George Lee Quits

[corkla]

Breaking on the radio right now, shocker

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0208/leeg.html

Fine Gael TD George Lee has resigned his seat in the Dáil and has also resigned from the political party.

[frankeechops]

Fine Gael TD George Lee resigns

Monday, 8 February 2010 12:57
Fine Gael TD George Lee has resigned his seat in the Dáil and has also resigned from the political party.
In a statement, he said it had been a difficult decision.
He said he has done his best 'to play a positive role in contributing to the national debate and to efforts to find a solution for many of the country's economic problems.
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'The reality, however, is that despite my best efforts I have had virtually no influence or input into shaping Fine Gael's economic policies at this most critical time.
'The role I have been playing within the party has been very limited and I have found this to be personally unfulfilling', he added.

[frankeechops]

It appears he's just fucking the rattle out of the pram.

What a Complete and utter Gowl.

Where's Jungy when you need him?

[CORKBHOY]

Strange one to say the least. It'll be interesting to see if he'll criticise the Party now that he's left.

[Demons till I die]

It appears he's just fucking the rattle out of the pram.

What a Complete and utter Gowl.

Where's Jungy when you need him?

Agreed totally ...what a fucking clown ...did he think would join the party one week and be leader the following week or what ....This guy loves himself ....total Tit

[TonyCork80]

George could be doing FG a major favour. Enda is toast now.

[frankeechops]

Well, Who does this Richard Bruton Fella think he is like?

[ProfessorPwn]

Frankee, we all know you are a FF stooge.

[frankeechops]

Frankee, we all know you are a FF stooge.

Whats that got to do with anything? Richard Bruton is a far more experienced and able Politician and Economist. If George though the would be top dog straight away he was deluded. Now he's throwing a tantrum.

The good that may come of this may be the ending of Kenny.

[Jim Comic]

bizarre

[meg the peg]

,he's just not a hypocrite, thats all, he's too honest for politics, and very naieve, did he really think he'd be allowd have a constructive imput in this country, like, u have to be a scheming,twofaced, unassuming,ugly,thie ving,lying,cheating, whoremongering,licka rsing,bollox to be in a political role in this shithole of a country, proud to be irish, my arse, was told the other day by a foreign national that they were the new irish, i told him he was welcome to it, and i have absolutely nothing against them.

[Murdock]

The only thing he's managed to achieve now is give a boost to FF. Such a rash and petty thing to do. Fucking gowl. He's gone way down in my estimations.

[ProfessorPwn]

The only thing he's managed to achieve now is give a boost to FF. Such a rash and petty thing to do. Fucking gowl. He's gone way down in my estimations.

FG were trading off his name.
It appears he was excluded from their economic policy planning. Thats mental. What price you have the likes of Simon Coveney in on it?

Heard him a few times on the radio recently and you could tell his heart wasn't in it. I'd rather he resigned than became a stooge.

[Jaco]

,he's just not a hypocrite, thats all, he's too honest for politics, and very naieve, did he really think he'd be allowd have a constructive imput in this country, like, u have to be a scheming,twofaced, unassuming,ugly,thie ving,lying,cheating, whoremongering,licka rsing,bollox to be in a political role in this shithole of a country, proud to be irish, my arse, was told the other day by a foreign national that they were the new irish, i told him he was welcome to it, and i have absolutely nothing against them.

George Lee could have spoke up in the dail before this and treathened to quit that would have took balls, for a TD to quit the Dail after 9 months is a fucking discrace! quit the party but at least finish out your term. Did he apologise when he said he was quiting I wonder. Hopefully Enda will resign now the useless fucker.
Also if you dont like Ireland then fuck off to somewhere else?

[meg the peg]

love ireland, hate the goverment, hate the narrowminded answer that u just gave, why dont u fuck off somewhere else, like thats just typical what im talking about, that mentality, we're here for better or worse, and im committed to my country, ite the arseholes that have ran it in to the ground that fucks me over, u on about george lee apoligising, have u heard of one banker apoligising, have u heard molloy from fas apologising, have u heard bertie apologisin, i could go on and on,

[corkla]

He's on Joe Duffy now...

