Renua – Public Inquiry

Renua could, at some point in the future, be radical

By Anthony Sheridan

Renua presents itself as a radical party; a party that’s going to change the way politics is done in Ireland. The party, led by Lucinda Creighton, is promising to dispose of the old regime and replace it with a truly democratic, accountable, transparent republic.

For example, it is proposing to dismiss corrupt members of the Oireachtas.

So, no messing there. But wait….here’s a recent statement from the party:

The current Coalition is not corrupt but its obsession with secrecy is creating a framework where corruption could be enabled to flourish at some future date.

Let’s stretch that out for some clarity:

The current government is not corrupt.
But its obsession with secrecy could create a framework…
Where corruption could be enabled…
At some future date.

Now let’s apply that to Renua’s commitment to radical change:

Renua is not yet a radical party…
But its obsession for political change may create a framework where it does become radical…
Where it may become enabled to honestly acknowledge and challenge the disease of corruption…
At some future date….but not now.

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Renua

Renua makes yet another disastrous decision

I see Lucinda Creighton continues to make disastrous decisions as she struggles to build some credibility for her party.

She has just appointed the former political editor with the Sunday Independent, John Drennan, as director of communications and political strategy.

So why is Drennan’s appointment a disaster? Well, he firmly believes that Tanaiste and Labour Party leader Joan Burton is a great political leader.

By uttering this opinion Drennan has destroyed any credibility he may have as a political advisor/strategist.

But then again anyone who thinks that the criminal politician Haughey was a great man never had much credibility to begin with.

Here are some quotes from an article Mr. Drennan wrote for Magill magazine in 2005.

Why Haughey was never found to be corrupt:

Mr. Haughey was merely following precedents set by such illustrious figures as O’Connell and Parnell.

Reason for perception that Haughey was corrupt:

Haughey’s ‘corruption’ is the fantastical creation of a petit bourgeoisie of Tim Healy-style hysteria mongers, whose insipid viciousness explains their expertise in the price of everything and their ignorance about the value of anything.

On taking money from businessmen:

Of course Mr. Haughey did take money from Ben Dunne and other public-spirited businessmen. However, this was for life-style as distinct to political purposes.

On Haughey’s ‘insourcing’ (theft) of the FF leader’s allowance:

It was in payment for putting his home at Kinsealy at the service of the nation.

On Haughey’s tax problems:

Mr. Haughey did have some minor tax problems. However, unless you are in love with the lifeless technicalities of accountancy it would be easy to believe a gift is not a salary.

On Haughey’s refusal to cooperate with tribunals:

Some would argue that a refusal to obey those semi-legal, amoral instruments of oppression that collude with simpering creeps like Frank Dunlop as both try to save their respective skins was a genuine act of patriotism.

So…best of luck with that appointment Renua.

Lucinda Creighton needs to leave the land of small minds

Lucinda Creighton formed her new party Renua, at least partly, because she realised, rightly, that there was something seriously wrong with the mainstream political system.

Forming a new party to challenge the (corrupt) political status quo takes courage but above all it requires a deep and accurate understanding of what the problem actually is and a very focused strategy to bring radical change.

Creighton cannot bring radical change becasue she has only the vaguest idea of what the actual problem is and therefore is not in a postion to make the necessary reforms.

A quick analysis of her article in last Saturday’s Irish Daily Mail in which she reponds to the Siteserv scandal proves the point.

She says:

What has emerged this week carries echoes of the insider culture that prevailed during the Brian Cowen/Bertie Ahern era.

Note her use of the past tense. The insider culture she speaks of has been abusing Ireland and its people since 1922. In 1979, when the criminal politician Haughey came to power, the culture went toxic eventually resulting in the financial catastrophe of 2008.

That culture is still there, it’s still toxic, it’s still destroying the lives, ambitions and dreams of countless citizens while clueless politicians like Creighton continue to make idiotic and completely meaningless statements like.

We need a thorough and truly independent investigation that leaves no stone unturned.

But her next idea proves beyond a shadow of doubt that this politician floats around in the same fantasy world occupied by most of her gombeen colleagues.

I suggest that perhaps this could be a matter left to the Banking Inquiry.

Policitians like Creighton need to leave the land of small minds if they want to make a real difference.

They need to listen (22nd min) to and act on the advice of commentators like Phillip Blond.

You have an enormous gap between an electorate that is desperate for something new and a political system that is just offering again and again versions of the same thing…The tragedy of Ireland is… this is a population that’s on the edge of insurgency but there are no insurgents…so the Oppositioin has be become insurgents but their too frightened to move..they’re too conventional.