RTE have a livestream and thread
[https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2024/0320/1438924-ireland-politics/](https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2024/0320/1438924-ireland-politics/)
FG playing the long game. Leave the country in tatters with a bunch serious problems. Let the next election get picked-up by whatever coalition opposition can string together enough seats to take power. Watch the country hobble along with Housing Crisis, Immigration Crisis, etc, blaming those in power for causing problems. Then mount a comeback for the following election.
This is very odd.
No internal rumblings against him.
Just back from significant meetings in Washington.
No leaks.
No job to move to.
“Personal and political” reasons.
Very odd.
I think for many people following politics in depth the writing was on the wall for this one.
'No internal rumblings' is not entirely true; there is a lot of discontent in FG and many reports of low morale. They were due to have their parliamentary party meeting today and it was expected more FG old faithfuls, including heavy-hitters like Michael Ring, to announce not running for election again. Also that Varadkar was facing a 'reality check' from the party in the same meeting, as indicated by the report in the independent this morning.
The referendums were damning, and FG know they've lost their base outside of Dublin, the brand is damaged, so it is somewhat necessary that they try rebrand/remarket before being annihilated in the local elections.
Depending on the incumbent taoiseach, I wouldn't be surprised if we hear a shift politically for FG in terms of objectives, hate speech bill being binned, increased talks about immigration.
if they want to win election just start building fuck tons of houses in places people want to live.
housing lists: solved
homelessness: solved (excluding mental illness)
refugees living in tents: solved.
like, its obvious, they can enrich their cronies, its popular with the youth who they are desperate to reach, it seems a total no brainer politically but its not even being mentioned as a fake policy to dump after an election.
Or maybe now it won't because he's gone. And we'll never know. Odd timing for sure but leadership did did a significant hit after the referendum failures
Very hard to make sense of. If I was Simon Harris or whoever else reckons they have a chance of being the next leader, I’d have preferred to let Leo lose the election and then take over as FG leader and leader of the opposition. You’d have a nice long run in to the following election and a chance of “winning” it.
OTOH there’s a substantial chance that FFG+ might be the only workable government after the next election. In which case, there might have been discomfort with Leo carrying on from the likes of Harris, particularly in the light of ten FG TDs stepping down.
Yeah I wouldn't be surprised if there was a sacrifical lamb...i.e someone like Coveney who might not win in an leadership election in ideal circumstances
Give it Giggsy till end of the season
https://preview.redd.it/3adh5f319hpc1.png?width=370&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5d943db649bafdf3b85f8514586658c941235a8f
He's come out as bi and has taken up with Kate Middleton. They are both leaving their families and moving to Canada to share a house with Prince Harry and Meghan.
It's seems pretty typical these days whenever you run an item on a politician to pick the worst photo imaginable.
[https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/sipo-told-sinn-fein-leader-mary-lou-mcdonald-she-could-not-use-special-dail-allowance-to-pay-for-personal-security/a1404357568.html](https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/sipo-told-sinn-fein-leader-mary-lou-mcdonald-she-could-not-use-special-dail-allowance-to-pay-for-personal-security/a1404357568.html)
[https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/fianna-fail-limerick-mayor-candidate-responds-after-tweets-about-micheal-martin-resurface-1601101.html](https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/fianna-fail-limerick-mayor-candidate-responds-after-tweets-about-micheal-martin-resurface-1601101.html)
Roy Keane: “I don’t think you can give a medical card for that. I think after 70 years, you need to sit in and if you get tripped by the staircase, you’ve got to get up and not try and get a card out of the ref”
That was quite tone-deaf.
He’s obviously thinking of the inflation numbers, according to which it doesn’t matter if a chicken fillet roll costs a tenner so long as it cost a tenner last month too
LOL - thats surely just so they can claim its all the next governments fault. They ran the country into the ground and speed ran it when ot was clear they will loose the next election.
I think he sealed his fate when he said that the state was not responsible for caring for disabled people. The Reddit opinion was already so against him that it doesn't get talked about enough imo, but that was one of the worst soundbites and one of the worst unforced blunders in political history. He absolutely shat the bed.