[Jim Comic]

he'll go back to rte or today fm as a fine gael infiltrator and do more damage to ff there then he ever could on the fg back benches

[donpoblok]

people give a lifetime to politics

a few months is nothing

there are ways and means and things take time

but what is really fucking galling (apart from all this shite about him being unable to 'fake' things (pathetic attemtp at spin there)

he now waltzes back into his old job

so, there you go. rte employees give this a lash give that a lash and then, well, if you dont like it sure your old job is waiting for you

[Golfer]

16000 people voted in a poll on Joe Duffy just now 13000 felt George was right to resign.
Hopefully Mr Charisma Enda will resign also.

Enda was afraid to use somebody like George in an economics role instead he took him around the country showing him off.

[Jaco]

love ireland, hate the goverment, hate the narrowminded answer that u just gave, why dont u fuck off somewhere else, like thats just typical what im talking about, that mentality, we're here for better or worse, and im committed to my country, ite the arseholes that have ran it in to the ground that fucks me over, u on about george lee apoligising, have u heard of one banker apoligising, have u heard molloy from fas apologising, have u heard bertie apologisin, i could go on and on,

And who voted for the goverment? we got what we deserved, it was no secret that ff were a bunch of fucking chancers. Bertie etc should not apoligies they should be fucked in jail George Lee at the very least should say sorry for wasting everybodys who voted for hims time and vote and being a general gimp. Im sure you could go on and on for hours probably with out doing anything about it? if you feel so strong about it do something. Im sick of hearing the blame game, bottom line Democracy! we voted them in we deserved them, unless we can come up with a better solution they will always be in power! fact!

[johnmcork]

And who voted for the goverment? we got what we deserved, it was no secret that ff were a bunch of fucking chancers. Bertie etc should not apoligies they should be fucked in jail George Lee at the very least should say sorry for wasting everybodys who voted for hims time and vote and being a general gimp. Im sure you could go on and on for hours probably with out doing anything about it? if you feel so strong about it do something. Im sick of hearing the blame game, bottom line Democracy! we voted them in we deserved them, unless we can come up with a better solution they will always be in power! fact!

repped

we've had fianna fail since 1987 with only a 2 yar gap. they were ELECTED!
get out and vote if you want a change.
the next election needs to show that NO SEAT in this country is safe.

[TonyCork80]

Enda is focked. Seriously.

Every paper tomorrow morning is going to have the picture with Enda arm in arm with george on the dail plinth on their front page (the one from the cover of kevin rafters book-which FG only whipped off their website a half hour ago!).

I can sympathise with Lee, I quit as a member of FG myself having joined in 2002 when it looked like we were heading for a one party state. With a few noble exceptions (Bruton on finance, O'Reilly on health, Coveney to be fair to him on energy) there was nothing in the line of policy coming out from the top, certainly no overall vision for Ireland. Or even the direction a new coalition might take it in. They just felt they could sit back and watch FF fuck it up. the braver thing to do would to have been to try to lead. Well unfortunately they proved today that nobody does a fuckup quite like FG and I'm pretty sure Zanu-FF knew this all along.

I'll still vote FG, simply because they are the only party who can be trusted not to vote for Brian Cowen as taoiseach. But while thats enough of a reason at this point in time to vote for them, it wasn't enough to warrant staying a member, IMO.

[TonyCork80]

repped

we've had fianna fail since 1987 with only a 2 yar gap. they were ELECTED!
get out and vote if you want a change.
the next election needs to show that NO SEAT in this country is safe.

Good points, but even Bertie who apparently "everybody loved" never even came close to having a majority of the people vote FF. The reality is a clear majority of people (in and around 55 to 60%,AFAIK) have voted for parties other than FF and PD at the last 3 elections, yet because of the system, they govern. Winning an Irish election is a strange thing to do, as FG well know!

[jd26]

While it doesn't look good for Enda, it in no way puts Richard Bruton in a better position to replace him.

Bruton heads up Fine Gael's economic team and completely failed to integrate George Lee into it.

One of the criticisms of Bruton has always been that for all his economic prowess, he's never been much of a team leader. In the same way that great footballers have flopped in management, while mediocre players like Ferguson, Wenger and Mourinho have done the job fantastically, there's always been doubts over whether Bruton is cut out to be more than a technical specialist.

