Saturday, February 18, 2006

...Bringing the Total to 37

Yet another wild rumour from the Liberal leadership race. Former Supreme Court Justice and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, is being urged to run for Liberal leadership (try running an attack add against her).

While Arbour is certainly very accomplished, I'd at least like to have a leader with some experience in, you know, politics (Cabinet, MP, High School Students Council...). I wouldn't take these rumours very seriously though.

posted by calgarygrit at 12:25 p.m.

16 Comments:

  • Living in an alternate universe seems a pretty good vein to mine.

    I relish the set-up for a future election. Grown-up Harper vs fantacist Arbour.

    No-one denies her excellence as a jurist. We have had over thirty years of social experimentation, however, and we need a break.

    The next generation of Liberals and NDPs can get that process running again if we are ready for it.

    By Blogger David M. McClory, at 1:32 p.m.  

  • The best way for the Liberal party to regain the center and left vote is to go with an experienced politician and committed Liberal like Gerard Kennedy. A fresh start.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:38 p.m.  

  • I was talking to a former senior Allan Rock staffer last night and he told me that Kennedy flew down to NY City last week to meet with Rock. He thinks Rock is likely to endorse Kennedy and throw his organisation behind him. He also said that Gerard has locked up the support of 20 federal MPs which, if true, is pretty impressive given that he is an "outsider" (in terms of not being part of caucus), has a full time job in McGuinty's cabinet and unlike Iggy or Brison, isn't even really running yet.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:59 p.m.  

  • From what I've read about him, Kennedy would be an excellent choice. I look forward to learning more -- in particular, hearing him speak -- and hope he will go on a national tour to meet Liberals across the country soon and talk about what he would want to accomplish if he became PM. Does anyone know if he is planning a tour in the near future?

    J from Vancouver

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:25 p.m.  

  • Paul Zed is throwing his hat in the race and a campaign staff worker told me that his plan is to raise 2 million dollars and get 25 MP's to back him over the next couple of months.

    I seriously doubt he will be able to do this, but his staff worker said not to count him out just yet and he might surprize people.

    Paul Zed is a relatively unknown MP from Saint John, NB who didn't even get a position as parliamentary secretary last time around. He's no star.

    By Blogger Forward Looking Canadian, at 12:43 p.m.  

  • I hope you're right, Fred. I know for a fact that Gerard can pick up a lot of NDP support. Also, considering he is top level in the fiscally responsible Ontario Liberal government, he'll re-capture the centre and the moderate right as well. He would be an amazing leader and PM. As an active and fairly "high level" New Democrat, I'd do my part to shift New Democratic support not just for his leadership campaign, but for Gerard as PM.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:35 p.m.  

  • As if a woman who left a job on the Supreme Court is going to take one as leader of the opposition.

    I'm sure Arbour is in New York chuckling about this.

    By Blogger Matthew, at 1:56 p.m.  

  • Jasper,

    If Gerard runs, he will visit more towns than any federal candidate did in the last election.

    If Gerard runs and wins, Canadians will be voting for someone, rather than voting against someone!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:44 p.m.  

  • Meanwhile, Ontario Education Minister Gerard Kennedy, touted by Liberal bloggers as a possible contender, ruled himself out of the game.

    "I'm busy with what I'm doing. I don't have an interest in changing what I'm doing,'' he said in an interview.

    Feb 8/2006
    http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060208/lib_leadership_060208/20060208?hub=Canada

    By Blogger metasyntactic variable, at 6:48 p.m.  

  • DJeffery,

    That article is often used by scared Dippers as proof that their worst nightmare is not about to happen. His words were taken out of context.

    Gerard will have a press conference with more than one reporter once a decision is made.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:52 p.m.  

  • This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    By Blogger Michael Crook, at 7:14 p.m.  

  • Stephen Harper was worried some judges appointed by the Liberal might be Liberals themselves.Well I guess we cleared up that misconception.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:15 p.m.  

  • Why is it that so many Liberals are desperate to find someone who will attract the NDP vote to be their leader?

    As they say say in the FedEx commercial. "Why don't you just vote NDP?

    Surely if the Liberals are serious about winning the election after next (I'm assuming that the Conservatives already have a lock on the next election), they will look for a leader who is clearly in the centre, not the centre-left.

    Why give up half the vote before even trying?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:13 a.m.  

  • mississaugapeter : just to clarify, then, you're suggesting that Gerard Kennedy lied to the Canadian Press reporter about his leadership aspirations?

    If so, he's off to a dandy start.

    By Blogger Tybalt, at 3:15 p.m.  

  • Reread his comments to CP. He never said he wasn't running. He said "He's happy as Education Minister...". Unlike the other contenders, Kennedy, um, has a day job and when he announces his candidacy, he loses that job.

    Not sure if the Rock rumour is true but if Gerard has Rock's national organisation behind him, that's a huge boost.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:25 p.m.  

  • Arbour - criticized Guantanamo
    Ignatieff - supports Guantanamo

    The Liberals are just all over the map on this issue.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:13 p.m.  

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