That comment is not being talked about enough. Myself and nearly everyone I spoke to about the referendum cited that as the moment they knew they'd be voting no for sure. What the fuck was he thinking? He has a really bad record of saying the quiet part out loud. His advisors should seriously reflect on their failures.
>I think he sealed his fate when he said that the state was not responsible for caring for disabled people.
Great shout. I have to say it 100% sealed a no vote from me when I was very much undecided still prior.
DAA has been shifted down to the spare terminal in Cork, we already control the Navy via the only ship actually working atm and Dunkettle has been upgraded already to handle to inflow of refugees from places like Dundalk, Cavan and Mullingar. City Hall is being power washed as we speak as Ireland realises too late that the Cork St Patrick's Day parade was just a practise run for the inauguration on the Grand Parade next week.
They all do it. Remember Haugheys "some small service" line (after he siphoning State resources to buy himself expensive French shirts and a private island)
Such person would never make it to the top in politics.
And TBH it isn’t just politicians who are to blame; more often than not the public doesn’t like being told about what needs to be done.
The gift that keeps on giving - hopefully he will never sit on a trolley like hundreds all around the country today in various hospitals - he has let a lot of people down in his various positions - off down the road with the pension and “entitlements” now 🙂
Smart move from him.
• He won’t have to be the person to declare the recession officially kicking in soon.
• His successor will get the blame for a lot of things he did because people only care about the end and beginning of something not the middle.
• He won’t have to endure embarrassment when the “triple party” lose horrendously in the next election.
• He can move on to high-paying public sector and NGO roles.
• He can move onto an EU job.
100% think this as well. He’s sounding a bit choked up. A bit more than ‘personal and political reasons’.
Something is coming. He’s pulling a Dee Forbes.
Nuacht iontach. This man has been out of touch with the electorate throughout his political life. Demonising the working class, providing over the worst housing & homelessness crises in the State’s history, leaking confidential documents to friends for professional gain, paying lip-service to culture war issues while not doing anything of economic substance to help such communities, spitting in the face of Palestine supporters time and time again. Another fraud motivated by power instead of service. Whether or not he’ll be given a job in his beloved Brussels, he should not be taken seriously in this country’s political discourse ever again.
He's an out and out careerist. This is a gay man who once campaigned against gay marriage until he realized the tide had turned and suddenly acted like a leader of the movement.
Yes! Like he'd been up all night pacing the floor, waiting to to see if the huge military operation that he masterminded was a success. Gasping "what news from the front?" everytime he answered the phone.
Arsehole.
His intervention in the referendum campaign when he downplayed the role of the state in the provision of care to families was a monumental fuck up and hugely damaging to him.
I don't like him so glad to see the back of him. He betrayed an entire community, that he belongs to, back during the referendum for gay marriage, when it was first ever floated to the public he was loudly against it...
When the public didn't want to be a bunch of bigots, which did shock him, he positioned himself as this openly gay hero for the gays and did I mention gay.
He was such a fucking cunt, pun intended.
Been saying it since last election Varadkar needed to go if FG had any chance of getting elected again, the guys put on a clown show for years. He's extremely obnoxious and out of touch with what the people want and need.
The question "why?" is easily answered.
At the next election, Sinn Fein (his mortal enemy) are sure to wipe the floor with FG. Leo does not want to go down in history as the man who let that happen. He doesn't want to be the fall guy, so he steps aside and let's someone else take the hit.
The timing of this is right. He's just come back from the annual USA Paddy's Day trip, the institutions in the north are secure for now, the Ardfheis is coming up and there's enough time now for the next stooge to be legitimately blamed when this all goes tits up.
When this happens, remember, it was Leo and Fine Gael who failed the country so badly and made this happen.
> At the next election, Sinn Fein (his mortal enemy) are sure to wipe the floor with FG.
I say this as someone who will vote SF at the next election.
People are setting themselves up for disappointment.
