Liberal tiff in Outremont

[jdobbin]

I don't follow internal federal Liberal Quebec politics but I suspect that many knew Cauchon wanted to retrun in Outremont.

Ignatieff's people themselves asked him. He only made his decision known after quite some time had passed. As they said on radio, it isn't the first time he was asked and passed.

But Cauchon and Ignatieff are not the story here. What of Coderre?

What of Coderre? Unless you think he is about to jump ship then Ignatieff did the right thing.

Huh? If polls showed that Ignatieff had 40 seats in Quebec, polls in Ontario would give the Liberals a lead with 45% or more.

I have never seen any evidence that that Ontario takes its cues from Quebec.

Many voters in Ontario will simply choose the federalist with support in Quebec. They want a united Canada. (If Canada didn't exist, Ontario would be Michigan.) I call this the "Quebec Leverage", Trudeau called it "French Power". Others have a different name.

Still think you are wrong.

[August1991]

What of Coderre? Unless you think he is about to jump ship then Ignatieff did the right thing.

Jump ship? Huh? Do you think that Coderre would "jump ship"?

If I were Harper and I could make Coderre jump ship, I think that I would do it. (Trudeau got Jack Horner to switch.)

I have never seen any evidence that that Ontario takes its cues from Quebec.

Look at the historical record. In general, some Ontario voters will shift to the federal party perceived as a winner in Quebec.

Trudeau, Mulroney and Chretien all won elections on this. Harper has tried twice to win a majority with the same strategy - but he's a guy from Leaside.

Edited September 27, 2009 by August1991

[Jerry J. Fortin]

Harper isn't in the same class as Trudeau by any stretch. Steve isn't going to win over anyone who isn't already a right wing fanatic. Anyone who believes otherwise is deluding themselves.

[jdobbin]

Jump ship? Huh? Do you think that Coderre would "jump ship"?

If I were Harper and I could make Coderre jump ship, I think that I would do it. (Trudeau got Jack Horner to switch.)

I'd sooner think that Coderre would carve out his eyes with a teaspoon that jump ship. My view is it would be toxic to him continuing in office.

It could very well hurt Harper and his party in ways he can't anticipate.

Look at the historical record. In general, some Ontario voters will shift to the federal party perceived as a winner in Quebec.

Trudeau, Mulroney and Chretien all won elections on this. Harper has tried twice to win a majority with the same strategy - but he's a guy from Leaside.

I disagree that one province influences the other in this regard.

[August1991]

Harper isn't in the same class as Trudeau by any stretch. Steve isn't going to win over anyone who isn't already a right wing fanatic. Anyone who believes otherwise is deluding themselves.

Regionalism more than ideology drives Canadian federal politics.

I disagree that one province influences the other in this regard.

I simply mean that a portion of Onatrio voters want a united Canada and will vote for the party they perceive as having support in French Quebec.

----

L. Ian Macdonald had a great piece on this Outremont tiff:

Cauchon's career path began in his native La Malbaie, where he worked as a butler on the household staff of Paul Desmarais....

Edited September 28, 2009 by August1991

[jdobbin]

It looks like one of my possible scenarios is taking place.

http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums//index....st&p=467395

Coderre looks to be stepping down as Ignatieff's lieutenant.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...ub=TopStoriesV2

Denis Coderre is expected to step down Monday as Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff's Quebec lieutenant, CTV News has learned, over a disagreement about the political comeback of one of the Quebec MP's main rivals.

Coderre will hold a news conference this morning in Montreal where he is expected to announce his decision, CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife told Canada AM.

This will probably be a relief to some Quebec Liberals.

Coderre was likely becoming too much of a lightening rod for the party to continue any longer in his Quebec role.

By the way, CTV's website which I have always liked for the clear way it organized has changed and it is awful now.

Edited September 28, 2009 by jdobbin

[madmax]

This is great news.

[August1991]

It looks like one of my possible scenarios is taking place.

http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums//index....st&p=467395

Coderre looks to be stepping down as Ignatieff's lieutenant.

If you think that this solves the problem, you should look again. This is now a royal mess.

[madmax]

If you think that this solves the problem, you should look again. This is now a royal mess.

No... this is great news....

Actually, I am interested in a Quebec perspective on this? What is going on and how is it being perceived.

Edited September 28, 2009 by madmax

[jdobbin]

If you think that this solves the problem, you should look again. This is now a royal mess.

If Coderre wants to wage war, you will get your wish of a Tory majority and the opposition will likely be the NDP if they ever win more seats than the BQ.

However, for those who want the end of the Liberal party then this is a call to celebrate, I'm sure.

As I said, all I know is that I would withdraw from politics if my choices came down to just NDP and Conservative.

I guess we'll see. Coderre may have been the one to overstep this time.

Edited September 28, 2009 by jdobbin

[jdobbin]

This is great news.

In terms of ending the Liberal party?

[Jerry J. Fortin]

That dog won't hunt. The Liberals are going to eat all the Tory seats in Quebec.

[capricorn]

This comment on a media public forum sums up beautifully what should be the way forward for Ignatieff.

You would have to admit that Coderre dropped the "political nuclear bomb" on Ignatieff in going public and telling Ignatieff he needs to make changes in his Toronto gang-and that Toronto cannot run the Quebec wing of the Liberal Party!

In other words, he challenged the leader publicly and was insubordinate no matter what spin he put on it

Ignatieff needs to make some tough quick decisions, that is if he really cares, to show he is the true leader and put it behind him as soon as possible.

The first: Cut loose Coderre NOW-throw him out of caucus.

Coderre brings a lot of baggage and one just has to Google him, Group Polygone, Gomery...

I would replace him with an interim Quebec Lieutenant by the name of Marcel Proulx. He has the position experience as he was Quebec Lieutenant under Dion. He was also a loyal Ignatieff backer at the 2006 Leadership Convention.

Second: Read the riot act to Bob Rae, or if it was myself, I would also throw him out of caucus!

Rae also went public last week against Ignatieff.

Once done, is the Liberal Party stronger or weaker without Coderre/Rae.

Perhaps a short term shock, but longer term much better unless the LPC actually believes they would be better served with a former failed Ontario NDP Premier!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/spect...article1304052/

Anything less and the usual suspects will continue to undermine his leadership.

[Topaz]

So now Iggy has to replace him and I can think of two people. Marcel Proulx, if he wants a man or if he wants a woman, Marlene Jennings, the first Black woman elected to Parliament and from Quebec. 3 in one, Black, woman, from Quebec.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

The Quebec question haunts the federal politicians. Everyone wants their votes, but they seem to forget that at best they are talking about splitting the existing votes amongst everyone but the Bloc. It all comes to the Bloc, nobody else. Harper hasn't figured that out yet and apparently neither has Iggy.