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Michael Valpy on Michael Ignatieff

Globe and Mail Update

Latest comment posted at 1:04 PM EDT 18/09/06

Globe's Michael Valpy took your questions. ...Read the full article

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  1. Mountain Man from BC, Canada writes: I read the article about Ignatieff as I flew from Halifax to Toronto on Saturday. I am sure that Mr. Ignatieff is a smart guy, however, why is it that the Globe and Mail is devoting so much space to one guy. I look forward to the same time and space for the other liberal candidates. I am sure that they will want the same gratuitous endorsement that Mr. Valpry is giving. ps.. are you going to give Mr. Harper the same space as it gets closer to an election?
  2. Jim Sheppard from Executive Editor, globeandmail.com, Canada writes: Mountain Man: As the introduction to this discussion states, this is 'the first in The Globe's series of profiles of the Liberal leadership candidates.'
  3. Syed Abbas of Toronto from San Diego, United States writes: With high expectations being build up in advance Mr. Ignatieff is being set up for a failure. Mr. Trudeau to whom Mr. Ignatieff is being compared to was a dark horse, and it is unlikely that he would have dreamed of being the Prime Minister when young. Perhaps he believed with justification that the Office would not elevate him but it was he who would bring honour to the position. Mr. Trudeau came to prominence when the West and especially Canada were sitting at the top of the world. Today, with new challenges, from three civilizations (Sinic, Indic, and Islamic), success among Western Leaders will mean being able to manage a graceful and prolonged decline. For Canada, it means defining a unique place in the emerging multi-polar world. A Canadian leader of tomorrow will have to have a well defined position on universality, human rights (including those of women and children), justice, free trade, peace, knowledge, and meritocracy, all served with a heavy dose of compassion. On none of these issues Mr. Ignatieff's position is intellectually or morally solid. From Michael Valpy's article it appears that Mr. Ignatieff's quest for the top job in Canada is a yet another step in his lifelong struggle to find himself. What Canada needs is a leader like Mr. Trudeau who had found himself well before he reached his 20s.
  4. Robert Billyard from Mission, Canada writes: Ignatieff has very impressive credentials but he has taken some very unfortunate positions on the Iraq war, human rights and torture that compromise his candidacy. I have heard him speak and he is clearly an acolyte/ cheerleader to America's neo-imperialism. He sees Canada as mere appendage to The Empire and he runs at a time when Canada does not need two parties of national extinction. When it comes to sovereignty and Canada/US relations the Liberals are in position of political redundancy. Unless they move left, become more nationalistic. and renew themselves in some very profound ways they become politically irrelevant.
  5. Susan MacPhail from burlington, Canada writes: Michael Valpy... re Ignatieff piece For such a fine writer, a bloated and hollow article. Ignatieff is a self-serving stick of a man. That we can judge. Then, why a whole section in the Globe and Mail? As bloated and unnecessary a piece I have ever come across. Almost impossible to get through. Neil MacPhail
  6. William Doyle from Prince George, Canada writes: I think that Ignatieff should be running for office in the USA V's Canada as he has spent most of his life there.
  7. mike clark from Sept Iles, Canada writes: I wouldn't trust a libreal ever again, as I see it they all run the same,like a dog .
  8. Carol Shani from Israel writes: Mr. Valpy's style of writing is comfortable for any reader, and he has a depth of understanding because of his background. Does he plan to write the other articles on the front runners for the Liberal Party, and with such enthusiasm? Should that be the case, then these articles are worth saving and comparing in the future. At any rate, it was very good, very enjoyable, albeit very forthright. I would expect nothing less from him. As for Mr. Ignatieff: don't count too much on comparisons with Mr. Trudeau. He was one of a kind.
  9. A. Lert from Contact, Canada writes: There shall be Federal Liberal Leadership Conventions forever. So indicates the line up so far. Yeah! This may be the first in a series of the hopefuls this time out but how many will stay through to the convention highlight showdown with thier best hope being one of leader of Opposition? Don't know, don't really care. If the great hope of the Federal Liberals is Iggy, a man, that finds it near impossible to make eye contact with us plebes, things are looking up for the true Leader this country has needed for so long. The true leaderership of Stephen Harper will be something not seen before by the sheep that have all too often voted for Lawyers from Quebec. Hey look over there. Some children wish to give their 'back to school supplies money' to a Liberal Leadership aspirant. And of course they have thousands to offer. Hey look over there. Iggy is gazing off in to the woods reminiscent of that British bloke Jackie Stewart who years ago was speaking on behalf of the Ford Motor Company. And Stewart could not convince in his sales pitch, any more effective than Iggy. 'Iggy Eyes Far Askance.' Hey look over there. It is a floor crossing Tory turned Liberal from Nova Scotia looking for the votes from the convention floor. Talk about a good spot to put a delegate X. And the list goes down hill from there. Liberal Leadership Conventions for ever. Yeah! 'Iggy Eyes Far Askance' for Liberal Leader Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. Has a nice ring to it eh? Pop goes the weasel.
