Hitchin’ the Grit wagon to the right tractor
In today’s G&M, Lawrence Martin is exploring a topic that is along the same lines as one that I discussed in a posting a little while ago. Ignatieff and the Grits have been presented with a perfect opportunity to latch on to an issue that can define them from the ReformCons - the American portrayal of our health care system.
It would be a natural fit for Iggy to defend Obama’s proposed program and universal health care in general. Both men are liberal, well-spoken members of the educated class. One would think that Obama’s team would welcome such an ally.
As Mr. Martin says:
These are rocky times on the bilateral front. Trade volumes are declining, border fences have gone up. Financial tumult has walloped America and its paramountcy is challenged, at least to some degree, by Asia’s rise. This country can’t ride its coattails as it used to.
These are big challenges for big thinkers. We expected Mr. Ignatieff to respond by unhesitatingly seeking a close alliance with a liberal President whose popularity in Canada is enormous. Mr. Obama is a busy man but surely, given his contacts, Mr. Ignatieff could have received entry to the Oval Office by now, as opposition leaders before him have done.
It is not too late to hitch his wagon to this train; but Iggy and the Libs should not wait very long into the fall sitting.
Ottawa, Ontario
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