MEDIA WATCH: Dick Walsh on how UK Sunday papers advised voters here
No marks for knowing that it was the Irish Independent which advised its readers, in a front-page editorial to vote for the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrat coalition in the 1997 general election.
The headline, "Payback Time", referred to the tax cuts which the Coalition duly delivered, though at what cost many are only now beginning to realise.
But which newspaper, in the present campaign, published a front-page editorial headed "Back Bertie" and referred to itself as a "critical pal" and urged "its family of readers to vote in the only way possible this Friday: for Ahern - the man for all Ireland - and for Fianna Fáil"?
Here's a clue. The "critical pal" with the cosy tone and a "family of readers" dismisses the Opposition but is greatly impressed by Sinn Féin, which does a better job than FG and Labour and ran an "excellent" campaign against the Nice Treaty.
The News of the World is not Bertie's only pal among the tabloids, though at first blush the Irish Sunday People seems to ask only that you vote. Its red-nosed clown on page one is accompanied by the question: "Would YOU trust a useless clown like this to run Ireland? If you don't vote on Friday we could all look like fools." Inside, the message continues: "This is the clown you will get as Taoiseach if you FAIL to vote on Friday. Which is why YOUR vote is vital. Because if you do not vote, you are voting for Michael Noonan."
There's a full page in the Sunday People about "Numbskull" Noonan, his "Fine Gael troupe of failed circus acts" and his side-kick Ruairí Quinn, who is "completely out of touch with the needs of Irish workers".
The Sunday Times, whose political staff has had a longer, harder look at Ahern and FF than their cross-channel neighbours, are not so sure. Noting that more FF supporters would prefer to see the party in coalition than in government alone, the Times's editorial says: "The knowledge that a majority of their own voters are only prepared to offer conditional support must pain those who have sought to put clear blue water between today's party and its errant predecessor. In an election that has struggled to find a theme there is no more telling statistic."
The Sunday Mirror asks: "What makes [the] Government stand out and deserve our support for a second term?" And answers: "We have to admit quite a lot, but so much has been achieved as record tax revenues flowed into the Treasury Building's coffers.
"That will not last forever. So it will take a government of nerve and skill to lead the country for the next five years. We think Bertie Ahern deserves the job - but not alone. . . For the sake of democracy it is essential that Bertie has to rely on someone else to stay in the Taoiseach's office."
For the sake of democracy, too, it is essential that media should be free and the relationship between government and media should be open and transparent.