Cowen gone this week

**BonnieShels** · 17/01/2011, 7:40 PM

Originally Posted by The Fly

I had to double check who you were referring to.

I was worried that someone may confuse EG with EG. Thankfully it's very obvious I meant EG and not EG as there was no comment about John Delaney, the FAI's love of Ulster's children or the fact that clearly Norn Iron R d shizz!

**Eminence Grise** · 17/01/2011, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by BonnieShels

I was worried that someone may confuse EG with EG. Thankfully it's very obvious I meant EG and not EG as there was no comment about John Delaney, the FAI's love of Ulster's children or the fact that clearly Norn Iron R d shizz!

Hey! Guys! I know my posts can be longwinded, but puh-leeeze...

(Alright, time to 'fess up: I had to do a double-take myself - I'm not used to seeing my eminent appellation in the abridged sense!)

**elroy** · 18/01/2011, 10:15 PM

Well Cowen survives for another day. Surprising in some sense but it appears that Cowen had done his maths and was happy last weekend that he had enough votes to survive. Would like to see MM challenge for the leadership post the election when it is almost certain Cowen will have stepped down. Lenihan has come quite poorly out of the whole scenario, appears to be shown upon as deceitful, canvassing for a support to oust Cowen in recent months but declaring this support for Cowen in the last 24 hours.

I for one want to see FF punished in the next election for the ruination of the country in recent years. I think the vote of confidence in Cowen strengths the chances of this in the election, whereas a new leader would have allowed FF to advertise themselves as a fresh start etc in the election. 8% rating for the leader of the largest party in the polls, says it all really.

**Spudulika** · 19/01/2011, 5:39 AM

Like Martin I jumped the gun, but god I had to laugh at FF yesterday. How can anyone, and I mean, anyone, vote for them. They're a wreck. I wondered watching the news and Primetime whether this wasn't all an elaborate charade to bring Lenihan out into the open and destroy him. Martin too. Lenihan used Mammy and Conor to knife Biffo, Martin couldn't control his ego. Last night Martin looked like he was about to cry, he'll be re-elected by the morons who told Morning Ireland yesterday - "sure isn't he one of ours". This is the same rhetoric that these "citizens" rounded on the Catholic Church for using in relation to pervert priests and employees.

**Dodge** · 19/01/2011, 10:08 AM

Cowen takes the Foreign Affairs portfolio.

Best decision he's ever made. Not giving this job to Dick Roche

**Mr A** · 19/01/2011, 11:30 AM

Cowen taking over Foreign Affairs as well is just bizarre though.

Mary O Rourke reveals that Cowen won comprehensively:

However, Longford-Westmeath TD Mary O’Rourke said on Twitter this morning the motion was carried by a margin of two to one. “So now the fuss is over - vote was 2-1 in favour of Brian Cowen... secret of course!!” she tweeted. “All very polite and would have preferred a bit of blood and thunder myself... this politeness won’t last!”

Have I mentioned that she annoys my happiness? Would love to see her lose her seat again.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...breaking1.html

**Eminence Grise** · 19/01/2011, 11:42 AM

I’m disappointed with Lenihan on Sean O’Rourke yesterday: such arrogance to deny fomenting dissent, when he should have ignored the question. It reminded me of Brian Lenihan Snr. Apples don’t fall far from trees. It’s no surprise that an FFer might be a duplicitous snake in the grass, but there’s no need to offer proof. A lot of angry FFers, but I still suspect he and Biffo have an “understanding”.

Hanafin’s dead in the water. It’s too late today to say she voted against Biffo. She should resign as minister, but that takes integrity and courage. Might not get re-elected, but that would mean voters preferred Barry Andrews. The evil of two lessers....

Tricky Micky will romp home and, playing the martyr card, could still have a tilt at the leadership. But he’s got a lot of work to do to show that that he has guts and authority.

And O’Cuiv is still the likeliest compromise candidate.

Agree with Dodge on not giving Dick Roche (aka Cockroach – ah! Double puns!) Foreign Affairs. But it should go to someone like Peter Power, or any other TD who needs a boost. Even a month as minister could save a TD, repay a debt to, oh, Barry Andrews, say– and shaft Hanafin. Win. Win. Win.

