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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j8F-9nmZ5I
(YouTube: Eoin Smith)
IF THEY SAY that a week is a long time in politics, half a decade must mark a totally new era.
Five years ago this week, a popular finance minister was promoted from Tánaiste to Taoiseach – and was met by a crowd of thousands when he returned to his hometown for a valedictory sing-song.
Brian Cowen’s appointment as leader of Fianna Fáil, succeeding Bertie Ahern, had been expected for some time – a few months previously, hinting that he may not remain in power for much longer, Ahern had referred to his deputy leader as his successor-in-waiting.
When Ahern announced his retirement on April 2, 2008, Cowen was seen as the natural heir – and was the only nominee for the FF leadership, meaning automatic succession on May 6. The following day, the Dáil confirmed his appointment as Taoiseach.
In his hometown of Clara, Co Offaly, the public were buoyant – and with the country appearing to be in good economic shape, Cowen was welcomed in a valedictory return to Offaly where he sang a song in memory of his late father, Bernard, whose Dáil seat he had inherited in a 1984 by-election.
The honeymoon didn’t last long. A month later, a referendum on ratifying the Lisbon Treaty was defeated – and the global financial crisis meant his Government’s first Budget was brought forward two months with a package of swingeing austerity measures.
By the time he decided to step down as Fianna Fáil leader in January 2011 – having lost the confidence of his Green coalition partners – Fianna Fáil had slumped to third place in party opinion polls, and Cowen was the least popular head of government in modern Irish history.
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He represents all that’s wrong with politics in this country and the arrogance that FF displayed while on office. His whole demeanour was that of a guy who didn’t give much of a s*ite what others thought of him as long as he has his way. One of the 4 or 5 office holders that should be jailed for the way he acted.
Is there any politician that we can be proud of….??
I certainly can’t think of even one…
Ruari Quinn did alot for inner city Dublin and was one of the main people who pushed for the CAB.
He was the leader of a party which at the moment has leading members charged with extortion and blackmail, expenses fraud, stealing pensions, three counts of planning murders, hundreds of members involved in fraudulent business dealings. Business as normal in the FF gangster party.
Even Italian political parties, noted for being corrupt have nothing to match the scale of FF corruption and criminality.
Hes only just recovered from the hangover afterwards
haha look at the amadans trying to shake his hand… he makes me wanna vomit…
They should’ve reefed him off the stage.
Blubbering fool, and his Pro-Offaly song.. Swimming pools in Clara. It’s because of this lummox that there is no hospital in Mullingar because he moved it to his native Tullamore in (surprise, surprise) Offaly!
He should be strung up with he predecessor for treason.
Thanks for reminding us of the misery
And then calamity ensued.
That began the day he presented his first budget as minister for finance.
I place most of the countries current financial difficulties at this mans feet. He has much to answer for.
And you seem to have all the answers? Maybe you should consider putting your name forward for election… Or would you have the balls?
Come on, blame the right person. The one who jumped ship at the first clouds appeared. Bertie Ahern. He should be in jail!
Eimhin- I wouldn’t get too smarmy. You’re pictured there with one of the architects of our economic Armageddon and the surrender of our sovereignty. Instead of sneering you should be thoroughly ashamed of what your party has done and perhaps grow a pair yourself so that you’re not mindlessly following the party your parents voted for. In fact, I’d just as soon you and your FF breatherin presented yourselves at public stocks in town centres around the country each & every weekend so that the rest of us could throw rotten fruit at ye to thank you for the consequences of the incompetence and corruption which runs through your excuse of a political party.
Lenihan, Ahern, Cowen, Micheal Martin and FF overall do not view it as a catastrophe or a calamity. Their donors were protected, they walked away with fortunes. God may have taken care of Lenihan but overall FF are quietly happy with the results. The country can go f. itself as far as they are concerned.
Christ, the obligatory FF social media mouthpiece, complete with the usual uniform of suit (tie optional) and determined expression has raised its head yet again.
