You have a weak leader in Harper, countryboy. After 13 years of Liberal rule by rights Harper should have got a majority. But he is struggling, he is not even sure of getting a minority. As of now, he is running neck and neck with liberals.
Normally when one party has been in power for a long time, the other party comes back roaring. Mulroney got two back to back majorities after a prolonged Liberal rule; Harper is struggling to get even one.
He has not convinced Ontario and Quebec that he deserves majority. And those are the people he has to convince, not Alberta.
Well, you might think he's a weak leader, but at least he
is one. The poor Liberals have really been dragged through the mud on that subject, and now they have Iggy...who is a pure academic with zero leadership skills and not much of a personality. He consistently appears to be quite uncomfortable in almost any situation. I'm actually starting to feel sorry for them. Almost.
But let's talk about leadership for a minute - It's easy to sit back and shoot at whatever one sees on TV, but my opinion is that anyone who could take 3 political parties (Reform, Alliance, and the PCs) - with all their baggage, history, and problems - and blend it into a single entity, become an effective official opposition party, and then form a minority government in a few short years certainly qualifies as a leader. That is far from being an easy job, although those who have never had to lead can not appreciate that.
Sure, Mr. Harper has made plenty of mistakes but I think he has learned a lot from them and is applying those lessons quite well. The people that think they know everything make me nervous. He has to walk a fine line every day between being a strong leader and being a "dictator." I am sure it drives the opposition parties nuts when he has "muzzled" his people from time to time, but having a communications policy (and enforcing it) can be a sign of a strong leader. And once again, it's a wise thing to do when he is busy sorting out the various talents and strengths within the party, while making sure they don't run head-on into each other in their enthusiasm to do a good job for the citizens of Canada.
I think your assessment of Steve as a "weak leader" is off the mark, and I'm not sure what would drive you to make such a statement. I think he has made giant strides in that area, in spite of big challenges along the way. He has proven to be a competent performer in the international arena.
I certainly don't see anyone as capable as him waiting in the (opposition) wings, and he just keeps gets better every day.
