There are a lot of excellent posts around the ‘sphere about Bertiegate and it’s impact on politics and the art of politics.  The story is definitely not dead yet.

I’m busy thinking about Saturday and the Blogging the Election conference but some quick thoughts whilst the PD’s enter the monastry that is ‘no comment’ land.

• There is more to come seemingly – Village Magazine did not go to press last night due to a technical difficulty. Vincent Browne told listeners to the Last Word today that it will be printed tonight and that the delay has given them time for another scoop. He would say no more pointing to the fact that they put an exclusive up on their site last Saturday that many papers copied and did not attribute. Vincent – maybe you need a blog, advertising would pay for it!  Anyone else get the feeling Frank Connolly is enjoying every minute of this? Now sometimes Vincent says he has a scoop and its a bit flat but this time I wonder is it going to be a classic?
• How much did Mary Harney know before she resigned?
• And Philip Boucher Hayes who broke the story on the ‘house’ confirmed today on DriveTime that his source was not related to the Tribunal and the leaking to the Irish Times. So are the bertie gates finally opening on some other issues that have lain in the long grass?  Boucher Hayes also noted the link between the solicitor who helped round up the cash from the 12 apostles and who we now know did the conveyancing when Michael Wall bought the house and rented it immediately to Ahern.
• Anyone else notice how quiet Sinn Fein are at the moment? Are they a coalition party in waiting  – either pre or post an election?

So it’s an interesting time to be blogging and I look forward to meeting bloggers, want to be bloggers and politicians on Saturday. The venue is really excellent, a site visit today showed that it will really lend to a great day’s conversation and sharing and debate.

We are still in the Red for the conference by the way – anyone out there who has a few bob or knows someone who might be interested in sponsoring what is now more than ever a much needed and high profile event – drop us a line @ conference (At) irishelection.com