Brian Cowen (25)
GodsgiftEnnis, Clare Ireland251 Threads 13 Polls 10,040 PostsJust watched Vincent Browne going over tomorrows front pages in the newspapers and just about every paper is saying that Cowen was drunk! I think the knives are out for him. I don't think there's any unity in FF, there's going to be a back bench revolt and that they're going to go into melt down.
i doubt it. it was just a few beers
many's the time things have been done/said with a few beers on toe, the memory seldom lasts very long...
many's the time things have been done/said with a few beers on toe, the memory seldom lasts very long...
If there was a backbench revolt in FF cown would be gone within hours, on the other hand who wants to become FF leader when they are going to be trashed in the next election, Lenihan is serioulsy ill, Dermot ahern, Michael Martin???
jbill: i doubt it. it was just a few beers
many's the time things have been done/said with a few beers on toe, the memory seldom lasts very long...
many's the time things have been done/said with a few beers on toe, the memory seldom lasts very long...
I don't doubt what you're saying but something is wrong in FF! The senior ministers jumped to his defence just too quickly without being asked.
Last night the back benchers were saying FF would not last the full term of government. There's a lot of fear about. Cowen is talking but saying nothing They have no spin doctors. Mark my words. Something is very wrong in FF. They are too quiet and too defensive!
Ross30: If there was a backbench revolt in FF cown would be gone within hours, on the other hand who wants to become FF leader when they are going to be trashed in the next election, Lenihan is serioulsy ill, Dermot ahern, Michael Martin???
The thing with Brian Cowen has always been that he has huge support within his own party but finds this very hard to translate into popular support on the ground. For years I have been hearing anecdotally about his fondness for drink ... I know someone in FF and it would be an "open secret" in most political circles. I think what has got people really annoyed this time is that they feel that his behaviour on Morning Ireland and his lack of preparedness for the interview was tantamount to a kind of disrespect to the nation. He shouldn't have been allowed go on. That said, Simon Coveney should probably not have used Twitter to say how he felt. The media had already picked up on Cowen's being "under the weather" before Simon tweeted, and a lot of people within his own party feel that they would have got more political mileage out of the affair if he hadn't over-personalised it.
Orla2010: The thing with Brian Cowen has always been that he has huge support within his own party but finds this very hard to translate into popular support on the ground. For years I have been hearing anecdotally about his fondness for drink ... I know someone in FF and it would be an "open secret" in most political circles. I think what has got people really annoyed this time is that they feel that his behaviour on Morning Ireland and his lack of preparedness for the interview was tantamount to a kind of disrespect to the nation. He shouldn't have been allowed go on. That said, Simon Coveney should probably not have used Twitter to say how he felt. The media had already picked up on Cowen's being "under the weather" before Simon tweeted, and a lot of people within his own party feel that they would have got more political mileage out of the affair if he hadn't over-personalised it.
I don't think this incident in itself is much but it acts as a fuse for the anger that's around towards him. He was finance minister when the banks and regulator were playing their merry game with the economy and nobody believes he did not know back in 2006 what was going on. That makes him either culpable or incompetent and the backbenchers know that the electorate know it.
This is just the latest in a long line of gafs. Remember how he was partying in Offaly whilst Lisbon 1 wen't down the tubes. They want him out. They see him as a danger to FF's survival!
Godsgift: I don't think this incident in itself is much but it acts as a fuse for the anger that's around towards him. He was finance minister when the banks and regulator were playing their merry game with the economy and nobody believes he did not know back in 2006 what was going on. That makes him either culpable or incompetent and the backbenchers know that the electorate know it.
This is just the latest in a long line of gafs. Remember how he was partying in Offaly whilst Lisbon 1 wen't down the tubes. They want him out. They see him as a danger to FF's survival!
This is just the latest in a long line of gafs. Remember how he was partying in Offaly whilst Lisbon 1 wen't down the tubes. They want him out. They see him as a danger to FF's survival!
I honestly don't think his own party want him out though. There is nobody else that could really step up to the plate at the moment. The only two I have any time for are Lenihan and Hannifan ... even though Lenihan has taken loads of my money! I think he genuinely has the best interests of the country at heart. He might get it wrong at times but there is an honesty about him that is in complete contrast to the slithery underhandedness of Bertie Ahern. Brian Cowen is supposed to be a lovely chap one on one and actually quite shy. He just doesn't come across at all well in the public arena.
