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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Tea party rage in Ireland means left wing government likely

Posted on Friday, September 24, 2010 at 06:43 PM

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The latest poll numbers from Ireland showing the Labor Party with a clear lead and likely to form the next government with Eamon Gilmore (above) as prime Minister are the exact mirror image of what is happening in America with the Tea Party.

Labor have never been the major party in government and their leader has never been Prime Minister of Ireland but now it looks increasingly likely that it may happen.

They have a six -point lead over Fine Gael, 36 per cent to 30 and a fourteen point lead over government party Fianna Fail who are at 22 per cent.

The Irish voters are infused with the ‘Throw the bums out” mentality that has driven the Tea Party phenomenon in America but are trending heavy left rather than far right.
That is because the two experiences are not the same.

In America government is seen as the problem, in Ireland, not enough government especially in the oversight department, is the mantra.

The bank collapse and housing debacle in Ireland came about because a Wild West mentality infused both arenas.

Anglo-Irish and other banks ladled out massive loans to anyone who asked and plenty of developers came calling.

The government egged them all on providing massive subvention of housing schemes that are now so called ghost estates all over Ireland.

It is hardly surprising the unholy alliance happened. Fianna Fail have been in power 18 out of the last 20 years and they got very cozy with the golden inner circles that controlled most of Irish business.

Though they have backtracked now the media was also very culpable feeding the property boom by turning many of its main players into celebrities and fueling the property mania with special sections and get rich quick stories.

Now comes the hangover and the realization, like drunks who have stayed too long at a party and are getting argumentative, that the worst is yet to come.

Voters also realize when they look at Australia and Canada where there was no meltdown because of proper oversight and conservative banking policies that Ireland does not need to be in the mess they are in.

More government oversight of the runaway banking system for instance would have prevented the collapse.

Thus, the voters are ready to punish the party in power that presided over the boom but they are not turning to the main opposition party Fine Gael but to the left- leaning Labor party.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny is suffering from an over familiarity with the electorate, he has been opposition leader for a decade and many consider him not skilled enough for the top job.

In sharp contrast, Eamon Gilmore, the Labor Leader, is a relatively new face and has an excellent media presence.

Clearly the electorate want a new face and a new future and they believe that Labor supplies both. Like in America new faces and new policies are in

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39 Comments

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seanomelbourne | Oct 07, 2010, 12:39 AM EDT

Your a card Maloney where should we post you?

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maloney | Oct 06, 2010, 09:12 PM EDT

navy lol You navy gays or guys are known for your manlyness. US Army honorable discharge after doing my time overseas. Not being thrown out for drinking brasso like I've heard about you aussies. Business PERSON, nice liberal political correctness. sweet you might say. sweeeet

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seanomelbourne | Oct 06, 2010, 06:56 PM EDT

Union rep,navy and retired business person. If joining the military requires balls where are yours? obviously in your mouth alongside your foot.

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maloney | Oct 06, 2010, 04:53 PM EDT

Not that it matters, but you proved my point in that you wouldn't look into or admit that you had found out what I said was the truth. Just like the half assed libs here you would say the moon was blue before you would admit to the truth. Progressive liberals tend to lie. You've probably been on the dole, along with screwing over the Aboriginals & screwing roos. If you ever were a union rep. everybody knows they are crooks. Ex military I doubt as that requires balls. Once again, not that it matters, but my sources are ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, HLN, WSJ and yes FOX. Keep your friends close & your enemies closer. I used to be a Teamster myself, working for Tropicana Products & in the union at Jefferson Smurfit.

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seanomelbourne | Oct 05, 2010, 08:07 PM EDT

Maloney!You are making idle chatter, where did you get your facts from the "three stooges" on the Fox morning show?how about Beck the b/s artist or the liar-in-chief Hannity or maybe "the no spin twilight zone" or you mate Christine who wouldn't know if her ar-se was on fire

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maloney | Oct 04, 2010, 09:10 PM EDT

seano...sorry you don't like facts but your no different than the liberals in the states. Rather than deal with the truth or find the facts for yourself, just say what you don't like to hear isn't the truth. You tell me what I said that wasn't fact? You can't & won't. Just like a little kid, nanana can't hear you. Like it or not, Canadians ARE coming to America for healthcare. Hospitals on the So. border ARE closing due to illegals. Obama DID cut medicare by 500 billion. Welfare & foodstamps & medicaide enrollment & cost ARE at the highest level in history. All facts. Look it up, but of course you won't.

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seanomelbourne | Oct 04, 2010, 06:10 PM EDT

Maloney your blog lacks credibility and full of unsubstantiated jargon.

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maloney | Oct 04, 2010, 11:25 AM EDT

seano...Don't forget about all the hospitals on our southern border going bankrupt & closing do to socialist agenda, letting illegals have free healthcare. Medicare has cut 500 billion from the seniors healthcare plans to take care of illegals. Kill off the elderly to pay for peaple who don't belong here. Welfare has hit an all time high under obama's rule.

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maloney | Oct 04, 2010, 11:19 AM EDT

Can't speak on the Aussies or Norwegians. The Canadians health care system is a mess under your type of govt. They come to America for healthcare. They all get healthcare provided you can wait a year or three. Then to find out doctors ar few & far between. Under the current liberal govt. America is heading in the same direction. Where will the Canucs or USA go? Mexico? Sounds like you are having a ball watching the USA fall apart under socialism.

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seanomelbourne | Oct 03, 2010, 06:46 PM EDT

maloney!! As a retired businessman and in the past a union representative and an ex serviceman I have tried a few ways of making a living. Trust me a liberal democracy will enrich your life ask the Canadians/Aussies/Norwegians and the other countries who did not fall apart during the GFC. Do you not find it strange that not one neo-conservative country survived unscathed.

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maloney | Oct 03, 2010, 06:31 PM EDT

seano...I enjoyed working for a living, not leaching off the working. I still do more than sponge off the honest. Try it you'll like it doesn't work when trash is all you'll amount to.

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seanomelbourne | Oct 02, 2010, 11:46 PM EDT

How do you know Maloney you never tried it.

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maloney | Oct 02, 2010, 04:56 PM EDT

Left wing socialism doesn't work, as America is rapidly finding out. You would think we would pay attention to the rest of the world where it has failed already.

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kell7757 | Oct 01, 2010, 02:23 PM EDT

Because we can see how well it worked out for the UK.

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kell7757 | Oct 01, 2010, 02:22 PM EDT

I think this a Niall O'Dowd fantasy.

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