happliy propping up a party that they spent the entire pre election period rebuking. Bye Bye John. The man is finished in public life after the next general election

[Supermanpolitician]

Shows John Gormley for what he really is....a shiister.

[syzygial]

Quite appalling.

The PDs did far more in favour of Irish society then the Greens ever did. They are a joke of a party, who are happliy propping up a party that they spent the entire pre election period rebuking. Bye Bye John. The man is finished in public life after the next general election

Hah! They did more in what way? By their petulant leader deciding to leave them in the lurch once he lost his own seat (again)? By folding-up because none of them were arsed reforming their party and fighting back? It was far easier for many of them to continue their careers in the safe harbours of larger parties, it seems .

Even if the Green Party does very badly in the next GE, it won't disappear like the PDs. Of that you can be sure

[dunno]

I can only note how the Green get so few ideas adopted even with the political wind behind Green ideas. What has been adopted is fairly pathetic. It might well be a good thing is those ideas gain more traction here. Dropping the abusive partner (FF) is how it will happen.

[OceanFrog]

Hah! They did more in what way? By their petulant leader deciding to leave them in the lurch once he lost his own seat (again)? By folding-up because none of them were arsed reforming their party and fighting back? It was far easier for many of them to continue their careers in the safe harbours of larger parties, it seems .

Even if the Green Party does very badly in the next GE, it won't disappear like the PDs. Of that you can be sure

I agree with you.

But the problem is that the political base of the GP is in tatters after the local elections last month. The GP is also badly divided and there are many bitter and disappointed people within its ranks. There are also people like me who were members for 20+ years and have now left.

If the party is wiped out in the next GE they will be in a very poor position. In all probability the "careerers" and people who have jumped on the bandwagon over the last few years will leave, and some of the current TD's may also leave because they have been so badly damaged by their time/performance in office.

However you look at it, the GP is in all likelihood finished as a political force in this country for many, many years to come.

And this is a huge shame.