I've largely refrained from commenting on the Liberal leadership. I don't know why, other than I haven't found it that interesting. I find the U.S. congressional elections more exciting. But it now looks like there is some serious momentum shifting going on given the ever-lengthening list of gaffes by Michael Ignatieff.
I think Chantal Hébert is a bit too harsh in her assessment here, but she's correct on the general trend, which is that Ignatieff is looking un-leader-like and undisciplined. He is showing poor judgement, and judgement being without question the first quality required in a leader, that's bad news. What's more, Ignatieff looks absolutely exhausted, as in this interview from yesterday's CTV Question Period, in which he looks like he might fall over before finishing the answer to the first question.
Honestly, I don't mind Ignatieff. This blog has been tracking his political career ever since the first story mentioned the possibility of him running for parliament. I think he's an impressive person (despite his terrible cruelty to his younger brother) and he's worked hard in life and achieved much. I did not join in the collective furor over his suggestion to reopen the constitution because I'm partial to his view. The conservative movement in this country will never achieve its potential until that issue is settled, and I was saddened at the reaction he got for proposing that.
He could still win. Anything can happen in a month and a half., and Iggy still leads the delegate count. But if he wants to pick up any support on subsequent ballots, he better start getting things in gear because a whole lot of Liberals are thinking Bob Rae is looking pretty prime ministerial right now.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 1:18 PM
