The National Post editorializes today that Stephen Harper ought to contemplate his future. The tone sounds familiar:
We are not calling on Mr. Harper to resign. But recent events have put into question whether he is the man who should be leading the Conservatives. In particular, the failure of the party to surge ahead of the Liberals in popular support, even as the government has been buried in scandal, and Mr. Harper's misplaced trust in Gurmant Grewal's claims regarding his jobs-for-votes tapes, suggest this is a good time for reflection. If an election were coming in a month or two, there would be no question of Mr. Harper standing down. But the fact that there is unlikely to be an election until at least the fall means the party would have plenty of time to unite under a new leader before Canadians went to the polls.
...
Mr. Harper should think long and hard this summer about how badly he wants his job. Is he prepared, or even able, to do the things necessary to win at retail politics? If the answer is yes, Mr. Harper should return this fall a man transformed. If it is no, then he should consider bowing out.
Thie editorial makes perfect sense. In short -- learn how to be a real politician, gladhand and play the game as it needs to be played, or quit.
UPDATE, June 14, 10am: NP editorial board member Lorne Gunter has an extremely important blog post about this editorial and his thoughts on Harper's future here.
