The news about FF’s numbers is just joyous, and maybe the core FF vote is now waking up to the fact that FF/ Bertie/ Biffo has wrecked the economy for the second time in generation.

My take on the FG effect is that Enda is strategic in his public musing/ attacks on FF, this is a clear counter-strategy to Cowen, who seems to opine on all aspect of his cabinet’s doings and on policy issues (he has to, as the cabinet is full of sheeple). FG has some strong voices on the shadow cabinet, who can not only fight their corner but demonstrate good leadership potential. Enda’s play as ‘chairman’ not ‘chief’ (“boss” in FF parlance) is a great tactic because FF cannot match it.

So when the lovely girl is put up in the Dail at Question Time, she avoids any answer (in the Bertie style) but it just turns people off because there is no leadership in that Palinesque way! Cowen’s Tanaiste choice makes him look like a fool. So when Cowen isn’t hiding under a rock in Offaly, he comes across as both arrogant, lousy in choosing a team (think of farts in a spacesuit), and totally out of touch.

Taking the worst exemplars, we see two ministers who’ve totally lost touch with the real world (if they were ever in it!) Lenihan has totally misjudged budgetary strategy, I’ve never seen such as mess. But, I don’t think the people will ever forgive Harney for abandoning the vaccine issue. They just don’t get it…the list does on. So having a cabinet of gobshites makes Cowen’s position worse rather than better, because *he* is also incompetent himself. You know, in the old days, Charlie Haughey could have put a dog turd in as Minister for Finance, because the people knew, at some level, that Haughey was in charge. Now people just smell pooh.

So, as things keep imploding, Maman, it might make sense why Enda is not so visible. His winning approach is not solely being above the fray but he can also point to a very competent FG team. While it might have been too late re: this poll, the input by Michael Noonan on Limerick in the Dail, has clearing shown FG is back on the crime issue. Calling out FF on the bureaucratic nightmare Bertie made is going to play into the next poll.

On Labour, Gilmore is highly visible, and has to be. Pat Rabbitte did not really have the killer instinct, but Gilmore is showing that he definitely does – and his strategy is paying off. This is working well to repair the Rabbitte softer approach. Also, Labour’s team, esp. Joan Burton, is showing great ability to understand the crisis and offer solutions when FF is still looking like a deer in the headlights… and I’m out of breathe…