Always look on the bright side of life…
May 28th, 2007 by Frank
“I love my country and I am deeply ambitious for it. But at this point, I have to say, with this outcome, at this stage of my career, it makes it very clear that as far as I am concerned, my period of public life as a public representative is over.” - Michael McDowell
While the general outcome of the general election is generally depressing, at least McDowell didn’t get back in.
One has to wonder though - if Bertie was arrogant enough to show his true colours, like McDowell, maybe we could have shaken him off too.



May 28th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Huge cheer went up where I was when he imploded. A catchphrase is born, or at least borrowed: “Did you stay up for McDowell?”.
Hay ho the witch is dead etc.
May 28th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
I don’t think we’ve seen the last of McDowell but it should stand as a warning to other politicians. He’ll either do a u-turn and come back to politics in 5 years time, get one of the Taoiseach’s appointments to the Seanaid or be all over the news as a barrister/judge.
May 28th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
McDowell? Do a U-Turn? Don’t be ridiculous.
May 28th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
McDowell was one of the few Irish Polititians who genuinly had ideas, principles and courage. Some people never know a good thing. Most of the peole who harbour this irrational hatred of him actually dont know why. This country is full of nob-ends who would rather vote for convicted fraudsters than anyone with character. Shame on us all is what I say. We will get wat we deserve.
May 28th, 2007 at 10:29 pm
Yes his ad-hominem attacks on individuals in the Dail really became a politician of his stature. No matter what your view of the PDs this is the man that sank the party, and announced he was jumping ship on the steps of the RDS without a peep to the party. Nice.
May 28th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
So where was the courage and principles when the whole Bertie dig-out, mystery payments issue came about? If he was anything other than the same old self-serving, hamstrung-by-his-own-ambition gobshite, then he’d have walked out on that government and won the respect of a lot of people.
May 29th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
He fucked thing up for the party by nearly walking out on FF before the election. As someone said in yesterdays examiner he was a genuine, and intellectual man who had no ability for political shrewdness. He was tough and that’s what you need in a justice minister, (especially when society is becoming increasingly more violent, more criminal and more insane.)
May 30th, 2007 at 1:12 am
Yeah, wasn’t he great the way he was tough, regardless of whether it affected people’s constitutional rights or anything?
May 30th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Some people don’t deserve constitutional rights.
May 30th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
I know that one is gonna come back at me….
May 30th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
Actually it just doesn’t deserve any kind of response.
I will assume you’re just being provocative.
May 31st, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Ed, he fucked things up for the party by not walking out on FF and I wholley disagree with that description of him. I think he was arrogant and devoid of any sort ability for innovative thinking - which is what a justice minister really needs.
May 31st, 2007 at 10:41 pm
Nice to get a responce for a comment that doesn’t deserve one.
May 31st, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Fair enough Biff, but I will always prefer a man with integrity over a smooth political player.
June 1st, 2007 at 1:49 am
Except, in the end, he kind of left his integrity at home. Still, for him to take the backlash while the likes of Cullen and Brennan survive is comical. It’s almost beyond satire. Never liked him but clearly he’s been shafted by his own ambition and the native cunning of a bunch of born politicians.