Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Fly on the Wall

TDH strategies has all the inside dirt on the Liberal National Exec meetings going on now. Among the highlights:

-They want McKinnon out due to his huge McKenna bias
-There's talk of a spring policy convention and a fall leadership convention
-A lot of Paul's people want him to stay on as interim leader

Follow the link for the full details.

posted by calgarygrit at 2:25 p.m.

15 Comments:

  • The question was raised. Why did paul and big gun Allan Rock fold so quickly.

    Simple. 5-seat Jack is miffed at, or has been crossed by the Liberals and no co-ops are possible.

    No plots are possible with the Bloc either. So for now the Grits are stalled.

    There are good and bad Liberals. This time out will allow the Liberal untainted to re-group and shed their black brothers. Maybe Gomery will help with that.

    This Blogsite belongs to a good Liberal. Open minded and tolerant of differing opinion.

    I have made mention of the Scamslist.blog.com on other less tolerant sites and have returned to find the comment removed.

    One site called me a spammer.

    Funny. Spam only breeds contempt. Something anyone who can think would never bother with.

    Admittedly, a list of scams is a groan to any Liberal. I only use it as a good reason to time out and clean house before the next election.

    Unload the baggage, gain new respect and count on all those loyal supporters in the cities to put you back in next time.

    If Harper keeps his promise and sets effective Whistle-Blower law and individual ministry accounts and audits process then any party is bound to be more efficient
    with our public monies. TG

    By Blogger TonyGuitar, at 3:23 p.m.  

  • TDH has done it again...what a great scoop!

    I'm keeping my ear close to the ground for a while yet, as I want to make a very informed decision this time around. It's just unfortunate that most won't be able to make both the policy convention and leadership...too much money to be spent in one year, after two elections in 18 months, I think people may be too tapped out for much fundraising efforts.

    I'm also hoping that one or the other of the big conferences goes to either the Maritimes or the Prairies...enough with Central Canada!

    Mlle. B.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:50 p.m.  

  • Good stuff written by TDH strategies (and we all know who this is), but hard to sort through his obvious affliation with Rock's camp. He is a close buddy of Rock's former Western Desk, David Hurford and was heavily involved with the on-the ground organization in BC for Rock. A little bias? Yes.

    Simply stated Rock can't come back and yes TDH it has a lot to do with Cyrus Reporter. Mr. Reporter maintained many of the same bad management and tactics as Martin's Board, i.e. big "red" folders on people who were "too Paul" "or who were socially connected to Paul people-strange guy. You wold think we were talking about two different parties when we speak of Martin's people vs. Rock's people. Rock's campaign management under Mr. Reporter's direction was much like their counterparts and to make matters worse they often made their political attacks very very personal.

    I like Rock, nice guy, but not alot of people trust him and TDH (being a BC'er yourself) you should know he can't win the West. Both camps are the same tired people. Enough already.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:13 p.m.  

  • Agree with Anonymous: time to move on and leave all of the old baggage behind. Sorry Allan.

    I think it would be a serious mistake to have a policy convention before the leadership convention. That will seriously hamstring the next leader and give Harper all sorts of amunition: what if the party platform on a particular issue differs from that of the leader we choose? That kind of lack of uniformity and clarity of policy position is what kept the Cons at bay in 2000 and 2004.

    The party needs to be united. The party needs new leadership. The party needs new direction. The direction needs to be worked out with a new leader, not foisted upon him or her.

    TB
    Cerberus

    By Blogger Ted Betts, at 4:30 p.m.  

  • TDH as a proxy for Hurfurd taking shots at Reporter? Wow some people can't let things go, eh?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:39 p.m.  

  • Agree completey your thoughts Cerberus. Serious political mistake to have policy convention prior to leadership race. Although, would strongly encourage all Liberals (this means you Young Libs!) listen carefully to your candidates. Close your eyes-forget about job opportunities and shiny new limos and Wonderful Wednesdays. Try and determine where your political compass is before you answer Scott Reid's call and agree to place the crown on Mc Kenna's little greying head.

    Remember the mistakes from the past, hit pause, take a sec and slow down. What were the issues that brought in the West, where did we go off the rails as Liberals?

    Who we choose at the leadership convention will tell us alot about where we are going as a party on the policy front. This time a leadership convention will take the temperature of the party and envoke some passionate debate. We need a new leader who understands the issues of a New Canada-one which is led by the West.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:45 p.m.  

  • TDH is obviously very capable of doing his own fighting. I am just pointing out the obvious-his opinion is a little bias on the Rock front and as for his friendship with Hurford, well, its there and something to take into account. Hurford is the David Brodie of Rock's machine, both distasteful creatures.

