Cowen on Late Late

Villain

It seems Cowen is going to be on the Late Late show, giving Turbidy's family connections to FF this will be interesting

dresden8

First question

"So Taoiseach, how much did the Americans fnck up our economy"

"Shockin' awful Ryan, shockin' awful, but not nearly as much as the no vote".

juuge

Last question: Thank you so much for being on my first Late Late - see you back in my place!

yoshytoshy

Boxing Gloves ! ,

Theres a pair for everyone in the audience! :pac:

Hillel

He's up for the challenge ahead.

Hasn't done much about it, up to now.

He accepts blame for not taxing houses more, but.... no one told him to. (He always followed advice.)

Out, out, out, I say.

cruizer22b

No No tubbs is not licking ass here to be fair.

nesf

Tubridy is being very direct and pinning him on many topics. Any worries about his family's political affiliations meaning a soft interview for Cowen look overdone. He's not screaming at him in anger but he's not pulling punches either.

Kalashnikov_Kid

Why do people keep harping on about Tubridy's family connections - he has never makes reference to them or let it affect him. A bit unfair no?

Tableman

Tubridy is being too easy on him. Not asking him specific enough questions and let him harp on with the same answer over and over again.

sarahlulu

would love to criticise Tubridy, but he wasn't soft on him as I had expected.

Villain

FFS a few straight questions but he let him off far far too lightly, he could have gained respect but I think he let himslef and the show down

Hillel

Thought he did OK, TBH.

peasant

It's the late late show, not the "lets depose the governement show" ...Tubridy (it pains me to say) did fairly well there.

amacca

I think Tubridy gave him a chance to respond to most of the questions the public/public assisted by the media have been asking. If he didn't ask these questions and gave him too easy an interview it wouldn't benefit Cowen anyway and he knows this himself Im sure our Taoiseach was well prepared for anything that was thrown at him.

Although on the otherhand I did think the big cheese looked uncomfortable at times during the interview, at one point the camera panned out and he was perched on the side of the sofa with his hands clasped together between his legs like a small schoolchild outside the principals office................... or maybe this was just wishful thinking on my part?

Villain

Kenny would have done a far far better interview, remember the show with the Senator's last season? Kenny earned respect Turbidy just threw it away.

Trying to get people to feel sorry for BC asking about personal issues etc etc if Turbidy had any balls he would have went for Cowen.

ocul

To be honest - Cowen won that one by a bit, partic towards the end. Tubs was pretty much hitting the LiveLine - slash - Sindo talking points: poor journalism really. My guess is he heard Terry Prone this avo who set up the fairly 'run-through/hit the issues and move on' dynamic that played out,

Tableman

Although on the otherhand I did think the big cheese looked uncomfortable at times during the interview, at one point the camera panned out and he was perched on the side of the sofa with his hands clasped together between his legs like a small schoolchild outside the principals office................... or maybe this was just wishful thinking on my part?

I did notice that. But then I thought, He can hardly sit back and look all relaxed here. How would that come across?

amacca

Tableman wrote: »

I did notice that. But then I thought, He can hardly sit back and look all relaxed here. How would that come across?

True, true hadn't thought too deeply about it, I suppose if youve done something wrong or your electorate are of the opinion you have its best not to appear too nonchalant lest you infuriate them more.


But I thought I detected him reddening up at times and rushing his answers slightly, to me he looked nervous at times.......

If he was coached to do this then he has some pretty nifty acting skills.....


he could go on to earn more from nixers outside of politics than bertie ever will if he applied himself to the life of a thespian.

Just think of it "The Hurt Locker" starring Brian Cowen in his breakthrough role as a thrill seeking bomb disposal expert or Indiana Cowen and the Central Bank of Doom.

OldFFail

Villain wrote: »

Trying to get people to feel sorry for BC asking about personal issues etc etc if Turbidy had any balls he would have went for Cowen.

FFS, not another testicularly challenged FFer? :eek::eek:

ocul

Bring back BC - i dont care for this guy's - westie's - family law probs!...tit

sparklepants

I can't imagine PK or Gaybo asking any taoiseach if he drinks a lot. A rubicon has been crossed, and a curtain closes on an era of integrity in Irish TV journalism.

FACEPALM

I think BC did very well tonight

Tableman

I can't imagine PK or Gaybo asking any taoiseach if he drinks a lot. A rubicon has been crossed, and a curtain closes on an era of integrity in Irish TV journalism.

