More arrogant than thou

I didn't catch it at the time, but CTV's coverage of the Lib race today suggests that Michael Ignatieff's campaign is now undisputably based on nothing but a sense of complete entitlement - both to the Lib mantle at the end of the leadership race, and in elections beyond:

On Saturday, after jumping out to an early lead, Ignatieff said he expected to stay in front through the three days of voting.

"Our team is happy with where I am right now, and we believe that where I am right now is where we'll be at the end of the weekend," he said.

Ignatieff even went so far recently as to declare that Rae -- his former college roommate -- would be a member of his cabinet.

If anything can help to crystallize an anybody-but-Iggy movement, this should be it: a clear declaration that Ignatieff sees no need to earn either the leadership, or power in future elections. But it looks far too likely that Ignatieff's bravado actually will fool a Lib party which should know better after ex-PMPM. And if Ignatieff succeeds in persuading the Libs that it's not too soon to start handing out cabinet positions, that could do more than anything to ensure they don't actually win back power anytime soon.