Diebel Decodes An Undeliberate Dion
Well, considering that she wrote a biography of the guy, I suppose Linda Diebel’s latest TorStar Blog entry about Stephane Dion has some credibility.
It’s one of those exercises you’ll see a lot of in mainstream media, as the political world enters August and what is unofficially known as “silly season” — so called because, since not very much happens, reporters and pundits find themselves scrambling to inflate anything, however trivial, into a news story.
Ms. Diebel’s post, in the main, uses “silly season” as an excuse to write down her take on whether Dion plans on bringing down the government in the fall. Naturally, since this is the Toronto Star, she includes a jab at the PM for being afraid of the Liberals in the second paragraph, but then settles into explaining whether or not Dion is afraid of the consequences of an election loss on his own career.
Her reply is “no,” but her explanation doesn’t exactly reflect well on someone like Dion, who considers a well-exercised intellect an asset:
In choosing “the good moment” (memo to his English teacher), he certainly will consider where the party is in the polls. He’s not an idiot and, as a political scientist and former professor of public administration, he reads polls for the thrill. He won’t jump if the numbers look bleak but, as other politicos do, he’ll blame it on trumped-up reasons, such as Canadians don’t want an election or it’s time to focus on jobs, not votes. He’ll take the measure of the country’s mood and, like everyone else, he’ll be watching to see what happens on Sept. 8, notably in St. Westmount-Ville Marie where formidable NDP candidate Ann Legacé-Dowson takes on Liberal star Marc Garneau. Another Outremont and it’s the bottom of the ninth for Dion.
Then, he will listen to his gut and decide.
However, it would be a mistake to buy the theory he’s burning the midnight oil in the Laurier Room at Stornaway, calculating the effects of a losing campaign on his chances in a leadership review. There is simply no evidence to suggest his mind has ever worked to assess personal gain in such a calculating manner. In fact, Dion would probably do just the opposite if he saw a personal risk — plunge in at the worst time because he has determined it’s the right thing to do. For better or worse.
I will agree that there’s no evidence, at this stage in Dion’s career, that he thinks with such complexity about the long term consequences of losing. I do think, though, that there are others in the Liberal parliamentary caucus who are a bit more career-minded and are therefore less admirable, and I suspect that it’s these people who currently have Dion’s ear.
So I suppose it’s a question of who’s louder, Dion’s people or his gut. (If it’s his gut, he could try Rolaids.)
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August 3rd, 2008 at 06:54
The idiot still thinks it wasnt a fluke he was elected leader.If they could go back again to the leadership campaign the weasle wouldn,t even be in politics.He has no ethics and he is a coward and cannot say to your face what he says in parliament.The MSM build him up,but the public can see him and know what a shame he is as a politician.He should have been kicked out of parliament for the way he kept his party from voting on all those policies.I think there were 44.He is a shame to Canada and parliament.When he has gatherings he just about has to pay people to attend,thats why the libs are so broke.The MSM are pretty silent about his green plan now also,because its a sham and they see its not being accepted by 80% of Canadians.Only the idiots who want to destroy this country support it,so you know exactly what will happen if Dion gets elected.
August 3rd, 2008 at 08:10
[...] Phantom Observer | Diebel Decodes An Undeliberate Dion [...]
August 3rd, 2008 at 08:39
I believe this is the media attempting to brainwash the people (who say they don’t want an election) into believing that they do want an election. It seems there have been a flurry of articles lauding Dion for his bravery, telling the reader how it is Dion who will be doing the right thing.
After all, it has been proven that if the media says something enough, it becomes popular thought.
And for all those who do not believe me
” Hidden Agenda”
” Scary Harper”
” Secret Documents”
“Harper is a Bully”
” Harper is a control freak”
There are many,many more instances of the press playing up a “talking point” and it becoming the way Canadians see an issue.
This is one is – “Even though you think you do not want an election; you really do want one”
August 3rd, 2008 at 10:46
Journalists with credibility ? I would get your stash of kool aid inspected if I was you. Looks to me that someone has spiked it with some nasty something or other.
August 3rd, 2008 at 14:33
You think it’s EZ to con-vince Canadians dat dey want an election?
August 3rd, 2008 at 15:06
[...] Sunday Update: Phantom Observer has a great post up that was listed at Jack’s Daily Blogger site – Diebel Decodes an Undeliberate Dion. Posted in Carbon Shaft, Dion, Election fever, Green Shaft, I’d rather be gardening | [...]
August 3rd, 2008 at 15:08
Great title, BTW!
August 3rd, 2008 at 15:41
Anyone catch QP today, I couldn’t believe my ears. The conservative MP, Jim Prentice got a CHEER and DION got a JEER. Actually they had some sort of positive comments re the Caucus meeting and Ministers getting good press coverage. Try to catch the clip of Fife interviewing someone and the back of his head was in a shot. Unless it is a new fashion trend it definetly looked like someone put a bown on his head and cut his hair around it. The media has lost a bit of their love affair with Obama, and panelists are talking about how he could lose in November. These were democrats. I wonder if it is starting to get to the cdn msm, with sort of positive comments re PMSH.