Brian Cowen has won a vote of confidence

EKRIUQ

No surprise really, we keep voting FF, why won't they keep voting for their leader

Daniel S

YAY!!!



Oh, wait, he won?

BERBA

EKRIUQ wrote: »

No surprise really, we keep voting FF, why won't they keep voting for their leader

Our time will come shortly

later12

For all the pronouncements of the death of the party, why the interest, one wonders? Surely if you all believe they're doomed, this is irrelevant.

GSF

later10 wrote: »

For all the pronouncements of the death of the party, why the interest, one wonders? Surely if you all believe they're doomed, this is irrelevant.

Once he calls an election YES.

martic

Hope they get good expenses for working this late

EKRIUQ

Thats another 5 seats FF will have lost by still having him as leader and communicator of his party.

Het-Field

later10 wrote: »

For all the pronouncements of the death of the party, why the interest, one wonders? Surely if you all believe they're doomed, this is irrelevant.

It is only relevant to the extent that FF have actively chosen to remain with a man who is seen by most as a direct cause of the financial woes we experience.

He will lead them into the election, and all the arguments of culpability the opposition can throw cannot be rebutted, nor can those FFers suffering from cognative dissonance use a change of party leader as a reason to remain FF this time

leincar

Thank God the bastard won. There won't now be a bounce in the polls and this hopefully guarantees obliteration for FF in a few short weeks.

Fentdog84

No margin disclosed. Rigged?

yosemite_sam

This, FF have really missed a chance getting rid of this chump

supersean1999

call an election you fat cun*

jimmynokia

bolix

later12

Het-Field wrote: »

It is only relevant to the extent that FF have actively chosen to remain with a man who is seen by most as a direct cause of the financial woes we experience.

Yeah but I'm asking why that is relevant if, as most people suggest, the party is dead and buried.

He will lead them into the election, and all the arguments of culpability the opposition can throw cannot be rebutted

That never stopped anyone from rebutting before.

Wide Road

Fentdog84 wrote: »

No margin disclosed. Rigged?

Another leadership vote recently didn't disclose the margin. Rigged?

Het-Field

later10 wrote: »

Yeah but I'm asking why that is relevant if, as most people suggest, the party is dead and buried.

That never stopped anyone from rebutting before.

Any chance FF had of a mini revival was the removal of Cowen. The size of such a revival would be minimal.

It was never successfully rebutted.

Mr.Micro

later10 wrote: »

For all the pronouncements of the death of the party, why the interest, one wonders? Surely if you all believe they're doomed, this is irrelevant.

Because they are still ruining our country while in Government.

Monty Burnz

He's got his 'mojo' back, according to Fianna Failure insiders like Mammy O'Rourke.

(Translation - he's shouting over people in interviews again.)

kippy

I posted this in another thread, but this is the only way I can explain it:
Cant understand?
Going on past form, FF hardcore voters will vote FF no matter who is there. It doesnt appear that anyone outside of FF hardcore voters will vote FF no mater who is in the hot seat.
I'd say the Lenihan supporters are happy enough to vote for Cowan this time, cowan will probably step down after the election (why wouldnt he, they will get trounced, no need for the new guy to start on the wrong side of a belting)
When he steps aside, Lenihan will get his own supporters votes and most likely the cowan supporters votes for backing cowan this time around.
Lenihan gets to start with a clean slate (well, relatively speaking)
Whatever government gets in will be out withing 24 months after failing miserably to do what they said they would and end up cutting as much as FF.
Queue new election, FF back in the frame again.
We Irish have very very short term memories..........

Whatever is happening right now is for the benefit of the FF party in the medium to long term, short term they will be anihilated. The benefit to the country of this charade is negligible.

It has sickened me how much I have heard cowan on the wireless/tv in the past 48 hours, where the **** was he when the country was getting shafted.

FF tonight look like such a laughable organisation,living in their own little world.

Atlantic Dawn

Best possible news for the country, Martin winning would have meant he would have been also entitled to a Taioseachs pension and a Garda driver for the rest of his life too. With Cowen at the wheel the ship might just head full steam ahead in to a 2nd iceberg.

Ned O'Keeffe was priceless on RTÉ saying the party was united and he now backs Brian Cowen yet yesterday and a couple of hours earlier today he had no confidence in him.

later12

Mr.Micro wrote: »

Because they are still ruining our country while in Government.

He could still run the government if he was forced out, and even in that case FF would still be running the country. This was a party vote about the leadership of Fianna Fáil, I'm just amused to see such widespread sustained interest in this apparently doomed party.

Byron85

Martin has resigned. Cowen just confirmed it on the news.

later12

Het-Field wrote: »

Any chance FF had of a mini revival was the removal of Cowen. The size of such a revival would be minimal.

Minimal eh? Surely that would be reflected in the news coverage and the attention tonight's developments have attracted on boards.

supersean1999

martin resigns he will be the next leader , only one with balls, poor brian has swrewed up royally

hotmail.com

Michael Martin resigns.

