Leaders lead

With his big bag o’ metaphors having been depleted after some weeks testing the waters, taking the temperature, checking the pulse, and dipping his feet in the pool of a possible Liberal leadership bid, John Manley said no thanks to a leadership run today.

Manley’s decision not to run follows a similar decision earlier in the week by former New Brunswick Premier Frank McKenna, who also went through a lengthily “exploratory” process as well before deciding to pass.

While I respect each gentleman’s decision, and understand the importance of making sure you have the resources and support to make a viable bid before you jump in the race, I have to say that this sort of tepid “I don’t really feel like running but maybe you can convince me” sort of thing doesn’t really inspire me.

We like to mock politicians for their egos, but the fact is, to be a politician you need to have a certain amount of ego. Think about it, you’re saying that, of everyone on your riding, you’re the best person to represent it.

That goes doubly when you’re running to lead a party, and auditioning to potentially lead the country. You need to have the fire in your belly. You need to want it. You need to believe that you’re the best person, the only person, that can do the job. That you’re the one that can lead the country.

Now, there’s a line between ego and arrogance, and woe to those that cross it. But I don’t want a reluctant leader. I want someone that really wants it, deep down inside. Not someone interested in the pursuit of power for power’s sake. But someone with a vision, with ideas, someone who has a direction they want to take Canada in.

Leaders don't need to be cajoled. Leaders lead.

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We need a leader committed to doing some heavy-lifting

The blogs have already been all over Frank McKenna's (latest) decision not to seek the Liberal leadership. So, Liberal Messiah Search 2009 continues. I wanted to touch on his reasoning though, which seemed to go largely unexamined:

Rebuilding the federal Liberals and restoring the party to a majority government will take more time than he's ready to give, Frank McKenna said Tuesday.

The 60-year-old former New Brunswick premier formally ruled himself out of the leadership race to replace Stephen Dion.

``The challenge of winning the leadership, restoring the health of the Liberal party and returning a Liberal majority government requires a longer time commitment than I am prepared to make,'' McKenna said in a news release.

It's true, getting back into government is a long-term project. I give him credit for recognizing that fixing the Liberal Party is no short-term project, even for him. And if Frank isn't able or willing to make the commitment needed to that project, then he made the right choice in bowing out.

Whomever does run, and wins, needs to be in this thing for the long-haul, and needs to be willing to make that commitment. And frankly, we as Liberal Party members, as well as the caucus and the anonymous seniors, need to recognize that this is going to be a long-term project.

It won't happen overnight. It won't be fixed in one election. We need a leader committed to the long-term, and we need to give that leader our support and help, and the time to get it done.

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