The new next one

Don Martin anoints Lisa Raitt.

Ms. Raitt has attracted a lot of attention as the fastest rising star in Stephen Harper’s cabinet, showing polish under nuclear attack in the House of Commons and poise for speaking without a script while not talking herself into any trouble.  If she spoke decent French, there’d be legitimate buzz over the Toronto lawyer’s leadership potential.

And yes, the ability to deliver a 30-second answer without reading from notes is now considered both noteworthy and commendable.