Another one bites the dust

Sigh. This news does not actually surprise me:

Globe and Mail, Friday February 3rd, page A1:

"Canada's ambassador to the United Nations, Allan Rock, yesterday joined the parade of prominent Liberals rejecting a run for the party's leadership, ending conjecture that the Chrétian-era cabinet minister would return to federal politics.

"I know there has been speculation but I'm not going to be a candidate," Mr. Rock said in a brief telephone interview in New York.

"I've considered it and discussed it with my family, and we've decided that there are many ways to serve Canada and I am not going to take part in the leadership race."

Mr. Rock's decision follows a similar announcement by Frank McKenna, the departing ambassador to the United States, who had been viewed as the front-runner, and former cabinet ministers John Manley and Brian Tobin.

His move further highlights the trouble the Liberal Party is having in attracting star candidates from its recent past, although other would-be candidates have said the party would be better to look to its future in an effort to renew itself after its election loss last month. [cut further]"

This of course follows on Brian Tobin's announcement of earlier in the week that he won't re-emerge to seek the Liberal leadership, either. I haven't had a chance to comment on that yet.

Here's the thing: Manley, Rock and Tobin, all had good candidacies to offer circa 2001-2002-2003. Unfortunately, all three were pretty much shut down and practically run out of the Party by the Forces of the Juggernaut (TM) and have discovered that they also enjoy the contributions they make in post-political life. Mr. Rock is proving a strong success as Canadian Ambassador at the UN, not exactly a hardship posting, and a heck of a spot to exercise one's intellect. John Manley has returned to private Law practice, sits on many Boards, and is training/has trained in corporate governance. He is also working on NAFTA issues ten years after the NAFTA pact. Mr. Tobin is also involved in some business (I am not personally sure of the details) and has continued to serve as a political and business pundit, mainly with CTV and Bell Globemedia properties such as ROBTV.

McKenna, meanwhile, was viewed as the next major suspect to seek the job after Paul Martin. He was serving, very effectively, I will add, as Canada's Ambassador in Washington, DC. He resigned with the change of government because a "lame duck" Ambassador not perceived to be well-connected to the Prime Minister's Office in Canada is useless to Canada. In sum: the correct move. His decision to not seek the Leadership is disappointing, though.

The common denominator with all of these Liberals is that they are fifty-ish, and have served dutifully in the past in senior positions. Maybe leading the Opposition and rebuilding a (badly) broken party, reinjecting it with

Maybe they won't contrast all that well with Stephen Harper, a youngish new Prime Minister at 46, and his even more youthful caucus. [I note, though, that wisdom comes with age and experience - and I will be keeping a close eye on Harper's Cabinet for gaffes]

So maybe it is time for a next generation Leader for the Liberal Party of Canada. Here's the thing, though: I have already written about the fact that I don't feel a lot of connection and affinity for the arrivistes to LPC: Belinda Stronach and Scott Brison. As well, it has been pointed out to me that neither of these two are particularly bilingual. How on earth will LPC rebuild in Quebec with adult-immersion style French? Manley and Rock at least had strong "Ottawa style" bilingualism from their upbringings and university backgrounds. Tobin's improved along the way, and McKenna's was adequate. LPC and its Leader must represent the linguistic duality of the nation effectively.

So, when I next do my chart of possible candidates, probably over the weekend, I will be including their ages, and, I need to invite comment on each prospective candidate's French abilities as well. I invite those comments now, or, if anyone feels like helping me out and giving me a shortcut for each of their ages, please do:

a_s_cameron@hotmail.com