Feschuk on the famous

Scott Feschuk skewers just about everyone, from senior politicians to F-list celebrities. Follow Scott on Twitter:
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Categories: Feschuk on the famous

Coming to a milk carton near you

by Scott Feschuk on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 7:17am - 43 Comments

Coming to a milk carton near you Back from some time away and, okay, very funny and everything guys but, um, what have you done with Michael Ignatieff?

I swear – he was right here when I left. Tall guy. Smart. Fairly eyebrowy. Come on, you remember him! He was threatening this and wagging his finger at that – then he flipped a pancake or two out in Calgary and… poof! Gonzo.

Has anybody checked the salons of 18th century Europe?

Don’t get me wrong: I understand the rigors of a relaxing leadership mosey grueling leadership marathon could leave even the most resilient of politicians aching for some R&R.

And I totally get that it takes a lot out of a man to exercise the will required to extract from our Prime Minister a concession as formidable as a panel to look into the possibility of examining certain potential changes that could theoretically be made to Employment Insurance eventually.

Plus, he wrote that book that totally captured the public imagination just like Cutthroat Island and 3D Doritos.

But enough clowning around, guys. Where’d you stash him?

Tags: Michael Ignatieff

More by Scott Feschuk

Anon

Last we know, he was lecturing at an obscure conference in London. He often spends the summers with Summers in France, doesn't he?

John D

The whole he's-in-France talking point would be way more delightful if it were true.

catherine

Susan Delacourt wrote that he chewed out his staff a few days ago. What a strange thing to do from a villa in France.

Anon

Susan did not write that the Iggy-Chew happened long distance. It appears he was miffed at some of his staff's 10-3 hours at a regular meeting in his office.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Inkless Inkless

Yeah Scott, he APPEARED IN A THREE-LINE BLOG POSTING!!!! What more visibility do you want? Sheesh. Everyone's a critic.

http://intensedebate.com/people/jandrewpotter andrew potter

Maybe he's two-timing us with another country.

jarrid

"If you can't show up for work on time, there will be consequence, don't mess with me" growls Iggy. An ultimatum here, an utlimatum there.

After Iggy's follow up on his June saber rattling rhetoric, I'm not sure the Liberal minions are exactly quaking in their boots.
Dee

Apparently "journalists" are allowed summer vacations but not politicians? And where have you been the last little while Scott? Haven't seen many blog postings from you. That ether in the 24 hour news cycle won't fill itself with crap.

jarrid

I don't know where Michael Ignatieff is spending his summer, but coming on the heels of his June chest-beating, don't mess with me or I"m going to bring the House down antics, it's odd to say the least.

Adam Radawanski says today in the Globe that Ignatieff''s missing in action routine is evidence that he's either not getting good advice or he's not listening to it.

One thing I'll say, this inaction on the Ignatieff's part signals to me that the Liberals are not interested in precipitating an election anymore. There will be no fall election. The Clint Eastwood garb has been stored in a locker, and Iggy's handlers have taken away the key.

http://economics.about.com Mike Moffatt

That'd be my guess too, though I'm having fun reading Kinsella's blog entries where he says the hammer of God is going to come down on the Tories any time now.

Which is pretty funny for us non-Tories, non-Liberals who have no problem going back to the electorate.
http://intensedebate.com/people/jolyon jolyon

"One thing I'll say, this inaction on the Ignatieff's part signals to me that the Liberals are not interested in precipitating an election anymore."

Maybe, maybe not. Your opinion would make sense to me if Iggy was a normal pol but he's not. I don't have the sense that Iggy would enjoy kissing babies on the summer bbq circuit. I know Harper is not natural pol either but he did summer bbq circuit to increase visibility because he wanted to win. Maybe it's a sign that Iggy is not willing to do every/any thing to win and he expects it to fall in his lap.

And Mike M, I too think Warren K''s habitual threat that Libs are going to drop the hammer any time now is rather funny. Libs raise millions of $$$ every year but they can't seem to be bothered to defend or define their leaders. What are they spending all their money on? Libs seemed to have completely lost the plot since Chretien was given the hook.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/jolyon jolyon

"One thing I'll say, this inaction on the Ignatieff's part signals to me that the Liberals are not interested in precipitating an election anymore."

