I believe the term is carpetbagging

It seems Michael Ignatieff has confirmed that he will be running as a Liberal in the next election in the riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore. The man left Canada in 1978 and has since lived in England and the U.S. So exactly why anyone feels it is appropriate that he would run for election in Canada is beyond me.

But setting aside for one moment the question of whether he should run, can someone please tell me why he would want to? Is there some kind of glory in being a Liberal MP? Which sounds better in your mind, Director of the Carr Centre for Human Rights at Harvard or the Honourable Member for Etobicoke-Lakeshore?

The rumours are that he is aiming for party leader. Really? Why would it strike him that it would be okay for a man who has lived outside the country since before we patriated the constitution to aim for Prime Minister?

I love Michael Ignatieff's work on international human rights and have always thought him to be a strongly princpled man. But the idea that he can return to Canada after so much time and hope to jump into a leadership role in government is beyond arrogant. Welcome to the Liberal Party!