2qk4u

Of course he won, sure who else would lead the lambs to the slaughter ?

not even wrong

Liking the BBC's choice of picture:

BERBA

Byron85 wrote: »

Martin has resigned. Cowen just confirmed it on the news.

Lenihan and Hannifan are a laughin stock!

ilovesleep

When is the election. Not that it matters now really.

was over at p.ie and banks are catastrophic. Looks like there will be a default coming very soon.

ednwireland

well that got anglo golf gate off the front pages (i'm a cynic)

Het-Field

later10 wrote: »

Minimal eh? Surely that would be reflected in the news coverage and the attention tonight's developments have attracted on boards.

No, it is natural such an event would attract media attention and online discussion. He is the Taoiseach, and leader of the Government Party.

You're clutching at straws.

later12

Het-Field wrote: »

No, it is natural such an event would attract media attention and online discussion. He is the Taoiseach, and leader of the Government Party.

You're clutching at straws.

I'm not clutching at anything, it's a very simple point, and this was a vote pertaining to his leadership of an apparently doomed party, not a vote relating to his premiership at all. That may never have changed.

56lcd

great news, it should ensure that fianna fail will be wiped out at the next election

Mr.Micro

later10 wrote: »

He could still run the government if he was forced out, and even in that case FF would still be running the country. This was a party vote about the leadership of Fianna Fáil, I'm just amused to see such widespread sustained interest in this apparently doomed party.

a) people want the FF wiped out so in fighting is the recipe and b) we need a bit of amusement watching the spineless and gutless TD s calling for a new leader and when the chance came they all slunk way Lenihan and Hanifin the most spineless and deceitful. It's amusing alright. Roll on the general election for the real fun.

Het-Field

later10 wrote: »

I'm not clutching at anything, it's a very simple point, and this was a vote pertaining to his leadership of an apparently doomed party, not a vote relating to his premiership at all. That may never have changed.

So what are you trying to say ?

That due to suggestions of electoral armageddon all discussion relating to FF should naturally cease ?

People remain interested.

later12

Het-Field wrote: »

So what are you trying to say ?

That due to suggestions of electoral armageddon all discussion relating to FF should naturally cease ?

No, that it would seem more natural that discussions relating to the leadership of the Fianna Fáil party would be largely indifferent. Tonight has shown that this is certainly not the case. interest is widespread and extensive.

The point is that Fianna Fáil are not a doomed party at all, the real question is who will be the leader after Brian Cowen and what will he do to reform the organisation post election.

bernardo mac

Am not unhappy he won the vote.But would have been better if he didn't.FF would have imploded.How is Willie the rodent now?

Het-Field

later10 wrote: »

No, that it would seem more natural that discussions relating to the leadership of the Fianna Fáil party would be largely indifferent. Tonight has shown that this is certainly not the case. interest is widespread and extensive.

The point is that Fianna Fáil are not a doomed party at all, the real question is who will be the leader after Brian Cowen and what will he do to reform the organisation post election.

I think you have tacitly admitted that your entire point was facetious.

The extent of FF's reformation will be based on the election. A change in leader WOULD have had an impact on FF's electoral chances. Do you dispute that ? We know that FF will not be a part of any Government. However, there are plenty of people willing to still vote FF, but under different circumstances. This may have saved 10 seats, which would have boosted FF before they engage in any reformation.

kincsem

Does this mean the election is in May 2012?

supersean1999

kincsem wrote: »

Does this mean the election is in May 2012?[/QUthe longer they wait the worse it will get for them

the groutch

no numbers being given, so there's no actual proof that Cowen won the vote.
for all we know he could have lost the vote and have had John Curran tell people otherwise

steelcityblues

Vincent Browne should be classic tonight!

Mr.Micro

not unless they can delay the 3 outstanding bye-elections for another 18 months.......but this lot are capable of anything. Until the election is announced I will not believe it is this year.

sligopark

kincsem wrote: »

Does this mean the election is in May 2012?

No the election will be in April when Brian Cown can call on the 3 year toiseach service pension to add to his forever money.

Lapin

hotmail.com wrote: »

Michael Martin resigns.

YAY !!!

Does this mean we can smoke in the pub again ?

force eleven

Right so, can we have the election now please? I'm itching to cast my vote on this utter disaster of a government...:mad:

Min

Congrats to Brian Cowen, the opposition couldn't have wished for a better result.
FF go into the election with a leader about as popular as having dog poo on your shoe.

sky88

how he won ill never know i thinks this proves my thinkng all politicians are just plain idiots

take everything

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Ned O'Keeffe was priceless on RTÉ saying the party was united and he now backs Brian Cowen yet yesterday and a couple of hours earlier today he had no confidence in him.

Gave me a good laugh as well.
Edit:
I half think sometimes this was all orchestrated to give Biffo some kind of strange endorsement leading them into the election.

supersean1999

calleary has a face of thunder, does the man ever smile.