Dion in deep doo-doo

Some articles from the national press today:

Dion to judge Tory fate after throne speech

Liberal Leader Stephane Dion says he will wait until after next month's throne speech before deciding to vote down the Conservative government. (...)

Former Liberal cabinet minister and political analyst Jean Lapierre told CTV's Question Period that the Liberal caucus will have to debate the likelihood of Dion gaining popularity against voting down the throne speech.

"Mr. Dion has to realize that he really can't sell himself to Canadians so he's got to have a very strong team to make up for his weaknesses," Lapierre said on Sunday.

The sinking Liberal ship

Both provincial and federal Liberals are in trouble in Quebec

"Humility" is the word used by Liberal MP Denis Coderre to describe party leader Stéphane Dion's public self-flagellation after the Liberals' disastrous performance in Monday's federal by-elections. "Humiliation" might more accurate.

It was almost painful to watch Dion beat himself up, first in an interview on Radio-Canada television on Wednesday evening, then in front of reporters after a speech in Montreal the following day.

He said he recently realized he has an image problem among his fellow French-speaking Quebecers, which makes him the last person in the province to realize this.

Last, but not least, Sheila Copps: The Liberal civil war has officially started.

Is Stephane Dion really in any position to defeat Stephen Harper's government and force a winter election? He can't be thinking seriously about this.

Unless, of course, he's getting his advice from the Ignatieff camp.