Contrast them with the likes of Bertie Ahern – a cute survivor, but, in reality, a bonehead incompetent, ably assisted – in a programme of massive inaction (apart from the bounty heaped on the trade unions & the civil service) – by Martin Cullen – a major liability to progress; Seamus Brennan, scandalously sacked by Ahern for daring to upset his beloved comrades in the Union movement (such a misnomer!); Brian Cowen, undeniably able, but riding to orders from Ahern. Having produced one disastrous negative Budget, can we expect prudence in December? In a pig’s ass.
Michael Martin.
Who?
Can anyone remember anyone else in FF?
Like a Polo Mint – the party with a hole in it.

If Irish politics is going to lose all its able Ministers – and that includes Charlie McCreevy – we are facing a bleak future.

The opposition make noble generalisations about a war on Waste; reforms of Heath & Education and Crime.
But details; costings; a timetable. Where are they? We can’t vote for vague promises of better things to come. We must have facts and figures. Surely this is not beyond the abilty of Messrs Burton; Bruton (an apt anagram) & Gilmore etc…?

With interest rates poised to increase, possibly by 100 or more basis points before the General Election; Private Sector borrowings of €300 billion – or more; Banks increasing their bad debts reserves (if they are prudent); Building start-ups contracting (no pun intended); Tourism threatened by gridlock to & from Collinstown Airport, as well as on centre city roads; Rip-off prices in Hotels; restaurants; bars & night clubs…
With all these negatives, there are some horrors coming down the tracks for an incoming administartion.

And how will a New Government cope with this potential backlash in 2008, when the feelgood factor of the SSIA’s and a Cowen/Ahern giveaway Budget has evaporated into King-Size Bills?

Now is the time to build up serious reserves against the future uncertainties; to plan for the period after the meltdown of the recent housing boom; to deal with the explosive costs of the “Social Partnership” agreements; to put an end to political donations & the myth that there are no expectations on the part of those developers & builders who flock to the FF tent at Galway Races.

And one must keep a weather eye on the US, where decisions there have a direct impact on Ireland.

Time to reflect & consider serious changes.

A LOT UNDONE. EVERYTHING YET TO DO.

Look at Bertie and Enda the rule is be less clear on position not more clear and if your certain be middle of the road. McDowell could not lead for the reason that those in a party of his looking for election would be too uncertain of their success.

I agree that his place in Dublin SE is far from sure, especially if the incinerator issue takes traction. Having said that Harney and her party are fighting for their lives at the next election. The swoop of OGorman may pay off but wexford has been one of the most consistent of all constituencies. There may be no room nor vote for o gorman and his compensation for the loss of parlon-now looking odds on- seems more and more border line.

The pds are in an odd place.

Seeing McDowell work with rather than against Lab/FG is unlikely, my understanding is that he completely hates Rabbitte, for example… he would probably do anything to deny SF though, but I think they will be their own worst enemies in the coming years.

My wild prediction is the following; PD’s will do very badly but McDowell will be one of the fallen… outside of the Dáil he won’t stand a chance of becoming leader but he will become more vocal against Harney, within relatively little time he will form a new party (based on his ideals for the PD’s), taking some PD’s with him… it’s likely that Harney will be forced out of the PD’s although either way they will become a nothing party for some time…
Altogether I am certain that McDowell will fail in his re-election bid, and at best will fail in his leadership bid next year (leading to a party split). There’s no way he will run for leader, fail and then stay on… his ego is far too big.