U.S. President Joe Biden stands with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, on the first day of the G7 summit, in Savelletri, Italy, on June 13.Yara Nardi/Reuters
Progressive-minded voters in Canada and the United States share a common question today: How did we end up in this mess?
Americans who loathe the prospect of con man Donald Trump returning to power are legitimately furious that the Democratic Party allowed itself to support someone in his 80s for the party’s presidential nomination. Gee, what could go wrong?
As it turns out, a lot. It shouldn’t have mattered that Joe Biden has done a commendable job as President. There were plenty of signs of cognitive and physical decline that should have disqualified him from running again. The recent debate with Mr. Trump revealed just how serious his mental faculties have deteriorated. But because of his own selfishness, and the self-centredness of the sycophants surrounding him, there appears little chance he will do the right thing and make way for a more attractive candidate.
The prospect of a debate between Mr. Trump and, say, California Governor Gavin Newsom standing in as the Democratic presidential nominee, makes the mouth water. Mr. Newsom would destroy Mr. Trump. A moderator might even have to step in and stop the debate it would be so one-sided.
Pete Buttigieg, the current U.S. Transportation Minister, would likewise have a field day with Mr. Trump in a debate. And so would many others. The Democrats have lots of attractive options – which is more than you can say for the federal Liberal Party of Canada.
Like their progressive counterparts in the U.S., Canadians of liberal mind and spirit are, too, asking themselves how the party that represents their priorities and interests fell to the unimaginable depths it has today. And more to the point: how could federal Liberal powerbrokers have allowed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to drag the party down for so long without any intervention? The resentment that now ensconces the Liberal brand may take years to remedy.
I understand it can sometimes be hard to dump a federal leader who is in charge of running the country. I get, too, that it’s not a job one easily gives up, given the power it bestows on a person (not to mention the perks).
Still, there are plenty of examples of leaders who have seen the writing on the wall – or at least did so after an internal revolt – and did the right thing. Mr. Trudeau has a famously large ego. Still, it is inconceivable that he would allow his oversized sense of self-worth to destroy any chance his party has of continuing in power under the leadership of someone else.
In fact, he has already done so much damage there is little hope a fresh face could salvage enough trust from voters to give the Liberals another chance. Mr. Trudeau has sullied the party’s good name, has sullied his record of accomplishment and damaged the prospects of anyone else who might be a potential leader. And for what legitimate reason?
Is he so blinded by his disdain for federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, and belief in his own abilities, that he’s staying on to prove something? What a complete and utter fool – as are those around him urging him to stay. They, too, should be ashamed of themselves.
Are they such cowards that they don’t have the jam to stand up to the boss and deliver the truth? I understand young staffers in the Prime Minister’s Office might not have the self-assuredness to be that person. But there are other adults in the PMO for whom delivering this kind of sober message should not be beyond the limits of their internal fortitude.
If there is even a sliver of justification for such dereliction of duty, it might be the fact that there is no one waiting in the wings who has the kind of charisma and centrist appeal needed to help the Liberals overcome the deep deficit of distrust Mr. Trudeau has created for his party.
All the names routinely mentioned as a possible successor are so incredibly underwhelming: Chrystia Freeland, Mélanie Joly, Dominic LeBlanc, and Sean Fraser to name a few. I don’t see one of them being able to come to Western Canada and relate to a broad swathe of the electorate there.
Where is the Pete Buttigieg in their midst? The Gavin Newsom?
Mark Carney is whip-smart, yes, but oh my, his résumé screams elitist. And many people in this country are tired of being ruled by people they can’t relate to. It’s one of the reasons Pierre Poilievre is winning.
Had Justin Trudeau done the right thing much earlier, there might have been time to find someone who could perpetrate a progressive agenda in Canada. It’s likely too late now.