The F Word - Cowen Shows His Class

You have to feel a bit sorry for Brian Cowen. A couple of weeks into the job of Taoiseach, he must feel like a goldfish in a very small bowl, as people analyse and dissect his every utterance. Including those off microphone. His off-mic comment yesterday to Mary Coughlan was picked up slightly muffled, but clear enough. Unfortunately for Cowen, it has lead the newspapers and opposition to point this out as showing how he cannot deal with difficult questions, getting hassled and impatient with Eamon Gilmore yesterday. Questions are, of course, an everyday requirement for the Taoiseach of the day to deal with and it shows that Cowen does lack that bit of subtlety and diplomacy that he will need if his leadership is to be successful.

You can argue how it was an off the cuff remark said in a way we all might use day to day in dealing with issues but as Taoiseach he will certainly need to learn the art of speaking at the right moments.

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