Tory Turmoil Continues - Legacy of Williams?

Here we go again. Back to square one. A new leadership process for the Tories begins as it did the last time.

Same group of people who may run.

Each day brings word of one of the list saying no.

Each day brings another Kent musing.

Media covering the same nonsense once again with almost the same panting breath.

The best we have so far is John Ottenheimer has announced he is running. Whoopee!

Is he how we describe renewal? Is he how we get new ideas? Is he the definition of fresh?

Nice fellow - John - despite his agreeing to do many things we have problems with. Is this the result of the Danny Williams leadership legacy?

Surround yourself with weak followers - surround yourself with obedient "colleagues" and voila you get leadership potential deficit.

A real leader surrounds him/herself with strong people - those with ambition and drive - those who strive to learn - listen - and lead.

One would figure there would be clamouring to get the top job after Williams left. He appointed Kathy Dunderdale to be an "interim" leader - while all other potential "new" leaders came to the for. Who did we get? We got lots of mumblings, whispers, and speculation. We had Brad Cabana try to run - but was determined "ineligible". So after all the fumbling, bumbling, and mumbling - Kathy was appointed.

Then Kathy the "interim" left - we should have expected the door to the candidacy locker to be kicked down - charged - and jammed with leadership hopefuls.

I woke-up one day and the media had a dozen or so waiting to come forward. Inside caucus - outside caucus - a retired army general, retired politicians, defeated politicians, a lobbyist, a retired fellow from the west coast, a fish merchant, and a grocer.

Day by day - the media plucked one off the list. We were down to three. Coleman, Bennett, and Barry. Danny did not like Barry and declared who he would not support. Delegate meetings were taking place before the actual campaign started. Bennett was thrown out of the race - Barry was procedurally crippled by the process and all we had left was one. No race again.

So the Premiership was Coleman's - the party had a leader and an election should have been called. Marshall stood in the House of Assembly and basically said his good-byes as he prepared to move over and let Frank take the helm. Sure before the handover occurred the Premiers Office staff went through a gutting putting Coleman's people in before he himself arrived.

Joan Shea quit so there was one seat open. Nope - Frank was not taking that one - so it became obvious that Tom Marshall was leaving his seat and Coleman could run at home.

Before a by-election could be called in St. George's - Stephenville East - the Premier appointed was gone - as quick as he came - with all his staff at the ready in the office he would never take over.

One clear sign of a good leader is that he/she has a reasonable succession plan. Draw your own conclusions.

Regardless, call an election now - your party mess is not our mess and is not the mess of government.