Godsgift: I don't think this incident in itself is much but it acts as a fuse for the anger that's around towards him. He was finance minister when the banks and regulator were playing their merry game with the economy and nobody believes he did not know back in 2006 what was going on. That makes him either culpable or incompetent and the backbenchers know that the electorate know it.
This is just the latest in a long line of gafs. Remember how he was partying in Offaly whilst Lisbon 1 wen't down the tubes. They want him out. They see him as a danger to FF's survival!
This is just the latest in a long line of gafs. Remember how he was partying in Offaly whilst Lisbon 1 wen't down the tubes. They want him out. They see him as a danger to FF's survival!
Unfortunately, he does appear sometimes as if on another planet re: the economy. I heard the interview and i must say - he didn't appear any the worse for wear in my opinion. An absolute 'storm in a teacup' from the media - in my opinion.
StrongSilentType: FF has ruined this country, drove it into the ground and I believe our children and two generations more will pay the price of it. They were corrupt, greedy, complacent, ignorant, flippant and totally negligent imho. ................... Does anyone care about this?????
Will we EVER take Personal Responsibility for our OWN actions and GROW UP!!? The Bertie government did make monumental blunders, but they had a 'blundering idiot' leading them and pandering to the whims of the people, and the people Loved him for it!! So WHO were the Corrupt Idiots?
The Government didn't TELL YOU or ANYONE to take out a 110% mortgage and buy a Merc - THAT was your own Stupidity, Greed, Corruption, complacency and ignorance if you couldn't figure out simple maths, that on the person's salary there was NO WAY in Hell of paying back the Bank - EVER!!! but the People took the money nonetheless, and insist on shirking their responsibility and blame it on anyone but themselves!!
Enda Kenny now says it's going to take FG 10 years to clean up the mess; if elected as Taoiseach - that means:
1 year telling himself that he is taoiseach
2 years telling the nation he's taoiseach
2 years blaming Bertie Ahern
"But people of Ireland, don't fear ..... I'm the Taoiseach and I'll clean up this mess when returned to office" - and the next 5 years is spent trying to figure out how the hell Economics works!! ( damn!! I should have kept George Lee after all).
As for Brian Cowen this morning - anyone suffering from asthma and sinus KNOWS that in the morning the voice is somewhat slurred. Was he right to do the interview - no ..... BUT!! RTE are the experts when it comes to "Quality of Sound" and they should have put it off until a later time .... right, and miss a golden opportunity of globally embarrassing the Taoiseach and nation. The FIRST person to actually "Hear" the Taosieach BEFORE the Boradcast was the Sound Engineer and he KNEW there had to be something wrong, yet he allowed the transmission to go ahead.
As for Coveney, who is nothing more than a cross between a rat and a snake after the last FG leadership mess, must surely be causing his father to roll in the grave like a chicken on a spit. IF FG take office and Coveney is re-elected .... then we deserve everythig we get and more - because we have NO sense of SHAME!!
Trealach01: Will we EVER take Personal Responsibility for our OWN actions and GROW UP!!? The Bertie government did make monumental blunders, but they had a 'blundering idiot' leading them and pandering to the whims of the people, and the people Loved him for it!! So WHO were the Corrupt Idiots?
The Government didn't TELL YOU or ANYONE to take out a 110% mortgage and buy a Merc - THAT was your own Stupidity, Greed, Corruption, complacency and ignorance if you couldn't figure out simple maths, that on the person's salary there was NO WAY in Hell of paying back the Bank - EVER!!! but the People took the money nonetheless, and insist on shirking their responsibility and blame it on anyone but themselves!!
