This morning my Inbox connected me to a blog post that is one of the best I have ever read in the Blogosphere. It is posted at Davey’s Politics and entitled “Being a Leader is More Than Holding a Title.”
Quality leadership and quality decision making in public policy are two of the most critical shortcomings we have in western democracies today. Davey’s Politics provides some insight and analysis of the current state of these dynamics in Canada today.
It is a long from post and regular readers of this Blog know what that is all about. Pour another cup of coffee and give it a slow and reflective Sunday morning read.
In my opinion, leadership does not involve making overturns of a possible invasion into Pakistan. Why doesn't Dion simply admit he made a mistake instead of a attacking the media for allegedly misquoting him (or misunderstanding the comment)?
ReplyDeleteI hope this becomes an election issue in March so Dion will finally have to explain himself. I personally don't see the good in angering Pakistan if you are not willing to back up your words with action.
I love the self-justification mental gymnastics the Cons have to through to sustain their daily delusions.
ReplyDeleteNo more is it more obvious in trying to frame Dion as not a leader so they do not have to acknowledge the fact that Mr. Harper is a bad leader.
Check out the Jan 18/08 Calgary Grit Blog post for some real context on Dion and Pakistan.
http://calgarygrit.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the link Ken.
ReplyDeleteI find it absolutely hilarious that the liberals are crying foul for the conservatives pointing out Dion's major mistake here. Could you imagine the media uproar if a Conservative made the same mistake?
Great leaders admit when they make a mistake - Dion has not done so. Maybe Dion should just keep his mouth shut on foreign policy and have his comments thoroughly reviewed by the LPC communications department (which must be exhausted by now). I am sure these comments will make their way into ads - the Conservatives the right, if not the obligation, to educate Canadians on Dion's foreign policy.
My bet is that this recent mistake by Dion will again cause the Liberals to sit on their hands during the throne speech and budget thereby indirectly support the Conservative govenment and their vision. Wouldn't a real leader be confident enough to go to the Canadians with his ideas?
Anon @ 9:47 - I hope the Liberals debate the Throne Speech and the Budget and so long as they are not treasonous, let them pass.
ReplyDeleteThe contents will never see the light of day as Canadian law anyway. There will be an election long before that ever happens.
Dion has lots of time to call an election and it is pretty much at his will these days. I think Dion has the right attitude in that Canadians choose a Con minority and Harper should be given time to prove he is up to the job.
Harper, to his credit, has done nothing to prove that he is anthing more than a Bush-league Republican-lite bully...and a bad leader.
I expect the more rope Harper gets the more he hangs himself. He is showing Canadians that the probationary period for the Minor- Con government is over. It is time to change government and not just another bullying and bungling minority controlled by Emperor Harper.
You hope the Conservative budget passes!?! Are you serious? The Throne Speech and the Budget combined outlines the government's goals for the upcoming year. How long can the Liberals go on implicitly agreeing with the governments agenda and, then, abruptly vote against them. Canadians will not stand for that. I, for one, hope the budget passes and the election is on the Afghanistan mission.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, polls after polls over a long period of time have indicated that the majority of Canadians believe Harper to be a strong leader. Ken, you are certainly in the minority - but, unfortunately, that is not an enumerated or analogous ground for those few Canadians who believe Harper is a bad leader.
"It is time to change government and not just another bullying and bungling minority controlled by Emperor Harper."
If it is time for change, then simply vote against the budget - wow, you are spinning in all sorts of directions - kind of a directionless rant similar to Dion's normal press interviews.
Anon @ 10:42 pm - what is the rush to an election? The Throne Speech and Budget are the government's statement of their intent...if we can believe it given the Harper flip flops like Income Trusts and his disappearing promises like 250,000 day care places. What will he over promise and under deliver on next?
ReplyDeleteHarper's leadership support is on decisiveness not competence. Mr. Harper is proving to be a bad leader who is often wrong but never in doubt. A dangerous combination!
The TSX has dropped over 500 points this morning as I write this. This will be test of Harper's leadership.
Harper has said no new tax relief and no new programs in his coming Budget. Not a viable position for the hundreds of thousands who have lost jobs and other who are about to.
He as reduced government revenues stupidly like the GST cuts and to the point he has given up any fiscal flexibility for his government to respond to changing circumstances...like a recession in Ontario and Quebec.
Harper is like the guy who jumped off the Empire State Building and as he passed the 24th floor was heard to say "So far so good!"
Harper's best days are behind him and he will see if his "going up was worth the coming down." (Apologies to Kris Kristofferson)
"Harper is like the guy who jumped off the Empire State Building and as he passed the 24th floor was heard to say "So far so good!"
ReplyDeleteHarper's best days are behind him and he will see if his "going up was worth the coming down." (Apologies to Kris Kristofferson)"
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Too bad Dion is too weak a leader to bring down a government that is so reckless. Talk is cheap - start acting.
Harper's government is not only reckless, it is feckless too.
ReplyDeleteDion will bring down the government when he is good and ready too. It will not be on the Budget or the throne Speech. They will never become effective implemented law anyway.
Canadians did not want another election that would only result in more of the same. Dion needed time to solidify his leadership as well.
The times are different now. Canadians are ready to look at the future of the country and the kind of country we aspire to and then look at who can best meet those aspirations.
It is not likely to be Mr. Harper -at least not in a majority...given his lack lustre agenda, mediocre legislative performance and mean-spirited bullying tactics.