Saturday, April 21, 2007

The Twin Advantage

Enda Kenny announced plans by Fine Gael to organize a climate change policy department if his party wins in the upcoming elections. Not to worry, his new climate change bureaucracy will link to the Department of Finance, and all will be coordinated. If, that is, Fine Gael takes the prize in the upcoming elections. Now doesn't a climate change policy department make you want to vote for Fine Gael?

On the other side of town, Michael McDowell was touting the plans of the Progressive Democrats. He was all tax cuts and down with the stamp duties, stumping for votes in the upcoming elections. Sustaining Success they call their movement for this election cycle, to remind everyone that the prosperity they now enjoy is due entirely to the policies of the Progressive Democrats. Vote PD again, and the money will keep rolling in.

And the word on the voters' lips is.....how's the new babies, Taoiseach? Born two months premature, twins Rocco and Jay Byrne are the talk of the town. First time grandfather Bertie Ahern doesn't have to discuss policies or promises. It's not 'what are you doing about the water in Donegal' but 'have you spoken to Georgina lately, and how is she doing?' as far as the questions go.

Mr. Ahern was making an appearance in Dunboyne when the reporters descended on him, but it wasn't about the upcoming elections. Attention has been distracted by the birth of twin boys, an exciting occasion for any family, but a very public one for Georgina and Nicky Byrne.

You can be sure that Enda Kenny is as pleased as any man over the good news coming out of Holles Street. Still, it must grate, that he has nothing to offer the public but campaign rhetoric, while Bertie Ahern can just show up and tell everyone about his new grandchildren. All eyes are focused on the Taoiseach and the Byrne twins, while Mr. Kenny must jump up and down on the hustings to get anyone to pay him any mind. It's so unfair, that he has something important to say and the electorate is distracted by childbirth. Aren't babies born every day? And isn't there such a shortage of beds in some area hospitals that women endure labor wherever they can find a quite spot? No one's talking about the nurses and their protests over wages and conditions, the important issues of the day, it's all Jay and Rocco Byrne, all the time.

No, the birth was not timed to coincide with the start up of the campaign season. Sometimes things just fall into place for the lucky few, whose daughters are married to famous boy band members and who attract a lot of attention without doing anything out of the ordinary. If only Enda Kenny had something to offer the public beyond the usual speeches. Politicians can kiss all the babies they like, but it's different when their lips are applied to the smooth cheeks of their own grandchild. Mr. Kenny just can't seem to catch a break.

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