Sunday, May 16, 2010

Signs Michael Ignatieff has Nothing to Worry About

I must admit, I'm a little disappointed in Angelo Persichilli's column today.

Not because he speculates about the Liberals dumping Ignatieff. Not because he muses about who would replace Ignatieff (including...wait for it...Frank McKenna!).

No, the reason I'm disappointed is that he couldn't find a single anonymous source, Liberal strategist, or party insider to grumble about Ignatieff or muse about dumping him. Even the computer journalist would have been able to round up a "senior backroom operative" or two, off the record.

So it likely bodes well for Ignatieff that speculation about his demise has gone from full blown coup attempts to this:

I don’t believe anyone is trying to unseat Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff. However, just in case I’m wrong, this is how it could happen.

31 Comments:

  • Persichilli is the biggest wannabe in Canadian politics and media. No one pays him any attention so he makes stuff up to try and get noticed.

    He writes garbage like this, and then wonders why no one takes his phone calls when he comes looking for something.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:26 p.m.  

  • You're right!!

    There's nothing to worry about.

    Everyone is happy in Liberaland.

    Ignatieff is doing a bang up job and we are high in the polls.

    Keep up the great work.

    Sincerely,

    Almost a former Liberal

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:32 p.m.  

  • @Anonymous #2

    Almost a former Liberal, eh? With members like you, who needs enemies!

    The fact is that the polls are bad for everyone, except maybe the Bloc. Ignatieff has made something of the mess that the Liberal Party was organizationally before, and he's launched policies, conferences for policies, and ideas for policies which have gone over well with everyone that I've talked to about them so far.

    Have a little hope, keep a little skip in your step, and we might just make it. But continue to act like yourself, we're pretty much screwed.

    By Blogger Kyle H., at 8:06 p.m.  

  • Perischilli also predicted Iggy would be gone before 2009 ended at around Christmas time.

    However, Iggy does have to go. He can't get those numbers up and it seems no matter what Steve does or doesn't do, he's like teflon.

    Surely Peter Donolo and everyone else in the LIberal camp can't be as blind as to not see that Iggy just ain't cutting it.

    It would make sense to me that the Liberals will work at the very least to ensure that Steve doesn't get a majority at the upcoming election campaign; probably the only time I will ever agree with Perischilli. I venture to say that Iggy will be gone once he loses the next election.

    Frank McKenna to date has refused any nomination, but throw enough things at the wall, something will surely stick...who knows? Not my first choice, but I can see him attracting at least some of the Timmy's crowd.

    Justin Trudeau is certainly being watched, but serious questions need to be answered. Many could fall into the trap that he will be as great as his father was, but would he really be? What does he stand for?

    Domenic Leblanc, I don't know enough about him to form an opinion.

    I think Martin Cauchon would be a great choice. He's young enough, but experienced. Furthermore, I believe he can take Outremont back from Mulcair.

    It would be better for Iggy to go now if an election wasn't sure to be held before the year is out.

    By Anonymous ck, at 8:14 p.m.  

  • The Liberals need to focus on re-organizing across Canada but most seem to know that except some journalist who write junk articles when little is going on in Ottawa.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:19 p.m.  

  • Persichilli's prediction record aside, a valid point is being raised.
    Why hasn't Ignatieff done better in the polls? Why are the polling numbers the same or worse than when Dion was leader?? Dion was not given a second chance but somehow Ignatieff deserves one??
    The Liberal Party made a huge mistake when it did not choose a younger leader to take the time to truly re-build the Party.
    No recovery in the near future on this one.

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

  • The only person who would say a valid point was raised is one who has something to gain from another Liberal leadership race ie. a Conservative party supporter.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:44 p.m.  

  • Stop trying to make excuses Anon at 9:44pm!
    I am a dissapointed Liberal and that is the point!!! There are a lot of us out there.
    You cannot pass off this problem by labelling Liberals as Conservatives- in fact, this type of response is part of the problem the Party has right now.
    If the Party cannot self-examine, it is going as it has been-nowhere.

    Anon at 9:37pm

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:42 p.m.  

  • I label somebody a likely Conservative party supporter when they post the following "Why are the polling numbers the same or worse than when Dion was leader?? Dion was not given a second chance but somehow Ignatieff deserves one??
    The Liberal Party made a huge mistake when it did not choose a younger leader to take the time to truly re-build the Party.
    No recovery in the near future on this one."

    I just don't see much self-examination going on in the post to believe the poster cares about the Liberal party. Instead the poster attempts to raise false arguements such as suggesting it is unfair that Dion never received a second chance but Ignatieff has been given one. Ignatieff has never been given a first chance. He has never led his party into an election so hard to see a reason why he should be dumped.

    I'm all for self-examination but if you really think somebody calling for Ignatieff to be dumped and offering nothing else is truly a Liberal doing some self-examination I have some magical dust to sell you.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:21 a.m.  

