Bertie - the master of deception

Doesn't it stink to high heaven that the Mahon Tribunal's investigation into Bertie Ahern's web-like finances was postponed for the duration of the General Election campaign so as not to "interfere" with the democratic process.
Because there was no public dissection of the cash donations Bertie received while Minister for Finance in the 1990s, the people were HOODWINKED into voting the master of deception back in for another five years.
It's all coming out in the wash now at Dublin Castle as the Tribunal details Ahern's murky financial arrangements.
£116,000 pounds in two years to a man who had NO bank account. Strange indeed?
But the startling revelations being heard at Mahon have come three weeks too late.
If the people knew BEFORE Thursday 24th May what they know now about Ahern, it is unlikely, to say the least, that he would have been re-elected.
Ahern's deceptions have now been laid bare. But Bertie doesn't care. And, astonishingly the vast majority of Irish people don't care.
Wake up you fools. Bertie's made a mockery of us all. He lied about the money he got. He cried on national TV to solicit sympathy. He even attacked the media for telling the truth.
And you bought it all.
Ah, poor Bertie, the man of the people, you collectively said. Poor, down-on-his heel Bertie. Sure he couldn't be on the take. Isn't he just like me - a mere mortal struggling to pay the mortgatge, who likes a pint and can't string a sentence together without getting in a muddle.
Hasn't he done the country proud.
He made you richer in pocket and that's all you care about.
Your message to the world when you voted Fianna Fail was: To hell with other people. I've got my SUV, my big house, my nice clean clothes and my few pints on a Friday night. To hell with other people.
Who cares about appalling public services, or a health service that puts old people on trolleys and plastic chairs for 40 hours. Couldn't care less, me. I've got my money, I'm having my fun. That's all that matters.
Who cares that I'm spending three hours a day sitting in traffic to get to work. Aren't I in a nice new 07 D?
Who cares that 20 per cent of Irish children live in constant poverty. I can eat in a fancy restaurant when I like.
In fact, I enjoy living up to my eyes in debt. I revel in not knowing any of my neighbours. I thoroughly enjoy paying through the nose to live day to day.
I don't mind that I never see my kids because both me and the wife have to work all the hours god sends just to pay the Building Society the 2,000 a month mortgage.
What do I care.
Bertie never done nothing to me.
So what if he's corrupt. So what if Fianna Fail are in the back pockets of the builders and the multinationals.
I don't care. All I care about is what's in MY pocket.
Sure, I'm corrupt to the core. So why wouldn't I vote for a corrupt party to lead the next government.
On May 24 we elected a blind man to show us the way. The next five years will be the toughest in our recent history and we chose the wrong man to lead us.
This will become apparent in the months ahead when the money in your pocket begins to dry up; when your jobs start to go east to China; when houses and cars start to be repossessed; when construction projects are abandoned because costs are too high to continue.
Youy only have yourselves to blame. You voted with your pockets, not with your hearts.
There are 78 people, led by one man, who are laughing at you all today.
Yours Truly,
The Black Dwarf
29 May, 2007