Prime Minister Rae?

[Michael Hardner]

Rover -

It seems reasonable to imagine that many left leaning voters would consider voting Liberal, on a strategic basis, and with Rae as a candidate, they would be less so inclined.

Really ? How so ? As it is, many NDPers swing to the Liberals as you point out. I'm not sure that these people hold a grudge against Rae for leaving the party. Why do you think so ?

[rover1]

Grumbling amongst fairly prominent NDP members of my aquaintance, and general comment I have heard. My sense if it is that this resentment exists, by I could be wrong.

[jdobbin]

Grumbling amongst fairly prominent NDP members of my aquaintance, and general comment I have heard. My sense if it is that this resentment exists, by I could be wrong.

I wouldn't expect proiminent NDPers to support Rae.

It is a question of traditional NDP voters supporting him. Those voters don't necessarily have to be paid NDP members.

[Michael Hardner]

Grumbling amongst fairly prominent NDP members of my aquaintance, and general comment I have heard. My sense if it is that this resentment exists, by I could be wrong.

I'm guessing that, if we're talking about NDP stalwarts - you're right. But among the softer NDP voters, there could be a 'unite the left' movement...

[Ricki Bobbi]

I'm guessing that, if we're talking about NDP stalwarts - you're right. But among the softer NDP voters, there could be a 'unite the left' movement...

Good point. The stalwarts would never vote Liberal anyways. The soft NDP supprorters are the ones who saved Martin's bacon in the 2004 election that Rae could very well appeal to.

[August1991]

I seems reasonable to imagine that many left leaning voters would consider voting Liberal, on a strategic basis, and with Rae as a candidate, they would be less so inclined.

The NDP types who hate Rae are also the ones who would never vote Liberal.

The Liberals have traditionally campaigned Left and governed Right. Rae seems to be a perfect fit for such tactics.

I happen to think Rae would be a formidable opponent to Harper because Rae can demonstrate a passion about politics that Harper cannot.

[Ricki Bobbi]

I happen to think Rae would be a formidable opponent to Harper because Rae can demonstrate a passion about politics that Harper cannot.

Where does that come from?

[gerryhatrick]

I happen to think Rae would be a formidable opponent to Harper because Rae can demonstrate a passion about politics that Harper cannot.

Where does that come from?

Where does what come from? Honesty, you mean?

[Ricki Bobbi]

Where does what come from? Honesty, you mean?

Uh, yeah Gerry.

Rae has been described as many things, but passionate and charismatic aren't usually among the descriptions used.

[jbg]

30 seats. More than twice as many as Rae needs to swing to win back government.

How many voters who are possible Liberal voters base their voting decision on fiscal performance of the Government? That is much more the domain of committed CPC voters.

Rae can, and will, argue that there were global economic issues at play and he stepped into a bad situation.

But Harper has more places to get additional ridings from than Rae does. Three are some in ON who will remember the Rae days with lack of total fondness. And Harper is making a good impression overall in Quebec at places such as the Francophonie conference and elsewhere.

By contrast Rae's ridings would have to come from the 10 the CPC just won in Quebec (these are historically conservative ridings), and from the inhospitable Prairie Provinces and interior BC. The Libs already have 416, 604 and 514 and can go in only one directio there; down. I don't see 204, 306, 403 or 780 going for Rae.

[Argus]

And how many do the Tories need to pick up to form a majority? Rae's biggest liability is his record. If it comes down to it, Ontarians will be comparing it to Harper's term in office and with a now reported surplus of 6.3 billion since the May budget, he's looking pretty good.

30 seats. More than twice as many as Rae needs to swing to win back government.

How many voters who are possible Liberal voters base their voting decision on fiscal performance of the Government? That is much more the domain of committed CPC voters.

Rae can, and will, argue that there were global economic issues at play and he stepped into a bad situation.

But Rae will unquestionably take the Liberals to the Left. Many middle of the road voters went with the Liberals over the years because of what they saw as sound fiscal management - principally on Martin's part. With Martin gone and Rae in charge that support pretty much evaporates, especially given the longstanding antipathy towards him in Ontario. Remember that Harris won majorities in Ontario based primarily on support from the suburbs and rural Ontario - not Toronto. Those same voters are quite liable to go to Harper now, especially as he has pretty much demonstrated that not only is he competent in fiscal management but has not done any of the "scary" things he was accused of. Now it wll be Rae who has to fight "scary" charges, for we have never come close to an NDP government, and many Canadians are very wary of socialism. The Tories will portray a Rae win as the NDP taking over the Liberals - and that's close enough to being true to have some affect.

[Argus]

I seems reasonable to imagine that many left leaning voters would consider voting Liberal, on a strategic basis, and with Rae as a candidate, they would be less so inclined.

The NDP types who hate Rae are also the ones who would never vote Liberal.

The Liberals have traditionally campaigned Left and governed Right. Rae seems to be a perfect fit for such tactics.

I happen to think Rae would be a formidable opponent to Harper because Rae can demonstrate a passion about politics that Harper cannot.

Yes, a passion for spending my taxes on a variety of pet projects on behalf of every clamouring special interest group in Canada.

Seriously, is there even one person here who does not think spending under a Rae Liberal government would go up dramatically?

[sharkman]

That's why I was hoping he would win the leadership. He could NEVER win Ontario and would send soft liberal support scurrying to the Tories.

