D-Day for Cowen.

[Digout]

Yesterday, the backbench FF TD's had a proper go at Cowen over his lack of leadership and his attempt to deliver a deal that was clearly a fudge and bowing to the unions. Tonight is the annual dinner for Cairde Fianna Fail. Its expected that tonight will be used as the platform for Cowen to deliver the details of his deal with the unions.

During yesterdays FF meeting, apparently the FF TD's were looking to Lenny and not to Cowen, it seems they have already given up on him.

Tonights meeting will be the last time that gets to he can lead. I cant see it happening as he has never done anything during his long political career that shows he is a leader or a decision maker. His position was seriously undermined yesterday. The knives have been sharpened and they are ready for use.

The fact that the Lenihan/O Rourke wing of FF were busy in the media contradicting Cowens position yesterday shows the serious tensions inside FF.

TDs say Cowen has shirked the tough decisions - National News, Frontpage - Independent.ie


and

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/an...y-1963990.html

[greengoose2]

Cowen is doing it [COLOR=red]HIS WAY![/COLOR] Bertie did his in the same way. Such is FF, the political machine!

If there's a few jars and some free nosh then Cowen is happy. He has already earned a king's ransom from his political ineptitude so he doesn't give a fiddlers what happens to the country he and his cohorts brought to it's knees.

He will make that speech after a few pints wnen the Party Faithful are half plastered and he will get a standing ovation for his leadership in the hard times which were created solely by Lehman Broz.

Then the Cowen Roadshow will trundle along till they give us the Budget (another standing ovation) and we are into Exmas. Meanwhile Ireland is afloat and there is a shortage of wellies (free one might presume) in Leinster House. Thank God for helicopters and Guinness after a hard day's flood surveying.

I ho;d the cheerleaders and standing ovators in contempt.

[Victor Meldrew]

You'd wonder what will eventually remove Biffo. It's been so bad for so long in terms of indecision and apathy.
A hall full of Friends of Fianna Fail? So much scum in such a small space

[drjimryan2]

well it has to be 'game on' alright......

its also nice to see ahern where he belongs in the public view, the bar stool fools no where to be heard and the real talent of the party like Chris Andrews and Michael Kennedy (who should both be juniors) saying it as it is in a clear and precise way.....

[darkhorse]

its incredible to think that he was willing to sign off on a smokescreen deal with the unions and get nothing in return. for that alone he should be kicked out of office - he really doesnt give a dam about the nations finances.
Its time they stopped wasting their time negotiating with the unions. its not within the unions power to offer any kind of concession as shown by aer lingus. if they had an ounce of common sense, they government should take control, forget about trade unions and start thinking of how to get out of the mess they led us into.

[Digout]

Does anybody know where the piss up is tonight?

[Congalltee]

As for the ff dinner. It would need to be a vast improvement on last year's speech where the biggest applause was when he mentioned Bertie.
The best indicator of the weakness of the leader, is the circulation of ministers at the dinner. They will be like bees around jam and beer.

[Pabilito]

It's amazing how Cowen has continued to go from bad to worse and still hang in.. with the likes of John McGuinness in the background there must be some plan to oust him?

He's obviously not listening to his own party when you see their reaction yesterday.. nor is he listening to the people when 85% are against the days off RTE radio poll.. so who is he listening to?..

[snacksandfizzydrinks]

THIS IS DAY 91 of cowens famous 100 DAY plan

9 days left brian, and the bum has nothing to show.

[sumlulu]

well it has to be 'game on' alright......

its also nice to see ahern where he belongs in the public view, the bar stool fools no where to be heard and the real talent of the party like Chris Andrews and Michael Kennedy (who should both be juniors) saying it as it is in a clear and precise way.....

Chris Andrews??? If that is where the real talent of the party is one would hope that the party is destined for a long spell in opposition! It would be nice however if he would pay attention to his own "clear and precise" words, and "realise that their actions do have consequences"!