If you were Cowen - what would you do?

[adrem]

Leaving your own politics aside (harder for some than others I know !) and just trying to put yourself in the shoes of BC this afternoon - what would you do?

There's the traditional approach - poll very disappointing, snapshot, reflects the anger, we communicated badly . . . but . . . hard decisions never popular, job to do, not paid to be popular (ed: kinda are though really !), will listen but won't shirk from the responsibility etc etc etc etc

My personal view is that the poll is a massive wake up call but I'm unsure he has the wherewithall to heed it. If I were he I would sack my Finance Minister. I'm sorry BL but ultimately you phucked up - yes we all helped you and supported your phucking up but a ballsed up budget rests with MoF. I say sack but in reality I would actually move you over to Justice again. This is your forte and I think you do have an intellect which will be of benefit to the cabinet in time.

New Minister for Finance - Mr. Dermot Ahern.

I would then roll back on a number of the cutbacks. I would not change the rollback of universality on cards for the over 70s. I would however at least double the limits from their current level - someone with an income in retirement of 65k+ or a couple with 130k+ do NOT need a free medical card. I would cut the doctor payment from 640 to 400 per patient. I would roll back on the majority of the education cuts apart from the uncertified sick leave one - that's a daft one and should have been changed before now. I would row back on the class size and the cuts in the special schemes etc. I would leave the agriculture cuts as they are.

I would fund the gap that would now exist (having rowed back on many big cuts above !) with an across the board 7.5% pay cut wef Jan 2009.

I would then publicly apologise for making a balls out of it. Highlight the need for further reform of the tax and public service, highlight the need for everyone to commit to helping the economy through this difficult period.

That approach is in line with what the opposition and unions have called for - namely cuts that are not aimed at children or vulnerable.

[Keith-M]

I wouldn't have put Linehan into finance, but given where he is now, I would do the following.

I would ensure that there was no more slippages on the provisions of the budget. If this means facing down the teaching unions and farmers, so be it. Let the do their worst, at the end of the day both group's depend on the taxpayer for most of their income.

I would make a national broadcast explaining the current financial position in a language that everyone can understand.

I would drop Harney, when and if the PDs fold. An independent TD who is not seeking re-election cannot hold the purse strings of the biggest spending department. I would bring Beverley Cooper-Flynn onto the front bench.

I would bring back Bertie Ahern as Tanaiste with an overseeing role of "Minister of the Public Service", with an aim of 20% reduction in costs (in real terms) every year for the term of the current Dail.

I would take every opportunity to go head to head with Enda Kenny, just to show how ridiculous the idea of the FG leader becoming Taoiseach really is.

[Aindriu]

Resign. He was never given a mandate by the people anyway.

[adrem]

Face down the media, unions and public opinion? Never works. Across the board cuts achieve the aim but do it in a way which is less open to criticism. Also it puts the unions and media on a much stickier wicket - why not have everyone in the public service take a cut? If they are all so willing to play their part (as they have all being saying in recent days) well here's your chance. The private sector has and will continue to pay in job losses and pay cuts so here's the chance for the public sectors chance to prove their commitment to the people who rely on their services.

I think Lenihan (who I like btw) has to go - Cowen has to show decisive leadership.

Can't see the point in dropping Harney - I'm one of those that doesn't see the health service problems as a function of her performance - it wasn't better under Noonan, Martin or Cowen.

No way on Bev - a) she hasn't done anything to deserve it and b) I'm of the "she shouldn't have been taken back into FF" mindset !

No way on Bertie - he's gone and ain't coming back

The "fight" with FG will be with Bruton - there's a whole different question for the FG party to grapple with. A good poll comes after a few months of Bruton acting as de facto leader so should they keep going as they are or change to Bruton now? In a funny twist the anti Kenny-ites (Varadkar, Reilly et al) want to keep him now because they don't want Bruton taking over and extending the leadership of the old guard !! Anyway - all that's for another thread.

Back to Cowen - I'd agree with the national broadcast - needs to have taken the decisive action though - can't just be to stick to his guns - that would be a mistake (imho) up there with Charlie telling us to tighten our belts

[John_C]

One thing I'd do is make a genuine offer to the teachers and principals; the amount of the cuts needs to stay but if they can find somewhere else in the education budget where they'd hit less painfully, then let them propose the change.

[Keith-M]

Resign. He was never given a mandate by the people anyway.

Wrong, people aren't given mandates, parties are. Ahern told the electorate that he would not serve full term and signalled Cowen as his successor and people voted for FF.

Serveral former leaders of this country became Taoiseach without ever getting a mandate, the last being John Bruton.

[Aggressor]

Bottle of Brandy, revolver?

[super pedestrian]

Wrong, people aren't given mandates, parties are. Ahern told the electorate that he would not serve full term and signalled Cowen as his successor and people voted for FF.

Serveral former leaders of this country became Taoiseach without ever getting a mandate, the last being John Bruton.

He said the exact oposite actually.
Ahern insists he will stay on until 2012 - The Irish Times - Wed, Feb 27, 2008

[John_C]

He said the exact oposite actually.
Ahern insists he will stay on until 2012 - The Irish Times - Wed, Feb 27, 2008

Bertie had the ability to hold two contradictory opinions at the same time.

[hiding behind a poster]

I would bring Beverley Cooper-Flynn onto the front bench.

Er, why?

I would bring back Bertie Ahern as Tanaiste with an overseeing role of "Minister of the Public Service", with an aim of 20% reduction in costs (in real terms) every year for the term of the current Dail.

That really is the dumbest suggestion I've heard in a long time. Ahern made an entire career out of his inability to take tough decisions, and his default option of throwing money at every problem. And you suggest he's the man to cut costs and jobs in the public sector. Tells us all we need to know about your level of political cop-on, Keith2Seats.

I would take every opportunity to go head to head with Enda Kenny, just to show how ridiculous the idea of the FG leader becoming Taoiseach really is.

Well since Cowen's first "honeymoon poll" a couple of weeks after becoming Taoiseach, FF have dropped by 16% and FG have climbed by 9%. So the more Cowen v Kenny, the better.