Stronach Won't Run for Liberal Leadership

[August1991]

Former Human Resources Minister Belinda Stronach will bow out of the Liberal Leadership race today.

---

But party insiders said her travels across the country to solicit support turned out many Liberal interested to meet her, but few who would commit to backing her.

Not least among her troubles in a party that considers itself the champion of bilingualism, Ms. Stronach's French was broken, at least, and her assurances that she would learn quickly were met with skeptcism. When a reporter asked her in French if she would run for the leadership, she did not understand the question, and asked for it to be repeated in English.

G & M

How long will she stay in politics? I'd say she'll resign from Parliament within a year (if there's no election before). I thik the appropriate adjective is "inconstant".

I recall this remark:

"I regret to say that I do not believe the party leader is truly sensitive to the needs of each part of the country and just how big and complex Canada really is," Stronach said of Harper.

Later, Harper shot back his terse response.

"I've never really noticed complexity to be Belinda's strong point," he said.

CTV

[Michael Hardner]

She was the least substantial candidate and wouldn't have been able to defeat Harper.

The candidates that are left are very Harper-like in that they're more idea men than politicians.

It's not looking good for the Liberals at this point.

[scribblet]

here's a good laugh on behalf of Belinda Stronach for a Thursday morning.

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=2090&sc=2

<snip>

During her address to Liberal party faithful, Stronach said she's seriously considering a run for the leadership of the Liberal party. She said she'll decide shortly.

Liberals will choose a new leader in December.

Stronach still has to convince hard-core Liberals that she has the depth to lead the party, considering she was a Tory up until May 2005.

In her address, Stronach actually made a slip, referring to herself as a Conservative and then quickly correcting herself.

"This is my first visit back to P.E.I. as a Conservative," said Stronach, stopping before completing the word Conservative as the crowd erupted in laughter.

"Oh boy."

<snip>

[politika]

Well it will be good for the Liberals now that Belinda's out.

But that leaves very few left and like you said, all the candidates are very Conservative like. What about Bill Graham? Can he not run? He is interm leader right now and he sucked at his former job as defense minister (he cheaped out on our Air Force) But he is one helluv a speaker and a damn good politician. I am a Conservative supporter but if Bill Graham played his cards right if he ever did become leader of the Liberals he would surely win my support.

[geoffrey]

She was the least substantial candidate and wouldn't have been able to defeat Harper.

The candidates that are left are very Harper-like in that they're more idea men than politicians.

It's not looking good for the Liberals at this point.

Who's an idea man other than Ignatieff and Dion?

Brison is a used refridgerator salesman turned politican... Bob Rae perhaps, but his ideas have never been very coherent... Findlay is a waste of news time... Goodale isn't an idea man, just old news.

Chances are a style over substance person will be chosen. It's the Liberal way.

Too bad Dion wouldn't be more well liked outside of French Quebec. It would help if he spoke English perhaps.

[BubberMiley]

I'll repeat it again and again till it comes true: An enormous save by Dryden!

[betsy]

Madame LeBreton pulled no punches in her comment regarding Belinda. She called her "devious" on MDuffy Live.

Belinda's own biographer, Don Martin, do not seem to have a high opinion of her.

[shoop]

Dryden may end up as the winner.

I personally subscribe to the view that whoever takes the job will do so to keep the OLO occupied till 2011 after a Harper majority when a new leader will come in to try and take back the reins of government.

Is this a prize that is really worth winning? McKenna, Manley, Rock, Belinda have all seen the writing on the wall and said no.

[mcqueen625]

Well it will be good for the Liberals now that Belinda's out.

But that leaves very few left and like you said, all the candidates are very Conservative like. What about Bill Graham? Can he not run? He is interm leader right now and he sucked at his former job as defense minister (he cheaped out on our Air Force) But he is one helluv a speaker and a damn good politician. I am a Conservative supporter but if Bill Graham played his cards right if he ever did become leader of the Liberals he would surely win my support.

You said in one sentence that Graham sucked as Defense Minister (he cheaped out the military) and a couple of sentences later you say if he became leader you might vote for him?? That sure sounds to me like you are willing to vote for an incompetent individual as Prime Minister, and it seems to me that is all we have had in the last 20 years or so, incompetants, including Ly'in Brian Mulroney.