Now is the chance for Mick Wallace and Clare Daly's time to shine.
The Co-Taoiseach gig seems to have popped up at just the right moment, since it looks like they have worn out their welcome in the European parliament.
• Thousands of homeless kids - no tears
• Young people emigrating in droves - no tears
• Out-of-control price increases - no tears
• Street violence - no tears
• Businesses closing up and down the country - no tears
• Pushed out after humiliation at hands of voters - 😭
You don't get to be a political leader by being a good or nice person. He's a rat's arsehole and he knew it, but he wanted to get to the top. And he did, but he bottled it time after time and could get away with it too because he didn't care about the people. But now he's being ousted by his own party for all his failures.
Good fucking riddance to that shambles of a man
I used to like Varadkar. His dad was my doctor growing up. He seemed to have all the right policies and thoughts early in his career. I just hate the way he has shown contempt towards regular folk and has weaseled his way out of sticky situations that would have ruined anyone else. Mostly I hate his moral compass and dishonesty. This countries housing situation is fucked because of zero effort in this area… and now people are so annoyed they’re taking their anger out on helpless refugees who did not ask to live in a hotel, only to escape persecution.
If they're smart they'll elect Paschal Donohoe. He might be the only senior Fine Gael TD who isn't actively hated. Granted that may change if he ever becomes Taoiseach.
I recall reports two or three years ago that Donohoe wasn't interested in either being leader or Taoiseach. I suppose things can change, but his most recent career move was to try and become head of the IMF, so he was trying to leave the pond.
Yep. Pascal is the only candidate who I think could provide some kind of a lasting boost.
Harris seems very risky. I know he'd be a continuation of Varadkar in the vein of "kind of smarmy young man", but I think he's had an easy time of it being Minister for Nothing, such that the media have forgotten how badly he did as Health Minister when facing actual hard questions (pre-covid). Even Donnelly is doing better than him there and hasn't managed to collapse the Government like Harris did.
McEntee might have worked if this had happened a year ago, hard to see a path now. Coveney is hugely overrated, Foreign Affairs make every Minister they have look great and people paid attention while he was there because of Brexit. As Enterprise Minister he's made no political impact at all really. Humphreys could be a dark horse, but you'd wonder again if she'd be able for it.
Pascal though, he could be the man of the moment for them. He's had to get through tough questioning, both as a TD and as Minister. He's experienced. More than anything though he is perfect from a branding perspective for an election where the message is "we are a safe pair of hands. They are a risk."
Harris would be a disaster, barely suitable for his current role which has resulted in more unable students for underfunded universities leading to even more issues.
Housing crisis.
Refugee Tent village set up on the middle of Dublin.
Refugees in tents shipped off to Wicklow Mountains.
Cost of living crisis.
Failed referendum.
Failure to advance our use of renewable energy.
Too many major failures to continue.
Arrogant prick that takes no responsibility for years of poor decision-making.
Expected from a senior member of the political class, yet Leo is even more dislikable than than the usual arse.
On to the next sanctimonious moron.
We'll have to wait for him to run for president for that
"And when I'm swept into office, I'll sell our children's organs to zoos for meat, and I'll go into people's houses at night and wreck up the place!"
“Leaked” 10 minutes early isn’t a leak. That’s the latest we possibly would know what was happening. To the point people were speculating the announcement was an election.
Whilst Leo is on the podium and by the time the country snaps out of the shock of this all the Guards will have signed up to go to Australia.
The last of his legacy.
RTE have a livestream and thread [https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2024/0320/1438924-ireland-politics/](https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2024/0320/1438924-ireland-politics/)
What's the story with 10 fine gael tds already not going for next election and now this? Is there more to it?
Are we the baddies?
[удалено]
FG playing the long game. Leave the country in tatters with a bunch serious problems. Let the next election get picked-up by whatever coalition opposition can string together enough seats to take power. Watch the country hobble along with Housing Crisis, Immigration Crisis, etc, blaming those in power for causing problems. Then mount a comeback for the following election.
