2011 Canadian Election Thread

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

As a political nutbar, I'm really interested in the next liberal leaders. Personally I think its either going to be Bob Rae who has been lusting after the job for a long time, or young Mister Trudeau.

I think that both of those fore runners would be a disaster, Rae is universally loathed in Ontario, and he comes across as extremely arrogant and conceited, and the West won't trust a former Dipper in Liberal clothing.

Justin Trudeau would run on name recognition, but he is having struggles holding onto his seat. He comes across as arrogant especially after the Maclean article where he brags obout his lavish and hugely expensive wedding. Trudeau's name recognition will kill him east of Ontario as well.

If the Liberals want to see their fortunes change, they wouldn't elect (that is assuming, they still elect their own leaders) either one of those guys. The time to turn to elitists has come and gone. Get a guy that is down to earth, is interested in appealing to all of Canada and has the guts to stand up for himself when the Conservatives attack him. For over a year we saw anti-Liberal ads being run by the Conservatives and what did Ignatieff do? Absolutely nothing. Just stood there and took it. The man is a joke.

[The Goon]

Obviously this is all leading to a Conservative - Liberal coalition. Should be exciting!

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by The Goon

Obviously this is all leading to a Conservative - Liberal coalition. Should be exciting!

I doubt that.

The Liberal's are going to have to rebuild their party, and they're probably going to be hurt in their fund raising efforts because of this debacle.

The Liberal's if they get squashed won't oppose the Conservatives and trigger an election, if they get squashed they won't form their coalition because when it collapses and it will, and we go back to the polls the Liberal's will be reduced to a handful of seats.

I would also be willing to bet if the election is a squash and Ignatieff doesn't quit that you will see more then a few Liberal's cross the floor to the Cons in protest.

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I doubt that.

The Liberal's are going to have to rebuild their party, and they're probably going to be hurt in their fund raising efforts because of this debacle.

The Liberal's if they get squashed won't oppose the Conservatives and trigger an election, if they get squashed they won't form their coalition because when it collapses and it will, and we go back to the polls the Liberal's will be reduced to a handful of seats.

I would also be willing to bet if the election is a squash and Ignatieff doesn't quit that you will see more then a few Liberal's cross the floor to the Cons in protest.

This is a good point. Either way, the Conservatives are probably sitting pretty. They either win a majority and get to rule the country like a dictatorship, or they win with a minority, that, combined with the number of seats held by the Liberals, gives them enough votes to win the confidence of the House. Unless the Liberals are willing to take orders from the NDP (in reflection, I agree, this is unlikely) they are forced to support the Conservatives, basically giving them a majority while they try to sort out the mess that has become their party.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Ark2

If the Liberals want to see their fortunes change, they wouldn't elect (that is assuming, they still elect their own leaders) either one of those guys. The time to turn to elitists has come and gone. Get a guy that is down to earth, is interested in appealing to all of Canada and has the guts to stand up for himself when the Conservatives attack him. For over a year we saw anti-Liberal ads being run by the Conservatives and what did Ignatieff do? Absolutely nothing. Just stood there and took it. The man is a joke.

So who would that be.

We know that Rae is the power behind the party, and he badly wants to be the Liberal Leader and Prime Minister.

So who are the potential leaders

Bob Rae
Justin Trudeau

Scott Brison? - Could be an interesting dynamic as the first married Gay Party Leader.

Denis Coderre? - Has been at war with his own party with Ignatieff threatening expulsion if he did more harm to the Liberal party. He also still stinks to much from the sponsor ship scandal.

Ruby Dhalla? - Is the time right for a woman Liberal Leader?

Ken Dryden? - Oh god the guy has no charisma at all.

Gerald Kennedy? - Probably a severe underdog and one of the powers behind the throne with Bob Rae. He might have to pay a price for this election.

John Manley - He's effectively retired from politics, but it might be wise for the Liberals to try to get him back. Don't know if he has the ambition.

Frank McKenna - Another one who left politics but he's the thousand pound gorilla in the room as he was an extremely popular politician and closer to a middle ground Liberal.

