The next Liberal leader: A Political Rock Star
September 11, 2009 - 2:53pm
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It's time to call a spade a spade. Ignatieff just isn't cutting it, Ignatieff will not be cutting it, and most everyone knows that by now. Ignatieff is another Paul Martin disaster for the Liberals just waiting to happen.
So what is coming down the pipes politically in Canada?
Canadians will eventually be forced to go through the motions of having another election, probably next year, but nothing much will really change in Ottawa. Harper will either get another minority or a majority, and who really gives a flying fig anyways.
One thing is fore sure, in that we have gone on long enough with Ignatieff to know he's no leader, and Ignatieff sure as hell isn't going to taking any of us Canadians to the promised land.
If I were a Liberal party supporter I would be urging the Liberals to bite the bullet now, give Ignatieff his well-deserved boot, organize a real leadership convention, where Justin will win hands-down, experienced or not. There are just too many Canadians that miss PET, and since he left politics no one has come anywhere close to offering what Pierre did. People it seems, need their dreams.
This is the sad, but true, state of Canadian politics, and will in all probability come to pass.
Rock-star reception
Trudeau charms and inspires students at Glace Bay High School
"You go into politics because you want to make a difference. You want to serve the community and you want to serve in the best way you possibly can with whatever tools you're able to get your hands on. If the Liberal party forms the government, I hope to one day be a minister and be able to have a larger responsibility in running the country.
"And if the chips fall in a certain way and it turns out that I'm actually the good politician that some people think I am and nowhere near as bad a politician as many people seem to think I am, maybe there will be an option to serve in a greater capacity, but that really isn't the reflection I have. It's a little too far ahead. . . . And if you look too far ahead you lose sight of what's right in front of you and you will trip and fall, guaranteed."
He also fielded questions about Canada's war effort, and sug-gested it's time to withdraw from Afghanistan and give other NATO countries their turn.
http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1142006.html
He also fielded questions about Canada's war effort, and sug-gested it's time to withdraw from Afghanistan and give other NATO countries their turn.
He wants us to invade other NATO countries?
I like how someone said he will be the next Liberal PM. Perhaps this is true.
I don't think he will be the next leader however-- but maybe in 25 years he will be the next Liberal PM.
In the meantime I hope that the NDP has a PM because 25 years straight of dinosaur rule would be hard to bear.
Just like Harper is seriously underestimated here, so is Justin Trudeau.
--
And here's Trudeau talking about the current Liberal leader: "I will surely get myself into a bit of trouble ... He has the intelligence but maybe not the wisdom that's necessary".
But Trudeau's a lightweight. On the war, I had a brief conversation/argument with him right after the Liberals joined with the Conservatives in extending the war until the end of 2011. All he could come up with were Vimy Ridge analogies/platitudes (citing the senseless slaughter of WWI in defence of the senseless slaughter of today's wars for empire), and he admitted that his brother Sasha disagrees with him on Afghanistan and other issues...
Yes, that Justin sure is a star. He's already being featured in campaign ads... for the Conservatives
He also fielded questions about Canada's war effort, and sug-gested it's time to withdraw from Afghanistan and give other NATO countries their turn.
He wants us to invade other NATO countries?
I'm sure Justin is a good team player and anyways on this 8th anniversary of 9/11, it's seems quite obvious Canada is going to be joining the USA in their state of perpetual war. Sad but true.
You know I am really sick of this rock royality, political royality, hollywood royalty phrasing and conceptual frameworks.
Justin is a nice guy. But he represents a party of the status quo. He wants to make a difference and all that - he is for social justice and getting kids engaged in local and global issues, but belongs to a party run by big business. So really it is about charity, and not changing that status quo - feel good.
It's not enough for me - feel good.
You're correct Jan but it probably is good enough for enough Canadians to get him elected as Prime minister. The NDP should regularly be lobbying Justin to join them. What does the NDP have to lose by doing so?
You know, I wonder if he wonders if he is in the right party, no matter his legacy. Perhaps he dreams of getting all progressives in the big tent, but we would be back to the problem of who runs that party. Absolutely no way.
Anyway, that's where PR would come in. Of course, Justin might think that "charity" is great as a long term solution. Don't know. Don't care, and am not thinking about him.
The only thing that ticks me off about him, is how he goes and talks to high school students - not under his elected role - but he is selling both brands.
Most high school students are not going to ask him the "tough questions" in the contradiction of his political alliance and his social justice feel good theme.
PET used to march with striking workers but a combination of things happened.
For one thing Pearson was pro-active in looking for candidates, although I realize Trudeau was an afterthought as he initially wanted Marchand.
As well the NPD did not not have much of a profile in Quebec, so PET probably assumed, and probably rightfully so, if he was going to be able to effect meaningful change in Canadian society, he would have to join a political party that had a chance of forming government.
I understand that history of Pierre but that is true for so many folks "interested in making a difference." Co-opted comes to mind. Justin acts as a perfect progressive lib cover for who is really in control of this party. Fidel would say that it's the bansters. It's the rich and powerful who don't want anything to change beyond the window dressing.
Remember, it was the CCF who pushed for public health care, and the libs were resistive from the get go and only did it for fear of losing govt. There backers were not supportive of this becoming a public good at the expense of private profit.
What Tommy realized that being inside the big tent meant one had to sellout, and he didn't want that. He was offered a position "on the inside".
