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kustomkarkommando posted:Kenny has finally bit the bullet and announced his resignation as party leader effective from midnight tonight. Na na na na, hey-eyyyy-ey..... I'm positive that all he wanted was to hang on long enough to grab the title of Longest Serving Head oval office. Good riddance to the prick
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May 17, 2017 17:32
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WeAreTheRomans posted:Na na na na, hey-eyyyy-ey..... If Varadkar wins we're all going to be longing for the days of Enda. Hes dangerously right wing, even by Fine Gael standards. A firm believer in US style gently caress You, Got Mine screw the poor politics by all accounts.
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May 17, 2017 22:43
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Blut posted:If Varadkar wins we're all going to be longing for the days of Enda. I'm still half sceptical that Leo believes in anything, the sudden slew of policy orientated stuff is clearly designed to dispel the image of Leo the silent man who talks a good game but remains oddly inscrutable In saying that, his decision to tie his fortunes to THE FREE MARKET, SCROUNGERS, WORKING PEOPLE, SMALL GOVERNMENT doesn't bode well
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May 18, 2017 10:19
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Which sack of poo poo does everyone think will get it?
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May 18, 2017 10:27
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Notwithstanding the fact he's a Fine Gael politician and everything that comes along with that, is Varadkar that bad? I don't keep up with Irish politics as well as I should given the shitstorm that's happening in US/UK atm I know Coveney hosed the renters so he's probably done more personal harm to me.
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May 18, 2017 10:29
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lemonadesweetheart posted:Which sack of poo poo does everyone think will get it? Varadkar. A political opportunist in the Kenny mold, utterly hitched to the prevailing political wind
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May 18, 2017 10:44
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Entropy238 posted:Notwithstanding the fact he's a Fine Gael politician and everything that comes along with that, is Varadkar that bad? I don't keep up with Irish politics as well as I should given the shitstorm that's happening in US/UK atm Well there's his recent campaign to name and shame fraudulent benefit claimants, which has roundly been condemned, and this lovely explanation he gave for his tax plan: leo posted:Too often, we have allowed Irish society to be divided into one group of people who pay for everything but get little in return due to means-tests, and another group who believe they should be entitled to everything for free and that someone else should pay for it http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/ill-cut-tax-on-middle-incomes-varadkar-turns-focus-to-tax-cuts-35563931.html Of course he's keen on cutting income tax, changing the bands to exclude more middle income owners, he's keen on the "Ireland is a high tax country" canard (it isn't) and his welfare reform ideas focus on merging usc and prsi at an increased rate to fund new contribution based in work benefits extended to the self employed - reward the hard workers not the spongers!!! He is keen on people having "freedom to order their lives" and "economic opportunity" which he's left vague and makes me break out in a cold sweat at the possible implications
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May 18, 2017 10:45
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Though of course I think coveney still supports scrapping USC and cutting income tax anyway
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May 18, 2017 10:52
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Varadkars rhetoric comes straight from the Tory handbook. The name/shame stuff, the guff about freedom and economic opportunity and all that bollocks. It's worked for the Torys he doesnt see why it wouldn't work for him. Its a toss up between two different flavours of neoliberal fuckhead. Traditional rural catholic. Gay urbane catholic.
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May 18, 2017 10:53
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There's an inkling Coveney may resurrect the FG pledge for universal health insurance that was dropped under Varadkars time as health minister. It fits his vague "one nation" conservatism what with his rent control scheme
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May 18, 2017 10:56
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Coveney comes across as less of a prick in person. Otherwise there isn't much to say better for worse.
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May 18, 2017 11:16
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Is there any chance anyone else will run against these fucks?
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May 18, 2017 11:17
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kustomkarkommando posted:I'm still half sceptical that Leo believes in anything, the sudden slew of policy orientated stuff is clearly designed to dispel the image of Leo the silent man who talks a good game but remains oddly inscrutable Aside from Varadkar's recent social welfare demonization act you've mentioned, during the height of the recession he was also the strongest voice in Fine Gael (!) in favour of service cuts instead of tax rises. He essentially wanted to completely gut public services instead of raising taxes. Hes also lobbied heavily in favour of reducing taxes since 'the recovery'. Coveney is a traditional Fine Gael centre-right person. He'd only half heartedly screw the poor, more as collateral damage than with deliberate targeting. Varadkar on the other hand would fit straight into the hard-right wing of the Republican party in the US. Hes a true believer. He'll lower taxes as much as possible, cut services to the bone, and try to blame poor people for everything.
