George Lee: A Courageous Dissenter

[goosebump]

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.

How do you know?

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

Presumably it got lost in the post. You should get on to An Post to express your dissatisfaction, or perhaps write a letter to the Irish Times.

[consultant]

Presumably it got lost in the post. You should get on to An Post to express your dissatisfaction, or perhaps write a letter to the Irish Times.

I did, but that obviously got lost in the post too. Probably ended up on the Governor's desk in the Joy.

[David Cochrane]

Would you stay in a job more than 9 months, if you realised that you were more clued in to the necessities of the job, but because you hadn't "served your time", you were being expected to sit back, shut up and don't rock the boat .. oh, and while you are at it, Mary down the road was on about the council not salting her driveways during the last cold spell, could you write a letter telling her that this is disgraceful and you will bring it up with the Minister ?

Most (almost everyone) can't simply walk back to their old job, so they have to suck it in (as they say in Canada) and get on with the job their constituents elected them to do. He could have easily gone IND if absolutely necessary and started talking about anything or everything he liked. But no, he's walked off the pitch, and it's the taxpayer who'll pay.

[Disabled student]

George Lee was totally disillusioned with Irish politics as he found out it after a mere NINE months. What had taken him so long to reach a decision?

[Lightning Rod]

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.

And then what, waste another three years on the sidelines, get re-elected just to be sidelined by Fine Gael political careerists again? Forget about it, if something ain't workin' procrastination is your enemy - ol' shinto saying.

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?

I've got no comeback for this para, 'cause I'm asking the same questions *shrugs*

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

Is he going back to RTE?

[slx]

Most (almost everyone) can't simply walk back to their old job, so they have to suck it in (as they say in Canada) and get on with the job their constituents elected them to do. He could have easily gone IND if absolutely necessary and started talking about anything or everything he liked. But no, he's walked off the pitch, and it's the taxpayer who'll pay.

I tend to agree. He had lots of options open to him, and lots of powerful bargaining chips at his disposal.

He could have caused a crisis within FG and woken it up.

He could have gone Indie

He could even have formed New FG.

What I see is bad human resources management by Enda & "the lads" i.e. they have managed to not notice that one of their new TDs was clearly at crisis point and about to walk out of political life for good.

and I certainly don't see a lot of heroism from Lee either. What I see is someone who managed to bite off more than he could chew and then discovered that it tasted horrible and spat it out.

He should have spent a little more time reading the menu before he ordered!

[Ah Well]

Most (almost everyone) can't simply walk back to their old job, so they have to suck it in (as they say in Canada) and get on with the job their constituents elected them to do. He could have easily gone IND if absolutely necessary and started talking about anything or everything he liked. But no, he's walked off the pitch, and it's the taxpayer who'll pay.

+1

Another bye-election (once the Gov can no longer kick that to touch) more taxpayers money expended in running it

Max 2 years to next Dáil. Lee could have gone IND if needed and represent his Constituents who elected him during such time period. Then not seek re-election if appropriate in 2012.

Cop out by Lee. Egg on face for FG

[laidback]

Most (almost everyone) can't simply walk back to their old job, so they have to suck it in (as they say in Canada) and get on with the job their constituents elected them to do. He could have easily gone IND if absolutely necessary and started talking about anything or everything he liked. But no, he's walked off the pitch, and it's the taxpayer who'll pay.

How will the taxpayer pay?

Presumably his pay stops from today. He wont get much severance money or whatever they call the payout to former TDs as his service is so short. The bye election may not be held for many months so the taxpayer saves not only on salary but on all the expenses including the €55 daily turning up money which I presume George claimed.

Its win win for the taxpayer, but not for FG.

[David Cochrane]

How will the taxpayer pay?

Presumably his pay stops from today. He wont get much severance money or whatever they call the payout to former TDs as his service is so short. The bye election may not be held for many months so the taxpayer saves not only on salary but on all the expenses including the €55 daily turning up money which I presume George claimed.

Its win win for the taxpayer, but not for FG.

Bill to the Taxpayer.

1. His RTE job (as licence fee payers) before he quit to join Fine Gael
2. The by-election in Dublin South that got him elected
3. His salary as a TD, and that of his two staff
4. The by-election to fill the seat he's now quit from
5. His salary in RTE if he goes back to it (which he's bloody likely to)

[absconded]

+1

Another bye-election (once the Gov can no longer kick that to touch) more taxpayers money expended in running it

Max 2 years to next Dáil. Lee could have gone IND if needed and represent his Constituents who elected him during such time period. Then not seek re-election if appropriate in 2012.

Cop out by Lee. Egg on face for FG

And your reasoning is exactly why there are so many mediocre politicians left in Irish politics. I can think of one lady in particular who is a minister and doesn´t even have a party left behind her.
This is democracy. GL clearly ran on a platform and felt he was not being allowed to deliver. He resigned, and that was honourable.