"I'm Sorry!" Drunk With Brian Cowen in Dublin

national | consumer issues | news report

Wednesday September 15, 2010 19:42

by Seán Ryan and Madam K

A man of the people. Flawed yes. But a man of the people all the same. Some alcohol, some nudity and some public urination, we take to the streets with Brian Cowen to say sorry.

Getting the raw Cowen

We caught up with the slightly inebriated Mr Cowen today as he staggered amongst the common people. He's genuinely sorry. The poor man made his way from person to person, laying it all on the line for them. He's only human. He's got to save over €3 billion in December's budget and he demonstrated today that the poor will not be the sole victims in this. He produced a paper cup and in the two hours or so that we spent with him, collected significant funds to offset December's targets.

Nobody could spend time with Brian without querying the mysteries of this misunderstood and enigmatic man. We had lots of questions for him. We first caught up with him in a bar and after he had put his trousers back on he agreed to talk to us.

We first asked him about the giveaway of Irish resources to Shell and the Shell to Sea campaign. Of particular interest was the thorny issue of CAOs (Compulsory Acquisition Orders). After all this is the first time in the history of the State that a private business has been allowed to order people off their land. The Constitution requires that such an order must solve an exigency with regard to the common good. We thought we had Brian by the short and curlies on this one. We were wrong: "This country is fucked... Fianna Fail is fucked... The country's fucked because Fianna Fail is fucked. That's a fuckin' exigency. If I can make Shell happy then I'll be happy and thus, Fianna Fail will be happy. Emergency over..." He said that he supports the Shell to Sea campaign. It keeps the gardaí occupied and physically fit, he told us. When asked did he support the campaign of physical violence and criminalisation against the group he said: "Sure they're fuckin' hippies, they love that..."

When asked to comment about the Road Through Tara Project, Brian replied that too many people are caught up in the past and said that "the future is in the future." A couple of points later and after a brief session on the floor where this great man shed tears for his country he sobbed that he loves Tara and that it was very important to worship and care for those who owned the land upon which the road was built.

What about Extraordinary Rendition being facilitated in Shannon Airport we asked him. "We have high quality assurances from our best friends in the US," he told us. "Better and more heartfelt assurances than anyone they lied to." Who couldn't be convinced by the openness and clarity of this besieged and broken man? We wept. We wept with him and drank some more. Then it was time to take to the streets. To meet the common man. Brian wanted to personally apologise.

Brian hit Grafton Street with a vengeance and after picking himself up, set about the task of connecting with the people. Armed with a paper cup, to help fund December's budget, a little blackboard to communicate his apology to those who couldn't hear his bellowing and a commitment to the electorate, Brian staggered through the throngs, telling anyone who'd listen, that he was sorry.

He's sorry for the "fuck up" that is NAMA. Gambling addiction is an illness he told people. He said that we shouldn't judge people on account of their illnesses. "We should love them unconditionally," he sobbed. At this point he needed to lie down for a while. Many passers by were seen to wipe years from their eyes as they passed the sobbing wreck. It wasn't just cheap emotion either. Many tightened their belts and gave generously, patriotically throwing coppers into Brian's cup. You could see the love. You could smell it.

This is not an exercise in spin on behalf of Brian. Far from it. Brian doesn't wobble his way out of this a sober and forgiven man. He lurches forward, urinates publicly and says he's sorry. That's not perfection. That's human and that's leadership.

As we left Brian to his fate we witnessed one last act. He stopped up, face first and dug greatly into the budget cup to give generously to a young lady collecting for animal rights. "This is for John... John Gormley... I fuckin' love that man," Brian told the A-Liberation activist. We could take no more. To stay longer would be to risk being blinded by greatness. Brian's sorry. And we're sorry for ever doubting him.

Many thanks to Agnieszka Chojnacka for some of the photos

On his back for Ireland

To the common man!

Nama Merc

Going cheap!

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Comments (32 of 32)

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Our "dear leader" has us the laughing stock of the world

by V for vendetta

Tue Sep 28, 2010 11:44

Here he is as the butt of a joke on the jay leno show. Personally I'm embarrassed to be represented abroad by the calibre of people currently in Fianna Fail. If they're not scheming self serving property amassing crooks with their heads submerged in the trough, they are semi literate or drunken fools. Not one of them will ever answer a straight question.

