Frustration and gnashing of teeth on FF backbenches

[stonethrower]

Following the announcement of the same old, same old cabinet last night there must be a lot of frustration and gnashing of teeth on the Fianna Fail back benches.

There they are in Govt for the third time and Bertie shows no willingness at all to promote and demote members. Surely some of the backbenchers such as P Power, Ardagh, Fleming, Curran, B. Andrews, Carey, Devins, Hoctor, Moloney, McGuinness who slog away must be in despair of ever being Ministers.

Unlike these gang Ahern, Dempsey and Dermot Ahern, etc were all made Minister or Min of State within 4/5 years of being elected.

However given Bertie unwillingness to change people around, is there any chance he will make a radical change to the junior ministries? Although perhaps these compliant backbenchers have themselves to blame. It seems Bertie only ever promotes people who cause him hassle, with O'Cuiv and Mary Wallace setting an example in this regard.

If Bertie doesn't ring the changes on the junior ranks, is there potential for unrest?

[Leopold Bloom]

I imagine Mary O'Rourke's nose must be seriously out of joint.

She had nothing but nice things to say about Bertie immediately after the election: wonder how long that will last?

[adamirer]

Not like they'll do a coup.... but watch the knives come out when the tribunal hits him..
As for gnashing, it must have gnawed at the greens to vote O'Donoghue in as CC after all his anti green comments, great move by Labour putting Quinn against him. i laughed my ass off.

[FutureTaoiseach]

He has indicated there might be changes mid-term.

[delmarie]

You are all such bad losers!

[jerryp]

If the current frustration of back-benchers isn't enough, the signal given by Bertie about Beverly will drive them crazy !

[geraghd]

not to mention the fact that Bertie is a bit of a lame duck taoiseach. As the term goes on the questions will mount as to when Bertie will leave office, who will replace him and then the usual vying for publicity by various leadership contenders. With an inexperienced coalition partner, huge differences in policy despite the programme for govt, disaffected backbenchers, and a much more strengthened and cohesive opposition the next five years (assuming it lasts that long) will be most interesting indeed, esp from the real and only opposition side of FG and Labour.