Mícheál Martin

GoneShootin

Will he be Taoiseach someday ? I only ask this as many ppl seem to think that YES, he will.

hurler-on-ditch

Bertie will be reelected in 2007 and hand over reins 2 year later when he will be 60 having been Taoiseach for 15 years ( I kid you not). Massive scramble for leadership - so far away new candidates may emerge - I actually would put money on Mary Hanafin - very capable, first female Taoiseach will have an undoubted appeal, plus middle class Dublin background ( the key floating voters.

DMC

Very good point on Mary Hanafin; a female, south Dublin leader would do untold wonders for FF.

My opinion on Brian Cowan has changed, for the better. I did not think he was any good as Health minister, and the work was done as regards the North was concerned when he took over in Iveagh House. I see him very much now like a John Prescott, a very good deputy, to Michael Martin. He has handled the portfolios of health and education very well, which are notorious positions to be in charge of, and he is a cool performer.

I expect Micky Martin to be damn near or even get 2 quotas in this election....

hurler-on-ditch

Agree that if election for leadership was tomorrow Martin is the man, but may not be in 6-7 years...but anything can happen. Like you I have to say that Cowen is most impressive Foreign Affairs minister for a long time - gets a lot of stick from media - because they fear him most . If he'd been on tonight's debate, he'd have made mince meat of Noonan; but image is ( almost) everything and undoubtedly Martin has huge charisma.

yellum

Weren't FF TDs polled before and said Micheal would be the next leader.

Victor

Originally posted by hurler-on-ditch
Agree that if election for leadership was tomorrow Martin is the man, but may not be in 6-7 years...but anything can happen.

Who knows what will happen were FF to return with less than 70 seats (why do you think the FF leadership is understating the number of seats they expect to get)

Originally posted by hurler-on-ditch
Like you I have to say that Cowen is most impressive Foreign Affairs minister for a long time - gets a lot of stick from media - because they fear him most.

Just what do you mean by "fear", they way you seem to use the word, it reminds me of some Americans claiming that people are "jealous" of their military might (where "concerned" or "dismayed" would be more appropriate words). Just what do journalist have to fear from BIFFO?

Originally posted by hurler-on-ditch
[BIf he'd been on tonight's debate, he'd have made mince meat of Noonan; but image is ( almost) everything and undoubtedly Martin has huge charisma. [/B]

And would have lost the election for FF.m Ripping people apart does not win elections.

Originally posted by hurler-on-ditch
but image is ( almost) everything and undoubtedly Martin has huge charisma.

Well Martin actually, in person, comes across as boyish, a little awkward and distant. Substance, getting teh job done, is very important and this is why people respect him (compare his stint in education with Woods).

DMC

That's why I think that Biffo would be a good lieutenant. Two rottweilers like Noonan and Biffo tearing lumps out of each other makes for great TV, but not great government, neither have the Taoiseach mould on them.

Look at the poll today, which asked their preference for Taoiseach, 15% said Noonan, 69% said Ahern. Noonan is a deeply unpopular figure around, and even in a political neutral zone that I work in, everyone loathes Noonan. No one has a good word for him in his defence. At the time, I felt the hatchet job done on Bruton came out of the blue and really unnecessary. That move has made FG, at this stage more unelectable than they were before, a backward step.

Biffo and Noonan have almost the same qualities of John Prescott, in my opinion. Both are well liked and the party faithful love 'em to bits, especially at Ard Fheis time, when they give good rallying calls.