Liberal Pary of Canada & abortion 1: Of Justin Trudeau and other dimwits

I grew up in a politically conservative household--that's Conservative with a capital C to be sure. Had you given my late father the authority to add a fourth personage to the Trinity, he would have chosen former Progressive Conservative prime minister John Diefenbaker (1957-1963). He also had a very high regard for Conservative Prime Ministers Joe Clark and Stephen Harper, although he couldn't stand Brian Mulroney. Dad ran for the Tories in 1979 during the brief Clark leadership.

I don't remember much about the Diefenbaker years. I was in high school when he was succeeded by Liberal Prime Minister Pearson--famous for his bow ties--whose distinguished career is nicely summarized by Wikipedia:

Lester Bowles "Mike" Pearson (23 April 1897 – 27 December 1972) was a Canadian professor, historian, civil servant, statesman, diplomat, and politician, who won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis. He was the 14th Prime Minister of Canada from 22 April 1963 to 20 April 1968, as the head of two back-to-back Liberal minority governments following elections in 1963 and 1965.

During Pearson's time as Prime Minister, his Liberal minority governments introduced universal health care, student loans, the Canada Pension Plan, the Order of Canada, and the new Flag of Canada. Pearson also convened the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, and he struggled to keep Canada out of the Vietnam War. In 1967, his government abolished capital punishment in Canada de facto - by restricting it to a few capital offenses for which it was never used, and which themselves were abolished in 1976. With these accomplishments, together with his groundbreaking work at the United Nations and in international diplomacy, Pearson is generally considered among the most influential Canadians of the 20th century.

Pearson suffered by comparison with Diefenbaker in terms of charisma, although certainly not in substance. He was an international figure, in his way, and did Canada proud and the world good.

Pearson's successor, in turn, was an amazing man although subject to mixed reviews--Pierre Elliot Trudeau (1968-79, 1980-84). He was a person of boundless intellect, refined tastes, a great love for Canada, tremendous personal courage, but regrettable (as it turned out) economic policies. A practicing Catholic, he nevertheless paved the way for abortion on demand and gay rights in Canada. He was also the father of Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

American President Richard Nixon called Trudeau, in his characteristically vulgar way, a son of a bitch, an asshole, and a pompous egghead (http://www.ctvnews.ca/trudeau-lectures-rambling-nixon-in-long-lost-recording-1.349373). But in a recent poll conducted by the Harper government regarding inspirational Canadians, Trudeau topped the list. Lester Pearson was also high among the choices (http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/06/15/pierre-trudeau-tops-list-of-inspirational-canadians-named-in-poll-commissioned-by-harper-government/).

Successive governments since Trudeau's day have produced (to put the kindest possible construction on it) rather middling government leaders in my view. Prime Ministers Mulroney, Chretien, and Harper can all number some important accomplishments among their many decisions, but none of these gentlemen could be said to have the political heft of either Trudeau or Pearson, or the ability to excite that Diefenbaker could create at his best. Harper especially is probably the nation's best cure for insomnia.

But let's follow this devolution further. Mr. Harper has benefited from past Liberal scandals and a succession of gormless Liberal leaders to stay comfortably in power for ten years. Paul Martin had been a great Minister of Finance, but was definitely Peter Principled in his promotion to Prime Minister. His nickname, Mr. Dithers, was well earned. He was succeeded by Stephane Dion, who was certainly well educated, a strong federalist, and accomplished in other settings. But his English was very much of the cereal box variety, his record as Environment Minister undistinguished, and his campaigning ability abysmal. The Liberals tried another professor, Michael Ignatieff, who prior to succeeding to the Liberal leadership had spent the previous two decades in the U.K. and the U.S. He, too, flamed out, leaving the once mighty Grits in third place in Parliament behind the victorious Conservatives and the socialist New Democratic Party.

And that brings us to Pierre Trudeau's son and now Liberal leader, Justin. In my humble opinion (well, not all that humble to be honest), he makes a nice foursome of recent Liberal leadership lightweights. But at least the three prior to Justin had significant credentials to draw upon, even if they failed to use them wisely in attempting to give political leadership. Trudeau has none. Unlike Trudeau Sr., a widely exposed intellect and original thinker, Justin appears to be un-nuanced, even unaware, perhaps not overly bright, looking for Canada's future in his father's past.

Yet he may become the next Prime Minister of Canada.

Because of my interest in pro-life/pro abortion matters, I have followed young Trudeau's short and undistinguished political career more carefully than would be normal. In further posts, I would like to discuss his views further, and to consider a number of related issues about which Trudeau appears to be fairly unacquainted, such as religious freedom, separation of church and state, and democracy.