Maybe, maybe not. Your opinion would make sense to me if Iggy was a normal pol but he's not. I don't have the sense that Iggy would enjoy kissing babies on the summer bbq circuit. I know Harper is not natural pol either but he did summer bbq circuit to increase visibility because he wanted to win. Maybe it's a sign that Iggy is not willing to do every/any thing to win and he expects it to fall in his lap.

And Mike M, I too think Warren K''s habitual threat that Libs are going to drop the hammer any time now is rather funny. Libs raise millions of $$$ every year but they can't seem to be bothered to defend or define their leaders. What are they spending all their money on? Libs have completely lost the plot since Chretien was given the hook.

http://economics.about.com Mike Moffatt

Agreed. Have you ever played hockey against one of those guys who, in a scrap, will yell at you 'I'll get you next time!' or 'You'll pay for it next time!!!' but next time NEVER comes? The Liberals remind me of that.

Wayne

Give the guy a break folks – after all he finished his messin with Stevie and had some time to kill so he's just visitng other countries I mean the only thing he misses about Canada is Algonquin park and that isn't going anywhere.
Dakota

I think he was home sick and had to go back to wherever he came from.

Either that or he really is the Count from Sesame Street and is filming new episodes this summer.

One!….one political retreat! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha! Two!…..two political retreats! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha! Three!….
Riley Hennessey

A+ for a Cutthroat Island reference! I was sure that movie was going to ressurect Gena Davis's career!
Mea Culpa

I just find it funny how everyone is so concerned with Ignatieff missing in action while our PM is allowed to hide from the Canadian Public and the Media. Perhaps the journalist who are so happy and quick to take a bite out of Iggy can perhaps show the same energy when addressing Harper's lack of visibility to Canadian's.

But look away, don't pay any attention to what Stevie is doing, it's not like he is the PM or anything like that.

Instead let's focus all our attention on the guy who is not the Prime Minister of Canada.

Or… maybe these journalist just detest the idea that it is Iggy and not them accomplishing something? Who knows?

*who would have thunk that a report detailing the death of 22 Canadians was released yesterday?

http://intensedebate.com/people/hollinm hollinm

Well how does it feel. Harper has been taking this shit from the media for 3 years. They have now caught on to the Count and are giving him a run for his money. A man who has been running the Liberal party since last December has not been able to catch on with Canadians even though the country is in the worse recession since the great depression. Running around the country telling each region what they want to hear i.e. Alberta and the oil sands and creating faux election hysteria shows he is not fit to run the country. His views are gradually being exposed and many of those view do not coincide with what many Canadians believe. His performance at the end of the parliamentary session was nothing short of disastrous and it will haunt him when parliament resumes.

http://intensedebate.com/people/SirJohn_Eh SirJohn_Eh

Harper has been taking what exactly for 3 years?? Criticism for not being open to the public thorugh the media or Freedom of Information requests, etc.?? That only lasted a measly 6-8 mos. I reckon from our media. They couldn't get the public to care enough about it and now they are filling their lazy summer piling onto the leader of the opposition. And honestly did Harper "catch-on" with the electorate ever? Let alone 8 months into his leadership of the Conservatives. Give me a break. Harper is tolerated cause Canadians dont feel the right mix of wanting change /seeing a better option out there….yet. Oh yeah – why dont they feel this, cause the media hasn't the access to Harper to really peel back the layers for us.

http://intensedebate.com/people/hollinm hollinm

Hello….have you been part of this country for the last three years. Look at recent events:missing a photo op, wafergate etc. Hardly a day goes by that Harper is being taken apart in the main street media because he hasn't done this that or the other thing. Come on get real. Have your read any of Jim Travers columns in the Star the favourite Liberal rag.
Freedom of Information requests? You may care about this shit but let me tell you the public could care less. I recall the same issues under Jean Chretien's regime. Piling on the leader of the opposition? You bet and its about time. This carpetbagger strolls back to Canada is given a safe riding, runs for the leadership and his defeated, supports a coalition government under Dion and then gets appointed leader. Whats wrong with this picture. What has Iggy done since becoming leader last Dec. Absolutely nothing that's what. A lot of huffing an puffing acting tough but really has accomplished little.

