Pravda Features Count Iggula

But is this good news or bad? h/t

Russian Duke Craves Power In Canada

On the one hand, you know communism in Russia is well and truly dead when Pravda devotes considerable ink to extolling the virtues of the Russian Nobility in the ancestry of Canada's leader of the loyal opposition:

"...if the Bolshevik Revolution had not won in Russia nearly 100 years ago, the Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff would have had the official Prince’s title and would probably live in a large mansion given to his ancestors by Ekaterina the Great. The palace where the parliamentarian’s grandmother was born was burnt down in 1917 after Romanov dynasty was overthrown. Ignatieff is convinced that it would be hard for him to be a prince nowadays."

[---]

"...his ancestors taught him not to complain and give up when the times are tough but work towards your goals.

He will likely need these lessons on his way to the Prime Minister’s office of the country created by many generations of multilingual immigrants."

One can also say Pravda reveals a certain lack of political acuity to suggest that Ignatieff will soon be Prime Minister of Canada. 

"Most likely, this politician will be the next Canadian prime minister in 2012. One of the wonderful characteristics of Canadian politics is its predictability. Ignatieff’s role in overcoming of the internal political crisis and the system of the protection of the country against economic crisis he created will not be forgotten by his compatriots in the next two years."

There was a day when Russia put some of its best minds to work writing fiction for Pravda. Its quality has declined rather sharply in the last two or three decades, it seems. That might not be such a good thing for Russia, but it can't really be bad for us. I also suspect they wouldn't have reported news from well over a year ago as if it happened only days ago, either.

"Looking for a solution of a recent unprecedented for Canadian history parliamentary crisis, the Liberal Party addressed the country’s governor general with a request to appoint the “aristocrat and his majesty Michael Grant Ignatieff” as an official responsible for forming alternative government."

Huh??

"The title sounds somewhat funny. However, it reflects the actual biography of the parliamentary who started his sweeping ascend early last year when the shadow of the world crisis fell on one the crisis-free countries of the planet."

Yup.  Sounds like they're using computer translation software, too.

Well, okay. Russians may be proud it has a famous grandson leading the Natural Governing Party of Canada, but hold on.  Poll after poll of Canadian opinion suggests Count Iggy is the wrong man.  The Libs have made a mistake.  When Canadians decide who their next prime minister will be, I highly doubt it will be Count Iggula.

It's not that Iggy's family history isn't full of drama and human interest, though. Perhaps, as leader of the Natural Governing Party, Iggy could tap the Party's communications department at 181 Queen Street in Ottawa and suggest they produce a six part series on his noble ancestors and their struggle to survive following the Bolshevik Revolution, making sure it's ready for broadcast in the six weeks before the next election. After all, Michael Grant Ignatieff does at least have some degree of control over when and if the current government falls.  And, if all that fails, it sounds as though there might be an open invitation and a castle waiting for him in Moscow, or thereabouts.

And there might even be a lesson here for the CBC.  There is life after the evil Conservative Revolution.  It's just not as cushy and assured as before.