Finding cause for optimism where we can

I wrote in the National Post's Full Comment Blog today about my thoughts on Peter Donolo's hiring and Ian Davey's departure as Michael Ignatieff's chief of staff. An excerpt:

I do know that Donolo has a good deal of political staffer experience and Davey decidedly did not. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing depends on the day of the week. When things aren't going well and you have an inexperienced crew, the problem is your lack of experience. When things aren't going well and you have an experienced crew, the problem is you don't have enough new blood. So Davey's outsider credentials (traits also ascribable to much of the OLO team) were considered an asset and a bold and innovative choice ... until it wasn't, just like Donolo's experience will be now viewed as an asset and the obviously needed antidote to our Liberal flu ... until it isn't anymore.

Since I seem to have sadly neglected to include an obligatory West Wing reference, let me say this: you can search high and low for your Leo McGarry but, at the end of the day, it's up to Bartlett to be Bartlett. So while this was probably a good and necessary move, Ian Davey certainly wasn't the problem and Peter Donolo isn't necessarily the solution. So let's not get overly worked up here. It's the leader who will determine where this ship sails.

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