Reflections

Well, there certainly is no shortage of opinion on last night's by-elections. Whether you read the blogs or the papers, there is everything from finger pointing, to panic.

I subscribe to neither camp. I do however think it's time for reflection, to chart a course going forward. To ignore the mistakes made or worse, suggest there were none and blithely roll along, would be a huge error mistake in my view.

Dion has taken responsibility, as he should, and now it's his job to analyse what needs to change. Those who suggest that all the blame should be laid at his feet and are calling for his ouster, are not thinking straight, imo. Now is not the time to fracture the party even further by suggesting a new leader. It's time to really focus on any existing fractures and deal with them now.

I'm afraid I don't understand people, who have seen how destructive internal rivalries are, go on to make a decision to perpetuate them. If the Liberal party, wants to survive, let alone win, those who have supposedly been stirring the pot, should be exposed and fired.

While I do not think Dion has received enough coverage for all the good work he did this summer, I do think he was wrong not to spend more time in Quebec. I also think other MP's from Quebec need to get out there to gain a sense of what constituents are looking for from the Liberal party.

The Lib's are not going to get any help from the media, that's become obvious, so they have to find a way to break through that.

Anyway, there are lessons to be learned, let's learn them without self-flagellation.