Election 2011 Offical Thread.

[muppet]

Despicable cowardice from Indah Kinny invoking suicide as an excuse -- ducking out of a leaders' debate blaming Vincent Browne, saying that he'll never have anything to do with him after he once joked that Kenny should go into a dark room with a bottle of whiskey and a revolver (during the depths of his unpopularity). Brave man, I'm sure the leaders of the ECB and IMF are quaking at the thought of him as Taoiseach.

You can always watch American idol if you need a fix on that sort of thing.

Staged TV debates are to IMF bailouts what Gazza is to quantum physics.

We are going to default shortly and the people want theatre!

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Despicable cowardice from Indah Kinny invoking suicide as an excuse -- ducking out of a leaders' debate blaming Vincent Browne, saying that he'll never have anything to do with him after he once joked that Kenny should go into a dark room with a bottle of whiskey and a revolver (during the depths of his unpopularity). Brave man, I'm sure the leaders of the ECB and IMF are quaking at the thought of him as Taoiseach.

You can always watch American idol if you need a fix on that sort of thing.

He was disastrous in the last one, and that was against one Bertie Ahern FFS.

Someone with political leadership aspirations does not evade political commentators, they confront them head on.

Once again we're reminded, as if it were needed, why Kenny is wholly unsuitable to be the premier of any political jurisdiction (with the sole exception, perhaps, of legoland).

We are going to default shortly and the people want theatre!

Missing the point: we need real leaders, not cowards.

[Denn Forever]

It'll be interesting to see the Debate on TV3.  Will Vincent Brown be taking part and what is the namen of the party he leads

[Bogball XV]

As a matter of interest, on the prediction thread most people reckon the greens will get a seat, who?  Sargent has to be the only one with a shout at all?

Not easy to say BBXV, whichever seat they pick up will be on the final count, so there'll be a few of them in that particular mix.

On the law of averages (of being in or around the reckoning for the final distributions) they should pick up at least one.

I don't think they'll be in many final counts tbh, they are absolutely fcuked imo, unfortunately I see that paddypower make them only 8/13 to take no seats, i'll pass on that for the minute.

Kenny has made an awful mess of this debate thingy, blaming vincent brown gives him no credibility with anyone who fancies themselves as being interested in politics.  Brown has been the best broadcaster over the past 3 years by miles, he understands what's being going on from bertie's tribunal tribulations through guarantee and onto the default inevitability.  He's not been afraid to ask the tough questions, which is why so few top line politicians will go anywhere near him.

[Ulick]

Mick Wallace just declared on Vinny that he's going to stand in Wexford. Fair play to him. Probably puts an end to SF hopes there but I'd love to see Howlin dumped out on his arse as well.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

It gets considerably worse for Kenny: apparently VB apologised the day after the whiskey & gun jibe, and did so additionally in writing to FG, whereupon they (including Kenny) drew a line under it and accepted the apology. Moreover, the Broadcasting Complaints Commission subsequently exonerated Browne completely; in other words it was a complete non-issue.

Now, suddenly, Kenny is resurrecting it as a vehicle for his reluctance to engage in televised debate. Curious that this is Kenny's first public pronouncement on the very serious issue of suicide in Ireland in this campaign -- he obviously didn't think it serious enough to include in a statement of manifesto intent, or even a public utterance prior to this.

It seems too that any time he has met Browne in the pub they both socialised in (since the jibe), this was never mentioned.

He's not fit.

[NetNitrate]

Remember after last election debate Mary O'Rourke saying that Bertie didn't just beat Enda, he "shkelped him!"

He did. Bertie and his party then went on to shkelp the country.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Remember after last election debate Mary O'Rourke saying that Bertie didn't just beat Enda, he "shkelped him!"

He did. Bertie and his party then went on to shkelp the country.

True.

So why doesn't Kenny come out now and admit/assert the truth about the uselessness of debates, instead of hiding behind a "suicide" remark?

[Pangurban]

Kenny and FG are not fit to be placed in charge of a Sweetie Shop, yet alone a Country, but the Dub4 media will continue to push the line that there is no viable alternative and a gullible electorate will buy it

[Bord na Mona man]

Richard Bruton beating Kenny would have been a better outcome for Fine Gael in terms of electability.
Perhaps not for the internal party organisation though.

It is disappointing that Noonan is now offering a bail out for negative equity mortgage. This is a vote buying exercise, just like his plan to bail out taxi drivers and Eircom shareholders in 2002. The money just isn't there. Regardless of the wrongs that caused these situations came about, the state can't be a nanny to everybody either.

