Guess who?
Who was it who urged Edwina Hart to go for the Labour leadership and pledged he would "do everything I can to make sure she is the next First Minister" ..?
Who was it who answered steely-eyed and with utter confidence when asked if she could win it, "Oh she will win it" ..?
It was, of course, Andrew Davies - AM for Swansea West, the Finance Minister and the sole politician who can sound enthusiastic about Local Service Boards.
Who has now announced that he's standing down as AM for Swansea West at the next Assembly elections? You guessed it.
The reselection process in Swansea West kicks off in January and Mr Davies won't be going for it. The cabinet 'reselection process' is, of course, more pressing. There were rumours aplenty that Mr Davies would jump before he was pushed from the table and he's gone.
Perhaps going of his own accord and putting out statements in which Rhodri Morgan praises his "legendary skills" and Professor David Warner of Swansea Metropolitan University writes that "this is a lucky day for some organisation which snaps him up" make it rather easier to walk into another job. Perhaps having a life - and yes, he has one, that involves a love of (taking) long walks and (watching) modern dance - feels like no bad thing after a heart scare last year.
Either way, he's off.
So how many Labour AMs have said they're planning to stand down come 2011?
I make it 8: Rhodri Morgan, Karen Sinclair, Jayne Davidson, Lorraine Barrett, Brian Gibbons, Irene James ,Val Lloyd ... and now Andrew Davies.
An extremely switched on Labour man whispered in my ear the other night that three prominent valleys MPs are planning to stand down at the General Election but are yet to say so. Perhaps they're afraid of being accused of joining the ranks of Peter Hain's quitters, not fighters. Remember his Brighton conference speech? "I mean do we really, really want to win?"
The same little bird made the point that when they go, there 'ought to be' all women shortlists in their constituencies. The thought of the mayhem that would cause brought tears to his eyes. He was laughing - at least I think he was.
I'm Betsan Powys, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Wales' political editor. I'll be blogging the inside track on .
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