08.23.07
Rabbitte
Hey some news!
The right thing to do I think. Politics here is sooooo dull right now. We need a change. That means no Howlin or Gilmore. They maybe sincere etc but would bore us into a stupor. I think Liz should step up. She has the poise required.
I don’t suppose there is any hope a NEW party….what would we call it?
Tomaltach said,
August 23, 2007 at 3:16 pm
It really was some election. Effectively it claimed 3 party leaders – McDowell, Seargent, and now Rabitte. Furthermore, Adams was more or less humiliated, and Enda Kenny done well to rebuild his party vote but let’s face it, looked perfectly unfit for Taoiseach. All that leaves only one man standing – the one up to his neck in allegations of financial skullduggery. Extraordinary!
Darren Mac an PhrÃora said,
August 23, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Howlin and Gilmore would be great leaders.
Conall said,
August 23, 2007 at 4:34 pm
I think Joan Burton is your dark horse for change Sarah. More on my blog.
Thnaks for the great writing.
Conall
Paul Newton said,
August 23, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Time to get the Red flag flying again methinks,
We’re all sick of these third way mainstream carbon copy clintonesque blairite spindoctoring opinion poll travesties that the major parties have become.
Joe Higgins as leader of a new left leaning labour.
(we’re more likely to get Joe shaggin Costello)
Paul said,
August 23, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Well put Tomaltach — i’m thinking of becomming a party leader myself with imminent effect.. I hear they are hiring graduates.
Colman said,
August 23, 2007 at 8:35 pm
We could call a new party “New Labour”. It has a nice ring to it.
The Crewser said,
August 23, 2007 at 10:32 pm
No surprise that the vanquished Mayo man decided to throw in th towel. He really was left with no option. There will be a second Mayo casualty later perhaps next year on the FG side. Joan Burton is an absolute no hoper. She would destroy the Party to a greater extent than Rabbitte did. Liz McManus is not a realistic proposition. Too much earned from medical cards in that family. We are really left with two Howlin and Gilmore. Both have serious baggage Howlin from the blood tribunal (and some other minor matters) and Gilmore from De Rossa association. But if Rabbitte with all his history was considered good enough then the money must be on Gilmore. He’s articulate and will alienate quite a few of the old guard but then so did Rabbitte. Deck chairs and the Titanic spring (no pun Intended) to mind.
John said,
August 23, 2007 at 11:43 pm
I think that in the final analysis it will boil down to a fight between Eamon Gilmore and Brendan Howlin. Liz McManus would certainly make a good leader. However it is doubtful if she has the required depth of support. I could be wrong. Joan Burton might fancy her chances. Willie Penrose could play a decisive role in the outcome. He could be a powerbroker. He has a huge political machine in Longford-Westmeath.
Head Rambles » Blog Archive » The rise of the Libertarians said,
August 24, 2007 at 8:58 am
[...] Carey over at GUBU suggests what we need is a new political party. How right she [...]
The Crewser said,
August 24, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Let’s not discount Emmett Stagg in the hunt for leader. He knows his way around the Park and would have no difficulty getting to the Aras to collect his seal of office if such ever arose.
Andrew said,
August 24, 2007 at 3:29 pm
For those unfamiliar with Fianna Fail humour, I think the Crewser was attempting a joke there. For those, like the Crewser, who are unfamiliar with irony, consider his choice of pseudonym.
Paul Newton said,
August 25, 2007 at 8:45 pm
superb crewser….seal of what?… i see you can’t spell either
The Crewser said,
August 26, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Back to school with you Paul. I think it is your good self who needs to get the dictionary out. Just had a geat few days at the Humbert Summer School in Mayo and stayed in the brand new Diamond Coast Hotel in Enniscrone. Scorching weather and a nice G&T. What more could one want.
Sarah said,
August 27, 2007 at 11:39 am
sounds nice Crewser. I must check out those Summer Schools myself. I am just back from four glorious days in Schull. Well worth the trip.
