George Lee: A Courageous Dissenter

[Lightning Rod]

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.

Yeh but George was elected by his south Dublin middle-class demographic to do something about the awful state of our nation; and instead the lamest opposition in history closeted him away in some backwater forum - safe and out of the way.

Sometimes Dave "sucking it in" is just another euphemism for "bend over"; it takes a man of backbone to stand up and say: "Enough is enough".

George Lee has a short fuse and I'm glad of it, I believe he will serve his nation yet.

He could have easily gone IND if absolutely necessary

Is that what you would have done? Assumed a neutral stance 'till you could jump the next bandwagon?
Character comes from conviction.
Me? I don't think George was for turning.

But no, he's walked off the pitch, and it's the taxpayer who'll pay.

Trite populist clap-trap appending hackneyed sport analogy.

[Toland]

He's apparently going back to RTÉ.

I'm not sure whether to believe him.

[He3]

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)

The only 'extra cost' you could possibly lay at his door is one by-election. And even that is hardly blameworthy - he is resigning because he decided, I think genuinely, that he could not achieve anything. If others were so straight we would save a fortune.

[The Field Marshal]

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!

Treacherous Mutineer George Lee will be hunted down by Admiral Enda as long as he has breath in his body.
By George.!

[absconded]

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)

Dave, I think you would rather he remained in the Dáil as a "presentee".
There are €500,000,000 fleeing this country every week. Something which I´m sure GL would have liked to end or reverse asap if he had been allowed to effect change. And you´re talking about a TDs salary etc??

Let´s get some perspective here.

[David Cochrane]

Lightning Rod,

You have a thoroughly stupid analysis/response to my comments.

When he left his job with RTE he didn't need to fully commit to a job in politics, he had security in that he could return to his RTE job, as he appears to be doing.

In the private sector, he'd not have that luxury, if he left a company to run as a TD he wouldn't be able to go back.

So that puts into contention how far his commitment went, if he always knew he could go back to a job in RTE without joining the many hundreds of thousands who are unemployed.

So perhaps he quit earlier rather than later realising he could get his feet back under the table in RTE.

If anything he was about meant anything, he should have quit RTE, not taken a leave of absense, otherwise his (now brief) time as a TD could be seen a worthless.

[former wesleyan]

Indakinny must be over the moon with delight as George quits ! Imagine having George out there at election time telling the truth ! Sustainable versus unsustainable taxes, water charges and so on and so on. Nightmare scenario for FG as their middle class voters grasp the significance of Georges " ideas "!!
FG will romp home now with the usual hazy manifesto.

[punchdrunk]

Yeh but George was elected by his south Dublin middle-class demographic to do something about the awful state of our nation; and instead the lamest opposition in history closeted him away in some backwater forum - safe and out of the way.

Sometimes Dave "sucking it in" is just another euphemism for "bend over"; it takes a man of backbone to stand up and say: "Enough is enough".

George Lee has a short fuse and I'm glad of it, I believe he will serve his nation yet.



Is that what you would have done? Assumed a neutral stance 'till you could jump the next bandwagon?
Character comes from conviction.
Me? I don't think George was for turning.



Trite populist clap-trap appending hackneyed sport analogy.

I have always admired George Lee's economic analysis on RTE. However he has behaved like a spoilt child. He could have remained on in the Dail as an independent. He could then have put forward his earth shattering ideas to save Ireland. Quitters are of little benefit to this country. He has left the voters of Dublin South high and dry. Ridiculous.

[Disabled student]

I have always admired George Lee's economic analysis on RTE. However he has behaved like a spoilt child. He could have remained on in the Dail as an independent. He could then have put forward his earth shattering ideas to save Ireland. Quitters are of little benefit to this country. He has left the voters of Dublin South high and dry. Ridiculous.

+1

[Toland]

He certainly does look like a quitter now. If he does go back to RTÉ this impression will become indelible.