Reading a political survival strategy for Ontario Conservative Leader Timmy Hudak proposed by Bob Hepburn in the Toronto Star the other day, it seems that what he says applies at all political leaders—and not even just in Ontario. Mind you, Ontario has been without leadership for some time now and you wonder when there will be some solutions. And it is sure not just thinking of yourself as premier.
Even Kathleen Wynne does not think of herself as premier. She might be sitting in the seat but it sure does not fit her. Here she is talking about conversations and conciliation when nobody gives a damn. Wynne does not seem to have any clear grasp of the role, responsibility and rigours of the office. She appears to have done nothing in six months as premier except keep herself in office by sucking up to the New Democrats.
Not that New Democrat Leader Andrea Horwath can even think of herself as premier. She is the type of person mixed fruit drinks were invented for—she would be confused picking a single fruit drink for breakfast. She neither thinks, acts, talks nor leads her party in any direction that would justify thinking of her as premier.
And then here was Bob Hepburn trying to propose Conservative Leader Timmy Hudak as a solution. Bob notes that Timmy needs a plan to convince voters that he is the best person to lead the province. The only problem with Timmy is that he wants Ontario to be just like Alabama. Timmy seems to seriously believe that Ontario should have with no minimum wage and a right to work law.
Bob complains that the position papers Timmy’s office has released are just full of vague generalities about how he would cut all the government services and jobs. He thinks Timmy needs to be more positive.
He also advises Timmy to be more personable and to be a solutions provider. He also suggests that the Tory leader tell us more about the private Timmy Hudak. He says that Timmy could be wasting his time at political gatherings and might better speak to the populace at cultural and sporting events. (If he tells us his story between hockey periods it could really increase the beer sales.)
Mind you, this advice might not work as well for the other two leaders. While all three party leaders need public speaking training, better writers, clearer direction and to act more human, we might not want to know all that much more about their personal lives.
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Copyright 2013 © Peter Lowry
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