[August1991]

Seriously, is there even one person here who does not think spending under a Rae Liberal government would go up dramatically?

But at least we'd get some entertainment value for the money.

This is what Rae answered when Greg Weston asked how things were going:

"Oh good, I think. It seems fewer people think I'm nuts than when I started."

Greg Weston

[Leader Circle]

I remember being at a Bluejays game in the Skydome in 1992, when Rae was Premier, and Rae was at the game. They put him up on the big screen at the dome and the boos were deafening. That is 50,000 people not liking their Premier, not good!

That was 14 years ago, surely many people have not forgotten him and their total dislike of him. He will be a tough sell to the people of Ontario.

I think he will be the best thing that happened to the CPC, if he were to get in, since Mulroney retired!

[jdobbin]

I remember being at a Bluejays game in the Skydome in 1992, when Rae was Premier, and Rae was at the game. They put him up on the big screen at the dome and the boos were deafening. That is 50,000 people not liking their Premier, not good!

There isn't a politician that does't get booed when they show up at sporting events.

[August1991]

I have a question. Why does Warren Kinsella hate Bob Rae so much?

October 1, 2006 – Back from Bancroft on the first day of October - and I'm happy.

Not only did the former NDP Premier of Ontario not come first - despite what the Globe and the Star prognosticated - he's periously close to not even being second. I wouldn't be all that surprised to see him drop to third by Monday morning.

I'll be doing more than a dozen CBC Radio interviews tomorrow morning about this stuff. But I will say, now, that there's a reason why Bob Rae is strongest in Newfoundland and BC.

It's because they are the furthest points from Ontario.

From Bancroft to Barrie to Blind River, Ontario remembers. You'll see.

Kinsella

I don't exactly get it. Rae's pro-Israel, anti-American and bilingual. He's even got ties to Chretien. That's a Kinsella type.

The only thing I can figure is that English-Canadians have a tendency to eat their own. Rae is from Ontario and so that means he can't win. Maybe this explains why Canada's PMs always come from Quebec. English Canada can never elect one of its own. They get devoured before they get a chance. (Harper was a fluke but Dion will beat him and prove my point.)

[Argus]

The only thing I can figure is that English-Canadians have a tendency to eat their own. Rae is from Ontario and so that means he can't win. Maybe this explains why Canada's PMs always come from Quebec. English Canada can never elect one of its own. They get devoured before they get a chance. (Harper was a fluke but Dion will beat him and prove my point.)

Rae is not even a Liberal. He's an NDPer who realized his party would never be trusted at the top level of government so decided to soften his politicis a bit and go for a weak Liberal party. I think Kensella knows this.

Besides, most of the candidates are from Ontario, including Ignatieff and Kennedy. It has more to do with the bad feelings so many in Ontario have for Rae from his time as premier than anything else.

[Charles Anthony]

I don't exactly get it. Rae's pro-Israel, anti-American and bilingual. He's even got ties to Chretien. That's a Kinsella type.

It could be that Kinsella can not deal with the fact that Bob Rae represents part of a mirror into which Liberals must look.

Here we have a leadership race whereby the front-runner is practically American and the runner-up is an ex-NDPer. Is that the best the Liberal party can do?

What does it mean to be a federal Liberal in Canada now?

or is it really just a power-game?

The development of the Reform Party was a result of similar disillusionment with the direction of the Conservative Party of the time. We may see a deliberate or de facto merger of the Liberals and NDP federally --- before a long-drawn out vote-split. If I was a Liberal, I would dread that.

[geoffrey]

I remember being at a Bluejays game in the Skydome in 1992, when Rae was Premier, and Rae was at the game. They put him up on the big screen at the dome and the boos were deafening. That is 50,000 people not liking their Premier, not good!

There isn't a politician that does't get booed when they show up at sporting events.

Harper is cheered when he comes to Flames games.

[BubberMiley]

Harper is cheered when he comes to Flames games.

That's in a one-party state though where everyone agrees with one another.

[August1991]

The NDP responds to Rae's new book:

Rae’s old party quickly responded to his reasons for defecting to the Liberals.

“Mr. Rae is absolutly wrong and appears to be willing to say anything to impress his new friends, federal NDP finance critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis said in a statement late Saturday.

“The NDP believes that prosperity and social justice are two-sides of the same coin. The private sector plays a vital role in our economy and under Jack Layton’s leadership the NDP have run on platforms that recognize that.

“The difference between the Liberals and the NDP is that we believe in balance.”

CP

Balance?

I kind of hope that Rae wins. First, he's an entertaining speaker and the debates will be lively. Second, it'll be fun to see the NDP go berserk every so often and then argue endlessly about some minor comment from Rae. The NDP-types just love to over-analyze and debate to death meaningless points.

[Ricki Bobbi]

I kind of hope that Rae wins. First, he's an entertaining speaker and the debates will be lively. Second, it'll be fun to see the NDP go berserk every so often and then argue endlessly about some minor comment from Rae. The NDP-types just love to over-analyze and debate to death meaningless points.

That's why I am afraid of Bob Rae winning the leadership.

The NDP hit an historic low of a little under 7% fo the vote Nationally in 1993 and 17% in 2006.

The NDP would go beserk if Rae won and their share of the vote will drop under 10% in the spring election. The majority of that vote would go to the Libeals which could put them back in power.

Go Iggy Go!