Taoiseach’s speech - Is this the best we can hope for?

WAS that really Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s best shot at confronting the greatest economic and social crisis to threaten this country?

Was that really his best shot at allaying the fears of the tens of thousands who have lost jobs in recent weeks and months? Was that really his best shot at convincing thousands worried about job security, mortgages and vanishing pensions that they could retain some degree of optimism?

Was that really his best shot at convincing us that he and his government have the tenacity and vision needed to even imagine a route to recovery?