Vanishing Act
What a man, what an image, what a forceful personality: integrity and intelligence personified. Only...where is the substance? Where are the hidden treasures of political skill and keen intellect that we've been assured are there. Yet to be uncovered. They dwell deep and dark in the pallid persona of Stephane Dion, he who was selected to lead the Liberal Party of Canada out of its well-earned dungeon of disgrace and dishonour.
Former (unlamented) Prime Minister Jean Chretien has written in his latest pulp fiction account of his life in the high seat of Parliament that he thought ofStephane as one would a son, he groomed him as his successor, as the best and the brightest, as one worthy to ascend the throne Mr. Chretien had finally absented himself from. As much as Canadians could rely on the good judgement and excellent character of one - can they the other.
At each and every step along the way to solidly assuming the mantle of head of the Liberal Party, as Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons, Mr. Dion's shrill accusations and denouncing pyrotechnics have resounded hollowly, mirroring his past record and past associations. From Kyoto to Quebec sovereignty, from Canadian troops in Afghanistan, to Canada's anti-terrorism legislation, hischittering arousal to meet and defeat have garnered him little support.
In fact, his hysterical hyperbole in demanding of the current, Conservative-led government that it live up to the standards imposed upon Canada by the previous, Liberal-led government ring tinny and flaccid. Much like Mr. Dion's own aspirational plans for his future as prime minister of this country. He has succeeded in alienating an already-doubting public, and has been dropping support left and centre in his own inner circle of confreres.
Mr. Dion's resurgent Liberal Party of Canada is, according to the former vice-president of the party's Quebec wing, "imploding". Three important by-election losses in Quebec for starters. And more resignations than anyone might concede a sanctimoniously naive academic could muster in his own defeat. Where Jean Chretien's arrogantly scandal-ridden government was the architect of its own defeat,Stephane Dion's abrupt fall from grace has gone one better.
Where, now, is the shining new Liberal Party? In deep dudgeon, that's where. Rather than rebuild the climate of trust so wasted by his predecessor, he has ably engendered a climate of disdain, for his pathetic attempts to re-shape Canadian policy to better reflect his own ineptitude on the national and the world stage. And in record time, too.
When, despite the poor showing in Quebec and the promise inherent in his election as party leader, he simply accelerated the disenchantment with the Liberal Party amongQuebecers , he ably demonstrated he could even widen the fault line by abandoning loyal and charismatic Quebec Liberal electoral candidates by neglect and disdain, resulting in their withdrawal and bitter criticism of this pretense of a leader.
Then came the national party's executive director's resignation; all the bitter in-fighting, the ultra sensitivities of Quebec members seeking to augment control of direction, and tarnishing any semblance of working together in harmony; an absurd sham. The latest step-down in support for this seriously-decision-challenged leader is the loss of his Quebec lieutenant.
Looks as though voters in Quebec are regarding the current government far more favourably than self-immolating Liberal wannabes. Now there's the challenge of the Throne Speech setting out the new Conservative-led agenda. There's a hard place for the embattled and obviously confused Liberal leader. Lead the charge to contest the agenda and he topples the minority government.
As though Prime Minister Stephen Harper isn't already enjoying himself more than anyone might have predicted a mere year ago. How much crow is Mr. Dion prepared to stuff down his craw to prevent an election that promises to bring in a majority Conservative government?
This man of letters, of great integrity and promise for the future. Tch!
Former (unlamented) Prime Minister Jean Chretien has written in his latest pulp fiction account of his life in the high seat of Parliament that he thought ofStephane as one would a son, he groomed him as his successor, as the best and the brightest, as one worthy to ascend the throne Mr. Chretien had finally absented himself from. As much as Canadians could rely on the good judgement and excellent character of one - can they the other.
At each and every step along the way to solidly assuming the mantle of head of the Liberal Party, as Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons, Mr. Dion's shrill accusations and denouncing pyrotechnics have resounded hollowly, mirroring his past record and past associations. From Kyoto to Quebec sovereignty, from Canadian troops in Afghanistan, to Canada's anti-terrorism legislation, hischittering arousal to meet and defeat have garnered him little support.
In fact, his hysterical hyperbole in demanding of the current, Conservative-led government that it live up to the standards imposed upon Canada by the previous, Liberal-led government ring tinny and flaccid. Much like Mr. Dion's own aspirational plans for his future as prime minister of this country. He has succeeded in alienating an already-doubting public, and has been dropping support left and centre in his own inner circle of confreres.
Mr. Dion's resurgent Liberal Party of Canada is, according to the former vice-president of the party's Quebec wing, "imploding". Three important by-election losses in Quebec for starters. And more resignations than anyone might concede a sanctimoniously naive academic could muster in his own defeat. Where Jean Chretien's arrogantly scandal-ridden government was the architect of its own defeat,Stephane Dion's abrupt fall from grace has gone one better.
Where, now, is the shining new Liberal Party? In deep dudgeon, that's where. Rather than rebuild the climate of trust so wasted by his predecessor, he has ably engendered a climate of disdain, for his pathetic attempts to re-shape Canadian policy to better reflect his own ineptitude on the national and the world stage. And in record time, too.
When, despite the poor showing in Quebec and the promise inherent in his election as party leader, he simply accelerated the disenchantment with the Liberal Party amongQuebecers , he ably demonstrated he could even widen the fault line by abandoning loyal and charismatic Quebec Liberal electoral candidates by neglect and disdain, resulting in their withdrawal and bitter criticism of this pretense of a leader.
Then came the national party's executive director's resignation; all the bitter in-fighting, the ultra sensitivities of Quebec members seeking to augment control of direction, and tarnishing any semblance of working together in harmony; an absurd sham. The latest step-down in support for this seriously-decision-challenged leader is the loss of his Quebec lieutenant.
Looks as though voters in Quebec are regarding the current government far more favourably than self-immolating Liberal wannabes. Now there's the challenge of the Throne Speech setting out the new Conservative-led agenda. There's a hard place for the embattled and obviously confused Liberal leader. Lead the charge to contest the agenda and he topples the minority government.
As though Prime Minister Stephen Harper isn't already enjoying himself more than anyone might have predicted a mere year ago. How much crow is Mr. Dion prepared to stuff down his craw to prevent an election that promises to bring in a majority Conservative government?
This man of letters, of great integrity and promise for the future. Tch!
Labels: Crisis Politics, Government of Canada
posted by Pieface | 5:42 PM
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