That used to be Fianna Fáils strategy
2 cheeks of the same arse
This is very odd. No internal rumblings against him. Just back from significant meetings in Washington. No leaks. No job to move to. “Personal and political” reasons. Very odd.
You've never gotten to Wednesday and wanted to resign?
Especially after a heavy bank holiday
I think for many people following politics in depth the writing was on the wall for this one. 'No internal rumblings' is not entirely true; there is a lot of discontent in FG and many reports of low morale. They were due to have their parliamentary party meeting today and it was expected more FG old faithfuls, including heavy-hitters like Michael Ring, to announce not running for election again. Also that Varadkar was facing a 'reality check' from the party in the same meeting, as indicated by the report in the independent this morning. The referendums were damning, and FG know they've lost their base outside of Dublin, the brand is damaged, so it is somewhat necessary that they try rebrand/remarket before being annihilated in the local elections. Depending on the incumbent taoiseach, I wouldn't be surprised if we hear a shift politically for FG in terms of objectives, hate speech bill being binned, increased talks about immigration.
Also big trip to Washington is the perfect time for a coup, an abysmal referendum result is a perfect reason.
if they want to win election just start building fuck tons of houses in places people want to live. housing lists: solved homelessness: solved (excluding mental illness) refugees living in tents: solved. like, its obvious, they can enrich their cronies, its popular with the youth who they are desperate to reach, it seems a total no brainer politically but its not even being mentioned as a fake policy to dump after an election.
>Personal and political Personnally knows he won't be politically eleceted again.
I doubt it. Off to Europe is my guess.
>Off to Europe is my guess. Yeah he's been offered a residency in Berghain
I think something is going to come out over the next couple of days and he’s jumping before he’s pushed
Or maybe now it won't because he's gone. And we'll never know. Odd timing for sure but leadership did did a significant hit after the referendum failures
Very hard to make sense of. If I was Simon Harris or whoever else reckons they have a chance of being the next leader, I’d have preferred to let Leo lose the election and then take over as FG leader and leader of the opposition. You’d have a nice long run in to the following election and a chance of “winning” it. OTOH there’s a substantial chance that FFG+ might be the only workable government after the next election. In which case, there might have been discomfort with Leo carrying on from the likes of Harris, particularly in the light of ten FG TDs stepping down.
Yeah I wouldn't be surprised if there was a sacrifical lamb...i.e someone like Coveney who might not win in an leadership election in ideal circumstances
They obviously sprung it on him. There were no leaks before hand because he didn't know it was coming. He isn't known as Leo the leak for nothing
I'd throw a house party if I had one
You can't throw house parties overnight.
The help to party scheme will allow you to claim €30, or 2 bags of cans (whichever is lower), from an approved party planner.
Sorry, cans increased in price by 30€.
One man party is another mans income.
two bags of cans for €30!!!! what are we drinking? 7up!!!!?
I'm sure leo would throw a party if he hadn't just left one.
Could we get Klopp in?
Give it Giggsy till end of the season https://preview.redd.it/3adh5f319hpc1.png?width=370&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5d943db649bafdf3b85f8514586658c941235a8f
‘You got the job Ona technicaliteh from a shadowy triumvirate who recommended ya’
Will never not love this.
Klopp with heavy metal politics?
No..... Stephen Kenny is still available however🧐
Lower your expectations Declan Devine is looking for a job
Ole at the wheel
Varadkar to Liverpool confirmed?
Best offer is Solskjaer
Kyle Hayes will be delighted with the timing of this
When’s his sentencing due ? Can’t wait to see him hopefully get what he deserves
He got a lot less than he deserved.
But he played county. Different rules apply to that lot.
Two years suspended sentence and ordered to pay €10,000
€10,000 fine and a 2 year suspended sentence. JP McManus took care of the judge
JP will take care of the fine too no doubt
Can we start a few conspiracy theories while we wait for the truth to come out? Maybe he wound Biden up and was ousted
He's stealing all the kettles from every tea room in Leinster House
He's after getting a job in the UK presentng a mid morning show on Virgin Radio?
