Comments on: THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ADVISERS WRITE YOUR SPEECHES http://dublinopinion.com/2010/03/19/this-is-what-happens-when-expert-advisors-write-your-speeches/ It's a group blog. What more do you need to know? Thu, 24 May 2012 04:11:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Tomboktu http://dublinopinion.com/2010/03/19/this-is-what-happens-when-expert-advisors-write-your-speeches/#comment-72500 Tomboktu Sun, 21 Mar 2010 18:42:04 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2010/03/19/this-is-what-happens-when-expert-advisors-write-your-speeches/#comment-72500 Of course, the real problem was not that the advisers wrote the speech, but that the politician don't have enough wit to cry 'Stop!'. The 'Happynes" campaign (must check the sequence of Labour's campaign and the cutie film) wasn't in a category where a political leader should be taking advice: it's not as if it were a campaign on financial derivatives where it might be reasonable to rely on expertise. Of course, the real problem was not that the advisers wrote the speech, but that the politician don’t have enough wit to cry ‘Stop!’. The ‘Happynes” campaign (must check the sequence of Labour’s campaign and the cutie film) wasn’t in a category where a political leader should be taking advice: it’s not as if it were a campaign on financial derivatives where it might be reasonable to rely on expertise.

]]> By: Conor McCabe http://dublinopinion.com/2010/03/19/this-is-what-happens-when-expert-advisors-write-your-speeches/#comment-72498 Conor McCabe Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:08:38 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2010/03/19/this-is-what-happens-when-expert-advisors-write-your-speeches/#comment-72498 I remember Eamonn Gilmore's first appearance as leader of the party on Questions and Answers, in January 2008, and his opening line was that the fundamentals of the economy were sound. And HOWEVER told him to say that is more than likely STILL writing speeches for the party, thinking he's Bruno Gianelli from the West Wing when really he's Hold the Bells from the Fast Show. <object width="340" height="285"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YZYMnmHgIks&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YZYMnmHgIks&hl=en_GB&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object> I remember Eamonn Gilmore’s first appearance as leader of the party on Questions and Answers, in January 2008, and his opening line was that the fundamentals of the economy were sound. And HOWEVER told him to say that is more than likely STILL writing speeches for the party, thinking he’s Bruno Gianelli from the West Wing when really he’s Hold the Bells from the Fast Show.

]]> By: Donal http://dublinopinion.com/2010/03/19/this-is-what-happens-when-expert-advisors-write-your-speeches/#comment-72497 Donal Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:51:40 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2010/03/19/this-is-what-happens-when-expert-advisors-write-your-speeches/#comment-72497 I remember this. I was canvassing for Labour down here in Wexford when they were pushing this campaign. The most memorable moment for me was when I got a text message from Pat. It even said "Pat Rabbitte" in my inbox (the technical wizardry of it!) and it read: "Donal, are you happy?" As it happened I was. I was on the jacks at work and felt like texting Pat back and telling him all about the very satisfying shite i was having but alas, there was no text-back facility. A genuine contender for my most surreal experience of 2007! The campaign was all soft focus. I remember being told the economic argument was a NON-RUNNER because everyone was in basic agreement that growth of 3-5% was a given. So we were asked to concentrate on quality of life issues. The underlying cracks that Labour will now tell you they were shouting about from the roof-tops were never mentioned. It became an auction about who could put the most Gardai on the streets and an exercise in drawing attention to public funds being squandered on voting machines rather than addressing any of the real concerns. This all at a time when Banks were selling their branch buildings on lease-back schemes throughout the country in anticipation of what they knew was coming in the property sector. Less re-arranging the deck-chairs on the Titanic, more bitching about the cup-holders on the space shuttle Columbia. And you're right Conor, all of those who authored that approach are still in place by and large, which is why they've chosen JOBS as their banner headline for the next election. Controversial eh? Notice how it seams to be focussing on what people want without actually alienating either potential coalition partner (or addressing any of the underlying problems). What next from these gurus? OXYGEN? CHIPS? THE RIDE? I remember this. I was canvassing for Labour down here in Wexford when they were pushing this campaign.

The most memorable moment for me was when I got a text message from Pat. It even said “Pat Rabbitte” in my inbox (the technical wizardry of it!) and it read: “Donal, are you happy?”

As it happened I was. I was on the jacks at work and felt like texting Pat back and telling him all about the very satisfying shite i was having but alas, there was no text-back facility.

A genuine contender for my most surreal experience of 2007!

The campaign was all soft focus. I remember being told the economic argument was a NON-RUNNER because everyone was in basic agreement that growth of 3-5% was a given.

So we were asked to concentrate on quality of life issues. The underlying cracks that Labour will now tell you they were shouting about from the roof-tops were never mentioned. It became an auction about who could put the most Gardai on the streets and an exercise in drawing attention to public funds being squandered on voting machines rather than addressing any of the real concerns.

This all at a time when Banks were selling their branch buildings on lease-back schemes throughout the country in anticipation of what they knew was coming in the property sector.

Less re-arranging the deck-chairs on the Titanic, more bitching about the cup-holders on the space shuttle Columbia.

And you’re right Conor, all of those who authored that approach are still in place by and large, which is why they’ve chosen JOBS as their banner headline for the next election. Controversial eh? Notice how it seams to be focussing on what people want without actually alienating either potential coalition partner (or addressing any of the underlying problems).

What next from these gurus? OXYGEN? CHIPS? THE RIDE?

]]> By: Conor McCabe http://dublinopinion.com/2010/03/19/this-is-what-happens-when-expert-advisors-write-your-speeches/#comment-72483 Conor McCabe Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:19:41 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2010/03/19/this-is-what-happens-when-expert-advisors-write-your-speeches/#comment-72483 haha! Over 40 kids made statements, and the Greens have shat on every single one of them. Beautiful. haha!

Over 40 kids made statements, and the Greens have shat on every single one of them.

Beautiful.

]]> By: Donal Ó Fallúin http://dublinopinion.com/2010/03/19/this-is-what-happens-when-expert-advisors-write-your-speeches/#comment-72482 Donal Ó Fallúin Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:06:57 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2010/03/19/this-is-what-happens-when-expert-advisors-write-your-speeches/#comment-72482 Remember this one? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvtUeSjzYL0 I'm actually amazed the Greens never took it down. "I don't think rich people should be treated better than poor people.." at 1:40 wins the day. Remember this one?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvtUeSjzYL0
I’m actually amazed the Greens never took it down.

“I don’t think rich people should be treated better than poor people..” at 1:40 wins the day.

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