Next Liberal leader

Newfoundlander · January 17, 2012

There have been people who have said Rae should step down soon if he plans on running. If people who plan on being candidates say that Rae needs to step down soon then the executive are going to be under pressure to have him step down within a few months. If Crawley, who is supposedly lukewarm on Rae running, and the executive decide the interim leader is ineligible from entering the race unless he steps down a year before the vote then Rae will have know choice. The executive have the power, not Rae. The party will likely not jeopardize having fewer candidates enter the race because they are afraid to give Rae an ultimatum.

William Ashley · January 17, 2012

There have been people who have said Rae should step down soon if he plans on running. If people who plan on being candidates say that Rae needs to step down soon then the executive are going to be under pressure to have him step down within a few months. If Crawley, who is supposedly lukewarm on Rae running, and the executive decide the interim leader is ineligible from entering the race unless he steps down a year before the vote then Rae will have know choice. The executive have the power, not Rae. The party will likely not jeopardize having fewer candidates enter the race because they are afraid to give Rae an ultimatum.

they'll save money if they know its him, they have 3 years ahead of them before an election, what is the rush?

cost the tories more to slander both him and should he keel his successor.

It is divine Karma to force him to sit through an entire term after bringing two minority governments down in non confidence motions.

It is also hilarity that the tories are bringing austerity (10% cuts to the public service) with rae in opposition with his own social contract.. will the tories make him look benevolent?

rae set to cut 2 billion in civil service jobs...

harper to cut

80,000 jobs?

http://www.harper-watch.ca/promises/harper-plans-80000-job-cuts-public-servants/

that is 5x the cuts Rae did in the 90's, and that is his big 'stain' although he cut work days not jobs.

Edited January 17, 2012 by William Ashley

Big Guy · January 17, 2012

I think that the next leader will be Martha Hall Findlay. She has always impressed me as an honest broker, she will be acceptable to the young and the old and does not carry any Chretien vs Martin baggage.

AreBe · January 17, 2012

This is a good one- no, honest to goodness, a good one!

It starts off kind of slow and then builds up into the hilarity of a Monty Python sketch... Enjoy!

Borys Wrzesnewskyj (English pronunciation: /ˈbɔrɨs ʒɛzˈnɛfski/ zhez-nef-sky;[1] born November 10, 1960) is a Canadian politician who represented the riding of Etobicoke Centre in the Canadian House of Commons in the 38th, 39th and 40th Parliaments. He is a member of the Liberal Party.

...

After the Liberal Party suffered their worst defeat in history under Michael Ignatieff in the May 2, 2011 federal election, and the previous defeat of Stéphane Dion in 2008, party loyalists have objected to Liberal Party decision makers who reflexively promote and support high profile or star leadership candidates. Supporters have quietly urged Wrzesnewskyj to run for the Liberal Party of Canada leadership election, 2013.

Wresnewskyj's appeal for a successful leadership bid includes his refusal to play "back room politics", seen as a key factor in rejuvenating the Liberal Party. Referring to Michael Ignatieff and inner Liberal party circles at his annual general meeting in January 2011, Wrzesnewskyj said "They can't buy me, they can't silence me, so I remain a pain in their side." In his first major interview since the May 2011 election, Wrzesnewskyj stated "it would be such a shame to lose the Liberal Party of Canada as a consequence of being hijacked by a so-called party establishment."[18]

Tackling the RCMP pension scandal wide open in early 2007 through the Public Accounts Committee when "fellow MPs had warned him it could cost him his career"[19] is seen as another example of Wrzesnewskyj leadership appeal.

Previously, Ignatieff stopped Wrzesnewskyj "from calling witnesses and submitting evidence in a parliamentary hearing... that would have pointed to Chinese influence on Canadian politicians."[19]

In 2005, when Paul Martin served as Prime Minister, Wrzesnewskyj supported a Conservative MP Daryl Kramp private members bill for mandatory minimums for gun crimes. He described the events in a Virtual Town Hall meeting on 20 March 2011. Initially, Wrzesnewskyj was instructed by the Liberal leadership to oppose the bill. He refused on a matter of principle stating "If you use a gun, you're done. The moment you become a risk to the security of our neighbourhoods and communities, that's it".

He eventually convinced his Liberal colleagues on the merits of the bill and cast the deciding ballot for the Conservative bill to go forward.

