A Canadian by convenience.

 
Iggy at a Grit rally last night in Richmond, B.C. with his wife, Zsuzsanna Zsohar.

At least he was born here.

But why is it that when Iggy says, as he did last night at a Richmond, B.C. rally, that “I swear to you, I’m in this battle for Canadians," I'm immediately reminded the Grit leader spent most of his adult life abroad?

Ignatieff is of an older generation that "graduated" from Canada. 

I've always had a pebble in my shoe about folks who give up on this country. Conrad Black and my grandmother on my Dad's side are my touchstones on this. Wouldn't you know it, when grandma had outlived two husbands and was all alone in her California gated retirement village, it then struck her that she needed to end her 20-year self-exile to benefit from the care and companionship of her son in Toronto. A Canadian by convenience. 

Then there are the Norman Jewisons and Shania Twains, who return home so often they've never really left. On Canada Day, Jewison has one of Southern California's biggest backyard fetes, for fellow ex-pats among the half-million Canadians working in Hollywood. My heart's with them, obviously. Ditto Celine Dion, Michael Fox ("Of course I wish I could still live in Vancouver, who wouldn't?" he told Letterman) and Justin Bieber. Maybe only a 17-year-old hearthrob can get away with telling Americans, on U.S. soil, that "you're evil," a reference to the U.S. lack of universal heathcare.

Iggy also tutored supporters on the calling to which he's so new: "In politics, hope always wins out over fear."

Oy. Tell that to Bob Stanfield, Adlai Stevenson, John Turner, fans of the long-form census and advocates of a properly run long-gun registry.

I know this kind of ear candy is a stump staple. But a supposed intellect and student of history, who lived among the Kurds for heaven's sake, would know the hollowness of that expression. And would at least find a novel way of recasting that sophistry. (He's an author, no?) 

Iggy also had some caustic words last night about the PM's "arrogance," for seeking a majority. How odd that a minority PM would seek a majority, as Pearson repeated tried and failed to do.  

I'm just old enough, a Trudeau-era kid, to still have a knee-jerk association of "arrogance" with Grits. And if it isn't arrogant to pop by and seek the leadership of a country you've long ago abandoned, it's chutzpah or delusionalism or something not agreeable.

There are useful things Iggy could say.

He could start with a heart-felt explanation of why he felt a compulsion to return to Canada. He could then turn the liability of being seen as an interloper on its head. He could say, "I've seen enough of the world [insert CV here] to know Canada is the world's most nearly perfect country. And that's why I came back, to seek the privilege to work with you to take Canada to an even better place."

He won't, though.

Granted it's Ignatieff's first campaign as leader. (Remember how Mike Harris fared in 1990?). But Ignatieff is a muddle. I don't think at 63 that's going to change. Which means Iggy will likely join Edward Blake and Stephane Dion as the only leaders of the Liberal Party never to become PM.

 

Comments

[Wascally Wabbit]

I agree. At best, he is manufactured leader - not a natural one. Hard to know what his at core convictions are - or whether in fact he has any!
I am more concerned right now by the Liberal party - on the one hand wrapping itself in the mantle of democracy - in order to destroy Mr. Harper's credibility and trust-factor - while not recognizing that by extension - ensuring that the leader of a party that earnt 1 million votes last time - right across the country - would be a logical and praiseworthy extension of that claim of being democratic!

[CQ]

Wow, this "throwing grandma under the bus!" blog entry. Mr Olive, you're on fire today - with all of today's entries.
A while back I declared that I believed any national political leader should have a minimum of 25 years of resident citizenship (excluding 5 and under years). Plus similar, lesser, amounts for other ministerial and provincial level roles.
If Ignatieff had first tried for party leadership in 2010 instead of 2005, or if he freely represented his riding instead of being appointed Mimico's Man, then I would be more inclined to embrace his position [strike that] placement of leadership.

We have troops overseas, etc. and this aspiring 'ultimate leader' wasn't here during 9/11 or SARS or the 2003 Ontario and region blackout, nor for the 1990s' GST debate, our currency devaluation to below 70 cents U.S., the South African Anti-Apartheid movement, the Free Trade Agreement (and NFTA) debate, or even for Canada's response during the Ethiopian food crisis. Was he even living here in '82 when the Constitution was brought home? No. He wasn't here when Pope John Paul II visited (thrice: '84, '87 nor '02). Was in living here when Quebec City, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa joined the NHL - and lost their teams or were merely at risk? Did he follow the Blue Jays' heydays and cheer when the Raptors and Grizzlies set-up for hoops action? Did he follow the CFL during its era when US teams joined in? Negative is the answer to all of these pro sports questions. How about for when the Olympics Games were being hosted - either at Calgary in '88 or at Montreal in '76? Montreal yes - he was a professor at UBC for two or three years (Wiki states '76-78).
Oh wow, oh yay - leadership for a nation!

[CQ]

... never drove an Escort nor a Cavilier or K-car.
... never rocked out to the stylings of The Box, Blue Rodeo, Triumph, Kim Mitchell, Our Lady Peace, Tom Cochrane, etc., nor Rita MacNeil when the larger global community was 'gaga' only over Bryan Adams and Shania Twain.
That's Ignatieff - for Prime Minister of Canada!

[Darwin O'Connor]

I wouldn't be so optimistic, CQ. This may mean David is going to endorse the NDP.