Categories: Andrew Coyne, Capital Read

He said that?!?

by Andrew Coyne on Thursday, March 12, 2009 3:36pm - 121 Comments

He said that?!? Michael Ignatieff, in an article on The Epoch Times website, on why he did not try to form a coalition government:

I could be sitting here as your prime minister, but I turned it down because I didn’t think it was right for someone who believes in the national unity of my country to make a deal with people who want to split the country up.

This is just an extraordinary statement. One, it validates everything the Conservatives have said about the coalition: that it did, indeed, put the Liberals in bed with the separatists. And two, as a Conservative spokesman took about a millisecond to point out, if he was so opposed to doing a deal with “people who want to split the country up,” why did he sign that letter to the Governor General, expressing his support for the coalition and urging her to put it in charge of the country? If it was right then, why is not right now? And if it is not right, why is it not? After all, weren’t we told over and over at the time that the Bloc were not “enemies of Canada“, but the duly elected representatives of the people of Quebec?

Ignatieff’s instincts on the coalition were, and are, sound. He may even sincerely believe what he is saying. But he didn’t act on those beliefs when it counted. And the Conservatives are going to make him wear it. Especially after this.

Tags: coalition government, Michael Ignatieff

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herringchoker

More importantly, what exactly is The Epoch Times?

mighthavebeen

Yeah it’s a dubious source of information, but if those are his direct quotes…

Randy

I see copies of it floating around Queen’s campus every now and then.

I’d rather be caught quoting wikipedia.

Neil from Calgary

Enter Liberals, stage right. Let the spin begin…
Paul Wells

But..but…passing the budget today!!!
Scott M.

If not a misquote, definitely a misstep.
avr

It’s a free newspaper, generally quite internationalist in editorial slant; it was originally founded by Chinese expats to counter PRC propaganda, as I understand it. I have no idea about its reach elsewhere, but it has boxes everywhere in Ottawa, next to those of the other free transit dailies.

That said, we’re only complaining that Ignatieff committed a Freudian slip? Really? The colossal arrogance of “I could have been PM, but I want it on my terms” doesn’t even register?
Wayne

I hate to point out a rather glaring point but when Mikey said he would be PM right now if the coalition had gone through …. well I mean wasn’t Dion the leader at the time and is Mikey sure the party would have chosen him as leader If Dion were PM? Am I missing something here – Mikey needs to learn about giving too much out at interviews as his shoes might start to taste as bad as his political decisions of late.

http://andrewcoyne.com Andrew Coyne

I think he’s referring to his decision to break with the coalition and support the budget, rather than defeat it and try to form a government.

madeyoulook

Let me try a third angle: I think he’s referring to not adopting the same ill-fated strategy that just felled his predecessor. He could have been our PM if a whole bunch of if’s improbably fell into place following Dion’s flameout. He wisely opted not to attempt it.

DR

Ill-fated strategy…like not voting for (or against) a budget and then bitching about it?

herringchoker

Well put.

Of course as Mikey seems to have 20:20 hindsight, I expect he’ll soon start telling us how he turned down the offer to return to his rightful place as Tsar of all the Russias.

Joan Tintor

No way: that’s Plan B.

Derek

Andrew Coyne, the next journalist to be appointed to the Senate.. by Stephen Harper.

sf

So, you are implying that journalists are not supposed to report negatively on leaders of the opposition.

I disagree.
Critical Reasoning

Yes, Derek. Every columnist who points out a massive Liberal gaffe is a shameless Tory hack, regardless of how critical he is Harper in his other columns. If only the media saw things as clearly as you do.

catherine

Well, having to quote the Epoch Times to do so does make one wonder.

I think Angelo Persichilli was at the same meeting and wrote about it — isn’t there anything in his column that could be used?

sf

He did not quote the Epoch Times, he quoted Ignatieff, the quote being found in the Epoch Times. It’s the quote itself that is the subject matter.

steveh

the newsprint industry sees the writing on the wall. Andrew has foresight
john g

Derek, you are a fool. Perhaps you missed the essay Andrew wrote condemning Harper for abandoning conservative principles? Or the 6 week crusade Andrew led against David Emerson’s appointment to Harper’s cabinet? Or any of the countless other opportunities Coyne has taken to slam Harper?

Comments like this are the product of the media environment we have today. Critics of the Liberals are so few that anyone who dares step up to criticize the Liberals is branded a Conservative hack.

Derek

When does he really slam Harper? And condemning Harper for abandoning conservative principles is a good way of saying you wish they’d go back to the “‘real conservative principles” because you truly believe in them!

Chuck VS Macleans

I agree with Derek, Coyne has been a shill for Harper, and also Martin Chretien and Mulroney. Coyne is a government man, and supports every government that is in power.(sarcasim off).

Dee

Coyne’s reports stimulate discussion which is what an editor / reporter is supposed to do.

Do you really want to be spoon fed on how and what to think?

