Drapier: Commentators talk such waffle about how electoral success these days has more to do with the personalities of party leaders than their policies. Sure, style is important, but it's no substitute for substance
A case in point is the fact that Fine Gael's prospects of dethroning Bertie rely considerably more on the extent to which voters trust the party's ability to manage the economy than on whether Enda Kenny can trump the Taoiseach's cute dimple smile and take over the role of Ireland's housewife's choice.
Given the comprehensive dismantling of FG's credibility on the economy during the last general election campaign, this is a big ask. But finance spokesman Richard Bruton - who's only now fully emerging in the party from the big shadow cast by his big brother - is giving serious signals that he's up to the job.
During recent months an increasingly assertive Bruton has regularly displayed a dual talent - so rare in Leinster House - for intellectual depth while at the same time being able to get the message across.
Indeed, his recent policy document, Who Cares?, is such an authoritative critique of what he characterises as a high-spending, low-efficiency Government overrun by bureaucrats that it's being hailed in some quarters as the party's best policy statement since The Just Society.
It also puts FG where Bruton is most comfortable - slap-bang in the radical centre - which is the best place for the party to be in the wake of the recent leftward repositioning of FF.
It's safe to say that FF are going to be jostling for a piece of this ground back before too long.
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Meanwhile, another interesting repositioning exercise might be on the cards.
Drapier has long-recognised the mutual respect shared by Mary Harney and Enda Kenny, but lately the Tánaiste seems to be going a little out of her way to maintain good relations.
It may be simple things like referring to her political opponent as a "caring person" on the floor of the House, or acknowledging that FG's new health spokesman, Dr Liam Twomey, had originally proposed the introduction of doctor-only medical cards. But in the highly competitive atmosphere of Leinster House, such comfort is rarely offered. The question now is, should we read anything more into it?
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Far be it from Drapier to question the strategic capabilities of the most cunning of them all, but is Bertie missing a trick on the north side of Dublin of all places?
The massive popularity of FF's biggest local election vote-getter anywhere in the country, Deirdre Heney, appears likely to be squandered to keep others sweet in the great tactician's back yard.
Heney, who achieved her stunning 6,000 first-preference election result with a canvassing team containing virtually no FF members, appears certain to be muscled out of Dublin North Central by the formidable pairing of Sean Haughey and Ivor Callely. The trouble is that, despite being close to landing a third FF seat there last time, the constituency is being reduced to a three-seater.
With Cyprian Brady now assuming the role of Bertie's heir-apparent from his brother, Royston, in Dublin Central, the only other available avenue to the Dáil for Heney lies in Dublin North East where Michael Woods is retiring and she could run alongside Martin Brady.
However, having a candidate who's never been a deputy with a running mate who is not among FF's most formidable vote-getters in a constituency where Sinn Féin is mounting a seemingly irresistible challenge is hardly an ideal scenario.
But maybe Drapier can give Bertie a dig out with an alternative strategy. If Ivor Callely could be prevailed upon to migrate to North East with his mighty political machine, FF would be in with a great shout of holding both seats and beating off the Sinners into the bargain.
Heney could then step into his shoes in North Central where she is a proven performer, and the Taoiseach could yet again be hailed as the greatest political schemer of our time. There's only one snag. Would anyone be brave enough to tell Ivor?
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The political parties are slowly beginning to focus on the upcoming by-election. Following the withdrawal from the field of the great political warhorse John Farrelly, Shane McEntee, brother of GAA giant Gerry, is standing in Meath for FG. It's a safe FF seat, but Drapier's bookmaker reports a trickle of shrewd money for the Blueshirts.
Meanwhile, Kildare North looks most likely to provide a Labour win, especially if they can get Emmet Stagg's renowned electoral machine working for their candidate.
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In the week that is in it, the latest update on the Government's decentralisation plans can't pass without comment. Drapier would have liked to have been a fly on the Cabinet wall when Ministers Coughlan and Cullen realised that the decentralisation train Tom Parlon told us was leaving the station no longer included stops in Donegal and Waterford.
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Now that Cabinet membership has imposed a requirement on Willie O'Dea to at least try and assume a more statesmanlike demeanour, the big question is who is going to take over his long-held role as FF's Official Rottweiler?
An exhaustive trawl through FF's recent press releases has revealed a disappointing dearth of contenders for this heavyweight title. At a time when the political temperature gauge is rising, vituperation levels against the opposition are alarmingly low.
In clear second place comes Billy Kelleher who has a spirited blast about "bloodthirsty Blueshirts" and lashes a "Labour Party in complete disarray".
But the winner and FF's new Willie O'Dea is, er, Willie O'Dea.
In the best of several admirable bits of bile, Willie snarls: "Labour leader Pat Rabbitte's claim to be a socialist would be funny if it didn't reveal a cynical and fraudulent political strategy." Nice one comrade.
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Speaking of press releases, the Sunday statement is a standard device used by politicians desperate for the oxygen of publicity. The basic theory is that on the slowest news day of the week, even the most inane political ramblings have a chance of being aired.
During the week one of Drapier's journalist acquaintances told a story about a current TD who is well-known for issuing his thoughts on anything from alcopops to the Argentinian economy while most people are sitting down to their Sunday lunch.
One Sunday, no release came to the newsroom of this journalist's paper. For hours the news editor waited, but still nothing. As darkness began to fall, the hacks grew so concerned they thought of asking the Garda to look in on him. Then the fax machine started to chug, they saw it was from the man himself, and they all breathed a huge sigh of relief ... "I am delighted to announce the birth of my new baby daughter."