Have you guys all decided to take your election poster shots five years early or what?
Vincent, you can say what you want about Fianna Fáil, but what ever damage was done to this country was NOT caused by me, an ordinary member of the party.
I have every right to support whatever party I wish. I’m certainly not ashamed of who I support, after all, it is the most popular political party in the country, once again.
(Please don’t waste your time replying as I won’t waste my time reading it.)
Eimhin I would appreciate you not add me as a friend on Facebook. I do not want a person like yourself that views only one side on my page. We will meet again on good terms and have a chat about this campaign. I will say if you are interested in becoming a reporter or entering that profession as i saw you with camilla from MR3. Be careful. Making comments that are not fact or generalisations without investigation is classed as unbalanced reporting. This goes against the ethics of journalism. I understand you are young but be careful and always have an open mind about things.
your a disgrace supporting those criminals maybe i should watch what im saying because you are one of them
Eimhin- bad news for you chief. 74 seats in Dáil Éireann and the last 4 polls suggest FG is the most popular party. And yes you should be thoroughly ashamed. It is a betrayal of this country to support the party that brought it to its knees. Your continued support serves only to spread the cancer on the body politic that is Fianna Fáil.
I added you as a friend to have a private conversation with you. That is all. I don’t particularly like the idea of throwing insults at each other in front of everyone on the Internet, it’s cowardly and very insensitive.
If you accept my request, you can delete me straight after our conversation. I’m not looking for an argument, just a conversation. I have no involvement with your campaign, but, I don’t disagree with it either. I disagree with the petition.
My last comment was for Ollie.
I’m not wasting time replying to anybody else’s comments, because really, they haven’t, nor will they, affect me.
No, you’ll carry on trying to follow your nose to the trough regardless. Less inspired people have met with great success in that regard.
You’re a young lad, and I’m trying not to be unkind-but you’re still in school and a walking cliché already. One hoped you may find an outlet for your aspirations that will be more beneficial all round, in time.
Eimhin i rang one of the committee members and they said the petition is up in the council buildings and is available for anyone to see. All addresses are available and the names are attached. A small number of people that have signed are not living in tullamore and in some small cases offaly anymore but the majority of the numbers are a true reflection of the support in Tullamore. The people running this campaign are honourable. They are all friends of fiona. I am not a member of the committee even though i know the extended family and my mam babysat Fiona. Fionas story and my mam’s close relationship to the penders are the reason i am involved. its tragic. I wish it could have come to a better conclusion. it is only a walkway and she used it many times as a child to slide down it in the Ice and a day before she disappeared. Josies account of this breaks my heart. she has gone through so much. Your aunt knows her and can verify this. Politics in Ireland have to be done a better way. Im not happy with the 7 councillors. 1 lab, 2 FG and 4 FF. They should know better being in the jobs for a considerable period of time,
We as young people have to change things in Irelands. Civil war politics slurs gets people nowhere. All Irish political parties have extremely bloody pasts. Hate only breeds hate. Time for the people to change the landscape of local and national politics.
Check out that petition. I can tell you everybody on that committee are upstanding people and would never forge names. we/they have been out in shopping centres, al housing estates, flats anywhere you can think of to gather support and names, its unreal the amount of work that went in. Children are apart of it aswell. the ones that are 9 or 10 have signed when ive gone around. they know the story. A 3 year old neighbours child said yesterday pointing at the other bridge in clontarf which is across from the house ‘is that fionas bridge daddy”.
It will be called that no matter the outcome. I will be committed to it for as long as josie wants it. we will go through brick walls for that woman. anything to sooth the pain. We wont let her and her unborn angel be forgotten.
I cannot for work reasons be a member of any political party but just because I’m not political does not mean I am not entitled to an opinion. I was a one time Fianna Fáil voter by the way along with majority of my family and never thought they would disappoint so spectacularly.
I stand by what I have said. Instead of asking if I have the balls to stand or not come up with policies that will get us out of the crisis we are in and you just might someday be part of a solution.
