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PD Leader Has Made His Choice…Again
Read more about: Bertiegate, Coalition, Fianna Fail, Government, Irish Election, Irish Politics, Progressive Democrats, Scandal 
This is old news now of course, but in the interests of picking up where I left off, I feel I should comment on the PDs in relation to Bertiegate.
Michael McDowell really did reveal his true colours in the end. After threatening to pull out of the Government in 2006, he criticised the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern for accepting money from businessmen in 1993 and 1994 and called it “unethical” and “an error of judgement” and said that the money must be “repaid with interest”. This statement was derided by the Opposition who correctly saw it as the determination of Michael McDowell deciding to keep Fianna Fáíl in power, in order that he himself could remain in power in his recently accquired role of Táinaiste.
As if this wasn’t damaging enough for the PD’s, a similar event occured in the early stages of this election. Yet again, we saw recent history repeat itself in the early days of the 2007 General Election campaign. When the Bertie gate scandal rear its head yet again, Michael McDowell once more threatened to pull out of Government. Yet again, he changed his mind after deciding that it would be better to keep Fianna Fáil in power and himself in power as Tánaiste.
For an individual who practically won his seat in the 2002 General Election by climbing a lamp-post to hang a poster reading “Single Party Government? NO Thanks!” written on it, McDowell has walked all over that statement. He has chosen twice within six months to keep Fianna Fáil in power despite glaring indications that there are still ethical problems within Fianna Fáil.
It is my view that on May 27th, the people of Ireland will tell Michael McDowell and his party, the Progressive Democrats that such behaviour is inexcusable – if one seat is retained by the party, Michael McDowell should be happy. If two seats are retained by the party, Michael McDowell should be profoundly greatful.
People need to Vote PD if for no other reason to give prople something to complain about.
McDowell is great especially compared to a characterless robot like Trevor Sargent or Enda Kenny
I can’t say I agree. McDowell is a poor leader and has been shown to make poor decisions. And I don’t think Sargent or Kenny are robots – they have plenty of character.
What A Load of Old Bollocks.
Michael McDowell will top the poll in Dublin South East. The PDs will retain 7 of their seats.
and when they do the country should be grateful.
Its all about the economy and no one can argue with 4% unemployment and Zero emigration. When it comes down to it the people of Dublin SE, S, Dunlaoire, Galway, Limerick will vote with their pockets. It isn’t about bertie’s house, it never was.
PDs are going down the jacks. They’ve made no improvements on the Health Service, the prisons are a mess, and people, in general are disgusted by Harney and McDowell.
They should have stepped down and let others lead the party…
This will be a crazy election and just about anything could happen but one thing is for sure: The PDs will be in opposition and they will lose seats.
I reckon the PDs will maintain 3 or 4 of their seats – Harney, McDowell, Liz, and Tom Parlon. The others are too marginal to call. If they do get in they’ll be lucky.
>and when they do the country should be grateful.
That is a highly arrogant statement to be honest with you. Makes you sound like a prat, and doesn’t do you or the PDs any justice. I mean no offence by that because I imagine it was not your intention to give that image.
“If they do get in they’ll be lucky.”
I say if they get in it will be voter fraud or a miracle of biblical proportions.
“and when they do the country should be grateful”
Spoken like a true PD. In fact, spoken like McDowell himself!
But is Bertie hinting that he would resign to keep a coalition together?
Mr Ahern also said he might not be in the equation of forming a new government himself
http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0522/election.html
It will come down in many seats to transfers and FF will transfer to PD’s. Elimination of a FF candidate in a tight seat will transfer to FF and then PD. The idea that the PD’s will be thrashed has been around since Des O’Malley made the break and it hasn’t happened yet.
xm..made me think…
The PD’s give you jobs and decent looking women from Poland and you show no gratitude.
Shame on you all.
Michael McDOwell decreased the top rate of tax and INCREASED VAT (tax on milk and bread).
That is genuis stuff, redistribution towards the top.
One hopes the Irish people will give their answer.
Most of the electorate do no care about this issue. They are more concerned with how the country will be governed in the next 5 yrs than something that happened in 1994. Only the chattering-classes and the ethics-nazis in the media consider Bertie’s house to be of any great relevance.
Brian Boru, surely the pds should care about bertie financing of his house. It deeply unconventional and as the self styled watchdog with ethics it should be of great relevance to them.
Master Boru,
The Good News. Captain Willard has been notified by the Darwin Award selection committee.
Our nomination of the PD brain trust has been short-listed for next year’s competition.
Well,in light of the PD habit of scraping by, scraping the bottom of barrels and assiduously grasping scraps of encouragement I must congratulate your leader. On radio yesterday he appealed to the SILENT MAJORITY in Ireland. Indeed, why not base your mandate on the closet vote?!
Remember, Richard Nixon performed ‘miracles’ with that mandate. But then he held great symmetry with the closet.
Tell us…. where has the “slump coalition” soundbite gone? Did someone point out that thanks to PD governance 10-15 thousand manufacturing/export jobs have been exchanged for hot ticket careers in bagel toasting …. or milk steaming? Really great jobs that stimulate exports from our sewage treatment plants.
Thank God the statistics appear to confirm that cocaine dealers are thriving.
A billion worth of GIST from the Kings Inns clique who will soon gain legal rights of way in the grounds of Dublin Castle!
A billion and counting to obscure the depravity of that dirty little problem we once called the Lafoy Commission !
The stupifying ineptitudes and profligacy of the Harney circus that replaced the Health Boards.
Petrol prices are racing up and inflation will soon give chase. The PDs say: Oi, have a bagel.
PUTZ
McDowell chickened out on Bertiegate I and II, Chicken Wing government? No Thanks!