POSTED RESPONSES TO AN EDITORIAL IN TORONTO'S GLOBE AND MAIL
When a Globe and Mail editorial of the Stackhouse Era
bestows the word "wise'” upon anything or anyone, it must be taken as
prima facie evidence of nonsense being praised.
Of course, in the case of Ignatieff, the more thoughtful and
critical have long known him as a rather foolish man.
His record of supporting America's war and torture made
nonsense of his supposed position as a defender of human rights.
But that kind of thing is common enough: great wealthy
American institutions often bestow titles and awards and positions - dressed up
to sound meaningful in terms of human rights and democratic values - to those
who really serve the imperial interest, as Ignatieff very much did.
And Ignatieff's "political career" is one long
painful episode of arrogance and poor judgment, an effort which left the
country far worse off than it had been when he returned.
It truly is ridiculous to attribute wisdom to a man like
this.
But then so is it to call Tony Blair a man of honor or
peace, as the huge stream of awards and sinecures flowing to him all claim.
Ignatieff were best not heard from again and left forgotten,
but the man's bulging ego will not let that be so.
And it is the job of Globe editorials in almost all things
these days to make a silk purse of a sow's ear.
______________________________________________
As to the decline in democracy in the country, what can you
say of a man who accepted being parachuted into a riding and refused even to
live there?
And a man who was parachuted into the leadership itself by
the efforts of a group of party insiders?
Of a man who didn't face the democratic test in either case?
But I'm not arguing that Ignatieff is worse than Harper.
Harper is an instinctive petty tyrant with no genuine
respect for democratic values, as he has demonstrated time and time again.
He is, simply, the nastiest piece of work we've had as prime
minister.
And he sits there as "majority" prime minister
owing to Ignatieff's inept leadership and Ignatieff's elevated idea of himself
and his abilities.
