Proud to have supported both Eoin Ryan & Terry McAuliffe

Although seperated by thousands of miles both Eoin Ryan (Fianna Fáil Ireland) former MEP and Terry McAuliffe (Democrat VA) today are nursing their wounds have fought bravely in their respective election campaigns. Although not succesful on this occassion you fought the good fight and never gave up. I look forward to supporting you again in the future.

Do we need a ” Team of Rivals ” in Ireland 2008/09

Abe Lincoln’s team of rivals, Edward Bates, attorney general; William H. Seward, secretary of state; Edwin M. Stanton, secretary of war; Salmon P. Chase, Treasury secretary are said to be the inspiration for President -elect Obamas surprise choice of (NY D) Senator  Hillary R Clinton for the prestigious post of Secretary of State. When asked about his appointments President Lincoln said ” “We needed the strongest men of the party in the cabinet.”These were the very strongest men. Then I had no right to deprive the country of their services.”  Doris Kearns Goodwin in her definitive book on the cabinet appointments of Abraham Lincoln, “Team of Rivals: The political genius of Abraham Lincoln” captures the mood of a period when a little known senator from the state of Illinois launched an audacious bid for the presidency of the US against the fiercest of rivals and against all the odds succeeded. Then the newly elected President Lincoln appointed the very men he had beaten for the Republican Party nomination to his cabinet creating the Team of Rivals.

At such an uncertain time for the Irish economy, should Taoiseach Brain Cowen have taken a leaf from Lincoln and Obama and appoint not just his closest allies Lenihan, Coughlan & O’Keefe to Cabinet but the strongest men and women to serve.

When elected Taoiseach in May, Brian Cowen sidelined senior ministers such as Michael Martin, Dermot Ahern and Mary Hanafin. Preferring to promote Brian Lenihan, Mary Coughlan and Batt O’Keefe. As a life long supporter of Fianna Fail it gives me no pleasure to say that none of the three appear up to the jobs they were give.

The question now is can Cowen himself provide the leadership that is required, will he put in place a Team of Rivals. Would he sum up the courage to drop the 3 close friends that he promoted above their  payscale or take a real leap of faith and invite from across the aisle some of the best and brightest from Fine Gael and Labour. Now that would be a real Team of Rivals and show real leadership.

The King is dead long live the King….

As the Bertie Ahern era in Fianna Fáil and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s lap of honour draws to a close, what was noticeable at Arbour Hill Sunday 27^th how apt is the saying The King is dead long live the King. The Fianna Fail annual 1916 commemoration and mass for deceased members at Arbour Hill Sunday 27^th  April,  saw the largest crowd that I have ever witnessed in all the years that I have attended the event.

The church was packed to bursting point and it was standing room only. From the round of applause that greeted the arrival of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern into the church to the bursts of applause during the prayers of the faithful it was clear that this was no ordinary gathering.

 

This was to be the event where Bertie would say farewell to the ordinary member and judging by the large turnout they in turn saw it as their opportunity to say goodbye to the departing leader. As if to prove right all those who commented on Bertie’s legendary patience, there was no hand proffered that wasn’t shook or no request for a photograph that wasn’t met with a ready smile. It was vintage Bertie.

 

What was interesting was away from the scrum that surrounded Bertie, a sizable gathering was queuing up to shake the hand and have their picturing taken with the Taoiseach-in-waiting Brian Cowen. Now I must confess whether it was as a result of the midday sun or my being carried away with the atmosphere of the day, but I joined this growing throng to wish our next Taoiseach well.

 

So as the faithful departed from that hallowed ground amongst Fianna Fáil members it was very much a case of, The King is dead long live the King….