Blues Clair

Critics of the Liberals are so few

Dereck you fool, only john g is allowed to complain about media bias.

madeyoulook

Maybe he recognizes his side lost the PR game and if-you-can’t-beat-’em…
Maybe he truly believes it and is offering a refreshing bit of, what’s the word, honesty.
I am not so sure it’s the misstep you think it is. Especially if the Tories keep locked on the ethnic cuisine critic talents of a certain backroom Liberal (who is unnamed here at present to avoid myl and Rogers getting served with papers).
Austin So

Hmmm…short term memory is not good for people attempting the populist slant who are not good at it. Maybe it would be in Kinsella’s interest to remind himself that Ignatieff is not Chretien…

Austin So

Man I wish there was an editing button…

Stephen

Why is anyone surprised by Ignatieff’s re-write of history?

This is his standard method.

PolJunkie

Couldn’t have said it better.

Mike T.

I guess being out of the country for so long he didn’t really have time to brush up on the niceties of how parliament works, a fact true of many others and something the tories capitalized on at the time.

Mike T.

or maybe the punch was spiked with CPC Kool-aid.

Critical Reasoning

Does CPC Kool-aid taste the same as LPC Kool-aid? I tend to avoid artificial flavoring, but I’ve heard that the LPC brand has a fruitier bouquet and a silkier mouth-feel, while the CPC brand has more of a oaky palate, with a faint aftertaste of bile.

Chuck VS Macleans

CPC kool-aid is way better. When you drink it, the “Oh,Ya” feels way better..

sbt

Well, I guess Ignatieff’s defence would be that he never actually intended to vote for the deal in the HoC which is where it actually counts. I think the letter he signed said something to the effect that the coalition should take over upon dissolution without proceeding directly to an election. Ignatieff could always argue that he would never have allowed dissolution to occur which would have effectively killed the deal. However, because Harper prorogued Parliament, we’ll never know. Of course, I wouldn’t believe Ignatieff if this was his argument but I’d give him marks for trying.
http://299bloorcallcontrol.com Laurence

I wouldn’t take anything The Epoch Times says seriously. The paper, at least in Canada, is obscenely amateur – many a time I’ve caught bad spelling mistakes and major factual errors. Not to mention it’s backed heavily by Falun Gong activists – a group I find as hard to believe in their propoganda as the Chinese government in theirs. What I strange is that it’s the second time that this paper has been quoted recently with pro-Tory or anti-Liberal quotes.

Note that the Tories heavily supported and patronized the “Extravaganza” shows by the “Divine Performing Arts” groups. Just look at the list of Conservative politicians that are ‘gushing’ at their shows:
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/features/dpa/regions/canada/ottawa/

http://299bloorcallcontrol.com Laurence

http://www.divineshows.com/node/5328

Addressing the reception, Baird said, “I don’t think we realize how lucky we are, in the Ottawa area, in the National Capital Region, to have the performance stop here.”

“I didn’t receive a letter myself, but I was here last year and I am very happy to be here again this year,” said Baird.

Canada’s Governor General Michaëlle Jean sent a greeting letter, as did Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

“I have no doubt that audiences will delight in the exceptional showcase of colourful, handmade costumes, brilliant choreography and outstanding musical compositions,” said Harper in his congratulatory message.

Over ten other greetings were received from other Canadian government officials, including Minister of Public Safety Stockwell Day, Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Diane Finley, Minister of State and Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity) Jason Kenney, Chair of the Conservative Caucus Rahim Jaffer, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario David Onley, and Ottawa Mayor Larry O’Brien.

avr

I don’t think it’s so much a sign of bias than, as you say, amateurism; a lot of their reporting has the flavour of barely-rewritten press releases. As a newspaper, if you’re relying on that to fill pages, then whoever supplies the most is effectively going to ‘win’ their coverage by default, yes?

archangel

I hope the Count is practicing his Russian Folk Dance.
Blues Clair

Don’t worry Ignatieff; Harper prorogued parliament after sitting for just two weeks, broke his own fixed election date law, said no deficits, didn’t unveil his platform till last week of the election, cadman, in and out… you know, the Canadian public are awfuly forgiving of their politicians. Carry on.

Angela K

Nailed it.
Although so many Canadians are thick skulled and won’t remember any of that.

Boethius

As evidenced by falling for Harper’s lies about the “coup d’etat”?

Angela K

Exactly. No one understood that we don’t elect a single Prime Minister will all the power to govern, but instead we elect parliamentarians who then form a governement.
I’m glad there are some people out there who finished their grade 10 civics class but for the rest, they need to get a real education.

Catherine M.

“I have a respectful but fundamental disagreement with my Bloc colleagues,” he said. “Many of them are friends; I get on with them. And I didn’t like the way Harper called them traitors to the country. I thought he stirred up antagonism between east and west, between Francophones and Anglophones in the crisis in December. I disagreed with that.”