They would have asked it but in a less direct way. This is one interview I would actually liked Pat Kenny to have

juuge

Cowen still accepts no responsibility - he acted on the best advice given. So that's it! No matter what happens from now on he will have acted on the best advice given and he gets more dosh than Barak Obama for that! Must be very comforting for the 400,000 out of work!

Tableman

Cowen still accepts no responsibility - he acted on the best advice given. So that's it! No matter what happens from now on he will have acted on the best advice given and he gets more dosh than Barak Obama for that! Must be very comforting for the 400,000 out of work!

Yeah, That was a strange line that he was taking decisions based on advice. The obvious question in this case is: Where was this advice coming from?

mink_man

tubridy licked cowans arse!

amacca

mink_man wrote: »

tubridy licked cowans arse!

If this is what happened tonight then I'm not sure who I should feel sorry for, the licker or the lickee.

Perhaps I should feel sorry for you paying a TV license and having to witness such an event.

Hillel

juuge wrote: »

Cowen still accepts no responsibility - he acted on the best advice given. So that's it! No matter what happens from now on he will have acted on the best advice given and he gets more dosh than Barak Obama for that! Must be very comforting for the 400,000 out of work!

That's what struck me too. Try as he might, he simply couldn't get himself to acknowledge any responsibility. Simply not in his make up - it was "the advisors" who led him astray. Well I wish he'd keep straying ..... out the door, down the drive and far away. Try as he will, and he really was trying tonight, he simply doesn't have what it takes to get us out of this mess. I actualy felt sorry for him, but that doesn't matter, he simply has to go. If things get much worse there will be no country left to lead.

rainbow kirby

mink_man wrote: »

tubridy licked cowans arse!

Worst mental image of the day

Captain Furball

Lol

nesf

Right guys, this isn't After Hours, please don't descend into such vulgarity on here. None of want those kind of mental images.

Leiva

I think COWEN was a lot better off walking out of RTE then he was when in walked in .

He done better than i expected ... the questions were fast and hard , he done a lot of bullet dodging but in the end said what he should have said months ago ....

""The country is in the s.h.its , we all have tough decisions , I am the leader i will do my job , let the Circus go on around me , i am leading ..go f.u.ck off and judge me when the crap has cleared ! "

The question about "Do you think you drink to much" ..WTF was that all about ?

For me I think his popularity went up a few points , lets not forget the number that tuned into the Late Late were through the roof .

My 2 pence worth.

M.

jimmmy

Hillel wrote: »

That's what struck me too. Try as he might, he simply couldn't get himself to acknowledge any responsibility. Simply not in his make up - it was "the advisors" who led him astray. Well I wish he'd keep straying ..... out the door, down the drive and far away. Try as he will, and he really was trying tonight, he simply doesn't have what it takes to get us out of this mess. I actualy felt sorry for him, but that doesn't matter, he simply has to go. If things get much worse there will be no country left to lead.

True enough. Its embarassing to have him as the leader of our country. Why did Tubridy not bring up issues such as public expenditure more eg why does Cowen pay himself more than Obama or the p.m. of the UK, France or Germany ? Why is his govt so overpaid...and all their 300,000 or so employees the highest paid in the known world too ? Cowen did say that given govt. expenditure was 55 billion and income 33 billion there would be cuts ...but this is a case of too little too late for the sake of our children. Still, nice to see Cowen sober for a change.

dlofnep

The interview was ok - but I felt Tubridy was shooting out questions way too quickly, it was a poor interview technique. He should let someone digest a question and answer it thoroughly before cutting them off in mid-sentence. You wouldn't see that sort of amatuer behaviour on pirate radio.

Cowen did ok for himself, but he didn't convince anyone.

Mr.Micro

It was just a friendly party political broadcast for FF on the dull new late late show. A coup it was not. So RTE is set to continue with a guest list of has beens for its new revamped show with Tubridy? Should have got Dobbo in and the odd tear out of Biffo would have done the trick. 2 hours and 20 minutes of dross.

