Who within FF can replace Cowen?

[Question R24U]

To break the dynastic dithering, it would have to be Dermot Ahern. Intelligent, straight talking and good communicator.

MM is a waste of space - other than being from Cork and non-offensive he has little to offer.
Mary Cock-up is out of favour.
Lenihan has proved wanting.
Noel Dempsey would drive us to distraction.
Batt-man is too junior but could be a good temorary leader of ff if we go into opposition. O Cuiv could fulfill the latter role to regain the spirit and soul of the party (just so long as we don not fight any elections)
Mary Hanifin cannot even be contemplated.
ditto O'Dea and cullen.

Basically it is better to stick with Cowen for now; he has 5 major things to do:
1) Putting in place a clear plan of action for the economy.
2) Billions of cuts in the least painful manner.
3) Have a good ard-fheis (the omens are not good).
4) Ensure the Local elections candidates are not hung out to dry.
5) Get Lisbon passed.

If he gets through the above, cuts out the management speak and provides decisive leadership - will will hang on to him.

But will he still be leader when he is 52 (the age his father died and just under 3 years away)?

[Gimpanzee]

Firstly, the sooner they are out the better. If they are to stay Lenihan would be a vast improvement, and would probably be a better Taoiseach than a Minister for Finance. His lack of cabinet experience until recently counts in his favour - he can't be held responsible for the situation we are now in. Anyone who was sitting around the table in 5 years ago (Martin, D Ahern, and needless to say Cullen) shouldn't be considered because they, like Cowen will find it very difficult to get out of the 'this governing stuff is easy, or I'm really good at it' mindset that has turned the Biff into a jibbering wreck when confronted with a crisis.

[smitchy2]

She should be put into Enterprise immediately.

Bev could rack up the FDI

She is a prime example of what is wrong with politics and much of what is wrong with FF.
Her intelligence does not come in for debate as her family have been proven corrupt.

I would say they are lining up MM or Dermot Ahern.
Cowen has been a disaster.

[kellsangel]

Time to look outside the current cabinet

You can't write some one off on account of alleged corruption by a family member

[fiannafuddy]

To break the dynastic dithering, it would have to be Dermot Ahern. Intelligent, straight talking and good communicator.

MM is a waste of space - other than being from Cork and non-offensive he has little to offer.
Mary Cock-up is out of favour.
Lenihan has proved wanting.
Noel Dempsey would drive us to distraction.
Batt-man is too junior but could be a good temorary leader of ff if we go into opposition. O Cuiv could fulfill the latter role to regain the spirit and soul of the party (just so long as we don not fight any elections)
Mary Hanifin cannot even be contemplated.
ditto O'Dea and cullen.

Basically it is better to stick with Cowen for now; he has 5 major things to do:
1) Putting in place a clear plan of action for the economy.
2) Billions of cuts in the least painful manner.
3) Have a good ard-fheis (the omens are not good).
4) Ensure the Local elections candidates are not hung out to dry.
5) Get Lisbon passed.

If he gets through the above, cuts out the management speak and provides decisive leadership - will will hang on to him.

But will he still be leader when he is 52 (the age his father died and just under 3 years away)?

What people are entirely missing is that you do NOT have to be ministerial material to be Taoiseach...you just need to be able to lead. Anyone on the front bench is too tainted. I'd like to just close my eyes and drop a pin, and see what happens if you land on someone like Chris Andrews or Seán Connick...Batt is really the only front bench person that's shown he's fully committed to implementing in the least painful manner the necessary reform to lead to a recovery.

1&2 are a matter for Cabinet, 3 is a matter for the membership and while I and many others have got plenty of reason to be discontent it is our duty to our party and our nation to give the leadership the correct balance of boot up the arse and outright support at this Ard-Fheis and I will not be found wanting in that regard.

The fresh faces on the ground and the local profiles should to some extent prove as damage limitation for local elections

Lisbon is a cross party issue and I've even suggested to AC reps that Kenny and Gilmore be invited to address the Ard-Fheis in this regard. We need national unity on this. Similar to the mood in the US, where Obama hosted a dinner for John McCain.

[Question R24U]

[QUOTE=fiannafuddy;1379439]What people are entirely missing is that you do NOT have to be ministerial material to be Taoiseach...
...Anyone on the front bench is too tainted.
.. like Chris Andrews or Seán Connick...
Lisbon is a cross party issue and I've even suggested to AC reps that Kenny and Gilmore be invited to address the Ard-Fheis in this regard. QUOTE]

Jeepers, you're madder than I am. I would rather have Harney at the Ard-fheis than Gilmore and Kenny.

Can you name me any FF taoiseach who did not had ministerial experience when they took the job. Even Kenny was minister for B&Bs and St Paddy's day. I would not have Chris Andrews in charge of minding a bee (oscure simpson's reference).

Certainly the cabinet needs a culling - if I am sick of the sight of half of them. But I would love so see electoral reform so that parish pump politics is ended and quality of ministers improves (do we need a minister for Waterford?)

[Gimpanzee]

I disagree.

Although getting into this mess isn't his fault, he made a mess of handling the Anglo situation (I think it should have be left to fail). Although he doesn't know a whole lot about economics or accounting he doesn't seem to know the correct people to ask.

Knowing the right people to take advice from is a key skill for Taoiseach.

I'm in the 'don't know' camp regarding Anglo's nationalisation. Only time will tell if it is the right decision or not but I do feel that there is merit in the principle of not allowing a bank to fail. There would be a long term price to pay for any medium term gain if it was let fall. What remains to be seen is whether the price we pay to keep it up is greater - and I have no reason to suspect that Lenihan has misjudged the advice he's getting (I pay no heed to what Morgan Kelly has to say about what his sources tell him - and I'd much prefer if he'd stick to the economics and leave the scoops to investigative journalists) and it is highly probably that he's been advised to do everything by advisors and civil servants eager to cover their own arses, so I don't envy the man. I also like the fact that FF backbenchers and Councillors are supposed to be uncomfortable with the way he has operated in a secretive fashion (read failing to prioritise the safety of their seats at the expense of doing what he feels is necessary).

The one thing I would say is that if it was right to nationalise it, it should have been done last September.

[cyberianpan]

I'm in the 'don't know' camp regarding Anglo's nationalisation. Only time will tell if it is the right decision or not but I do feel that there is merit in the principle of not allowing a bank to fail. There would be a long term price to pay for any medium term gain if it was let fall. What remains to be seen is whether the price we pay to keep it up is greater - and I have no reason to suspect that Lenihan has misjudged the advice he's getting (I pay no heed to what Morgan Kelly has to say about what his sources tell him - and I'd much prefer if he'd stick to the economics and leave the scoops to investigative journalists) and it is highly probably that he's been advised to do everything by advisors and civil servants eager to cover their own arses, so I don't envy the man. I also like the fact that FF backbenchers and Councillors are supposed to be uncomfortable with the way he has operated in a secretive fashion (read failing to prioritise the safety of their seats at the expense of doing what he feels is necessary).

The one thing I would say is that if it was right to nationalise it, it should have been done last September.

Well the markets lost confidence in them since then due to:
1) Loanbook re categorisation: they were caught fiddling their overall loan book
2) Loans to directors scandal

It was actually 1) that killed them on the markets. So decision was right back then.

Also I've a separate thread on Lenihan - who I think seems to be the strongest candidate, but also the one who needs the greatest scrutiny

Is Lenihan the heir apparent to Cowen ?

cYp