Pretty much every one of the main players comes out of this badly

Richard Bruton for the reasons outlined above
Enda Kenny for not getting a grip on the situation earlier
George Lee for looking like a spoiled child. Did he really think Fine Gael, with all its associated egos, woulld start revolving round him so quickly? There's a bit of work to be done first
Fine Gael in general for shafting a loyal party servant in Jim O'Leary and bringing in a celebrity candidate. They would have won the bye-election anyway and they can be sure that O'Leary wouldn't have walked out like that


Locally, it will be a big boost for Labour, who will be confident of a gain in Dublin South next time out now (and may have an outside shot in the bye-election). It will be a boost for the Greens, giving Eamonn Ryan a shot at retaining his seat.

Nationally, it will be a disaster for Fine Gael and. unfortunately, will be good news for Fianna Fail. I really hope that Fine Gael disorganisation doesn't let them back in again.

[frankeechops]

Last word now.

[meg the peg]

And who voted for the goverment? we got what we deserved, it was no secret that ff were a bunch of fucking chancers. Bertie etc should not apoligies they should be fucked in jail George Lee at the very least should say sorry for wasting everybodys who voted for hims time and vote and being a general gimp. Im sure you could go on and on for hours probably with out doing anything about it? if you feel so strong about it do something. Im sick of hearing the blame game, bottom line Democracy! we voted them in we deserved them, unless we can come up with a better solution they will always be in power! fact!

so do you not think that george lee felt that he could make a change like with his democratic voters, thats why im saying he was naieve, cos theyre as bad in fine gael as they are in ff, theyre all the same, everyone of them, the only genuine one was jack lynch and haughey fucked him out with blaneys help and the infamous arms trial, so that was the start of the corruption with haughey. anyway u have your views and i have mine, but its a very bad day for politics when the most gifted man that actually knew what he was talking about resigns especially after 9mths

[Murdock]

so do you not think that george lee felt that he could make a change like with his democratic voters, thats why im saying he was naieve, cos theyre as bad in fine gael as they are in ff, theyre all the same, everyone of them, the only genuine one was jack lynch and haughey fucked him out with blaneys help and the infamous arms trial, so that was the start of the corruption with haughey. anyway u have your views and i have mine, but its a very bad day for politics when the most gifted man that actually knew what he was talking about resigns especially after 9mths

Aaaargh! Every clueless eejit's favourite lazy cliché when talking about Irish politics. FG are no great shakes, but in comparison to this FF government they're like a collection of Abe Lincolns. They are not all the fucking same. FF are quite clearly the most corrupt and inept party in this country and, apart from a few exceptions, have always been so.
And Lynch was an average enough Taoiseach.

[Bobby Vinton]

Glenda kenny is some daft ejit,FG would be better off getting rid of the nancy boy...the mans an utter joke figure.

[POL]

Aaaargh! Every clueless eejit's favourite lazy cliché when talking about Irish politics. FG are no great shakes, but in comparison to this FF government they're like a collection of Abe Lincolns. They are not all the fucking same. FF are quite clearly the most corrupt and inept party in this country and, apart from a few exceptions, have always been so.
And Lynch was an average enough Taoiseach.Jack "i won't stand idly by" Lynch is it?

[johnmcork]

so do you not think that george lee felt that he could make a change like with his democratic voters, thats why im saying he was naieve, cos theyre as bad in fine gael as they are in ff, theyre all the same, everyone of them, the only genuine one was jack lynch and haughey fucked him out with blaneys help and the infamous arms trial, so that was the start of the corruption with haughey. anyway u have your views and i have mine, but its a very bad day for politics when the most gifted man that actually knew what he was talking about resigns especially after 9mths

you're naive

[Corcaigh32]

Wow lads - a bit of reality. I have never voted FG but this could be the best thing that ever happened to them in medium term and I will tell you why.

Enda cajoles and courts and woos George "Doom and Gloom" Lee out of RTE, the home of D4 land and everyone finds out what has been obvious for years - George Lee is a FGer. That's fair enough. At least the guy had the balls to nail his colours to the mast as opposed to Pat Kenny, Gerry Ryan or even Ryan FF Tubridy. The obvious question then is why would George Lee leave his RTE position to walk into the Dáil. Well his seat was a banker - a face known all round the country, living in the constituency, Mr. D4, couldn't go wrong and Enda marches in with him and everything looks fantastic.

