All of the dirty laundry is slowly being aired regarding the absolutely hopeless campaign put forth by the Liberal Party in this most recent election. Tales of a leader who would not listen to advisors or researchers who had been digging and deeply analyzing policy, deciding instead to go his own way, staple his behind to a piano called Green Shift and jump in with both feet.
Politics is littered with the carcasses of many who have come before, deciding to take a stand against retail politics. Rejecting the marketing experts, spin doctors and analyzers they do crazy stuff like write their own speaches and pay no attention to aiming for sound bites, scripting, staging or any of the necessary evils required for success in the modern political arena. Margaret Thatcher spent many long hours doing vocal exercises to lower the pitch of her voice in order to be taken more seriously but she ‘got it’ and her results speak for themselves. Who does a neophyte leader think he or she is when believing themselves powerful enough to make a whole new set of rules. Delusional of course, but of what, grandeur or ignorance?
As a Poly Sci guy you would think Dion would know this stuff like the back of his hand. The day after his selection as leader he should have been running to the experts for advice, new glasses, ties, improved English, dropping the big complicated policy crap for small bites. Save that policy talk for when you and your nerd buddies get together (can I come?).
Kim Campbell made a very good point when she, in effect said, that an election campaign is no time to be discussing important issues, she suffered mightily for saying this, but all politicians take a beating when they actually tell the truth.
