Federal Liberal Leader - 2009

[William Ashley]

Mr. Ignatiaf is a scholar like Dion is. Except he has very very little experience in politics at all, let alone running a campaign or a party.

The story goes that 'Iggy' and Bobby were roommates in the same boarding school - Iggy himself has a little political experience since his grand father was one of the few members of the Tsar's government to survive the bolshevik revolution.. his grand father was minister of education -- so said.. his family has ties with academia.. and academia is atleast in part assosiated with other stuff... but if you look at where he was educated.. the #1 school in canada mcgill and other places.. he must have met some people at harvard, or mcgill or oxford or whatever it was... what was he a professor of again.. history? what type of people do you meet teaching that subject?

anyway... as for him not being political enough with only a few years of political experience and other time as a professor or student for most of the rest of his life... ? what exactly is he lacking.. connections.. didn't he also campaign for deifenbaker or something in the 1960's? seems like he's been a liberal for a long time... who suggested he run as a MP.. Rae? anyway.. no idea..

The Governor general's award and other awards in britain for a writing probably don't count for much and

What would an ambassador to Yugoslavia, NATO and the United Nations know about anything political?? What would the president of the United Nations Security council know in terms of Political experience.. surely this guy is just a young pup...

I don't think it really takes an expereinced politician to be a good one, often there are two types of polliticians, good ones and bad ones. It doesn't take a lot to pick people who can run a country.

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Sadly I don't see why they always come from the legislature. You'd think it'd destract from the legislature serving their constituents.

And I bet women think he's more of a beefcake than harper.. he's worked in Europe.

PS this is not an endorsement.. just stating fact, to wash away that stench that the previous poster sayng iggy is inexperienced posted.. what a loaf.

Edited October 21, 2008 by William Ashley

[capricorn]

I also think you might be missing some the strong points McKenna bring to the table that we need in these rough times, namely diplomatic foreign experience and very importantly, a strong economic background and experience running a government and balancing budgets.

I'm not saying McKenna doesn't have a lot going for him. It would be up to him to sell his credentials to delegates at a future leadership convention. As I said earlier, I like McKenna. If he was ever Liberal leader and steered the Liberals in the right direction with sound policies, I might even vote for him. But McKenna had a number of opportunities to present himself as a candidate for the leadership and did not jump in. My personal view is that once again he will take a pass. The search for a new leader continues.

[normanchateau]

But the double standard remains, you say it's alright for McKenna to have personal views and not impose them, but Harper who is doing the exact same thing is getting crucified for it. That's BS and you know it.

Once again, I agree that it is a double standard. Both Harper and McKenna appear to oppose abortion. The Washington Post has commented on McKenna's battles with Morgentaler:

http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com...mp;slug=1936495

However it remains to be determined whether McKenna shares sufficient values with Harper to be labelled a social conservative. I have no idea whether McKenna, like Harper, opposes embryonic stem cell research, decriminalization of possession of small quantities of marijuana and legislation which makes it a hate crime to promote or advocate the killing of homosexuals. I also have no idea whether McKenna, like Harper, favours mandatory six month jail sentences for one marijuana plant. I do know that McKenna, unlike Harper, does not oppose same sex marriage.

Notwithstanding the extent to which McKenna shares Harper's social conservatism, at least he appears to be a fiscal conservative. Unfortunately, Harper's last three budgets reveal that he is anything but a fiscal conservative. Had a Liberal PM spent as recklessly as Harper has since his election, Conservatives would rightly be calling for the ouster of this financial incompetent.