http://intensedebate.com/people/SirJohn_Eh SirJohn_Eh

Hello, do you take time in the midst of posting 50 times a week to actually read and fully understand the posts you're replying to? I'm pretty sure M.Culpa was referring to Harper and his lack of transparency to the public and media – in fact that is pretty much an exact quote from his post. I assumed you clued into that when you commented Harper has taken 3 yrs of s$%t over it. Your post was obviously more BS than at first blush, but lets take a look at it then. Election hysteria = Iggys fault, actually all Iggy did was his job as opposition, the fact that Harper only seemed to react to a potential election to respond to the concerns of the majority of the electorate isnt Iggys fault (was Harper afraid of an election then, woulda compleetly ignored us if he wasnt?).

John

Apparently he's been in a foreign country……British Columbia……you liberals remember that place?…..Trudeau was out once to give us the finger then on his way back to Toronna, stopped in Cowtown long enough to nationalize the oil and gas industry for the benefit of eastern pols…….yah, well, anyway, the Count (tell me he doesnt remind you of Dracula)..was in Vancouver to lunch with a recently defeated Liberal MP and former Attorney General……im sure its nothing more than for shits and giggles at what the plebs are up to.

Dee

You'd probably get a raise from the CPC war-room John, if you were just a little more vigilant about your grammar.

Entitled

Academics are entitled to their summer off.
Liberalsinwaiting

That was a brilliant post. I fell off my chair with a gut busting laugh. My oldelst child who is not interested in politics was laughing.

Keep up the funny articles. Let's hope someone in the Liberal bunker has an internet connection and is sent this story.
http://intensedebate.com/people/hollinm hollinm

Iggy has no intention of flirting with the masses. He would prefer to be in the family villa in France or speaking to a bunch of old fogies in England spouting silliness. He thinks he is going to win an election simply because he is not Stephen Harper. Well the polls tell a different story. The Liberal leader has hit a brick wall and his polling numbers show that he is considered lacking in leadership credentials where the PM beats him time and time again. The Count does come across as elitist and arrogant. Canadians don't take kindly to these kind of people who think they have a divine right to rule. He might as well continue to hide because he has nothing substantive to offer Canadians.

http://intensedebate.com/people/DerekPearce DerekPearce

Whoah, easy tiger. It's true that Iggy is stuck in the polls, but so is Harper. The brick wall you speak of is an equally sturdy barrier for the Tories and Libs. Iggy comes across as eletist and arrogant; Harper comes across as secretive and arrogant. Iggy is suspected of thinking he has a divine right; Harper is suspected of a hidden agenda. He thinks he's going to win by simply not being Harper; Harper thinks he'll win by simply not being Iggy. That's why the polls move up and down for both parties within only the margin of error from week to week. Minority governments for years folks, that what we're looking forward to.
At any rate, "eyebrowy" is my new favourite adjective and I thank Feschuk for it!

http://intensedebate.com/people/hollinm hollinm

It is the Libs who should think about what they are doing. Threatening an election every other week is not the way to win the public over. Particularly when you run and hide when the rubber hits the road.
You are right the polls show the two party's tied. However, it is Iggy who wants to be PM. Harper already has the job and that means that Canadians are not upset with Harper. Campaigns mean something and when Iggy's past quotes are played day after day by not just the Conservatives but the other parties and Iggy stands up there in all of his arrogance blowing kisses, licking his lips with his lizard like tongue, raising his bushy eyebrows and saying to reporters ..next question as he did in his press conference talking about his meeting with the PM because he didn't like the question. The media and the Libs may think that Harper is secretive but this kind of spin is ignored by the public. Canadians will make the decision in the next election not based on white noise but whether they believe Harper is better able to handle the economy. Clearly they believe that Harper is the best man for that job and the polls confirm that. By the way Harper wanting to be Iggy. I don't think so.