  10. roger kramer from Canada writes: Michael Ignatieff is nothing more than a quisling with a parachute. He will easily be painted as a flip-flopper like John Kerry was, as he tries to explain opinions and beliefs that shift opportunistically, in his quest to build his resume, and not Canada. He is Harper's dream opponent, eliminating what little difference remains between the Conservatives and the Liberals on issues like support for overt American Imperialism instead of maintaining a moderately independent foreign policy. Canadians will be left with a choice between Steve, a supporter of the American invasion of Iraq and missile defense on principal (ugh!) and Ignatieff, who supported the Iraq war out of convenience at a time when opposing it might have actually made a difference.
  11. Paul Hesse from Winnipeg, writes: Pierre Trudeau had set his sights on a political career far earlier than Mr. Abbas suggests. I have read in the past months that Pierre Trudeau expressed an interest in politics in a scholarship application, while he was still a teenager. I have met Mr. Ignatieff a dozen times over the past year. I think those that have not met him or read his works misunderstand him. He is not a US cheerleader. He is a liberal internationalist, as was Lester Pearson. Canada has a very important role to play internationally, both in failed and in failing states. Afghanistan is but only one of those. I think that those who criticize Mr. Ignatieff fail to see that his position on Afghanistan is entirely consistent with the Canadian foreign policy objectives of Pearson and Lloyd Axworthy. It is as consistent with a human-security approach as with the U.S.' mistaken aggression.
  12. Valerie Spentzos from Canada writes: An excellent article, Mr Valpy, and not a word too long. You write so well and the material presented makes for compelling reading. It must have involved hours of research. It did confirm my earlier decision to support Stéphane Dion for leader. I hope that the glitz and glamour surrounding Mr I. do not obscure his weaknesses.
  13. Jonathan Kilius from Canada writes: The globe and mail is a liberal terrorist loving paper. #1 you will not see any puff piece on Harper from the globe they save that for liberals only. Iggy, is harder right then Harper and a latte drinking spoiled acdemic, but the globe would never compare Iggy to bush that goes only to Harper which there anti-american anti-jewish readership flock to. It's funny I was going to get a subsription from this paper but this puff piece just proves the the globe is a libearl rag. And let me guess globe, Harper is fat hates his kids and is a clone of george bush? Thank god for blogs and the internet.
  14. Back And forth from Dome of the Rock, Canada writes: Well yes moderator this is the last I need to see. Now am more convinced than ever this world of newspapers here in Canada is a waste. Comments here posted in no order from times all over the days of this week. No allowable 'to and fro' of blog writers with or at or to the article writer. Same sad situation as from one blog commentor to the other blog commentaters. Continue on news paper people. Down down down you go. And if not so pathetic, yet more a disgrace, some know of the plan you hold will soon indeed unfold. All the way to the end of hand held newspapers. It is and will be all your faults. Eddie Boy had a chance to make a name for himself and he again failed. Bring on nation wide broadband. Bring on the new burgeoning future of blogs that turn a profit. Bring on the end of elite journalism concentrared in the hands of so few. And tell that pretty boy Russel he had a glorious oportunity to take it all in and then send it all out, to the open. Fools! All bloody fools the free world over in the printed newspaper arena and all guilty by association with their collective dumbed down web site blogs. As a stupid clique you guilty practice caution as our soon to be oppressors call the shots. Bring on the end in Jerusalem. Find a verse and chapter in the Good Book that describes you and yours. Peace out Fools! I'm outta of this world: The one that pays you all to be so dumbing down. I am unsubscribing until a brighter time when all is lit up.
  15. C S from GTA, Canada writes: Why come back to Canada now? The answer is simple(really) and very much to do with timing. When he becomes the PM he will sell Canada out to his long time US buddies and undoubtedly be well rewarded. Should people who have been out of Canada for so many years be allowed to return and run for/hold public office? Maybe they should maintain a period of residence and re-etablish their loyalty.
  16. Stan Linkovich from Peterborough, writes: I thought this was a fine, in-depth article that allowed me to come to my own conclusions about Mr. Ignatieff. Neither I nor my wife found it difficult or boring. I hope other candidates for the Liberal leadership will be treated with the same objectivity.
  17. Sandi G. from Canada writes: It just recently came to my attention that Mr. Valpy worked many years ago at the Globe & Mail with Michael Ignatieff. As Mr. Ignatieff has achieved such great success wherein My Valpy is not what one would call a household word - could there be a little bias perhaps in this article? I mean, sibling rivalry, divorce and the 'not so ruthlessness' is quite normal folks. I have to wonder and don't suppose this inquiry will be printed.
  18. Ranald Walton from Hamilton, Canada writes: It seems that the prime motive behind the Ignatieff 'movement' is his similarity with Trudeau. Nostalgia for the sixties and seventies aside, the Ignatieff candidacy is weak (and unlike Trudeau, this man has been absent from the country for all but a couple of the last 35 years and has no experience in government). Dr Ignatieff would have some credibility in the foreign affairs portfolio, although his support for the current Iraq war does undermine this. With a medium power like Canada, however, foreign affairs (other than trade) is a small component of the leader's job (unlike in the UK or USA). When this yearning for a bygone era wears thin, I predict the press is going to turn on Dr Ignatieff more virulently than it did with other star candidates (Turner and Martin).
