Getting That Feeling Again...

No... not THAT one...

I recall when Mr. Chretien, and Mr. Martin were gearing up for their first election victories. It may be too early to say, but the feeling I got at the Convention in Vancouver, from the general public around Vancouver, and (not that this is a good thing for democracy) the media (yes, the media has seemed to have changed its mind about Harper), is one of pending victory. It's the same feeling one got in 92/93 leading up to the big Chretien win. It's feeling one had attending Paul Martin press conferences and events leading up to his leadership...

It may have begun with the sleazy attacks on Mr. Dion - for which many in the media felt like "tools" to put it nicely (and accurately). It may have begun with the Conservative delay on any sort of action on the recession. Maybe it was the Conservative/Harper denials of anything wrong with the economy when the most respected economists and economic journals in the world (including the Economist) were saying otherwise. Perhaps it was the continued childish antics of the Conservatives - their lack of any talent behind the perceived "talent" of Harper, their resort to name-calling, personal attacks, muck-raking, and sleaze, whenever they are in trouble...

It more likely has to do with the tremendous intelligence, talent, worldly experience, diplomacy, and genuine "niceness" of Michael Ignatieff. Spend some time with him. He's a really nice, likable guy - but DON'T take the "nice" guy thing to extremes. A man with Ignatieff's drive, determination, and intellect won't suffer fools (Harper et al), and won't sit idly while the Conservatives continue to shovel their "slime". His response will, of course, be that of a mature person - a true diplomat and gentleman.

Working with Michael (on his leadership campaign) in Alberta, and in BC, hosting him at a Richmond house party, and having the pleasure of conversation with this intellectual giant and his equally intelligent and witty wife, it is apparent how the media are beginning to fall in love with him. He commands attention in a room, doesn't give "pat" answers, and THINKS about questions concerned voters ask.

Mr. Ignatieff is not a "secretive" man. There are no "hidden agendas", like there are with the megalomaniacal Harper (if he were to - heaven forbid - somehow get a majority). His whole life is an open book - quite literally. Want to know about his views on human rights? Read one of his books - or get a transcript of one of his Harvard lectures. Want to know how much he loves Canada? Read his books. Want to know how he feels or thinks about "hyper-nationalism"? Read "Blood and Belonging".

How does this compare with our current "PM"? Harper has never written a book - and (unless he gets a shadow writer) will never finish the "hockey book" he promised years ago... Harper sermonized for years about his hatred for Quebec, his love of the Republican NeoConservative Americans, his disdain for Atlantic Canada, his love of tax cuts at the expense of social programs, his hatred of the civil service, his public doubting of climate change, and his "discomfort" around minorities (be they women, First Nations, new Canadians, etc.).

Harper is "provincial", cheap, boorish, deceitful, the antithesis of "learned", petty (VERY petty), full of himself, and angry. Harper's world begins and ends in Western Canada - with the odd visit to the US. He is decidedly "untravelled", "non-worldly", and has some sort of belief that the world revolves around the strange hallucinogenic teachings of the American Neo-Con/religious right movement.

Canada's media - even the "friends of the right" at the Post/Sun chains - have begun to realize the true stature of Harper, when measured against a far greater person: Michael Ignatieff. Daily, Mr. Ignatieff shows us what true diplomacy is. Daily he reminds us of what a PM should look or act like...

It may be too early to say, but... I'm getting that feeling again!

VICTORY FUND