Dublin South Byelection

[MariborKev]

Martin Bell stood for Labour and won a seat in the UK election in 1997, but I can't see Lee winning DS.

No he didn't. He ran as an independent against the Hamiltons(Tories) in 97. In saying that, I reckon Slobodan Milosevic would have had a shout at that seat, so reviled were the incumbents.

Personally I have no problem with Lee running for it, though it sounds from the soundbytes as if he has been promised something if he can win the seat.

[mypost]

Personally, while I would like to see him elected, he hasn't a hope. It'll be between Brennan or White.

[Ringo]

http://www.independent.ie/national-n...t-1729632.html

Mr Lee only told his immediate bosses at 12.30pm -- immediately before going on RTE Radio 1's 'News at One' -- where he was tackled by presenter Sean O'Rourke as to whether he had been completely open on the matter.

Mr Lee said he had only seriously been considering a run since the emergency Budget. "Until this week there was nothing to know. I don't need you or anybody else in RTE to tell me what my future is," he said.

Mr Lee challenged his listeners to find any bias in his work over the years, and also revealed:


•He expects never to return to RTE, despite officially taking leave of absence;
•He was initially approached up to two months ago;
•He considered running for FG in 2002, but wasn't asked in 2007;
•He has done 'no deal' with FG for a frontbench position if he wins the seat.

Fine Gael's hierarchy was confidently predicting for the past month that they had a high-profile candidate from outside the party ready to be announced. But rather than being confronted by RTE about widespread rumours, Mr Lee continued to comment on the Government's economic policies. During this time, Mr Lee analysed the emergency Budget, discussed the setting up of NAMA and presented a programme called 'How we Blew the Boom'.

Fianna Fail sources were angered by RTE management's handling of the situation and for allowing Mr Lee continued airtime instead of so-called "gardening leave".

A Fianna Fail backbencher claimed RTE had been misled over Mr Lee's intentions. Chris Andrews said RTE had issued statements denying Mr Lee was to pursue a political career

I would question Lee's judgement in going for this.

[bennocelt]

Could be worse, at least he isnt running for FF

[Mr A]

What the hell are FF complaining about? Can they point to anything the man said that was unfair? If anything they were given a soft ride FFS.

Personally, I think it's a healthy thing that a well qualified and respected individual would want to get involved in politics at a time like this, even if I have no love of FG.

[Macy]

I don't want to pick a fight Macy but you're reading your own opinions into what I wrote.

Probably - I was, and still am getting annoyed with the accusations of bias against Lee/ RTE, whilst the organisation is nothing but a Government mouthpiece. Are we even a month since the debacle over the Cowen paintings, and RTE's complete lack of coverage of the raids of radio stations and the like? FF sent people on the Last Word last night looking for proper implementation of the Broadcasting Act - we can but hope, but we know they don't really mean it!

Who is White? Haven't seen that name mentioned.

He's come close the last two General Elections, and was the clear favourite before this annoucement.

I would question Lee's judgement in going for this

I don't mind a purge on political bias in RTE, but it has to be complete, not just on none FF people.

[First]

I can't see George Lee getting elected , to me he is the poster child for doom and gloom , too many years of hearing him telling us that things are bad and getting worse. Doesn't matter that he was right, he just compounds the misery with the drone that is his voice. Yes I am that fickle as I am sure alot of the electorate are.

[Mr A]

Dunno about that, the bookies have him at 1-2 on. His record of calling the economy right is in stark contrast to the government who have made a complete and utter balls of it. While the Labour candidate may well challenge I think FF are in for a good kicking.

That they are even considering fielding an Anglo Irish Bank employed dynastic candidate shows that they're in a heap of trouble here.

[crc]

...too many years of hearing him telling us that things are bad and getting worse. Doesn't matter that he was right, he just compounds the misery with the drone that is his voice

I met some Americans in 2004 who were voting for George Bush "so that he would have to fix the all problems he made himself" - WTF(?)
You're the kind of berk who would have done that, and its the reason we have so many gombeens in politics.
Though I have never put FG high up the ballot in my life, I congratulate George Lee on the courage of his conviction and hope he does well; we need a lot more like him, not fewer.

