Angry in the Great White North

Liberal MP Marlene Jennings wonders if there is a coordinated effort to oust Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion:

After the defeat [in the Quebec by-elections], Mr. Dion publicly took the blame and Quebec Liberals were quick to agree, talking frequently about his problems connecting with voters in his home province.

This was followed by a series of news leaks — such as Mr. Carroll’s purported comment in a closed-door meeting — that seem calculated to weaken the leader.

Montreal MP Marlene Jennings, who supported Mr. Dion during the leadership campaign, says she’s starting to suspect there is a co-ordinated campaign.

"I really don’t know but I’m starting to wonder," she said in an interview Tuesday. "I think the overwhelming majority of members of Liberal caucus think he’s a good leader . . . and possibly there are some people within the party who don’t. And rather than raising the issue within the party, they have decided to take it public. It’s unfortunate."

Longtime Ottawa observers say the pattern looks familiar to earlier campaigns against Jean Chretien, John Turner and Joe Clark, in part because of the rhythm of leaks.

"It’s every day, at the time when it will get picked up by the news cycle," said Ms. Jennings.

Uh-oh.

Apparently Marlene Jennings hasn't been at the spin meetings.

You never, ever, give credence to the notion of a palace coup.

Not musings, not suggestions, not even a hypothetical.

The right thing to say is that Liberals are united behind their leader, Stephane Dion, and that there might be some Liberals who have been too quick to speak to the press, and that the current controversy, as important as it is, is really an internal Liberal matter, and of far less significance than the press attributes to it.

Standard stuff, really, but it's important because it forces the press to stay in "speculation" territory. The only people who can suggest that there is a coup going on are the columnists.

But now Marlene Jennings has gone on and said that she is "wondering" if there is a coup in the works. That's a quote and that makes it news and that means it can go on the front page under the headline and above the fold.

Dumb, dumb, dumb.

Well, there you have it. Is there a coup being mounted against Stephane Dion? Can his supporters expect a purge to cut short their political aspirations? It's still an open question, but one that reporters can ask.

Mr Ignatieff! Mr Ignatieff! A question if you please. What is your response to the comments of Marlene Jennings that there might very well be a coordinated effort to remove Stephane Dion as leader? If your people aren't behind this effort, sir, can you at least comment on whether you would benefit the most if Stephane Dion was ousted as leader?

Thanks to Marlene Jennings, we might see senior Liberals confronted with these sorts of questions.

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