Summing up Liberal leadership contenders

[Argus]

Peter Worthington's summation of possible future Liberal Party leaders - reasonably correct and mildly amusing.

* Justin Trudeau is cited by the National Post as the victim of a draft movement to make him Liberal leader, based on his qualifications as PET's son and his own prettiness. So far, Justin denies interest.

* Ken Dryden, a former Montreal Canadien goalie who, as president of the Toronto Maple Leafs, was unable to produce a winner. His celebrity status got him elected to Parliament as a Liberal. He can do for the federal Liberals what he achieved for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Twit race

Lot of nere do wells, really. Only Ignatieff comes without heavy baggage, and what do we know about him? A man with no political experience who's spend 30 years in an ivory tower - and not even a Canadian ivory tower.

[uOttawaMan]

Justin Trudeau would be a fool to run.

PET is a clear example of charismatic leadserhip if their ever was one. Noone can have that same effect. Especially not a son. He should just stay out of it, and keep his family name in the relatively good stead it holds.

[Shakeyhands]

Ummm media bias?

anyway... our twit is gunna whoop your twit in T minus 17 months.

[Argus]

Ummm media bias?

anyway... our twit is gunna whoop your twit in T minus 17 months.

I don't believe anyone has ever called Harper a twit. Forget the biases brought about by politics. Compare him to the Liberal contenders. Who among them looks as qualified? Ignatieff? A man who has been out of Canada for the last 30 years, who's spent his entire life in an ivory tower? Hedy Fry, looking for Klansmen under every bed? Pettigrew or Brison? Do you really think the country is ready for a homosexual prime minister? Do you really think all those extremely religious ethinc voters the Liberals rely on are going to go out and vote for that? Their sexuality might be politely ignored by the media while they're cabinet ministers but it sure won't be if they run for prime minister.

[Naci Sey]

Only Ignatieff comes without heavy baggage, and what do we know about him? A man with no political experience who's spend 30 years in an ivory tower - and not even a Canadian ivory tower.

Ohhh, he's got some baggage alright.

I'd like to know which of the Liberal leadership candidates the CPCs would prefer. If Bob Rae could shake off his own baggage, might he not be the Conservatives' worst nightmare?

[August1991]

I'd like to know which of the Liberal leadership candidates the CPCs would prefer. If Bob Rae could shake off his own baggage, might he not be the Conservatives' worst nightmare?

Prefer? I don't really have a preference, although I'll watch with interest as this race unfolds.

I think the serious contenders are Ignatieff, Dion and Rae. These three are intelligent and honest men. I don't know Kennedy at all. I think that the Liberals will choose Dion because they think he will win them seats in Quebec.

The Liberal Party is in a mess right now and choosing a new leader isn't going to help matters.

As to your question about Rae, I frankly have a good opinion of him (did I just say that?) but I don't think Liberal Party members believe he's electable.

[Naci Sey]

I think the serious contenders are Ignatieff, Dion and Rae. These three are intelligent and honest men. I think that the Liberals will choose Dion because they think he will win them seats in Quebec.

As to your question about Rae, I frankly have a good opinion of him (did I just say that?) but I don't think Liberal Party members believe he's electable.

I was leaning toward Dion or Godfrey, because each was talking about directing Canada toward a green economy. Makes sense to me, both environmentally and economically. As for Rae, I hope the Liberals give him a chance, hear him out.

[fellowtraveller]

If Bob Rae could shake off his own baggage, might he not be the Conservatives' worst nightmare?

Liberal heartland is now Toronto. Not Ontario, Metro Toronto. Do you think Rae would be wildly popular there?

A dark horse is Anne McLellan, though I don't know how good her French is.... she doesn't have many enemies.

[Shakeyhands]

Ummm media bias?

anyway... our twit is gunna whoop your twit in T minus 17 months.

I don't believe anyone has ever called Harper a twit.

You hang out in mostly conservative circles huh... hahaha...

Pickins are somewhat slim in the leadership race, BUT, it will come down to Dryden and Ignatieff. Any ones guess after that. Rae would be an unmitigated disaster.