Enda Kenny now says it's going to take FG 10 years to clean up the mess; if elected as Taoiseach - that means:
1 year telling himself that he is taoiseach
2 years telling the nation he's taoiseach
2 years blaming Bertie Ahern
"But people of Ireland, don't fear ..... I'm the Taoiseach and I'll clean up this mess when returned to office" - and the next 5 years is spent trying to figure out how the hell Economics works!! ( damn!! I should have kept George Lee after all).As for Brian Cowen this morning - anyone suffering from asthma and sinus KNOWS that in the morning the voice is somewhat slurred. Was he right to do the interview - no ..... BUT!! RTE are the experts when it comes to "Quality of Sound" and they should have put it off until a later time .... right, and miss a golden opportunity of globally embarrassing the Taoiseach and nation. The FIRST person to actually "Hear" the Taosieach BEFORE the Boradcast was the Sound Engineer and he KNEW there had to be something wrong, yet he allowed the transmission to go ahead.
As for Coveney, who is nothing more than a cross between a rat and a snake after the last FG leadership mess, must surely be causing his father to roll in the grave like a chicken on a spit. IF FG take office and Coveney is re-elected .... then we deserve everythig we get and more - because we have NO sense of SHAME!!
The Government didn't TELL YOU or ANYONE to take out a 110% mortgage and buy a Merc - THAT was your own Stupidity, Greed, Corruption, complacency and ignorance if you couldn't figure out simple maths, that on the person's salary there was NO WAY in Hell of paying back the Bank - EVER!!! but the People took the money nonetheless, and insist on shirking their responsibility and blame it on anyone but themselves!!
Enda Kenny now says it's going to take FG 10 years to clean up the mess; if elected as Taoiseach - that means:
1 year telling himself that he is taoiseach
2 years telling the nation he's taoiseach
2 years blaming Bertie Ahern
"But people of Ireland, don't fear ..... I'm the Taoiseach and I'll clean up this mess when returned to office" - and the next 5 years is spent trying to figure out how the hell Economics works!! ( damn!! I should have kept George Lee after all).As for Brian Cowen this morning - anyone suffering from asthma and sinus KNOWS that in the morning the voice is somewhat slurred. Was he right to do the interview - no ..... BUT!! RTE are the experts when it comes to "Quality of Sound" and they should have put it off until a later time .... right, and miss a golden opportunity of globally embarrassing the Taoiseach and nation. The FIRST person to actually "Hear" the Taosieach BEFORE the Boradcast was the Sound Engineer and he KNEW there had to be something wrong, yet he allowed the transmission to go ahead.
As for Coveney, who is nothing more than a cross between a rat and a snake after the last FG leadership mess, must surely be causing his father to roll in the grave like a chicken on a spit. IF FG take office and Coveney is re-elected .... then we deserve everythig we get and more - because we have NO sense of SHAME!!
I agree with all of this. People forget their own role in everything.
Plus if you actually look back and read the transcripts of Richard Bruton and Joan Burton's responses to each Budget and you get many phrases like "wasted opportunity" etc. Every party was playing the party political lines and none were saying that if they were in that they would be tighter with the budget.
The Six One news after each budget was full of people saying the Government did not spend enough. Similarly if you look at newspapers, the minority of experienced economists predicting a downturn were ignored in favour of goons like Brendan O'Connor and his campaign to get rid of stamp duty. That particular issue was the biggest one before the last General Election. The likes of the ESRI and American analysts were ignored when they referred to property crashes. The first prediction was actually in 2000. Not that anybody taking out 100% mortgages cared!
Trealach01: Will we EVER take Personal Responsibility for our OWN actions and GROW UP!!? The Bertie government did make monumental blunders, but they had a 'blundering idiot' leading them and pandering to the whims of the people, and the people Loved him for it!! So WHO were the Corrupt Idiots?
The Government didn't TELL YOU or ANYONE to take out a 110% mortgage and buy a Merc - THAT was your own Stupidity, Greed, Corruption, complacency and ignorance if you couldn't figure out simple maths, that on the person's salary there was NO WAY in Hell of paying back the Bank - EVER!!! but the People took the money nonetheless, and insist on shirking their responsibility and blame it on anyone but themselves!!