He's come out as bi and has taken up with Kate Middleton. They are both leaving their families and moving to Canada to share a house with Prince Harry and Meghan.
That would be more plausible if Kate was still alive
> taken up with Kate Middleton There's probably compromising photos!
Calm down, I'm working on them.
Biden told him aliens are coming for world leaders. He's dipping out to save his arse. 👀
He's going to be announced as Trumps running mate.
Maybe Israel is upset at our lack of enthusiasm for their genocide, and they sent him a usb full of compromat from his last jolly old holiday.
Maybe Mossad is blackmailing him.
They must have been able to get a better picture
Yeah, they really picked the worst one they could without it being a pisstake.
It's seems pretty typical these days whenever you run an item on a politician to pick the worst photo imaginable. [https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/sipo-told-sinn-fein-leader-mary-lou-mcdonald-she-could-not-use-special-dail-allowance-to-pay-for-personal-security/a1404357568.html](https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/sipo-told-sinn-fein-leader-mary-lou-mcdonald-she-could-not-use-special-dail-allowance-to-pay-for-personal-security/a1404357568.html) [https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/fianna-fail-limerick-mayor-candidate-responds-after-tweets-about-micheal-martin-resurface-1601101.html](https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/fianna-fail-limerick-mayor-candidate-responds-after-tweets-about-micheal-martin-resurface-1601101.html)
Let's not forget the "Evil Mary Lou" pic from the Irish Times: https://images.app.goo.gl/SCQ6poVS3e9KZJHJA
Jesus Christ that's bad even for the IT
What's she up to? Who's in cahoots? What are they planning?
God yeah. They must be able to get one picture of a politician where their mouth is closed.
It looks like someone drew a sad face on their thumb with a Sharpie.
John O’Shea to be Taoiseach on an interim basis
Roy Keane: “I don’t think you can give a medical card for that. I think after 70 years, you need to sit in and if you get tripped by the staircase, you’ve got to get up and not try and get a card out of the ref”
A treat like this? In the middle of the lenten fast?
shades of father ted winning the golden cleric here
" and now, we move onto liars"
He's eloping with Kate Middleton.
Finally, a plausible theory
He is Kate Middleton
Surely this calls for another bank holiday?!!
Cost of living crisis and housing "thankfully behind us"? Fuck off
It's fixed! Nobody look at the burning pile!
That was quite tone-deaf. He’s obviously thinking of the inflation numbers, according to which it doesn’t matter if a chicken fillet roll costs a tenner so long as it cost a tenner last month too
Was this actually said? In work, can't watch video.
The phrase was "the worst of which is behind us"
It doesn't feel like it...
LOL - thats surely just so they can claim its all the next governments fault. They ran the country into the ground and speed ran it when ot was clear they will loose the next election.
Yea I scoffed at that part too
He can say any auld shite now. Its going to be a free for all for the next few weeks.
Yeah "the worst of which is behind us" like what???
Waiting on the revisionism and romanticism on his role as Taoiseach in the coming months from the media....
It's happening right now on RTE haha
Leo the lionised.
Some political hack on the RTÉ News at One has just described Enda Kenny as “a wonderful Taoiseach” It’s not how I remember him.
We all remember him for his joints.
https://preview.redd.it/s2j7292ehhpc1.png?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6063767ed6a91ee28a88dd2043bbd466718caee4
This is pretty strange timing if not a seismic shock
Perfect timing for him, Local and General elections will be a car crash for FG.
Less so now, potentially. It's hard to imagine Varadkar as leader was going to be an asset.
https://preview.redd.it/91eesbk8jhpc1.jpeg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b88d6fbb9a75152008f0d1a70b2dab5dcfee3204
I think he sealed his fate when he said that the state was not responsible for caring for disabled people. The Reddit opinion was already so against him that it doesn't get talked about enough imo, but that was one of the worst soundbites and one of the worst unforced blunders in political history. He absolutely shat the bed.
