In our view: McKenna is everything Liberals want in a leader

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As the Liberal Party of Canada implodes again while the country is forced to watch, one has to ask, is there any hope for the official Opposition?

It wasn't so noticeable when times were good. Money and political power have a way of masking divisions, but now that they have neither, there is little incentive to pretend.

With Stéphane Dion's leadership on the skids, the hopefuls are lining up to inherit the mess, with the aim of restoring the party to its former glory, and by glory, we mean power.

So who can stop the self-destruction and put an end to the infighting that has plagued the party?

It certainly isn't a job for Bob Rae or Michael Ignatieff. They already lost the leadership once, so why would the party want to bet on either of them when they've already been cast aside? Besides, Rae has a dismal record as an NDP premier, and Ignatieff is too slick and too inexperienced.

The unfortunate fact with those two, however, is they have too many stars in their eyes to see it that way. Both are expected to seek the leadership once again.

Dominic LeBlanc, former Governor General Roméo LeBlanc's son, is also being mentioned. The MP from Memramcook is personable, handsome and young at 40. He also has formidably deep Liberal roots, unlike Ignatieff and Rae. But he lacks the national name recognition the party needs to unite and then conquer.

There is a long lists of other hopefuls - Gerard Kennedy (to blame for Dion's ascension), Martha Hall Findlay (came eighth last time), and John Manley (Chrétien-Martin baggage) - none of whom is likely to win.

That leaves the pressing need for a saviour. Fortunately, there is one in the wings.

Leaks from his "camp," if indeed he has a camp this early, say Frank McKenna - businessman, former ambassador to the US and the former premier of New Brunswick who dragged this province out of debt after the Hatfield spending spree - will run if it's winnable.

It's winnable.

He has national name recognition and respect. He has the leadership skills, business smarts and political experience. He is untainted by Chrétien, Martin or Dion. He has assumed a near-holy reverence within the party.

In fact, a good number of Liberals are ready to throw themselves at his feet at the mere thought of his becoming their leader.

He said during the last round of speculation in 2006 that he had no interest - having escaped the trap once before, he had no desire to go back for the cheese.

Life is probably great as the deputy chair of TD Bank Financial Group, but McKenna is a politician at heart. The Liberals, and arguably the country, could use him right now, so the cheese might prove irresistible.