jdobbin Posted December 24, 2006 Report Posted December 24, 2006 Just supremely talented. He's probably the best lawyer Canada has ever had. Maybe on the planet. Quote
Argus Posted December 24, 2006 Report Posted December 24, 2006 Read my explanation above for Chretien's hiring by the law firm. It was solely for his technical expertise. I seem to recall Jean Chretien finishing very high in law school and being director of the bar in his region before being elected. Chretien only practiced law for a few years before going into politics. If he was director of the bar - in Shawinigan, which isn't much of a status symbol - then the requirements are pretty damned slim. So he practices law for about 4 years, then twenty three years later a prestigious Bay street law firm finds his "legal" talents so incredible they hire him at a huge salary? Right. Sure. Quote "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
Argus Posted December 24, 2006 Report Posted December 24, 2006 You don't have to tell me about Chretien. I wasn't a huge fan. As far as money he got as a lawyer, it wouldn't be the first time that a law firm thought a former politician would be a "rainmaker" for them. Mulroney has been a huge rainmaker for his firm just as Trudeau was for his. A rainmaker is generally someone who brings in business due to his LEGAL talents. Chretien had no real legal talents. If he was going to bring in business it would have been through influence and friendship with big corporate types. And that kind of thing is a back scratching affair. If people moved their business to that highly expensive Bay street law firm because of Chretien it was either to reward him for things he'd done in politics or, more likely, in the assumption he would pay them back once he became Liberal leader and Prime Minister - something long regarded as inevitable. And the difference between he, Mulroney and Trudeau, is they were hired as basically PR guys after they were out of politics. Chretien's hiring came in that period after Turner became Liberal leader, when everyone knew it was just a matter of time before Chretien took over and then, ultimately became PM. So anyone moving business there was basically currying favour with a man they believed would be the next PM. Do you actually think those firms got no payback? It'd be really interesting to see which firms were involved, and what they might have gotten from Chretien's government afterwards. Quote "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
Argus Posted December 24, 2006 Report Posted December 24, 2006 But then again no one has ever satisfactorily explained why Jean Chretien, a little-practiced, small-town Quebec (common law) attorney who hadn't practiced law in years came to be hired by a major Toronto law firm at a simply huge salary which helped make him a millionaire after losing the leadership to Turner when everyone knew he would be the next Liberal leader. His research and oratorical courtroom skills were top notch. And you know this because of your extensive research into his 4 year legal career prior to becoming a politician? He probably fulfilled a similar function to the one I fulfull, which is as a "troubleshooter" in complex, technical legal situations. He practiced law in small-town Quebec for 4 years, then spent 23 years in politics. You're telling me this small town lawyer - from QUEBEC, which practices CIVIL law who hadn't actually practiced law in 23 years was called upon by a major, prestigeous Bay Street law firm to analyse complex technical legal situations? I highly doubt Chretien was given anything legal to do, and if he was, it was checked over very carefully by someone more competent. Quote "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
jdobbin Posted December 24, 2006 Report Posted December 24, 2006 Chretien only practiced law for a couple of years before going into politics. If he was director of the bar - in Shawinigan, which isn't much of a status symbol - then the requirements are pretty damned slim. So he practices law for about 2 years, then fifteen years later a prestigious Bay street law firm finds his "legal" talents so incredible they hire him at a huge salary? Right. Sure. Law firms buy prestige on their name plates. Do corporations put former premiers on their board because they know how to run a tech company? Nooo. They put them on their boards because it gives the company prestige and that there is an expectation that they know something about running a major operation. If you think that a law firm paying a large salary to a former cabinet minister or prime minister is corruption then you are probably barking up the wrong tree. You'd have to show how that law firm parlayed their hiring of that person into illegal contracts. Quote
jdobbin Posted December 24, 2006 Report Posted December 24, 2006 He practiced law in small-town Quebec for 4 years, then spent 23 years in politics. You're telling me this small town lawyer - from QUEBEC, which practices CIVIL law who hadn't actually practiced law in 23 years was called upon by a major, prestigeous Bay Street law firm to analyse complex technical legal situations? I highly doubt Chretien was given anything legal to do, and if he was, it was checked over very carefully by someone more competent. I think jbg is pulling your leg. Quote
jbg Posted December 25, 2006 Report Posted December 25, 2006 He practiced law in small-town Quebec for 4 years, then spent 23 years in politics. You're telling me this small town lawyer - from QUEBEC, which practices CIVIL law who hadn't actually practiced law in 23 years was called upon by a major, prestigeous Bay Street law firm to analyse complex technical legal situations? I highly doubt Chretien was given anything legal to do, and if he was, it was checked over very carefully by someone more competent. I think jbg is pulling your leg. The clue was the reference to his "oratorical" skills. Quote Free speech: "You can say what you want, but I don't have to lend you my megaphone." Always remember that when you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper, and when you are in the wrong you cannot afford to lose it. - J.J. Reynolds. Will the steps anyone is proposing to fight "climate change" reduce a single temperature, by a single degree, at a single location? The mantra of "world opinion" or the views of the "international community" betrays flabby and weak reasoning (link).
jbg Posted December 25, 2006 Report Posted December 25, 2006 But then again no one has ever satisfactorily explained why Jean Chretien, a little-practiced, small-town Quebec (common law) attorney who hadn't practiced law in years came to be hired by a major Toronto law firm at a simply huge salary which helped make him a millionaire after losing the leadership to Turner when everyone knew he would be the next Liberal leader. His research and oratorical courtroom skills were top notch. And you know this because of your extensive research into his 4 year legal career prior to becoming a politician? I would have wanted him to write my briefs and carry my oral argument in Court. Quote Free speech: "You can say what you want, but I don't have to lend you my megaphone." Always remember that when you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper, and when you are in the wrong you cannot afford to lose it. - J.J. Reynolds. Will the steps anyone is proposing to fight "climate change" reduce a single temperature, by a single degree, at a single location? The mantra of "world opinion" or the views of the "international community" betrays flabby and weak reasoning (link).
jdobbin Posted December 25, 2006 Report Posted December 25, 2006 I would have wanted him to write my briefs and carry my oral argument in Court. I wouldn't want any oral from him around my briefs but that's just me. Quote
jbg Posted December 25, 2006 Report Posted December 25, 2006 I would have wanted him to write my briefs and carry my oral argument in Court. I wouldn't want any oral from him around my briefs but that's just me. LOL Quote Free speech: "You can say what you want, but I don't have to lend you my megaphone." Always remember that when you are in the right you can afford to keep your temper, and when you are in the wrong you cannot afford to lose it. - J.J. Reynolds. Will the steps anyone is proposing to fight "climate change" reduce a single temperature, by a single degree, at a single location? The mantra of "world opinion" or the views of the "international community" betrays flabby and weak reasoning (link).
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