Is there an election due soon or something? (insert ironic smile here!)

In years gone by September was a month for back to school stories, the junior cert results and booze ups, the All Ireland and the Combined Rules series. If we are really lucky there would be a bit of an ‘Indian’ summer. Towards the end of he month there would be a stirring of the loins towards Leinster House. Then a few years ago we got away days for TD’s and think in’s and Robert Putnam talking about bowling and columbine.

So far this week we have had shoe shopping in Westport with Bertie, Pat and Enda doing their laurel and hardy show in Mullingar, the Greens thinking in in Aughrim and this evening the departure of Mary Harney as leader of the PD’s. Does a little bit of me feel sorry for the Greens having their thunder stolen? Not really – when Ms. Harney decides to spring a surprise it is well and truely sprung. She is young enough to still make her mark politically – EU Commissioner Harney anyone?
Who are the members of the PD’s who will be voting in one of the electoral colleges? Do the PD’s actually have a membership? Tom Parlon for leader – driving his tractor around Ireland looking for votes in bales of hay. That’s my prediction. Is Colm O’Gorman a member long enough to have a vote?

And I bet there was some row at the PD parliamentary meeting this afternoon that they were all covering up with the smiles.