[Happygal]

Fine Gael have about as much joie de vivre, as a wet mackrel landed on Kilmore Quay.

They need to get with the programme.

Ireland needs a 'left' and 'right'. And when Fianna Fail are providing the 'right' in this country, it's time for me to beat meself with birch sticks and join a convent, fexfuxsake!

ARRRRRRRGHHHH..

I may just have to start up me own party.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I really don't understand why Fine Gael don't brand themselves as a conservative party (in the past it was Ireland's GOP) - it may be because they don't want to screw their chances with a coalition with Labour (and they can't stop fantasizing about another 'Rainbow Coalition'), and also the party was hijacked by liberals like Jim Higgins, Gay Mitchell and Francis Fitzgerald.

But at least now grassrooters like myself have a vote for deciding the Leadership of the Party - which will solve Fine Gael's old problem of been out of touch and aloof, and the political ideology of the party would have to reflect the opinions of ordinary Fine Gaelers - and Fine Gael voters are the most conservative of all Irish voters