Liberal Bob Rae: Gifted Politician

Prime Minister Stephen Harper Dept: Liberal Bob Rae, as anyone can see who watches him perform day after day, is a gifted politician and orator who outshines every other Liberal on the stage, including the likable but clumsy young Trudeau. New Democrat Tom Mulcair, the new kid, comes ready-made with a nickname, the Grizzly, and tales chronicling his intelligence, determination and tempered steel spine. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is a master strategist, architect of a generational rightward shift in Canadian politics, also quite good on his feet and, as the Irish used to say, handy with his mitts, according to Montreal Gazette. Rae has evolved since his star-crossed days as Ontario premier. He's now the closest thing Canada has to a Bill Clinton. Whether in the House, in scrums or in interviews, Rae hits all the right notes. He's relaxed, engaging, self-deprecating, tough when he has to be, courteous when courtesy is called for. Since Jack Layton's death, Rae has been de facto Opposition leader. That's a considerable achievement, given his party holds just 35 Commons seats and in theory, the days ahead should be the very best of times for Canadian parliamentary democracy. How could the clash of these three powerful personalities, each representing so far a distinct national and world view, not result in Westminster-style government at its finest? And yet, judging from the signs, it won't. It'll continue to be dreary, dispiriting and predictable. Because each of the three, in his own way, is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. It's the equivalent of wearing lead shoes in a sword fight. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.