[Abeja de Almirante]

Is it just me, or do all of the 16 declared/likely liberal leader hopefuls seem like dream candidates for the cause of a conservative majority?

As a conservative supporter myself, here are a few of my favourites for new liberal leader:

Bob Rae, former NDP premier of Ontario, His government posted the largest deficit ever and followed it up with massive cost-cutting, Rae-days and economy destruction. A victim of timing and regional recession? Certainly, but the Ontario public won’t remember that.

Toronto MP Michael Ignatieff, Has said thst "Alberta is the key to the renewal of our party". If that’s the key, the Alberta door is firmly deadbolted, particularly if he continues statements such as wanting to “plant the Liberal party firmly on the centre LEFT of the politican spectrum". The centre left has always done well in Alberta.

Stephane Dion, former environment minister. Under his watch, Canada continued to regress on its Kyoto commitments, now he talks about saving the environment. Results talk Mr. Dion, talk walks.

Scott Brison, one-time Tory leadership hopeful, now turned Liberal, got caught leaking to an insider trader. Accept it or not, Canada is not ready for an openly homosexual PM. Again another Alberta win story here.

Now, Gerard Kennedy, Kennedy was born in Manitoba, educated in Alberta and Ontario, worked in Alberta and Ontario, is married to an Acadian, and educates his children at a French-language public school might be someone the conservatives need to worry about. Most of this crowd are dream candidates for a conservative majority election win.

 

[building babel]

Another gay candidate, Ashley MacIsaac, has also been caught leaking so he's out too.

 

[Bogtrotter]

I would say Ignatieff. Although i would vote for for Ken Dryden...or Phil Espisito.

 

[Abeja de Almirante]

I know it doesn't matter, but everytime I hear "Ignatieff" I want to say Gesundheit.

 

[cacruden]

Scott Brison, one-time Tory leadership hopeful, now turned Liberal, got caught leaking to an insider trader. Accept it or not, Canada is not ready for an openly homosexual PM. Again another Alberta win story here.

I don't know if I quite would call it "caught leaking". The letter was an embarrassment -- but that was about it. If it was a "leak" then I believe that would be a criminal matter.

As far as his being "openly homosexual"..... I don't think that would be a problem for most Canadians (as long as it was not "flaunt" it -- which he does not), and those that it would be a problem for would not tend to vote Liberal ever.

 

[building babel]

I wonder which left of centre candidate will benefit most from Godfrey's withdrawal?

 

[Observer Walt]

They are mostly an unimpressive bunch. A few of the more credible people have withdrawn already. Frank McKenna would have been a top-quality candidate.

Of those who are in, Kennedy is credible, but his government experience has been limited to one portfolio, and at the provincial, not federal, level. He is apparently a smart guy but would have a very steep learning curve.

Ignatieff will appeal somewhat to an intellectual crowd, but he has all of two months of experience as an elected representative, and much as he tries to play up his Canadian roots, the fact is that he has spent most of his adult life outside Canada. I wonder what other country would elect someone with his lack of hands-on experience and local roots.

Who knows, someone may step up and surprise us all, but as of now, it's a discouraging picture.

 

[bizorky]

Interesting, but I think they are actually quite an interesting group. I'm sad to see Godfrey step down, not because I would support him necessarily, but because of the experience he would have brought to the interactions within the process.

Ignatieff, Dion, Kennedy, Findlay and potentially Rae - not a bad collection of people running for the leadership of a party.

 

[building babel]

I do hope the former Queen of Kings is not seriously unwell. Such a nice man.

 

[Canuck 36]

www.cbc.ca/mercerreport/
Click on the Video link "Goodnight... (In bed with the Liberals)"

Good for a few laughs.
If you're reading this after the link is removed, you can always browse previous movies through the site.

 

[allabootmatt]

I'm crossing fingers for Bob Rae...but Kennedy would do too.

 

[spmarshall]

Ignatieff is a pompous ass. Bob Rae is spent, and after having dealings with him during the post-secondary review, I lost a lot of respect for him. I like Kennedy, but I wish he stayed in the provincial cabinet and run for leader of the Ontario Liberals again (he's much better than McGuinty).

I'm rooting for Ken Dryden (who also happens to be my MP).

 

[Darkstar416]

I'm betting on Kennedy, however if the "anyone, but an Ontarian" wing of the Liberal Party kicks into full gear, I can see it being Dion.

 

[Abeja de Almirante]

I think it'll be anyone from Quebec, as they've dominated the LPC long enough. Also, Quebec's second choice in many ridings in the last election was the Conservatives, so the Liberals had better seek a strong point elsewhere.

 

[Darkstar416]

Perhaps, but the Liberals are far from being a spent force in Quebec, especially now that Gomery is an increasingly distant memory.