The Coward's Way

Bob Rae, one-time NDP premier of Ontario, and thoroughly detested by Ontarians for his gross ineptitude, left no doubt where he stood in defending his colleague, Stephane Dion, and his formulation of a coalition to upset the Conservative-led government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Never, he declaimed, would he trust the prime minister. Nor work with him, under any circumstances. Using fairly vile terminology in an ad hominem attack.

So much for statesmanship, for collegiality, for dedication to the task of working together as responsible legislators for the good of the country. And this is a man who feels himself entitled to winning a contest for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada, and to eventually become another prime minister of this country under the Liberal flag.

And then there is his major opponent in the race for the leadership, Michael Ignatieff. Returned to Canada after a long and distinguished career as a writer-journalist and academic. Facing an election to become a member of Parliament, sitting in the House of Commons, working in his party's opposition benches and generally getting the feel of what it's like to be Canadian again.

He's said to have the better chance of being elected to the leadership. How did he comport himself, and continue to, during this unspeakably absurd week in Parliament? Tepidly aligning himself alongside the rest of his party. But stoutly behind the aspiration of the Liberals' lame-duck leader, Stephane Dion. Not all that comfortable, certainly not engrossed to the level that Bob Rae has evinced.

But yet smilingly signing on to Liberal intent to overthrow the duly elected government, and coming out swinging against a fellow member of Parliament who expressed doubt about the legality and practicality of the project. The coalition had, and doubtless continues to have, his acquiescence. Party solidarity.

Despite that other, more level-headed and responsible Liberal members of Parliament are murmuring worriedly about the harm being done to the party and the government, and by extension the country.

He's hedging his bets. Uncertain whether the coalition ploy will succeed, or not. So he's supporting it, but making himself scarce at the same time. While Bob Rae was scheduled to be appointed to a Cabinet position should the coalition have taken power, Michael Ignatieff's name was nowhere to be seen.

Now that it's becoming increasingly likely that the coalition will begin to fray around the edges, the leaders becoming edgier with one another, the back-lash from the electorate beginning to take effect, and second thoughts restoring some semblance of sanity to an otherwise sensible Liberal caucus, Mr. Ignatieff seeks solace in isolation.

That he exercised poor judicial sense in not attempting to persuade an ill-considered and frenetic attempt on the part of an previously discredited Stephane Dion to cool his heels once the passion of the opposition's anger had resulted in a confidence-shaken prime minister, does not redound well on his competence and insight.

Why would he exercise such impaired judgement as to defer to a leader of his party whom he and other members of the party deemed incapable of carrying on as leader? How could he agree to cajole and wheedle a separatist opposition leader to join an ill-starred rebellion, knowing the death-knell in public opinion that would lend to his party's future aspirations?

Does he really feel entitled to ascending to the leadership of his party after demonstrating such a lack of intelligent judgement?