More interesting still, Mr. Castonguay’s profile of Mr. Mulcair reveals a politician, nicknamed “the grizzly,” who by virtue of intellect, force of personality and simple bloody-mindedness, came to be feared by his political opponents. “From the very beginning he was a pitiless warrior,” veteran Quebec Liberal politician Pierre Paradis told Mr. Castonguay.
That just wouldn’t do, in opposition to Stephen Harper, now would it? Better to put someone more timorous up against the most effective and ruthless Conservative leader Canadians have seen, possibly, since Sir John A. Macdonald. Perhaps NDP supporters can then watch, in horrified fascination, as Mr. Harper feeds their new leader through the wood-chipper. Brian Topp, Peggy Nash and Paul Dewar can be described as many things. Pitiless warrior is not among them