Ignatieff and the Liberals

[Keepitsimple]

I thought we might be learning more about Mr. Ignatieff and the Liberals by now and it is confusing as to why he's decided to take such a low profile. As a result, the party is wandering aimlessly. Usually steadfast Liberal media like The Star are starting to take a few more potshots at him. Supposedly an intelligent and deep thinker, he's having troubling translating all that intellect into a coherent strategy. He just has not done anything compelling at all. I've been watching and waiting but I see very little actual leadership from him.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff says he took advantage of the bad weather to "sit at home and think thoughts." He us promising Canadians an ambitious policy agenda in the fall.

That would be a nice change.

Since Ignatieff took command in December, it has been hard to figure out what the Liberals stand for, how they would govern the country or whether they have workable alternatives.

Ignatieff may believe – or his strategists may have convinced him – that it is tactically smart to withhold his platform until an election is imminent.

But the former Harvard professor is paying a price. His party is stalled in the polls. Voters have doubts about his ability to manage the economy. He is acquiring a reputation as a leader who is more comfortable deliberating than providing a sense of direction.

Liberal MPs are also paying a price. Most have avoided the limelight since Parliament closed, not knowing what they're supposed to say. This makes it look as if they have few ideas or concerns.

Link: http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/674959

[Topaz]

Iggy is only keeping a low profile in the media but not with Canadains. He has 5 different websites to keep in touch with Libs and since you don't know that, could it be possible that you aren't a Lib so don't realize how busy he's been all summer? The media has been busy with stories with the PM, like going up north to check out the military stations and probably to stick his foot in the Arctic Ocean instead in his mouth.

[August1991]

Since Ignatieff took command in December, it has been hard to figure out what the Liberals stand for, how they would govern the country or whether they have workable alternatives

This is easy to explain: Michael Ignatieff is a flake.

(Sorry, but I just had to do that in response to Carol Goar's sad piece.)

[punked]

Iggy is only keeping a low profile in the media but not with Canadains. He has 5 different websites to keep in touch with Libs and since you don't know that, could it be possible that you aren't a Lib so don't realize how busy he's been all summer? The media has been busy with stories with the PM, like going up north to check out the military stations and probably to stick his foot in the Arctic Ocean instead in his mouth.

With three different stories from three different media outlets across Canada asking "Where is Iggy?" I think it is fair to say he might be busy planning or something but he is not busy getting to know the public. It isn't the media is too busy to cover him they are screaming for it, he is just busy doing other things I guess.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

With three different stories from three different media outlets across Canada asking "Where is Iggy?" I think it is fair to say he might be busy planning or something but he is not busy getting to know the public. It isn't the media is too busy to cover him they are screaming for it, he is just busy doing other things I guess.

I am willing to bet that he is trying to be no more and no less visible than Harper.

[capricorn]

I am willing to bet that he is trying to be no more and no less visible than Harper.

Harper will visit the Arctic Aug. 17 to 21.

Harper's naval pit stops are just part of a five-day tour of the three northern territories, aimed at underscoring the importance the prime minister puts on protecting Canada's Arctic sovereignty.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianp...sNGi0S77V7I5Cng

Much to the chagrin of the opposition, this is sure to give Harper some good press. If the Liberals want to steal some of the limelight, that would be a good time to trot out Ignatieff with some type of announcement, preferably related to national unity to counteract Harper's arctic sovereignty effort. Or, the Liberals could hope for some kind of faux pas by Harper, a la wafergate, to throw him off his game. I don't think it will involve eating raw seal meat as the GG has cornered that market. Stay tuned.

[jdobbin]

I thought we might be learning more about Mr. Ignatieff and the Liberals by now and it is confusing as to why he's decided to take such a low profile. As a result, the party is wandering aimlessly. Usually steadfast Liberal media like The Star are starting to take a few more potshots at him. Supposedly an intelligent and deep thinker, he's having troubling translating all that intellect into a coherent strategy. He just has not done anything compelling at all. I've been watching and waiting but I see very little actual leadership from him.

As I pointed out earlier, the media was up in full arms about having an election in the summer.

