Saturday, July 01, 2006

Summer Fun

With Canada Day's arrival and the House adjourned for the summer, it occurs to me that there might not be a lot of political material to discuss this summer. I had a good time with the Greatest Prime Minister game last summer and I figure it's time for a sequel. So I'm opening the floor up for suggestions. Greatest Premier? Something about elections? Political moments? Scandal and mishaps? Feel free to lob out ideas for the topic and format in the comments section or via e-mail.

posted by calgarygrit at 2:14 p.m.

19 Comments:

  • There's always some good fun political stuff to talk about. The House may be on holidays, the business of running the country is not.
    Case in point: Stephane Dion is the first Liberal to give up the ghost on Kyoto. Will his leadership rival who opposed Kyoto before he supported it, Scott Brison, criticize him for being realistic? Will Liberals be angered that their favourite stick to whack Rona Ambrose has been exposed as hollow balsa wood? Will Ignatieff go sacred cow-tipping too? Questions abound!

    By Blogger RGM, at 3:18 p.m.  

  • I think it was mentioned at the time of the last contest, but the "Greatest Canadian Who Was Never Prime Minister."

    This could include J.S. Woodsworth, Joseph Howe, Agnes McPhail, Nellie McClung and Robert Standfield.

    It should be limited strictly to politicians, however (sorry Mr. Richard) -- and probably politicians who had a predominately federal career (no Klein and no Douglas).

    Just my two cents.

    By Blogger Simon Pole, at 3:37 p.m.  

  • How about every federal liberal leadership candidate from 1968 on, in the greatest PM style, leading to whom would get the leadership today in a delegated convention. (if they were all running of course)

    By Blogger Concerned Albertan, at 3:39 p.m.  

  • I like the idea of the greatest Canadian who never became Prime Minister, although it should be limited to politicians.

    By Blogger IslandLiberal, at 4:30 p.m.  

  • I had a good time with the Greatest Prime Minister game last summer and I figure it's time for a sequel.

    Worst Prime Minister.

    By Blogger Robert McClelland, at 5:20 p.m.  

  • Tough call: the lame-duck Kim Campbell or the just-plain-lame Paul Martin?

    By Blogger RGM, at 5:51 p.m.  

  • I guess you'd need a fourth category too, for balance.

    "Best of the Rest", the MPs and Senators who never made it into Cabinet (Agnes MacPhail, for example).

    By Blogger IslandLiberal, at 6:05 p.m.  

  • Most historic / interesting / exciting / dramatic election.

    Let's face it, in some elections, the final outcome was known on the day the writ was dropped ('97 is a good example). Even those elections have their "moments" ('97 again: Libs almost lose majority, and Tories and NDP make modest come-backs), but really, the outcome wasn't in a heck of a lot of doubt. The Lib wins during the '40 & '49 elections are other examples.

    On the other hand, there were some elections that were exciting either because you didn't really know who'd win till the last week or so at the earliest ('04, '06) or because there were huge issues at play (Free Trade in '88, Conscription in '17).

    So, you line up all the elections since 1867 and see which one gets voted "Most Historic" (or "Memorable" or "Exciting" or whatever).

    By Blogger Jason Hickman, at 6:13 p.m.  

  • i like the greatest premier idea. the dippers can totally stack the vote for tommy douglas just like we did with the CBC. :p

    By Blogger bza, at 9:36 p.m.  

  • Greatest Cabinet Minister.

    By Blogger Dr.Winston Chan, chiropraticien, at 12:11 a.m.  

  • How about doing a "Best of the Worst" poll on the PMs with very short terms? Martin, Campbell, Turner, Clark, etc.

    By Blogger The Invisible Hand, at 3:22 a.m.  

  • I'd suggest "Most Delusional Blog (or Blogger)", but Jason would win hands down.

    By Blogger Erik Sorenson, at 11:29 a.m.  

  • I like the idea "greatest canadian who was never pm". That term is overused and describes everyone from Douglas, Stanfield, Broadbent, and Martin Sr. (Most former party leaders have earned this title already) It's time to name only one.

    Another idea would be greatest future prime minister.

    By Blogger canadianwild.ca, at 10:23 p.m.  

  • how bout something like this

    By Blogger DJC, at 12:27 p.m.  

  • How about worst election Gaffe ever?

    Worst MP ever.

    I like the worst PM ever idea, that would give some good discussion, Mulroney versus Bennett.

    By Blogger Aristo, at 12:28 p.m.  

  • Erik Sorenson said ...

    I'd suggest "Most Delusional Blog (or Blogger)", but Jason would win hands down.

    No offence to Cherniak, but I hope Erik was talking about him. :) My blog's been far too inactivce for it to be delusional, I'm afraid ...

    By Blogger Jason Hickman, at 10:58 p.m.  

  • Oh, and if C-Grit is still taking ideas:

    Greatest Deputy Prime Minister - because after all, who wouldn't want to see the 5-way slugfest between Herb Gray, Sheila Copps, John Manley, Anne McLellan and Erik Nielsen?

    By Blogger Jason Hickman, at 11:03 p.m.  

  • How about "Greatest Election"?

    The epic battles of Turner/Mulroney in '84 and '88?

    The PC wipeout in '93?

    Clark vs. Trudeau?

    I could go on and on...

    By Blogger Michael Fox, at 11:26 a.m.  

  • Greatest premiers works for me. I like the idea of showdowns between Mitch Hepburn vs. Richard Hatfield, or Tommy Douglas vs. Amor de Cosmos. Current officeholders need not apply.

    By Blogger herringchoker, at 1:02 a.m.  

Post a Comment

<< Home