Bertie puts his best foot forward as fight for power begins

NO one can accuse the Taoiseach of being a Bertie-come-lately to the green cause; he recycled other people’s tax pledges, ideas and slogans with evangelistic zeal as Fianna Fáil tanks were ordered to roar through the freshly-cut lawns of the other parties.

The wombles of destiny were making use of things everyday political folks had left behind and Bertie the bin-man had picked-up discarded voter-friendly trinkets along the way.

A two cent tax cut from Labour, a €300 a week PD pension promise, why, he even shamelessly lifted his brand new catch phrase “The Next Steps Forward” from Margaret Thatcher.