  19. Mr Fijne from Calgary, Canada writes: Mountain Man, they will give Mr Harper some room alright but not in the terms they presented Ignatieff... It was like those film trailers where before any image is shown they serve you with critics quotes, awards just so that if you do not like their movie, something must be wrong with you... Same with Ignatieff... The Toronto Left during the Clarkson/Saul era will get it even worse If Ignatieff is elected... talking about the Aztecs... Ignatieff is a very Canadian hypocrite the same we turfed last election.
  20. anu bose from ottawa, Canada writes: Mr. Ignatieff, a hithertofore unknown quantity except to a small bunch in the chattering classes. is being painted as a messiah by his backers. Why do Canadians look for a Messiah-a silver bullet to solve all their problems?
  21. livin' in T.O. from Canada writes: I wonder if Ignatieff will stick around in Canada if he doesn't win the leadership race? His commitment to any one country seems fleeting (and opportunistic) at best.
  22. Glen Krueger from Calgary, Canada writes: An intresting and well-written article. It's hilarious that many throw the charge of hypocrite at Mr. Ignatieff - what of the recent moves by the Conservative party to squelch nomination races (the Calgary West Rob Anders fiasco certainly springs to mind) while claiming to be populists and 'grass-roots' based. Politics is a game which is rife with hypocracy and double-standards; sadly this will always be the case. Oh, and on a personal note, if you're going to rail against this newspaper, the Liberal party, or any other person/institution, please take the time to at least use correct spelling, grammar, etc. and not come across as a complete moron.
  23. george macquarrie from sydney, Canada writes: Mr Ignatieff is an interesting candidate who just may be able to stir some interest on our rather boring,mundane political landscape.His support for the war in Iraq is disturbing but no more so than that of Steven Harper.I for one welcome this long piece in the Globe on Mr.Ignatieff and look forward to the upcoming articles on the other candidates the paper will be doing.As a matter of fact I hope the Globe does more on Mr.Ignatieff as to his posistion on policy both domestic and international.I also hope the paper does the same type of expose on the reality of Mr.Harper and his beliefs.There seems to be much anamosity among the comments posted concerning Mr.Valpy's piece towards Mr.Ignatieff.The fact that Mr.Ignatieff has been abroad for the vast majority of the past 40 years should not disqualify him from seeking and winning the leadership of the Liberal party of Canada.As a matter of fact that circumstance could be more of a help than a hinderance to his efforts.I personally don't agree with his posistion on Iraq but I do agree with him on Afghanistan .We as a country are' in for a penny in for a pound' .In my opinion the handling of that country as it pretains to the drug running and power structures that have evolved because of that trade will require a new and radical departure from the prohibitionary tact that the west especially north america has followed for the best part of the past 100 years.In other words success in Afghanistan can only be achieved by the formation and acceptance of a strong, democratic government in that country with the support of the majority of the populace of that country.In order to do this the profits of the drug lords of Afghanistan have to be taken away.The only way to do this IMO is to radically revamp our approach to the illicit drug trade.Canada can not do this on its own.I think a whole new approach other than prohibition must be atleast tried.Welcome home Mr.Ignateiff!
  24. harry carnie from Telkwa, British Columbia, Canada writes: Who is Ignatieff? who cares?
  25. david wilson from Toronto, Canada writes: My opinion is that the article was quite well written and informative on Mr. Ignatieff. I also agree with the thinly veiled thesis that should Mr. Ignatieff should fail to win the leadership, he will bolt for greener pastures. He isn't serious about elected office, he just wants his ego satisfied. However, I don't think that Mr. Ignatieff should necessarily be barred from running for office, but it is quite shocking to think that he believes that he should be PM when he has not been in the country as a resident since 1969. In any event, Mr. Ignatieff will probably win the leadership and then be crushed in the next general election by Harper.
  26. S Muhlberger from North Bay, Canada writes: Comparisons to Trudeau raise the question, was Trudeau all that great a PM? I don't remember Canada the Boring before Trudeaumania, but I do remember most of his years in government, and it seems T made all the mistakes most governments made in the 70s, brilliant or no. The one thing that Trudeau was not was an imperial delegate sent to whip recalcitrant provinces into line. Both Harper and Ignatieff strike me as exactly that --- they are competing to see who gets to be Washington's man in Canada. I really think that someone who has lived in Canada and worked in government and doesn't owe his prominence to foreign connections would be a better bet.
