The Prince Albert Daily Herald, Thursday, February 21, 2008
EDITORIAL
Liberal leader faces the music
One of the nation's more recognizable political faces
can probably expect a rough visit to the area today.
Liberal Party Leader Stéphane Dion will make a
whirlwind visit through northern Saskatchewan throughout
the day, and part of his visit is obviously intended to
promote insider-chosen candidate Joan Beatty in her
quest to become the MP of Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill
River.
And on this front, the man who dreams of becoming the
leader of Canada can surely expect some tough questions
on his involvement in the appointment of Beatty as the
party candidate in the upcoming byelection.
Somewhere, sometime today, Dion is going to have to
face reporters (and, we suggest, party faithful) and
explain why he chose to circumvent a standard candidacy
process and appoint a kidnapped NDP MLA as the official
candidate while simultaneously eliminating the
democratic efforts of two well-organized campaign
groups.
The backroom manipulations of this process cast a
sharp relief against a man who has publicly challenged
similar machinations from his Conservative counterpart,
Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
It's also worth noting that Dion has also questioned
the excessive power of the Prime Minister's Office - yet
he has apparently no qualms about using similar sweeping
powers afforded him in his role as the party's leader.
One of the major failings in the public perception of
the Liberal Party was the "old boys run the show" image.
In this instance, Dion has only reinforced that
perspective.
Hence, we expect the questions posed to the man who
would be prime minister to be rather tough.
And we expect answers - for currently, Dion's
statements and deeds are difficult to reconcile.
Back
Top |