A friend of mine put this to me on Facebook:
Hey Jim. I’ve been doing some research on Iggy. Very impressed. His great grandfather was the pastor at St. Mathew’s Church in Halifax. The church i attended as a young PK…and the church from which my pastor father walked down the a…isle with a burning xmas wreath and out the door. (It is an all wood structure!). His Great Grandfather helped lay the foundation for the CNR and wrote ‘ocean to ocean’. His Grandfather was the principal at UCC and “lament for a nation’ was written by his uncle. He claims Pearson and Trudeau to have overseen the greatest period of nation building in Canadian History.
I Like this.
Michael Ignatieff
All of this.
But I’m left wondering. If he’s so damned passionate about Canada….then where’s his passion? I haven’t seen it. Have you?
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N.B. I saw Ignatieff up close in Stratford about a week ago…and walked around the main street with him.
Here’s what I wrote back to my FB Friend:
Dear Paul – here are my thoughts – right off the top of my head…
Pearson and Trudeau were not made in any particular mold. They pretty much forged themselves.
I have deep differences of opinion with Mike Pearson on several issues, but i acknowledge his honesty, his courag…e and yes – his passion. We owe him our flag and we owe him his vision that brought Trudeau into the Federal arena.
I have fewer differences of opinion with Trudeau. But his passion was apparent on different levels…some of which were buried within his gut. His passion was natural; built-in; part of his viscera…and those of us who were observant could see it and feel it and we responded to it.
Ignatieff has all the ingredients except one. Pearson and Trudeau possessed a rare quality: “Fearlessness”.
I think Mr. Ignatieff is afraid of some things, although I’m not sure what they are.
We’re living in a different age now and while tongues were sharp and enemies could be vicious in the times of Pearson and Trudeau they were both capable of giving a lesser person the finger.
Ignatieff has not learned that aspect of politics and public life as yet.
And in a way…I find that quality…which I call political innocence…rather endearing.
Bottom Line: I’m supporting him.
Jim.
I agree with most of what you say. And add:
Canadians want leaders who lead by conviction. Who lead with passion and reverance for Canada. Iggy needs to stop listening to his handlers and listen to his heart. If his heart leads him to passion and conviction then we have a Prime Minister. If it doesn’t then we don’t. I hope that we haven’t yet met him. Because frankly, in the absence of passion, we will be stuck with leaders supported by 30% of the population.
Jim,
You are right that Iggy lacks fearlessness, which is something that Harper has, no matter how much we disagree with his policies.
Perhaps Iggy is too much of an intellectual. He seems too calculating, unlike for instance, Chretien, who had excellent political instincts.
I am also supporting Iggy, but that is more because of my opposition to Harper, than any great liking for Iggy.
Jim:
It disturbs me that we are having this debate about the long form census and Jack Layton is able to get up before the cameras and take his stand on this subject. Anything we hear from Michael I. is a snatched comment while on his barbecue circuit.
The Liberal Party and Michael I. should be able to address these issues and take a stand, we should not have to wait until the next election to hear how the Liberal Party stands on these issues.
I just received my invitation from Max Kahn to the breakfast visit tomorrow in Oakville. The invitation says come and “listen” to Michael I. I thought it was a chance to “listen and talk” to Michael I. but I guess not.
Michael may have a great character but if he can’t take a stand on issues, he will get creamed in the next election.
Prime Minister Salary $315,462 + Party “top up ” plus $ 75 million office (PMO/PCO)
Cabinet Minister Salary $ 233,247 + office + dept. staff
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Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons Salary $ 233,247 + Party “top up ” plus office
Other Party Leaders $ 211,425 + Party “top up” plus office
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Member of the House of Commons Basic Sessional Indemnity $157,731.00 + enough office expense to run a variety store
With 1 vote / election for bottom rung of ladder do you ever wonder if the die are loaded ?
Maybe a non-fearless Leader of Caucus will fix ? Heaven knows a fearless Trudeau , Mulroney , Chretein , Harper have only increased the top anti democratic power .