  27. J Kay from Canada writes: I can only imagine that Mr. Sheppard must violently throw things at his computer screen when he reads comments like those from Mr Kilius or Mr Fijne. How quickly they both seem to forget that only a few scant months ago, not only did the Globe give Mr. Harper lots of favourable coverage, the editorial board of the Globe in fact ENDORSED him for PM. It seems it is kind of hard to top that kind of favourable press and so far none of the Liberal candidates has received such nods. Moreover it is entirely irrelevent if Mr. Harper was to get such coverage no because a) It is a LIBERAL leadershop convention taking place NOT an election and last I checked Mr. Harper is not vying for the Liberal leadership b) the Globe had similar coverage of the Conservative leadership campaign. For the rabid right however, anything that isn't fawning praise for Mr. Harper, the enlightened Saint of Canada, and utter derision of his opponents is proof positive of being a 'lefty-rag'. It seems these 'gentlemen', whose behaviour herein is hardly the mark of such, will only ever be happy when the Globe and Mail and its forums are an echo chamber for their own narrow regressive thoughts.
  28. Jack Ryan from Toronto/Calgary, Canada writes: #27: Well-said.
  29. Mr Fijne from Calgary, Canada writes: Post #27 How do you reconcile that the globe endorsement of Stephen Harper coincided with the favorable polls at the time? Oh let me guess pure coincidence... LOL After all Sir, this newspaper is not a charitable institution and must make a profit. Soon after the Globe resumed its usual stand a la 'Mr Harper goes to Washington' type... So please lecture not!
  30. David Gehring from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada writes: Well I checked Ignatieff's website like Michael Valpy suggested. While there were weblog forums for environmental, aboriginal and foreign affairs issues, I did not find any page that formally outlined Ignatieff's platform on economic or social issues. In fact, there was more focus on Ignatieff's appearance on the cover of GQ and Maclean's. So far, I think his campaign has been more style than substance. Perhaps someone here that supports Ignatieff can tell me why he should have my confidence on domestic affairs?
  31. Jonathan Kilius from Canada writes: #27 The globe endorsment please what where they suppose to do go with the most currupt party the canadian public has ever seen(they left that to the star). Take your head out the sand the globe is liberal anyway you slice it. Just look at the puff piece for there hero iggy now go back to when the tories had there leadership convention. I'm not syaing you should not read it, trust me I like to know what the liberals are up to. But once I here Harper is Bush, or this is Bush like, I know it is a smear piece or the whole to do over the AIDS conference was a joke. Plus the Harper is fat and Harper wears a vest where definetly powerful pieces.lol If you can't see it you are blind or a liberal plain and simple.
  32. Kirov Keokuk from Canada writes: In an earlier comment on Mr. Valpy’s article I said Michael Ignatieff was a Rasputin of Rosedale and I’ll stick with that assessment. The kind of consensus that he could form in Rosedale - among the international bankers, third generation academics, and members of the investor class - is just what we don’t need. Mr. Ignatieff represents the leftwing of Globalism; he is more interested in humanitarian projects than removing trade restrictions but he shares the view that the nation-state is an anachronism blocking progress. The saying “today’s problem was yesterday’s solution” applies clearly to the recent consensus in favour of globalism and interventionism. Sure we don’t want the mythical “new Hitler” to spring up because of sovereignty concerns, but there is such a thing as over-solving a problem. If the UN and its member states had really learned the lessons of the Second World War, they would have blocked President Bush’s invasion of Iraq which most closely resembles Mussolini’s adventure in Ethiopia.
  33. Jonathan Kilius from Canada writes: 27 j kay - you done you want to come down from your pedistal. #2 Jim Sheppard are we able to have pagraphs now?
  34. Andre michaels from Canada writes: I would like to commend Mr. Valpy on his well written article on Mr. Ignatieff. Not knowing much about Mr. Ignatieff before reading it, I was fascinated and intrigued with his accomplishments and beliefs on a number of topics. I don't agree with him on some of them but I give him credit for standing up and trying to explain them in a thought provoking manner. How we lack that so much in today's politics, which rely on 5 second sound bytes and good guys vs. bad guys mentality. I am looking forward to similar articles on the other Liberal candidates. As for the bashers of Mr. Ignatieff after reading the article, I don't know how you can be so critical of someone by reading one piece on him. I still have to see him in person and in debates and understand his beliefs a little more before I would vote for him but what I have read so far has certainly increased my interest. I would absolutely love to see him in a debate with Mr. Harper. I wonder what Mr. Ignatieff's thoughts are towards right wing religious fundamentalists who have never travelled outside of the country (before being elected) and know nothing about the intricacies of world politics? Would be quite the debate.
  35. Barbara Wilkes from Toronto, writes: Where is his passion for Canada? Why would we want as a leader, an individual, regardless of his intellect, who has shown little passion for this country either in his work or by his actions over the past thirty years - unlike all of our recent leaders. He has not contributed to our social fabric by participating in our society, nor would he have paid taxes in this country for most of that period. His terrific writing skills do not a leader make - actions say a lot about a person. Instead he has clearly focused on himself and his personal interests - which is not what I would expect in a national leader. Wonderful that he has a home in Provence, France. And as a previous participant mentioned - what real leadership ability has he shown in the past - and what skill has he shown to bring diverse interest groups together to form a consensus. We do not need another 'dictator'. It is clear that there has been a focused effort by a group of individuals to bring Mr. Ignatieff to Canada and into the race. I guess the more interesting question might be - why would this group not feel that they could find a more suitable candidate in the country - someone with substantive and tangible ties to Canada - and even a younger person with vision?
