Colm O'Gorman to run for PDs in Wexford

by chris murray Wed Apr 26, 2006 12:07

I am pleased Colm O Gorman is running for election. I would have supported him
as an independent. Let down and disappointed by the party he has chosen to
represent. I would hope that he wd lobby for a review of the decision by Michael Woods on Church indemnity, but as the party Woods represented is hand in glove with the PDs, I presume that
this is a no-runner. The value system of the PDs does not reflect the commitment and hard work of O gorman, actually gob-smacked at his decision, franky.

by Aidan Kennedy - Progressive Democrats Wed Apr 26, 2006 13:19

I have supported Colm O'Gorman in his work with "One in Four" and I welcome his brave decision to run for election with a major party.

Colm has been an outstanding campaigner for victims of abuse, and I know that he will use the political arena to make further represenation on their behalf.

As a member of the Progressive Democrats I compliment Colm on his choice of party affilation, and I look forward to assisting Colm in taking a ninth seat for our party.

by MG Wed Apr 26, 2006 13:39

Come off it Aidan the PD's a major party, thats a ridiculous statement. The PD's would be more accurately described as a micro ultra right party with a neo con agenda. Anyway there is no chance that the PD's will win a seat in wexford and thankfully the PD's will lose several seats in the next election. After a few years in opposition the PD's will dissappear into the history books where they will be remembered as a completely hypocritical party led by ideological fanatics who turned the country into the second most unequal country in the western world.

by Emily Wed Apr 26, 2006 13:41

I presume Colm will now step down from his job as director of 1 in 4. To do anything else would be underming the organisations credibility as it would be seen as being associated with the PDs. Colm would also be perceived as using his position to continue to raise his profile and it would be difficult to distinguish between his PD statements and his 1 in 4 statements.

by Just a tad disappointed Wed Apr 26, 2006 14:16

It is a massively dissappointing choice of party. Somebody who had campaigned so effectively against institutional corruption should have been able to see right through the PD's. On the other hand as a dwindling force I don't think anybody has to worry too much about the PD's any more. They were formed to force a shift in policy for Fianna Fail. Fianna Fail have now caught up with them (or rather stolen their policies) and all the PD's have now are the two least popular ministers in the cabinet (as anybody who has been on a hospital trolley or abused by the Guards will tell you). No that elections really say much about a society but in the next they will get less seats than Sinn Fein, the Greens and it is an outside chance but possibly the Socialist party. I would like to see McDowell when this happens, I can imagine his head exploding. Colm O'Gorman will just be left wondering why he destroyed his reputation by joining such a dispicable bunch.

by Legal Eagle Wed Apr 26, 2006 16:39

I take it Brian Curtin's involvement with the PD's is definetly over now. After all it was the PD's who got Curtin (their former member) his judicial appointment. I hope this PD candidate is better at resigning his current postion than their former candidate.

by Con Carroll - class war Wed Apr 26, 2006 17:33

I am a bit confused about Colm decision
taking the stand of the PDs towards survivors of child abuse
yes in democratic society he has every right to stand as political candidate for any political party which he chooses
he can stand on the moon

come on the PDS giving their record on health and other issues over the years

by Liberal Wed Apr 26, 2006 18:19

I am appalled at your attitude towards Colm and his betrayal of those abused. Is this what we can expect from Class Struggle? Shame on you!

by Green Ink Wed Apr 26, 2006 21:13

..."as a dwindling force I don't think anybody has to worry too much about the PD's any more."

I'm afraid that's just not a political reality. The PDs are permanently on the Irish landscape. If you want to impact that take it to the doorsteps in the coming months. I would say Colm's decision was influenced by the PDs position on church and state as explicated by Liz O'Donnell a few months back.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1109/ferns.html

by John - dunaree2000 Thu Apr 27, 2006 10:23

The PDs are far from a spent force. Their opinion poll ratings are almost identical to what they were in the run-up to the 2002 election, around 4 per cent. The PDs invariably get a larger number of seats than their first preference vote might warrant. This is because they get a large number of second and third preferences from the major parties who have surpluses to spare. This is in marked contrast to Sinn Fein who, although able to get a larger first preference vote than the PDs, invariably find themselves stuck on that first preference vote and unable to get transfers from the major parties. Thus, in 2002 the PDs got 8 seats versus 5 for Sinn Fein, although Sinn Fein polled more first preferences. In 2007 the PDs are likely to get large numbers of second preferences from both FF and FG, while Sinn Fein will get virtually none from these parties. As FF and FG between them get around 65 per cent of first preference votes, this is hugely significant. Post-election time, anyone who thinks that FF or FG would prefer a coalition with Sinn Fein than with the PDs is balmy.

by Aidan Kennedy - Progressive Democrats Thu Apr 27, 2006 11:33

Far from being finished I perdict that the Progressive Democrats will win a ninth seat with Colm O'Gorman in Wexford, while a further three more seats will be won by John Minihan in Cork, Tom Morrissey in Dublin North and Sirena Campbell in Meath East.

