Justin Trudeau running for Liberal leadership

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Technically he did break his own law

Gold!

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by edslunch

Gold!

I think you're confusing me with Calgaryborn

[Rerun]

Anyways... back on topic...

I think the Liberal party will be poorly served (and visa versa for the CPC) if young Justin is elected Liberal leader. I mean really.... without his last name he's a nobody. What has he accomplished in his life other than to make headlines with regards to some ill advised statements about the separation of Quebec and a silly boxing match with a nobody Conservative Senator? I really don't see much improvement in the Liberal Party fortunes if Trudeau is at the party helm.

A certain former NDP premier, even with all his political baggage, would be a much better choice, for both the Liberal Party and Canada. Too bad he's decided not to run.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Anyways... back on topic...

I think the Liberal party will be poorly served (and visa versa for the CPC) if young Justin is elected Liberal leader. I mean really.... without his last name he's a nobody. What has he accomplished in his life other than to make headlines with regards to some ill advised statements about the separation of Quebec and a silly boxing match with a nobody Conservative Senator? I really don't see much improvement in the Liberal Party fortunes if Trudeau is at the party helm.

A certain former NDP premier, even with all his political baggage, would be a much better choice, for both the Liberal Party and Canada. Too bad he's decided not to run.

I've already established in this thread that I'm not a fan of Trudeau becoming Liberal leader, but ask yourself this: what had Harper done in life before he became Conservative leader? Their qualifications/backgrounds aren't really all that different.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

I've already established in this thread that I'm not a fan of Trudeau becoming Liberal leader, but ask yourself this: what had Harper done in life before he became Conservative leader? Their qualifications/backgrounds aren't really all that different.

Harper got to where he is today through hard work. JT got to where he is to day because of his family name and connections.

Harper was born in Toronto, the first of three sons of Margaret (née Johnston) and Joseph Harris Harper, an accountant at Imperial Oil.[5] He attended Northlea Public School and, later, John G. Althouse Middle School and Richview Collegiate Institute, both in Central Etobicoke. He graduated in 1978, and was a member of Richview Collegiate's team on Reach for the Top, a television quiz show for Canadian high school students.[6] Harper then enrolled at the University of Toronto but dropped out after two months.[7] He then moved to Edmonton, Alberta, where he found work in the mail room at Imperial Oil.[7] Later, he advanced to work on the company's computer systems. He took up post-secondary studies again at the University of Calgary, where he completed a bachelor's degree in economics. He later returned there to earn a master's degree in economics, completed in 1993. Harper has kept strong links to the University of Calgary, where he often lectured students. Harper is the most recent prime minister since Joe Clark without a law degree.

Harper became involved in politics as a member of his high school's Young Liberals Club.[8] He later changed his political allegiance because he disagreed with the National Energy Program (NEP) of Pierre Trudeau's Liberal government.[9] He became chief aide to Progressive Conservative MP Jim Hawkes in 1985, but later became disillusioned with both the party and the government of Brian Mulroney, especially the administration's fiscal policy[8] and its inability to fully revoke the NEP until 1986. He left the PC Party that same year.[10]

He was then recommended by the University of Calgary's economist Bob Mansell to Preston Manning, the founder and leader of the Reform Party of Canada. Manning invited him to participate in the party, and Harper gave a speech at Reform's 1987 founding convention in Winnipeg. He became the Reform Party's Chief Policy Officer, and he played a major role in drafting the 1988 election platform. He is credited with creating Reform's campaign slogan, "The West wants in!"[11]

Harper ran for the Canadian House of Commons in the 1988 federal election, appearing on the ballot as Steve Harper in Calgary West. He lost by a wide margin to Hawkes, his former employer. The Reform Party did not win any seats in this election, although party candidate Deborah Grey was elected as the party's first MP in a by-election shortly thereafter. Harper became Grey's executive assistant, and was her chief adviser and speechwriter until 1993.[12] He remained prominent in the Reform Party's national organization in his role as policy chief, encouraging the party to expand beyond its Western base and arguing that strictly regional parties were at risk of being taken over by radical elements.[13] He delivered a speech at the Reform Party's 1991 national convention, in which he condemned extremist views.[14]

Harper's relationship with Manning became strained in 1992, due to conflicting strategies over the Charlottetown Accord. Harper opposed the Accord on principle for ideological reasons, while Manning was initially more open to compromise. Harper also criticized Manning's decision to hire Rick Anderson as an adviser, believing that Anderson was not sufficiently committed to the Reform Party's principles.[15] He resigned as policy chief in October 1992.

Harper stood for office again in the 1993 federal election, and defeated Jim Hawkes amid a significant Reform breakthrough in Western Canada. His campaign likely benefited from a $50,000 print and television campaign organized by the National Citizens Coalition against Hawkes, although the NCC did not endorse Harper directly.[16]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Harper

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Azure

In terms of the actual thread...



http://www.montrealgazette.com/busin...#ixzz27pNQfqvt

From our favorite writer, Andrew Coyne.

