There is a very good article by Miriam Lord here


A year in the life of Brian - The Irish Times - Sat, May 02, 2009

in today's Irish Times.

Lord is one of the wittiest writers around, although this is a mostly serious review of Brian Cowen's first year in office.

Well worth a read.

This the same woman who for 20 years has written countless articles in praise of Haughey and Ahern.

Sadly the lady tells the truth---The man is inept, sadly for the Country, mind you I cannot see anybody in the present cabinet capeable of doing the job.

What the story with all the references on the satire shows ( nob nation, the emergency) to the leaders of the country being drunk all the time?

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I'm on a temporary, heading towards permanent ban for using dozens of sock puppets

She is certainly not praising Cowen here.
I remember having countless debates with people before he ever became Taoiseach that he was way over rated.
Not many agreed at the time.

Yes, I have been reading her for years, very astute, can be ruthless,It is a fair account. he has been a big disappointment, speaking for myself I Expected better

She (in a roundabout way) acknowledges that she has been very uncritical of him till recently.

Her column imo is far too cosy.

Of course that makes her article all the more damning...

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Mr Gormley described calls for the resignation of his cabinet colleague as "absolute nonsense". He said Mr Lenihan was doing "a very good job under exceptionally difficult circumstances".

I think her own personal experience of dashed hopes and expectations would be reflected in the feelings of a great number of people.

When Cowen took over as Taoiseach FF's ratings shot back up to 42%.
People ignored the fact that Cowen was minister for finance when a huge amount of the damage was done.
Why should people have expected him to change when he became Taoiseach.

I thought when Bertie was losing the plot in the general election campaign the way he took over that day with Martin and Ahern he showed leadership qualities

Problem is turdsl, he was a great man for rallying the party, but hopeless when it came to rallying the country.
Lord alludes to this, and so do other commentators.