CDN Politics - Liberal Leadership race

[Wezil]

Originally posted by Ninot
None of these candidates would get my vote in a general election. What happened to Dryden?

He would be in the 'other' category in that he hasn't a hope in hell of winning.

[Ninot]

That's what's wrong with Canadian politics. Uncharismatic douchebags get to lead the political parties.

Not saying that Dryden is charismatic, not by far, but atleast they could roll old highlight films of him, that would surely garner votes.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Wezil


Harper - Lack of integrity and ethics. Day 1 - Emerson and Fortier.

REally????-- That still has legs with people ?????-- Fortier bothered me not at all and Emerson struck me as being exactly what the liberals did with Stronach-- I place blame if there is any on the candidate and not on their new party

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Ninot
That's what's wrong with Canadian politics. Uncharismatic douchebags get to lead the political parties.

Not saying that Dryden is charismatic, not by far, but atleast they could roll old highlight films of him, that would surely garner votes.

Dryden has a rep as a bright guy but I think his nickname is "mumbles"

[Flubber]

Thinking of Dryden it would actually be interesting to see if he could parlay his hockey fame into any votes in Quebec

[Ninot]

I read his book, The Game, and he is very sensible on Quebec. He seems to generally understand what matters.

But the Liberals would never let him lead the party. And thats a bloody shame.

[Wezil]

Originally posted by Flubber


REally????-- That still has legs with people ?????--

That is exactly the attitude Harper was hoping for. Like a typical politician he did this **** at a time when he figured we would forget by the next vote. Politics as usual (not different as promised).

Fortier bothered me not at all

Twice now he couldn't be bothered running as an elected member. Look at his past results when he did run for office and you will see why.

and Emerson struck me as being exactly what the liberals did with Stronach-- I place blame if there is any on the candidate and not on their new party

I blame both Emerson and Harper. This would not have happened without both of them. Besides, it was worse than Stronach. Emerson switched immediately after the election. Electoral fraud was perpetrated on the people of the riding. Do you think Emerson will run again? Where?

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Wezil


That is exactly the attitude Harper was hoping for. Like a typical politician he did this **** at a time when he figured we would forget by the next vote. Politics as usual (not different as promised).

Hmmm-- I don't recall Harper ever saying he would never seek or accept defectors. I don't like it but I don't get how someone could take the Liberals over the Conservatives on that issue alone. To me its one where they are equal.


I try to judge how different Harper is by what he has done since and not allow one thing to predetermine things for me. On balance I like what he has done. For the most part even when I disagree on something I know where he stands and I actually feel he isn't like Paul Martin and waiting for the latest opinion poll or focus group to tell him his views


I know a lot of people that were wary of Harper but the general consensus seems to be that he's not too bad. There is a part of me that worries that this is "minority Harper" and some more sharply right wing stuff might emerge if he gets a majority but I just don't think that could happen. To get a majority he would need so many centrists from the east, Quebec and Ontario that nothing too radically right would ever fly

[Wezil]

It's not about defectors - it is about integrity. The people of Emerson's riding were screwed. Pure and simple. And it is not about Liberals over Conservatives. They are the same and I will vote for neither.

Yes, I understand the "what else has he done" argument. To me all else flows from ethics and integrity. I cannot move on to proposed policy options when I don't trust the man making them.

I have no doubt a "majority Harper" would be a nasty piece of business. If he governs like this in a minority government situation he would surely be more dictatorial as a majority.

I think Harper will still do well out west but he is toast in Quebec and lukewarm at best in Ontario. He has not won us over. I see another minority government coming, it just remains to be seen if it will be Conservative or Liberal.

You have seen the recent polls? The Conservatives are trailing the leaderless Liberals everywhere except the west. It is not a ringing endorsement when the population will take the other guys, leader unknown, over the guys we have now.

[Flubber]

Whatever Harper has done or not done I am shocked that anyone continues to support the Liberals in the face of the evidence of how overwhelmingly corrupt their regimes were.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Wezil


Yes, I understand the "what else has he done" argument. To me all else flows from ethics and integrity. I cannot move on to proposed policy options when I don't trust the man making them.

So it sounds like no matter what he does, ever, you will not vote for a Harper led conservative party.

I felt much the same way about the Liberals last election. next time, I will hear what they have to say but I still get the sense that the underlying attitude remains unchanged and they "feel entitled to my entitlements"-- I will listen though.


Back to harper-- I agree that the riding gets screwed when someone changes parties-- BUT I see that as the duty of the MP doing the switching.

Otherwise on integrity I see Harper so obvioulsy keeping his promises-- pretty easy since he promised things that were generally very simple and measurable. I also believe him when he says stuff. Put simply, I am a likely conservative voter next time out but it will depend on the issues and candidates.

[Wezil]

What promises has he kept?

[Wezil]

MONTREAL (CP) - A new national poll suggests Canadians of every federalist party persuasion believe that Bob Rae is a more electable option as Liberal leader than top rival Michael Ignatieff.

The Nov. 24-26 Decima Research survey found that Rae's perceived winnability topped Ignatieff's by a significant margin in every region of the country except Quebec. More than 1,000 respondents were asked by Decima to picture themselves as delegates to this weekend's leadership convention in Montreal

In a final-ballot showdown between front-runner Ignatieff and Rae, they were asked who they felt had the best chance to win for the Liberals in the next election.

Under this scenario, 37 per cent chose Rae and 25 per cent picked Ignatieff.

The results of the poll, which was distributed to The Canadian Press, are considered accurate within plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Decima CEO Bruce Anderson says the poll suggests Rae's winnability factor is perceived to be higher among all age groups, men and women, urban and rural voters, and everywhere but Quebec - where Ignatieff would get 36 per cent support and Rae 25 per cent.


Ignatieff also led in the poll among self-identified Bloc Quebecois voters.

Rae can win Ontario and is the largest threat to the Conservatives.

[SpencerH]

I havent heard of any of them before but anyone named Kennedy is obviously a loser.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Wezil
It's not about defectors - it is about integrity. The people of Emerson's riding were screwed. Pure and simple. And it is not about Liberals over Conservatives. They are the same and I will vote for neither.

Yes, I'm sure having a cabinet minister instead of none has certainly screwed the citizens of Vancouver...