http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...245943455.html
I think its wrong for Media analysts’ to run for any political party. It brings into question George Lees impartiality in the past. :confused:
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http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...245943455.html
I think its wrong for Media analysts’ to run for any political party. It brings into question George Lees impartiality in the past. :confused:
If anything he's been soft on the Government - in line with RTE policy. But which came first - the rumour he was running, or his apparent censorship in RTE (he's made comments on air about people having to be careful about they say if they want to stay working for RTE).
I wouldn't have a problem with his impatiality up to now however if he runs as a candidate & loses them he would have to give up his RTE job. In fact by just declaring himself as a candidate he would have to resign from RTE.
RTÉ's Lee stands for FG in Dublin South
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0505/finegael.html
Win a seat in the by-election & loose it at the nexrt General.Quote:
There are already two sitting Fine Gael TDs in Alan Shatter and Olivia Mitchell in a constituency that has traditionally been volatile and hotly contested.
Anyone hear the News at One? O'Rourke going on about Lee threatening RTE impartiality. You couldn't make it up, considering the pro-FF bias of the station. It might as well have been PJ Mara himself interviewing Lee...
The people are not exactly "impartial" towards the government at the moment, so there's nothing wrong with him standing.
Martin Bell stood for Labour and won a seat in the UK election in 1997, but I can't see Lee winning DS.
The rumours he was running came first and since he was in talks with FG, it was correct for RTE to keep him on a tight leash.Quote:
Originally Posted by Macy
If they were consistent maybe. When can we expect RTE to do the same to O'Callaghan and Turbidy et al? I mean, ffs they let O'Callaghan chair the leaders debate when her brother was an FF candidate!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bald Student
The difference between Lee and Miriam is that he was accounting for his own actions, not his brothers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Macy
Now that he is officially a candidate he should resign his RTE job as he cannot continue.
FF candidate not decided yet...
From irish Times
Picking an Anglo Irish Bank employee as a political candidate is surely insane? Even putting bank employee on the election ballot isn't going to exactly gain votes for him. :eek:Quote:
Fianna Fáil will also hold a selection convention in the constituency tomorrow night with Shay Brennan, son of the late Séamus Brennan, the favourite to get the nomination ahead of Senator Maria Corrigan.
Mr Brennan, who works with Anglo Irish Bank, had been reluctant to run because of the controversy over the bank but has had a change of heart in recent times.
Any FF candidate will have a very difficult job to get elected. Seamus Brennan's son has a better chance than most.
They're a very well known family in the area and Seamus Brennan was very popular there. I know some of the family and apparently Shay Brennan wasn't all that enthused about running until recently, the Fianna Fail organisation must have worked hard on him. It'll be tough but he would have a chance.
It's the usual story in this country, nothing wrong with a bit of political bias, once it's pro-FF. I personally would've said that Lee has been soft on the Government in recent times, and anything critical would stand up to scrutinity.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bald Student
He's taking a leave of absence.Quote:
Originally Posted by pete
On the actual ballot, could be interesting, and whilst I'd have Lee as favourite because of his profile, Brennan's transfers may still be enough to push White over the line.
I don't want to pick a fight Macy but you're reading your own opinions into what I wrote.Quote:
Originally Posted by Macy
When McAleese was a RTE tv reporter, did she resign from the FF party? No, she won their nomination for President instead.
Who is White? Haven't seen that name mentioned.Quote:
Originally Posted by Macy
I don't know anything about Brennan junior but surely he hasn't got much to offer on his CV besides hsi fathers legacy? That said for all our bitching Irish voters will more than likely vote on that basis.
White's the Labour guy. He was in the last general election.Quote:
Originally Posted by pete
The constitution requires presidential candidates to resign from their jobs so I'm reasonable sure you're wrong on this point.Quote:
Originally Posted by mypost
It is nearly 30 years since she was working for RTE, but she got elected for FF a few years later, and was their candidate for the Presidential election in 97.
Blindly electing progeny and siblings is yet another example of the unreconstructed tribalism of politics in this country.
On Lee, there really should be a cooling off period between people leaving the state broadcaster and running for office.
The potential for conflicts of interest are huge. It's irrelevant whether they actually exist.
This is all very interesting. One of the reasons I see that Bruton has not been party leader is that there was no obvious person to credibly replace him in the finance department.
With Lee aboard, that wouldn't be the case any more.
He is now on unpaid leave from RTE and I assume even if not elected will not be able to return to the newsroom. If that's the case then I applaud his willingness to attempt to make a difference at risk of his own interests.