This will give us twelve seats which is a fifty per cent increase in representation, and rest assured that our nations prosperity will continue under the progressive partnership with Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats.

by Caobhin Thu Apr 27, 2006 11:54

This odious "party" is no more than a front for IBEC and personal ego aggrandisement. No doubt O'Gorman will bring some desperately needed votes to aid the PDs in their desperate attempts to slime back into power but I find his reasoning totally inept i.e he joined this collection of misfits and parasites because of their perceived secularism. Funny, I thought worship of Mammon is a religion .

by Joe Maxwell Thu Apr 27, 2006 12:40

This guy is a right-winger. He thinks that abused people can get solutions from the FF/PD government. This government have consistently defended the abusers. They have protected the Bishops and religious orders. O'Gorman is an ambitious careerist. He's not worth supporting either as a PD or as an independent. What's the point in having an independent TD that's a rotten right-wing careerist that will back up Mary Harney's butchering of the health service and McDowell's xenophobia!

by Sarah Thu Apr 27, 2006 13:04

The truth is that none of the major parties would give Colm a nomination in Wexford. The PDs because they are small are an easy option for those who want a nomination. Aidan Kenneddy knows this himself. When he was in Democratic Left he couldn't get nominated so now he has moved to the PDs.

Now explain to me how one minute you could be in a socialist party and the next in a neo-liberal one?

by anon Thu Apr 27, 2006 13:11

Equally Labour may have not willing to show the same distaste for the church.

by Aidan Kennedy - Progressive Democrats Thu Apr 27, 2006 13:18

Correct me if I am wrong but was it not Mary Harney that brought in the mininmum wage and together with our partners in Government Fianna Fail increased both the Old Age Pension and Social Welfare while lowering unemployment.

None of which the previous "Rainbow Government" of the Green Party, Labour and Fine Gael was capable of doing with Frankie Ross as Minister of Unemployment.

What say you when Colm O'Gorman takes the seat of Brendan Howlin in Wexford and Labour implodes under Pat the Rabbit.

by Northsider Thu Apr 27, 2006 13:38

My predicitions on a good day PD's will win 3 seats, on a bad day 5 seats.
And as for Colm I would say he was cert for a seat if he had ran as an independent but not a chance with your lot.
Is Curtin still a member?

by MichaelY - iawm Thu Apr 27, 2006 13:53

Hey Aidan

A couple of questions -

1. We heard not so long ago that Bertie was a socialist. Is your Party under the leadership of the lady married to the IBEC bighead, and the ideological lights of the Minister of Injustice, also gradually converting to socialism? And, most interestingly, who is helping you convert? MmcD?
2. What is your Party's (and Colm's now) position on the use of Shannon and Baldonnel by the Crusaders? What do you think of yesterday's European Parliament position on rendition flights?
Do you believe Rice?
3.Give us a socialist position on US warmongering on Iran, and
4. Some of your accolytes have been pushing gradually the re-introduction of the nuclear plant issue in Irish politics. Do you remember when O'Malley was Minister of Industry and championing the building of a nuclear plant at Carnsore Point? He was, of course, not a PDer (and a socialist) then. So what's the story? Interestingly, Brendan was part of the Wexford anti-nuclear movement then...hope his views have not 'matured' since.

