Saturday, January 21, 2006

Maybe



With less than 48 hours before the polls open the cutain falls on the Martin Liberals.

Why?

Maybe it was the way he called an audible with time running out in the game and threw in the ridiculous suggestion that Stephen Harper join him in 'eliminating the use of the notwithstanding clause' during the televised debate; likely to go down as the most unfortunate statement uttered in Canadian political debate history.

Maybe it was the fact that Stephen Harper didn't bite.

Maybe it was his inability to see that the worst way to attack Harper was with those lame-ass commercials.

Maybe it was the fact that he never once thought of referring to Stephen Harper as the 'former Reform leader', or 'former member of the Alliance Party', or 'successor to Stockwell Day', or 'graduate of the Preston Manning school of politics'.

Maybe it was payback for the way he treated Sheila Copps.

Maybe it was his inability to finish a sentence without that insecure stutter or stammer.

Maybe is was his handlers who took too long to figure out that adding 'very very' to the beginning of each statement did not make it sound any more important. We assume as citizens of Canada that our Prime Minister deals with matters of importance. When a Prime Minister states that something is important, he should have our attention. When a Prime Minister states that something is very very important, it ceases to become so.

Maybe it was a mole afterall.

Maybe we expected too much from a man who was otherwise just an ok politician and not the leader that many expected him to be.

Maybe it was the fact that he seemed to never allow his wife to speak in public.

Maybe it was how remarkably unintelligent he looked when sized up against Jack Layton.

Maybe it was how remarkably dispassionate he looked when sized up against Stephen Harper.

Maybe it was his inability to size up the opposition.

Maybe it was the RCMP investigation of Ralph Goodale's leak.

Maybe it was his refusal to refer to his relevant and unusually strong record as Finance Minister.

Maybe we saw through the photo op's with Bono.

Maybe it was Bono lecturing him on not doing enough for world poverty.

Maybe the party refused to work for him sensing it was for the greater good.

Maybe it was because in spite of all his efforts, and the efforts of his people, he never managed to look Prime Ministerial.

Maybe he should have driven off in a convertible while the media looked on.

Maybe he should have followed his gut on same sex marriage debate and understood that it was not necessary to drag the issue through the legislature.

Maybe we will all be better off after a Liberal housecleaning.

Maybe the party needed him to be so ineffective so that they can strengthen themselves in the long run.

Maybe Canadians need 4 or 5 years of Reform Party leadership to better appreciate and understand the kind of country they want to live in.

Maybe Joe Clark was wrong about Stephen Harper.

Maybe Jean Chretien was right about Paul Martin.

Maybe the writing was on the wall.

Maybe it was the Pierre Pettigrew cell phone incident.

Maybe Quebec will exploit the fractious and divisive new government and get their 50% plus 1 vote this time.

Maybe it was how remarkably fortunate Stephen Harper was to not even need a platform before he took the lead in the poles.

Maybe the last minute attempt to pose him in front of a window and look sincere and compassionate was too little too late.

Maybe it was Stephen Harper's ability to run a campaign under the radar.

Maybe he should never have called John Gomery

Maybe it was because every citizen of this nation from coast to coast wanted to surgically remove the smirk from the face of David Dingwall.

Maybe a real leader with real vision will rise from the political infighting.

Maybe we could look forward to a leadership debate between Ken Dryden, Michael Ignatieff and Frank McKenna.

Maybe we are ready for the NEXT FACE of the Liberal Party of Canada.