A group of people with too much time on their hands has voted Jean Chretien Stupidest Man in Canada. This is a gross calumny. Even Chretien's worst enemies (that would be Paul Martin and me) know that the Prime Minister is lacking in a number of essentials but basic intelligence is not one of them. He has not remained in office for so long -- despite being an inarticulate, unprincipled, vain, nasty liar and bully -- by acting stupidly. He understands power as well as anyone who has led this country (and that includes Mackenzie King) and will retire to a life of prosperity and happy memories of crushing most of those who have opposed him. Those foes whom he has not destroyed or outlived will find that he has done his best to undermine their future.
There is a wonderful painting from the early 19th century by Eugène Delacroix, "The Death of Sardanapalus". It shows an oriental despot in his final moments, lying on a heap of his treasures as his favourite slave girls, page boys and Arab horses are murdered in front of him. Rather than have his possessions go to his successor he will see them destroyed. In like fashion Chretien's revenge on the ingrates of the Liberal party who hastened his exit is Bill C-24 which will make it harder to raise megabucks from the corporate sector for election campaigns. Similar legislation in Manitoba gutted the Conservative party which has yet to figure out how to raise money from real people. It may be that Chretien's scramble for a "legacy" and a poison pill for Paul Martin will accidentally leave Canadians better off. Who would have thought it?
Posted by at June 8, 2003 11:48 AM