**Macy** · 19/01/2011, 1:00 PM

Originally Posted by Eminence Grise

I’m disappointed with Lenihan on Sean O’Rourke yesterday: such arrogance to deny fomenting dissent, when he should have ignored the question. It reminded me of Brian Lenihan Snr. Apples don’t fall far from trees. It’s no surprise that an FFer might be a duplicitous snake in the grass, but there’s no need to offer proof. A lot of angry FFers, but I still suspect he and Biffo have an “understanding”.

Brian Lenihan, found to be telling mistruths, who'd have thunk it! Only when it's an internal matter do the FF backbenchers spit the dummy...

**Mr A** · 19/01/2011, 1:39 PM

Or stag hunting or something similarly earth shatteringly important.

**mypost** · 19/01/2011, 2:34 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Cowen taking over Foreign Affairs as well is just bizarre though.

It's not bizarre at all. He took over the Defence Ministry also when O'Dea "resigned". He had the Foreign Affairs Ministry during the Nice 1 referendum. Of all the cabinet posts, it's probably the least important, so Martin is not much loss.

It was fairly obvious Cowen would have the numbers, he called the motion after all.

**bennocelt** · 19/01/2011, 2:43 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

Mary O Rourke reveals that Cowen won comprehensively:

Have I mentioned that she annoys my happiness? Would love to see her lose her seat again.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...breaking1.html

Tough choice - either its her or (god help us) Donnie Cassidy

- as Westmeath/Longford always go with at least one FF candidate

**dahamsta** · 19/01/2011, 3:16 PM

I wouldn't consider foreign affairs unimportant in any way, shape or form. Until we get back to farming - something Fianna Fail is currently fighting tooth and nail against, see "sugar beet" in the news - two of our most important sources of income in Ireland are tourism and taxation of multinational companies. It's kind of important we have good relations with everyone else.

Which makes it even more important that we get rid of this buffoon as soon as possible. Biffo as the face of Ireland? Jesus help us all.

**John83** · 19/01/2011, 3:26 PM

Originally Posted by dahamsta

Which makes it even more important that we get rid of this buffoon as soon as possible. Biffo as the face of Ireland? Jesus help us all.

Who has two thumbs and doesn't give a ****?

**Dodge** · 19/01/2011, 3:30 PM

Originally Posted by mypost

Of all the cabinet posts, it's probably the least important

Wow! In terms of political ladder Its just below finance, level with Justice, and ahead of everythign else.

**pineapple stu** · 19/01/2011, 3:31 PM

Maybe mypost is North Korean?

**mypost** · 19/01/2011, 3:48 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Wow! In terms of political ladder Its just below finance, level with Justice, and ahead of everythign else.

It isn't more important than Health, Justice, Social Welfare, Education, or Defence. It would struggle to be level with Communications, Environment, or Agriculture imo. In the current climate, Joe and Jane O'Toole in Roscommon isn't that interested in the internal affairs of Tunisian politics or how much overseas aid per month Zimbabwe is getting, the kind of things that the Foreign Affairs Minister may have to find out.

It's a nice one to get, there's lots of wining, dining, and foreign trips on our expense, but there are a good few more important cabinet positions than it.

**dahamsta** · 19/01/2011, 4:00 PM

Wow indeed Dodge.

**Dodge** · 19/01/2011, 5:54 PM

Originally Posted by mypost

It isn't more important than Health, Justice, Social Welfare, Education, or Defence. It would struggle to be level with Communications, Environment, or Agriculture imo. In the current climate, Joe and Jane O'Toole in Roscommon isn't that interested in the internal affairs of Tunisian politics or how much overseas aid per month Zimbabwe is getting, the kind of things that the Foreign Affairs Minister may have to find out.

It's a nice one to get, there's lots of wining, dining, and foreign trips on our expense, but there are a good few more important cabinet positions than it.

YOu think cabinet positions are handed out on the basis of what "Joe and Jane O'Toole in Roscommon" are interested in? LOL, seriously?

**BonnieShels** · 19/01/2011, 8:05 PM

Harney resigned and is not standing in election.

**Spudulika** · 19/01/2011, 8:34 PM

I enjoyed listening to Lenihan trying not to say what he'd been doing, but the more he tried to FAI/LOI his way out of it, the worse it looked for him and the more a fool he sounded. There will be a lot of big companies with new Board members on them - Harney for the VHI?