Hangsangwich

Cowen seems to think he has only three tasks to perform
1) Get Lisbon passed
2) Get NAMA accepted by the Irish people
and
3) Help prepare the next Budget
There was only a slight reference to the McCarthy report, wich if iplemented properly would require a serious amount of legislation to effect such proposed cuts.
With regard to expense scandals, Cowen had the audacity to say "that cant happen", to events that have happened. He should take charge and say things like the public representatives will be personally liable to repay these sums of money.
There are inefficiencies throughout the public sector, but there is nothing being done about them
Irish politicians are on a lucrative gravy train, and Cowen is not prepared to rock the boat.
He is not a leader. He is middle management material. We are in a leadership vaccuum at the moment. Bertie cut down any other real leaders chances throughout his rise and tenure as leader and promoted the ineffectual who would not revolt against him. Now, the rats have jumped ship, we have a country led by arse lickers who have no superiors to brown nose with. They are the result of generations of cronyism. they have been programmed to maintain the status quo at all costs until they are told to do otherwise. Any real new directions will be automatically opposed by these back slapping pint swilling guffawing buffoons. They are lost in positions of power.
And to hear the audience last night. I didn't hear one boo. They must have been hand picked. It was all so censored. Tossers!

freewheeler

could nt bring myself to watch it..caught a snippet of it.Biffo followed by Brian McFadden?? doesn't get much worse than that in my book..2 talentless clowns who just got the breaks obviously! although at least the latter hasn't set the country back about 20 years..just offended my eardrums:(

freewheeler

Hangsangwich wrote: »

Cowen seems to think he has only three tasks to perform
1) Get Lisbon passed
2) Get NAMA accepted by the Irish people
and
3) Help prepare the next Budget
There was only a slight reference to the McCarthy report, wich if iplemented properly would require a serious amount of legislation to effect such proposed cuts.
With regard to expense scandals, Cowen had the audacity to say "that cant happen", to events that have happened. He should take charge and say things like the public representatives will be personally liable to repay these sums of money.
There are inefficiencies throughout the public sector, but there is nothing being done about them
Irish politicians are on a lucrative gravy train, and Cowen is not prepared to rock the boat.
He is not a leader. He is middle management material. We are in a leadership vaccuum at the moment. Bertie cut down any other real leaders chances throughout his rise and tenure as leader and promoted the ineffectual who would not revolt against him. Now, the rats have jumped ship, we have a country led by arse lickers who have no superiors to brown nose with. They are the result of generations of cronyism. they have been programmed to maintain the status quo at all costs until they are told to do otherwise. Any real new directions will be automatically opposed by these back slapping pint swilling guffawing buffoons. They are lost in positions of power.
And to hear the audience last night. I didn't hear one boo. They must have been hand picked. It was all so censored. Tossers!

at last!! someone who tells it like it is!!! thats it in a nutshell..well done!:)

eirebhoy

dlofnep wrote: »

The interview was ok - but I felt Tubridy was shooting out questions way too quickly, it was a poor interview technique. He should let someone digest a question and answer it thoroughly before cutting them off in mid-sentence. You wouldn't see that sort of amatuer behaviour on pirate radio.

Have you watched Prime Time, Q&A, etc. It's actually hard to follow the interviews with all the interruptions. Cowen never once wanted to finish what he was saying when Tubridy interrupted so he was talking rubbish anyway and Tubridy interrupted at the right moments.

kenco

No win situation here for Cowen and I think he got away with a score draw. He was in no ways impressive but then again I thought Tubridy swung for Kenny Lite to Kermit the Frog. I think he was trying to rouse Cowen and it didnt work as it was too obvious.

Cowen looked nervous and the continuous lip licking thing did him no favours..

AlekSmart

Hangsandwich`s post #36 deservers to be a sticky !!!

freewheeler

The fact that Cowen is even tolerated as our taoiseach is a graphic illustration of how far our country has fallen.We can only hope and pray that him and his gang of half-assed buffoons will get whats coming to them..and soon!I think that Cowen(as limited as he is)realises that they are on borrowed time at this stage and his 'performance' on the late late proved it. Maybe you need to hit rock-bottom before you can start again well i truly believe that we have politacally,morally and economically! Rant complete!:mad:

FlutterinBantam

dlofnep wrote: »

The interview was ok - but I felt Tubridy was shooting out questions way too quickly, it was a poor interview technique. He should let someone digest a question and answer it thoroughly before cutting them off in mid-sentence. You wouldn't see that sort of amatuer behaviour on pirate radio

Cowen did ok for himself, but he didn't convince anyone.

Would you ever stop purporting your opinions as applying to everyone.

I didn't see the interview, but please remember, your opinion may not be shared by everyone else.


"Anyone" in that sentence should be replaced by "me".