I like how he insulted the idea of JT without particularly insulting JT.

That takes talent.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Cowperson

[MarchHare]

I'm already quite familiar with Harper's biography, thanks.

There's nothing in your link that disproves my assertion that, prior to becoming party leader, Harper's entire career after completing his post-secondary education was that of a party insider, backbench opposition MP, and academic...just like Justin Trudeau.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

I'm already quite familiar with Harper's biography, thanks.

There's nothing in your link that disproves my assertion that, prior to becoming party leader, Harper's entire career after completing his post-secondary education was that of a party insider, backbench opposition MP, and academic...just like Justin Trudeau.

I'm sure you are... I posted that info more for the benefit of others reading this thread. They may be inclined to take your opinion as fact.

Anyways, we shall agree to disagree....

However, this thread is about JT's qualifications to become leader of the Liberal Party and perhaps PM of Canada... not SH's qualifications.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

There's nothing in your link that disproves my assertion that, prior to becoming party leader, Harper's entire career after completing his post-secondary education was that of a party insider, backbench opposition MP, and academic...just like Justin Trudeau.

I wouldn`t call either of them "academics" actually. I don't think High School Teacher or Right-wing Lobbyist is really what people think of when you use the term academic. Regardless Harper is essentially a career politician he had no "real world" experience that somehow qualified him to run a country, not that that's ever really been anything but a talking point like most occupations politician tends to reward those who put the time in.

[edslunch]

One thing JT has done that SH never did was fight for a seat

[Smartcar]

From the Globe and Mail:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle4568779/

Justin Trudeau has the ability to make people like him instantly. It’s more than the hair or the smile; it’s an intangible ability to charm. You have it or you don’t, and he has it like few people in this country. For a politician, there can be no more powerful asset.

This is what makes him a good candidate, it's not the name, it's that when you meet him, he really is instantly likeable (empathetic, engaging, very articulate).

[Cole436]

This is definitely not the most objective forum to be discussing the Liberals or the name Trudeau. I think that outside of Alberta, he may cause the excitement for the Liberals that will reignite them in the next election.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Smartcar

From the Globe and Mail:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle4568779/


This is what makes him a good candidate, it's not the name, it's that when you meet him, he really is instantly likeable (empathetic, engaging, very articulate).

Being a social butterfly does not necessarily mean you'd be a good Prime Minister for Canada.

It's the apparent lack of depth that has many columnists, most based in Eastern Canada, asking: "Where's The Beef?"

Cowperson

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Cole436

This is definitely not the most objective forum to be discussing the Liberals or the name Trudeau. I think that outside of Alberta, he may cause the excitement for the Liberals that will reignite them in the next election.

Trust me. This forum has more than enough left wing pinkos capable of defending the Liberal Party and/or Justin's honor..

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

Being a social butterfly does not necessarily mean you'd be a good Prime Minister for Canada.

It's the apparent lack of depth that has many columnists, most based in Eastern Canada, asking: "Where's The Beef?"

Cowperson

Unfortunately in politics, it sometimes ends up being a popularity contest... if it isn't can someone explain to me why Ronald Reagan was elected.... twice?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

I've already established in this thread that I'm not a fan of Trudeau becoming Liberal leader, but ask yourself this: what had Harper done in life before he became Conservative leader? Their qualifications/backgrounds aren't really all that different.

I'm not a Conservative Party or Harper supporter by any means, but surely Harper took the longer road to get to where he did compared to Justin Trudeau. He was part of grass roots conservative movements in Canada back when "conservative" was bad word. While I don't share his views, I respect the path he took.

As for Trudeau, I think P.E. Trudeau was a better leader than some people in the west give him credit for, and I understand why they think that so I am not judging. If not for his father's name, Justin Trudeau wouldn't be a consideration at this point (although I do think he is likable, but it's not enough).

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

It's the apparent lack of depth that has many columnists, most based in Eastern Canada, asking: "Where's The Beef?"

Considering that the Liberals last two non-interim leaders were easily the two smartest policy oriented politicians in Canada and they subsequently got smeared like roadkill facing off against a semi I've pretty much accepted that in today's day and age "beef" isn't very important.

[North East Goon]

We shall see if the "Rock Star" menatality takes over voters in Canada like it has in the States.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Considering that the Liberals last two non-interim leaders were easily the two smartest policy oriented politicians in Canada and they subsequently got smeared like roadkill facing off against a semi I've pretty much accepted that in today's day and age "beef" isn't very important.

Books Smarts does not necessarily equal common sense or Real Life Smarts.

One of the dumbest people I've ever met in my life also had a Masters Degree in History.

Cowperson

[Rathji]