The Liberal Party of Canada has been on a downward spiral since Prime Minister Jean Chrétien retired over a decade ago. Successive leadership contests and elections have seen the Party move from first to third place in the standings. The wilderness has been long. The failures have been difficult to accept. The disappointment has been too visceral to ignore.
Justin Trudeau has spent the summer taking a walk in the sunshine, not the snow, but the dauphin has been reflecting on his future.
Late yesterday, the rumour mill revealed that the son of Canada's influential Prime Minister was quietly drawing the guidelines of his bid to lead the Liberal Party of Canada, and perhaps to lead Canada back to the values of equality, integrity, multiculturalism and federal unity that his famous father stood for so many moons ago.
The rumour divulges some telling details that bolster the hopes of a generation of Canadians who have become disillusioned with the divisive nature of today's political field: Trudeau Jr. is said to insist that every member of his campaign team be under age 40. This signals a purposeful shift from the oft-drawn well of "neutral ethnic" baby boomer males from which the Liberal Party has picked its backroom over the last 20 years.
One might also speculate that a Trudeau team would strengthen its ranks by including women, visible minorities, immigrants and homosexuals, thus mirroring the true diverse nature of the country they aim to serve. This tactic could become the embodiment of the ideals Pierre Elliott Trudeau (R.I.P.) designed.
As the details of this historic adventure will surely emerge, let us take a moment to relish in all the possibilities that lay ahead for Justin Trudeau, for the fledgling Liberal Party, and for the country we love.
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There already is a team like this in the House, that is the team led by Tom Mulcair and the NDP. This is more Liberal self serving garbage. What Trudeau will really bring is more the same. More running left, and governing right, more of socially progressive, but fiscally conservative governance, that is, do nothing. Remember the 1993 Red Book promise to instigate national Day Care, repeated in desperation in 2005. What happened to that?
The arrogance of this writer and the LPC membership is breathtaking, and, insulting. You do not have a lock on patriotism, love of nation, intolerance for things evil, or sole ownership of the truth. Woe betide us if we as Canadians fall for Trudeaumania 2.
The party needs Justin to keep doing what he's doing - be the "hero" without having any real responsibility. Him jumping into the ring now is going to hurt the party more than anything. Harper and Mulcair will rip him apart in debate, Cons and NDP will tear him to shreds in the media. It's not a good idea.
AND in case anyone didn't point it out - how does it make any sense to have a team of people under 40 years old when the candidate himself isn't (Justin is turning 41 this year).
Disappointed.
Do you have any other leadership suggestions, if not Mr. Trudeau? It is nice to shoot down ideas, but I like to hear viable alternatives.
AnthopoCan, I salute your comment and I hope that others who hail from non-traditional political career paths will join the conversation, and even write for the HuffPost, too.