Enda Kenny now says it's going to take FG 10 years to clean up the mess; if elected as Taoiseach - that means:
1 year telling himself that he is taoiseach
2 years telling the nation he's taoiseach
2 years blaming Bertie Ahern
"But people of Ireland, don't fear ..... I'm the Taoiseach and I'll clean up this mess when returned to office" - and the next 5 years is spent trying to figure out how the hell Economics works!! ( damn!! I should have kept George Lee after all).As for Brian Cowen this morning - anyone suffering from asthma and sinus KNOWS that in the morning the voice is somewhat slurred. Was he right to do the interview - no ..... BUT!! RTE are the experts when it comes to "Quality of Sound" and they should have put it off until a later time .... right, and miss a golden opportunity of globally embarrassing the Taoiseach and nation. The FIRST person to actually "Hear" the Taosieach BEFORE the Boradcast was the Sound Engineer and he KNEW there had to be something wrong, yet he allowed the transmission to go ahead.
As for Coveney, who is nothing more than a cross between a rat and a snake after the last FG leadership mess, must surely be causing his father to roll in the grave like a chicken on a spit. IF FG take office and Coveney is re-elected .... then we deserve everythig we get and more - because we have NO sense of SHAME!!
The Government didn't TELL YOU or ANYONE to take out a 110% mortgage and buy a Merc - THAT was your own Stupidity, Greed, Corruption, complacency and ignorance if you couldn't figure out simple maths, that on the person's salary there was NO WAY in Hell of paying back the Bank - EVER!!! but the People took the money nonetheless, and insist on shirking their responsibility and blame it on anyone but themselves!!
Enda Kenny now says it's going to take FG 10 years to clean up the mess; if elected as Taoiseach - that means:
1 year telling himself that he is taoiseach
2 years telling the nation he's taoiseach
2 years blaming Bertie Ahern
"But people of Ireland, don't fear ..... I'm the Taoiseach and I'll clean up this mess when returned to office" - and the next 5 years is spent trying to figure out how the hell Economics works!! ( damn!! I should have kept George Lee after all).As for Brian Cowen this morning - anyone suffering from asthma and sinus KNOWS that in the morning the voice is somewhat slurred. Was he right to do the interview - no ..... BUT!! RTE are the experts when it comes to "Quality of Sound" and they should have put it off until a later time .... right, and miss a golden opportunity of globally embarrassing the Taoiseach and nation. The FIRST person to actually "Hear" the Taosieach BEFORE the Boradcast was the Sound Engineer and he KNEW there had to be something wrong, yet he allowed the transmission to go ahead.
As for Coveney, who is nothing more than a cross between a rat and a snake after the last FG leadership mess, must surely be causing his father to roll in the grave like a chicken on a spit. IF FG take office and Coveney is re-elected .... then we deserve everythig we get and more - because we have NO sense of SHAME!!
While I agree with you on most points in your post WE cannot accept ALL the blame. For one, we weren't policy makers, we didn't legislate irresponsibly that fueled the artificial prices of properties, we didn't have ANY hand in Poolbeg, we do not have access to expert advice and were encouraged to get morgages at crazy rates for these inflated prices at the drop of a hat (in other words we didn't monitor the banks), we didn't commit to the bank garuantee scheme, we didn't want to lose our medical cards for the pensioners, we didn't want to go on the dole and we didn't want to get into huge debt as a nation.
I don't have a morgage (thank God) but I feel sorry for those that did get one and then lose their job (through no fault of THEIR own). While the people who voted for these eejits squarly take the brunt of the blame, WE certainly CAN take the blame for one thing collectively: and that is for PUTTING UP WITH THIS.
We should be out in the streets and the polititions should be put in their place. I don't recommend any particular political party to replace FF, certainly not FG but I think we need to comprise a government of specialists, economic, financial, legal etc that transcend party politics and are only concerned with getting this country off it's knees.
Legislation to do with other issues can be put to the people and WE can vote for it.
I just want a future for my kids and for me in this country. It's not the Ireland I know and love. Too much GREED out there.
Shame on us.
Just some of the Headlines around the world:
StrongSilentType: While I agree with you on most points in your post WE cannot accept ALL the blame. For one, we weren't policy makers, we didn't legislate irresponsibly that fueled the artificial prices of properties, we didn't have ANY hand in Poolbeg, we do not have access to expert advice and were encouraged to get morgages at crazy rates for these inflated prices at the drop of a hat (in other words we didn't monitor the banks), we didn't commit to the bank garuantee scheme, we didn't want to lose our medical cards for the pensioners, we didn't want to go on the dole and we didn't want to get into huge debt as a nation.
