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Noel Dempsey says Enda Kenny’s credibility as an alternative Taoiseach has been completely undermined by his inability to cite a single achievement during his career.
“The truth is he has nothing to offer but slogans and inexperience. With no record to speak of, he is not a credible Taoiseach in 21st century Ireland.”
Does he have a point?
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Not really. Do we expected every person we elect to have already held that position?
No, just to have held some position.
Making Kenny taoiseach is a bit like appointing Steve Stauton as Irish Manager. Also Tourism and trade is not exactly the most difficult portfolio
Does anyone really think that it matters?
I once heard that an empty Mercedes-Benz state car stopped & Bertie Ahern got out!
Quite possibly the stupidest argument for a while, but one that FF supporters seems quite keen on. Since when has length of service in government been a sign of competence (Martin Cullen), something that is good for the state (Ray Burke) or represent a persons ability to do something (Noel Dempsey himself)? It doesn’t. Indeed, it is an argument that is based on the idea that some groups of people are the party to govern, and reminds me a bit of teh arguments you see in the early 1990s when the Tories when scaremongering about the inexperiences opposition.
competence (Martin Cullen), something that is good for the state (Ray Burke) or represent a persons ability to do something (Noel Dempsey himself)
Thing is we know about Cullen, Burke and Dempsey and wouldn’t vote for them to be Taoiseach. We don’t know what Enda is like.
Steve Stauton might be a great manager. But we just don’t know.
reminds me a bit of teh arguments you see in the early 1990s when the Tories when scaremongering about the inexperiences opposition.
A very fair point.
Well, there was a time when the Tories tried using this about Blair and so on in the run up to the election in Britain in ’97. Didn’t work as the people were so cheesed off with the Tories they would have elected a man in a white suit. Oh, hang on they did. We’re electing a Taoiseach not a President and in our system the Taoiseach is the one who has to ensure the ministers are able to do their jobs and deal with them if they aren’t up to it. And for all Bertie the dealmakers rep. while in trade and emplyoment or Labour or whatever it was called and his time as minister for Finance, he has failed as Taoiseach in managing his ministers and holding them to account. And he was only minister for 7 years before become party leader. Compared to Haughey who a minister for a great many years but does that mean he was better?
He actually has a valid point. Kenny seemingly appeared out of nowhere despite being a td for 20 odd years. Since being selected as FG leader his public speaking has improved but he is still slightly cring inducing. Aslo he seems not to be able to speak off the cuff without reducing into inane cliche and platitudes.
The comparsion with Blair isn’t very apt. Blair was elected young and had a rapid rise to the top over a ten year period in a very competive field of potential labour leaders to become a leading global politican.
Kenny got elected due to his fathers death in the 70′s and appears to have said and done nothing for two and a bit decades. I recall that during the “Legalise shooting Travellers” debate over the John Ward killing the FG press office wheeled out a Traveller from Kenny’s constituency to state he was a decent man and had been trying to get him a house, ipso facto Kenny cares, but is tough on crime. Big Joe from Liveline enquired for how long he was tryint to get him accomadated and the Traveller, thinking that he was helping, proudly stated “14 years.”
I mean this clown can’t even get one Traveller family accomdated and he wants to run the country.
Bit of a fool.
SOS is still bery cranky, isn’t he.
Well, the Blair comparison isn’t great since many people don’t really want to be compared to Blair these days anyway. I’m not sure that a rapid rise is something you can do over ten years.
I’m not all that sure I would judge someone on their ability to get a Traveller family housed. After all, it’s not like we’re electing princes of the realm who are there to instruct those in charge of housing lists what to do. Otherwise why employ anyone to assess the cases?
BERY BERY!!!
bery funny
The Blair comparison is not as apt as the Kinnock one. He managed to lose two elections to the Tories, and rightly so. Will Good Ol’ Kenny Boy be around long enough to lose twice?
SOS. I’ll see your beriberi and raise you one kwashiorkor
What this country needs is a leader with fire in their belly, not a feeble compromiser who seems to want to be Minister Of Foreign Affairs, instead of Taoiseach.
Someone capable of taking decisions & sticking with the consequences.
Someone honest, whose word can be relied upon.
Someone who can face down vested interest groups, such as the trade unions; police; the legal profession; taxi drivers; Vincent Safaria; groups who burn US planes; schoolteachers; and the sundry others that have been bankrolling FF & corrupting the body politic.
Someone of the stature of Mary Harney.
Some who can spell very!
SOS,
That reads almost like a manfesto.
ps
SOS,
I don’t know why you’re fixated on Bertie’s role in foreign relations but you must be aware of Article 28(2) and Article 29(4) of our Constitution. The Taoiseach is head of government.
Have you got kuru?