Fianna Fáil Leadership Challenge Underway

ilovesleep · 13-01-2011 02:22PM

I got over excited there for a moment at the thought of Clown going.
But crawled back into my depressing hole - the country is still ruined, we'll still need to slave for a century to pay back banks and loans we had nothing to do with, and FF will still be in power for another bit longer, and nobody in real life really cares - its just all online that people cares. And nobody responsible for bringing ireland down - bankers, politicians, developers, will ever be sent to jail. While we all die slowly. And let every child in this country down.
Back to cry myself to sleep.

Biggins · 13-01-2011 02:30PM

Breaking: Sinn Fein to table a motion of no confidence in Brian Cowen - story to follow

http://twitter.com/thejournal_ie
http://www.thejournal.ie/

squonk · 13-01-2011 02:34PM

I'm no FF fan but isn't an internal FF squabble over the leadership the last thing we need as a country now. They're ****ed no matter who they elect so they'd be better off pulling on with him and taking their electoral defeat on the chin. As for SF, don't get me started!

Panrich · 13-01-2011 02:38PM

squonk wrote: »

I'm no FF fan but isn't an internal FF squabble over the leadership the last thing we need as a country now. They're ****ed no matter who they elect so they'd be better off pulling on with him and taking their electoral defeat on the chin. As for SF, don't get me started!

It's not the countries fault that FF are having a leadership heave so I can't see how you credit FF in your post at the expense of the rest of us.

thomasj · 13-01-2011 02:43PM

squonk wrote: »

I'm no FF fan but isn't an internal FF squabble over the leadership the last thing we need as a country now. !

The last thing we as a country need is another major controversy, involving the leader of our country like Anglo. We are the laughing stock of the world as it is!

Biggins · 13-01-2011 02:44PM

Juat a follow-up to previous post: http://www.thejournal.ie/sinn-fein-to-table-no-confidence-motion-in-cowen-2011-01/

Sully · 13-01-2011 02:49PM

Biggins wrote: »

Juat a follow-up to previous post: http://www.thejournal.ie/sinn-fein-to-table-no-confidence-motion-in-cowen-2011-01/

Utterly pointless. They wont vote against Cowen like that.

thomasj · 13-01-2011 02:52PM

Sully wrote: »

Utterly pointless. They wont vote against Cowen like that.

I'm not so sure, with an election on the way tds voting for cowen , given the latest revelations could damage their own election chances

outandabout · 13-01-2011 02:55PM

Party meeting at 3pm means vote of no confidence but my information is that he'll resign rather than split the party.

Who'll take over? Micheal Martin?

Twin-go · 13-01-2011 02:56PM

thomasj wrote: »

The last thing we as a country need is another major controversy, involving the leader of our country like Anglo. We are the laughing stock of the world as it is!

All the more reson they need to be seen as proactive and not letting him away with what he has done.

It could be the straw that breaks the camels back.

jpfahy · 13-01-2011 02:58PM

Bertie!

Biggins · 13-01-2011 02:58PM

Little is seeping out from behind closed doors at the moment I gather but whatever is happening, its yet another step to an election that might be called earlier than FF hope and then some thought delay would be prolonged.

Uriel. · 13-01-2011 03:03PM

where are you getting your information from

jimthemental · 13-01-2011 03:03PM

You'd nearly have pity on whoever comes out on top here. They will be leading FF into a complete no hoper election.

r3nu4l · 13-01-2011 03:05PM

jimthemental wrote: »

You'd nearly have pity on whoever comes out on top here. They will be leading FF into a complete no hoper election.

Privately they know that, publicly they will never admit it.

thomasj · 13-01-2011 03:05PM

According to twitter Irish radio saying cowen has been asked to resign

gandalf · 13-01-2011 03:06PM

jimthemental wrote: »

You'd nearly have pity on whoever comes out on top here. They will be leading FF into a complete no hoper election.

That is probably why there hasn't been a push before now. Because none of them want to led FF into the perfect storm of an Election that will decimate the party.

Will Cowen stand down from politics altogether after this humiliation I wonder if he gets pushed?

squonk · 13-01-2011 03:06PM

Panrich wrote: »

It's not the countries fault that FF are having a leadership heave so I can't see how you credit FF in your post at the expense of the rest of us.

No, it's not the country's fault at all but we've had enough controversy frm these clowns over the past while to put the counrty as the butt of every joke going. The least we can expect of the idiots running the show at this point is to shut up and make no further trouble until we can vote them out.

Biggins · 13-01-2011 03:08PM

thomasj wrote: »

According to twitter Irish radio telling cowen has been asked to resign

Seen that: http://twitter.com/endabrady

gandalf · 13-01-2011 03:08PM

squonk wrote: »

No, it's not the country's fault at all but we've had enough controversy frm these clowns over the past while to put the counrty as the butt of every joke going. The least we can expect of the idiots running the show at this point is to shut up and make no further trouble until we can vote them out.