Its good that people take actions like this one to highlight and bring FF incompetence and unprofessionalism into perspective. Otherwise there is no knowing the pathetic depths of stupidity they would plumb. There should be higher standards in office here and there should be consequences if you drop below them. If they don't suffer sufficient consequences in their little self serving self regulated bubble in lenister house then why shouldn't they suffer a little street theatre ridicule. All things considered It's not even remotely cruel enough in my opinion. And it's not as if we the people actually gave him the job of taoiseach in the first place is it?

Anyway, here's the clip:

Caption: Video Id: gRZvERI5nf8 Type: Youtube Video
cowans one (and only!) appearance on jay leno show

Churchill

by Bim

Thu Sep 23, 2010 17:03

I've always wished she'd replied to Churchill something along the lines of: 'well you might be sober tomorrow but you'll still be a war-mongering genocidal racist.'

Events, dear Boy, Events.

by Corkman

Wed Sep 22, 2010 14:29

"A politician needs the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year

Comically simplistic.

A wise British Prime Minister described to a journalist what determines British foreign policy :

"Events, Dear Boy, Events."

A socialist society lady?

by .

Wed Sep 22, 2010 14:04

The women refered to was Liverpool socialist MP Bessie Braddock,who told him, "Winston, you're drunk.": and he replied

"Bessie, you’re ugly. And tomorrow morning I’ll be sober, but you’ll still be ugly."

Churchill also said "A politician needs the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn’t happen"
Time to get rid of all politicians ,no goverment no state ,no governors no slaves.

Cowen is Under Pressure.

by Brit.

Wed Sep 22, 2010 13:24

Churchill famously drank a bottle or two of whisky every day when he was fighting the Nazis.
(Given the job he had, who would blame him.)

A society lady said this to him in the middle of the Blitz.:
"Winston you are disgracefully drunk".

Winston famously replied:
"And you are ugly...... but I will be sober in the morning."

On the streets for not drinking enough.

by Madam K

Wed Sep 22, 2010 11:32

Chatting with some homeless friends this morning ,sleeping on the streets only a couple of hundred meters from the Dail ,they were woken by Garda at 4am this morning and told to move as they were "tresspassing" on the steps of a building .A building which has been vacant for years ( so there obviously was no complaint ) yet the Garda saw fit to wake them tell them to move ,where exactly were they ment to go? They have been forced out of the wet hostel due to the fact staff felt they did not drink enough!

Maybe an invite into the Dail bar would be beneficial? Improving their capactity to drink hence solving any possible future refusal of shelter?

" Down boy! There, that's a good dogma."

Wed Sep 22, 2010 11:11

"to above commentator,what exactly are you,refering to?"

That i do not hold with Marxist theory .But thanks for your comments

" Down boy! There, that's a good dogma."Groucho Marx .

tomato...tomatoe,

by potatoe ... poTaTo.

Tue Sep 21, 2010 22:00

Brian Cowen is a fat b***** a burnout,and a drunkard,and in no way fit to be a politician,the point im making is that,there are a lot of politicians in government,who do not even have the nessecary skills for their jobs,and yet have smooched thier way into these positions,which is wrong,there should be the principle of getting your job on your own merit.FOR EXAMPLE: bertie ahern ,and the current minister for finance did not have the nessecary qualifications,and it is only those who do not have the clout you will notice,who have the most education,most of these FF'ers do not have degrees,certitficates,or even a bit of cop on..

Is it any suprise,about the events that unfolded before our very eyes and ears?There have been many a drunk

carnt teach an auld dog new tricks .............................

by bernard

it doesnt matter what political party we have in the dail,it wont matter,they are all old farts,as the saying goes cant teach an old dog new tricks,probably just aswell in most cases,cos if they were half smart they would have conned us from more pennies..to above commentator,what exactly are you,refering to?

My kind of Marx

Tue Sep 21, 2010 21:17

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."

