Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Rearranging the deck chairs

The good ship Liberal looks this week like a latter-day Titanic. The party's poll numbers keep going down, and the lifeboats are starting to fill up. All that's needed is a band to play "Nearer Dion to Thee".

So what does that fearless leader, Prince Michael Ignatieff, do? Why, get a new chief of staff of course! Or maybe not.

CBC's Power and Politics reported yesterday that Ian "Rainmaker Junior" Davey had either jumped or been pushed over the side, to be replaced by Peter Donolo, former communications director to prime minister Jean Chrétien. Then Jill Fairbrother, Iggy's current [for how long? ed.] director of communications, said no, Davey was not leaving, under a cloud or otherwise. Jill, by the way, happens to be Ian's "partner".

So who's in charge...really? If Donolo accepts the position of first mate, he will be the third in the last year. And he will doubtless bring with him a new director of communications, who can assure us that there's nothing wrong, the ship just stopped for ice!

I hate to say this, but the problem in the OLO [not LOL? ed.] is not one of communications. It is one of leadership! [You did say this, just a few days ago. ed.]

Mr. Ignatieff does not know where he wants to lead the Liberal Party, other than back into power. Thus there is simply nothing of substance to communicate. Until that is changed, Mr. Donolo or Mr. Davey or whoever is nominally in charge had better be sure their lifevest is securely fastened. Oh, and some armour plate across the back wouldn't hurt either.

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