Here is the relevant quote from Jason's recent post:
3) Michael Ignatieff should stop asking the PM questions. We need to remember that every time Ignatieff deals with Harper, the Prime Minister is pulling Ignatieff up to a higher level. That is great for Ignatieff, but right now Dion is the one who needs to defend his image from attack. While the dream team is extremely important, we still need to convince people that Dion is the leader. That is hard to do when media do not give a lot of time to the opposition party and we cannot afford to buy commercials. Like it or not, every second Ignatieff gets on the news is a second that Dion misses.
Now here's the thing. Stephane Dion is entirely passive in Jason's mind. Dion just sits there, waiting on Michael Ignatieff to stop asking so many questions, apparently oblivious to the positive effect all this air time is having on Ignatieff, and hardly batting an eye to the lost publicity.
Even in Jason's Dion-adoring universe, Stephane Dion is not a leader. In fact, the only person who thinks Stephane Dion is a leader is, well, Stephane Dion:
Dion, who calls himself a "fast learner," isn't wasting any time assuming his leadership duties after a nearly year-long campaign to replace Paul Martin.
"I am the leader of the Liberal party 100 per cent. You are either not the leader or you are the leader. There's no in-between," Dion, 51, said.
No in-between? Jason Cherniak seems to think so. Dion is technically the leader, but Jason doesn't attribute any leadership qualities to him. If he really perceived Dion as a leader, he would have written the following:
3) Stephane Dion needs to order Michael Ignatieff out of the spotlight. Stephane Dion knows his proper place is opposite the prime minister, but Michael Ignatieff has been the prime beneficiary of face-off time during Question Period. That is great for Ignatieff, but right now Dion knows this is not the time to allow proxies to lead the charge. While the dream team is extremely important, the right tactic for Dion is to take the risks personally and be the point man during Question Period. Proxies are for a different time. Michael Ignatieff ought to be begging Stephane Dion for a few more precious seconds of valuable TV exposure during Question Period.
The point in my rewrite is that that Michael Ignatieff is getting the face time because Dion wants him to. That is a leadership decision -- perhaps the wrong one, but a leadership decision taken by Dion nonetheless.
But Jason's post has Dion in a passive mode. The only way Dion will get more air time is if Ignatieff is convinced to back off, presumably by asking him very nicely.
I know Jason was trying to help, but this just utterly undermines Stephane Dion, reinforcing the growing perception the Stephane Dion is not a leader.
Amazing how that meme has injected itself so widely, even into Stephane Dion's staunchest supporters.
