Back To School

"I'm a schoolteacher. That's the way I chose to engage with the world. A good teacher understands the needs of his students and knows how to make them successful. I'm not the least bit interested in success for success's sake. That's the difference between me and other politicians. For Jean Chretien, it was all about the game. But if it's all about the game, I should be teaching class or putting my kids to bed. I don't need money, fame or accolades to prove something to the ghost of my father or the history books."
"I had to learn to read who is genuine and who is not. I understand political machinations in daily life ... it requires me to understand people driven by a self oriented quest for power versus someone genuinely in it with a real vision.
"Look at Stephen Harper. He started out with a clear vision --- I didn't agree with it, but there were actions he wanted to take. Now, decisions are about hanging on to power. For me, that's my biggest single challenge. The question is not: 'Do I have what it takes to lead?' It's 'Do I have what it takes not to fall into that trap?'"
"I'm more gregarious than my father and Stephen Harper. But vast swathes of people have disliked me my whole life. If I worried about that I'd have crumbled before now. I've had to distance myself from people who like me and who don't like me."
Justin Trudeau, Liberal Party of Canada leadership contender

If it is the schoolteacher persona that personifies the best possible option for reaching people and convincing them that the schoolteacher of the moment represents the best possible choice for leader of the Liberal Party and conceivably the next prime minister of Canada, then we have the very recent past to consider.

When the Liberal Party convinced itself that Michael Ignatieff, a university professor, author, human rights specialist, and world traveler offered his experience and political vision for the country. When the Liberal Party chose the earnest academic Stephane Dion, a cosmopolitan steeped in political science and a vision of environmental messaging for the country did his sincere utmost to convince the electorate.

These two men, candidates for the position of prime minister of Canada, both failed in their mission; their 'schoolteacher' personas did not resonate with the public, despite their earnestness, passion and resolute determination to succeed. And they had what Justin Trudeau does not have; experience, intelligence political vision and a dedication to advancing the Canadian weal.

But those tho contenders lacked what Justin Trudeau obviously has in attraction value to the public that responds to the aura of celebrity, of that vaunted, overworked personality element called charisma. His public charm, thespian ease and ability to win people over represents his outstanding qualification for public office, and represents his own view of himself as leadership material.

Beneath the facade of a gregarious personality, though?

He speaks of having the ability to discipline himself to have the judgement to halt a descent into a trap of once having achieved power, surrendering all values to ensure the grasp on power remains unassailable, a surrender he attributes now to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Overlooking in the process that the Prime Minister has governed well, well enough to leapfrog two minority governments into a majority government.

Mr. Harper not only had a vision, he had defined priorities for the country and has spent his years at the helm of government in shaping Canada toward that vision. What vision has Mr. Trudeau articulated apart from sympathizing with the 'plight' of the Canadian middle class?  With an eye to ensuring that they remain well employed, perhaps recommending they launch themselves on a speaking circuit so they can charge tens of thousands to charitable institutions?

He expounds on 'doing politics differently', and if he means without a clearly articulated plan, proposals and agendas that people can identify with, then he most certainly is doing politics differently. Doing them his way, in any event.