Whatever is Michael McDowell up to? The manner of the publicising of his blueprint for regeneration of the Progressive Democrats has bewildered many observers. Did he really expect the PDs to stomach his plan to transform them into the Radical Party with himself as chief executive? The consensus in here is that he succeeded only in damaging the PDs and to some extent himself.
The other conviction is that he has contrived to make the PDs an offer they had to refuse. The result is that he is now a free man, available for transfer to the highest bidder. All are agreed that Michael does not suffer from self-doubt. Further, he would find it a wrench to abandon politics, as his conduct as Attorney General demonstrates.
If he wants to stay in politics, and he passionately does, his options are problematic. The damage inflicted, probably unintentionally, on the PDs and their unanimous rejection of his plan for regeneration mean return to the fold seems unlikely. In any event, running as the PD standard bearer in Dublin South-East is no guarantee of a return to Dail Eireann.
The tide has gone out on the PDs and John Gormley, foolishly thrown out of the Dail this week, is probably not for moving. Nobody can foresee Michael McDowell, Independent TD, taking his seat between Tony Gregory and Mildred Fox on the backbenches.
It is unthinkable, given his pedigree, that McDowell would join Fianna Fail. Notwithstanding Bertie Ahern and his Attorney General being reportedly very best friends, McDowell would be too bitter a pill for the Soldiers of Destiny on the backbenches to swallow. The more substantial obstacle in his path to Fianna Fail is the family tree.
That leaves him with a straight choice: return to the PDs or return to Fine Gael. Both may be unpalatable for different reasons but at least he can be certain that Fine Gael will exist after the general election.
McDowell's pedigree and qualities may recommend him to the burghers of Dun Laoghaire, where his former colleague, Senator Helen Keogh, is reported not to be registering in Fine Gael polls. Eating humble pie is not the Attorney's regular fare but, after this week's debacle, his options have narrowed.
In fact, McDowell's prescription for the PDs is not to Drapier's mind the madcap idea so derided by virtually all commentators. He is plugging into the undoubted fragmentation of politics that is out there. Notwithstanding the banter in the Dail about McDowell abandoning Adam Smith for La Ciccolina, the Italian Radical Party MP, his formula could offer a lifeline to the no longer fashionable small niche party that is the PDs.
However, it is the implication that McDowell's formula means taking on board every ragtag and bobtail around the State that so amuses those who vividly recall the former harder ideological McDowell.
It was Liz McManus of Labour, in a couple of courageous interviews, who highlighted another issue that will also test the mettle and consistency of the Attorney General. According to Ms McManus, we are hurtling towards yet another abortion referendum and most members of both Houses are beginning to resign themselves to yet another painful, unnecessary and divisive battle.
The letters and specially produced postcards are pouring in every week now. Liz McManus is a member of Brian Lenihan's Committee on the Constitution and apparently accepts that notwithstanding their deliberations, Bertie Ahern will bend the knee to Mildred Fox and senior citizens Jackie Healy-Rae, Harry Blaney and the somewhat more youthful Tom Gildea.
Anyway, Bertie had already pledged a referendum and it will be McDowell's task to frame it so as to win over the antiabortion campaigners. Can the man who would be president of the Radical Party be complicit in visiting another impossible referendum on the people?
It seems to be Liz McManus's view that the referendum will be a phoney exercise designed to persuade the fundamentalists that an absolute ban is being enshrined in the Constitution while doing nothing of the kind. The terms of reference likely to be given to McDowell will require him to excise or narrow the suicide option while not interfering with current medical practice.
Even if Michael McDowell must come up with an amendment probably accompanied by legislation, surely it will finally undermine the PDs if Mary Harney facilitates such a referendum? The other Liz, O'Donnell that is, is also a member of the Committee on the Constitution but so far has kept a buttoned lip. Will she stand by the Republic or will she and Harney plunge the State into another divisive campaign? One can imagine the tenor of speeches if Harney, McDowell and O'Donnell were on the Opposition benches!
The PDs would already seem to have bitten their lip on the "Bertiestade" for Abbotstown, a frolic that will cost the taxpayer half a billion pounds. During his slash and cut days, McDowell would have consigned the author of such a folly to the stocks. Nowadays, it seems to be that whatever Bertie wants, Bertie gets.
Meanwhile, the Liam Lawlor circus continues. There was a palpable nervousness in Fianna Fail circles on Tuesday when word began to circulate that Lawlor would be holding a press conference in Buswells Hotel.
There he seemed to say that the court's veto on the Flood tribunal excavating beyond 1964 was a considerable victory and that his date with Mr Justice Flood was an occasion to which he looked forward. The significance of the 1964 barrier is hard to understand unless he felt the tribunal might examine any possible connections to Lee Harney Oswald. However, he now seems headed for the Supreme Court, which he is perfectly entitled to do.