Angry in the Great White North

While Stephane Dion is getting some credit for his quick action on Blair Wilson, overall things continue to go south for the embattled Liberal Party leader.

In Sarnia, the president of the Liberal Party riding association has resigned, and lobs a parting shot at Stephane Dion:

Saying she’s disillusioned with the leadership of Stephan Dion, the president of the Sarnia-Lambton federal Liberal association has resigned.

Anne Marie Gillis said Friday she’s disappointed that the party didn’t vote against the recent throne speech.

Had it done so, it would have sparked an election.

“Insiders have told me after the throne speech came down that Mr. Dion and 30 of his confreres were willing to go to the polls,” she said. “They were going to stand on their principles,” including their support for the Kyoto environmental accord.

But after meeting with the caucus, Dion backed away, she said. “The caucus all sat on their hands,” she said.

“It’s better to die on your feet than to live on your knees,” she continued. “The opposition’s role isn’t to survive, it’s to oppose. I’m a little disappointed.”

More than a little disappointed, I'd say.

Gillis figures that the longer the Liberals wait, the weaker the party will be. I guess there is no way to know for certain, but it is clear that Gillis' very public statements add to the dull roar of discontent that Stephane Dion cannot seem to silence.

How many more riding presidents are "disappointed", but are wondeirng if there is a way for them to keep their job, and have Stephane Dion take the walk to the exit door instead?

We can only speculate, but here is something concrete to consider. Until now, discontent with Stephane Dion as leader has been concentrated in Quebec. Now a sitting riding president in Ontario has decided that she can't work with Stephane Dion, or even wait patiently until Stephane Dion's time as leader comes to an end. She couldn't even quit quietly, but felt that for the best of the party, she had to publicly slam Stephane Dion.

Discontent in Ontario breaking out in public? That is bad for the Liberals. Very bad indeed.

[Meanwhile certain partisan supporters of Stephane Dion try to explain how the resignation of an Ontario riding president who slags the leader on her way out is really not a big deal.]