The Hapless Tony Clement

Talk about a tough few years...

First you lose, terribly, your bid to become Party leader in 2002 upon Mike Harris' resignation, garnering only 13.2% on the first ballot.

Then you lose your seat in the 2003 Provincial Election.

Then you lose, terribly again, your bid to become leader of the Federal Conseratives in 2004, receiving a mere 9% of "points" required under the PR system.

Then you lose the race in Brampton West to become Member of Parliament in 2004 Federal election.

And now? The humiliating news that your two recent opponents felt so sorry for you that together they donated $110,000 to help you repay your leadership campaign debt. [Memo to Belinda: given the debt I've incurred studying at Oxford this year, I too could use a "friendly" no-strings-attached gift too]

Say one thing for old Tony, he's a gamer. Taking that old Beckett saying to a new level, I guess: "Fail. Fail Again. Fail Better." One can only wonder what he'll try next.