Could Cowen be gone by St Patrick's Day? - "Beware The Ides of March"

[NapperTandy]

Ides of March - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Assassination of Brian Cowen(politically speaking)


Cowen was assassinated (politically speaking) on the Ides of March, 2009 AD , after declaring himself dictator of Ireland, for life . According to a near-contemporary biographer, Cowen summoned the Dail to meet in Leinster House on the Ides of March. A certain soothsayer warned Cowen to be on his guard against a great peril on the day of the month of March which the Irish call the Ides; and when the day had come and Cowen was on his way to the Dail, he greeted the seer with a jest and said: "The Ides of March has come," and the seer said to him softly: "Aye, Cowen, but not gone."

As the Dail convened, Cowen was attacked and stabbed in the back(politically speaking) by a group of TDs who called themselves the FF backbenchers ("Liberators"); they justified their action on the grounds that they committed tyrannicide and were preserving the Republic from Cowen''s alleged monarchical ambitions.


The Ides of March (Latin: Idus Martias) is the name of the date 15 March in the Roman calendar. The term ides was used for the 15th day of the months of March, May, July, and October, and the 13th day of the other eight months. In Roman times, the Ides of March was a festive day dedicated to the god Mars and a military parade was usually held.

In modern times, the term Ides of March is best known as the date that Julius Caesar was assassinated, in 44 BC, the story of which was famously dramatised in William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar.


Could this happen? I can't see Cowen lasting more than another month(politically). Even in the Dail today, his answers didn't sound very convincing. Too many things are happening at the moment, the news concerning Anglo Irish Bank is having a huge impact on public opinion. If an opinion poll was taken this week, I would imagine FF would be down in the mid teens. The FF Ard Fheis will be a nightmare for him, expect trouble inside and outside the FF Ard Fheis. I'm not sure how this will end, but I don't think it will be pretty!

[Marlowe]

Ides of March - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Assassination of Brian Cowen(politically speaking)


Cowen was assassinated (politically speaking) on the Ides of March, 2009 AD , after declaring himself dictator of Ireland, for life . According to a near-contemporary biographer, Cowen summoned the Dail to meet in Leinster House on the Ides of March. A certain soothsayer warned Cowen to be on his guard against a great peril on the day of the month of March which the Irish call the Ides; and when the day had come and Cowen was on his way to the Dail, he greeted the seer with a jest and said: "The Ides of March has come," and the seer said to him softly: "Aye, Cowen, but not gone."[4]

As the Dail convened, Cowen was attacked and stabbed in the back(politically speaking) by a group of TDs who called themselves the FF backbenchers ("Liberators"); they justified their action on the grounds that they committed tyrannicide and were preserving the Republic from Cowen''s alleged monarchical ambitions.


The Ides of March (Latin: Idus Martias) is the name of the date 15 March in the Roman calendar. The term ides was used for the 15th day of the months of March, May, July, and October, and the 13th day of the other eight months.[1] In Roman times, the Ides of March was a festive day dedicated to the god Mars and a military parade was usually held.

In modern times, the term Ides of March is best known as the date that Julius Caesar was assassinated, in 44 BC, the story of which was famously dramatised in William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar.[2]


Could this happen? I can't see Cowen lasting more than another month(politically). Even in the Dail today, his answers didn't sound very convincing. Too many things are happening at the moment, the news concerning Anglo Irish Bank is having a huge impact on public opinion. If an opinion poll was taken this week, I would imagine FF would be down in the mid teens. The FF Ard Fheis will be a nightmare for him, expect trouble inside and outside the FF Ard Fheis. I'm not sure how this will end, but I don't think it will be pretty!

If I had a few bob to spare,I'd be placing it on a 2009 election, and I'd expect to be collecting it sooner rather than later

[Eorna]

It is certain that there will be an election this year, there seems to be a crisis every week at this stage, and there is lots more to come.

[NapperTandy]

He is no longer in control of events, it all seems very similar to the breakup of the FF/Labour coalition in 1992. It is like watching a slow-motion car crash at the moment. Things could move very quickly over the next few days/weeks. I would say the papers at the weekend will have the names of the 'Gang of Ten', this could cause the whole Govt to unravel very quickly!

[greengoose]

One place he doesn't seem to be going is the Teach Bán. Will Obama survive without that bowl of Sham Rock? Answers on the back of a beer mat to...

[Marlowe]

He is no longer in control of events, it all seems very similar to the breakup of the FF/Labour coalition in 1992. It is like watching a slow-motion car crash at the moment. Things could move very quickly over the next few days/weeks. I would say the papers at the weekend will have the names of the 'Gang of Ten', this could cause the whole Govt to unravel very quickly!

Especially since the Gang will not be pursued for the security they put up when buying the shares because of 'legal difficulties' over the contracts

[Ballyfermot Man]

We have observed so many times in the last 12 years the "when will there be an election" scenerios. Remember this is FF in government. They don't do resignations. For all the current malaise, this government could just as easily run its full term(albeit under a different taoiseach). If I was a Green Minister, why would I give up my generous salary, expenses, car, pension and office staff for my principles? What have politicians who have resigned on a point of principle ever gained from the electorate, or even be remembered by the electorate?
Enda can hold off on the phonecall to Angela for the GE posters for a while longer.

[Pauli]

We have observed so many times in the last 12 years the "when will there be an election" scenerios. Remember this is FF in government. They don't do resignations. For all the current malaise, this government could just as easily run its full term(albeit under a different taoiseach). If I was a Green Minister, why would I give up my generous salary, expenses, car, pension and office staff for my principles? What have politicians who have resigned on a point of principle ever gained from the electorate, or even be remembered by the electorate?
Enda can hold off on the phonecall to Angela for the GE posters for a while longer.

Somebody resigned on a point of principle?? From FF?? You are kidding, surely??

[New_Economic_Agenda]

just look at the number of issues arriving together:

collapse of FF beloved social partnership talks

protests across several unions

banking scandal involving Anglo Irish Bank, IL & P, Irish Nationwide (more anon.) with several different facets to each issue - including Fitzpatrick, Circle of Ten, Regulator investigation at IL & P


hugely risky recapitalisation of AIB and BoI pending with no evidence whatsoever of necessary root and branch reform required in banking system as public are crying out for

tribunal report focusing on allegations of corruption in the main government party imminent

Brussels taking deficit proceedings against us

and

a year end projected budget deficit for current year of 10% +

another Lisbon Treaty poll after an embarrassing rejection the last time

Local Election Year

potential for a bond market failure

a minister for Finance that thinks the prudence concept should be replaced with something a little more optimistic

a Tanaiste that puts her foot in it virtually every time she says something

a horrible and unprecedented opinion poll for FF

surge in support for opposition including the ol enemy FG

and evidence, from the Sunday Independent a while back, that the cabinet does not stand united behind the leader

... this is GUBU

if FF, the great strategists, can survive all of this, complete the full term, and poll 22% or higher at the next election it will be some story for the history books

We'll be talking about this for a long long time