    Let's face it they want back on the hill, so be it, but TDH questions why no one mentioned Rock..hmmm let's see...well, simply stated he isn't worth mentioning. Rock isn't in the game.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:53 p.m.  

  • Two things:

    1. I was a huge Rock fan last time around. But Allan won't run again and his organization has mostly scattered. It's time to move on.

    2. I'm with Cerebus. I think the leader should be chosen before the policy convention. That said, I like Paul Well's recomendation of a long leadership race. Set the leadership convention for next February or March, and have a policy convention in June 2007. Or do the series of policy workshops with people outside the party -that's likely the better option.

    By Blogger calgarygrit, at 5:11 p.m.  

  • The rumour that Gerard Kennedy is being urged to run is true.

    By Blogger Dan McKenzie, at 6:02 p.m.  

  • I saw Llyod Axworthy on campus at the University of Winnipeg and jokingly asked him to give us progressive Liberals someone to cheer for and he smiled and said "we'll have to see if were still allowed membership fourms"

    I don't know much about this Kenedy fellow, but if does not run I would seriously consider starting a "DRAFT LLYOD" website. I'm not sure if would have a chance, but I think in terms of policy and the future direction of the party that a bid by him would at least force other leadership candidates to take a long hard look at the progressive liberals in the party.

    What do you think Calgary Grit and others? I'm sure an Axworthy campaign could use a Howard Dean type grass roots network of young supporters to kick start a bid.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:01 p.m.  

  • Cerberus is completely right. The leadership convention must come first.

    And any subsequent policy event, if it is a delegated convention, must come at least a year after the leadership.

    It is unreasonable, at best, and probably closer to impossible for most middle class, grassroots Liberal delegates to be able to afford to go to both in one year.

    Air fare and delegate fees start a weekend at $1000. Food and lodging will add close to $1000 or more.

    Beer, well, hopefully the hospitality suites are well stocked.

    Few of us have the $5000 needed to attend two convention in any year. And leadership is the most important question for most grassroots Liberals. Many, perhaps most grassroots Liberals, will sit out a policy convention hoping to go to leadership.

    Party policy resolutions, for what they are worth, will be set by those who can afford to show up. That's even less democratic than the current model. (OK, it's not, but the Board is on its way out.)

    There are real issues about membership. The last leadership was in 2003. Memberships purchased in 2003, but not renewed after are generally not renewable.

    A handful of nominations were contested in 2004. Memberships purchased in 2004, but not renewed in 2005 are gennerally not renewable.

    Few, if any (?) nominations were challenged in 2005. That means that few memberships were sold last year. As a consequence, that means there are few Liberals eligible to renew and vote for a leader this year.

    To be credible, party has to open up its membership prior to any leadership process.

    Any other option will demonstrate that the party hasn't learned the lesson Canadians attempted to teach it on Monday.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:21 p.m.  

  • Bad proofing.

    Easter is not equal to Eastern

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:24 p.m.  

  • The biggest issue facing the party is slaying its debt. Having two conventions is retarded. They need to be a bit more pragmatic. Perhaps use this Internet thing I've heard of.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:05 p.m.  

  • I'm all in favour of having a leadership convention before a policy convention just so that the person who takes up the torch will be involved and a part of the process. Although the Cons got roasted last election for choosing a leader and going into an election before a policy convention, today they look pretty smart. No reason that leadership cannot be held at the end of '06 or early '07 but we must be prepared for an election too.
    fundraising is the ultra-chief question right now. Leadership candidates will be looking for money but I'd like to encourage everyone to match any donation to candidate and party.
    - Manitoba Liberal, I'm right with you and have been spreading the word blog-wise. There are few Canadians who I feel could stand up and on his own in terms of integrity, experience and progressiveness than Lloyd Axworthy. Put me down as a Yes!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:16 a.m.  

  • Manitoba Liberal;

    Axworthy is in his mid 60's. He would easily be the oldest candidate in the field and I don't think this would really help him with a party that is looking to renew itself with fresh ideas and fresh faces.

    Axworthy also as far as I know does not speak French all that well, would have little organization outside his own province and perhaps some university area's. Where would his fundraising come from? And besides writing nasty letters to Condi Rice, what has he done since leaving Foreign Affairs?

    Is he even progressive on issues outside the international sphere? I seem to recall him as HRDC Minister in 1995 gutting transfer payments to provinces, creating the "fiscal imbalance" that the premiers like to bitch about so much today.

    Axworthy, Dion and Ignatiff are all ivory tower academics with little popular appeal. I can see one of them running and having some success, but three eggheads would split the vote

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:47 a.m.  

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