Will Cowen be seriously damaged if Lisbon Falls?

[badboy2]

Besides Bertie stepped on a fair few landmines during his first few months in office in 97-98 and survived. Cowen will be grand.

So a complete failue to implement one of the most central parts of government policy will not undermine the political clout of the Taoiseach?

This democracy lark is mad!

[Sligoboy]

Besides Bertie stepped on a fair few landmines during his first few months in office in 97-98 and survived. Cowen will be grand.

So a complete failue to implement one of the most central parts of government policy will not undermine the political clout of the Taoiseach?

This democracy lark is mad!

That simply depends on which political prism you view it through.

[FutureTaoiseach]

Of course not. Bertie wasn't a lame-duck because he lost Nice I. And between Nice I and II, there was a General Election where FF almost won an overall majority. European issues are primarily for EU referenda and provided it stays that way opponents of Lisbon are not going to desert Cowen purely because of Lisbon. I just hope that unlike with Nice I, Cowen doesn't run to Brussels saying "sorry" like he did back then. That was so embarrassing for the nation.

[Tony_1975]

Why would he be?
Surely it's not his job to give us our opinion.

[badboy2]

Ok,

Here is two reasons why I think it could cause him damage:

1) The media will see it as a failing. The pro-europe lobby will see it the government letting them down and may be less supportive of him.

2) He will have failed to avert what his predecessor considers to be a disaster.

Does no one on this board see the failure to implement government policy as a weakness, or is sucess measured only at the ballot box?


Bertie delivered over 90% support for the abandonment of Articles 2 and 3. He proved he could convince people to do things that they would normally baulk at. Nice was an abberation on an otherwises perfect electoral record.


Leadership is about enacting and managing change. The idea that you run away from something because it is unpopular is pretty pathetic.

[corkman2007]

He won't be seriously tarnished when the treaty is rejected. Most of the other parties are supporting it too. RTE seem to be tarnished already- on the Week in Politics, there were 3 pro-treaty guests and no one from the no side.....shameful.

Aw poor you! Weren't there any liars available?

[Supermanpolitician]

Love beating the same old drum, but Cowen is already damaged by his association with criminal elements in Fianna Fail.

[loner]

We as a nation will be seriously damaged if Lisbon fails---Cowen is already damaged by his support for Bertie.

[stopthetrain]

Sin fein TD O'cualon is saying no to lisbon treaty, he must have a reason for given the lisbon treaty a bloody nose but the fact of the matter is that, he realy need to convince me on their believes, because every citizen has the right to roam in europe in sofar you are legal.

[FutureTaoiseach]

We as a nation will be seriously damaged if Lisbon fails---Cowen is already damaged by his support for Bertie.

Rubbish.

FDI in France soared since they voted No to the EU Constitution.

I don't care what Merkel or Sarkozy think. I don't elect them.

The only damage will be to Bertie's chances of becoming President of the European Council.