More Leadership Questions for Stéphane Dion

March 28, 2008

Yesterday, as grumbling and discontent within the Liberal Party reached new heights, Stéphane Dion made an alarming confession. Facing serious questions about his leadership, Mr. Dion told reporters that he wants to see fewer headlines about his leadership.

It says a lot about the current state of the Liberal Party when its leader measures success by whether he can avoid attention.

The easiest way for Mr. Dion to ensure that his leadership stops being a problem is to start acting like a real leader.

Rather than promising over a hundred billion dollars in new spending, Mr. Dion could deliver a full costing of Liberal Party promises. To date, Stéphane Dion has failed to do so.

Rather than flip-flopping about his position on an elected, accountable Senate and his plans to raise the GST, Mr. Dion could actually tell Canadians where he stands. To date, Stéphane Dion has failed to do so.

Rather than attack the budget and environmental plans of the Conservative Government, only to turn around and let those initiatives pass, Mr. Dion could stand up for what he believes in. To date, Stéphane Dion has failed to do so.

Rather than threatening to bring down the government time after time, only to repeatedly back down, Mr. Dion could follow through with his big talk or stop making empty threats and admit the Liberals are not ready for an election. To date, Stéphane Dion Liberals are questioning Stéphane Dion’s leadership because Canadians are questioning Stéphane Dion’s leadership. When a leader cannot make priorities, refuses to cost his promises, and talks big but never follows through, he should not be surprised when even those closest to him conclude that he’s just not worth the risk.

Stéphane Dion. Not a leader. Not worth the risk.