The Liberal Red Book Is On The Shelf.....

....but it is not collecting dust and when the path becomes a challenge devout liberals will go to the chapter outlining how you can blame the winner for you losing.

Stephane Dion: The Tories are wrong, so I quit

Posted: December 08, 2008, 2:36 PM by Kelly McParland
Filed under: Full Comment,Canadian politics

Look at these final paragraphs from Stephane Dion's resignation letter.

Here's what he appears to be saying:

"I've done nothing wrong. The coalition was a good idea. All the problems last week were Stephen Harper's fault. Canadians were mistaken in electing him. He started the problem and made it worse. He's not worthy of being prime minister.

"So I'm quitting, because when you're 100% correct, Parliament is better off without you."

Here's the original:

So I have decided to step aside as Leader of the Liberal Party effective as soon as my successor is duly chosen.

... I wish to close by making it absolutely clear that my earlier departure does not change the facts of the situation that the Prime Minister has created in the last two weeks.

The Prime Minister and his government refused to lay out a plan to stimulate the economy. The Prime Minister has lost the confidence of the House of Commons. The Prime Minister shut down Parliament to save his job while thousands of Canadians are losing theirs. The Prime Minister has poisoned the well of trust and respect that is necessary for a minority government to work in Parliament - especially in a time of crisis.

Mr. Harper took an economic crisis and added a parliamentary crisis that he then tried to transform into a national unity crisis: this is no way for a Prime Minister of Canada to act.

It is my hope that the decision I have announced today will enhance the capacity of Parliament to function effectively for the sake of Canadians in this economic crisis.

Kelly McParland
National Post