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May 18, 2017 11:23
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lemonadesweetheart posted:Is there any chance anyone else will run against these fucks? Fitzgerald ruled herself out his morning. Paschal Donohoe is staying clear. Only other potential runner being talked about is Richard Bruton
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May 18, 2017 11:28
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I feel sick thinking that Bruton would be a better choice than either of those other two twats.
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May 18, 2017 11:31
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Noonan says he's not returning to any new cabinet
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May 18, 2017 11:48
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Bruton's ruled himself out. It's the Leo show now
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May 18, 2017 12:12
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Et tu bruton?
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May 18, 2017 12:17
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Is the leader of FG selected by the TDs or will they have an election like Labour did?
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May 18, 2017 12:35
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Badger of Basra posted:Is the leader of FG selected by the TDs or will they have an election like Labour did? It's convoluted. 65% of the votes go to the parlimentary party, 10% to councillors and then the rest to party members or something like that.
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May 18, 2017 12:40
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Badger of Basra posted:Is the leader of FG selected by the TDs or will they have an election like Labour did? Its a weighted electoral college (bit like Labour pre one man one vote); TDs/senators/MEPs get 65% of the vote, Councillors 10% and normal members 25%. Leo is considered favourite to win the parliamentary party vote, Coveney looks like he may inch out ahead on the membership vote but not by a huge margin (last poll of FG voters gave him a 5% lead over Leo) - and the college system means that wouldn't secure it. The Irish times put up a leadership tracker last night which will monitor declarations of support from parliamentary party members and projected support, gives Leo a small edge on early declarations https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/fg-leadership-race
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May 18, 2017 12:44
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Pascal Donohoe and Charlie Flanagan have both endorsed Leo. Coveney not looking too hot
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May 19, 2017 10:16
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Leo's at 35% support and Coveney at 19% now according to the IT's leadership tracker. Still lots of undecideds though, hopefully they make a late break for Coveney.
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May 19, 2017 12:43
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Blut posted:Leo's at 35% support and Coveney at 19% now according to the IT's leadership tracker. Still lots of undecideds though, hopefully they make a late break for Coveney. I'd say it will be Leo tbh
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May 19, 2017 13:00
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Blut posted:Leo's at 35% support and Coveney at 19% now according to the IT's leadership tracker. Still lots of undecideds though, hopefully they make a late break for Coveney. Apart from Simon Harris Coveney's front bench support is a bit thin - Leo picking up Bruton and Flanagan this early are significant boosts (Donohoe was expected, seems like he's been offered the finance brief based on rumour). Chief whip is expected to declare for Leo as well, Noonan and Kenny will be staying silent for diplomatic purposes (though I don't think its much of a secret they'd prefer Coveney) so without a big front bench name coveney might struggle for momentum - seems to be focusing on the membership vote, his true blue credentials play slightly better in the heartlands than a Dub
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May 19, 2017 13:20
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I really hope it's not Leo just for all the poo poo we're going to have to read from liberals about how we're such a progressive country with a gay head of state who is probably just going to keep kicking the can of societal failings down the road for 20 years into the future.
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May 19, 2017 15:03
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Don't forget the think pieces on the end of civil war politics To be honest Leo winning and nudging FG to complete the transformation into a more recognisably right wing liberal conservative party that wouldn't be out of place elsewhere in Europe or the anglosphere will widen the distance between FG and FF so the foggy traditional policy by policy "centrist" consensus will become weaker than its ever been and you'll be able to tell FF and FG apart without as much squinting and history books Might not be such a bad thing if it gives domestic politics a shot in the arm? That is if people begin to recognise what passes for the centre here is actually low tax conservatism...
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May 19, 2017 15:22
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Only if we can get headlines like Gay Irish Prime Minister meets President Pence and his wife
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May 19, 2017 15:25
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As a northerner I naturally lust for confrontation and political turmoil
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May 19, 2017 15:25
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kustomkarkommando posted:To be honest Leo winning and nudging FG to complete the transformation into a more recognisably right wing liberal conservative party that wouldn't be out of place elsewhere in Europe or the anglosphere will widen the distance between FG and FF so the foggy traditional policy by policy "centrist" consensus will become weaker than its ever been and you'll be able to tell FF and FG apart without as much squinting and history books That would be good thing. I was at a debate in DCU and Noel Rock was abashed that someone called his party the "Irish Tories". I think the Irish (and Scottish) in general just dislike the idea of being or voting a "conservative", even if they agree with their policies. Now if Labour could do the same but for the left... They're pretty analogous to the LibDems in the UK atm.
