Who will replace PM Martin as Liberal leader?

[mirror]

Marc Garneau is probably the best bet to replace PM Martin especially if it is sooner rather than later.

[August1991]

Marc Garneau is probably the best bet to replace PM Martin especially if it is sooner rather than later.

I assume that this will occur after he returns from his Official Visit to Mars as GG.

[Big Blue Machine]

If he doesn't win a majority in the next election, then he's out as leader.

[Shakeyhands]

If he doesn't win a majority in the next election, then he's out as leader.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You think BBM? I think he has done a pretty good job so far (fair to midland really I guess) He certainly isn't a Chretien type, more like a Mulroney dare I say it. However having said all that, I think he will be around for quite a while. I certainly wouldn't say that about some of the other party leaders though.

[Big Blue Machine]

But Liberals don't like minority gov't, they want majorities. And Martin has only delieverd a minority and has almost lost power a couple of times. If the Liberals don't get a majority, then that shows Martin's inability as a leader.

[mirror]

Most Canadians agree with you, I think.

[mirror]

I think this is a good fit. It has been obvious for some time now, including the time when when he was premier of Ontario, that Rae is more of a Liberal than a NDPer. It might be a bit hard for some liberals to swallow but they are pragmatists.

Liberal insiders look to Bob Rae as possible successor to Martin

He has had a hand in weighty issues (co-authoring a recent report on Ontario's postsecondary education) and served as peacemaker for others (mediating the aboriginal fishing dispute in Burnt Church, N.B., and was named special adviser to deputy prime minister Anne McLellan on the Air India fallout).

"Ten years later, he seems to have been reinvented as an elder statesman," says Conservative pollster Greg Lyle, president of Innovative ResearchGroup.

Mr. Lyle says Mr. Rae's pragmatic politics would easily fit into the Liberal party. He cites former B.C. New Democrat Premier Ujjal Dosanjh as an example.

"Coming from the left basically means people trust your motivation on social issues," he says. "I think he's a very plausible candidate.

[cybercoma]

Oh dear god no! Anything but Bob Rae. Are the Liberals suicidal? There isn't a chance in hell Ontario would elect Rae.

The Liberal's best hope would be for Michael Ignatieff to run for their leadership. I'm not at all certain he wants to though.

[Toro]

Martin has to win a majority or the knives will be out.

The Liberals should pick Frank McKenna to replace him. He'd be up against Bernard Lord. Two Maritimers from the same province. That would be interesting.

[Renegade]

Liberal insiders look to Bob Rae as possible successor to Martin

Sorry, it took me this long to post because I couldn't stop laughing.

[mirror]

Well at least it has cleared up something for me.

Bob Rae was never really an NDPer. He always was a Liberal in sheep's clothing.

[Toro]

Well at least it has cleared up something for me.

Bob Rae was never really an NDPer. He always was a Liberal in sheep's clothing. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

His brother was a policy advisor for Chretien.

Rae wasn't as bad as many thought. Sure, he let the socialist hordes have their way for the first few years of his mandate, but he spent the last half of his mandate trying to unwind the damage. You have to respect him for that.

But he'll never be the head of the Liberals.

[Hawk]

It makes no difference when or how, the Liberal party has become essential the Canadian image. If you aren't a Liberal socialist you aren't Canadian, rather you are a red-neck bigot alcoholic. Its really sad.

I consider myself and the rest of Alberta that are current-day conservatives to be the true Canadians, since we still hold truer to the values of our founding fathers and their succeeding generations than the rest of Canada that is so eager to change everything we know.

Progression is not always a good thing =p

As for Martin not winning a majority, if you recall it was doubtful he would win anything at all. I mean with all the crap Chretien pulled at the end of his rule I couldn't believe they still won, although I guess that would explain why people are still willing to vote for this pathetically corrupt piece of sh*t even after the Gomery Inquiry. For some reason TV has rotted the brains of most people in Ontario (exluding those who voted Conservative, including my relatives )

[SirSpanky]

Please define "true Canadian" so I know how to behave in the future.

[Guest eureka]

I would also be curious to know what were tose "values our founding fathers had" that only Albertans hold dear.

Would they be something like cavemen clubbing each other in battling over a kill that should be big enough for both?

[plusgood]

Oh dear god no!  Anything but Bob Rae.  Are the Liberals suicidal?  There isn't a chance in hell Ontario would elect Rae.

The Liberal's best hope would be for Michael Ignatieff to run for their leadership.  I'm not at all certain he wants to though.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was wondering if Michael Ignatieff was going to be mentioned. I recently read an article in the Globe and Mail that mentioned the possibility of him returning to Canada and becoming an MP and possibly pushing his way up into the Prime Ministership. My concern is that Canadians would be weary about supporting a candidate that has been working outside of Canada for decades. This is also a criticism that opposition parties could levy against an Ignatieff-Liberal campaign - argueing against an 'outsider' running the country. They could easily question Ignatieff's ability to lead Canada on these grounds and question whether he can truely comprehend the issues and design policy if he has not been a resident. The Liberals may not wish to risk the potential success of this criticism; although, maybe there isn't any better candidate currently within the Liberal machine.

After the 2004 US election I remember reading some articles about John Kerry being too much of an intellectual for the American population. These same articles argued that Bush, being perceived less as an intellect and more as an average American, was better able to relate to the people and gain their support. Now, I am not arguing that John Kerry was an intellectual or that Bush is an idoit, but that is how they were perceived and this perception apparently hurt Kerry because he was less able to relate to the average American. My fear is this same perception could pleague Ignatieff.

[Biblio Bibuli]

The Liberal's best hope would be for Michael Ignatieff to run for their leadership. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was wondering if Michael Ignatieff was going to be mentioned.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why the heck did this thread stop once Michael Ignatieff was mentioned?

Hmm?

What's WRONG with you people?

Hmmm?

BTW - I'm puting you, Cybercoma, in my favorites.

Thank you!

[shoop]

Goes to show how sad the current state of the Federal Liberals is. There have been three names mentioned on this thread: Garneau, Ignatieff and Rae.

Rae is the ony with experience in the House of Commons - and he sat as an ND.

[normanchateau]

Goes to show how sad the current state of the Federal Liberals is. There have been three names mentioned on this thread: Garneau, Ignatieff and Rae.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Frank McKenna's name also appeared. That's four Liberal names by my count in this thread. And who will replace Stephen Harper when he loses the next election? Gurmant Grewal or the "honest" CPC Deputy Leader who made a deal with David Orchard then reneged on the deal after consultations with Brian Mulroney?

[scribblet]

Goes to show how sad the current state of the Federal Liberals is. There have been three names mentioned on this thread: Garneau, Ignatieff and Rae.

Rae is the ony with experience in the House of Commons - and he sat as an ND. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You know what, Bob Rae might not be all that bad, after all when he was premier of Ontario he acted more liberal than NDP, and he is a very smart man. I agree though, it won't happen.

If Martin either loses the election or only gains another minority (same with Harper) I would think there would be a leadership review. Nothing is a given in this election, its going to be close and another minority government. Then what, they'll have to work together, should be fun.

[Biblio Bibuli]

  Nothing is a given in this election, its going to be close and another minority government. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Don Martin says that "anyone who can get two-to-one odds should bet on a Conservative minority."

Protect that with a few bucks on a longshot, a Conservative majority, and you can't lose.