[shoop]

In many, many respects Bob Rae could be the ideal candidate for the CPC.

If *somehow* he could shakeoff the baggage to win the leadership it would be much tougher to do so in a general election.

His leadership would stunt any possibility for growth in Ontario. Can't see him gaining anywhere else. Quebec? Maritimes? West?

Rae Days would be the perfect ammunition for the CPC to win a majority of Ontario seats. Harper just needs to stay the course in Quebec for bigger numbers there. The Maritimes would see the trends in the rest of the country and jump on the bandwagon.

Please win Bob Rae!!!

I'd like to know which of the Liberal leadership candidates the CPCs would prefer. If Bob Rae could shake off his own baggage, might he not be the Conservatives' worst nightmare?

[geoffrey]

Bob Rae, if forgiven by Ontario, might pick up 5 or 6 Ontario seats. Does anyone actually believe Rae can win a seat in the west?

Until the Liberals can elect an Alberta MP, I don't feel like they have any business governing Canada, when they are rejected by 10%+ of the population outright, 10% of the population that holds a massive share of the countries wealth.

I can't be ok with a system where the poor elect a government to rob the rich.

Though it's looking like Harper is willing to readdress the fiscal imbalance to screw Alberta further, and throw more money at Quebec.

So hey, maybe I would vote for Rae? With childcare handouts and headtax repayments from hundreds of years ago and a refusal to let private medicine exist in Alberta like it does in Quebec, what is the difference between Harper and the socialists? :angry:

[apollo19]

I think one of the most interesting things about the leadership race is the fact the there are very few -- if any -- people on the right. Brison may have had his ideas a few years ago about private health care, but I think he has changed to the "progressive" mold by now. If a centre-right liberal doesn't run in the race, you may see the blue liberals start to bleed to the CPC.

In response to geoffrey's point about Harper readdressing the fiscal imbalance, where did he say he would increase transfers in the manner of (more from have provinces) --> (Feds) ---> (have-nots)? If you are referring to the recent Council of the Federation report, then I think you'll notice that it was McGuinty and Campbell (BC will break even soon) who were standing up for the haves not giving any more. Klein was sitting there agreeing with other premiers trying to give money away to make himself look good in other provinces. Perhaps you should blame him?

[shoop]

It's very difficult for Klein to put up a convincing fight about equalizations given the state of provincial revenues. He is picking his fights, and wisely so.

His line in the sand is not having energy revenues included in the equalization calculations. He's got a lot of friends in this battle. No reason to needlessly pick fights.

In response to geoffrey's point about Harper readdressing the fiscal imbalance, where did he say he would increase transfers in the manner of (more from have provinces) --> (Feds) ---> (have-nots)? If you are referring to the recent Council of the Federation report, then I think you'll notice that it was McGuinty and Campbell (BC will break even soon) who were standing up for the haves not giving any more. Klein was sitting there agreeing with other premiers trying to give money away to make himself look good in other provinces. Perhaps you should blame him?

[geoffrey]

It's very difficult for Klein to put up a convincing fight about equalizations given the state of provincial revenues. He is picking his fights, and wisely so.

His line in the sand is not having energy revenues included in the equalization calculations. He's got a lot of friends in this battle. No reason to needlessly pick fights.

In response to geoffrey's point about Harper readdressing the fiscal imbalance, where did he say he would increase transfers in the manner of (more from have provinces) --> (Feds) ---> (have-nots)? If you are referring to the recent Council of the Federation report, then I think you'll notice that it was McGuinty and Campbell (BC will break even soon) who were standing up for the haves not giving any more. Klein was sitting there agreeing with other premiers trying to give money away to make himself look good in other provinces. Perhaps you should blame him?

My expectation of Harper was to have Alberta come out keeping more of its money. Anything else is unacceptable. I've gone into great detail in other threads my opposition to provincial welfare to the level it has become and how I disagree strongly with this false belief that other provinces are entitled to Alberta's money even if they refuse to become prosperous themselves.

Following Harper's love-in with Quebec, why wouldn't I expect such a move? If Quebec becomes so behind this robbing Alberta theory, then Harper will have to support it or lose any chance of a majority.