Political lessons in hard-boiled realism of country and western stars

POLITICIANS take advice from spin-doctors, pollsters, psychologists, football team managers and business leaders.

They never take advice from country music. They try to keep as far away from country music as possible, seeing country music as the uncool anthem of rednecks driving pickup trucks.

Which is why the description by a former leader of some of his dissidents as the Country and Western branch of Fianna Fáil was such a stinger. If you're busting your gizzard to define yourself by your Armani suit, Prada shoes and Gucci bag, being lumped in with that C&W lot must be like going through a red light right in front of a squad car.