Wednesday, February 01, 2006

"I'm Going To Make Paul Martin Seem Like Yesterday's Man"

When Frank McKenna decided he needed to spend more time with Brian Tobin's family, the big question was where all the Martin supporters would go to. Well, I can report that in Alberta, they appear to be drifting towards Scott Brison. I guess it's not too surprising that they see something magical in a man for whom deep political discourse consists of "Stephen Harper is against bilingualism". (To be fair, Brison is a charismatic politician with a bright future. I just wish he could speak French...or hadn't been calling for private health care two years ago...)

After spending fifteen years of his life to give Paul two as PM, John Bethel has signed on to the Scott Brison team. On Tuesday morning he was wined and dined by Mr. Brison in Ottawa, and by Tuesday evening he was preaching about Scottberta to Liberals young and old. He's assured everyone that it will be the "fun campaign", and he's probably right if you enjoy watching a forty year old man sign karaoke in a bathrobe until the wee hours of the morning.


UPDATE: I've added two more names to my speculation list. Vijay Sappani floated Borys Wrzesnewskyj (boy, that's going to be tough to chant at rallies...) tonight and I've heard his name mentioned in the Ukrainian community in Alberta as a possible candidate, so there might be some truth behind it. Also, one reader e-mailed in talking up John Parisella, so I figured I'd pass it on.

posted by calgarygrit at 9:12 p.m.

38 Comments:

  • Wow jeff

    it's almost like you actually care.

    Don't you worry your little head off, there will be more contenders.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:36 p.m.  

  • Brison versus Belinda?

    What has the Liberal Party come to?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:37 p.m.  

  • Not to worry. Orchard is going to do a bit of organizing. In the last ballot he'll sign a deal with Belinda to stop Scotty.

    You're welcome to all 3 of them. The least we could do to repay ya.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:43 p.m.  

  • Brison has too much baggage to even be considered.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:47 p.m.  

  • - Brison xPC and a little light in his loafers
    - Stronach xPC (en anglais, s'il vous plait knocks her out)
    - Rae XNDP - the $11 Billion Dollar Man
    - Iggy XHarvard
    - LaPierre XBloc

    Ain't there any Libs left?

    By Blogger Lemon, at 10:04 p.m.  

  • karaoke in a bathrobe? john bethel? never!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:13 p.m.  

  • Brian, what in god's name is Ignatieff XHarvard supposed to mean?

    The fact that he held a prestigious chair at one of the best universities in the world means he's not a Liberal?

    You hicks need to get your shit together. Being an academic and intelligent person is desireable in a leader, not a flaw.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:39 p.m.  

  • Brison has the potential to be a player in the leadership race after this one, if he puts in a few more years of solid service. A decent showing this time will give him a lot more clout in terms of shaping the party's future. For the Tories that trash him constantly, I can understand why you're always going to hate the guy, but he's a capable politician and he publically and effectively towed your party line until he left.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:11 p.m.  

  • Stronach v.s. Harper
    =
    Washington Generals (in really expensive Nikes)

    v.s.

    Harlem Globetrotters

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:39 p.m.  

  • If I applied for a job on the oil patch in Alberta or ran as an MP in a Manitoba riding (outside St. Boniface) it would be O.K. if I was not fluent in French.

    If I applied for a job in the hospitality sector in Ottawa or ran as an MP on Montreal island it would NOT be O.K. if I was not fluent in French.

    Some jobs require a the ability to speak in both official languages, some do not. If it was O.K. in the Conservative Party for unilingual candidates to run, I don't care. I am in the Liberal Party, and I do care.

    Being fluent in both official languages is something millions of Canadians are. Can't we find one of those millions to represent our party on all regions of Canada (including Quebec).

    I am not bilingual. I may run when I am older for MP. I will not run for PM if I still am unilingual.

    I just don't get. What does Scott Brison have or what has he done that the fact that he is not bilingual is ignored?

    If I was a Conservative, I would be laughing. I am not, so I am sad.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:45 p.m.  

  • Vijay commented that the Board is going to back Belinda.

    These guys sure know how to pick winners, eh?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:04 a.m.  

  • "Vijay commented that the Board is going to back Belinda."

    Oh please, please, please let that be true. If they win it would be a GUARANTEED majority for the CPC.

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

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    By Blogger Christoph Dollis, at 1:41 a.m.  

  • HEADLINE

    The Liberals, led by Scott Brison want to dissmantle Medicare. SCARY.

    "You hicks need to get your shit together. Being an academic and intelligent person is desireable in a leader, not a flaw."

