From Philosopher King To Nutty Professor

Michael Ignatieff thinks he can do the job of prime minister standing on his head. Literally:

Michael Ignatieff's habit of doing daily headstands may improve his balance, stress levels and perhaps even stem some hair loss, but it is unlikely to help him stave off Alzheimer's disease, experts say.

The former Harvard professor and contender for the leadership of the Liberal party said in a newspaper profile last week that he stands on his head so that blood will rush to his brain.

Mr. Ignatieff has a family history of the degenerative neurological disease. His mother and maternal grandmother both suffered from Alzheimer's, and his odd exercise regimen is apparently an effort to ward off the disease.

But Cheryl Grady, a senior scientist with Toronto's Baycrest Centre, laughed when she heard of the technique.

"That's a strange thing. I've never heard of anyone doing that," she said. "I'm not even sure that standing on your head really affects blood flow to your brain. It might drain away from your feet a little."

First it's his comments about skipping the country again if he loses, then it's pimping out Ruby Dhalla to raise money, then it's musing about civil war in Quebec, now it's daily headstands to ward off senility.

Michael Ignatieff may be having done to him what was done to Paul Martin--before winning the leadership, no less. The hero on the white horse may yet again be turned into a fool riding a jackass.

But for the Bolsheviks, he might have grown up to be another vacuous Russian nobleman, instead of the Liberal Party's great white hope.

At least he's got Ashley MacIsaac in his corner, though.

Source: National Post