His Own Legend
It appears somewhat unseemly, like the proverbial blowing of one's own horn, tipping the bushel a trifle too ostentatiously to reveal the lining shining from within, but there is Michael Ignatieff, comfortably ensconced for the nonce as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, en route to the prime ministership.
Boasting of what a substantial change has overtaken public perceptions, hugely benefiting the party he represents. Well, there has been a perceptible shift in public apprehension of the Liberal Party in the last month; mostly a sigh of relief that the plaintive voice of Stephane Dion has now been stifled.
"There are people who are saying 'let's check this guy out - I used to vote Liberal'. They're coming to the door", he enthused unabashedly to his caucus and his staff at a Ottawa reception. "We have got to show them a Liberal party that likes itself. Let's put aside the fights and show them a party worthy of their trust."
Assuredly, it would appear that the Liberal party has developed a fondness for itself. Mostly for the idee fixe that has been so long ingrained in its self-consciousness that it IS the party of Canada, and as such represents the country's vitality, ideals, values and aspirations, unlike any other - all pretenders to the throne of executive and lawmaking.
No need, for the moment, of any more infighting; Bob Rae is wearily resigned to having been outmanoeuvred as leader, and the transitory nerd-figure of Stephane Dion who raised Canadian voters' disinterest toward new depths of ennui hitherto unsuspected has been summarily unseated, despite his brave efforts to remain at the helm, stumbling over one minor catastrophe after another.
Leaving Mr. Ignatieff to ride high on a new swell of public opinion. How high? Well, marginally improved from his predecessor's support, and that is to say, compared to the depths any improvement appears inordinately buoyant now, doesn't it? He can strut, he can pose, he can engage in all the boastful rhetoric he likes, but he's still that reluctant Canadian, the one who keeps altering allegiance and opinion.
Add to that the good fortune he's experienced that a newly-chastened Stephen Harper is not quite yet ready to launch another campaign questioning the leadership talents of another rival. This new prime ministerial conduct, quite befitting a leader whose major concern should be the betterment of his country's overall prospects, has hugely benefited Mr. Ignatieff-come-lately.
He's revelling in cheap shots at the government relevant to its handling of the economic downturn, as though he might react otherwise, pluck from nowhere hat-tricks of financial rescue initiatives that mightn't have occurred to the prime minister and his economic advisers: "What now? Is the government going to let Mackenzie die?" he digs provocatively in a B.C. logging town of 100% unemployment.
This man with the reputation of an intellectual - wallowing in good fortune's opportunities to avail himself of a goal for which he has had no experience, evinced little previous interest at the apprenticeship level, and whose penchant for changing his mind with respect to non-trifling issues should continue to raise the antennae of the wary - zips full speed ahead, selling his legend.
Boasting of what a substantial change has overtaken public perceptions, hugely benefiting the party he represents. Well, there has been a perceptible shift in public apprehension of the Liberal Party in the last month; mostly a sigh of relief that the plaintive voice of Stephane Dion has now been stifled.
"There are people who are saying 'let's check this guy out - I used to vote Liberal'. They're coming to the door", he enthused unabashedly to his caucus and his staff at a Ottawa reception. "We have got to show them a Liberal party that likes itself. Let's put aside the fights and show them a party worthy of their trust."
Assuredly, it would appear that the Liberal party has developed a fondness for itself. Mostly for the idee fixe that has been so long ingrained in its self-consciousness that it IS the party of Canada, and as such represents the country's vitality, ideals, values and aspirations, unlike any other - all pretenders to the throne of executive and lawmaking.
No need, for the moment, of any more infighting; Bob Rae is wearily resigned to having been outmanoeuvred as leader, and the transitory nerd-figure of Stephane Dion who raised Canadian voters' disinterest toward new depths of ennui hitherto unsuspected has been summarily unseated, despite his brave efforts to remain at the helm, stumbling over one minor catastrophe after another.
Leaving Mr. Ignatieff to ride high on a new swell of public opinion. How high? Well, marginally improved from his predecessor's support, and that is to say, compared to the depths any improvement appears inordinately buoyant now, doesn't it? He can strut, he can pose, he can engage in all the boastful rhetoric he likes, but he's still that reluctant Canadian, the one who keeps altering allegiance and opinion.
Add to that the good fortune he's experienced that a newly-chastened Stephen Harper is not quite yet ready to launch another campaign questioning the leadership talents of another rival. This new prime ministerial conduct, quite befitting a leader whose major concern should be the betterment of his country's overall prospects, has hugely benefited Mr. Ignatieff-come-lately.
He's revelling in cheap shots at the government relevant to its handling of the economic downturn, as though he might react otherwise, pluck from nowhere hat-tricks of financial rescue initiatives that mightn't have occurred to the prime minister and his economic advisers: "What now? Is the government going to let Mackenzie die?" he digs provocatively in a B.C. logging town of 100% unemployment.
This man with the reputation of an intellectual - wallowing in good fortune's opportunities to avail himself of a goal for which he has had no experience, evinced little previous interest at the apprenticeship level, and whose penchant for changing his mind with respect to non-trifling issues should continue to raise the antennae of the wary - zips full speed ahead, selling his legend.
posted by Pieface @ 12:41 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home