    Your absolutely right on this one. Unfortunatley there doesn't seem to be anyone in the libernos with BOTH qualities.

    Horny toad

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:45 a.m.  

  • Iggy lost me on something as small as buying a house outside his riding. He knew he was going to represent Etobicoke-Lakeshore, so he bought a house in the Annex (downtown Toronto). There are plenty of beautiful homes in Etobicoke-Lakeshore. The message I get: I WANT TO REPRESENT YOU BUT I DO NOT WANT YOU AS A NEIGHBOUR.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:48 a.m.  

  • Gosh. Bethel decides to go with Brison, and that tells you where the Martin people are going in Alberta?

    You'll give John a big head, CG.

    By Blogger Gauntlet, at 2:38 a.m.  

  • Sssh,
    Brison's just channelling Jack Horner...

    It's funny how things change. I knew a handful of tories who were suicidal at the choices they faced in their last leadership convention. Now they can't do anything but smirk like pie-eating boars at a county fair. Whether it's Ken Dryden, Ann McLellan, Lloyd Axworthy, Michael Ignatieff, Gerard Kennedy or Ed Grimley, the Liberal party will rise again -- thanks to predictable Tory arrogance!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:06 a.m.  

  • Man, it's good to be a Tory these days.

    Please put up Belinda or Brison, Conservative majority of 200 seats coming right up!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:39 a.m.  

  • Who's gonna stop us from launching the Conservative revolution now?

    Belind-duh?
    Iggy the Torturer?
    Sodomite Brison?
    cry-baby Stephane Dion?
    Commissar Rae?

    Next thing, you're gonna ask that tourist Orchard to represent your corrupt Librano syndicate!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:49 a.m.  

  • damn you sodimite Brison, so typically conservative, meanwhile they all wish they could fuck their wives in the ass

    Sorry no access

    hahaha

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:01 a.m.  

  • the right choice for leader.

    http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2004-04,GGLD:en&q=Lawrence+Metherel

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:23 a.m.  

  • Funny that one of Scott's dogs is named "Scandal"... heh.

    By Blogger Red Tory, at 5:44 a.m.  

  • It is my understanding the Scott Brison speaks French. I have watched him in the house on several occasions and in my opinion he can hadle himself quite well in French. Granted he certainly doesn't sound like someone from Quebec by any means, but you can tell that he's been working on it.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:10 a.m.  

  • In what bizarre parallel universe is Scott Brison "charismatic"? He's like a gay Joe Clark without the integrity. The man sounds like Elmer Fudd for God's sake.

    OC

    By Blogger no sleep, at 8:47 a.m.  

  • If it's Brison vs. Belinda, doesn't that mean that the Liberal party has in fact become an imitation Conservative party? :)

    How IS Borys' name pronounced, any way?

    By Blogger Michael Fox, at 9:57 a.m.  

  • Being openly gay, Brison will have a tough time winning the leadership because Liberals will (rightly) fear that an openly gay man will never win a majority govt. More importantly though, Brison is *really* right wing in fiscal policy. I believe he likes the idea of a flat tax, one of the most regressive fiscal policies ever, but one that rich people really like. Brison crossed for a number of reasons, but I'm sure it helped that Martin was the leader and loved right wing fiscal policy.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:54 a.m.  

  • If Bethel is supporting Brison that just gives me one more good reason to not. Matter of fact while I like Brison personally and think he is a good hardworking minister. (I always remember him at the last policy convention, just hanging out on the floor, listening to policy debates with no fart catchers around him as opposed to Lapierre who always had so many he looked like Napoleon) He is just a non starter. The truth is as Liberals we have to quit buying into the who the press thinks are serious contenders. Stonach, Rae, Brison and even Tobin are just not even really serious contenders. They can not win nor can they lead us back into govt. The press likes them because they are easy but cmon, can we just drop them from our serious discussions. Bethel hooking up with Brison just proves he is not serious, no one likes Bethel or listens to him he is just a loud distration from any serious thinking and work.
    The serious ones really are:
    Dryden
    Dion
    MIggy

    The next tier

    Allan Rock
    Martin Cauchon
    Maurizio Bevilacqua

    I am sure some others will show up (I am not convinced that McKenna is gone for good and I think even Manley might be back once he realizes that the next leader will be PM and that Harper will not hold on to long.)
    But can we please not buy into this media crap about Belinda and Brison just because the press likes them because it makes a neat story arc. Just drop them from the discussion because it aint gonna happen, we all really know that, Bethel choosing Brison just proves it.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:17 a.m.  