Elizabeth May - Don't laugh, the woman is crazy enough to throw her hat in the ring after she gets bounced from the Greens for her terrible record. We also need to remember that she is close to the Liberal old guard.

Who else?

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

So who would that be.

We know that Rae is the power behind the party, and he badly wants to be the Liberal Leader and Prime Minister.

So who are the potential leaders

Bob Rae
Justin Trudeau

Scott Brison? - Could be an interesting dynamic as the first married Gay Party Leader.

Denis Coderre? - Has been at war with his own party with Ignatieff threatening expulsion if he did more harm to the Liberal party. He also still stinks to much from the sponsor ship scandal.

Ruby Dhalla? - Is the time right for a woman Liberal Leader?

Ken Dryden? - Oh god the guy has no charisma at all.

Gerald Kennedy? - Probably a severe underdog and one of the powers behind the throne with Bob Rae. He might have to pay a price for this election.

John Manley - He's effectively retired from politics, but it might be wise for the Liberals to try to get him back. Don't know if he has the ambition.

Frank McKenna - Another one who left politics but he's the thousand pound gorilla in the room as he was an extremely popular politician and closer to a middle ground Liberal.

Elizabeth May - Don't laugh, the woman is crazy enough to throw her hat in the ring after she gets bounced from the Greens for her terrible record. We also need to remember that she is close to the Liberal old guard.

Who else?

I don't follow the Liberal party close enough to know who else could come out of the wood work for them and be successful, but I do know that this clown they got running the show for them right now isn't working. I also believe that the two heirs that are waiting in the wings might be even worse. If there is no one else that is suitable, then that party is in some serious trouble.

[GirlySports]

Any provincial candidates that might jump into the federal race?

Charest will need a job in a few months after the PQ demolish him.
Graham from NB? i know he just recently lost but it wasn't really his fault, it was over the NB Hydro and recession issue.
Gordon Campbell also.. resigned because of HST.

Current Liberal MPs that are young.. LeBlanc? Holland?

We'll have to see how many Liberal MPs are left after this debacle.

[CaptainCrunch]

If you were going to look at the power cabal behind Ignatieff

Bob Rae, Brison and Kennedy.

Justin Trudeau is the heir apparent with Bob Rae thinking of himself as the transitional Leader/Prime Minister while they groom young Justin to sweep to power via his last name and curly haired good looks.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Any provincial candidates that might jump into the federal race?

Charest will need a job in a few months after the PQ demolish him.
Graham from NB? i know he just recently lost but it wasn't really his fault, it was over the NB Hydro and recession issue.
Gordon Campbell also.. resigned because of HST.

Current Liberal MPs that are young.. LeBlanc? Holland?

We'll have to see how many Liberal MPs are left after this debacle.

the problem is that Charest won't be able to deliver Quebec, he's become the Bob Rae of that province.
The Liberal's won't give their power to Gordon Campbell or Graham, they seem to be more comfortable with central Canadian Leaders and I don't see that changing.

Leblanc is interesting because he's was one of the guys who made the backroom deal to get Ignatieff acclaimed

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

If you were going to look at the power cabal behind Ignatieff

Bob Rae, Brison and Kennedy.

Justin Trudeau is the heir apparent with Bob Rae thinking of himself as the transitional Leader/Prime Minister while they groom young Justin to sweep to power via his last name and curly haired good looks.

Uhg... I hope you're wrong. The Liberal party needs to badly re-invent (re-build) itself. Recycling the same old won't get them anywhere.

I don't know anything about Kennedy, but they need to keep Bob Rae and anything with a Trudeau name out of the leadership. Too much baggage.

I'd rather have Charest than any of those 2... and that says a lot.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Uhg... I hope you're wrong. The Liberal party needs to badly re-invent (re-build) itself. Recycling the same old won't get them anywhere.

I don't know anything about Kennedy, but they need to keep Bob Rae and anything with a Trudeau name out of the leadership. Too much baggage.

I'd rather have Charest than any of those 2... and that says a lot.