Sigh the mini break season in now over…
Tomaltach said,
August 27, 2007 at 2:25 pm
The new party would fail to make a breakthrough for the same reason as Labour has failed. Without doubt, Labour are doomed to be the also rans of Irish politics.
http://fichefocal.blogspot.com/2007/08/labour-is-doomed-to-subordinate-role.html
Gordon Davies said,
August 27, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Crewser’s comment on John McManus’s earnings from the treatment of the poorer members of society is outrageous. As a doctor John could earn far more money treating private patients as do so many of his medical colleagues who have little or no social conscience and an overwhelming love of the filthy lucre. John has set up a thriving practise, in collaboration with a large pluri-disciplinary team, that treats a majority of medical card patients. As a result his earnings come largely from Medical Card fees, an iniquitous system that as a Labour Party member he wishes to replace with a more efficiant and equitable system. Over the years he has also given generously of his time to assist with innovative public health schemes, including an ambitious and effective campaign to reduce the use of hard drugs in the Bray area.
Whatever Howlin and Gilmore’s pecadillos in the past there is little to compare with the sordid and continuing history fo corruption, graft and abuse of power that characterise FF.
An apology would be appropriate.
Gordon
The Crewser said,
August 27, 2007 at 4:55 pm
It’s all a question of how somebody is viewed by their electoral base and potential new voters. As Gordon will know Labours base is small enough already. Somebody like Liz McManus or Brendan Howlin would, without a doubt shrink that base even more. Personally I would like to see Joan Burton taking over but I know that will not happen. Despite her whingy voice she would not alienate the stakeholder classes like Rabbitte. Gilmore has an almost identical CV to Pat Rabbitte. It would be expecting a little too much to expect any major re-branding under this disciple of De Rossa. Leopards don’t change their spots. Gordons snide comments at the end don’t warrant an answer and no apology is necessary either.
blankpaige said,
August 27, 2007 at 10:02 pm
New Party Name? How about “Another Really Useless Anti-FF Party”
leon said,
August 28, 2007 at 8:20 am
How about a ‘unionist party’, rejoin the rest of the isles, that should satisfy the left with the provision of a more adeqaute, although still inadequate, wellfare state, allow multiculturalism, abortion, contraception for teens, etc, etc, this should also satisfy the right by promoting the privatisation of all semi-states within the larger ‘home’ market, reduction in labour costs, increased competition. The only barriers the Euro and 1916-1930 type thinking that binds the culchies and our principal (no-principles) centrist parties, and the ridiculous electoral biase to rural over urban.
A united banner for liberals and capitalists. Unfortunately this is what a centrist UK party sounds like and the nordies would be revolting.
Darren Mac an PhrÃora said,
August 28, 2007 at 12:26 pm
The reason Labour did not grow much from the 80’s on (maybe the 70’s?) is because in the 80’s their youth wing was dominated by Joe Higgins’s supporters. Since the SP has been in existence a significant number of young people who were left-leaning joined the SP instead of Labour. The SP has I bet proportionally the highest turnover of members leaving the party. These people usually- because of the rigid system that the SP promote- get turned off politics. In his 10 years in the Dáil Joe Higgins turned a lot of middle of the road people of being active in politics. He made it fashionable for many people to simply protest instead of be active.
Now that the SP have been obliterated from the Dáil I can see Labour growing. Having a new leader like Eamon Gilmore- although there are others who would make great leades- will help the party.
The Crewser said,
August 28, 2007 at 1:59 pm
I disagree Darren. Gilmore is a clone of Rabbitte in almost every respect. He is from the West of Ireland, was active in student politics, the Trade Union movement and the Workers Party. The last bit is what defines him really. If Ruari Quinn made one major mistake it was allowing the WP into Labour. The Party has not grown since. De Rossa (the cute one) has gone to Europe (where the real money is) If they put in Gilmore as they will they might as well have kept Rabbitte.There will be no significant re-branding under Gilmore. Just more of the same negative stuff which lost two elections.
All the candidates are close to getting the Bus Pass, that will not appeal to the young voters who are full of vigour and enthusiasm.
Tomaltach said,
August 28, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Crewser, you talk about rebranding. This is echoing around the airwaves for days as if a charismatic, photogenic, and perhaps youthful face can rescue Labour from the doldrums. It’s not a new face Labour needs, but a new soul. No amount of branding can change that. And in the calcified space that is Irish politics, not even a new soul with a new mission can guarantee success. In fact, they probably need forces outside of their control to deliver – be it luck or catastrophe. Something needs to give.