  36. Rick in Calgary from Canada writes: To #1 Mountain Man: Harper already gets navel-gazing P.R. via the National Post - not to mention the CPC has turned the Government of Canada website into a Conservative propaganda tool. At least under the Liberals, the GOC site was neutral and solely a source for information on accessing government services. Ignatieff's potential is a legitimate story, and a fascinating one. I'm not convinced he would be the best choice, but he is the intellectual superior to each and every MP in the Conservative Party - especially its leader.
  37. Dr. Pinkleton from Toronto, Canada writes: 'Prime Minister of Canada' would look great on Ignatieff's CV, no? What better way to show off to your American and British elite intellectual friends than to say 'look at me, I'm the Prime Minister of an entire country!'
  38. M B from Toronto, Canada writes: I thought the article was balanced and quite interesting, and there was much in it that helped me solidify my opinions about Ignatieff, especialy the several suggested comparisons to Trudeau. If they are true, then I dislike the guy even more then I did before reading the article. How dare he come back to this country presumming to be a Canadian (a lousy technicality of a failed liberal citizenship policy) after 3 decades of absence, pretending to have the credientials to run this country. He is just another done nothing, self agrandizing intellectual, with insights on everything and a track record of nothing. Big Deal! The rest of us have been working our asses off, paying Canadian taxes), and trying to get ahead after years of Liberal mis-management, over taxation, scandal and yes 'fuddle duddle' Trudeau! How desperate one must be to think Ignatieff has anything to offer as our national leader, just because he's taught foreigners, written some articles and a few books...and Oh yes is a Harvard Man.
  39. Roger Freel from Toronto, Canada writes: Holy smokes, the neo-anderthals are frothing their ideological spittle by the bucketful today!!! Perhaps they realise that the ineptitude and arrogance shown by King Stevie and his merry band of Harpercritters jeopardises the great neo-anderthal dream: a return to the whip and buggy, the chastity belt and the strap in the classroom. I prefer Dion to Ignatieff - by far - but any of the liberal candidates is better than the current ideological nitwits who lead us by decree. In fact, I'm almost prepared to suggest that even Jack Layton - Mr Platitude himself - would be a better leader than King Harpercrite...but the Harpercrites haven't driven me completely insane! Not yet.
  40. Mr Fijne from Calgary, Canada writes: Post #34: if having an ordinary family, a no nonsense wife, respectful children is your idea of fundamentalist religious, then this country is in trouble. It is remarkable to see how another case of 'Old boys school' seems to be enjoyed by many here. Should we assume that coming from the exclusive Toronto neighborhood should give Mr Ignatieff one of his favorite 'rights' to PMhood? Contrary to you I value the experience of people who are not ivory tower academics. In fact they usually are the very successful people in a country, creating jobs, building wealth so some of the PhDs you support can redistribute it and pretend it comes from them. This is this arrogance Sir and its media cohort that I and many Canadians do not care for.
  41. Jim Goodwin from Canada writes: What a lineup. Very intelligent men looking for the top job in the Liberal Party of Canada. Ignatieff, Rae, Dryden, Dion, the Conservatives could only dream of such brain power. It will be interesting to watch this play out as I think a lot of the others will go by the wayside before the convention. Cannot wait for the next election with one of these people at the helm and to watch the televised debates, if Mr. Harper is not afraid of them. Oh and number 1 you do not need to worry about Mr. Harper's press coverage in the G and M come election, if you look at the history of this paper it always supports the Conservative Party at election time. Just because they did not back Reform does not automatically make it a liberal newspaper.
  42. G Bowen from New Westminster, Canada writes: #13 - yes, you go back to your blogs, where you can read exactly what you want to hear. And you can take all the little Harper robots with you. This whole 'left-biased media' schtick is getting so boring, and it has never been true.
  43. matt keen from Calgary, Canada writes: I cannot convey how profoundly impressed I was by Mr. Valpy's article, the choice of quality questions put to Mr. Valpy in the online Q&A and Mr. Valpy's answers to them. Kudos to Mr. Valpy, and kudos to the editor(s). I wish that the Globe would selectively edit that way more often. As an aside, I am fascinated by Ignatieff's twin convictions that only violence ultimately grounds a state and that we have a personal obligation to help one another. It sounds like Hobbes' Leviathan, save that the state there had no positive duty to non-citizens and the individual had only the negative duty to submit to the state. Those two convictions are, respectively, profoundly right-wing and profoundly left wing, such that I agree with Mr. Valpy in that Ignatieff would seem to be disposed to a place on the 'third way'/Clintonian/Blairite platform.
  44. Have Pun, Will Travel from Canada writes: It seems to me that Mr. Ignatieff thinks for himself. Why is he running for the Liberal leadership??????