[muppet]

Despicable cowardice from Indah Kinny invoking suicide as an excuse -- ducking out of a leaders' debate blaming Vincent Browne, saying that he'll never have anything to do with him after he once joked that Kenny should go into a dark room with a bottle of whiskey and a revolver (during the depths of his unpopularity). Brave man, I'm sure the leaders of the ECB and IMF are quaking at the thought of him as Taoiseach.

You can always watch American idol if you need a fix on that sort of thing.

He was disastrous in the last one, and that was against one Bertie Ahern FFS.

Someone with political leadership aspirations does not evade political commentators, they confront them head on.

Once again we're reminded, as if it were needed, why Kenny is wholly unsuitable to be the premier of any political jurisdiction (with the sole exception, perhaps, of legoland).

We are going to default shortly and the people want theatre!

Missing the point: we need real leaders, not cowards.

Missing the point?

Q: Why do FF only want a 3 way debate?
A: Because they are losing votes to SF and don't want them there.

Q: Why do FG want a 5 way debate?
A: They are not losing votes to SF and see it as another front for FF to have to defend.

This has nothing to with debating and everything to do with politics.

we need real leaders, not cowards.

Please contact my publicists, Hook, Line and Sinker. Sadly you are not alone.

[muppet]

The banks are raising the variable interest rates accelerating their (and by default our) own financial problems.
The banks are telling Noonan to shove his plan for them. (Indo reporting it as an embarrassment for Noonan - it isn't, he can say do it or I'll shut you down if he wins the election - The Indo also reported his plan to close Anglo from the job losses angle only - not the it has already bankrupted the country angle)
The banks owe another €50 Billion to our central bank that no one knows who will pick up the tab (most likely that the Irish taxpayer will)
The ECB is saying our interest rate for the bailout might go UP

But the big issue in Ireland is a f*cking debate on a 3rd rate TV channel!

I am growing increasingly convinced that this stupid country will put FF back in. That will be interpreted as the public endorsing the banking policy to date and endorsing the bailout out developers and bankers and games of golf in Druid Glen.

The reason we are bankrupt is because of the way we voted in the last two GEs. We are stupid enough to do it again.

[NetNitrate]

Remember after last election debate Mary O'Rourke saying that Bertie didn't just beat Enda, he "shkelped him!"

He did. Bertie and his party then went on to shkelp the country.

True.

So why doesn't Kenny come out now and admit/assert the truth about the uselessness of debates, instead of hiding behind a "suicide" remark?

Well he is going to participate on two debates - one 5 way and one 3 way. There's only ever been one debate on the past and on one occasion FF (Haughey) refused to take part, and on a second occasion Bertie only agreed to participate near election day when it was too late to have a drastic effect on voting intentions. This year FF and Labour want 3 ways debates all over the place (RTE, SKY, TV3, TG4) because they are the parties with most to gain in three way debates from FG's current lead in the polls, due to the fact that the dogs in the street know Kenny is not a good tV performer. However, FF and Labour would have a lot to lose in five way dates, mostly from Sinn Fein. I think the media - rife with FFers - are running with the Kenny the coward of the county story, however. The Indo will have a field day tomorrow with this.

[Denn Forever]

Remember after last election debate Mary O'Rourke saying that Bertie didn't just beat Enda, he "shkelped him!"

He did. Bertie and his party then went on to shkelp the country.

True.

So why doesn't Kenny come out now and admit/assert the truth about the uselessness of debates, instead of hiding behind a "suicide" remark?

Well he is going to participate on two debates - one 5 way and one 3 way. There's only ever been one debate on the past and on one occasion FF (Haughey) refused to take part, and on a second occasion Bertie only agreed to participate near election day when it was too late to have a drastic effect on voting intentions. This year FF and Labour want 3 ways debates all over the place (RTE, SKY, TV3, TG4) because they are the parties with most to gain in three way debates from FG's current lead in the polls, due to the fact that the dogs in the street know Kenny is not a good tV performer. However, FF and Labour would have a lot to lose in five way dates, mostly from Sinn Fein. I think the media - rife with FFers - are running with the Kenny the coward of the county story, however. The Indo will have a field day tomorrow with this.[/size]

And only the Business Post there to provide another analysis/viewpoint.

[muppet]

O'Driscoll try, who else?

Despite some poor decision making by O'Leary but with players like Earls, Fitzgerald and Sexton we can get away with it, today.