George Lee: A Courageous Dissenter

[Ceartgoleor]

He wouldn't have given up so easily if he had no RTE job to go back to. I think that what brought this to a head was when Kenny offered him the prospect of a front bench position. He knew all along that he had better prospects down the road, but bottled it probably because by then his leave of abscence from RTE would expire. He also realized that life on the outside of RTE is tough. So he chose the safe and secure option for himself and to hell with everyone else.

The plain fact is that FG made had made a balls of opposition and Georgie Lee copped it. They havnt one original idea in their collective heads. When a fresh face arrives amongst them they snub him instead of embracing his ideas.

They are a dead political party devoid of ability and imagination. If Richard Bruton is their best bet then they can throw their hat at it.

If FG were an effective opposition party we would have had an election before now and they would be in Government, albeit bailing out the bankers just like FF!!

It would have been incredibly easy to force an election and at least obtain democratic sanction for transferring Irish people's money to the bankers. But they have failed that simple task miserably. They should pack up their tents and go home.

They are not a credible political party and the George Lee saga proves it once and for all. Can someone sound the Death March please.

[Lightning Rod]

He couldn't hack it in the real world

Wrong. In 'the real world' he served the Irish people diligently in reporting the news, that is incontrovertible.

and almost in the same sentence where he said he resigned he said he would go back to RTE. Ah yes, RTE with the big cosy PS salary, big pension, secure employment etc etc. So much for all the courage people spoke about.

As I have said repeatedly: It took courage to stand for election and character to resign.

Life isn't all about cosy salaries and pensions you know - why can't you embittered partisans get that into your thick skulls.

[dresden8]

The plain fact is that FG made had made a balls of opposition and Georgie Lee copped it. They havnt one original idea in their collective heads. When a fresh face arrives amongst them they snub him instead of embracing his ideas.

They are a dead political party devoid of ability and imagination. If Richard Bruton is their best bet then they can throw their hat at it.

If FG were an effective opposition party we would have had an election before now and they would be in Government, albeit bailing out the bankers just like FF!!

It would have been incredibly easy to force an election and at least obtain democratic sanction for transferring Irish people's money to the bankers. But they have failed that simple task miserably. They should pack up their tents and go home.

They are not a credible political party and the George Lee saga proves it once and for all. Can someone sound the Death March please.

While I agree that FG are a useless pile of sh1te, George as a "politician" should have known that nobody was going to ask his opinion.

As a politician his job is to make contacts, get his face in there, make his arguements and win debates. If someone disses him, get in there and prove him to be a fool. Win friends and influence people. Make a fncking reputation for yourself.

I'm no politician but I know that much. George felt he was anointed and wanted his ass kissed.

Wasn't going to happen.

George was a naive fool, luckily he has his job in RTE to run back to.

And to balance out my earlier caveat, I believe that all FF members should receive a bullet in the back of the head, for balance.

[Lightning Rod]

The plain fact is that FG made had made a balls of opposition and Georgie Lee copped it. They havnt one original idea in their collective heads. When a fresh face arrives amongst them they snub him instead of embracing his ideas.

+1
Precisely. Petty jealousy; Fine Gael is rank with it.

They are a dead political party devoid of ability and imagination. If Richard Bruton is their best bet then they can throw their hat at it.

This fiasco has convinced me that Fine Gael are the lamest Opposition in Irish history.

If FG were an effective opposition party we would have had an election before now and they would be in Government,

Quite. They have stood idly by as Fianna Fail deliberately flushes our economy down the toilet.

It would have been incredibly easy to force an election and at least obtain democratic sanction for transferring Irish people's money to the bankers. But they have failed that simple task miserably. They should pack up their tents and go home.

+2

They are not a credible political party and the George Lee saga proves it once and for all. Can someone sound the Death March please.

Fine Gael Weighs its Options

[NYB]

Let himself and Charlie suck their lollipops in RTE

[KATHY]

Wrong. In 'the real world' he served the Irish people diligently in reporting the news, that is incontrovertible.



As I have said repeatedly: It took courage to stand for election and character to resign.

Life isn't all about cosy salaries and pensions you know - why can't you embittered partisans get that into your thick skulls.

Courage is taking over a party on its knees and re-building it from the ground up.
Courage is putting together a team and allowing them the freedom to articulate their views.
Courage is coming out today fighting having been written off by many due to George's grand exit..
It takes a lot of courage to stay the course despite the odds, Enda Kenny clearly has it, Lee doesn't know the meaning of the word.

[Lightning Rod]

Courage is taking over a party on its knees and re-building it from the ground up.
Courage is putting together a team and allowing them the freedom to articulate their views.
Courage is coming out today fighting having been written off by many due to George's grand exit..
It takes a lot of courage to stay the course despite the odds, Enda Kenny clearly has it, Lee doesn't know the meaning of the word.

Absolute twaddle, Kenny has raised Fine Gael - thanks to this latest fudge.
George talked the talk but Fine Gael hobbled him: his decision to walk was courageous.

[Reality bites]

George talked the talk but Fine Gael hobbled him: his decision to walk was courageous.

what talk? as much as it pains me to defend FG here, George didn't exactly have policies dripping off his tongue.

Im still not sure exactly what he wanted from politics/FG and i havn't heard anyone including him articulate what he was trying to achieve in a clear, planned out way.

[An Gilladaker]

Absolute twaddle, Kenny has raised Fine Gael - thanks to this latest fudge.
George talked the talk but Fine Gael hobbled him: his decision to walk was courageous.

George got out before this happened to him


Start with a cage containing five monkeys.

Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a ladder under it. Before long, one of the monkeys will spot the banana and start to climb the ladder. As soon as he does, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water.

Replace the banana.

After a while another of the monkeys will probably go for the banana. Again, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water. Monkeys are fairly smart, so pretty soon whenever one of the monkeys tries to climb the ladder all the other monkeys will try and prevent him doing it. When this happens, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. Then put another banana at the top of the ladder.

The new monkey will spot the banana and make for the ladder. To his surprise all of the other monkeys attack him. After a couple more attempts result in further beatings the new monkey will not make any attempt to go for the banana.

Remove another of the original monkeys and replace it with another new one. Then replace the banana. Again, the new monkey will make a grab for it. Like his predecessor he will be amazed to find that all the other monkeys attack him. The previous newcomer will take part in his punishment with some enthusiasm.

One at a time, gradually replace all of the original monkeys with new ones. Each of the newcomers will go for the banana. Each one will be attacked by the other four. Most of the new monkeys have absolutely no idea why they were not allowed to climb the ladder, or why they are participating in the assault on the newest monkey.

When all of the original monkeys have been replaced, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless no monkey ever approaches the ladder. Why not? Because as far as they are concerned that's the way it has always been done around here.

[Gael Nua]

Courage is taking over a party on its knees and re-building it from the ground up.
Courage is putting together a team and allowing them the freedom to articulate their views.
Courage is coming out today fighting having been written off by many due to George's grand exit..
It takes a lot of courage to stay the course despite the odds, Enda Kenny clearly has it, Lee doesn't know the meaning of the word.

Not very courageous to maintain that you've held your voice and opinions since you've taken charge and finally after 7 years you finally have the balls to speak up.