Fine Gael election manifesto 2011

Fine Gael & Labour Programme for Government 2011

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.