Campaign Awaiting Coronation

This is most decidedly not a coronation. And any who claim it to be such obviously have no awareness of the fine points of democracy. Which requires, needless to point out, debating forums, a slate of candidates to stage those debates, a series of cross-country pre-election tours, the luring of the electorate to one candidate's side -- oops that should be plural, not singular, of course -- and the elections themselves bringing to office the most intelligent, experienced, capable candidate.

Liberal party leadership candidates Joyce Murray, Justin Trudeau, Marc Garneau, David Bertschi, Martha Hall Findlay, Deborah Coyne, Karen McCrimmon, George Takach and Martin Cauchon at the end of the Liberal Party of Canada 'Davos-style' question-and-answer session in Winnipeg, Saturday, February 2, 2013. (John Woods/The Canadian Press)

And all is well. Except when a popular tide of celebrity worship ensues and all candidates but one fade into the background, while the singular star performer allows his massive number of fervent supporters to bask in the glory of his name, his fame, his mane. The public knows what it likes and it knows what it wants. Beauty contest or political election, what, actually is the difference if the prize is handed out on a silver salver?

To match the silver spoon in the candidate's mouth, as it were.

This is the era, in case it has escaped anyone's notice, of social media. Where in an instant flying thumbs keyboard a message swifting through the ether to devoted fans; the equivalent in coarser times of the thumbs-up approval given to jousting gladiators seeking to avoid death and dismemberment, vastly preferring to live another day, to be crowned victor.

Liberal leadership candidate Justin Trudeau made a rare appearance in the House of Commons on Thursday.   Photograph by: Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press , Postmedia News

We speak, of course, of the federal Liberal Party of Canada leadership race. That it represents a race is a delusional figment of anyone's imagination. It always has been a coronation. Despite which doughty representatives of the Liberal Party, confusing the message, have entered the rink, carelessly blowing away $75,000 of someone's money in the process.

Imagine, if you will, a rocket scientist, yes a rocket scientist, an inventor, a astronaut, a one-time highly respected-and-remunerated bureaucrat presenting himself, his scientific mind, his vast experience, as a candidate. He obviously doesn't believe in anointing someone to the role, it is too important to the venerable party, and for the country, since there is always the very real possibility that such a leader will become the Prime Minister of Canada.

"The leadership of the Liberal party is too important a position to be handed to an untested candidate who is hiding behind a carefully crafted public-relations campaign", opined Marc Garneau, candidate for the Liberal party. Substance and experience, that's what matters. Who would disagree, it is so needfully logical?

Why, surprise, the very same Marc Garneau, vetting the numbers and seeing his chances coming up short did the rational, albeit hugely disappointing thing, and withdrew  his candidacy. Now, he warmly, enthusiastically applauds Justin Trudeau's "great public-relations campaign".