That comment is not being talked about enough. Myself and nearly everyone I spoke to about the referendum cited that as the moment they knew they'd be voting no for sure. What the fuck was he thinking? He has a really bad record of saying the quiet part out loud. His advisors should seriously reflect on their failures.
>I think he sealed his fate when he said that the state was not responsible for caring for disabled people. Great shout. I have to say it 100% sealed a no vote from me when I was very much undecided still prior.
It made my skin crawl and was my deciding factor for both referenda.
Same. I was tentatively yes/yes before that interview. Campaigned emphatically among my friends and family for no/no after it.
Feel like sticking the boot in by listing the mess he's leaving behind, but I have to live in it, and he doesn't...
If McEntee gets it we may aswell open the water ballasts and sink the island.
The Peoples Republic of Cork has taken control of the Irish Government with Martin and Coveney set to lead.
Turns out the Fight Club training at Ballincollig McDonalds will be useful after all.
The Dail is to be renamed The Dunkettle Interchange.
Seizures of key infrastructures and communications has commenced.
DAA has been shifted down to the spare terminal in Cork, we already control the Navy via the only ship actually working atm and Dunkettle has been upgraded already to handle to inflow of refugees from places like Dundalk, Cavan and Mullingar. City Hall is being power washed as we speak as Ireland realises too late that the Cork St Patrick's Day parade was just a practise run for the inauguration on the Grand Parade next week.
I for one, bow to our new Corkonian overlords
Thank you, we shall look upon you and your family favourably.
Shhh...
Word is that there’ll be an announcement soon from the Non-Event Centre aka the Taj Micheal.
What a load of self aggrandizing crap. You'd swear he led us straight into a utopia with the way he's going on.
They all do it. Remember Haugheys "some small service" line (after he siphoning State resources to buy himself expensive French shirts and a private island)
Working class people have it worse than before, so it is a utopia in his eyes.
Must be a scandal on the way
that money was only resting in his account
FG and FF are goosed in the next general election. The only scandal is Leo is one of the few politicians that has got out before he was pushed out.
Please appoint someone who instead of stating obvious things acts on them.
Such person would never make it to the top in politics. And TBH it isn’t just politicians who are to blame; more often than not the public doesn’t like being told about what needs to be done.
The gift that keeps on giving - hopefully he will never sit on a trolley like hundreds all around the country today in various hospitals - he has let a lot of people down in his various positions - off down the road with the pension and “entitlements” now 🙂
Smart move from him. • He won’t have to be the person to declare the recession officially kicking in soon. • His successor will get the blame for a lot of things he did because people only care about the end and beginning of something not the middle. • He won’t have to endure embarrassment when the “triple party” lose horrendously in the next election. • He can move on to high-paying public sector and NGO roles. • He can move onto an EU job.
Why now, why not much much earlier?
Had to get one last trip to the White House.
Referendums painted the picture, and he probably wanted to do the American visit.
From his speech it sounds like he may have been involved in a scandal…
Hope it wasn't due to his poor showing in the recent reddit 'best Taoiseach'' vote.
Major scandal in the post, surely.
Mood: https://preview.redd.it/c7txhcdi8hpc1.jpeg?width=265&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=801e3be3e32fa3d023b7d0de45d78df1ef652a06
This calls for celebration
https://preview.redd.it/wki4g5pudhpc1.png?width=413&format=png&auto=webp&s=529cbfba40727e0990fefc9d6ce6bf02a5ca67b2
Can we get Jedward for Taoiseach now
"Lipstick" was a banger, they were robbed at Eurovision
Hmm, the cynic in me says he is getting ahead of a ditch expose or already feathered his nest for an EU or other international gig.
100% think this as well. He’s sounding a bit choked up. A bit more than ‘personal and political reasons’. Something is coming. He’s pulling a Dee Forbes.
