Leo Varadkar's response to Mary Lou McDonald's completely calm and reasonable statement in the Dáil was so brazenly irrational it makes him seem unhinged.
Let's do a deep dive on how he projected the exact opposite of leadership (Fine Gael bubble, read on) /1
Let's do a deep dive on how he projected the exact opposite of leadership (Fine Gael bubble, read on) /1
He confirms the €350 per week pandemic payment will be continued, answering her key question, so far so good. Then;
"I'm sorry that Deputy MacDonald chose to become so party-political in her contributions because what she said was so two-faced and so fundamentally dishonest" /2
"I'm sorry that Deputy MacDonald chose to become so party-political in her contributions because what she said was so two-faced and so fundamentally dishonest" /2
That choice of words isn't just projecting, it's so strongly uncivil I never want to hear pearl-clutching about civility from Fine Gael again.
Or being party-political in contributions?! He starts raving about Sinn Féin in NI under a different set of political circumstances /3
Or being party-political in contributions?! He starts raving about Sinn Féin in NI under a different set of political circumstances /3
"And Sinn Féin ministers on their Facebook site promote the fact they hand out food parcels to the poor."
He was part of a government that saw Labour leader Joan Burton open food banks. But luckily no Fine Gae- Yesterday? Really? /4
He was part of a government that saw Labour leader Joan Burton open food banks. But luckily no Fine Gae- Yesterday? Really? /4
"reminiscient to me of Donald Trump handing out toilet roll after the hurricane hit the islands of the Caribbean."
So, Varadkar wants to bring up Trump's name with a grim tone, as if knowing how despicable he is, while also doing nothing to condemn him? "Two-faced" you say? /5
So, Varadkar wants to bring up Trump's name with a grim tone, as if knowing how despicable he is, while also doing nothing to condemn him? "Two-faced" you say? /5
"Deputy MacDonald is an opposition party leader" [implying unfit for government, something he never truly clarifies WHY] "that's fair enough. She can criticise what we do."
Then why throw this hissy-fit in such a condescending way? /6
Then why throw this hissy-fit in such a condescending way? /6
"You hand out food parcels and boast about it on Facebook. I'd be ASHAMED to do something like that."
Notwithstanding his colleagues who have... Why though? Getting food to those who need it in an emergency? Is his objection one of optics? Or that one would need to? /7
Notwithstanding his colleagues who have... Why though? Getting food to those who need it in an emergency? Is his objection one of optics? Or that one would need to? /7
Cuz if it's the latter, it's most likely needed after years of austerity which he presumably would be ASHAMED to have been involved in?
If it's the former, what if health services were under-resourced, and needed more volunteers to- OH RIGHT! /8
If it's the former, what if health services were under-resourced, and needed more volunteers to- OH RIGHT! /8
So it's not "two-faced" if Varadkar's party boasts about him implying their resources aren't up to scratch?!
He ends with, "And don't blame it on the Tories! And don't blame it on London! If it wasn't for their money, it'd be even worse!"
This especially makes zero sense. /9
He ends with, "And don't blame it on the Tories! And don't blame it on London! If it wasn't for their money, it'd be even worse!"
This especially makes zero sense. /9
What a weird moment to rush to the defence of the government with the WORST response in Europe* to the pandemic!
Tory economic policy constrains what the NI executive can do, under a historical situation so specific "if it wasn't for their money" is a bizarre statement /10
Tory economic policy constrains what the NI executive can do, under a historical situation so specific "if it wasn't for their money" is a bizarre statement /10
How would things be worse if it wasn't for their money? Can one divorce their providing money from their RULING NI in the first damn place? Is he saying they'd rule NI and not provide the money? Cuz otherwise he's talking about an alternate timeline with a united Ireland /11
There were too many staggeringly irrational statements in his speech, I couldn't let it slide. It's not just Varadkar's dishonesty, it's his arrogant tone that makes it so clear how wounded he was that he led Fine Gael to its first defeat from Sinn Féin /12
On housing, climate, arts and cultural space, and a whole rake of other issues his leadership has been liability. So much so, whatever credit he deserves during the pandemic will not redeem him. The idea of him continuing as Taoiseach is unsettling.
Shockingly poor form! /13
Shockingly poor form! /13
If any Fine Gael supporters are still reading
1. Thank you
2. I would civilly ask you, civilly, in the interest of civil discourse, what did the petty partisanship of today's outburst do to help national unity during a crisis?
It's not leadership. Certainly wasn't civility. /14
1. Thank you
2. I would civilly ask you, civilly, in the interest of civil discourse, what did the petty partisanship of today's outburst do to help national unity during a crisis?
It's not leadership. Certainly wasn't civility. /14