  45. Michael G. Ladouceur from Hamilton, Canada writes: Thanks to Michael Valpy (and the Globe and Mail) for taking the risk of using up a lot of print to write an in-depth article on an important personality who could ostensibly be steering Canada in the future. It took me 67 minutes to read the article and I didn't begrudge a single minute - it was a breathless exposé of a fascinating life thus far. I do not see Mr. Ignatieff's absence from Canada as a handicap in any way, in fact his international experience and knowledge of global issues would likely enhance Canada's respect as an international broker in these troubled times (unfortunately sorely needed). I was more troubled by Mr. Ignatieff's support for the war in Iraq as well as his limited support for torture under certain circumstances. His moral compass did not come through in the article, so I am now readiing Blood and Belonging in the hope of gaining some more insight into what shapes thinking at this level. I'm looking forward to reading the next installments on your Liberal leadership candidates.
  46. A C from Canada writes: Let's review the 'fair and balanced' reporting the G&M has provided on the liberal candidates so far: Hedy Fry - buried in the middle of the front section of the Monday edition, 2 pages on the internet edition - 1,584 word article Michael Ignatieff - an unprecedented almost cover to cover article in Saturday's Focus section, 18 pages on the internet edition - 15,882 word article (10x Ms. Fry's article!) I am not a Liberal and don't have a particularly strong bias towards either person as a leadership candidate, but even a casual follower of Canadian politics knows that Ms. Fry's background and experience is as rich as Mr. Ignatieff's and well worth learning about at the same layer of detail provided by Mr. Volpy. When I see this kind of blatant editorial prejudice from the G&M, I'm left to think about seriously reconsidering my annual subscription to the paper.
  47. Andre michaels from Canada writes: Mr Fijne (#40). I have no problem with people being religious fundamentalists but I do have a problem when their religious biases permeate their political principles and affect logic and facts (e.g. Mr. Harper). There has to be a distinction between church and state or we will become no better than those countries fighting religious wars in other parts of the world. Also, if you look at todays society and press where everything is boiled down to 30 second spots and one liners, there is no serious debate anymore about issues and the complexity that defines them. That's what I liked about the piece on Ignatieff. He seems to be a guy who questions our fundamental ideals and is strong enough to challenge them. I want to find out more about his beliefs and this encourages me to read more about not just his thoughts but others too. Isn't that an amazing thing about literature. The more you read, the more you want to read. But I guess that is only for the academics in their ivory towers.
  48. Roger Freel from Toronto, Canada writes: Holy smokes, the neo-anderthals are frothing their ideological spittle by the bucketful today!!! Perhaps they realise that the ineptitude and arrogance shown by King Stevie and his merry band of Harpercritters jeopardises the great neo-anderthal dream: a return to the whip and buggy, the chastity belt and the strap in the classroom. I prefer Dion to Ignatieff - by far - but any of the liberal candidates is better than the current ideological nitwits who lead us by decree. In fact, I'm almost prepared to suggest that even Jack Layton - Mr Platitude himself - would be a better leader than King Harpercrite...but the Harpercrites haven't driven me completely insane! Not yet.
  49. Mr Fijne from Calgary, Canada writes: Post #34: if having an ordinary family, a no nonsense wife, respectful children is your idea of fundamentalist religious, then this country is in trouble. It is remarkable to see how another case of 'Old boys school' seems to be enjoyed by many here. Should we assume that coming from the exclusive Toronto neighborhood should give Mr Ignatieff one of his favorite 'rights' to PMhood? Contrary to you I value the experience of people who are not ivory tower academics. In fact they usually are the very successful people in a country, creating jobs, building wealth so some of the PhDs you support can redistribute it and pretend it comes from them. This is this arrogance Sir and its media cohort that I and many Canadians do not care for.
  50. Jim Goodwin from Canada writes: What a lineup. Very intelligent men looking for the top job in the Liberal Party of Canada. Ignatieff, Rae, Dryden, Dion, the Conservatives could only dream of such brain power. It will be interesting to watch this play out as I think a lot of the others will go by the wayside before the convention. Cannot wait for the next election with one of these people at the helm and to watch the televised debates, if Mr. Harper is not afraid of them. Oh and number 1 you do not need to worry about Mr. Harper's press coverage in the G and M come election, if you look at the history of this paper it always supports the Conservative Party at election time. Just because they did not back Reform does not automatically make it a liberal newspaper.
  51. G Bowen from New Westminster, Canada writes: #13 - yes, you go back to your blogs, where you can read exactly what you want to hear. And you can take all the little Harper robots with you. This whole 'left-biased media' schtick is getting so boring, and it has never been true.
  52. matt keen from Calgary, Canada writes: I cannot convey how profoundly impressed I was by Mr. Valpy's article, the choice of quality questions put to Mr. Valpy in the online Q&A and Mr. Valpy's answers to them. Kudos to Mr. Valpy, and kudos to the editor(s). I wish that the Globe would selectively edit that way more often. As an aside, I am fascinated by Ignatieff's twin convictions that only violence ultimately grounds a state and that we have a personal obligation to help one another. It sounds like Hobbes' Leviathan, save that the state there had no positive duty to non-citizens and the individual had only the negative duty to submit to the state. Those two convictions are, respectively, profoundly right-wing and profoundly left wing, such that I agree with Mr. Valpy in that Ignatieff would seem to be disposed to a place on the 'third way'/Clintonian/Blairite platform.
