QotD: Belinda Stronach's retirement

Suppose, on entering politics, she had been content to start out as a humble backbench MP. Suppose she had spent some time learning the ropes, mastering a few files, practicing public speaking, acquiring a smattering of French, demonstrating an ability to work with others. Suppose she had supported the same party for more than a year or two. After a while, people might have said: you know, she's got a lot of money, she looks good in expensive clothes — and she's qualified. Let's put her up for leader!

But that would have taken time — a year at least — and Ms. Stronach is not accustomed to waiting. Or perhaps, to be more charitable, she was the recipient of spectacularly bad advice. At any rate, that is not how things worked out.

Andrew Coyne, "She could have been a contender", National Post, 2007-04-12