George Lee: A Courageous Dissenter

[jdaly]

I've followed Gorgeous George for almost a decade now,
in the build-up to the recession George called it,
I remember sh*t like that, George called it - so he had my ear.

Then nine months ago he announced he was quitting as RTE's economic correspondent to try a stint in politics. I thought this was good, I believed if anyone could help the country out, it was George.

I waited.
I listened.
Nothing. He pretty much vanished.

Today after he announced his resignation from the Dail and from Fine Gael I think I finally know why; Fine Gael buried him - not today, but 9 months ago when he signed up to Irish politics.

The new kid on the block quite obviously presented a distinct threat to other members of Fine Gael when he was elected for Dublin South.

So what happened? Fine Gael TDs are "mystified" but to me it makes perfect sense: George couldn't hack it, couldn't hack the politics of politics - being sidelined because he was seen as a threat by other senior members of Fine Gael.

I don't blame him for resigning, I applaud his resolution of an impossible situation.

George Lee is Ireland's first trustworthy politician he should found his own political party and stand for election again - he will get the votes.

I have no time for his policies but do think he has shown an unusual honesty in his decision to resign instead of hanging on pretending everything was great as most TDs do.

[borntorum]

I have no time for his policies but do think he has shown an unusual honesty in his decision to resign instead of hanging on pretending everything was great as most TDs do.

I'd agree except for two things:

1. He didn't give it enough time. He should have gone to the next election at the very least.

2. He's left his constituents in the lurch because he was feeling browned off with Kenny/FG. Why couldnt he have stayed on as an independent, providing an important economic voice in the Dail? Like Shane Ross in the Senate?

Because he wanted to get back to RTE before his leave of absence was up, I'd imagine

[staunch ff]

Lee is a bully and liable to turn up in new clothes where he thinks he can some damage.
Like all the other clowns in the Anti FF Party he is great at looking back but has no idea of how actually to go forward

[goosebump]

You know, maybe it is time that constituency clinics be left to the hired-help - the civil servants in the relevant departments. Maybe it is time to demand of our TD's that THEY get out and meet US for a change. To explain themselves and their actions to us first-hand and to seek our inputs.

Eh. that's why they have Constituency Clinics...

[The Field Marshal]

I've followed Gorgeous George for almost a decade now,
in the build-up to the recession George called it,
I remember sh*t like that, George called it - so he had my ear.

Then nine months ago he announced he was quitting as RTE's economic correspondent to try a stint in politics. I thought this was good, I believed if anyone could help the country out, it was George.

I waited.
I listened.
Nothing. He pretty much vanished.

Today after he announced his resignation from the Dail and from Fine Gael I think I finally know why; Fine Gael buried him - not today, but 9 months ago when he signed up to Irish politics.

The new kid on the block quite obviously presented a distinct threat to other members of Fine Gael when he was elected for Dublin South.

So what happened? Fine Gael TDs are "mystified" but to me it makes perfect sense: George couldn't hack it, couldn't hack the politics of politics - being sidelined because he was seen as a threat by other senior members of Fine Gael.

I don't blame him for resigning, I applaud his resolution of an impossible situation.

George Lee is Ireland's first trustworthy politician he should found his own political party and stand for election again - he will get the votes.

Cmon.

Thats nonsense.
George could not hack it?

Did he even try?

He was elected and paid to do a job.

He has resigned from the job on his own admission that he is unable to carry out his duties as a TD.

His reasons for resigning carry little weight.
Because of this he has damaged his firm and himself.

George is not a leader and now we know he is definitely not a team player.

[Limerick Lad]

I'd agree except for two things:

1. He didn't give it enough time. He should have gone to the next election at the very least.

2. He's left his constituents in the lurch because he was feeling browned off with Kenny/FG. Why couldnt he have stayed on as an independent, providing an important economic voice in the Dail? Like Shane Ross in the Senate?

Because he wanted to get back to RTE before his leave of absence was up, I'd imagine

Despite his assurances to the contrary at the time of the by-election being an ordinary constituency TD doesn't appear to be a high priority on George Lee's agenda, as you say he could have remained as an independent member of the Dail until the next election speaking on economic matters, etc.
The urgency of retaining his guaranteed job in RTE combined with the impending return of Charlie Bird from his shortened stint in the USA and the possibility of perhaps being his replacement over there are making me cast a jaundiced eye on Lee's motives for resigning now from both party politics combined with also resigning his Dail seat.

[Fraxinus_]

If he just wanted to influence policy why did he have to become a TD? Why didn't he offer his services for a fee to the FG party to help draft new policy.
As it happens FG don't really want change, they just want to be seen to want change. Nothing will ever change here until the mono-ideology system we currently have is broken.

[Fraxinus_]

I have no time for his policies but do think he has shown an unusual honesty in his decision to resign instead of hanging on pretending everything was great as most TDs do.

Same as that, he could have easily stayed around, milked the expenses and paid lip service to theatre that is Irish politics.

[David Cochrane]

Can someone tell me what the point is of this thread if the other one has been ongoing (and getting massive attention).

Would the OP care to explain the point?

[consultant]

Eh. that's why they have Constituency Clinics...

No. They have Constituency Clinics to fill out dole forms, medical card applications and to hear petitions from drug-dealers' and murderers' next of kin to have their convictions overturned.

In other words, to buy votes from gullible punters.

I have yet to see an invitation to attend a TD's clinic to express my opinion of his/her party's performance.