  53. Have Pun, Will Travel from Canada writes: It seems to me that Mr. Ignatieff thinks for himself. Why is he running for the Liberal leadership??????
  54. Michael G. Ladouceur from Hamilton, Canada writes: Thanks to Michael Valpy (and the Globe and Mail) for taking the risk of using up a lot of print to write an in-depth article on an important personality who could ostensibly be steering Canada in the future. It took me 67 minutes to read the article and I didn't begrudge a single minute - it was a breathless exposé of a fascinating life thus far. I do not see Mr. Ignatieff's absence from Canada as a handicap in any way, in fact his international experience and knowledge of global issues would likely enhance Canada's respect as an international broker in these troubled times (unfortunately sorely needed). I was more troubled by Mr. Ignatieff's support for the war in Iraq as well as his limited support for torture under certain circumstances. His moral compass did not come through in the article, so I am now readiing Blood and Belonging in the hope of gaining some more insight into what shapes thinking at this level. I'm looking forward to reading the next installments on your Liberal leadership candidates.
  55. A C from Canada writes: Let's review the 'fair and balanced' reporting the G&M has provided on the liberal candidates so far: Hedy Fry - buried in the middle of the front section of the Monday edition, 2 pages on the internet edition - 1,584 word article Michael Ignatieff - an unprecedented almost cover to cover article in Saturday's Focus section, 18 pages on the internet edition - 15,882 word article (10x Ms. Fry's article!) I am not a Liberal and don't have a particularly strong bias towards either person as a leadership candidate, but even a casual follower of Canadian politics knows that Ms. Fry's background and experience is as rich as Mr. Ignatieff's and well worth learning about at the same layer of detail provided by Mr. Volpy. When I see this kind of blatant editorial prejudice from the G&M, I'm left to think about seriously reconsidering my annual subscription to the paper.
  56. Steve Konroyd from Calgary, Canada writes: Why does Ignatieff get criticized so heavily for spending a large amount of time outside of Canada, & for spending years at Harvard? Harper admitted that he had never actually been outside Canada & the US prior to the last election, & he hasn't had a 'real' non-gov't/'think tank' (e.g. National Citizens Coalition) job since he was working summers between university years. Harper did a Master's at U of Calgary (hardly Harvard-class & would not qualify him to teach more than 1st yr Econ), has been an assistant to a Reform MP, a Reform MP, the head of the far-right NCC (anti-medicare etc.), & a Cons MP. All academic or gov't-related jobs. **In today's complex world I'd rather have a 'Globe'-ally-minded (pardon the pun) person as PM. Otherwise, you end up with someone like GWB - - someone who had never been outside his own country before becoming leader (despite being very wealthy & the son of a CIA chief/Vice-President/President) !! And yet to the fawning RW sheep, Harper & Bushie supposedly can do no wrong with their 'successful' Iraq etc. ventures. Maybe the lack of understanding of the world caused Harper to praise Israel as they bombed & killed Cdns who were in Lebanon? Anyway, Stand Up For Canada! ha
  57. Cryin Outloud from Canada writes: I think Iggy sees Canada the way he did his pudgy little brother, Albert and the older, more oportunistic, elitist USA as himself. He stood up for Canada all these years the way he stood up for Albert in his new school! For all the opportunities, education and accolades this man sought outside of Canada I still feel he would be doing his best by going back to teaching and or journalism. His path into politics feels nothing more than opportunistic as it has no natural progression from where he has been and if indeed one wants to try and make a connect the dots picture it would be one that connects USA foreign policy to Ignatieff's belief that us western 'democracies' have an obligation to interfere in other cultures that do not agree with capitalism and the Americanization of the world. Ignatieff is not good for Canadian politics no matter what party or university he wants to pronounce from.
  58. Frank Godfrey from Cobourg, Canada writes: Thank you so much for printing the Valpy piece, which balanced the significant and impressive attributes of Mr. Ignatieff with the assorted baggage accrued from living abroad for so many years. Whatever one decides about Mr. Ignatieff's suitability, the fact remains we are blessed in Canada in having people of such calibre standing for public service. I'm looking forward to debates of substance.
  59. RS O from Toronto, Canada writes: I found Valpy's twittering on about Ignatieff's early sex life and wonderful girl friend at Bishop Stachan's just plain nauseating. I would hope that Ignatieff did too. Is this the best that a 'senior columnist' at the Globe can come up with? Having met Valpy on my doorstep when he ran in the last election for the NDP.... I do believe that his twittering is the best he can do. Anyway, after reading the whole thing I concluded that Canadians do indeed deserve to have Ignatieff as PM. Why do I wish perdition upon Canada? Oh I dunno... maybe just a feeling of malice against a country that was so keen on Trudeau.
