An Taoiseach, Eamon Gilmore?

[toxic avenger]

Eamon Gilmore, in today's Sunday Independent, has raised the possibility of he himself becoming Taoiseach in a future coalition Government, rather than playing second fiddle. He has also declared that the Mullingar Accord is not going to be revived in another form, that 'Labour's clear objective is to lead, not to play a subordinate role' and that the changed circumstances now becoming apparent mean that 'We now exist in a new world, seeing huge changes where old questions about the Mullingar accord or who Labour will go in with are dead, they are adolescent.' This is a new approach for a Labour leader. Is it perhaps informed by a sense that we are now about to witness a departure from traditional civil war politics, with a move towards class-based politics and a possible opening for a slightly more radicalised Labour? Is the cosy consensus of the last 20 years now dead? And what would Gilmore be like as Taoiseach?...

Answers!!!!...

I want to be the next Taoiseach, reveals Labour leader Gilmore - National News, Frontpage - Independent.ie

[Christine Murray]

Mope- cannot see it.....

[SPN]

Eamon Gilmore, in today's Sunday Independent, has raised the possibility of he himself becoming Taoiseach in a future coalition Government, rather than playing second fiddle.

He's just trying to raise his profile and hoping to make Labour seem relevant.

He has also declared that the Mullingar Accord is not going to be revived in another form, that 'Labour's clear objective is to lead, not to play a subordinate role' and that the changed circumstances now becoming apparent mean that 'We now exist in a new world, seeing huge changes where old questions about the Mullingar accord or who Labour will go in with are dead, they are adolescent.'

Labour are going to lead us where, exactly?

Their 2007 Manifesto was PD-Lite, their latest policy offerings are Green-Lite.

Why put in opportunist wannabees when you can have the full flavour alternative?

This is a new approach for a Labour leader. Is it perhaps informed by a sense that we are now about to witness a departure from traditional civil war politics, with a move towards class-based politics and a possible opening for a slightly more radicalised Labour? Is the cosy consensus of the last 20 years now dead?

It is a new PR approach aimed at winning over some people who voted FF previously - people who vote based on who would make the best Taoiseach. He is going to keep spinning this line in the hope that some people will swallow it.

It is informed by a sense of opportunism.

Class-Based Politics is a 19th Century creation and has no place in the 21st Century. We are facing a new set of problems and we need to get a Community Spirit going, not divisive class based (whatever that means in 2009) Grandstanding.

And what would Gilmore be like as Taoiseach?...

Answers!!!!...

A dithering, procrastinating, divisive, opportunist, Grandstander, if his antics to date are anything to go by.

It's just a pity that we can't have a Fine Gael led Government without these past their sell-by date plonkers doing everything they can to bugger things up.

[Christine Murray]

l blame Labour's love of manicures, their natural constituency regard them as careerist...with some noteable and honourable exceptions.

[TradCat]

Labour won't be big enough but if they assembled an alliance of themselves the greens and Sinn Fein thy might pull it off. They could then go to FG and look for a deal. The problem is that FG won't wear SF. This giving Labour an excuse to go in with Finna Fail.

[Christine Murray]

Expedient swinging, accords and relationships of convenience have led to utter paralysis over a decade. nope Lab has gone into the centre and has lost its constituency. l cite Lisbon and Partnership as exemplifying complacency...yawn, bored now

[Eurocitizen]

I think Dick Spring suggested something similar before?
Well it is worth thinking about as a new concept in Irish politics that the minority party of a coalition runs the Government.

I personally think it is undemocratic

[Lefronde]

In 1992, Labour won 33 seats in a general election, and within a month lost its credibility in my eyes forever.

(1) They promised change (not to support Albert Reynolds)

(2) They went into coalition with Fianna Fail and betrayed the independents who voted for them.

(3) They introduced programme managers to each minister, and helped to start the current malaise of super junior ministers, and beefed up portfolios.

(4) they showed they were quite adept at cronyism, and packed places like the EAT, Rights Commission and the institutes of technology

(5) when Albert Reynolds fell, they were going to do a deal with Bertie around the time of the manchester dig-out (but pulled the plug at the last minute, and this was never explained?)

(6) They will do a deal with Fianna Fail at the next election.

(6) There is a core of Stickies (Official IRA) still in the Labour Party who were involved in some very questionable and dodgy behaviour in the 1970's and '80s.


In '97 Labour were punished at the Ballot box, but unfortunately they didn't go the way of the PDs, which is a shame.

They great thing about Gilmore, is that I live in the same constituency, and don't have to vote for him. I got a leaflet in my mail box recently from him. It was all negative, with not one proposal about what he's going to do to improve the economy and governance in this country. Not one!

He's all fur coat and no knickers!

[Christine Murray]

All mouth no trousers surely ?

Labour gave Bertie fridays off in a deal about speaking time - hardly democratic.,

[wombat]

Gilmore will be Taoiseach if Labour win enough seats - I want to win the Lotto