Except - George Lee has been pronouncing on the Irish economy for years, he must have been promised something by Enda. Whatever it was it did not materialise. Was he naive enough to think he was going to become Finance spokesman ahead of Bruton? Does it matter if that's what he was promised? I think Enda has missed a trick (one of many). He could very well have put Lee in as Finance spokesman and unleashed him on Lenihan - he would have ripped him apart - but what does he do, use Lee to take the seat and then forget about him safe in the knowledge its a banker seat at the next election.

This is why it is good for FG in the medium term. I am not in the country for the week, I am posting from the US. From watching the RTE news on the web, Lee more or less said Kenny didn't live up to his committments - trust issue. He also refused to say he would vote for him. Huge confidence issue. He also wants to go back to RTE, how can anyone take any pronouncement he might make about the economy as being without bias from now on?

I think this, building on the 34-27 RedC poll will signal the beginning of the end for Enda and curiously, the beginning of a surge for FG. Enda IS their weakness. He is not Taoiseach material and whatever you think of the present incumbent, vote for him or hate him, people will not pick Enda over him. So I think, curiously enough Lee has done FG a favour. I think they should skip a generation now - Coveney or Varadkar would be the obvious choices - young, articulate, intelligent, no baggage, progressive and a break with the anti-nationalist baggage of the Hayes and Mitchell wing of the party. Either of them takes over and FG will walk into government at the next election.

[TonyCork80]

The frontline was all a bit overwrought and emotional. I thought they were nearly going to come on at the end with one if those "if you have been affected by George lee's resignation call this number to speak to a trained counsellor" type announcements. We'll get over it! Corcaigh is right though, Enda still bollixed

Sometimes FG seem like the Cork footballers of politics. Peerless at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory! (not this year though...)

[rebelicecreamman]

Corcaigh,
You and I don't agree on too much politically, but you have just articulated what I have been thinking since this story broke today. This is the beginning of the end for Enda Kenny. A generational skip would be the best outcome. Richard Bruton would not be the right choice imo. While he is superb on finance and economics he is otherwise one dimensional and severely lacks charisma. If FG make the right choice, and with the continuing economic crisis, the opinion polls which have lately stalled could once again return to growing support for the opposition in general and FG in particular.

[Corcaigh32]

Well like I said, you know where I come from politically Rebelice, but it seems to me glaringly obvious what needs to happen now.

[donpoblok]

the difficulty with skipping a generation for someone like coveney is that he is inarticulate, poor media performer, hopeless in argument, hums and has

might be better to keep with the likes of bruton?

[jd26]

But FG have a problem with potential leaders other than Enda.

Looking at the betting odds beyond Enda and Richard Bruton


Brian Hayes (6/1) - Too right-wing and too hot-headed. Also has one of the most marginal of FG seats
Denis Naughton (8/1) - Who?
Leo Varadkar (9/1) - Far too young and probably too right-wing
Simon Coveney (10/1) - Too lightweight
Fergus O'Dowd (14/1) - At least most people have heard the name Denis Naughten
Olwyn Enright (14/1) - Like Coveney has the looks, but not the substance. Also has a bit of a cloud over expenses claims that would be mercilessly exploited by the leaders of other parties.
Phil Hogan (14/1) - Possibly not the worst they could pick, but will forever be haunted by the time he leaked the budget
Damien English (18/1) - Too young. At least Varadkar has developed a profile; English has been a TD since he was 24 and what has he done in that time?


Below that, the names just get silly, apart from Jimmy Deenihan, who is at 33/1. Not a very likely leader, but those odds seem a little harsh when you see some of the muppets who are shorter odds.

[donpoblok]

But FG have a problem with potential leaders other than Enda.

