Timing is everything and Adam Radwanski outlines the little worry I have in the back of my head. Here is the deal (as I see it). The Liberal Party is one the most robust organizations in Canadian history. Liberal leaders have not run the country for the majority of the 20th Century for no reason. Reports of their death are greatly exagerrated and this is how exagerations happen.
...it wasn't anti-Liberal or pro-Conservative bias that helped do Martin in -- it was journalists' well-established bias toward the easy narrative.If there's anything to fault the media for, it's not liberal or conservative leanings -- it's the pack mentality. If the received wisdom is that a party is running a bad campaign, every minor gaffe will be jumped on as proof. When the pack smells blood, it's relentless.
When Stockwell Day was torn from limb to limb in the 2000 campaign, and subsequently as he tried to keep hold of the Canadian Alliance, it wasn't because every journalist in the country was unable to square with his social conservatism. It was because, with early gaffes and his caucus turning against him, Day made an easy target. And once the storyline was that he was beyond hope, it was far easier and more fun to go along with it than to confuse things.
...After the fact, the losers always complain about the media being out to get them. But it's invariably happened because they positioned themselves as losers in the first place -- as the Liberals did this time by letting the Tories take the campaign to them for weeks on end. Once the storyline is in place, twists are hard to come by.
The storyline now is quickly becoming the Liberal Party is in ruin - the "A-Team" does not want to run for the leadership because they know that the Conservatives will win a majority in the next election. Who is dreaming now? First of all were McKenna, Tobin and Manley really such shining lights? Is the story not that these guys are the "A-Team"? Stephen Harper was a relative nobody when he took over the leadership of the Alliance Party and look at him now. There is certainly enough talent within the Liberal Party for someone to do that. And this talk of an inevitable Conservative majority. Please. Can we wait until, I don't know, Parliament is called back and we see this new government in action before we go there?
Comments (4)
Perhaps. It’s really a chicken and egg argument: We’re inept because the media says we’re inept vs. the media says we’re inept because, well, we’re inept.
Perception is everything in politics. It’s irrelevant whether the perception is back by reality. Only time will tell with the Liberals. I believe however, that the party is deeply divided and wounded; Martin & the “Board” have done significant damage. Are they damaged irreparably? Probably not. After all, the Conservative party has risen from the ashes of de facto division, two seats, and a leader who evoked an unprecedented level of contempt. The Liberals will live to fight again.
Posted by Boudica | February 3, 2006 10:07 AM
Posted on February 3, 2006 10:07
Something is rotten in Denmark (cartoonerism) and Liberal land. Frank Mckenna did not run back to Canada that fast to become a “family man” but once here the brakes were put on. Alan Rock has long desired the position and now he’s out. John Manley deffinately had aspirations. Are the Martinites trying to flush out the Chetianites? Is dithers really leting go of “his fathers dream” just like that after 3 decades of posturing for the position. Sometings Up and the Blue Machine better be ready for it. Or the Lib can’t afford to have a convention till spring 2007 and Paul has to hold off this this spring to call it. NOT
Posted by Rob | February 3, 2006 10:38 AM
Posted on February 3, 2006 10:38
I’m just curious how far Stronach’s money can stretch. It can certainly buy Belinda French lessons. How many more “RRSP”S for former MPs.
Posted by Mark | February 3, 2006 11:09 AM
Posted on February 3, 2006 11:09
Still, it was a bad campaign.
The problem with the current names in the leadership hat, is none of them have deep ties with the Liberals, and if Belinda was to win the leadership, it would be the alltime lamest move in Canadian political history. To go from running for the Conservative leadership to two years later running for Liberal leadership? Thats completely rediculous. Nothing more than a personal gain and has nothing to do with her “it’s not where you sit, it’s where you stand” speach. She’s standing in it alright.
Posted by DazzlinDino | February 4, 2006 11:38 AM
Posted on February 4, 2006 11:38