Im not a fan of people being vulgar to you but they are trying to tell you to be careful. Mind yourself.
Ollie, forget what I said. I was just angry at the way my aunt was being treated, but I don’t want to get into that, it’s not the time nor place. I spoke with Sabena on the phone from MR3 the other day and she seemed lovely, very bubbly and eager. The campaign is a great idea, but I just think it should stay away from getting into the nasty politics side of things.
I didn’t mean any offence in what I said, I know it’s still a very sensitive issue. I do hope that you all come to an agreement that satisfies both sides. Wishing you all the very best of luck and I hope to bump into you someday in Tullamore, but, on better terms.
I just want to clear up that I wasn’t at the council meeting to support anyone, not Fianna Fáil and not the campaign, I was there as part of my work experience.
No bother eimhin. I understand and im sorry if i was out of order at any stage. Fair play to you for asking questions in a constructive manner. Forget about civil war politics. Don’t let it creep in to your dialogue.
It’s a difficult issue to deal with. Something has gone wrong somewhere and I don’t know where. Mrs. pender is left again to pick up the pieces. They all supported it last july. I just don’t like to see politics getting in the way of the right thing to do. Party politics should be banned at local level. It doesn’t work. This shows it. No offence to you but the 7 councillors have got my back up over this. I have no love for any of them after seeing this carry on and all the behind the scenes manoeuvring. They are elected by the public and must serve the public. Nothing personal at all. It is their job to serve the people and protect the vulnerable.
I understand that you are on work experience and I wish you the best of luck with whatever you. It was bad timing with everything going on. :)
People on this are angry at FF and with good reason. they lost a lot. And gained little. Just remember we as young people are the future.
Hope to see you again and of course it will be on better terms. Until then. Take care of yourself.
The guys on this should not be attacking a young lad that has not done anything wrong and is still in school. Wrong! No need for bitterness.
…and this idiot’s pension is probably three or four times as much as an honest worker’s salary !!! Shame on you Cowen !
There is an earlier article about the Saudis beheading a man who killed his relative; what about a man who killed his country?
last year Iran sentenced 4 bankers to death for fraud-just sayin’.
Brian C Nesbitt!!!
Classic Ru Classic
Fat TOSSER…One of the many who helped ruin this country..
there is still a few more of that crowd still there his brother willie odea mick martin to name a few who were there with brien bert ect,
Oh how the mighty have fallen.
wonder would he still be as welcome on a stage today given the mess he left us in
Little would surprise me. His hapless little brother was elected in the same constituency last time out.
Micheal Martin is, Willie o’Dea is, Eamon o’Cuiv is. Cowen and Bertie Ahern both got standing ovations at the FF ard fheis. Lenihan and Haughey are spoked as fallen saints.
Remember the dirt bags that are cheering him are ones that want FF to line their pockets by any means possible, they could not care less about the economy.
We should have the journal.ie to have more flashbacks of the celtic tiger days.
It really all feels like a million years ago at this stage!
Best dressed thieves the world over – We are a trusting nation, waving our historic and symbolic tricolour – Just goes to show, not all s#umb€gs wear balaclavas n take by force!!
What an obnoxious and revolting slug.
He brings revolting to a new low.
A Teaoiseach without a general election at that. how well behind FF were on democracy then and now.
The man inherited Bertie’s poisoned chalice . One he helped make himself . He can sing all the ballads he likes now and drink all the pints in the world and have no fear on being hungover on the national airwaves . He held the highest office in the land and is now in clover
Does he keep in touch with his old running mate?
Fianna fail church gate collection this morning! He had his head buried in the bucket! All the poor man got was abuse id say
I’d nearly go to mass to see that.
FF trying to tell us that the church gate collection is going to raise millions for them, even though it only recorded 20 euro last year in Dublin. Though what goes in to their buckets often ends up in the hands of the people collecting it.
