Politics: The 'Hangover' - The Fianna Fáil Frat-Pack
What on earth can you say about Taoiseach Brian Cowen's interview to Radio 1's Morning Ireland host Cathal Mac Coille on Tuesday September 14th 2010?
The interview took place in the Ardilaun Hotel, Galway, on the second day of the
Fianna Fáil parliamentary party conference. Over the following 15 hours,
the interview, and the ?!?! performance of Mr Cowen during it, became an
international news story.
Personally, I for one have had enough of his ramblings and his party's blatant disregard for the real issues of this country that relate to real people for a long time now. The real problem here is between himself and Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan, who have managed to line the pockets of the Irish bankers and bigwigs while stealing from the hands of hard working tax-payers.
Most people understand there is a certain amount of socialisation that comes with the post of Prime Minister so the drinking the night before surely isn't a shock, is it?! The fact that he has absolutely little or no communications technique when dealing with the media, colleagues and international statesman officials surely isn't a revelation either? He's always been bad at communicating to the Irish people, always held back until the final hour about future plans (because I reckon he doesn't have one and is just winging it!) and is a mumbler at best. None of this is real news and there's no doubt he should resign if he can't at least control the mumblings coming out of his mouth. But how come the sudden media outrage?
The speculation included that he was up until 5am drinking pints of Carlsberg with the Fianna Fail fraternity, singing Christy Moore songs and doing humorous impressions of well-known Irish sports presenters! (Well he was in Galway for God's sake, one of the best party cities in the country?! Parrttaayy!!) I reckon it's more of a shame when you can't be true to yourself Brian. Just quit politics and join the Aprés Match lads, sounds like there's real comedic talent there. Anyway when it was time for that all-important radio interview the next morning, some say our Briano was a bit worse for wear - most probably still drunk. Others suggested he was hungover. One of his faux pas for example, was his reference to the Croke Park Agreement as the Good Friday Agreement. Oops, old news Brian. Check out the breakdown of statistics the following day for the overall worldwide media interest that surrounded the incident. Check out the United States' chunk of the pie? Anyone else embarrassed? 
The media are definitely pushing him but when are the Irish people finally going to say enough is enough? Known for our complacency of late and general acceptance of many of our leaders' incompetences - has Brian Cowen finally pulled the last political straw? Or is he just a media scapegoat on a bandwagon? Mmm.. Giddy-up!