Fighting Words

 

“I want to be leader of the Liberal party, not some sort hybrid semi-ideological formation. The NDP is an ideological party of the left and the Conservatives are an ideological party of the right. We’re a pragmatic centrist party that is ready to take from the left or the right, depending on what actually works.”

 

Hybrid semi-ideological formation.  Somewhat insulting.  Stating that it's the other guys that are ideological - ie, emotion-driven - but not the Liberals is a bit like saying you're the only unbiased journalist in the room.  Tough and nose-thumbing, sure, but reflective of Canadian values of honesty, respect and integrity?  "We'll take from the left or the right" makes one sound like a political pirate, tacking to where the spoils are best.

 

Now, I agree with the theory of what Trudeau said; I think it's best for there to be different Political Parties representing different points of view in Parliament, because it's through a debating a diversity of ideas that we land on the best solutions.  There's an unfortunate thread in our politics that suggests separate Parties can't work together for the good of the country, because that's not good for their partisan image.  The thing that's missing is people who want to find the best middle ground for everyone, even if it means compromise; perhaps our politics has become too polarized for that.  Being disrespectful to Parties that do have so much support across the country isn't going to help.

 

It's a wording thing, perhaps, but words are my thing; "we're ready to take" comes across as entitled and arrogant.  How about "we're open to?"  You can ignore the subtle impact wording choice has, but you do so at your peril.  That's the sort of thing that is causing the electorate to tune out in the first place and simply creates fodder for CRG attack ads.

 

I thought Trudeau was brilliant in employing the Ender's Game "empathy against" bid with his "This is not a personal indictment of Mr Harper or Mr Mulcair. On the contrary, I honour their commitment and their service. But I think they are both dead wrong about this country." Show yourself a Statesman by respecting their contributions and empathizing with their failings.  One of the most effective attacks I think Dalton McGuinty ever used was when he responded to silly kitten-eater insults by Ernie Eves by saying he knew Ernie, that wasn't the kind of thing he says.  It was political judo at its finest. 

 

We need to see more of that.  We need more inclusive language, more empathy, more embodiment of the values he hopes to bring back to Canadian politics.  That doesn't mean being weak-kneed or whatever - it's about demonstrating how you rise above the fray, as leaders do.  If you want to change the system, you cannot do so by employing the traditional politics.  You just can't. 

Not if your end goal isn't to be just Leader of a Party, but Prime Minister of the entire country.

 

Justin Trudeau: No Easy Answer

“The time I’m going to spend with them is really at the centre of it. The other reflection is really one of practicality. Am I the right person for the job?”

I know a lot of people who dislike Justin Trudeau - some of them from personal experience. A common diatribe is that he's shallow, self-absorbed. I also know a lot of people who like Justin Trudeau, some from personal experience. They say he gets the game that is politics, but that he equally gets the stakes.

Personally, I don't know the guy. Having met him once, I don't feel I'm qualified to make an informed judgment - not about the man, not about his outlook, his leadership skills, his vision or his tenacity. What I like is the fact that he seems to be taking the gravity of his choice and it's potential consequences seriously. Leaders don't vie for press and title - those are just trappings of the job political animals salivate over. Leaders see civil service as the highest honour, the gravest responsibility - and act accordingly.  Of course, all that could be dressing - politicians have been known to say what they're told needs said, from time to time.  Every now and then, though, you find one who really is in politics for the right reasons.

There will be Trudeaumania; there will be an Anyone-But-Trudeau movement, too. For Trudeau himself, this makes the challenge steeper, but changes its substance none at all. Like all candidates for the leadership of the Liberal Party, if Trudeau steps into the ring it's going to be up to him to show all of us, fans, detractors and ambivalents alike, that he's the right person for the job - not just for leader of a Party, but for Prime Minister of an increasingly fractured country that we all love dearly.

It's up to us to hold him accountable to that. As it should be for all our politicians.