Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinordi
Who was the last active serving federal politician to die in office?
Answer that question and you'll get why we're having a state funeral.
|
That question is easy to flip - Who was the last non-government politician to have a state funeral?
It really is unprecedented, and interesting because the only reason it is happening is that Layton died at the peak of his popularity. If he had made it through a year in opposition and saw it slump as the burdens of managing expectations and a divided caucus wore on, it never would have happened.
Objectively, the funeral itself is nothing but politics. But it is also good politics. People who hated Layton's politics and people who hate Harper's politics both unified on this one gesture in their praise of the other side. Well, mostly.