Looking forward to your response

by An actual Socialist Thu Apr 27, 2006 14:06

Firstly the PD's do not have a hope in hell of keeping the seats they have let alone winning anymore. The suggestion that they will win seats in wexford is ridiculous as the only thing they have going for them is O'Gormans name. THey have virtually no presence in East meath, which is a traditional FF and FG stronghold but did have a labour seat in the past. However if anybody outside of the big two has support there it is the shinners. Remember it shares borders with louth and cavan. As for Dublin North you can forget about that one two. There is a Labour seat there up for grabs but that is going to go to Clare Daly of the Spcialist Party who unlike any of the PD's has the respect of the community and has never been afraid to stick her neck out on the line on their behalf and even went to prison to oppose the PD's neoliberal policies when they attempted to introduce the bin (stealth) tax.
But my question is why the PD above is at such lenghts to claim that they are a socialist party? THis does seem to follow on from Bertie's hilarious statement a while back but why? Because people are sick and tired of this government, they are sick of the lies, the abuse and the vested intersts. Only a PD member would be so absurdly arrogant to claim they are socialist party. After stealth taxes, privatisation, public private partnerships, pandering to developers at a huge social and environmental cost, giving away of our national resources, anti-working class policing...... I could go on, but suffice to say the PD's are a hateful anti-people bunch who have no idea what life is actually like for the vast majority of Irish people who earn nowhere near one hundred grand a year and can't afford private health care, bin taxes, water charges, road tolls and whatever else they decide to charge us so their cronies can make a little bit of cash. In fact I'd say they are living proof that what we call democracy is failing us miserably. How can such an undemocratic minority wield so much power and influence over us and inflict such damage on our country. Once this economic bubble they have been riding bursts the rest of us will find that our employers have fecked off to somewhere else and that the PD's have managed to dismantle all of the supports that got us through hard times in the past. We won't even own our roads, schools and hospitals and we won't have money to pay to use them either. We are heading for the sort of economic collapse that argentina saw and still they run around with their eyes closed and go on about growth. GIVE US A F**KING BrREAK. You've already ruined the country just don't treat us like idiots. NOBODY BELIEVES A WORD YOU SAY and the only people who vote for you are in the elite minority who know their vested interests are served by your shortsighted and ideologically bankrupt despotism.

by Still an actual socialist Thu Apr 27, 2006 14:10

... that former IFA leader Tom Parlon much like O'Gorman used his profile to run for the PD's. He is widely regarded as a sell out and traitor by the farming community now and looks likely to lose his precariously held seat.

by John - dunaree2000 Thu Apr 27, 2006 14:54

An Actual Socialist says "we are heading for the sort of economic collapse that Argentina saw". You've completely lost your marbles. There is not one economic forecasting organisation that predicts that, not one. They all, without exception, predict that Ireland will continue to have rapid economic growth. That's what the IMF say. That's what the EU say. That's what the World Bank say. That's what the OECD say. That's what the Central Bank say. That's what ESRI say. That's what the Economist Intelligence Unit say. That's what everybody says. Your hysterical post doesn't indicate to me that you are so full of wisdom and foresight that anyone should give greater credence to your prediction of doom than to the predictions of continued economic prosperity that every economic forecasting organisation in the world makes in relation to Ireland. But, then I guess you have to be a bit dumb to be a socialist in the first place.

by Aidan Kennedy - Progressive Democrats Thu Apr 27, 2006 14:54

According to a recent party conference "Labour are preparing for Government" unlike both Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats who were actualy elected by a majority of Irish citizens regardless of their class.

Since the present partnership of Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats were elected more people than ever are working, so would it not be more accurate to say that both Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats represent the greater "Working Class" considering the fact that the present elected Government created so many more jobs for the high numbers of unemployed who were neglected by the the previous "Rainbow Coalition" which I believe consisted of Democratic Left, Fine Gael, the Green Party and Labour.

by MichaelY - iawm Thu Apr 27, 2006 15:17

This debate is useful only in so far as it allows all of us who care to get a clear view of the capitalist elite's thinking - and planning.

Unfortunately, as it's usually the case, specific answers to specific questions are not forthcoming. So to make Aidan's job a bit easier, let me add another couple:

1. Is it true or not that 25% of our people are still illiterate? After years of 'successfu'' government, is it not true that this is the highest % in the EU? What does it say about our education system and access to education?
2. Is it true or not that we have the highest number of people waiting in trolleys in hospitals ever? What does it say about our health system? Is it or is it not one of the worst in Europe? And who has been in charge for the last while? The IBEC lady...true or false?
3. Do you know of any other State where building a tunnel in its capital city takes more than 5 years? Where projects for a national stadium have collapsed? That they are millions worth of computers stacked getting rusty in warehouses while the tax payers continue to pay storage to FF/PD cronies? That the health system has no IT system while millions have been squandered?

Is this socialist propaganda? Is police corruption an ideological subterfuge? Irrespective of what that rag 'The Economist Intelligence Unit' is saying. That lot who were 175% definte that Saddam had WMDs three years ago...they had their sources, you see.

And

4. Why are we the only EU country supporting the Crusaders, along with Poland, now that the Spanish troops are gone and the Italians are ready to pack?

No more bull John - answers please - we had enough of promises and please Aidan, oblige us. Tell us what the facts are.

by Curious Thu Apr 27, 2006 15:38

A lot of the issues you raise are economic ones and have got nothing to do with the IAWM. So why do you put down IAWM as your organisation? Not even the SWP have the neck to do what you are doing.