Liberal leader winner

[Nemo]

Yes, Harper is down on the floor at Sussex Drive laughing his ass off ! (go get 'em Steve!)

So are Gilles Duceppe and Andre Boisclair

Dion was minister under Chrétien AND Martin (not too many of those)

a picture is worth a 1000 words...

WOW... talk about a NEW vision and NEW leadership

 

[built2please]

I can't beleived that Dion will be chief of the Liberals. He was elected with only 55% of the vote. Under his clarity law, his election will not be valid. This guy is so mean! He has his own definition od democracy: if you don't think like me, well then I'll change the rule. Well, I guess he was choosen the do time for the Liberals as the opposition. He'll loose the next election (you're all right, Harper and Duceppe are the two happiest man in Canada tonight), will have to step down, and then only a new Liberals leader will become Prime Minister. By this time, Quebec will probably be independant because of Harper messing around.

 

[jacep]

I agree with you. I am also happy for Dion. He showed a lot of class and integrity after Martin kicked out all of Chretien's ministers (including Dion). It would have been very easy for Dion to bad mouth Martin for what he did but he didn't. Martin then had to bring him back in after Martin's star Quebec candidate (Lapierre) commited a bunch of gaffes during the last election campaign that cost Martin the PM-ship.

Martin was one of the few leadership candidates and winners who punished his opponents (Sheila Copps and John Manley). Chretien gave all his leadership opponents cabinet posts, Mulroney did the same, and so did Turner.

I'm not sure if others could have done the same thing as Dion under similar circumstances.

 

[eastender]

The Real Difference

the difference
between a dog and a liberal hit by a car
would be
you would see skid marks were the dog was hit!
actually this goes for any politician.
oliver

Oliver,
The real difference is that you will never see other dogs celebrating when a dog
gets hit by a car.Liberals and politicians in general not only celebrate when one of theirs gets hit by a car but increase the speed limit.

 

[Techman]

I say give the guy a chance to prove himself. At least he's willing to stand up to Quebec instead of pandering to them like Ignatieff would have done.

 

[Fat Happy Buddha]

I'm reasonably satisfied that Dion won (I voted for him in the poll above. Kennedy was my second choice). I worry however about whether he can win or not.

I think if he can convince Quebecors that he has a coherant plan that puts a lot of focus on the environment, he might be able to get more votes from this province than people expect. Quebec is one of the most environmentally conscious provinces, and I have a hard time believing that Quebecors would allow Harper to form another government if Dion could convince them he had a plan for dealing with environmental issues.

Besides, doesn't Dion hold a seat in the riding of St. Laurant-Cartierville? Doesn't that indicate that he is not completely toxic to Quebec voters? (I'm not to familiar with the make-up of the population of that riding.)

 

[jacep]

Besides, doesn't Dion hold a seat in the riding of St. Laurant-Cartierville? Doesn't that indicate that he is not completely toxic to Quebec voters? (I'm not to familiar with the make-up of the population of that riding.)

Yes, he does hold the seat. He was parachuted in when Shirley Maheu (Liberal) gave up her seat for a senator position at the request of then PM Chretien. Chretien then had Dion run in Saint-Laurent/Cartierville even though Dion doesn't live in that district. Dion of course won. The liberal party could run almost anyone in that riding and that person would almost always win. It is one of the safest liberal ridings.

I believe that the French still make up the majority in this riding but it also has a large ethnic and anglophone, Jewish, and Middle-East population. Most of the French living in Saint-Laurent/Cartierville are not hard line seperatists.

His riding is not a good indicator of how well he is liked in Quebec nor is it a good indication of how well he can sway the majority of Quebecers/Quebecois to vote for his party.

In the next federal election, the liberal party will win roughly the same amount of seats in Quebec as they did the last time (if not less) under Dion's leadership. Most of these wins (if not all) like the last time will be from the Montreal area. He brought in the Clarity Act which is disliked by the majority of Quebecois.

 

[Fat Happy Buddha]

Yes, he does hold the seat. He was parachuted in when Shirley Maheu (Liberal) gave up her seat for a senator position at the request of then PM Chretien. Chretien then had Dion run in Saint-Laurent/Cartierville even though Dion doesn't live in that district. Dion of course won. The liberal party could run almost anyone in that riding and that person would almost always win. It is one of the safest liberal ridings.

I believe that the French still make up the majority in this riding but it also has a large ethnic and anglophone, Jewish, and Middle-East population. Most of the French living in Saint-Laurent/Cartierville are not hard line seperatists.
[....]