Groucho Marx

burn the bank down

by marxist revolution

Tue Sep 21, 2010 21:12

capitalism under the rule of bad governance has led to this,and they (the politicians),have been heavily involved with the banksters(hence the bailing out of these legitimate criminals)..

V4V,

by ollie

Tue Sep 21, 2010 14:44

joemcivor at gmail dot com

I agree with most of what you say about the government . I do think though that those who constantly go on about “this Fianna Fail government “ tend to bolster the parliamentary illusions that lead to apoliticisation , which in turn leaves people prey to alcoholism ,drug abuse etc. .”If only we could get rid of Fianna Fail then we could start tackling the problems , so let’s give FG or Labour or whatever a try - anything but Fiannaa Fail ” . Isn’t that the sort of talk you’d expect to hear from somebody sitting on a barstool with one eye on the huge TV screen on the wall?

My own view is that the breakdown of capitalism is threatening the future of society ,and that the masses of people who have previously "left politics to the politicians" must now urgently start becoming political themselves , and consciously begin directing and controling the course of political events . Many expert reports have shown that self-harm ,and problems associated with alcohol and other drug abuse are are drastically increasing because of the economic recession and the bail-out of the banks at the expense of society . The video was well made , and the issue it raises are extremely important My objection is not to the critical portrayal of Cowen as a drunk , but to the reaction of people to the video and the performance – “keep em coming, we need the laughs, after all its the best, (and in this country probably the only), medicine” . People should not be laughing about this . After they’ve had a good cry they should start organizing ,planning etc.

“the weapon of criticism cannot be a substitute for the criticism of weapons” ……marx

Are Fianna Fail themselves laughing at drunks?

Mon Sep 20, 2010 22:28

"Sorry to sound like a killjoy, but people shouldn't in my opinion laugh at drunks. Drunks are tragic not funny . Alcohol is a dangerous addictive drug for a lot of people"

Well sales of cheap drink from supermarkets became the norm under Fianna Fail. Many believe this is largely to blame for the widespread abuse of drink among the next generation of young people and among the poor. Between the easy availibility of cheap booze thanks to Fianna Fail and the bad public example given by parents and those in the spotlight in public life, We are creating a generation of alcoholics. Also, Fianna Fail refuse to reduce the blood alcohol level in drivers to zero because of lobbying.

Lenihan cynically reduced the price of drink whilst bailing out the banks, as if to say "stay drunk while we rob you, you stupid drunken bastards ".

Give it a break

Mon Sep 20, 2010 20:11

How many families in Ireland haven't been touched by the consequences of Fianna Fail!

please don't laugh at drunks

by Ollie

Mon Sep 20, 2010 18:14

Sorry to sound like a killjoy, but people shouldn't in my opinion laugh at drunks. Drunks are tragic not funny . Alcohol is a dangerous addictive drug for a lot of people : it is a depressant that has wrecked too many good lives . How many families in Ireland haven't been touched by the consequences of alcohol abuse?

gone too far

by sick and tired

Mon Sep 20, 2010 00:08

I find traveling 5 hours once every week to have my child attend hospital going"too far"

im sorry?

by hennessey

Sun Sep 19, 2010 18:42

brian cowen deserves a drink if that's what he wants..even if it was the night before..who hasn't had a sip of the good stuff the night before.?
The current finance minister brian lenihan is trying to wipe up the mess that was previously made by charlie mcreevy and the banks and outside investment companies asking us to invest,i know one person who lost about 20,000 on some bad investments and they knew what was coming,the only people who knew about the financial crisis were those in the know,not folk like you or me,we will believe anything the most popular media pr's will put out there,and whos agenda their running..
Most irish people blindly vote fianna fail,eventhough they know about bertie and the ways they run things,and i won't be one bit suprised to see people that will vote for what they think they know,i think a co alition with fine gael and sinn fein would be a better alternative to having the same old political heavy weights,having the stronghold,most who enter those parties are in there for one reason money and good benefits.
bertie ahern is the real culprit and some fianna fail back benchers still hanging in there,and what about charlie mcreevy and the banks the real culprits in all this?

great

by stuff

Sun Sep 19, 2010 18:20

keep em coming, we need the laughs, after all its the best, (and in this country probably the only), medicine.