Handy way of receiving donations from wealthy individuals whose money is often not legal but want the party to act in accordance with their wishes.
Maybe the bucket was full of Carlsberg, Joe.
Send in the clowns…oh sorry they were out in force that day.#stupidffrs
Biffo was a decent guy, he just enjoyed his Guiness a little more than some.
Whatever his policy faults, I can’t abide someone who lies openly to the people a la IMF.
Is it too much to expect more in a leader?
Didn’t you say yesterday that Berlusconi was a “gentleman” and if it wasn’t for his position he would be a “sex pest”.Now you’re saying “Biffo was a decent guy” and then you go on to say “I can’t abide someone who lies openly to the people a la IMF.”
Loud and Angry ??? Dazed and Confused more like!!!
Loud and Angry is a troll!
He’s a sad strange little fool who should be pitied. Get a life you moron.
It’s Brian from Offaly ; )
And you’re an idiot
I hope its gut wrenching to have the tag as the worst taoiseach the country has had, hes prob still drinking in the Dail bar telling jokes the fat b*stard.
Who?
Killally!! Of course the clique is not broken. Just look at the fiasco with the Bridge 13000 people signed a petition to name it in memory of Fiona Pender and her 8 month unborn angel. Domocracy doesn’t exist here in tullamore. Look into it. The campaign went in the irish times, liveline, independent, midlands radio, 13,000 people support it. etc. still the 7 councillor four of which were FF were not for turning.
The journal never covered it which is sad.
Eimhin- some food for thought for you: Charlie Haughey, Ray Burke, P Flynn, BC Flynn, Bertie Ahern, Liam Lawlor, Ivor Callelly. Explain their records, please.
Ahh they are well forgotten about Vincent,they only bring up the past when it suits them.
You forgot cllr sean obrien. He did great work and stood up for the people of Tullamore unlike some other councillors.
Why didn’t you say that to me the other day eimhin? You were very quiet when you with that reporter from Midlands radio 3 and when you took that photo from across the road and most probably sent it to a lady FF councillor. I wish you could have engaged in some dialogue with me and those people who have worked day and night to ensure that bridge is named Fiona’s Way. Those 7 councillors abandoned democracy and became dictators despite those 13,000 signatures. Thanks for your insights. It’s nice to get a psychological profile of someone from FF about an issue so close to everyone’s hearts. It’s very chilling indeed. I must relay this information.
I cannot talk or reason with you on this. You are steeped in Fianna Fáil with your aunt being a councillor who sadly shot down the public. I know a lot of what has been done by councillors behind the scene. It has devastated Josephine Pender. I will not drag myself to that level.
You are young. Please get some sense and do not be influenced by those that are close to you. Don’t be afraid to say hello the next time you are out and about.
Ollie you are trying to reason with a FF’er using decency, respect and what is for the good of people. People in that party only respond to money. Boland is looking at how he can get elected and get on the gravy train.
remember dolan your crowd are no better the quicker this country gets shot of the criminal element that has taken over politics the better.
Zzzz
Yous muppets voted for him and then you complain, yous are idiots.
Who are yous gonna vote in next huh?
That video actually made me feel physically sick. I thought only blood and guts did that to me.
Ah give the guy a break!
Afterall dosen’t this clip prove once and for all that politics is just showbiz for ugly people
Scarlet for him.
Fu?ked the country over….. Put her on its knees …… Every time he’s back in Offaly….He feels bucking pleased…..cowen…. The bucking Offaly PROBLEM child…..
“Glug Glug Glug.. What’s that about a bubble bursting, don’t be absurd Glug Glug Glug..”
And now for my next tune’ a melody which is popular amongs’t you….” Dualing Banjo’s..”
Looking back, it just gets worse and worse. What the hell was the country thinking? Maybe what was FF thinking? Was everyone high, that it seemed a good idea to put Chops up there in charge?
The day the earth stood still
With a walk on him like a lad in the mart.
Embarrassing
have your say