Who's second-best?
Although I am not a member of the Liberal Party (I am not a member of any federal party, though my sympathies are pretty obviously left of centre), I have been following the Liberal leadership race with some interest. Partly out of simple love for politicking, partly (morbid?) curiousity, but mainly out of interest to see which road the LPC chooses for its "renewal". The plethora of candidates, for all that they're mostly from the centre of the known universe, have quite a diversity of views and it's going to be interesting to see where this leads.
I have no doubt that the list for December is not yet complete - some will surely jump in and some just as surely leave, but the number of candidates all but guarantees at least two ballots at the convention. That is, if Frank McKenna doesn't change his mind and send the current crop to spend more time on party renewal.
I notice that Cerberus has started to compile a list of blogger endorsements for the Liberal leadership race. I'm not sure if anyone here at the blev want to jump in there or not, we'll have to have a little huddle over beer and wings (as all big decisions should be made - drunk, greasy, and full!), so at least for now we offer our firm neutrality. (That said I know that Dan has always been a big Habs fan and is of an age to remember those halcyon days...)
Anyway, to stave off making a decision that we may not ever make, we've put together a little poll that you can find on the right-hand side of the blog here to see who your second-favorite in the race is.
P.S. I put Ashley MacIsaac's name on the list, though I don't think he's actually officially said he's in. I mean, officially in the only way that the LPC understands - by ponying up some ca$h. I know he responded to some posts some time ago over in KDough's place, but I haven't heard anything since.
For what it's worth (nothing), here are my (kevvyd) quick thoughts on those that I think will definitely be around for a second ballot:
Ken Dryden - He's well-respected and everyone knows his name. He has said nothing to regret and his name is attached to the Liberal daycare program, which will be one of the weapons they are going to be able to use in a coming election. Plus he's written two of the most literate books on sports I have ever read. Like Stephen Harper, he is unexciting as a public speaker, but unlike Harper, he appears to be human and seems to empathize with the "common Joe".
Gerard Kennedy - Kennedy might surprise an awful lot of people. Just reading about him has raised my interest, actually. He is a true lefty-Liberal and former Minister of Education for Ontario, but he will have to make himself visible to the rest of the country which has never heard of him. I have a feeling that the youth wing of the party may very well rally behind him, and if the party as a whole is serious about revival, he is a very strong candidate.
Carolyn Bennet - She has been a very strong voice for women in the Chretien and Martin governments and being a doctor, she will have lots to add to any debate on health care, a topic that can make or break a government. Is she well-enough known and backed in the Liberal party - I simply don't know.
Stephane Dion - A strong anti-sovereignist Quebecker and competent minister for both Chretien and Martin, Dion seemed to sail through the Chretien-Martin War more or less unscathed. After being the environment minister under Martin, he plans to run on environmental issues, which can score points with soft-NDP and some centrist Tories, but might alienate or at best not interest the right-wing of the Liberal party. I think he might make a decent PM, but doubt he'll get the chance this time around.
Michael Ignatieff - Smart, well-known, and a good public speaker. He is going to be haunted by his long written history and can be attacked on many points - his stance on torture and support for the Iraq War have already come up. I don't think he has a great chance, but the Liberal party needs big idea people around.
Bob Rae - No. An argument can be made that he has elevate to "statesman" status, but the argument that he can win over NDP votes has to be paired with the fact that he's going to shed right-wing votes. No.
I have no doubt that the list for December is not yet complete - some will surely jump in and some just as surely leave, but the number of candidates all but guarantees at least two ballots at the convention. That is, if Frank McKenna doesn't change his mind and send the current crop to spend more time on party renewal.
I notice that Cerberus has started to compile a list of blogger endorsements for the Liberal leadership race. I'm not sure if anyone here at the blev want to jump in there or not, we'll have to have a little huddle over beer and wings (as all big decisions should be made - drunk, greasy, and full!), so at least for now we offer our firm neutrality. (That said I know that Dan has always been a big Habs fan and is of an age to remember those halcyon days...)
Anyway, to stave off making a decision that we may not ever make, we've put together a little poll that you can find on the right-hand side of the blog here to see who your second-favorite in the race is.
P.S. I put Ashley MacIsaac's name on the list, though I don't think he's actually officially said he's in. I mean, officially in the only way that the LPC understands - by ponying up some ca$h. I know he responded to some posts some time ago over in KDough's place, but I haven't heard anything since.
For what it's worth (nothing), here are my (kevvyd) quick thoughts on those that I think will definitely be around for a second ballot:
Ken Dryden - He's well-respected and everyone knows his name. He has said nothing to regret and his name is attached to the Liberal daycare program, which will be one of the weapons they are going to be able to use in a coming election. Plus he's written two of the most literate books on sports I have ever read. Like Stephen Harper, he is unexciting as a public speaker, but unlike Harper, he appears to be human and seems to empathize with the "common Joe".
Gerard Kennedy - Kennedy might surprise an awful lot of people. Just reading about him has raised my interest, actually. He is a true lefty-Liberal and former Minister of Education for Ontario, but he will have to make himself visible to the rest of the country which has never heard of him. I have a feeling that the youth wing of the party may very well rally behind him, and if the party as a whole is serious about revival, he is a very strong candidate.
Carolyn Bennet - She has been a very strong voice for women in the Chretien and Martin governments and being a doctor, she will have lots to add to any debate on health care, a topic that can make or break a government. Is she well-enough known and backed in the Liberal party - I simply don't know.
Stephane Dion - A strong anti-sovereignist Quebecker and competent minister for both Chretien and Martin, Dion seemed to sail through the Chretien-Martin War more or less unscathed. After being the environment minister under Martin, he plans to run on environmental issues, which can score points with soft-NDP and some centrist Tories, but might alienate or at best not interest the right-wing of the Liberal party. I think he might make a decent PM, but doubt he'll get the chance this time around.
Michael Ignatieff - Smart, well-known, and a good public speaker. He is going to be haunted by his long written history and can be attacked on many points - his stance on torture and support for the Iraq War have already come up. I don't think he has a great chance, but the Liberal party needs big idea people around.
Bob Rae - No. An argument can be made that he has elevate to "statesman" status, but the argument that he can win over NDP votes has to be paired with the fact that he's going to shed right-wing votes. No.
as he gleefully urinates on all those who oppose him.
Briguy,
I think he only urinates on people he likes.
ex-NDP,
Thanks for your cut-and-paste, but I was looking more for intelligent debate.
Posted by
kevvyd |
Wed May 03, 03:15:00 PM