Who will be the next Liberal leader?

[cacruden]

I'm not an expert here, but I think I have to agree with Bizorky.

Either way Mulroney is not an english name or an english language name. Probably pre-dates English in Ireland (maybe Celtic language name?).

 

[spmarshall]

Again, what about the Scottish names then? Macdonald, Mackenzie, etc.

 

[cacruden]

I guess they are Celtic as well -- assuming we are using "english language" as the criteria.

 

[spmarshall]

So it's time to requalify Ignatieff, then. He could possibly become the second Prime Minister with a non-Western European name.

How long will it be until we get a PM with a non-European name?

 

[cdl42]

"So it's time to requalify Ignatieff, then. He could possibly become the second Prime Minister with a non-Western European name."

Now I'm confused. Who's the first?

 

[spmarshall]

Dief, of course.

 

[cdl42]

But Diefenbaker is a German name.

 

[spmarshall]

Right. For some reason I was thinking that it was Ukrainian. My mistake.

 

[adma]

I thought Diefenbaker was a canine name...

 

[bizorky]

Speaking of Iggy, I have heard that he is surrounded by Martin's people. That kind of frightens me, should he become leader.

Actually, Iggy's desire to open the constitution strikes me as either insane, or just illustrative of his over-arching sense of intellectual superiority. If he negotiates with a PQ government in Quebec, they will toy with him, make unrealistic demands, and finally walk away saying they received nothing from the ROC.

 

[spmarshall]

Speaking of Iggy, I have heard that he is surrounded by Martin's people.

Shit. That is frightening.

Iggy's desire to open the constitution strikes me as either insane, or just illustrative of his over-arching sense of intellectual superiority.

I'm inclined towards the latter - he thinks he's Trudeau's second coming, except the opposite when it comes to Quebec. But isolation in an American Ivory Tower might do that to me too.

 

[cacruden]

Iggy was out of the country for most of the constitutional debates, and thus only knows academically how devisive it became (especially during Meech Lake).

Personally, even though I might not agree with Rae on a number of issues, he is probably the best choice for Leader of the Liberal Party (IMHO). I know he carries a lot of baggage from the time of being Premier, personally -- I think he is held responsible for more than is reasonable.
- David Petersons government did not leave Ontario in ship-shape condition
- Economy was in a cyclical down cycle.
- Rae was limited by the baggage of leading an inexperienced group of people
- Rae was limited in what is reactions due to the fact that his power base was NDP based (party) and that would limit his ability to act.

There were of course mistakes, but not as much as people hold him responsible for.

Whether the Liberals are able to win the next election -- or are limited to opposition in a minority parliament ... I believe Rae's speaking/parliamentary skills are the strongest of the candidates.

 

[afransen TO]

cacruden,

For Rae, reality isn't what's important. Perceptions of his time as premier have been dominant for past decade, not reality....

 

[cacruden]

Perceptions which are really limited to Ontario. Given Liberal Party lead by Rae, and Liberal Party lead by one of the other candidates.... will likely only differ by a few seats in Ontario.

After his return to parliament -- I believe that perceptions will soften....

If he is able to get a seat in parliament quickly, his debating skills would give Harper a challenge -- either way -- I don't think we will see a majority without a major mistake on Harper's part. That might have been different with someone like McKenna -- but all of the candidates are relative unknowns or have baggage (even Iggy is not really a known entity)

 

[Observer Walt]

^ Cacruden, I agree. I thought, months ago, that either McKenna or Manley would have been highly credible candidates. It's really Canada's loss that neither of these men ran.

I'm not impressed by the current crop of candidates. Every one of them seems to have some "baggage" or other. I'm particularly bothered that the current front runner has no political experience at all to speak of (has been an MP for only a few months, has never been a cabinet minister either federally or provincially, which should be a minimum requiremnt IMO), and, has spent almost none of his adult life even living in the country. He may have formidable intellectual powers, but so do others who aren't suddenly putting themselves forward as a potential Prime Minister.