There are few things worse than wasted potential. George Lee as an individual and as a symbol had a tremendous potential to shift our expectations of politics, and to open the door for a new type of TD.
He was more than just a celebrity candidate.
He was trusted by the ordinary citizen, as his thumping 27,000 vote bye-election victory proved. He had the academic and professional training needed to understand the complex economic issues that we collectively face. And perhaps most importantly, he repeatedly made the point that as an ordinary citizen he felt compelled to run because he wanted to change things.
As a newly elected representative, this final point really resonated with me.
I felt thrilled that someone as apparently capable as George Lee had made the decision to enter politics and to give his talents to serve the public. It made me feel that the process could still attract people of genuine vision and talent, and I hoped that his entry might encourage more people to follow suit.
Our current semi-hereditary system of parish pump cute-hoorism isn’t working, and George was opening the door to a new type of politics.
Unfortunately George has called it a day after only 19 weeks of Dáil business. After coming in with so much promise, his decision to walk away could deal a fatal blow to the renewal of politics. How many talented people in business, or the community sector will look on this debacle and say, ‘Well if even George Lee couldn’t change things, what chance have I got?’
I do not doubt his sincerity, but the fact that he couldn’t stick things out and work for reform from inside really disappoints me. He came in on a fanfare of repairing the system – he leaves having only scratched the surface and with no constructive or positive legacy whatsoever.
A former British Prime Minister once said, the problem with committing political suicide is that you survive to tell the tale. I think George’s hara-kiri will prove to be an enormous regret into his future, whatever it might hold.
Hi Tony,
Have to agree with you there – it is frustrating to lose George from the opposition – and he will regret his decision.
This is bad for FG, George and Ireland. I don’t think it should have come to this and I reckon the blame can be shared around, but in the long run I think Ireland is the biggest loser in all of this. Pure and simple – this was a wasted opportunity.
Hi Tony,
George Lee’s resignation is a disaster for your party; not merely a PR calamity, but in my view will deter many voters who were considering getting four-square behind FG, and perhaps giving them (you?) a mandate to serve as a single-party government (difficult and all as that is under PR-STV).
I would assert that to begin repairing the damage to your party’s reputation, your current party leader has to undertake the ultimate team-building decision and manage the transition of a different person into the leader’s role, before stepping aside gracefully, replete with the knowledge he’s completed a difficult task satisfactorily. Well done thou good and faithful servant, and all that.
I am aware that Deputy Kenny may feel that it’s his due to take on the mantle of Taoiseach should the electorate decide that they’ve had enough of the current crowd of incompetents, buffoons, and gombeen-men, but right here and right now the good of the many far outweigh the aspirations of one individual. As you know, the trajectory of a political career is uncertain (unless you subscribe to the view that they all end in failure) and in this case, hanging on out of sheer bloody-mindedness – or even simple inertia – is not a viable solution.
You’re at the ‘coalface’ of local politics so I would be surprised if this was the only communication you’ve received in this vein, but just in case my views are unique, I felt that it was important to share my sentiments with you.
Best regards as always,
Michael Hanley
It is better that George left now rather than later.His departure will not diminish the party. Our resolve will be strengthened by it .What George failed to realise is that we live in a democracy where decision making is slow and frustrating.His ego would have been better suited to a dictatorship where decision theory operates more quickly.The bottom line is he has made an ass of himself ,for one who is so intelligent.His head was in the clouds and he lacked common sense.To walk away from 27,000 voters is an obscenity.We are better off without him.
Enda Kenny is very human and has his faults .He is pilloried by an embedded media that is essentially part of the establishment.The media has never liked any FG leader,that is until they have resigned from power.Fitzgerald ,Bruton etc.If Richard Bruton was our leader at present the media dynamic would be just as negative. Therefore our one and only option is to rally behind Enda and make sure we win over every vote at every door we can.People in Ireland when they go to the ballot box vote for their local TD ,they don’t vote for a leader.Win the seats and we win the battle. Enda Kenny will prove to be one of Irelands greatest leaders.
Regards
Morgan
For what its worth I have a higher opinion of Enda, Leo, Richard after George’s bombshell than i did before. They handled the media circus that GEORGE himself created perfectly.
George’s socalled ability is a studio mirage also- media performers are not people and power brokers the mindset is different.
As regards his economic abilities- we have plenty of economics PhDs in Ireland. The best ones to listen to are in business, not media.