  • Brison and Belinda are non-starters. Ignatieff's prolonged absence from Canada and lack of experience as a politician are going to hurt his chances. I think it is going to come down to Dion and Kennedy if they run.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:28 a.m.  

  • Brison Crossed for a # of reasons is right....equality for same sex couples, disagreeing with Alliance views, etc. etc., but the main reason is he was GUARANTEED a Minister's position. He IS an affable guy. But, He IS gay and he WAS Conservative. So, no, he will NOT be our next leader. Unfortunately there are a gazillion homophobes still left in Canada.

    Belinda doesn't have a clue about the damage she will cause this party if she runs for leader. She has no - absolutely no - clue about governance and policies thereof. Again, no French, no post-secondary education, no scruples, ex-Conservative media hound. Then last night on CBC "I've been thinking about leadership" and "en anglais sil vous plait". PLEASE!

    Don't get me wrong about the French part. Brison and Harper have started to learn French and are doing quite well at it. Belinda is not.

    All of us have some background in French. It's in our curriculum in school. It wouldn't take long for a "good student" to pick it up.

    I would enjoy if we could all agree that ex-Cons and ex-dippers should not even be close to being considered for leadership.

    The What Do I Know Grit

    By Blogger James Curran, at 11:29 a.m.  

  • One problem for the party would be Brison and Belinda sharing a stage with either Dion or Iggy. The gap between the lightweights and the heavyweights would be huge. Would Dion and Iggy have to change to seem more "main street" or would the other two look like mere political hacks? (which to be honest, I think they are)
    I kinda think it is Rock's to win, as a bridge candidate, but his legislative record is "iffy", and I can't see him playing in the praries.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:06 p.m.  

  • Two words for Alan Rock. GUN and REGISTRY.

    Nuff said. Back to regular progamming. Ig and #29. Still..........So Far. Maybe a new female, young, very attractive, never elected, from out west, lifetime Liberal, lawyer, living in Ontario could be a viable option.

    The What Do I Know Grit.

    By Blogger James Curran, at 1:05 p.m.  

  • Scott Brison? Puleese. Respectfully, let that idea go.

    Save Liberal energies to back someone with a chance to lead.

    Brison is a well hardened politico with a thick skin. A fully expierenced player.

    Problem is the image. There is a snake oil salesman quality about Scott. I think it's simply his devious intellegence but the public sees it as stealth.

    A leader has to have the open honest look like Martin, McKenna and Tobin. People just hesitate to vote for the crafty fox who looks it.

    There may have to be a sparating out of the *tainted* Liberals and the perception of the Titanic rising from the deep before the party can begin to attract a quality potential leader.

    Chretien placed the thin edge of the wedge when loose accounting was used to throw money at advancing seperatism.

    Those flood gates could not be closed and 200 to 300 scams later the logical result is realized.

    I will be the first to declare that the Liberal Party and Paul*s [conservative] book keeping has done many things to benefit Canada.

    It will be interesting to see how expert senior Liberals make changes in order to present a leaner and fresher, more honest party to Canadian voters.
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    By Blogger TonyGuitar, at 3:57 p.m.  

  • Brison once campaigned on:
    1) Scrapping Regional Development Agencies (like ACOA)
    2) Turning the EI system into a series of personal bank accounts.
    3) A significantly flatter tax system.
    etc. etc.

    I don't know how that will play out with the left wing of the Liberal party. Is simply being gay enough to be considered what you call "progressive" these days?

    By Blogger Michael Fox, at 7:20 p.m.  

  • Scott Brison is good, supported the war in Iraq and is one of the most fiscally conservative MP's around. Liberals will support him because of his sexuality anyway.

    Belinda's Daddy may buy her the leadership though.

    Ignatieff makes George W look calm.

    All good options who are running for the leadership of the wrong party.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:54 p.m.  

  • Yes, Scott Brison is charismatic. Skills learned at the feet of the master, x-NS Preem and Senator John Buchanan, when Brison was President of the NS YPC back in the day.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:02 a.m.  

  • Speaking of "yesteday's men" Allan Rock takes a pass in today's Globe and joins the list of horses who've scratched before making the starting gate.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:55 a.m.  

  • I know i'm going back in time a little on this one, perhaps all the way to last night but the person who posted this;

    A leader has to have the open honest look like Martin,

    I have this to say;

    hahahaha yeah right. the honest look like Martin. that's rich

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:52 a.m.  

  • Quite worthwhile information, thanks so much for the post.

    By Anonymous www.castellon-3d.com, at 1:32 p.m.  

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