I don't really buy that, and its why I probably wouldn't switch votes.
For a well travelled Harvard intellect, he hasn't shown that he's got any concept when it comes to strategy, he's continually missed the mark, he hasn't come up with anything anywhere close to resonating platform wise or even in his debates in the house. He comes across as out of touch, he hasn't established control over his party.
He hasn't really done much to seperate himself from Stephane Dion except that his production values are a bit better.
I'm honestly not even sure that he could handle Harper in a debate style setting because he hasn't shown anything yet. I'm not sure that he could handle Harper in terms of election strategy and thats saying a lot.
The problem with Canadian politics is we don't have leaders, we have fricken beaurocrats, they don't inspire, they don't seperate from the pack, the election is almost like the futurama episode when the two presidential candidates were quotes for each other.
I've seen nothing that would make me want to change my vote.
Thats his whole problem... the average voter has as much in common with Ignatieff as they do with the Queen of England. The guy comes off as being super intelligent but also super elitest. The guy has probably never had to or wanted to eat Mac & Cheese in his whole life.... let alone face the every day problems that most of us face all the time.
Frankly, in my opinion, he just doesn't seem to relate to the common man.
I can't believe we're going down the same "elitist" road that was thrown at Obama. As Jon Stewart said, "I would think we would WANT someone that is educated and intelligent running the country". I don't think eating KD should be a prerequisite for being the Prime Minister of the country.
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I can't believe we're going down the same "elitist" road that was thrown at Obama. As Jon Stewart said, "I would think we would WANT someone that is educated and intelligent running the country". I don't think eating KD should be a prerequisite for being the Prime Minister of the country.
You can be educated and intelligent, and still not come off as being elitist. Chretien (wash my mouth out for saying this) certainly wasn't elitist. Far from it. He had a great connection with the common man. Ignatieff however, comes from the same mold as Pierre Trudeau.... elitist to the bone.
Thats his whole problem... the average voter has as much in common with Ignatieff as they do with the Queen of England. The guy comes off as being super intelligent but also super elitest. The guy has probably never had to or wanted to eat Mac & Cheese in his whole life.... let alone face the every day problems that most of us face all the time.
Frankly, in my opinion, he just doesn't seem to relate to the common man.
Most politicians can't relate to the common man...
The truth of the matter is, common people do not usually attain high positions of power. When they do, it's usually worthy of a Hollywood movie.
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"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
I can't believe we're going down the same "elitist" road that was thrown at Obama. As Jon Stewart said, "I would think we would WANT someone that is educated and intelligent running the country". I don't think eating KD should be a prerequisite for being the Prime Minister of the country.
The problem is it's not an education thing. Harper has a Masters in Economics, he's not some country "man of the people" bumpkin. I personally would be ashamed if we let someone who decided to make his life outside of Canada come back in and become Prime Minister of Canada.
It's not a Liberal/PC thing for me, it's the man they're pushing to be the PM of the country decided that Canada wasn't the country to spend the majority of his adult life in.
Most politicians can't relate to the common man...
The truth of the matter is, common people do not usually attain high positions of power. When they do, it's usually worthy of a Hollywood movie.
Maybe in the USA, where it takes millions of $$ to run a campaign, thats true. But, here in Canada, I don't think it is. Most politicians come from everyday common families who are not exceedingly wealthy. Harper does not come from an "upper class" family. Neither did Chretien, Clarke, Mulroney, or Diefenbaker... and probably many others too.... and thats just former PMs... not counting your everyday MP.
It's not a Liberal/PC thing for me, it's the man they're pushing to be the PM of the country decided that Canada wasn't the country to spend the majority of his adult life in.
It's not a Liberal/PC thing for me, it's the man they're pushing to be the PM of the country decided that Canada wasn't the country to spend the majority of his adult life in.
It's pathetic.
I don't see why that matters. People like to achieve high positions in their field. Actors and musicians from Canada often move to the states because places like L.A. offer opportunities that Canada doesn't. Engineers often move to developing countries where bridge and road building is booming. Elite biologists like to go work in places with greater biodiversity. For people in academia, going somewhere like Oxford or Harvard is where to go if you want to be at the top of your game. Brian Mulroney left Canada after he was PM... does that mean he was faking it when he was PM?
The world is an international community these days.
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"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
Of course it matters, and it's not pathetic. To me it's a symbol of how pathetic the voters in this country is.
If you can't even treat this country seriously enough to stay here, you shouldn't get to lead it.
In some ways I kind of agree with nik. Where would this country be if everyone with talent or intelligence left this country to go somewhere else where it looked like the grass was greener.
Three cheers for all those talented, intelligent, and educated people who stayed in Canada and made it a better place.!!!
Yeah, the leader of the country is the same as hockey players and movie stars. They're not the same and you know it.
I don;t know, out of all the things to get on Ignatieff about. I am originally from Alberta, lived there until my early 20s. Moved away to 3 different provinces now; go back the odd odd time to visit family and friends (going on 10 years now). So, if I move back to Alta whenever, I cannot run (hypothetically) to be premier? In fact I would celebrate it as an advantage; seeing more of the world helps see more of what works or doesn't work.
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Arnold is Governor of California. A movie star, and not from California.
He came to the US to make his life. If he came to the US, made his Fortunes and then went back to Austria and was elected President, that would be the same.
Three cheers for all those talented, intelligent, and educated people who stayed in Canada and made it a better place.!!!
Agreed, but how about some cheers for those who travelled, studied internationally, picked up important skills and connections, and then return to Canada to make it a better place.
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He came to the US to make his life. If he came to the US, made his Fortunes and then went back to Austria and was elected President, that would be the same.
Your comparison is not the same.
I have no problem either way. IF he (Arnold) is the best person for the job, then so be it. He's the best person for the job; what does it matter "where he made his riches".