In the last several weeks fifteen Liberal MPs have announced their intentions not to seek re-election, some of them high profile MPs like Paul Martin, Belinda Stronach, Jean Lapierre, Lucienne Robillard, Andy Scott and Jim Peterson. Their intended departure raises questions about what is going on within the party. Is there discontent with Liberal leader Stephanne Dion already? He says no.

As much as my political and social views tend to be liberal, I have difficulty with the Liberal party and their lack of cohesiveness. They don’t seem to be adult enough yet to be able to recognize that leadership is only as good as the willingness to follow. There appears to be within the party those who are not, nor ever could be leaders, who are looking for some magical God to appear to lead them while being all things to all people. Isn’t going to happen folks, so grow up!

Leaders are not always the obvious people and Stephane Dion is one that really wasn’t obvious. That can work both for and against him. He has the unenviable position of being the leader following the great feud (Chretien vs Martin), his every move will and likely has been measured in terms of which side he is perceived as leaning towards. While his strongest challenge seems outwardly to become a recognized entity on the political scene and an alternative to the likes of Harper, it really is to establish himself within the party as Stephane Dion, who is neither a Chretienite or Martinite.

The expected departures of those not standing for re-election could be a sign of trouble in the Liberal camp or they could be an indication that fundamental change is taking place and some aren’t willing to go along for the ride. After a decade of feuding it is not always easy to put down the knives and join forces.

The Liberal party had better get it done and soon. Is Dion the man to get the job done? I don’t really know, what I see of him publicly, I’m not sure he is. He had the ability to come up the middle and take out the two top contenders for the leadership (neither of which I would have voted for) the question is can he position himself in to the middle of the party enough to become a unifying leader?

If he has the intuitiveness and wisdom to quietly build consensus before bringing issues to the table, he might just pull it off. He does need to kill the public perception of him as a whiner which is how many of his responses to Harper’s bullying comes across. You can’t build consensus when you’re perceived as weak and whiny.

I like that he hasn’t yet lowered himself to personal attacks on Harper of the likes that have been launched at him. That takes some strength of character not to respond in kind to low life tactics. Could be hope for him yet. Harper’s attacks on Dion tells me there is more to Dion than meets the eye or Harper wouldn’t be so scared of him. Bullies do give themselves away.

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