Dion Faces Ouster5

[scribblet]

Wed, March 26, 2008

Dion faces ouster

Quebec Grits say they'll yank his membership if he doesn't resign

http://www.ottawasun.com/News/National/200...103291-sun.html

Looks like Dion isn't going to be around for the next federal election, I would have thought that they would have let him go through one election....

By MATHIEU BELANGER, SUN MEDIA

MONTREAL -- Federal Liberals from Quebec will move to show Stephane Dion the door if he doesn't give up leadership of the party on his own, Sun Media has learned.

Former Liberal candidate Pierre-Luc Bellerose, who ran for the party in Joliette, northeast of Montreal, said dissatisfied members will begin the process to revoke Dion's party membership if he doesn't quit as Liberal leader.

He said his strategy is supported by a number of influential members of the party, along with a dozen riding association presidents and a few elected MPs from across Quebec.

Bellerose said he is convinced Dion has lost control over the party in Quebec and the organization is no longer following its leader.

The results of the March 17 byelections did nothing to appease discontent with Dion, he added.

Click to learn more...

[Keepitsimple]

I think this is more the voices of several disgruntled Liberals whose voices have not been heard. Even before Outremont, Quebec Liberals have not been organized and that was supposed to be a wake-up call for Dion to exert some leadership and get Quebec Liberals on the right track. However, things have only gotten worse as he has all but ignored the pleas of Quebec grass roots organizers. This "ouster" seems to be to be a last resort to simply make his listen and show some leadership within his own party. I fear though that Dion is who he is. He's an academic who really has no experience or idea on how to actually motivate and lead a team - nor5 does he apparently have very good listening skills. His judgement in selecting people to act in his place has been horrible........and it's all led to this.

[jdobbin]

I don't see how some in the Quebec wing of the party would have been happy with any of the choices during the leadership campaign.

You're certainly not going to see Rae and Ignatieff try to mount a coup since anyone who does will not be the next leader. The backlash would be too great.

All things considered, the polls are still saying the election will be close. This hasn't stopped the Quebec wing from undermining Liberal leaders in the past. The tried to oust Turner in the middle of the 1988 election. Seems they want a Chretien-like figure from Quebec as boss.

[Sean Hayward]

This is the best possible situation for the Conservatives. Dion stays as leader, but just barely, with Quebec liberals mounting coup attempts and leadership rivals taking pot shots at him behind the scenes, as well as an unmotivated and unorganized campaign machine.

[M.Dancer]

Best thing the liberals can do is to dump Dion.

[Topaz]

I don't think this would help Dion but he could remind the Quebecers it was Quebecers that got the Liberals in trouble in the first place and if they hadn't, they would be dealing with Martin and not him!!

[Sean Hayward]

I don't think this would help Dion but he could remind the Quebecers it was Quebecers that got the Liberals in trouble in the first place and if they hadn't, they would be dealing with Martin and not him!!

Technically, the Liberals still would have lost the election even if the hadn't lost any seats in Quebec.

[scribblet]

If they bring the gov't down on the immigration bill then lose, it will give them the opportunity to boot Dion and call a leadership convention. Might as well get it over with if Dion won't quit voluntarily.

[normanchateau]

This is the best possible situation for the Conservatives.

The best possible situation for the Conservatives is that the Liberals keep Dion as leader and the Conservatives replace socon Harper with a middle-of-the-road leader who appeals to centrists and Quebecois as Brian Mulroney did.

There's a reason why the Conservatives have not been able to capture a majority in the half century following Diefenbaker with the sole exception of Brian Mulroney.

[M.Dancer]

The best possible situation for the Conservatives is that the Liberals keep Dion as leader and the Conservatives replace socon Harper with a middle-of-the-road leader who appeals to centrists and Quebecois as Brian Mulroney did.

There's a reason why the Conservatives have not been able to capture a majority in the half century following Diefenbaker with the sole exception of Brian Mulroney.

I think the reason would be the liberals haven't run an election with John Turner.....Give Dion a chance, he will make Turner look charismatic.

[normanchateau]

I think the reason would be the liberals haven't run an election with John Turner.....Give Dion a chance, he will make Turner look charismatic.

I think the bad news for the Conservatives is that no matter who the Liberals run, and matter how little charisma he has, the Conservatives are still stuck with Harper.

Despite Dion as Opposition Leader, Harper is now even lower in the polls than he was when elected more than two years ago. If Harper's doing so poorly against the uncharismatic Dion, how will he do against a charismatic leader?

[Sean Hayward]

The best possible situation for the Conservatives is that the Liberals keep Dion as leader and the Conservatives replace socon Harper with a middle-of-the-road leader who appeals to centrists and Quebecois as Brian Mulroney did.

There's a reason why the Conservatives have not been able to capture a majority in the half century following Diefenbaker with the sole exception of Brian Mulroney.

I agree Harper is one of the obstacles for the Conservatives right now. He plays into the socon image the Liberals have so successfully crafted for the Conservative Party. That said, I think Harper is a good leader.

[normanchateau]

I agree Harper is one of the obstacles for the Conservatives right now. He plays into the socon image the Liberals have so successfully crafted for the Conservative Party.

The image was not especially difficult to craft given Harper's own behaviour, e.g.,

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canadavotes2006/na...esex051129.html

http://mostlywater.org/six_months_jail_one...owing_marijuana

Opposing even stem cell research seems just a tad socon-like:

http://www.theinterim.com/2004/mar/01noclc.html

[Sean Hayward]

The image was not especially difficult to craft given Harper's own behaviour, e.g.,

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canadavotes2006/na...esex051129.html

http://mostlywater.org/six_months_jail_one...owing_marijuana

Opposing even stem cell research seems just a tad socon-like:

http://www.theinterim.com/2004/mar/01noclc.html

Whatever Harper has done or said, that shouldn't tar all Conservatives, who may have much more moderate views.

[normanchateau]

Whatever Harper has done or said, that shouldn't tar all Conservatives, who may have much more moderate views.

I agree completely that other Conservatives have much more moderate views. However, until those Conservatives pick a leader with similar views, they'll never get out of minority territory.

[scribblet]

It seems that some Quebec Grits are threatening to yank Dion's membership if he doesn't resign - they can do this?

By MATHIEU BELANGER, SUN MEDIA

The Ottawa Sun

[jdobbin]

It seems that some Quebec Grits are threatening to yank Dion's membership if he doesn't resign - they can do this?

They can. Doubtful they have the numbers to do it.