http://intensedebate.com/people/DerekPearce DerekPearce

Well, this is why federal politics seem to be in such an attrition mode. The Libs threaten an election every other week, and on the alternate other weeks the Tories threaten an election. It's hard to believe either of them. Iggy wants to be PM/Harper wants to stay PM. To say that because Harper has the job means "Candians are not upset with him," well, he is a minority PM and (I'm not sure what you mean by "upset") that means that a majority of Canadians did not want him to be PM.
Look, my views on Ignatieff have gone from mostly positive to slightly negative since he became Opposition leader, and I'm one of the sheep of the masses– this seems to be where public opinion is too. I don't like Harper, am largely unthrilled with Iggy, and have a chuckle when I see vociferous advocacy on behalf of either of them. I take Warren Kinsella's posts with a grain of salt, and I'm talking your posts with a grain of salt. You're pro-Harper and anti-Iggy, fine. But don't delude yourself into thinking that the public at large shares your views– only a minority of the public does. And only a minority of the public feels a similar way about Iggy.

http://intensedebate.com/people/hollinm hollinm

Canadians are not upset means that I see few if any letters to the editor asking for an election. I see no hew and cry for an election. I don't see calls to talk shows demanding the government be replaced. More importantly the polls show that the government despite the worse recession since the depression still consider Harper to be the best leader. That tells me Canadians are not upset.
While Quebec continues to vote Bloc giving them some 50 seats it will be very difficult for a federalist party to win a majority going forward particularly with the Greens taking 8% of the vote.
http://intensedebate.com/people/hollinm hollinm

hollinm continued
You suggest that Harper is illegitimate because he is in a minority. That is wrong. That is our system and votes are not fungible. He has every right to be the government. That is how our system works. Don't like it change it. Nobody suggested that Chretien with a majority of 38.5% in 1997 did not have a legitimate majority.
Obviously I don't think that the country loves Harper. However, he is the best we have at the moment. Ignatieff has not shown himself to be sufficiently familiar with the country. He speaks arrogantly as if he is lecturing students. I believe the Liberals have not renewed themselves and I certainyl believe that any party who steals from taxpayers does not deserve to govern for a long tme.
http://intensedebate.com/people/DerekPearce DerekPearce

Where in my post did I say Harper was "illegitimate"? I simply rebutted your point that because Harper was PM that was proof most Canadians want him to be PM over Iggy.
http://intensedebate.com/people/hollinm hollinm

That fact that you suggested that the majority of the population did not vote for Harper infers somehow that he does not have the right to govern and put forward his platform that he presented to the Canadian people. That is where I got the inference that you consider him to be less legitimate. I also pointed out to you that Chretien won a majority with 38.5% of the votes in 1997. That means that 61.5% of the population did not vote for him. Was he less legitimate?
Once again votes are not fungible. Each person gets one vote only.

Last I heard Iggy did not run in any election other than the last one and that was as a backbench MP. So the only thing we have to judge is the current polls. Polls consistently show Harper outperforming Iggy on leadership and the ability to manage the economy. That suggests to me that Canadians prefer Harper.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/hollinm hollinm

That fact that you suggested that the majority of the population did not vote for Harper infers somehow that he does not have the right to govern and put forward his platform that he presented to the Canadian people. That is where I got the inference that you consider him to be less legitimate. I also pointed out to you that Chretien won a majority with 38.5% of the votes in 1997. That means that 61.5% of the voting population did not vote for him. Was he less legitimate?
Once again votes are not fungible. Each person gets one vote only.

Last I heard Iggy did not run in any election other than the last one and that was as a backbench MP. So the only thing we have to judge is the current polls. Polls consistently show Harper outperforming Iggy on leadership and the ability to manage the economy. That suggests to me that Canadians prefer Harper.

Charlie

Heard he was seen in London being fitted for Royal-type robes and then in France for a sceptre.
Then it's off to the US for a benediction by Obama.
Tom

It was my understanding that at some point the Liberal party was planning on having a policy conference, similar to the September 1960 Kingston conference which has been considered to be a prime factor in developing the social policies of the Liberal party which contributed to their electoral success for the following two decades. Jean Chretien's electoral success was predicated, in part, by the policies outlined in the Red Book. (The other significant part being the country's repudiation of the Conservative party after Brian Mulroney's tenure).

