As we await formal notice of Trudeau II's coronation, take a quick survey our nation's top papers. You'll find (at best) mostly cautious statements of conditional interest in a mildly competent politician whose greatest talent is exceeding low expectations. To be sure, the press does have a pro-Trudeau bias, but it's a bias of interest more than affinity.
It is that very fact that Trudeau's lack of a steely edge -- that will cause attack ads against him to fail to do what they are designed to do. Instead, they will boomerang, fostering sympathy. There may yet be a Trudeau ascendancy. But Harper and the Conservatives would do well to keep their powder dry and their attack ads in the vaults.
Canadians know that Justin Trudeau is passionate. They know that he is eloquent and thoughtful. They know that he is likeable. That is more than Canadians have known about the last two Liberal Leaders and that is why Justin Trudeau and the Liberal party have already won. That is why the Liberal Party's best chance at success in 2015 is with Justin Trudeau as Leader.
It was Marc Garneau who was recently saying, "we cannot wait until after the leadership race is over to find out what we signed up for." These comments were, of course, pointed squarely at Garneau's leading opponent in the Grit's leadership race, Justin Trudeau. But what do we do when our father-figure departs from his own wisdom?
It took two days and five rounds of voting for the cardinals to elect Pope Francis; it will probably take about 15 minutes for the Grits to install Justin Trudeau. Once Justin's leadership destiny looked sealed, the press collectively agreed that Garneau's role in this particular play would be Miss Congeniality: the loveable runner up, who, while not exactly tiara-and-sash material, could still provoke genuine pity in losing. As a potential prime minister, Garneau was always overrated.