Thanks for the clarification, jim-ce. I'm hoping you are wrong about Dion's acceptableness to Quebec voters, but I fear you are right. Don't you think Dion will be able to take back the nine or ten seats the Conservatives won in Quebec the last election? That in itself would be a big step toward retaking power, especially if they were also able to take back seats in Ontario.

 

[Techman]

He brought in the Clarity Act which is disliked by the majority of Quebecois

I don't think this is true. The Clarity Act is disliked by separatists who don't want to be forced into asking a clear and honest question in a referendum. As has been proven before, in two referendum, the majority of Quebecers are not separatist. There is a bad habit in Quebec of painting anyone who is pro-Canada as 'anti-Quebec' when this is usually far from the truth. He may not win over as many people as Ignatieff, who would have been willing to do anything to win Quebec votes, but I have a feeling he will do ok.

 

[joelcairo]

Good point Techman. Ignatieff - like the wretched Paul Martin and indeed like almost all politicians (even those who are not Liberals) has proven that he is willing to whore himself for power. To his credit Dion is one of the few who has not (yet?) done this.

 

[jacep]

Thanks for the clarification, jim-ce. I'm hoping you are wrong about Dion's acceptableness to Quebec voters, but I fear you are right. Don't you think Dion will be able to take back the nine or ten seats the Conservatives won in Quebec the last election? That in itself would be a big step toward retaking power, especially if they were also able to take back seats in Ontario.

I'm also hoping that I am wrong, it won't be the first time

However, on Dion becoming PM of Canada when the next federal election is called, I doubt that I am.

 

[jacep]

Good point Techman. Ignatieff - like the wretched Paul Martin and indeed like almost all politicians (even those who are not Liberals) has proven that he is willing to whore himself for power. To his credit Dion is one of the few who has not (yet?) done this.

When Martin became leader, as part of the move to expulge all Chretien's cabinet members, he kicked Dion from the cabinet. After this happened, Dion never did anything negative towards Martin and the Liberal party. A lot of people would have badmouthed Martin (like what Paul Martin did to Sheila Copps) for doing this and I wouldn't blame them. Lots of people would have probably also quit politics after being dropped as a cabinet minister. However, Dion just became a back bencher and did his best for the liberal party. Eventually, Martin gave him the environomental portfolio.

 

[b_cup_lover]

There is a bad habit in Quebec of painting anyone who is pro-Canada as 'anti-Quebec' when this is usually far from the truth.

That could also very well be rephrased like this:


There is a bad habit in Canada of painting anyone who is pro-Québec as 'anti-Canada' when this is usually far from the truth.

 

[joelcairo]

You must have a virus in your computer B Cup Lover: it seems your boldface type isn't working.

 

[b_cup_lover]

You must have a virus in your computer B Cup Lover: it seems your boldface type isn't working.

Hey joelcairo, I don't have a single idea about what agenda you have with me?????? Soooooooooo!!!!!

F*** Y** Again!

 

[joelcairo]

A calm logical response as usual but somehow it lacks dramatic impact without your usual boldface type. Good luck on getting the virus fixed.

 

[New York]

Extremely heavy accent ? No bias ?

Hello,


I thought Dion would not and could not win the election since his English is probably the most heavily accented any Prime Minister has ever had.

Trudeau and Chretien accents were very light, but, boy, this guy does not even speak English!!!!!

Does this mean that the English delegates are not biased ?

 

[Techman]

That could also very well be rephrased like this:


There is a bad habit in Canada of painting anyone who is pro-Québec as 'anti-Canada' when this is usually far from the truth.

Being pro-Quebec to ensure Quebec is treated equally is not anti-Canada and I have never met anyone who would say it was. I have heard people complain, and quite justifiably in some cases, that Quebec often gets preferential treatment but I have never heard it said that that was anti-Canada. Just that it was unfair.


PS: I don't find anything wrong with Dion's English. He speaks much better English than the other candidates speak French. Especially Dryden!

 

[b_cup_lover]

Techman, I just wrote that as a sarcasm to reply to your statement.
I'm glad to see that you didn't jump to the ceiling like someone we know!

Any sarcasm or joke made towards Federalists or Separatits or whoever can be at times, taken as a joke, No?

Quote Techman:
PS: I don't find anything wrong with Dion's English. He speaks much better English than the other candidates speak French. Especially Dryden!


Remember Robert Stanfield ??!!

 

[Techman]

Remember Robert Stanfield ??!!

Had to be the scariest looking politician ever! He always reminded me of a walking skeleton. Never needed a costume on halloween.