Now, they are up in full arms about not having the motions of an election happening this summer.

They want the Liberals to release a full platform? What? Are any other parties releasing theirs?

Edited August 4, 2009 by jdobbin

[jdobbin]

Harper will visit the Arctic Aug. 17 to 21.

And no holidays during the rest of August?

As for the Arctic announcements, Canadians generally respond with a collective yawn. The gone fishin' sign is up.

Edited August 3, 2009 by jdobbin

[jdobbin]

This is easy to explain: Michael Ignatieff is a flake.

(Sorry, but I just had to do that in response to Carol Goar's sad piece.)

And Harper in your view is a great Canadian because he is Protestant and won seats in Quebec?

[Keepitsimple]

Dobbs...this is simply about the article - and several others - that say that it's probably unwise to leave absolutely everything until an election is called. Heavens - that might not be for a year.....and in the meantime, The Liberals - and Ignatieff - have not even begun to define themselves.

[Shady]

And no holidays during the rest of August?

As for the Arctic announcements, Canadians generally respond with a collective yawn. The gone fishin' sign is up.

Stop projecting. Maybe you yawn, but I know many people who are concerned with Canada's rightful Artic sovereignty. It just shows how out of touch you and other Lieberals are with average Canadians.

[capricorn]

And no holidays during the rest of August?

Next thing you'll tell me is Conservatives are on holiday while Liberals are in their ridings interacting with constituents?

As for the Arctic announcements, Canadians generally respond with a collective yawn. The gone fishin' sign is up.

I've done some fishin' but I still paid attention to the news.

[jdobbin]

Stop projecting. Maybe you yawn, but I know many people who are concerned with Canada's rightful Artic sovereignty. It just shows how out of touch you and other Lieberals are with average Canadians.

I'm sure you are aware about the rules on namecalling and political parties.

You are out of touch if you don't realize that people are not watching the news or paying attention to political announcements as they are in the fall. Average Canadians are holidaying, spending time outside and not really focusing on Arctic announcements.

[jdobbin]

Next thing you'll tell me is Conservatives are on holiday while Liberals are in their ridings interacting with constituents?

I'm saying that in past summers all the political parties have taken holidays and gone back to their ridings.

I've done some fishin' but I still paid attention to the news.

And just because a politician isn't angling to get in the news means he isn't working?

[jdobbin]

Dobbs...this is simply about the article - and several others - that say that it's probably unwise to leave absolutely everything until an election is called. Heavens - that might not be for a year.....and in the meantime, The Liberals - and Ignatieff - have not even begun to define themselves.

We have gone over this before. The policy platform was delivered at the end of June.

Ignatieff and others are going over the platform to decide how to unveil it. No one wants a repeat of what happened with Dion and the Green Shift. The party has to be well educated on every aspect of policy and it has to be introduced as a counterpoint to other political parties and their policies.

I think people are confusing kissing babies and making I love Canada speeches as policy.

[Keepitsimple]

We have gone over this before. The policy platform was delivered at the end of June.

No - you've gone over it before and it doesn't wash. You recently said:

I don't think Conservatives will be happy. As some pundits have written, they don't seem in the least happy about a minority.

Well...as you can see from the original article, several pundits are not buying into your theory - or wishful thinking. That's just a fact - maybe he will come out of the woodwork in a month or two - who knows - but right now, there seem to be a lot of people waiting for him to define himself - and the Liberal Party.

[jdobbin]

No - you've gone over it before and it doesn't wash. You recently said:

By my reckoning, Ignatieff has been back on the road the past week. Just because it doesn't make the national news doesn't mean he isn't out in public.

You want the entire platform released immediately? Why were you not upset that Tories did not release their platform till the last week of the election?

Well...as you can see from the original article, several pundits are not buying into your theory - or wishful thinking. That's just a fact - maybe he will come out of the woodwork in a month or two - who knows - but right now, there seem to be a lot of people waiting for him to define himself - and the Liberal Party.

Yes I've seen what some of the pundit want: the full platform now. It isn't something they seem to be asking from the other parties.

I expect that we will see things unfold through the fall.

