The taoiseach designate has all the skills for the job, but now the public must get to know him
THE PACE of political events this week has been extraordinary but the public reaction has been relatively muted, in part because events have conformed with public expectations. The public expected Bertie Ahern to go some time in the first half of this Dáil term and they expected that when that day came Brian Cowen would succeed him.
What surprised people - and indeed pundits - was the timing of Ahern's resignation. It came earlier than he had planned. He suggested on Wednesday that he had hoped to review his position after next year's local and European elections, but events, and in particular the increasingly intense controversy around the Mahon tribunal, forced him to bring forward his retirement date. Ahern denies it, but the realisation that he may be checkmated by the flow of evidence at Dublin Castle may be the real reason why he chose to go now. Only time will tell.
Thankfully, in the meantime the volume of coverage given to the tribunal will shrink. Developments at Dublin Castle have dwarfed proceedings in Leinster House, distorted our public debate and corroded our politics.
The pace at which Cowen has been installed as taoiseach designate has also been extraordinary. The explanation for this is very simple: he is by far the best person for the job. In the necessary mix of intellect, ability, political heritage, strategic sense, focus and work rate, Cowen stands out in what, in historical terms, is a relatively talented Fianna Fáil Cabinet. Politicians such as Micheál Martin and Brian Lenihan could have grown comfortably into the position of taoiseach, but Cowen, to borrow from Hillary Clinton's campaign, is ready for the job on day one.
In other ways Cowen's persona is more akin to that of John McCain. He has the same authenticity. What you see and hear is what you get with the Offaly man. Unlike his predecessor, Cowen is a straight talker. He won't be slow about letting colleagues, opponents and the media know what he really thinks. Indeed one of the reasons why the idea of Cowen as leader is so attractive to his colleagues is that they see him as robust enough to face down a growing and more aggressive media pack.
In publicly endorsing Cowen as his obvious successor last May, Bertie Ahern was doing no more than recognising the inevitable. After eight years on the back benches, Cowen was promoted directly to cabinet by his friend Albert Reynolds in 1991. His performance was so impressive that within months he was being talked about as a future leader of Fianna Fáil.
Reynolds's early departure in 1994 came before the young Cowen had sufficient ministerial experience. Now, 14 years later, Cowen comes to the top job having served in five different departments, including a stint in the Department of Finance. Cowen has been unfairly criticised by some for being too cautious as a Minister, but one man's conservative Minister is another man's safe pair of hands.
His predecessor, Charlie McCreevy, was innovative but he was also politically reckless at times, as instanced by the tax individualisation and credit unions controversies. When Cowen came to Finance most of the necessary reform of the taxation system had been put in place. Cowen's emphasis was therefore focused, initially at least, on the expenditure side. His spending priorities were health, education and social welfare, with an emphasis on funding for special needs in his first budget and funding childcare in later budgets.
Blood was nearly spilt on the Leinster House plinth on Thursday as Fianna Fáil backbenchers elbowed each other in the rush to be among the first to confirm support for Cowen. This support at Cabinet and parliamentary level is grounded in the phenomenal popularity he enjoys among the grassroots. The Cowen clapometer has been off the scale at recent ardfheiseanna.
Although they have some appreciation of Cowen's ability the general electorate do not know Cowen nearly as well as his party does. To this extent he is disadvantaged by the absence of a contest. However, the period between his selection as leader designate next week and assuming office in early May is likely to be used to introduce the wider public to a more comprehensive picture of the new Fianna Fáil leader.
Some have residual concerns that his tendency to belligerence will put middle-ground electors off. However, the office of taoiseach will further enhance Brian Cowen's standing and perhaps soften the public impression of him.