Answers Instead of Responses
Last month I had the opportunity to meet Michael Ignatieff while he was in Vancouver to begin a western campaign swing and to pick up the endorsement of MP Stephen Owen. He gave a 20-minute speech and I must say I had a great reaction to him. Michael, accomplished in both teaching and journalism, spoke with a captivating mix of intellect and charm. The experience reminded me of the too few times in my university days when a professor would truly inspire, and have every student hanging on his/her every word. It was refreshing to have a politician actually give answers to questions instead of responses; to actually talk straight and not just talk points.
I’m an early believer all right. In my books he’s got the chops. He’s just enough of a politician, not too much not too little.
...Only one candidate stood apart. That exception was Michael Ignatieff, whose speech dealt almost entirely with awakening dreams of Canada's shining future. He alone appeared prime ministerial. He was a man on fire as he described his plans for a new and creative Canada that would rise above the political bickering. Trying to assess his impact, I realized that his oratorical skills were honed not on the political stump (like those of all the others on the platform), but in the classrooms of King's College, Cambridge and Harvard, which are much more demanding venues. At universities words have meaning; they are assayed for their content, and quickly dismissed if they don't measure up. His did. (Peter C. Newman - (Maclean's))
Say what you want about Peter C. Newman, (is this being recorded?) But he’s right on this one.
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