One rarely gets to witness a major political career imploding. It’s not a pretty sight, as evidenced by the footage of a floundering Bertie Ahern attempting to deal with journalists’ questions about a fee (or was it a gift?) he received for “promoting Ireland” at a mysterious gathering of business people in Manchester. (Click here to view.)The phrase “flop sweat” comes to mind after watching such a performance. One almost feels sympathy. Almost.So, if you’re reading in Ireland, make sure you’re on the electoral roll. You might be asked to visit your local polling station before Christmas.Incidentally, Bertie claimed his address to this unknown group of fans was “unscripted.” Now that really begins to test the outer limits of plausibility–I mean, what person in their right mind would pay a large sum of money to listen to Bertie Ahern–graduate of the George W. Bush school of oratory–give an off-the-cuff lecture on the macroeconomic situtation in Ireland?