Constitutional Crisis: A Test Of Leadership
I was quite public about my disappointment in the leaders of all federal parties during the last election. Tonight changed all that. Each leader gave a speech regarding the coalition.
Harper’s speech came on time but lasted half as long as advertised. He misunderstood the role of the Bloc in the coalition (to clarify the Bloc support and vote with the coalition but have no say in policy whatsoever) and tried to vilify the entire coalition based on that misunderstanding. He ignored what he did, what he tried to do, and instead made the Bloc sound like terrorists. At the end you could see how relieved he was that it was over.
Timeliness: Check
Stage Management/Focus: Check
Content: Fail
Bilingual: Fail
Calm Leadership: Fail
Score: 2/5 (40%)
Dion’s speech came very late, was nearly incomprehensible, and the camera was focused on the background, not Dion. He made his argument but it was not the strongest or clearest argument he could make.
Timeliness: Fail
Stage Management/Focus: Fail
Content: Check
Bilingual: Fail
Calm Leadership: Check
Score: 2/5 (40%)
Duceppe spoke exclusively in French and made some good points.
Timeliness: Check
Stage Management/Focus: Check
Content: Check
Bilingual: Fail
Calm Leadership: Check
Score: 4/5 (80%)
Layton appeared in front of the locked doors of Parliament, spoke in both English and French, and made the strongest case for the coalition since my blog entry on the subject. He was clam, concise, confident, reasonable, and had dates and facts to back him up. He seemed every bit the strong leader, straddling the usual things that divide Canadians and his passion for the citizenry came through. This wasn’t the Layton we’ve seen for years – the critic with a smirk ready to jump on and oppose any misstep of the government. This was reasoned, conciliatory, polite, and frankly, Canadian. In my opinion Jack Layton is the first of the current leaders to pass the test of leadership.
Timeliness: Check
Stage Management/Focus: Double-Check
Content: Double-Check
Bilingual: Check
Calm Leadership: Check
Score: 7/5 (140%)
I have already expressed my views on the coalition, they have not changed and I won’t stir the pot by re-stating them. But as a matter of who presented the best leadership in this crisis Layton by far outshined the field and thus I have to give it to the coalition.