Well them by your logic it just shows they are incapable of any sort of governance at all and should be turfed out as quickly as possible.

squonk · 13-01-2011 03:08PM

gandalf wrote: »

That is probably why there hasn't been a push before now. Because none of them want to led FF into the perfect storm of an Election that will decimate the party.

Will Cowen stand down from politics altogether after this humiliation I wonder if he gets pushed?

Id' say he'll have to stand down from politics. he's fairly unelectable in my mind, unless the good people of Offaly have a different opinion.

Uriel. · 13-01-2011 03:10PM

Lenihan still towing the party line anyway and denying all knowledge

Will he not be at the meeting - says he's in Stormont

RTE NEWS WEBSITE

Speculation is mounting in Leinster House that Brian Cowen's position as leader of Fianna Fáil is under imminent threat.
A meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party that was due to take place this morning was postponed until 3pm.
There was speculation around Leinster House this morning that the meeting would consider Brian Cowen's leadership.
Asked whether a no confidence motion might be tabled, one senior minister told RTÉ 'that may well happen'.
However, Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan has said there were no plans to hold a motion of confidence in the Taoiseach at the meeting.
Speaking to reporters at Stormont, Mr Lenihan said he was aware of a 'spate of overnight rumours' concerning Mr Cowen's leadership of the party.
He said he was not aware of the intensity of the speculation, and was not a party to it.
Mr Lenihan said that as one of Mr Cowen's ministers, he naturally had confidence in the elected leader of the party.
He acknowledged that Fianna Fail deputies were 'anxious about the future direction of the party' and said there were concerns about the very survival of Fianna Fáil.
He said it was only natural that there would be a vigorous internal debate within the party, but insisted that there were no plans to hold a motion of confidence in the Taoiseach.
When asked if he would like to become leader of the party, the Minister said 'a member of any political party is always interested in the leadership of the party.'
Two of Brian Cowen's supporters said they will be remaining loyal to their party leader.
The Donegal North East TD Niall Blaney and Carlow-Kilkenny's Bobby Aylward said they will be supporting the Taoiseach at today's parliamentary party meeting.
The pair admitted there were a lot of rumours doing the rounds about the future of Mr Cowen's leadership but Deputy Blaney said he had no reason to believe that Mr Cowen would not lead Fianna Fáil into the General Election.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0113/politics.html

Nehaxak · 13-01-2011 03:11PM

Or...the whole thing could be just a ruse to show FF as a strong party and that Cowen has come through with flying colours from another challenge from a select few.

Shall wait and see...

squonk · 13-01-2011 03:12PM

gandalf wrote: »

Well them by your logic it just shows they are incapable of any sort of governance at all and should be turfed out as quickly as possible.

I agree Galdalf but the controversy they should be generating is calling an election. Having an internal squabble over the leadership is a bit like rearranging the deckchairs on the titanic. If they wanted to be proactive they'd call an election. Voting in a new party leader and letting Cowen stay on is just rubbish. My view: 1. Cowen calls an election. 2. Party squabble for control is initated. 3. New leader leads FF into abysmal electoral performance.

Biggins · 13-01-2011 03:13PM

Nehaxak wrote: »

Or...the whole thing could be just a ruse to show FF as a strong party and that Cowen has come through with flying colours from another challenge from a select few.

Shall wait and see...

Indeed, every trick in the FF book and by god, do they know how to play them!

Amhran Nua · 13-01-2011 03:13PM

gandalf wrote: »

Will Cowen stand down from politics altogether after this humiliation I wonder if he gets pushed?

Probably depends on how many potholes he's managed to fill in his constituency in between binges. I doubt that professional pride will come into it whatever the case.

ArtSmart · 13-01-2011 03:14PM

logically he wont go. but tis past logic at this stage. put the house on a putsch against cowen.

two three reasons

1/even if it increases their chances of individual re-election by just 1% BBer's will want it. and that seems to be the case here.

2/ some part of FF think a coalition is a possibility, no matter how vague, with M Martin as tanaiste

3/ the big guns are out of the game now, so power is with the lesser beings who will gather round M Martin, who's been quietly building a base for some time

godtabh · 13-01-2011 03:15PM

Interesting

oconnellbrian RT @breakfastnt At Gov buildings, Cowen statement shortly. Will tweet - Chris #ffheave

Biggins · 13-01-2011 03:17PM

LOL
...Love your signature by the way Godtabh.

RobFowl · 13-01-2011 03:17PM

http://www.newstalk.ie/2011/news/6cowen-asked-to-resign-say-sources21/

Cowen asked to resign, say sources

January 13th, 2011
0 Comments

There is growing momentum behind a push to oust the Taoiseach Brian Cowen as leader of Fianna Fail.
A number of senior TDs and ministers have expressed their unhappiness to Mr. Cowen at the latest revelations surrounding his contacts with former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick.
A meeting of the Fianna Fail parliamentary party was due to take place at midday.
This has been pushed back until 3pm giving Mr. Cowen time to consider his options.
Newstalk’s Political Correspondent Páraic Gallagher says Mr. Cowen has been asked to step down.