[SideShowCecil]

Scott Brison is a weasel trying to punch over his weight.

Ken Dryden has nothing to offer but his name. What ever he was in the past is gone, he’s pure politician now. He speaks and speaks and says absolutely nothing.

Bob Rea. My god NO!

Hedy Fry. Same reaction as Bob.

Michael Ignatieff is the best bet I think. Although I don’t believe he’s lived up to hype he received in press prior to the federal election.

[Firecat]

SideShowCecil SideShowCecil:

Scott Brison is a weasel trying to punch over his weight.

Ken Dryden has nothing to offer but his name. What ever he was in the past is gone, he’s pure politician now. He speaks and speaks and says absolutely nothing.

Bob Rea. My god NO!

Hedy Fry. Same reaction as Bob.

Michael Ignatieff is the best bet I think. Although I don’t believe he’s lived up to hype he received in press prior to the federal election.

Dryden has been very undistinguished to date. He has name recognition for his hockey career but has no great credentials to recommend him.

Ignatieff, at least, comes unencumbered with "baggage" from the prevous Liberal government. His intelligence is unquestioned though his initial support for the Iraq invasion will haunt him.

Hedy "there are crosses burning...!" is a liability to the Liberal party.

[Firecat]

SideShowCecil SideShowCecil:

Scott Brison is a weasel trying to punch over his weight.

Ken Dryden has nothing to offer but his name. What ever he was in the past is gone, he’s pure politician now. He speaks and speaks and says absolutely nothing.

Bob Rea. My god NO!

Hedy Fry. Same reaction as Bob.

Michael Ignatieff is the best bet I think. Although I don’t believe he’s lived up to hype he received in press prior to the federal election.

Scott Brison is.... well, he's telegenic anyway. One might even say "purty"

If government is there to "give it to the masses" well at least they ought to be cute.

[hwacker]

The Liberals have nothing to offer, they are void of anybody with substance and full of crazies.

Whoever wins will never be PM, it will take another 5-8 years for the Liberals to rebuild to the point where they are creditable with Canadians.


Sucks for you guys but that’s the truth.

[SideShowCecil]

I agree the Liberals really need a few decades in the back benches to air out the old man stink from the party.

[Firecat]

hwacker hwacker:

The Liberals have nothing to offer, they are void of anybody with substance and full of crazies.

Whoever wins will never be PM, it will take another 5-8 years for the Liberals to rebuild to the point where they are creditable with Canadians.


Sucks for you guys but that’s the truth.

Stripped of the simplistic and juvenile "crazies" pronouncement, I quite agree that the Liberals will be in opposition for a good time to come and it is quite possible that the next Leader's task will be to revitalize the party. It would be foolish to think the candidates don't know that.

Knowing that, however, isn't irreconcilable with attempting and actively working hard to perhaps become PM.

It is never wise to dismiss your political opposition as "crazies" or some such simplistic epithet. For one thing, it is childish and reduces your own credibility. furthermore it lulls you into a false sense of security.

[stratos]

Arctic_Menace Arctic_Menace:

I have faith in lefties everywhere that they will not support Bob Rae, as least not as a majority. People know what he did, and how he fucked up big time...

What did this Bob Rae person do????

Rem. I'm just a yank.

[Firecat]

stratos stratos:

Arctic_Menace Arctic_Menace:

I have faith in lefties everywhere that they will not support Bob Rae, as least not as a majority. People know what he did, and how he fucked up big time...

What did this Bob Rae person do????

Rem. I'm just a yank.

I'll answer - or try to. First know the NDP is the traditional the left wing party, with its support drawn largely from unions. Bob Rae is a "silver spoon socialist." As leader of the provincial NDP he was elected premier of Ontario (I think as much to his own surprise as everyone else's) Financially the province's books were not in good shape. government was bloated after prolonged years of an entrenched Conservative government, followed by a short Liberal minority government under David Peterson.

Peterson called an ill-advised and ill-timed election in an attempt to attain a majority (take note, federal Conservatives) while enjoying a honeymoon with the electorate. He was handed a very ignominious defeat and that ended his leadership.

Bob Rae, to fulfill the traditional socialist priorities and please his traditional support base had to introduce rather draconian cost-cutting measures, implementing a plan that required ALL public employees to work a number of unpaid days. These were quickly dubbed Rae Days. where you were required to work without pay so the government could keep what it would otherwise have been paying you.

This is off the top of my head If I have described it inaccurately or incompletely, I'm sure someone can add more or correct me.

For my part in that campaign that gave us an NDP government, I am truly sorry. We expected to win the riding, not the whole flippin' government. The electorate wanted to punish the Peterson Liberals, whom they saw as being cynically opportunistic and woke up with a bad hang-over.

[stratos]

HMMMM ok I think I get it and screw him haveing people work with out paying is ... Slavery.

Thanks

[Firecat]

stratos stratos:

HMMMM ok I think I get it and screw him haveing people work with out paying is ... Slavery.

Thanks

That is precisely the word for it and it will never be forgotten or forgiven. Politicians, I suppose, have overcome worse baggage, I'm sure, but rarely at such a level of office.

[2Cdo]

As a supporter of Stephen Harper and the Conservative party I would absolutely love the idea of Bob Rae or Hedy Fry winning the leadership of the Liberals! Both would doom the liberals to years in opposition!

I think that Mr Ignataif(sp) is their best bet, even with the baggage of living out of country for so long and supporting the war in Iraq. He's definitely the smartest of the bunch.

[SideShowCecil]

Firecat Firecat:

it will never be forgotten or forgiven.

Yes indeed. I was a public employee in Ontario when Rea brought in his Social Contract.

Working eighteen years in the public service has given me a strong distaste for the public service and its unions. But that distaste is nowhere close to the disdain I have for Mr. Rea and his government.

[Scrappy]

The Liberals are dregding the bottom of the keg regarding front runners. Bob Rae what a joke, Hedy Fry snicker yep a born leader is she. Iggy doesn't even understand what being a Canadian is all about, not a wise choice for a leader. Shrug, I pray the Fiberals stay out of the Prime Minister's office for a few years so the Cons can clean up the mess they made. Liberals AKA Do-We-Cheat-them-and-how? Adscam!

[2Cdo]

SideShowCecil SideShowCecil:

But that distaste is nowhere close to the disdain I have for Mr. Rea and his government.

Agreed 100%! If we can agree that in order to form a government, a party should win at least half of the seats in Ontario, a federal Liberal party with Bob Rae at the helm would never win an election. There are far too many people who have less then pleasant memories of Bobs last kick at running something!

[SideShowCecil]

I’m no fan of the liberal party (to put it politely). However, if the party were to elect a leader that I could generate a residual amount of respect for my opinion might improve. Right now Mr. Ignatieff is the only candidate capable of accomplishing that (maybe). Heck, if won I might even learn to pronounce his name correctly