Why was Brian Cowen unopposed for FF leader?

[PhoenixIreland]

To FFers: What were you thinking, at the time?

To everyone else: Do you recall what people were saying at the time as to why they supported Cowen? Was there any real talk of a leadership race?

What was wrong with Brian Lenihan or Micheál Martin?

What qualities had Brian Cowen got that nobody else had?

[cyberianpan]

Ahern cunningly set Cowen up for the leadership

He spent some of his last political capital on it

I'll leave it to others to determine why Ahern wanted Cowen

cYp

[EarlyBird]

Ahern cunningly set Cowen up for the leadership

He spent some of his last political capital on it

I'll leave it to others to determine why Ahern wanted Cowen

cYp

Part of the reason was Cowens blind devotion to Ahern. Ahern knew full well that Cowen would cover his arse, keep the heat away from him after he left office and never question anything that he did (at least not publicly).

[PhoenixIreland]

Part of the reason was Cowens blind devotion to Ahern. Ahern knew full well that Cowen would cover his arse, keep the heat away from him after he left office and never question anything that he did (at least not publicly).

Huh? Was he expecting the others to give a Kruschev like speech denouncing him?

[Mitsui]

Part of the reason was Cowens blind devotion to Ahern. Ahern knew full well that Cowen would cover his arse, keep the heat away from him after he left office and never question anything that he did (at least not publicly).

Good grief - I never thought of it like that! You mean Cowen was (in a sort of a way) Bertie's version of himself (as regards his annointment as Charlie's Chosen One)?

Hmmm...I wonder did Cowen sign many blank cheques

[EarlyBird]

Huh? Was he expecting the others to give a Kruschev like speech denouncing him?

How many of them would have taken all the flak for Bertie?. Cowen was (is) Aherns sidekick, a "safe pair of hands" that displayed Spaniel like devotion to his master.
Of course he was Aherns #1 choice, of all of them he was the least likely to "betray".

[PhoenixIreland]

So he was Berties choice, big deal, that surely didn't stop anyone else running?

[EarlyBird]

So he was Berties choice, big deal, that surely didn't stop anyone else running?

Nobody wanted to rock the boat, obviously. It was a one horse race.

[Defeated Romanticist]

To FFers: What were you thinking, at the time?

To everyone else: Do you recall what people were saying at the time as to why they supported Cowen? Was there any real talk of a leadership race?

What was wrong with Brian Lenihan or Micheál Martin?

What qualities had Brian Cowen got that nobody else had?

Because the wonderousness of his vision is only outdone by his ability to govern.

[PhoenixIreland]

...so they basically sleep walked into a bad leader?