Mr. Ignatieff

Harper is divisive. Mr Soudas, is stirring the soup for Mr. Coyne.
wilson

”…I didn’t think it was right for someone who believes in the national unity of my country to make a deal with people who want to split the country up…”

next question
Would you form a coalition with the NDP and seize government, if the Bloc seats were not needed ?
Wascally Wabbit

Someone should pick up on the source – and why Mr. Ignatieff is quoted as apparently talking to this source.
The members of the Falun Gong religious group who have been persecuted in PRC – have actually successfully sued the PRC in Canadian courts – more symbolic victory than substantive – but they paid a pretty expensive lawyer to represent them – so they have must some financial clout.
Mr. Ignatieff – musing aloud in on the record interviews – without his trademark “on the one hand on the other hand” cover – is leaving himself open to just the same criticism that his predecessor suffered – people having difficulty understanding what he is talking about and where he thinks he is going!
A grudging hat tip to Mr. Coyne for trying to interpete what he might have been trying to say (for I must say – for Mr. Coyne to do anything beneficial for anyone of the Liberal brand is a rare occurence).
random72

The Epoch Times? Am I the only one who thinks that sounds like something that originates in a college dorm or a dark basement? Andrew, I’m onside with much of what you say, but surely there is a better source. You know, a publication that people have actually heard of. Then again, this ‘exclusive’ story barely caused me to raise an eyebrow. Ignatieff now (3 months later) admits, what was plainly evident in December when he took over- there was no way on earth he’d ever actually get into bed with the NDP and the Bloc. In the abstract? Sure. In the abstract I drive an M5 and live in Monaco. Reality? Not so much. The man simply admitted what most observers (including many of your fellow pundits) believed to be true all along.

Come to think of it, maybe it makes sense that no real news organs have touched this so-called story.
mary davis

Andrew, it seemed that you admired and respected Ignatieff-are you disappointed?
David Bakody

The Coalition move has proved to be one smartest moves to get a Finance Minister Moving, Drive a Spike in a PM’s Coffin, Remove a Leader, Install a new Leader, move the third and fourth parties to bleachers and give political junkies much to talk about. So turn the page and lets find out how long the Americans borrow money at 19% interest and add to the National Debt of now over $11,000,000,000,000 growing at $8B/day ….. is that more newsworthy than what ever any politician says?

Now here this …… America has two years to fix the world or we all go down “Big Time” you do the math and do not forget to look for the additional trillions the Americans borrowed under the table. It now the worst of times and the best of times. to be continued ………

Critical Reasoning

So turn the page and lets find out how long the Americans borrow money at 19% interest and add to the National Debt of now over $11,000,000,000,000
.
The US “National Debt” is public debt, which means government debt. It has nothing to do with credit card debt, or other private debts. At the moment, the US Government is borrowing at interest rates close to zero, which is a far cry from 19%.

http://macleans.ca kc

hi

Critical Reasoning

hi
http://macleans.ca kc

Ok. What’s going on? My comments aren’t appearing.

http://macleans.ca kc

I’ve had several longer pieces disappear???

Critical Reasoning

This is really screwy. The admins need to change their settings or something.
madeyoulook

Moi aussi. I have been copying to clipboard before clicking for a day and a half, just in case.

Dot

I’ve had several longer pieces disappear???… Moi aussi. I have been copying to clipboard before clicking for a day and a half, just in case.
-
It’s called QC (quality control).
http://macleans.ca kc

It’s called Coyned control. My piece was a vicious demolition of Ac’s article!
john g

This has also happened to me on several posts.
sf

Me too, I just lost one. Maybe there is a length limit now.
Dot

“HosertoHooser!!!”
DT

you guys need to get a life, really.

kody

One quibble:

“Were and are sound”?

No. It wasn’t “sound” then because he WAS willing to get into bed with a group destined to break up the country.

It’s not “sound” now, because his pointing the finger at the scourge of seperatism couldn’t be more hollow having regard to the above.

As for his “instincts” they appear to be this: any way the political wind blows, that’s where he’ll go.

But you are ohh so right in concluding that the CPC will make him wear this. And rightfully so.

Blues Clair

“any way the political wind blows, that’s where he’ll go.”

Igantieff, a quick study, has been watching and learning from Harper.

Will the CPC make Ignatieff wear this? They will try, but once controversies settle down, they are hard to revive.

Dieter Sprockets

Because the conservatives said something, doesn’t mean is automatically wrong. Only someone locked in a time warp during the coalition fiasco would not realize that Jack Layton came dangerously close to unleashing massive forces of disunity and even civil disobedience.

Partisan non-partisan

And Stephen Harper didn’t come “dangerously close to unleashing massive forces of disunity and even civil disobedience”. Really?! Seriously?! Were you on vacation in another country in the fall?

Because the first parliamentary leader to brandish “massive forces of disunity and even civil disobedience”. wasn’t Jack Layton.