Wither Dion?

There has been no small amount of animosity expressed among Liberal supporters and others in the days following the election, as if any of them thought it could be won anyway. The opinions expressed have ranged from total distain for Stephane Dion and his lack of leadership, to respect for a Dion who was saddled with one of the worst jobs a politician could ever hope for, that of herding cats in a demoralized and virtually penniless political party.

The fact that the Liberal party after all this time hasn't been able to seem cohesive isn't so much a testament to Dion's lack of leadership skills, as it is to others in the party who refuse to accept that they have to get over their own desires for power and allow the leader they have to do his job.

To be perfectly honest, in these troubled times that came upon us so recently and so fast, I really don't want a leader that I endorse in power right now. I don't want to squander hysterical public opinion on a politician in troubled times. Harper is perfect for the job right now, he will be the one remembered for the recession or whatever happens, and it will reflect on him no matter what. He can talk all he wants about how Canada's banking system escaped the current financial crisis, but it only did so because of Liberal policies that were still in place since the Conservatives came into power. The Conservatives had something very different in mind.

I've never met Stephane Dion, but the impression I get from him is if I did, I would meet an intelligent, thoughtful man and that would be a treat in this age of Sesame Street politics. Unfortunately men like that don't do well in the circus maximus of current day politics. It's a shame, because that's what we need, but because of our actions in current times, it's not what we deserve.

I've heard a lot of speculation of his demise, but I have heard nothing worthwhile of any alternative, and that seems to me to be the problem that got us here in the first place.