The “great” debate. Oh my God, he killed Kenny!
Some quick thoughts:
It wasn’t so “great”.
But Bertie Ahern won it - not only because he conveyed the tangible benefit of experience, but also that he was willing to do things like make Enda Kenny look like a man who would pull the plug on a dying cancer patient. Bertie looked a bit pale starting off, despite the ton of make-up, and he sat awkwardly, with his body pointing one direction but his head another. But he visibly relaxed as it went on.
Kenny started strong, but weakened. He struggled with practicalities, relying too much on listing off the problems of people he has met. That can work up to a point, but repeating a problem is not the same as explaining how he’ll solve it. He also says “But I will make this point…” so often that were he a sitcom character it would be his catchphrase.
He does have this way about him where he looks like he has memorised what he has to say and doesn’t like to deviate from the script. Again, maybe that’s an experience thing, but he does have 32 years in the Dáil under his belt - a fact which made him look somewhat of an under achiever.
I’ll be interested to read what Mark Hennessy thought.
And the politics.ie forum has been hopping. Who needs Frank Luntz when you can track that?
And Damien Mulley gets medieval on Enda’s ass in his summary
Superb space for all the family and not an ugly people carrier in sight
12:02 am
Your correct. Man, how people wanted change; unfortunately Enda Kenny froze. If it’s a presidential election (and I don’t think it is) then Enda K could be; similar to Gore, the former next Taoiseach. I actually think yesterdays debate was more significant.
Comment by Seamus Dunne