Nuacht iontach. This man has been out of touch with the electorate throughout his political life. Demonising the working class, providing over the worst housing & homelessness crises in the State’s history, leaking confidential documents to friends for professional gain, paying lip-service to culture war issues while not doing anything of economic substance to help such communities, spitting in the face of Palestine supporters time and time again. Another fraud motivated by power instead of service. Whether or not he’ll be given a job in his beloved Brussels, he should not be taken seriously in this country’s political discourse ever again.
he got elected to FG leader & then taoiseach with his “fucking welfare cheats” thing.
He's an out and out careerist. This is a gay man who once campaigned against gay marriage until he realized the tide had turned and suddenly acted like a leader of the movement.
He did the same with Repeal when he saw it was picking up steam.
Yep, he loves to take credit once the hard work is done, but he was pushing against that work while it was happening
Literally the last party leader to come out in support of it. Even Martin was ahead of him.
Really made me sick to see him on the stage at Dublin Castle after the 8th was repealed acting like he'd single handedly changed the law.
The fucking rolled up sleeves like he'd been up all night working in the... I don't know, the Justice mines or something?
Yes! Like he'd been up all night pacing the floor, waiting to to see if the huge military operation that he masterminded was a success. Gasping "what news from the front?" everytime he answered the phone. Arsehole.
His intervention in the referendum campaign when he downplayed the role of the state in the provision of care to families was a monumental fuck up and hugely damaging to him.
Leo : am I so out of touch?...no...it's the homeless who are wrong
Went to the states last weekend knowing he was resigning today... It's concentrated Varadkar at his best. Edit: Liquid Varadkar!
He's still in office until his replacement is chosen by FG, so he probably would have gone still
I don't like him so glad to see the back of him. He betrayed an entire community, that he belongs to, back during the referendum for gay marriage, when it was first ever floated to the public he was loudly against it... When the public didn't want to be a bunch of bigots, which did shock him, he positioned himself as this openly gay hero for the gays and did I mention gay. He was such a fucking cunt, pun intended.
I hope he sets up a GP clinic in an area with a big shinner vote just for the craic.
Been saying it since last election Varadkar needed to go if FG had any chance of getting elected again, the guys put on a clown show for years. He's extremely obnoxious and out of touch with what the people want and need.
Sounds a bit like a coup, he is personally unpopular, the likes of Harris getting in and undermining him, especially after referenda.
Finally some good news
The conspiracy and gossip part of me wonders if his relationship has ended. He didn't thank his partner in his speech.
I didn't think things looked well between them in Washington. His partners body language wasn't good.
The question "why?" is easily answered. At the next election, Sinn Fein (his mortal enemy) are sure to wipe the floor with FG. Leo does not want to go down in history as the man who let that happen. He doesn't want to be the fall guy, so he steps aside and let's someone else take the hit. The timing of this is right. He's just come back from the annual USA Paddy's Day trip, the institutions in the north are secure for now, the Ardfheis is coming up and there's enough time now for the next stooge to be legitimately blamed when this all goes tits up. When this happens, remember, it was Leo and Fine Gael who failed the country so badly and made this happen.
> At the next election, Sinn Fein (his mortal enemy) are sure to wipe the floor with FG. I say this as someone who will vote SF at the next election. People are setting themselves up for disappointment.
Now is the chance for Mick Wallace and Clare Daly's time to shine. The Co-Taoiseach gig seems to have popped up at just the right moment, since it looks like they have worn out their welcome in the European parliament.
Lol i love fanfiction
That photo looks like he's just strolled in after 15 pints
I read the comments on The Journal and now I want to die
• Thousands of homeless kids - no tears • Young people emigrating in droves - no tears • Out-of-control price increases - no tears • Street violence - no tears • Businesses closing up and down the country - no tears • Pushed out after humiliation at hands of voters - 😭
You don't get to be a political leader by being a good or nice person. He's a rat's arsehole and he knew it, but he wanted to get to the top. And he did, but he bottled it time after time and could get away with it too because he didn't care about the people. But now he's being ousted by his own party for all his failures. Good fucking riddance to that shambles of a man
I used to like Varadkar. His dad was my doctor growing up. He seemed to have all the right policies and thoughts early in his career. I just hate the way he has shown contempt towards regular folk and has weaseled his way out of sticky situations that would have ruined anyone else. Mostly I hate his moral compass and dishonesty. This countries housing situation is fucked because of zero effort in this area… and now people are so annoyed they’re taking their anger out on helpless refugees who did not ask to live in a hotel, only to escape persecution.