Wrzesnewskyj stated that "Party elite needs to be ousted" and that he "is hoping to “unwedge the backroom boys” and open the party up through a grassroots effort to sign up new members. If all goes according to plan, it could lead to a run for the Liberal leadership."[18]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borys_Wrzesnewskyj#Potential_Liberal_Leadership_Run_in_2013

see

Rogue Liberal Readies Leadership Bid Party elite needs to be ousted, says Wrzesnewskyj

Epoch Times Staff

By Matthew Little On September 29, 2011 @ 12:19 am In National | No Comments
Borys Wrzesnewskyj is ready to take on the elites who run the Liberal Party, looking to return the Grits to the ideals that made them one of the most successful parties in democratic history.

From now until 2013, the former Liberal MP is hoping to “unwedge the backroom boys” and open the party up through a grassroots effort to sign up new members. If all goes according to plan, it could lead to a run for the Liberal leadership.

But first, he said, the party must be opened up.

“It’s not a private club, it belongs to the Canadian people and it’s part of the democratic process. And we have an incredible opportunity after the devastation of this last party and the slap-down that this establishment received for having parachuted Michael Ignatieff into the riding and then into the leadership of the party.”

Ignatieff landed in his Etobicoke-Lakeshore riding in Toronto for the 2004 election. He took the Liberal leadership by acclaim after Bob Rae bowed out of an irregular leadership race that reduced voting to the Liberal caucus, riding association presidents, and some others—but not the entire party membership.

Wrzesnewskyj spoke with The Epoch Times from his family-owned business, Future Bakery, in Etobicoke.

... Wrzesnewskyj said 2013 is a critical opportunity for the party to show it is ready to represent Canadian values and the ideals that led it to become one of the most successful parties in the history of democracy.

...

“Success attracts people, and often very capable people, with wrong motivations,” he said. “We’ll see over the next two years whether we can jettison that group, because they are like an anchor.”

Wrzesnewskyj blames that group for the party’s declining election returns and a legacy that dampens its future prospects.

“I haven’t given up on the Liberal Party. There is no other party in Western democracy such as ours. They are all parties of the right or left,” he said.

“The Liberal Party is not a party of ideology—it’s a reflection of Canadian history, of accommodation.”

....

“That’s why it would be such a shame to lose the Liberal Party of Canada as a consequence of being hijacked by a so-called party establishment.”

from print friendly version of http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/canada/rogue-liberal-readies-leadership-bid-62194.html .

Newfoundlander · January 17, 2012

I think that the next leader will be Martha Hall Findlay. She has always impressed me as an honest broker, she will be acceptable to the young and the old and does not carry any Chretien vs Martin baggage.

She also seems to be a blue Grit.

Newfoundlander · January 17, 2012

Does anyone know if Martin Cauchon popular in Quebec?

Bryan · January 17, 2012

As a Conservative, I really hope that it's Rae.

waldo · January 17, 2012

As a Conservative, I really hope that it's Rae.

really? Wadda bout all that conjecture that Rae's the guy to bring about the unite... the 'Liberal Democrat' party? Your hopes are no less reasonable than those of (some of), 'the left/centre-left' - yes?

Newfoundlander · January 17, 2012

As a Conservative, I really hope that it's Rae.

So you'd rather see the Liberal Party destroyed and the NDP become the only potential alternative to the Conservatives?

Shakeyhands · January 17, 2012

As a Conservative, I really hope that it's Rae.

As a Liberal, I really hope that it's Rae too.

Bryan · January 17, 2012

So you'd rather see the Liberal Party destroyed and the NDP become the only potential alternative to the Conservatives?

No, I want to see both the NDP and the LPC choose leaders that will be easy to beat.

Newfoundlander · January 17, 2012

No, I want to see both the NDP and the LPC choose leaders that will be easy to beat.

Who cares about beating the best.

The Conservatives can't stay in power forever, if the Liberals don't gt stronger we may one day be stuck with a socialist Prime Minister.

capricorn · January 17, 2012

Does anyone know if Martin Cauchon popular in Quebec?

My sense is that he isn't. He's a Chretienite and that alone doesn't inspire renewal either for the Liberal party or for Quebecers.

Cauchon was a Chrétien loyalist and opposed Paul Martin's attempt to force Chrétien to retire. When Chrétien announced his resignation, Cauchon was touted as a possible candidate to succeed him but did not end up running in the 2003 leadership election. Cauchon refused to back Martin's leadership bid, and supported John Manley instead. Cauchon was not included in Martin's first cabinet.
Cauchon did not run for re-election in the 2004 election. It was reported he was seeking out Chrétien loyalists[citation needed], many of whom were outcast when Paul Martin became leader of the party, and rallying them for a possible leadership bid in the 2006 Liberal leadership election. However, he decided not to run, and instead supported Bob Rae. He has made no secret of the fact that he still covets the leadership, however.