I want to see what Harper will do before we send the corrupt Liberal Party back to the troth. So far I like Stephen's initiatives. It will be interesting to see the Liberal's try to run on a pledge to save the GST, when it was Chretien who pledged to scrap the GST during his first mandate. I also agree with Stephen with regards to giving each parent $1,200.00 for each child to assist paying for daycare. I certainly do not want government in the daycare business, and I do not believe that taxpayer's should be asked to pay for daycare, so some yuppy mom or dad can both work. If they want to have children, let them pay for their own daycare, or better yet, stay home and bring up their own children instead of letting strangers at the local daycare centre do it for them, which is what my wife and I did when our children were very young. The more government gets involved in people's lives, the more they are going to need in tax-revenue. Thank you very much, but I fell Canadian are over-taxed as it is.

[Hicksey]

here's a good laugh on behalf of Belinda Stronach for a Thursday morning.

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=2090&sc=2

<snip>

During her address to Liberal party faithful, Stronach said she's seriously considering a run for the leadership of the Liberal party. She said she'll decide shortly.

Liberals will choose a new leader in December.

Stronach still has to convince hard-core Liberals that she has the depth to lead the party, considering she was a Tory up until May 2005.

In her address, Stronach actually made a slip, referring to herself as a Conservative and then quickly correcting herself.

"This is my first visit back to P.E.I. as a Conservative," said Stronach, stopping before completing the word Conservative as the crowd erupted in laughter.

"Oh boy."

<snip>

Talk about Stronach standing there exposed ...

As the opportunist she really is.

[politika]

Well it will be good for the Liberals now that Belinda's out.

But that leaves very few left and like you said, all the candidates are very Conservative like. What about Bill Graham? Can he not run? He is interm leader right now and he sucked at his former job as defense minister (he cheaped out on our Air Force) But he is one helluv a speaker and a damn good politician. I am a Conservative supporter but if Bill Graham played his cards right if he ever did become leader of the Liberals he would surely win my support.

You said in one sentence that Graham sucked as Defense Minister (he cheaped out the military) and a couple of sentences later you say if he became leader you might vote for him?? That sure sounds to me like you are willing to vote for an incompetent individual as Prime Minister, and it seems to me that is all we have had in the last 20 years or so, incompetants, including Ly'in Brian Mulroney.

I want to see what Harper will do before we send the corrupt Liberal Party back to the troth. So far I like Stephen's initiatives. It will be interesting to see the Liberal's try to run on a pledge to save the GST, when it was Chretien who pledged to scrap the GST during his first mandate. I also agree with Stephen with regards to giving each parent $1,200.00 for each child to assist paying for daycare. I certainly do not want government in the daycare business, and I do not believe that taxpayer's should be asked to pay for daycare, so some yuppy mom or dad can both work. If they want to have children, let them pay for their own daycare, or better yet, stay home and bring up their own children instead of letting strangers at the local daycare centre do it for them, which is what my wife and I did when our children were very young. The more government gets involved in people's lives, the more they are going to need in tax-revenue. Thank you very much, but I fell Canadian are over-taxed as it is.

You probably didn't catch me say after I said he sucked as Defense Minister that "he is one helluve a speaker and a damn good politicion" He only was a bad minister of defense becuase he botched up big time in buying those leaky subs and canceling our order of choppers to replace the ageing Sea Kings. But that was one mistake, and he is an extremly good speaker though and would make a good PM (as long as he had a competant Defense Minister at his side) THat stil doesnt answer my question though, how come he cant run for Liberal leadership?

[shoop]

I don't know if he *can't* run for leader. Here are a few questions that may need to be asked.

Limited time in the party? (Add to that - are Rae and Brison kidding themselves about having a serious changing of winning?)

How many Toronto candidates is too many?

Anybody know how good his French is?

Perhaps, the rumours of him being gay are true. Obviously, Brison is running, so it isn't an issue in and of itself. But he has remained married - to a woman, which could lead to "double-life" issues.

Does he have access to financial backing to pay for a campaign?

All valid questions...

You probably didn't catch me say after I said he sucked as Defense Minister that "he is one helluve a speaker and a damn good politicion" He only was a bad minister of defense becuase he botched up big time in buying those leaky subs and canceling our order of choppers to replace the ageing Sea Kings. But that was one mistake, and he is an extremly good speaker though and would make a good PM (as long as he had a competant Defense Minister at his side) THat stil doesnt answer my question though, how come he cant run for Liberal leadership?

[Steve]

Belinda was actually against OMOV when she ran for the CPC leadership - but I guess it suits her now.

[August1991]

... OMOV...

Oblong moving object vehicle?

Obscene money obtains votes?

[Steve]

One Member, One Vote.

Sorry for the confusion.