  • I'm all for self-examination but if you really think somebody calling for Ignatieff to be dumped and offering nothing else is truly a Liberal doing some self-examination I have some magical dust to sell you.


    What are you talking about? He said they should have chosen a younger leader to rebuild the party, which is exactly what should have happened. He didn't mention that whoever is chosen should be acceptable to *both* sides of the party (so no, not Bob Rae...even if he was still young), but that's just common sense.

    By Blogger Fred from BC, at 1:57 a.m.  

  • This comment has been removed by the author.

    By Blogger Paul, at 4:46 a.m.  

  • Hmmm - short memories.

    Harper polled from April 2004 to June 2004 - 14% down to 10%.

    Chretien polled so low they called him yesterday's man.

    Why anyone would read Perschilli's nonsense beats me.


    Lyn

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:35 a.m.  

  • The Liberal Party made a huge mistake when it did not choose a younger leader

    Age isn't relevant, connection and vision are

    How "young" was "youthful" Trudeau?

    By Anonymous Jacques B V, at 8:39 a.m.  

  • Justin Trudeau is definitely organizing, but it's probably in his best interest for the Iggster to hand on a few more years, just so that Rae isn't an option any more.

    At that point, Trudeau would be the favourite, ahead of LeBlanc, Kennedy, McGuinty, MHF, or any of the other rumoured candidates.

    By Anonymous Anonymous Liberal, at 9:16 a.m.  

  • Look at Harpers numbers pre 2006. He wasn't exactly well liked.

    The CPC's best numbers this year arent even as good as the worst the Liberals did during the height of hte sponsorship scandal.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:16 a.m.  

  • None of us will know how good Michael Ignatieff is as Liberal leader until we see the next campaign -- sometime before October 2012.

    Till then, we're just in the pre-game.

    As long as he gains seats, he probably has the ability to stay on.

    Whether that's a good idea or not -- that's for you Grits to decide.

    (If he wins a plurality or a majority of seats, of course he's staying on. And if he manages to lose seats, of course he's gone. It's the middle case that gets interesting.)

    By Blogger Ben (The Tiger in Exile), at 11:10 a.m.  

  • If Harper gets a majority, Ignatieff is likely gone.

    Otherwise, I think the party would be willing to give him a second chance. Leadership races every 2 years can't be good for them and most people realize that.

    If Ignatieff decides to stay or not is debatable. He might just want to go back to academia.

    By Anonymous Deb, at 11:36 a.m.  

  • Liberal poll numbers drop when the House is in session and Canadians see Ignatieff on the news daily. I don't think seeing him constantly during an election is going to help the Liberals.

    By Blogger nuna d. above, at 12:11 p.m.  

  • Give Persichilli some credit; he makes Jane Taber look good in comparison.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:20 p.m.  

  • Good to see some old sots keep pining for trudeaus. We can use Conservative government for a long time yet.
    Take long time to clean up his mess.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:07 p.m.  

  • Yes, bringing up Trudeau really does nothing for us these days.

    By Anonymous Tim, at 11:29 p.m.  

  • It does seem rather odd that Iggy's polling numbers go up whenever he's nowhere to be found.

    It's just too bad that none of his inner circle are able to comment freely and publicly. I'd love for all Canadians to hear what I hear when I go out to various establishments around Ottawa, and listen to what folks have to say who work with the Liberal Party on a daily basis. I'd say more but (a) nobody would have any reason to believe me and (b) nobody would ever talk to me again.

    And while I enjoy politics, I love my friends.

    By Blogger Paul, at 4:08 a.m.  

  • Attention everyone - Paul has the inside scoop on what insiders in Ottawa are talking about. On a daily basis!

    By Anonymous Jacques Beau Verte, at 10:51 p.m.  

  • Paul is right, why is it that the inner circle for Ignatieff are not heard from. Why can't they be like um.... that political party leader?

    Always love when members of a different party call for the leader of another party to step down under the pretense of being a member who is simply wanting the party to take on self-examination.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:01 p.m.  

  • JBV and Anon, why do you want to twist my words?

    All I'm saying is that the stories put out publicly by the Liberal Party are not always in line with what various Liberal Party workers might (and do) say privately. I don't talk with them every day, nor do I pretend to hear every story.

    If your curiosity doesn't extend to such matters, that's up to you.

    By Blogger Paul, at 1:47 p.m.  

  • When are the stories that any party puts out 100% inline with what those on the inside think?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:50 a.m.  

  • Nine days later:

    Okay, here's your insider grumbling.

    Whatever. Still isn't important till there's an election...

    By Blogger Ben (The Tiger in Exile), at 11:00 a.m.  

  • My god no wonder the Liberals are screwed. Some insiders do not believe an individual could be the leader unless they have a high enough national profile. I'm not sure who the insiders are but hopefully they are not high in the organization or the Liberals are screwed. Did the average Canadian have any clue who Michael Ignatieff was before he ran? The Liberals should consider getting some better insiders.

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