Stéphane Dion is a 21st Century Canadian version of Dostoyevsky’s Idiot, Myshkin in his novel, The Idiot. Admittedly, Dion only exhibits one side of Myshkin’s personality: a naivety that renders him incapable of dealing with or understanding the world, particularly a fallen world. An unusual quality for a politician. Regrettably, Myshkin’s finer qualities – his saintliness – are absent in Stéphane. In fact, his ignorance of worldly matters seems to be exceeded only by his nescience – perhaps in a rather charming way – with things of the spirit. He was recently interviewed by Michael Coren; here are some observations on the interview from the National Post:

He was, for example, anxious to “reconcile people with God’s environment” and was committed to the planet “given to us by God.” Which is somewhat surprising. The deity is not a popular debating point for Liberal leaders. Actually, the Supreme Being is mentioned by ambitious Liberal politicians about as often as Brian Mulroney’s good points. So I was rude enough to ask Mr. Dion if he was doing this — sounding religious — because he had been told that the station on which my show appears each night, CTS, was faith-based. Frankly, I expected him to deny, obfuscate or simply lie. It says a great deal about the man’s integrity as well as his innocence that he replied on air with a simple, “This is true.” A pause, then, “I have been told that this is important to the people who watch this show.”

His words seemed so naive, so vulnerable to critique, so — forgive me Mr. Dion — callow and such a product of inexperience. Goodness it’s hard not to like him but it’s equally hard to imagine him being tough with our enemies and careful with our friends. He listens to well-meaning but weak advice and then admits that he’s been moulded for the moment. Canadians generally expect more from their political masters and that God chap expects more — even from Liberals.

I can’t see how someone like this could run a country – even one like Canada.