I don't have a morgage (thank God) but I feel sorry for those that did get one and then lose their job (through no fault of THEIR own). While the people who voted for these eejits squarly take the brunt of the blame, WE certainly CAN take the blame for one thing collectively: and that is for PUTTING UP WITH THIS.
We should be out in the streets and the polititions should be put in their place. I don't recommend any particular political party to replace FF, certainly not FG but I think we need to comprise a government of specialists, economic, financial, legal etc that transcend party politics and are only concerned with getting this country off it's knees.
Legislation to do with other issues can be put to the people and WE can vote for it.
I just want a future for my kids and for me in this country. It's not the Ireland I know and love. Too much GREED out there.
Shame on us.
I don't have a morgage (thank God) but I feel sorry for those that did get one and then lose their job (through no fault of THEIR own). While the people who voted for these eejits squarly take the brunt of the blame, WE certainly CAN take the blame for one thing collectively: and that is for PUTTING UP WITH THIS.
We should be out in the streets and the polititions should be put in their place. I don't recommend any particular political party to replace FF, certainly not FG but I think we need to comprise a government of specialists, economic, financial, legal etc that transcend party politics and are only concerned with getting this country off it's knees.
Legislation to do with other issues can be put to the people and WE can vote for it.
I just want a future for my kids and for me in this country. It's not the Ireland I know and love. Too much GREED out there.
Shame on us.
Come on now guys. This thread is about FF being on self destruct. There nhave been more than enough about the ecconomy!
The economist stated in 2003 that Irish prices were 42% overvalued, the problem with a lot of Irish people is we are too bloody obsessed with owning property mnot matter how much it costs, i'd love to see Ireland become more like the Germans where renting is the accepted norm and where people who have mortgages are in the minority but hey we're Irish and we're incapable of thinking rationally, there's nothing bloody wrong with renting, too much snobbery in this country associated with renting.
Joe Duffy Liveline 10 minute poll!
18,616 voted NO to confidence in Cowen!
5,185 voted YES to having confidence in him.
18,616 voted NO to confidence in Cowen!
5,185 voted YES to having confidence in him.
Godsgift: Joe Duffy Liveline 10 minute poll!
18,616 voted NO to confidence in Cowen!
5,185 voted YES to having confidence in him.
18,616 voted NO to confidence in Cowen!
5,185 voted YES to having confidence in him.
Ah yes liveline lets join the lynchmob brigade, kick a man while he's down already, typical Irish attitude. Liveline, the sort of radio show where people are incapable of thinking rationally.
When FG/Labour you'll have the same eejits moaning about how many Kenny and Gilomore are in government after 12 months. Joe Duffy is a know nothing populist. BTW I've very little time for Cowen but Lenihan is effectively running the country with the assistance of the EU.
Ross30: Ah yes liveline lets join the lynchmob brigade, kick a man while he's down already, typical Irish attitude. Liveline, the sort of radio show where people are incapable of thinking rationally.
When FG/Labour you'll have the same eejits moaning about how many Kenny and Gilomore are in government after 12 months. Joe Duffy is a know nothing populist. BTW I've very little time for Cowen but Lenihan is effectively running the country with the assistance of the EU.
When FG/Labour you'll have the same eejits moaning about how many Kenny and Gilomore are in government after 12 months. Joe Duffy is a know nothing populist. BTW I've very little time for Cowen but Lenihan is effectively running the country with the assistance of the EU.
That's why I said the other day that Lenihan was in my mind the most competent politician in the country! I just get pissed off with this thing where everybody in FF is pretending everything is alright.
Godsgift: That's why I said the other day that Lenihan was in my mind the most competent politician in the country! I just get pissed off with this thing where everybody in FF is pretending everything is alright.
Gilmore is worse he'd been jumping on the know nothing populist bandwagon for the last two years and a lot of Irish people have been falling for the nonsense that Gilmore been coming out, Gilmore and his pain free solution, I can't believe people believe in such rubbish. Gilmore would be even worse than Cowen or Kenny.
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