Given that the Liberal party seems to be reinvigorated through policy development, I am surprised that they have not followed through with it, though perhaps Mr. Ignatieff is sitting in a Muskoka chair on the edge of a dock in cottage country coming up with one. Otherwise, the federal Liberals don't seem to have much to distinguish themselves other than the fact that they are not Stephen Harper's Tories, and while that will work in Toronto and other Liberal strongholds, it is not a strong basis on which to run an election campaign.

Here's a thought: Most, if not all, of Canada's major economic partners will be running significant deficits and operating under high government debt to GDP ratios, and that while Canada is projected to do significantly better, would it not be in Canada's best interest to eliminate the relatively small projected deficit in the 2013-14 fiscal year through a combination of spending restraint (possible selected program cuts) and tax increases. Our partners appear to be forced to do this to a far greater extent, and that will be just to hold on to some semblance of economic sanity. If Canada can produce a balanced budget during this time, then this would offer a significant advantage with respect to global investment and could pay off if terms of economic growth.

In any event, one would expect somewhat more activity from the Liberals if they are planning to pull the government down in the fall as is widely predicted.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Fred_Fred Fred_Fred

I figured it out early one morning lst week. I tuned in to watch the Tour de France on OLN and there he was, breaking out of the Peleton and going after the Lead Group.

He's photo shopped his picture but at least we know now how he escaped a dreary summer in the boring colony.

http://www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/RIDERS/us/coureurs/…
http://intensedebate.com/people/hollinm hollinm

hollinm continued…..

Stealing the NDP EI reforms which would cause all kinds of hardship for business and individuals with higher taxes is not a way to get elected. Harper has respect. The opposition and the media hate him because he cannot be cowed. If Iggy doesn't feel the love that means he will lose the next election big time. I don't see Iggy holding pressers very often. He doesn't want to defend his previous positions that run counter to what most Canadians believe.
http://intensedebate.com/people/SirJohn_Eh SirJohn_Eh

John_Eh cont's: You suggest he was pandering to Oil Sands related voters, on what basis? Do you assume you know this man intimately, and in the next breath talk about how much he is a stranger to the land? His performance at the end of the session was "nothing short of disastrous"…..really, you'd think the polls would correlate a Lib popularity disaster – I must have been drunk and missed it huh.

Really the last week of the session allowed Libs to dominate the headlines on the way out and keep Harpers pandering down to nil. It was a calculated move that got (minimal) action with litlle downside beside feeding the trolls when Iggy didnt live up to their fears of a quick checkmate from Harpers future foil. The alternative was going quietly into the summer with Harper likely scare mongering tax hikes us on tax hikes.

http://intensedebate.com/people/SirJohn_Eh SirJohn_Eh

John_Eh again: Do you also suggest that Harper had more accomplished in 8 mos in opposition? Or that if Iggy were late to photo-ops due to washroom breaks that you would not spend 1.5 yrs blathering on about it? Or if Iggy seemed to pocket Communion you wouldn't send the film to the finest experts for analysis or dream up lame catch phrases for months?
This man came back to Canada believing he could improve our political discourse and move us into the 21st century and took leadership (sooner and not the way he wanted to) because they thought they needed him to quickly or else be wiped out like the impact of a poor mans vote (who contributes to the party of choice for those under the poverty line if parties can only receive private donations?). Thus leaving Canada on the track laid by Russia, with a breakup looming and a one party option to (not really bother to) vote for. Nobody huffed and puffed like Harper on those opposition benches – I think it was actually good for his weight (and digestive system?) and I hope he gets back there soon.

CV from TO

Does anyone know anything about his estate in France?
Anon

Could we be missing the obvious? Is it possible that Michael Iggspeare is writing a book, perhaps even finishing Harper's book-on-hockey?
Bryan Peeler

Funny post, maybe. False; certainly
http://www.warrenkinsella.com/index.php?entry=ent…