If all else fails

In the fitness centre of the Montreal hotel where Liberals are holding their big conference this weekend, the staff have thoughtfully provided reading material. Someone with a sense or history or humour, perhaps, was in charge today. The only book on offer is "The Rainmaker's Tool Kit" -- a business self-help book.

"Rainmaker," though, was also the nickname for legendary Senator Keith Davey, architect of Trudeau victories back a few decades ago and father of the former Ignatieff chief of staff, Ian Davey, who lost his job last fall to make way for Peter Donolo.