[pete]

Saw him on the news last night where he was saying it was time for people like himself to get involved. I think he is right & we need less career politicians. Could get more business people & other people from the real world into politics?

[First]

I met some Americans in 2004 who were voting for George Bush "so that he would have to fix the all problems he made himself" - WTF(?)
You're the kind of berk who would have done that, and its the reason we have so many gombeens in politics.
Though I have never put FG high up the ballot in my life, I congratulate George Lee on the courage of his conviction and hope he does well; we need a lot more like him, not fewer.

You have no idea what I am like , berk or otherwise, liking me to the American electorate isn't appreciated either . Someone put the "gombeens" in government but it wasn't me. I use my vote as wisely as I can . George Lee has been the spokesman for RTE , whose agenda he has had to adhere to for years , now people are applauding him for his convictions, fair enough but my point is ,that to me even though he was correct about alot, his public personna is a proveyour of doom and gloom. Plus the fact he is running for FG , he will at least be in opposition until a general election where we will again hear his sound bites telling us the other lot are wrong , wrong , wrong . Christ we know they are wrong and have ballsed up everything. It will change nothing , FG were also looking at George Hook as a prospective candidate. Public image rather than political substance ( Is there such a thing in this country ). FF , FG , Labour , Green Party (FFS ) , Sinn Fein , Independants they are all the same , politics is politics , it's all the same , IMO , they are all in it to feather their own nests.

By the way do you vote Tory , Labour .............

[MariborKev]

Saw him on the news last night where he was saying it was time for people like himself to get involved. I think he is right & we need less career politicians. Could get more business people & other people from the real world into politics?

Why would you Pete?

Anyone with any reasonable talent will earn far more in the private sector, and won't have to put up with the "Liveline Brigade".

[Ringo]

Saw him on the news last night where he was saying it was time for people like himself to get involved. I think he is right & we need less career politicians. Could get more business people & other people from the real world into politics?

Does he not just become a career politician , if he's giving up his job in RTE

A lot of politicians have come from the real world. Brian Cowan is a solicitor, Brian Lenihan is a Baristor, doesn't make them any better at running the country.

[pete]

Does he not just become a career politician , if he's giving up his job in RTE

A lot of politicians have come from the real world. Brian Cowan is a solicitor, Brian Lenihan is a Baristor, doesn't make them any better at running the country.

I mean less barristers/solicitor & teachers as we have enough of them already.

[Ringo]

I mean less barristers/solicitor & teachers as we have enough of them already.

And Economist's

[OneRedArmy]

I mean less barristers/solicitor & teachers as we have enough of them already.

That's a very valid point Pete. We desperately need more diversity in our political representation, regardless of actual political views.

God help mr for saying this, but people like Kathy Sinnott, Lee and those from outside the old political family structure are good for politics.

On Lee'schance of winning, all the risk in is winning the by-election. I would almost guarantee he has an agreement that one of the incumbents FG TDs will be shifted to a marginal constituency at the next general election.

[tiktok]

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.

I think this may have had a huge bearing on the party's thinking to be honest.
If the local and European Elections don't go brilliantly for Enda, he may come under pressure to step down.

[TonyD]

Does he not just become a career politician , if he's giving up his job in RTE

.

He's not though. Taking a leave of absence. Don't think he should have that option to be honest. If he doesn't get elected, what then ? How can he go back on TV ? Talk of him going back to RTE to lick stamps is patent nonsense. I know of one case of a civil servant who ran for the PDs. She had to resign, and then didn't get elected (I don't feel too sorry for her - it was the PD's after all)

[Ringo]

Former RTÉ economics editor George Lee was formally confirmed as the Fine Gael candidate for Dublin South at their selection convention for the constituency last night.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...246059470.html

[Macy]

He's not though. Taking a leave of absence. Don't think he should have that option to be honest.

He doesn't reckon he'll be back either way. It could be a way around notice periods (certainly it's the mechanism used here to get around the 3 month notice period).

Being a former political candidate and party strategist doesn't seem to effect Noel Whelan - he's normally introduced simply as a "Political Analyst" as though he's independent/ non-aligned, rather than a former FF candidate and former FF internal strategist.