  60. harry carnie from Telkwa, British Columbia, Canada writes: (researched a bit)....actually .... Ignatieff...is a man who has intelligence and some integrity.........definately NOT Liberal material.
  61. julien arsenault from quebec city, writes: Good morning Mr Valpy. From what I heard and read about all the candidates for the liberal leadership I really don't feel Mr Ignatieff is the man of the situation as could Mr Rae be as a politician. At the ultimate end of the process I strongly wish, Mr Rae will be chosen by Mr. Stephane Dion, the writer of the Clarity Act. Unfortunately Mr. Ignatieff'ruthless won't help neither him nor the party
  62. Have Pun, Will Travel from Canada writes: To Glenn Kreuger (#22), nothing personal, old bean, but you spelt 'hypocrisy' incorrectly. I'd skip the 'please spell correctly' stuff Glenn, most people in these forums have let misspellings go out (myself included) -- call it haste to make a point.
  63. David W from St. John's, Canada writes: Great! If Ignatieff wins as Liberal leader, the neo-cons will control both major parties...if he wins an election and becomes prime minister, I think we can look to the experience of the UK under Tony Blair...we will never be rid of him, at least not until he has destroyed the Liberal party (maybe that would be a good thing?)... Oh, well, at least there's still the NDP...
  64. Arnold Guetta from Ottawa, Canada writes: Inside Edition reader/mathematician Arnold Guetta writes that the gulf between common journalism coverage of Liberal leadership candidates and the real capital city and country they seek to direct requires a review of the publications of mathematicians analyzing public spending, accounting and auditing since 1961. Use the Internet, and visit (Justice Major on Air India 182, 1985-2006 and the lost $200 millions) website majorcomm.ca, go to Applications, select Aplications for Standing, select #14 Arnold Guetta, and read my three-page affidavit (after contractual support from NRC. Justice Canada, Privy Council Office etc). References on request, where they do not place public servants in hazard. The prime issue for political leadership is described in essence as including two Courts, two years to recover $6.2 billions ($Cdn 2005) and resultant reforms.
  65. Mike Mitchell from Lutz is Great, writes: Kudos to #27 for hitting the nail on the head. The reformatives are very negative towards anyone who doesn't believe harper is the greatest politician to ever (ahem) serve Canada. Yet time and time again they log their emotional diatribe of anti-left sentiments based on old issues and horribly biased views. To Kilius et. al, you judge and despise the Globe for what you call a leftist paper, despite their wrongful endorsement of harper. So why not stop trying to read a paper with intellectual thought to it and go back to the incredibly right wing and laughable Sun Media? I have yet to read a single article or op-ed. that says something nice about the Liberals or NDP but have all but proclaimed harper to be the second coming. Give me a well spoken academic supported by a solid media institution such as the Globe over a biased and spite filled party supported by the page 3 girl.
  66. GEORGE TURCZYN from Toronto, Canada writes: The biggest issue that Canada has to deal with is how politicians try to appease all the bleeding heart liberals (no pun) by bending over in anyway just to get elected. Before Harper won I joked around with a few friends that Canada needs a new party – the TOGA party. TOGA standing for Truth, Ownership, Guarantee, Accountability. The party would sell itself on 3 points if elected 1- would pass a law requiring all promises made by all politicians be fulfilled within specific time frame, if they fail to deliver on anything – they will immediately resign, that if promises cost the country any financial loss or harm that they (not only personally but that the party as well) will be held liable for all of the financial harm/loss and that before they call a new election, if a petition is signed by a majority (even 1 vote more) than the actual votes received by the elected official, it would be an impeachment and again would need to resign. (This ensures that each politician has a vested interest to do what’s right ALL the time and will get royally screwed if anything stupid is done) 2- would pass a law requiring that any party elected (PMO) to either Federal or Provincial office MUST create a web site where ALL finances for the “Government” are recorded in up-to-date (Ok maybe a week of two delay at most) numbers in as basic a way as possible so that even a high school student can understand what’s being spent where, by whom and why. 3- As soon as these to laws are passed, the TOGA party will call a new election (even if it’s only two weeks after they take control) and then let’s see who makes what promises ! They are ALL the same – making statements just to get elected- after that it’s us who get screwed and it’s time we had a way to screw them back. TOGA TOGA TOGA So instead of finger pointing as to WHO the real idiots are - WE the idiotic voters need to wake up and FIX the system instead of electing more liars who promise bigger and better pipe dreams.
  67. Rodger Harding from Toronto, Canada writes: Michael Valpy's writing always make me think. My overriding concern with Mr.Ignatief is that he is one of those politicians who attempts to cleverly position himself in line with what he or his handlers tell him voters want. I would love to see a passionate planting of the stake in the ground... in true Canadian pioneer spirit, with a preparedness to stand or fall by what he/she believes in...For me the televison debate yesterday was desperate in its mediocrioty ....! This is tragic as Canadians are defined by Liberalism worldwide...and respected and loved for it....!

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