Looking at the betting odds beyond Enda and Richard Bruton


Brian Hayes (6/1) - Too right-wing and too hot-headed. Also has one of the most marginal of FG seats
Denis Naughton (8/1) - Who?
Leo Varadkar (9/1) - Far too young and probably too right-wing
Simon Coveney (10/1) - Too lightweight
Fergus O'Dowd (14/1) - At least most people have heard the name Denis Naughten
Olwyn Enright (14/1) - Like Coveney has the looks, but not the substance. Also has a bit of a cloud over expenses claims that would be mercilessly exploited by the leaders of other parties.
Phil Hogan (14/1) - Possibly not the worst they could pick, but will forever be haunted by the time he leaked the budget
Damien English (18/1) - Too young. At least Varadkar has developed a profile; English has been a TD since he was 24 and what has he done in that time?


Below that, the names just get silly, apart from Jimmy Deenihan, who is at 33/1. Not a very likely leader, but those odds seem a little harsh when you see some of the muppets who are shorter odds.

point taken

looking at that lot kenny looks worth keeping

[poulgorm]

But FG have a problem with potential leaders other than Enda.

Looking at the betting odds beyond Enda and Richard Bruton


Brian Hayes (6/1) - Too right-wing and too hot-headed. Also has one of the most marginal of FG seats
Denis Naughton (8/1) - Who?
Leo Varadkar (9/1) - Far too young and probably too right-wing
Simon Coveney (10/1) - Too lightweight
Fergus O'Dowd (14/1) - At least most people have heard the name Denis Naughten
Olwyn Enright (14/1) - Like Coveney has the looks, but not the substance. Also has a bit of a cloud over expenses claims that would be mercilessly exploited by the leaders of other parties.
Phil Hogan (14/1) - Possibly not the worst they could pick, but will forever be haunted by the time he leaked the budget
Damien English (18/1) - Too young. At least Varadkar has developed a profile; English has been a TD since he was 24 and what has he done in that time?


Below that, the names just get silly, apart from Jimmy Deenihan, who is at 33/1. Not a very likely leader, but those odds seem a little harsh when you see some of the muppets who are shorter odds.

God forbid, if anything happens Brian Lenihan, who could you pick in FF to replace Cowen ? They are equally as bereft of potential leaders as the other shower.

[doppellanger]

he probably expected a quick election last year and then he would have been in like flynn.

Listening to the Frontline now, it does sound a bit like throwing all his toys out of the pram.

I reckon he should have just said he wanted to resign for personal reasons and both he and FG would have come out of it with some dignity. That FG are economic pixie-heads is self-evident and is hardly news.

[richiepurg]

I watched all of Frontline and Vincent Browne last night and something funny struck me about all of this. Is it possible that there's another reason for the resignation ? Maybe pressure from the wife or something on the domestic front.
There are two reasons I have for not being convinced by what Lee has said.
1. He's been close to politics long enough to realise that you don't get catapulted to a top position immediately.
2. Why, if he was that pissed off, did he look for time to consider Kenny's late offer of a front bench position ? It looks as if he had to consult someone.

Any commentators I have seen or read failed to ask him one question. What policies would he be advocating had he been given an economic brief ?

[cor622]

My bet is that George will get bact into RTE and we will see him take over from Charlie as the US correspondant for RTE!

[doppellanger]

I just watched all of Frontline. I reckon his problems were with personalities rather than policies. Fine Gael's economic policies are irrelevant anyway as long as they are in opposition no-one is going to pay them any mind.

He said himself his family supported his move so that is probably a factor. The timing is a bit baffling, he could have held on a few more months and then gone back to RTÉ anyway.

[donpoblok]

still, good to see that he isn't afraid to put his own interests before those of 27,000 others

[longbigandjuicy]

Has he got the american gig yet?

[frankeechops]

Turned it down by all accounts, He has a young Family, and he wouldn't get his ego massaged daily.

[Bobby Vinton]

Taught he came across very well on rte the other night,In the brief time the show was on I saw more intelligence in him than I have seen in glenda kenny for years for Christ sake.

[Persil]

I am just waiting to see documentary coming from RTE regarding politics and George Lee being the undercover reporter to the behind the scenes corruption.

[longbigandjuicy]

I am just waiting to see documentary coming from RTE regarding politics and George Lee being the undercover reporter to the behind the scenes corruption.

He shoulda join FF then, woulda got more stories

[yavid yalls]

Spenda Penny is hitting himshelf.

He is looking flushed all the time now.