However, Cauchon had signalled his intentions to run again for the Liberals in the next election in the riding of Outremont. Then Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff's Quebec Lieutenant and longtime Cauchon rival Denis Coderre opposed Cauchon's return, and in 2009 instead decided to appoint prominent businesswoman Nathalie le Prohon as the candidate in the riding. However, amid speculation that Coderre only wanted to thwart Cauchon's comeback because he saw him as a future leadership rival, internal party pressure, notably from Bob Rae and Jean Chrétien, prompted Ignatieff to open the nomination to Cauchon. The fallout from this decision led to Coderre's resignation as Quebec Lieutenant and Liberal Defense Critic, saying he no longer had the "moral authority" to continue. Le Prohon was to run in the Montreal riding of Jeanne-Le Ber but this did not happen. In the May 2011 federal election, Cauchon ran for the Liberals in Outremont, but lost to Thomas Mulcair of the NDP, who has held the riding since 2007.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Cauchon

capricorn · January 17, 2012

As a Conservative, I really hope that it's Rae.

Joining the Liberals as a "supporter" would give you the privilege of voting for him.

Shakeyhands · January 17, 2012

Joining the Liberals as a "supporter" would give you the privilege of voting for him.

This Liberal encourages just that!

Evening Star · January 17, 2012

really? Wadda bout all that conjecture that Rae's the guy to bring about the unite... the 'Liberal Democrat' party? Your hopes are no less reasonable than those of (some of), 'the left/centre-left' - yes?

I like Rae myself but do you have any idea of how popular he is with most New Democrats? Try searching for his name on Babble.

Shakeyhands · January 17, 2012

I like Rae myself but do you have any idea of how popular he is with most New Democrats? Try searching for his name on Babble.

It might be interesting to see how those Babblers (??) feel about another Harper Gov't after the NDP implode in Quebec next time around.

Evening Star · January 17, 2012

I think I have less confidence in Rae's ability to win back Ontario, let alone the rest of the country, than I do in the NDP's ability to hold onto Quebec tbh.

Newfoundlander · January 18, 2012

The party doesn't appear to have a big selection in leadership candidates, especially one to take out Rae if he runs.

January 18, 2012

I don't see the executive removing Rae too quickly out of the interim job. There's no disputing he's doing a good job holding the Conservatives to account. I am doubtful another interim leader would be as effective in that respect because the best of the Liberal front bench would be declared candidates.

Yes, but despite that Rae is damaged goods. He is toxic in the memory of older Ontarians and if he is made leader it will be another failure for the liberals.

Newfoundlander · January 18, 2012

Jane Taber mentions some new names in this article including; Geoff Regan, Naheed Nenshi, Gregor Robertson and Jean-Marc Fournier. She also says that the only potential female candidate as of now is Belinda Stronach.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/bob-rae-and-beyond-potential-contenders-for-the-top-liberal-job/article2306439/

PIK · January 18, 2012

Would mentioning rae's political career, be labeled as a attack add?

cybercoma · January 18, 2012

Jane Taber mentions some new names in this article including; Geoff Regan, Naheed Nenshi, Gregor Robertson and Jean-Marc Fournier. She also says that the only potential female candidate as of now is Belinda Stronach.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/bob-rae-and-beyond-potential-contenders-for-the-top-liberal-job/article2306439/

The federal Liberals need Sandra Pupatello.

Newfoundlander · January 18, 2012

The federal Liberals need Sandra Pupatello.

I've thought the same thing. Does she speak French?

capricorn · January 18, 2012

Yes, but despite that Rae is damaged goods. He is toxic in the memory of older Ontarians and if he is made leader it will be another failure for the liberals.

I agree that with Rae as permanent leader the Liberals have zero chance of forming government. But he can be an asset to the Liberal Party as they work toward rebuilding the party.

It's unlikely the Conservatives will suffer a complete meltdown before the next election and will probably be re-elected to government. That means the Liberals playing the long game, namely to at least doubling their seat count and re-gaining official opposition status. The noises I'm hearing from the new Lib president Crawley is that he thinks along those lines.

Damaged goods or not, a lot of Canadians, including me, want someone in opposition to keep the Conservatives in check. The NDP in official opposition leave a lot to be desired. So with Bob Rae stepping up to the plate, whatever baggage he carries around is inconsequential as long as he gets the job done.