In today’s Sun: body of evidence

— 01.24.2012 01:00 AM

You’re going to think I’m crazy — or crazier than usual — but hear me out.

In politics, some folks base their advice on polls, focus groups and data. Me, I favour my gut. It generally doesn’t let me down.

For example: Back in the summer of 1990, when I was offered a job by then-opposition leader Jean Chretien, I had quite a few family and friends saying “don’t do it.” I was doing well as a lawyer, they said, and Chretien would never, ever be prime minister.

My head told me they might be right, but my gut said I should go work for the p’tit gars de Shawinigan. As things turned out, I never hesitate to tell my relations and friends, Chretien kind of did all right, didn’t he?

Which brings me, in a typically circuitous fashion, to a Toronto boardroom in the fall of 2008, a few weeks before Michael Ignatieff would become leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Gathered in the Yorkville boardroom was Ignatieff’s charming wife, plus most of his senior advisers. I was the only one wearing a T-shirt (an Obama T-shirt, incidentally).


Comments (12)

Olive on RIM

— 01.23.2012 05:00 PM

Brilliant, as always.

Heard about the shake-up while at Son One’s game last night, from some other parents afterwards (we lost, to one of the worst teams in the GTHL).  They said RIM’s stock price would be juiced Monday morning.  I wasn’t so sure.  “Too little, too late,” said I.  “Bringing in a guy who was already in won’t work.”

And it didn’t.

 


Comments (7)