Who's fit to lead the nation

[blueblood]

If it's performance points that count, Layton won. He got a few kicks in to Harper and Iggy, managed to underscore his party's own platform. If it's about who had the most to lose, well Harper won. He didn't fall apart, he held his own. It wasn't a spectacular charismatic performance, but that's not his style and all he needed to do was not bugger things up.

Iggy didn't lose, exactly. He didn't muck it up, but he simply didn't project himself as a Prime Minister in waiting. At the end of the night, Harper won by not losing, Layton won by getting his digs in but still balancing it with self-promotion (which is actually kind of impressive considering the time constraints), and Iggy, I dunno, he said a lot, and even landed a few punches, but it just seemed like a cruise control performance. It can't be viewed as a loss, because he didn't outright stumble or smash into a wall or anything, but it wasn't what he needed to do. It's hard to picture him as a Prime Minister after last night, and that is a big problem.

Duceppe is still the curious one to me. His bashing of multiculturalism, clearly meant to be a message to harder Quebecois vote, suggests to me that he's nervous. There are signs, I think, that the Federalist parties may actually do some harm to the BQ, so I expect to see this magnified tonight.

Iggy's got to do something different, and that different thing is, to my mind, to look at what Layton did, equal parts attack and promotion. Yes, you need to attack the PM, absolutely, but you need to show yourself as the alternative as well, otherwise, you're just playing an average day at Question Period.

If I'm layton and I'm seeing duceppe as nervous as your portraying him, I'm going for the K.O. If anyone can pull it off its layton, he has nothing to lose and the chance to gain some serious momentum. I don't know how duceppe could prepare for layton. If layton can play the drive by potshot game against duceppe with harper as his setup man, the ndp will get some left wing votes here.

[RNG]

They also elect president, who is completely independent in the executive branch from their congress. Our party leaders are just that, the leaders of parties. If his health fails, someone else will take over the leadership of the NDP. At the end of the day, people ought to be voting for the party that represents their values and who's platform is designed to build the Canada that you want to see.

Probably back in 1900 that was true. But starting with Trudeau and worse and worse since, including Torys O/E, with maybe the exception of Clark, the idealistic fool, the power is all concentrated in the PM now. Maybe with a little given to the odd cabinet minister. The average MP is a totally centrally controled robot or rapidly becomes an independent. So although on paper you are correct, in practice, that ain't the way it works.

[Smallc]

Probably back in 1900 that was true.

That's still true. Anyone can become a PM quite easily, and it's really the party that has control of things.

[cybercoma]

Anyone can become a PM quite easily

I wouldn't say quite easily. Relatively easy compared to President of the US, but not quite easy.

[ToadBrother]

If I'm layton and I'm seeing duceppe as nervous as your portraying him, I'm going for the K.O. If anyone can pull it off its layton, he has nothing to lose and the chance to gain some serious momentum. I don't know how duceppe could prepare for layton. If layton can play the drive by potshot game against duceppe with harper as his setup man, the ndp will get some left wing votes here.

Frankly, I think Layton was initially a little taken aback. I think he expected Duceppe to spend most of his time trying to nail Harper, but the fact that Duceppe was trying to rope-a-dope Layton over Bill 101 speaks volumes. At least some of the seat projections indicate potential gains for Federalists in Quebec, and left leaning BQ supporters (and there are a lot, let's face it) may actually be looking at planting their mark next to the NDP candidate.

I dunno, it could all be the fevered imagination of a political junkie like myself, but Duceppe seemed to be some energy into trying to nail Layton over Bill 101. It was probably the only part of the debate that I really sat up and said "What have we got here..."

[g_bambino]

It is quite destabilizing to have to change leadership part way through a mandate. Our system and that of the US are quite different, but they concider things like the medical file of the presidential candidates needed information.

Prime ministers do not have mandates and they can be replaced at any time, without a prior election, for many reasons, poor health or death being just a couple of them.

[Bryan]

I wouldn't say quite easily. Relatively easy compared to President of the US, but not quite easy.

You don't think it's easier for a president? Maybe not easier, but simpler at least; He's only got to sell himself, not 308 other members.

[cybercoma]

You don't think it's easier for a president? Maybe not easier, but simpler at least; He's only got to sell himself, not 308 other members.

I wouldn't say simpler even. You just have to win the primaries to become Prime Minister. In the US you have to win the primaries then go through an election.

[RNG]

It's still destabilizing to change leaders. In fact it may be easier in the states since all the VP is, is a president-in-waiting.

[Smallc]

It's still destabilizing to change leaders. In fact it may be easier in the states since all the VP is, is a president-in-waiting.

The sitting PM generally designates an alternate to perform their duties in the event of incapacitation. Until 2006, that was Lawrence Cannon, though I'm not sure who it is now.

[ToadBrother]

The sitting PM generally designates an alternate to perform their duties in the event of incapacitation. Until 2006, that was Lawrence Cannon, though I'm not sure who it is now.

And remember, in the event of an incapitation or death, the GG does have the power to ask someone else in the governing party to take over as well. Our system has as its foremost rule that there is always a government and always a continuity in government.

[RNG]

And remember, in the event of an incapitation or death, the GG does have the power to ask someone else in the governing party to take over as well. Our system has as its foremost rule that there is always a government and always a continuity in government.

I'm not denying that there are systems in place to handle it. But I am saying that it still causes disruption. How many of you have been in a corporate environment when your boss either quit, was fired or was promoted to a different section. It causes problems. It won't bring the company down, but it causes problems. And Lord knows the government has enough problems and a hard enough time to operate efficiently without further perturbation.

[ToadBrother]

I'm not denying that there are systems in place to handle it. But I am saying that it still causes disruption. How many of you have been in a corporate environment when your boss either quit, was fired or was promoted to a different section. It causes problems. It won't bring the company down, but it causes problems. And Lord knows the government has enough problems and a hard enough time to operate efficiently without further perturbation.

Well of course it causes a disruption, but any organization worth its salt has a continuity and succession plan. In the case of the government, there are long-standing conventions on how to handle this. Let's remember here that more than death or illness could potentially end a PM's career. Scandal and being ousted from office can all happen to.

Quite frankly, for me, it is really the least of my worries. There are rules in place, in general heads of government have an alternate or deputy who takes over the role when they are unable to fulfill their obligations. Hell, Churchill was at times incommunicado during WWII (as I recall, he got very sick and basically took a few days off, not to mention some of his secret flights that essentially kept him from communicating with the rest of cabinet and with his own ministries), and yet the ship of state still stayed afloat.