Another reason Dion will lose

If there is one thing I love to hate, it’s political rhetoric. Every politician uses it, providing fine comedic fodder for late-night talk show hosts. Then there are some politicians who think their constituents are so stupid they can say anything. This is Stephane Dion. (accent on the first e, pronounced Stefan)

The leader of the Liberal Party was in our part of the country a few days ago, the same part of the country represented by MP Jim Flaherty. That would be Canada’s Finance Minister, the Honorable Jim Flaherty. Now, believe me when I say Mr. Flaherty is a dufus in his own right, and I quake with fear at his ultra-rightwing political ambitions, but he is Finance Minister and everyone likes someone with that kind of clout in their corner.

With that kind of opponent, you have two basic strategy’s, treat with respectful kid-gloves, or come out swinging a bat. Dion chose a Louisville slugger, and like the once mighty Casey, he swung out.

The line: If elected Prime Minister I promise to do what Stephen Harper will not, I will fire Jim Flaherty.

Applause. Applause. Yeah! Way to go!

Uh…Wait a second.

Are you saying if Jim Flaherty was doing a good job, you would keep someone NOT in your political party as Finance Minister?

No. Of course you’re going to fire Jim Flaherty and every other Conservative. Duh.

What bothers me most about this idiotic statement is the timing. Making it in Flarehty’s riding, his very backyard, while the guy was in the state of Louisiana, in court, at the trial of some nutbar who had threatened his life.

Dion is that kid we all knew, the one who called you names from across the street then ran when you took a single step in his direction. He is also using the world’s current economic strife as fodder, blaming Harper for the financial meltdown experienced by every country in the World, raising the specter of Brian Mulrooney, even though these Conservatives are miles away from that PC Party of yesteryear. The man is struggling. He is thrashing water in the deep end. He never should have been made leader of the Liberals and the only good thing that will come from this election is he will likely resign from the position and allow someone with more competence to take over.

It’s a shame, really. Dion is running on a strong Environmentalist platform, though that doesn’t mean much until you put into practice.

In the meantime, it will be four more years of Harper. Personally, I liked his tenure as PM, but that was with a minority government where he had to make everyone happy all the time. This time around the Conservatives are looking at a majority government, free to do what they want, and though they have hidden it well, the Conservative roots are still the old Alliance Party, and a wonkier bunch of bureaucrats you’ve never met.

Wow. That was a lot. On a more personal note, we took my oldest daughter to the Emergency Room last night thinking she had a concussion. Thankfully, it turned out to be an ear infection. Still, made for a long night.

That’s it for now.

Mike