What We Saw

It took four ballots in a  remarkable, nationwide exercise for  Thomas Mulcair to have a decisive win.

It ended the way it began.The candidate stuck to the message. He never veered  Never allowed himself to be distracted. Even in victory.

In so doing, he compelled others to do the same. He set the tone.

Was the convention dull? Without  drama. Or betrayal. Was nothingrevealed of the seamy underbelly of politics?

Not  by Thomas  Mulcair.

Ed Broadbent's  role in the last desperate attempt to keep control in the hands of organised labour, in central Canada will tarnish his legacy.

Brian Topp's name will be a footnote.

Peggy Nash,was betrayed by the party of love. She maintained her dignity. But she has tasted bitter fruit. Nothing will ever be the same.

Brian Topp was always an unlikely candidate. He delivered his speech  like a public speaking  contestant. Every glance,  side-tilt of his head and modest shrug revealed  a self-deprecating personality.

Why would anyone believe the idea of campaigning for leadership after a lifetime of being a back room  organiser was his idea? He had never even contested a seat let alone been a winner.

If John Tory couldn't do it, he certainly couldn't. And John Tory certainly didn't.

Peggy Nash, a strong member of the caucus,a winner in her own right, in a strong  Tory  riding , was betrayed. By the party of love. That holds itself out to be the great equaliser

But none of it was  Mulcair's doing. He stayed focused.

He ran a positive campaign. He wrested control. Time and  circumstances were right .   The triumph was not a fluke.

Neither did it have to take so long. 

Everybody likes a winner. He will mould nicely into the role.

Those of us who love good drama. all the more so because it is real, may look forward to the enactment.

What we saw yesterday was finesse.

The plodding,heavy-footed domination and bullying in the Harper party will suffer severely in contrast.

The Liberal role, if it has one, is not yet defined.