There is something incredible unsavory about the recent anointing of Michael Ignatieff’s as the Liberal party candidate for the Toronto riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore. If nothing else, the modern Canadian Liberal party has clearly shown just how far down the philosophical road it has traveled since the days of Sir Wilfred Laurier who ran his own election campaign on the concept of “freedom for all, privileges for none.”
But that was a different time, a different Canada and a much different Liberal party. Those were the days before corruption and entitlement had set in as dry rot into the very foundations of the Liberal party. Those were the days before the Liberals went pandering indiscriminately in any star’s face for a moment of reflected glory. Those were the days when the divine right of kings and/or liberals was considered failed political doctrine in Canada.
How ironic, that Ignatieff who has written so much and so reverently about democratic institutions and human rights perceives nothing sundry, shabby or even downright sordid in his own anointment as the Liberal candidate for riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore. He is quoted as saying that politics is a “contact sport” but I suppose what he really means to say is; that it is all about who you know to contact, and not what you are or how you make your stand that counts in today’s Liberal party.
Ignatieff’s candidacy was certainly not based on the electoral will of the Liberal riding association members. Furthermore, the disqualification of two members (who actually live in that riding, and know intimately the concerns of the people of that riding) were tossed aside on the briefest possible pretexts in order to make way for Ignatieff who was appointed on orders from on “high” in the Liberal Party.
Ignatieff has only a few brief weeks to learn who the people of Etobicoke-Lakeshore are and how best to represent them in Parliament - if elected. But then again, this modern liberal has roots that reach back to the Russian aristocracy running through his bones so no doubt he will be a quick study in learning to implement the divine right of liberals to rule. But one thing still puzzles me; how is it that the Liberals who are so image conscious missed the implication of making the old black woman step aside for the Russian Prince of Academia?
5 comments:
A whole lot of things puzzle me about this deal. Like so many times in the past this looks not to have been very well thought out. Do you suppose someone looked at riding demographics and thought, Russian? Ukrainian? .... close enough.
You can take the person out of the aristocracy but, you can't take the aristocracy out of the person.
I wasn't bad enough that the Liberals thought they could run a Russian in what appears to be a heavily Ukranian riding no, they had to run a Russian aristocrat. On the up side, at least they didn't try running him in a heavily Jewish riding were he'd be explaining his great-grandfather's introduction of the shetl and pogrom program in Tsarist Russia.
One question: would you be singing the same tune if the Conservative party had snagged this "Russian aristocrat"?
(Personally, I think it was a stupid foray into politics for a man as intelligent as Ignatieff. Then again, he may well be elected, and probably reasons that the Liberal party will survive Mr. Dithers and the Culture of Entitlement Club.)
G, I had a certain amount of respect for Ignatieff but what is offensive is manner in which he chose to enter politics rather than which party he chose to join.
Though it is telling about the man that he chose to enter a party that literally reeks with corruption and had shown no qualms about by-passing the democratic process to put himself forward.
Even Trudeau when he entered politics had to face a general vote in the riding association and if my memory is correct had to face different challenges in his riding for his candidacy during his career.
I would not find it half as offensive if Igantieff had won the leadership of the party and a current sitting member was asked to step aside to make room for leader of the party but that is not what happened.
I am not now, nor have a ever been a member of any political party. Do I believe that the current liberal party should be defeated for the health of the country?
Yes, absolutely. Its the only way to end the culture of entitlement and the corruption that has become the Liberal party in Canada.
I had respect for the liberal party of Laurier but I don't of Martin and Chretien. I am a liberal in the classic sense not the modern Canadian sense.
The nomination procedure appears not to have been followed in this case. But I am more concerned about Igantieff's moral position (as expressed in his latest book) on sanctioning torture. He appears to have taken a lot of heat (and loss in subsequent standing) on this from his liberal colleagues in the US, and I wonder if this was a factor in him returning to Canada
Papaprof
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