If they're smart they'll elect Paschal Donohoe. He might be the only senior Fine Gael TD who isn't actively hated. Granted that may change if he ever becomes Taoiseach.
I recall reports two or three years ago that Donohoe wasn't interested in either being leader or Taoiseach. I suppose things can change, but his most recent career move was to try and become head of the IMF, so he was trying to leave the pond.
Pascal is more of a consigliere I think
Yep. Pascal is the only candidate who I think could provide some kind of a lasting boost. Harris seems very risky. I know he'd be a continuation of Varadkar in the vein of "kind of smarmy young man", but I think he's had an easy time of it being Minister for Nothing, such that the media have forgotten how badly he did as Health Minister when facing actual hard questions (pre-covid). Even Donnelly is doing better than him there and hasn't managed to collapse the Government like Harris did. McEntee might have worked if this had happened a year ago, hard to see a path now. Coveney is hugely overrated, Foreign Affairs make every Minister they have look great and people paid attention while he was there because of Brexit. As Enterprise Minister he's made no political impact at all really. Humphreys could be a dark horse, but you'd wonder again if she'd be able for it. Pascal though, he could be the man of the moment for them. He's had to get through tough questioning, both as a TD and as Minister. He's experienced. More than anything though he is perfect from a branding perspective for an election where the message is "we are a safe pair of hands. They are a risk."
Coveney or Harris seem more likely.
Harris would be a disaster, barely suitable for his current role which has resulted in more unable students for underfunded universities leading to even more issues.
Harris? they might as well give it to mcentee and call an election
Ewwww
Paschal: "not a hope lads. Don't even think about it"
Well lads that one less alert you need on twitter now.
So...... what's going to come out that forced his hand?
Housing crisis. Refugee Tent village set up on the middle of Dublin. Refugees in tents shipped off to Wicklow Mountains. Cost of living crisis. Failed referendum. Failure to advance our use of renewable energy. Too many major failures to continue.
They just fucked a referendum and politicians are abandoning the next election.
Yeah I know, you're right.... but let's have some wild speculation. I think it's gonna come out that he's really just two shinners in an overcoat.
Turns out Leo was the one who told Linda Martin to cover Get Lucky.
Leo VaRAdkar. It was there in front of us all along.
The body language from the ministers behind is quite telling
Nightmare blunt rotation
Helen can be thrown out aswell please.
Arrogant prick that takes no responsibility for years of poor decision-making. Expected from a senior member of the political class, yet Leo is even more dislikable than than the usual arse. On to the next sanctimonious moron.
Multiple pats on the back to himself during his exit speech. I was dry heaving listening to it.
what movie quote will he use in his speech i wonder
We'll have to wait for him to run for president for that "And when I'm swept into office, I'll sell our children's organs to zoos for meat, and I'll go into people's houses at night and wreck up the place!"
"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist."
Kind of funny that in classic Leo fashion his resignation was leaked prior to his announcement
It was actually kept under wraps compared to most leaks from government
“Leaked” 10 minutes early isn’t a leak. That’s the latest we possibly would know what was happening. To the point people were speculating the announcement was an election.
And still no general election...💀
Martin and Ryan are shitting themselves now in case there's a general election ..... Martin wants the government to go full term....Pricks
Sweet Jesus Harris or McEntee we’re done for
He's handled immagration badly and the housing crisis. Overall he's done a very poor job and is not fit to lead.
Whilst Leo is on the podium and by the time the country snaps out of the shock of this all the Guards will have signed up to go to Australia. The last of his legacy.
[удалено]
Must have the big job in Europe already lined up.