I've been doing a lot of thinking since the Red Book release at the start of the election. And the platform positively screams Rae (Former NDP red Liberal) and Brison (Red Liberal) and goes opposite to Ignatieff. I've said a lot of bad things about him, but the reason why the guy comes across as desparate and a bit dishonest is I think due to him trying to be opposite of what he is.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I've been doing a lot of thinking since the Red Book release at the start of the election. And the platform positively screams Rae (Former NDP red Liberal) and Brison (Red Liberal) and goes opposite to Ignatieff. I've said a lot of bad things about him, but the reason why the guy comes across as desparate and a bit dishonest is I think due to him trying to be opposite of what he is.

You're probably on to something because Ignatieff did not come as advertised. He was supposed to bring a little conservative sensibility to the Liberal party but they are campaigning in this election for the leftist vote. I guess they see the NDP as their rival now instead of the Conservatives. It's a huge mistake in strategy IMO. I don't agree with Layton's political leanings, but when it comes leadership in the eyes of people who do have those perspectives, the Liberals have nothing to compete with when it comes to him.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

You're probably on to something because Ignatieff did not come as advertised. He was supposed to bring a little conservative sensibility to the Liberal party but they are campaigning in this election for the leftist vote. I guess they see the NDP as their rival now instead of the Conservatives. It's a huge mistake in strategy IMO. I don't agree with Layton's political leanings, but when it comes leadership in the eyes of people who do have those perspectives, the Liberals have nothing to compete with when it comes to him.

I agree with the mistake in strategy. The other day Ignatieff called Layton "inexperienced". That's not a battle he can win. Layton is a professional politician.

[CaptainCrunch]

Sometimes theoretical brilliance doesn't translate into real world success.

For all of his brain power, and his huge reputation, Ignatieff has been exposed in this election.

He's been badly out maneuvered

[Resolute 14]

Agreed, but it does have to be said that Harper hasn't done very well in this election either. Ignatieff is imploding, but none of that vote is heading right.

Meanwhile, the NDP is so dead in this city, they had to parachute Edmontonians into two ridings, one of whom won't even bother campaigning.

http://ipolitics.ca/2011/04/18/edmon...use-conundrum/

Thank god we have that vote subsidy to encourage democracy fund political parties.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

So who would that be.

We know that Rae is the power behind the party, and he badly wants to be the Liberal Leader and Prime Minister.

So who are the potential leaders

Bob Rae
Justin Trudeau

Scott Brison? - Could be an interesting dynamic as the first married Gay Party Leader.

Denis Coderre? - Has been at war with his own party with Ignatieff threatening expulsion if he did more harm to the Liberal party. He also still stinks to much from the sponsor ship scandal.

Ruby Dhalla? - Is the time right for a woman Liberal Leader?

Ken Dryden? - Oh god the guy has no charisma at all.

Gerald Kennedy? - Probably a severe underdog and one of the powers behind the throne with Bob Rae. He might have to pay a price for this election.

John Manley - He's effectively retired from politics, but it might be wise for the Liberals to try to get him back. Don't know if he has the ambition.

Frank McKenna - Another one who left politics but he's the thousand pound gorilla in the room as he was an extremely popular politician and closer to a middle ground Liberal.

Elizabeth May - Don't laugh, the woman is crazy enough to throw her hat in the ring after she gets bounced from the Greens for her terrible record. We also need to remember that she is close to the Liberal old guard.

Who else?

Dominic LeBlanc has come up as a possibility before. I think he'd have a better chance of winning a federal election than Rae or Trudeau.

[afc wimbledon]

nm

[Slava]

I'm late to the discussion here, but I think that either Kennedy or Leblanc would be a formidable leader for the Liberals. I like each of them for different reasons, but they would be a significant departure from Bob Rae and Michael Ignatieff.

I do wonder about who replaces Harper? Jim Flaherty would be a horrible choice IMO, John Baird might be worse yet....Peter Mackay perhaps? I guess Tony Clement could make another run, but he is just so uninspiring. Maybe I'm missing someone totally obvious?

[CaptainCrunch]

Peter McKay would be my choice, he's done an outstanding job on defense.

[SebC]

Mackay would be my choice too, unless I'm picking someone who would be easy for the Liberals to beat (in which case, Anders).