Ciaran Cannon is the new leader of the Progressive Democrats - you might have heard of them. They promised a radical break from Civil War politics, and a bright new agenda for Ireland. Since their initial peak in 1987, the party has declined consistently ever since, and with the elevation of Senator Cannon, it’s hard to see that fall stopping. Indeed, as a west of Ireland politician whose fellow Galway TD has flirted with Fianna Fáil, it’s hard to see how the PDs could genuinely believe he is their saviour. If pragmatic idealism was the hallmark of the party founders, then the only objective conclusion to draw from their current state is that it’s time they concluded.

As for Cannon himself - he comes across well in the media. He’s a competent speaker and will be a new face for his party. However, his rise would be considered meteoric if it wasn’t for the lack of major interest in his new position. He was first elected as a councillor in 2004, and this mandate is his only electoral success. He polled around 3,300 votes in last year’s general election, which was a little under 6%. His new position as leader of a national party, must therefore be unprecedented.

Over at P.ie, a poster FakeViking described Cannon’s close victory as “the lesser of two nobodies”. It reminded me of the West Wing speech that Will and Toby brainstormed on the elevation of ‘Bingo’ Bob Russell to the Vice Presidency - a rise they saw as the triumph of mediocrity. Here’s what they said - see if you can change some names for the same result…..

In a triumph of the middling, a nod to mediocrity, and with gorge rising, it gives me great nausea to announce Robert Russell — Bingo Bob, himself — as your new Vice President. This lapdog of the mining interests is as dull as he is unremarkable; as lackluster as he is soporific; this reversion to the mean; this rebuke to the exemplary; gives hope to the millions unfavored by the exceptional.

Bob Russell: not the worst, not the best, just what we’re stuck with.

Too true.