Newfoundlander

Yes I understand that.

How much more privileged was Justin Trudeau's upbringing then say Jack Layton's?

I think Chretien did a great job governing in the 1990's even if he didn't follow through on on getting rid of the GST and implementing national childcare, both which I don't agree with. However it doesn't always look great to not follow through on policy, even if it's not necessarily the party's fault.

That's not supposedly how the NDP operate.

Rae didn't really agree with the marijuana legalization but I'm pretty sure Trudeau spoke out in support. The policy on legalizing marijuana is exactly the thing I think the Liberals should have to run on in elections until the party decide to abandon policy at a convention or until it's implemented. It should be up to the grassroots to decide things like whether the party should implement a cap and trade system, a carbon tax or neither. Electoral reform and senate reform should be decided by the grassroots and any major policy ideas. The leader should be responsible in exactly how those policies should be executed and should also be able to add some of their own ideas to a platform without say from the grassroots.

While the Liberals have been dumb to not have more grassroots input on policy I also do not agree with the NDPs stance whereby the leader doesn't appear to have much say in policy. A leader should be trusted enough to be able to decide some of the policies themselves.

Trudeau's message of uniting people and getting people to vote for something rather than for something is quite smart. I thinks this leadership race could be very interesting, unlike the NDPs leadership there will likely be more of a contrast in where to take the party from the candidates.

I've seen speeches where he's criticized the Conservatives and NDP for being too ideological and tht Harper and Mulcair are just alike, just from different ideologies. YouTube has the speech he gave to the Parkdale High Park Liberal association.

He's been quite critical of the NDP lately.

I've always felt he has no substance and needs more time in politics, though I would be very interesting to see what would happen if he became leader now.

He's very interesting.

He's made it quite clear recently he's reconsidering and is discussing it with his family.

Yes I agree. Look at the CAQ in Quebec for instance.

Or who people may not support yet because they don't know what he stands for?

None of them seemed to find it odd that he may want to seek office someday.

Forum Research poll: NDP - 37% CPC - 30% LPC - 22% If Trudeau was Liberal leader: NDP - 32% CPC - 28% LPC - 28% http://forumresearch.com/forms/News%20Archives/News%20Releases/00294_Canada-wide_-_Federal_Political_Issues_%28Forum_Research%29.pdf

McGuinty is an impressive politician. He's never been well liked, he was very unpopular going into the 2011 election, the PCs had a double digit lead weeks before the election with the NDP surging in support, and yet McGuinty won the election. He's able to win elections for whatever reason and at the moment his party is the most prepared to fight an election.

My great idea for the next Liberal leader never panned out, as Ted Hsu announces he will not be running. http://www.thewhig.com/2012/06/13/mp-hsu-not-in-liberal-race

Saying the lords name in vain is bullshit.

Who gives a shit.

Don't really agree with you there, many just haven't had the platform to showcase themselves. They may end up not being strong but like I've said before Nathan Cullen was in my opinion, and many others, the best performer in debates despite not being well known. There was few MPs I was not aware of, particularly with the Liberals and NDP, before the 2011 election and I had never heard of Cullen before the rumors of a potential run to replace Layton.

There's a thread on the the Liberal leadership, this has to do with that race.

Is there really a logical reason to create yet another thread?

Is there a way to merge this thread with the Liberal leadership thread? It'd be nice to keep it all together.

Maybe not, they probably figure they got rid of him from running.