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May 19, 2017 15:30
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Jesus for all the build up to this contest seems like Coveney has been completely and utterly outmanoeuvred by Leo. Leo picked up Frances Fitzgerald who endorsed him at his campaign launch. He's secured the backing of the majority of the parliamentary party and already has 44% of the total electorate sewed up in his favour. Looks like old Simon may be getting cold feet... Irish Times posted:Minister for Housing Simon Coveney is consulting with his party colleagues to discuss withdrawing from Fine Gael contest. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/coveney-considers-conceding-as-varadkar-in-pole-position-1.3090653?mode=amp You had like six months to get ready for this simon cmon kustomkarkommando fucked around with this message at 14:35 on May 20, 2017 |
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May 20, 2017 14:26
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Maybe he doesn't really want it anymore as you say
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May 20, 2017 15:26
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julian assflange posted:Maybe he doesn't really want it anymore as you say Leo did just say he would have a place in his cabinet if he won... 
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May 20, 2017 15:38
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What is their relationship like?
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May 20, 2017 15:48
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I'm none too keen on Varadkar's aping of the Tories, but why the hell are the gombeens TDs picking such a young leader (he's 38), whose only accomplishment in a senior ministry is surviving it? Also, I'm putting on my cynic hat here, but what are the odds of FF doing a huge dogwhistle campaign in rural Ireland to whip up the anti-gay vote against Varadkar?
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May 20, 2017 17:32
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School Nickname posted:I'm none too keen on Varadkar's aping of the Tories, but why the hell are the gombeens TDs picking such a young leader (he's 38), whose only accomplishment in a senior ministry is surviving it? He's popular, I think the last poll that was done showed that a Varadkar lead FG could see a 6% swing away from FF - he directly appeals to the aspirational mid-30s commuter belt voting bloc who's swing away from FF was directly linked to their loss of power. He looks and sounds like a generational shift for the tiger generation. He's roughly the median age, he's not a legacy true blue FG man like Coveney and he'll carry the Dublin middle class vote And ultimately the priority of most governments has been surviving rather than accomplishing transformation ...
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May 20, 2017 17:52
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School Nickname posted:I'm none too keen on Varadkar's aping of the Tories, but why the hell are the gombeens TDs picking such a young leader (he's 38), whose only accomplishment in a senior ministry is surviving it? I thought the real culchies were pretty firmly entrenched in their respective Civil War camps either way, with most of the vacillation happening in the cities and commuter regions
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May 20, 2017 18:07
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https://twitter.com/rtenews/status/866024306907676677 Coveney's staying in. Also, Paddy Power has suspended all betting on the FG leadership contest. Coveney needs to win like 70% of the votes of members & councillors and he's still trailing Leo in councillors according to the times tracker...
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May 20, 2017 22:25
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Coveney's policy doc, bit light but one or two bits:quote:I am publishing a Bill to establish a new AntiCorruption and Transparency Commission (“ACT”) on a permanent footing. The Chief Commissioner will be conferred with the full powers of a High Court judge to enhance and strengthen the ability to identify, bring to account and prosecute serious public sector corruption and wrong-doing. I want to make sure that individuals are both encouraged and empowered to come forward and report suspected wrongdoing... Also stuff about tackling health inequality cause its bad (no policy suggestion), jobless households cause they are bad (no policy suggestions) and setting green energy targets. Typical FG obsession with cutting the headline income tax rate to stimulate COMPETITION (ignoring the vanishingly low social insurance taxes that leaves Ireland with a small tax wedge compared to every other European country). The commitment to infrastructure spending does single him out as being a bit more Just Society than old Leo is known for, some general noises about reducing inequality as well with no actual meat. The PWA idea is loving ghastily though. Should tip you off if you know Iain Duncan Smith is one of their more robust champions in the UK. Leo due to publish some policy things tomorrow
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May 21, 2017 20:38
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Cut the taxes high income earners pay, reduce the pensions poor people get. And thats from the less right-wing candidate. And thats what hes openly campaigning with, nevermind what he thinks/pushes behind closed doors.  I await Leo's with worried breath.
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May 21, 2017 22:01
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