Then I would have agreed with you.

Mr.Micro

kenco wrote: »

Cowen looked nervous and the continuous lip licking thing did him no favours..

That's what happens when a fish is out of water:D and clearly out of his depth.

nuac

Saw the interview. Questions covered a wide range, but more time should have been allowed to develope points - changes of topic came too quick. More time should have been given to the Cowen interview and less to Brian McFadden's marital and financial problems, which turned out ( to me ) to be boring.

Allowing for the fact that this was a live interview in front of an audience I think Cowen did well. Obviously he is not into the grooming and PR presentation that many politicians use. What we see is what we get.

To me he came across as an honest person working to a plan, wthout an ego.

thebman

The interview is on the RTE player if anyone wants to watch it.

I thought he asked a lot of hard questions to be fair. It was like he pulled a list of them from other media sources and people though rather than actually having any questions of his own. In particular, the drinking question came across as something Ryan read in a tabloid rag somewhere.

Of course Cowen would say the advisors were advising him. He is a politician, he is just the face for the department of finance, he doesn't actually make all the decisions. Even with the few decisions he did have to make in that position, Bertie was pullin the strings at the time.

As for the expenses, I think he genuinely wants to put a stop to that nonsense. He's a fairly modest man himself even when he's earning a lot, he doesn't exactly live it up on a lavish lifestyle so I don't think he'd have a problem putting caps on the stupid expenses himself and just saying can't not do it boys, look at the media pressure.

I don't get all the hate for the man. I think its mostly Dubs hating him because he isn't one TBH.

Anyway despite what he says, the government has no popularity now and has to fall soon so he may like being Taoiseach but he won't get to enjoy it for much longer I think.

jimmmy

nuac wrote: »

Saw the interview. Questions covered a wide range, but more time should have been allowed to develope points - changes of topic came too quick. More time should have been given to the Cowen interview and less to Brian McFadden's marital and financial problems, which turned out ( to me ) to be boring..

true, Brian McFaddens whinging about his ex wife went on and on for far too long....what, 15 minutes without the other side having the opportunity to say anything. Cringe worthy telivision, embarassing it be from the same country.

nuac wrote: »

To me he came across as an honest person working to a plan, wthout an ego.

If he was an honest person without an ego, would he really still be paying himself more than Obama or the p.m. of the UK, France or germany etc.( all much larger, industrialised countries) .... especially considering the mess he has made of a generation of peoples lives ?

Liam Byrne

thebman wrote: »

As for the expenses, I think he genuinely wants to put a stop to that nonsense. He's a fairly modest man himself even when he's earning a lot, he doesn't exactly live it up on a lavish lifestyle so I don't think he'd have a problem putting caps on the stupid expenses himself

If that were true - that he didn't have a problem with it - then he (as so-called "leader" of the country) should go ahead and do it.

But no - it's easier screw Joe Soap for things he's entitled to rather than screw his mates for stuff that they're not.

FlutterinBantam

thebman wrote: »

The interview is on the RTE player if anyone wants to watch it.

I thought he asked a lot of hard questions to be fair. It was like he pulled a list of them from other media sources and people though rather than actually having any questions of his own. In particular, the drinking question came across as something Ryan read in a tabloid rag somewhere.

Of course Cowen would say the advisors were advising him. He is a politician, he is just the face for the department of finance, he doesn't actually make all the decisions. Even with the few decisions he did have to make in that position, Bertie was pullin the strings at the time.

As for the expenses, I think he genuinely wants to put a stop to that nonsense. He's a fairly modest man himself even when he's earning a lot, he doesn't exactly live it up on a lavish lifestyle so I don't think he'd have a problem putting caps on the stupid expenses himself and just saying can't not do it boys, look at the media pressure.

I don't get all the hate for the man. I think its mostly Dubs hating him because he isn't one TBH.

Anyway despite what he says, the government has no popularity now and has to fall soon so he may like being Taoiseach but he won't get to enjoy it for much longer I think.

That is definitely a factor.

dresden8

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

That is definitely a factor.

Yes, no doubt Dubs would prefer a junkie from Sheriff Street.

jimmmy

If you have lost your job, are on a 3 day week, struggle to make a pittance or break even as a self employed or small business, or have lost half your pension and asset value, it makes no difference if the leader of the country ( the highest paid politician in the world )....our ex minister for finance who cannot now even see the mistakes he made - is a Dub or not.