SpankyMcFarland

It's a national embarrassment that we are letting the official residence of our head of government fall apart. The Americans, French or British would never let that happen. Why should anybody take us seriously when we can't manage this? The whole matter should have no partisan significance.

Mulroney had been around politics a long time but not as an MP, let alone a Cabinet Minister, and he adapted pretty quickly.

To be fair to Pierre, he was playing a role like Calandra. I have to say I felt sorry for Calandra a little bit during the campaign, condemned to constantly defend the PMO on Duffy from his Skype dungeon.

There are several issues I disagree fundamentally with JT on. The first is mandatory support of abortion. I support abortion but I think good candidates will be deterred because of this. The second is gender quotas. Like geographic representation, it is deeply anti-meritocratic. High talent is not that common and we should make the max use of it possible.

Because you see somebody not as competent as you getting the job you want.

Not to dwell on what is gone now, but his view of the world was fairly dark.

He's certainly well qualified and should give the PM a run for his money in QP. But he'll have to lighten up a bit, get a dog or something. Harper was the grimmest PM since, when, Diefenbaker? Barring catastrophe, I don't think we want a return to that too soon.

That's true.

I would like to see a Minister for Aborginal Affairs who is fluent in some of the languages relevant to that ministry. Has that ever happened? That would probably mean an aboriginal person which would be no harm either. Bad news comes better from your own and that person will be disappointing some people.

Gender parity be crazy. Recipe for instant quiet dissatisfaction in ye olde ranks.

I should not have said anything about Erin's jib. He's going for the caretaker's job instead, along with Finley and Nicholson. Why so much interest in this temp post? Is Jason going to have a coronation? http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/erin-otoole-interim-leader-conservatives-1.3288843

What I mean is, I would prefer a coalition whose combined vote was greater than 50% of votes cast e.g. liberal/NDP. Of course, they don't need to do that in FPTP.

1. Kenney. 2. Raitt. 3. O'Toole. 4. Rempel. I'm liking the cut of Erin's jib more each day. Ontario, vet, moderate.

It's 40% of the votes however you cut it. The idea that these performing seals are conducting separate elections while chanting the party line is hard to swallow. Local issues do not loom large in these contests. I suspect Sunny Boy won't be so keen on PR, now that FPTP has served him so well. That's the sad pattern in these things. I believe the only truly legitimate government is one supported by a majority of voters, which would mean a coalition.

Yes, he seems decent. These politicians are made of sterner stuff. To be doing that kind of work, with all the concomitant grief, at his age passes all understanding.

I hope there is a prize of some sort.

So leaders, guys. How would you rank the contenders?

I heard Erin O'Toole on the Current today. He is staying visible, or audible anyway. If Raitt does not run, he may carry the Ontario banner (although Kenney may claim he's carrying that banner in the ethnic suburbs). He ticks a lot of boxes and has definite appeal to the centre right 10% the Cons are looking for beyond their devout believers. Fiery oratory doesn't seem to be his forte which may be no bad thing.

The game has speeded up and there is a premium on quick passes and stealing ball at the rucks, two skills that Oz and NZ excel at. For 50 minutes, the Puma scrum drove Oz backwards in disarray and all they got was a few penalties out of it when at least one YC should have been shown. Argentina will be In a rugby WC final soon.

They were also highly homogeneous societies.

Nicholson is hopelessly ponderous and dull. Just compare him to Baird for a second. He was kept under wraps as much as possible since taking the job.Conservative party fans can probably give us names I have barely heard of who could get traction in a longer campaign as compromise candidates. Based on just how much they impress me on TV (not QUITE the whole story) I would go with: 1. Kenney. 2. Raitt. 3. Moore if he could be persuaded to come back. 4. Rempel. Smirky is annoying but she has talent. 5. O'Toole - a huge improvement on Fantino. Like Kenney, gives actual answers to questions in a fairly non-partisan way. I can't imagine him having too many enemies. Veteran and lawyer is a sound cv and unusual in our Parliament. 6. Ambrose. Has never impressed me at all.

Back to topic. I see Kenney as a brooding Gordon Brown-type figure who may not be the right man to sell the Conservative message now. On PandP the other day, Ian Capstick (admittedly of the NDP persuasion) was quite adamant that Kenney should be the Interim leader rather than a contender in the contest. Potential rivals like Rempel and Raitt are already insinuating the need for a more female-friendly and upbeat message.

Friend, I am quite sure I could not explain it to you. What you need is sunny ways.

Pal, if you can't tell the difference, I really can't help you.

Death.