The rest seems to be bloviating by some in the media who can't decide whether they want an election or not.

[Keepitsimple]

Yes I've seen what some of the pundit want: the full platform now. It isn't something they seem to be asking from the other parties.

I expect that we will see things unfold through the fall.

The rest seems to be bloviating by some in the media who can't decide whether they want an election or not.

I don't think they want the whole platform at all....just something - anything of substance. Honestly - right now it looks like all they stand for is "work for 9 weeks and collect EI for a year". That's the only thing that they seem to have taken some sort of position on. You personally probably don't see it that way but really, that's what it looks like. I think the real problem with the evolving Liberal platform is that there is no money to spend so they can't make any promises that they can break. National Daycare is a non-starter, as is a Carbon Tax. It will be really hard to make any compelling arguments that are different from what the Conservatives are doing....that's the conundrum they face.....and that, in my opinion, is why they are struggling with policy.

Edited August 4, 2009 by Keepitsimple

[jdobbin]

I don't think they want the whole platform at all....just something - anything of substance. Honestly - right now it looks like all they stand for is "work for 9 weeks and collect EI for a year". That's the only thing that they seem to have taken some sort of position on. You personally probably don't see it that way but really, that's what it looks like. I think the real problem with the evolving Liberal platform is that there is no money to spend so they can't make any promises that they can break. National Daycare is a non-starter, as is a Carbon Tax. It will be really hard to make any compelling arguments that are different from what the Conservatives are doing....that's the conundrum they face.....and that, in my opinion, is why they are struggling with policy.

I fully expect we will see policies coming in the fall.

The spot the Tories are most vulnerable on is a plan to end the deficit once the economy shows signs of improving.

I think the Liberals should start listing where they will reduce spending, improving the tax system and restoring some controls over the budget.

The Tories have had no control over their spending even when the economy was doing well.

[capricorn]

I don't think they want the whole platform at all....just something - anything of substance.

Michael Ignatieff wants Canadians to think big.

High-speed rail links between major cities. An east-west electricity corridor. Completion of a coast-to-coast, four-lane national highway system.

Even a national energy strategy (Not to be confused with the hated National Energy Program, he stresses).

Those are just some of the bold -- and pricey -- ideas the Liberal leader is advancing as visionary, nation-building projects that could help bind the country together in the 21st Century.

They are not party policy -- at least not yet. Ignatieff, who will be formally crowned Liberal leader at a Vancouver convention April 30 to May 2, is not ready to spell out a detailed political agenda just yet. That will come closer to an election.

But he's offering a sneak peek of his long-term vision for the country in his latest book: True Patriot Love: Four Generations in Search of Canada.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...me=&no_ads=

I wonder how many of these ideas are in the proposed policy document Ignatieff's people submitted to him in June.

[punked]

I fully expect we will see policies coming in the fall.

The spot the Tories are most vulnerable on is a plan to end the deficit once the economy shows signs of improving.

I think the Liberals should start listing where they will reduce spending, improving the tax system and restoring some controls over the budget.

The Tories have had no control over their spending even when the economy was doing well.

The Liberals have never run on what they are going to cut. They run on how they will up spending then cut it when they get in office and blame it on everyone else.

[Alta4ever]

The Liberals have never run on what they are going to cut. They run on how they will up spending then cut it when they get in office and blame it on everyone else.

Wrong they did run on how they were going to cut the GST.......but happened is where the just of your post is very accurate. (just in reverse)

[punked]

Wrong they did run on how they were going to cut the GST.......but happened is where the just of your post is very accurate. (just in reverse)

Ohhhh and cut NAFTA they ran on that too right?

[jdobbin]

The Liberals have never run on what they are going to cut. They run on how they will up spending then cut it when they get in office and blame it on everyone else.

Whereas the NDP will promise to spend money and actually do it? Even if they have to tax or go into deficit?

[punked]

Whereas the NDP will promise to spend money and actually do it? Even if they have to tax or go into deficit?

What does that even mean? You do know the NDP governments balance budgets 22% of the time MORE then Liberal governments right? We have always been a pragmatic party. You spend the money you have, we just chose butter over guns it has always been that simple.