Appeasement with a soupcon of Contempt

For a presumed intellectual Michael Ignatieff doesn't appear to be using his grey matter to good effect. Or is this an indication of his incapacities? Can he really believe in his silly little conceits that his harrumphing and shrill demands reflect on him as leadership material? Is it possible that he somehow began to pattern himself after the febrile mannerisms and maladroit methods of his predecessor?

What exactly does he hope to persuade Canadians with in these futile and adolescent attempts at social-political blackmail? Isn't it more useful for a leader of the official opposition to position himself as one who is capable of measured and intelligent responses to situations rather than hysterical outbursts and absurd posturing as though his persona as a leader-in-waiting is sufficient to carry the day?

When the country has undergone the weary exercise of going to the polls no fewer than four times in five years, the last time a mere eight months earlier, can anyone take this man seriously when he coyly hints at having the righteous inclination to bring the country to another election? And when he's reminded of the absurdity of such a proposition at this time, he hurriedly reassures all that he has no such intention.

So which is it? And why, during this time of national duress when the country is staggering under the weight of the stimulus package, when unemployment is high and growing ever higher, when uncertainty looms large with the manufacturing sector hit hard and impacting on all of the country, has he chosen to put pressure on a government doings its best to cope?

The Liberal tinkering with unemployment insurance which brought us a far lesser employment insurance package, and which the Liberal government looted of its excess for general purposes is the one that the Liberal leader now blames the Conservative government for not updating, but doing so in a manner that would please Liberal demands.

The unfortunate contretemps with medical isotopes and Canada's ageing reactors cannot be solved overnight. The $22.7-billion stimulus package is being disbursed, but if the money were handed out without adequate safeguards for its legitimacy of use, the Liberals would be screeching bloody murder. The Conservative government is granting millions to nuclear upgrading; planning to make EI more inclusive; all of which takes time.

At a time when Prime Minister Stephen Harper is tackling the misery of a floundering economy, attempting to be responsive to the needs of Canadians at this signal time of financial duress, does the country really need him to be diverted by the silly antics of a man whose enthusiasm for himself as prime minister impels him to juvenile tactics?

We have, on the one hand, a prime minister imbued with a steely resolve to stay on course, and bring the country out of its temporary financial blight, and on the other a lip-pursed egotist who believes he should be in the driver's seat. Mr. Harper has been forced to treat with Mr. Ignatieff as one would a whining child; with patience and forbearance.

Several meetings one-on-one, a few concessions and pacification of the pouting child, and what, precisely, has been gained? Mr. Ignatieff has pontificated and strutted the stage, and in the process has managed to once again diminish himself.