It Comes With The Territory

by children_of_lir

Sun Sep 19, 2010 16:13

Political satire comes with the territory.

Private Eye, Punch magazine ...

by garglegate

Sun Sep 19, 2010 11:09

Maybe he should have though of his family when he decided to go on the radio so, er, hoarse.

Over the top

by Rhona

Sun Sep 19, 2010 10:07

I'm by no means a FF supporter and recognise the damage they have done to the country,however I find a lot of the content on this blog has gone too far,especially the photos and videos.Remember this man is after all only human,no ones perfect,think of his family.

Garglegate continues to pour scorn on the Life Of Brian .

by Petra .

Sun Sep 19, 2010 06:29

Well the proof of the pudding is just days away when we are invited to celebrate Arthurs Day , as Arthurs Day falls on a
hungry thursday when Brian never bothers both his browns to show up for the Dilly Dally Dail and usually goes on the razz
iv a wednesday until the cows come home , maybe he might confuse the hacks & delay his knee's up whilst singing like a
true Fianna Failure between his quota of the black stuff & forgetting how to run the country as he usually manages to do ;

The Demon Drink has always been at the back of politics in Ireland , in this particular Watergate / Garglegate we are
never so close to the old saying as we are now ..We are definitley between a rock & a hard place if ever we were , the
electorate of Ireland have at long last reason to thank The Demon Drink for exposing the inept amateurs who profess to
looking after our daily bread 24 / 7 , time for a change folks , of course it is ...Burp , excuse moi .

poor diddums...they're making fun of him

Sat Sep 18, 2010 01:12

"These 'pictures' are cruel and offensive and must cause great hurt to Brian Cowen's family. No matter what one thinks of Brian Cowen the publication of these 'pictures' cannot be justified - they should be removed immediately."

I find the trolley waiting times in A&E or people dying while waiting for operations or scans far more offensive than a few mocking pictures of an incompetent fat man who CHOOSES to work in public life for a HUGE salary greater than that of the US president posted by an Irate public who feel powerless to get rid of this man and his cronies who are hell bent on rescuing their rich friends and lining their pockets before the ship sinks and before they are eventually ousted.

At least a bit of street theatre is all he has to worry about.Unlike the people he and his cronies have sentenced to economic oblivion.

Fianna Failure .

by Sceptic - None whatsoever .

Fri Sep 17, 2010 21:41

Fianna Failure family ,ure ideals ,ure hopes and ure Self Esteem .

Fine work

by anarchaideologist

Fri Sep 17, 2010 19:04

well done on video .

Thank you

by Madam k

Fri Sep 17, 2010 14:20

Thank you to the peolple of Dublin for their generosity on Wednesday,and the fact Brian didn`t get the shit kicked out of him .

Here is another fine contribution to the issue .

Caption: Video Id: n6DzJIJtkPU Type: Youtube Video
Brian Cowen Drunk

Cowen pictures

by Sean O Riain

Fri Sep 17, 2010 13:55

These 'pictures' are cruel and offensive and must cause great hurt to Brian Cowen's family. No matter what one thinks of Brian Cowen the publication of these 'pictures' cannot be justified - they should be removed immediately.

If I had thought Indymedia would publish such pictures, I would not have made the (small) financial contribution to you that I made in recent days.

I am not a member of any political party. I have over the years taken part in many protests (Shell, war, Middle East, disability) and have been actively involved in homeless, Traveller, asylum, death penalty issues.

Fianna failing miserably

by Mise Tara 7

Fri Sep 17, 2010 13:21

Fianna Failng miserably to live in real world .

We are all paying for the indulgences of this company of fools,time to sack them.

The video is worth watching even if it is at times "below the belt".

"I'm Sorry!" Drunk With Brian Cowen in Dublin - Video

by Seán Ryan

Thu Sep 16, 2010 22:42

Shell To Sea: http://www.shelltosea.com/

Shannon Watch: http://www.shannonwatch.org/

Save Tara: http://savetara.com/

Madam K's Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/madamk

RoaringAndShouting: http://roaringandshouting.wordpress.com/

Vimeo Channel: http://vimeo.com/seanryan