The National did their year end At Issue roundtable to look back on the past few months. Here’s a run down of what the panelists had to say, with my own two cents (off the top of my head – I’m sure I’m missing some good answers):
Best Political Play
Chantal Hebert: Dion taking ownership of the environmental issue
Andrew Coyne: Kennedy endorsing Dion
Rob Russo: Kennedy endorsing Dion
Rex Murphy: Yup. Make it three for that.
CG: Gotta agree with the majority on this one. Gerard’s walk to Dion’s box was definitely the political play of the past few months, both for impact and drama.
Worst Political Play
Coyne: Harper’s nation motion
Russo: The Tories handling of the environment issue
Rex: Volpe’s kiddie donations
Hebert: Ignatieff wading into the nation debate since it shows he doesn’t understand the Liberal Party. [hmm…I seem to recall many a columnist who claim to understand both the Liberal Party and Quebec claiming this was a brilliant play on his part back when it happened…]
CG: I’ve got to think Ignatieff’s “war crimes/losing sleep” comments and Harper/Ambrose’s handling of the environmental file take the prize.
Significant Event of the Fall
Russo: Clean Air Act
Rex: Dion’s win
Hebert: Nation motion
Coyne: “Decapitation” of the LPC old party establishment at the convention
CG: The nation motion or Dion’s win are the obvious choices here, but I am surprise no one mentioned the Tory flip-flop on Income Trusts
Under-Reported
Rex: Nation motion
Hebert: Elizabeth May
Coyne: Ontario Citizen’s Assembly of electoral reform
Russo: Economic changes in Canada
CG: The disappearing wait times guarantee fifth priority
Underrated Politician
Hebert: Pass
Coyne: Starts off on Rona Ambrose, saying the Tory plan wasn’t that bad but settles on Jim Prentice
Russo: Rob Nicholson
Rex: Dion, who is underrated by the Tories
CG: Given who was just sworn in as Premier of Alberta today, it’s hard to think that Ed Stelmach wasn’t completely underrated by everyone over the past few months.
Overrated Politician
Coyne: Ken Dryden
Russo: Lawrence Cannon
Rex: Jack Layton
Hebert: Gilles Duceppe
CG: Some interested choices all around. Instead of making my pick, I’ll refer to what I said back in June when they asked this question: “The Jim Dinning bubble is going to burst and it’s going to be beautiful when it does“.
‘Sup with Afghanistan?
Russo: Big because the Quebecois nation are sending troops over in June
Rex: This will be a huge issue!
Hebert: Duceppe’s proposal was panned in Quebec
Coyne: Rex is way off base
CG: Elections rarely are based on foreign affairs in this country, but it’s hard to see how this won’t be an election issue
When do we Vote?
Rex: Spring
Hebert: Spring
Coyne: Spring…maybe February
Russo: NDP saves the Tories bacon
CG: Like I said on the hotstove, later rather than sooner…my prediction is early 2008.
Who is this lady? 
None of the four panelists got it, although I’m proud to say I guessed right. Admittedly, it was a guess though.
