Animal Cowen Blugeons Opposition

Thirteen pages. Reciepts. Suitcases of £20 notes of mixed nationalities. Curious currency coincidences. An option to buy. Money, as Fr. Ted might say, "resting" in Celia Larkins account. Lashings of self pity and an array of accusations about plots hatched in a west galway hotel.

The sorrowful mystery of the five things Bertie was told would happen must now join the glorious mystery of the third socialist in Aherns Stations of the Cross.

Perhaps the last supper involved a meeting with Frank Dunlop, Owen O'Callaghan and a US business man just weeks before the stone blocking the entrance to St. lukes grotto was rolled back to reveal a briefcase stuffed with cash.

Anyway its great that Bertie cleared all that up. We now know that he is a simple man with simple tastes and a straightforward approach to personal finance.

Wobbler McDowell has firmed up. He has worked out which side his bread is buttered on. He needs tha transfers so Ahern and FF are absolved of all sin.

One of the most interesting aspects of this affair is the new prominence given to Cowen, man of thunder. Cowen brings a fierce aggression to the business of politics that has been absent in the years of consensus since the end of Irelands culture wars in the mid 90's. In todays attack on Richard Bruton (RTE news at one) he came across as bad tempered, intolerant , sanctimonious and perhaps even a bit thick. Bruton did his best, but came accross as the skinny be-spectacled weakling confronting the bully with his high pitched ripostes.

How will this "Animal " style play with the electorate? My guess is it helps polarise things amongst committed party supporters. it will be morale boosting for FF'ers, but also for the opposition who will want to fight back. It will further alienate the 4 in 10 who don't vote.

Why should they vote. The main blocs are only playing at democracy. All have what these days pass for centrist policies, right wing on the economy, liberal on personal morality and uncaring on poverty.

Meanwhile, in the inner cities, in the suburban wastelands surrounding Quarryvale, in broken down farmstead's in Connacht - in the places where the celtic tiger never stalked, talk is of just one thing. The second coming of the third socialist.