The Big Six
By now it must be obvious that there are really only six candidates capable of winning the Liberal leadership - Scott Brison, Stephane Dion, Ken Dryden, Michael Ignatieff, Gerard Kennedy and Bob Rae. I've decided to add my own little contribution to the litany of leadership polls using Demo Choice's preferential ballot system. Head on over and vote. Sorry to all you Volpe-backers (I know there's a whole lot of you), but I've seen polls like this sabotoged by Conservatives who like to vote for Volpe as a means of skewing the results.
posted by Ryan Ringer @ 6/19/2006 01:54:00 p.m.
9 comments
9 Comments:
I dont think Brison should be included...he is a topnotch politician with a great 'gift of the gab' but there is No Way that we are going to have A FABULOUS first lady...Canada is not ready for this...if he was more secretive about his life he may have got it but he stuffs it in your face...
I like Brison. A few more years in cabinet, and he could be at the top of my list. His sexual preference doesn't even figure into it for me. But, his little slip-ups show me he needs a few more years seasoning.
It has nothing to do with his sexual orientation. I just think the Adscam connection is the sinker (the reaction to the email being as bad as the email itself). Even if you want to say it was overblown (and I'd partly agree with you), it gives the edge of the sword to Harper.
Really really too bad because I think he's great and have a lot of respect for him. Would otherwise be an easy #2 or #3 on my list. He's got lots of time though, being only 39. He is a big big big part of the party's renewal and future.
Ted
Cerberus
Cerberus seems to have his wires crossed. Brison's only connection to Adscam was being the minister of Public Works who had to clean up the mess. He was, of course, a member of the PC opposition when teh criminal acts were committed.
Brison has taken a lot of heat for sending an e-mail - relaying speculation that had already been printed in The Globe and Mail - hours before the 2005 federal budget.
About that blackberry:
1. The RCMP investigated and found nothing out of order.
2. The e-mails (which you can read on my blog!) began with Scott asking a friend for the phone number of a mutual friend. As many of us would do, he began by asking the guy how he was. Guy - who is a Cons.- says not so good; you Liberals bla bla bla. Scott says he thinks Guy will be happier soon.
3. At that point, only Finance knew exactly what would be in the bill: i.e McCallum, Goodale and Valeri, along with 3 un-named senior aides to the PM. I don't know a thing about Valeri, but McCallum was not unkown in banking circles....
4. In mid-November, the government had released a Plan for Growth and Prosperity, a 10-year policy framework noting that "other countries have taken steps to lower the effective tax rates on dividends."
5. A number of investment bankers who were interviewed afterward said they were expecting the result. "Anyone with half a brain - well, maybe two-thirds of a brain - would know the government was not going to tax income trusts" that close to an election, said John Bart, founder and president of ShareOwner Magazine Inc. and a former business professor at the University of Windsor.
As for Chicken Annimous's gratuitous crack about first ladies, we don't pay a lot of attention to partners of politicians in this country.
The only liability Brison has is some Liberals still feel he hasn't been a Liberal long enough. However, in a general election I don't think this would matter much. His bold ideas could easily beat Harper.
And off course the Joe Volpe votes are Connies. I know some Liberals who genuinely support Bob Rae so those are probably a mix of Tory supporters who want Rae to win and Liberals who do support him. Volpe is probably almost all Tory supporters who want him to win since they know that is who they have the best chance of getting a majority against.
I think a fabulous first man is a wicked idea;-)
Seriously, who cares??
Brison would make the best leader and the rest is irrelevant, or should be anyway...
Actually the reason why I decided to support Scott was his terrific performance under fire during the Adscam Question Periods. He was clearly a senior enough Liberal then to have been trusted with that chore.
After I saw his platform I was more convinced, and after I met him well.... He isn't quite the 2nd Coming but...close enough!!
I don't know why anyone would suggest Scott needs more time in cabinet, when most of the candidates have even less: Iggy, Dryden, Kennedy, the ladies; even Rae. Volpe may have more, I don't know, but there I rest my case!
Some of these people have never even served in a federal government. But I suppose if you live in the Centre of the Universe, you think provincial experience is the same as federal - as long as that provnce is Ontario.
The Big Six should be the Big Three: Dion, Rae and Ignatieff.
Harper would make mincemeat out of Brison for his questionable response when the email surfaced: the New Tories would be able to link his action to the older charges of corruption they used to polevault into a minority government. Besides his weakness from a Tory attack viewpoint, Brison's reaction showed an unacceptably low level of comprehension of the seriousness of the corruption and entitlement charges which made the voters send the Liberals to the sidelines for a timeout.
Dryden is too dull to fare well, whether against the other candidates, or even against the awkward Harper. There is a lack of any ability to inspire citizens ... That does not mean he is not a good man; he is, But he lacks the "royal jelly".
Kennedy has promise, but is not yet ready to lead a party or the country. He needs time to work on his connection with people. Running for leadership was a good idea: it puts him on the map as a possible serious contender some time in the next decade or so. Certainly makes him good cabinet material in a Liberal government.
Of the Big Three, Ignatieff is too polarizing, and his US centre of gravity is the kiss of death for his chances with many Liberals.
That leaves Dion and Rae, both excellent choices: men who have the royal jelly needed in a leader. Both could appeal to a wide selection of voters.
So, based on my reasoning, realistically your Big Six should be the Big Two.
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