Monday, January 12, 2009

Thoughts on the Ignatieff - Trudeau interviews

It was fascinating to watch this series that Red Tory brought to our attention last week. I really got the sense that Trudeau felt Ignatieff was someone worth talking to as a peer. It was very interesting to hear that Ignatieff was at Harrington Lake after Trudeau's initial victory.

In order to get a better handle on the man, I have been reading some of his articles publications. I have just picked up "The Rights Revolution" and the respect he carries for PET and his ideals is apparent right from the opening pages. Parts of this book are like an extension of this interview.

Hearing Trudeau relate his advice to wait until later in life before getting into politics because a political person has no time to replenish his store of knowledge once in office was very prescient given Ignatieff's career path and time away before returning home to take a run at the top job. In a way it seemed as if Trudeau was publicly mentoring an acolyte.

On the flip side, when one sees the thin resume's on the Conservative side of the aisle, this might explain a lot about their behaviour. Perhaps someone who is determined to radically alter his country should have more than an MA in Economics and experience beyond politics and a radical right wing think tank to reflect upon.

These clips are very much worth watching as part of the process of getting a feel for the man who could be our next Prime Minister in addition to reminiscing about one of our greatest ones.Recommend this Post

1 comment:

The Mound of Sound said...

The clips show another Ignatieff altogether. That Iggy wouldn't have championed the conquest of Iraq, wouldn't have endorsed "enhanced interrogation" or tied the Liberal Party to Israel over Gaza. Had Trudeau seen today's Iggy he wouldn't have given him the time of day, much less an interview.
Despite all his faults, Pierre Trudeau had convictions and integrity, essential qualities in a Liberal leader which Ignatieff has abandoned in favour of personal ambition and expediency.