Climbing Mount FF not for the weak

AS BEFITS the most ruthlessly efficient election-winning machine in the democratic world, getting to the top of Fianna Fáil is not for the faint-hearted.

Shaftings, burstings and routine intimidation are par for the course when the soldiers get together to decide on their destiny.

But that was bad old FF riven with factional in-fighting and snarling with naked loathing. How different will be the coronation of Brian Cowen as all his potential challengers sweetly smile to prove their party is not breaking over a succession this time around.