Yes, that Justin sure is a star. He's already being featured in campaign ads... for the Conservatives
Yes, and those ads are not likely to have the intended effect in Quebec - they will actually probably help Ignatieff. Most francophone Quebecers aren't that fond of the Trudeau name and so hearing Justin criticize Ignatieff will probably make Quebecers like Ignatieff more!
The Conservatives hadn't thought of that, it seems.
Don't you worry your heads about little Justin.
His ass will be solidly kicked back to the rich part of town where it belongs... by this woman:
Don't you worry your heads about little Justin.
His ass will be solidly kicked back to the rich part of town where it belongs... by this woman:
I posted a thread earlier in the week announcing her political comeback.
But considering that she wasn't able to beat Justin last year when she was the incumbent, isn't it more likely that he will be kicking her butt?
Dream on. The people of Papineau have now seen pretty boy
inactionin action.Dream on. The people of Papineau have now seen pretty boy
inactionin action.Yes - he's been quite visible from what I can tell. He visits the cultural events of every single ethnic group in the riding and has made contacts in all of them. Justin's large base of support from minority voters is what gave him the win last year. Most minorities, unlike Vivian Barbot, want to stay in Canada.
Barbot is charismatic and has some good skills - it's just unfortunate that she hasn't joined one of the federalist parties where she could make more of an impact. For example, MP Marlene Jennings is the first black woman elected in the history of Quebec.
Yeah, Barbot could make quite an impact as a Liberal, voting with Harper on every single issue. She really missed the boat.
As for Marlene Jennings, I'll pay more attention to her the day she throws the head of the Québec-Israel Committee out of her house.
Well getting back to the actual race in Papineau, are you predicting that Barbot will beat Trudeau?
Just like Harper is seriously underestimated here, ...
You're joking, right?
Justin has potential, but there is no guarantee he will run for Liberal leader. He does not necessarily have the same career aspirations that others want him to have. Lots of people would like him to be leader some day, but his family comes first - if it takes too much of a toll, he may not do it. He doesn't like spending too much time away from his kids.
You see debater this is a problem when one openly and so publicly proclaims that they are all for social justice for all, but their voting record says otherwise. Justin comes across as a hypercrit and talking out both sides of his mouth.
Takes a good game, but doesn't have a backbone and can't stand up and do what's right.
It becomes unimportant - my party made me do it - becomes a lame excuse - which means that he is willing to sellout his principles to be part of the red conservatives.
"The Harper government, with the help of former human rights advocate Michael Ignatieff, is set for quick passage of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA). It's expected to be the very first order of business, when Parliament reconvenes on Monday."
So will Justin vote to support more free trade and to hell with human rights? Justin is a nice person and as a prof so long ago told me, "nice" is a liberal word, and means nothing if it doesn't count - you know take action.
I think Justin feels that as a rookie MP he has to vote with his party, as do most MP's for that matter. But he is more progressive than most, and is very popular with gay voters, women and other NDP leaning demographics. If he were to become Liberal leader one day, I think you'd find that he'd get a lot of support from NDP voters just like his father did.
Just like Harper is seriously underestimated here, so is Justin Trudeau.
Harper had professional success and accomplishments before becoming a party leader.
Just like Harper is seriously underestimated here, so is Justin Trudeau.
Harper had professional success and accomplishments before becoming a party leader.
Well Justin hasn't become a party leader yet, so a comparison can't really be made.
But if he does become leader one day, he may have had more accomplishments by that time.
It does not necessarily have anything to do with accomplishments although that can help. It is about charisma - some people have it, and some don't. Justin has charisma, and combined with the connection with his Dad, Trdueaumania anyone, he will become leader before too much longer. And what makes people think Justin has no accomplishments. The Liberals are now getting desperate for someone, anyone, with credibility and appeal at the top.
Last month Justin Trudeau was playing soldier and acting as an Afghan insurgent out in Wainwright, Alberta.
He seemed very pro-military / pro-Afghanistan at the time.
When we had a by election in Willowdale Justin Trudeau came to our party room at our complex with Martha Hall Findley the Liberal candidate.. Most of the questions afterwards were for Trudeau. He did not have a seat at that time. Most of us are seniors here and it was standing room only when they found out he was coming. When other polititians no matter what strip we seldom get a good turnout.
I guess he believes in "fighting for peace" that old oxymoron.
When we had a by election in Willowdale Justin Trudeau came to our party room at our complex with Martha Hall Findley the Liberal candidate.. Most of the questions afterwards were for Trudeau. He did not have a seat at that time. Most of us are seniors here and it was standing room only when they found out he was coming. When other polititians no matter what strip we seldom get a good turnout.
Exactly nussy.
The main thing is that it is PET's son. It doesn't really matter what Justin's Trudeau's views are on anything.
Your right the quesions were more like "I remember your father sort of thing.
Does anyone think that Ignatieff, for the good of the Liberal party, could be encouraged to step aside, and let Justin Trudeau lead the Liberals, and who would probably give Harper a run for his money?
Justin would be eaten alive. It's one thing to talk and wow high school students - but oversee the elected MP liberals - I am sure you are joking.
Does anyone think that Ignatieff, for the good of the Liberal party, could be encouraged to step aside, and let Justin Trudeau lead the Liberals, and who would probably give Harper a run for his money?
You seem awfully keen for Justin Trudeau to become Liberal leader. Yes he has potential, but he is not ready yet.
Why not Bruce Dickinson? He's a rock star and his connection to Canada is only slightly less tenuous than Iggy's.
Justin would be eaten alive. It's one thing to talk and wow high school students - but oversee the elected MP liberals - I am sure you are joking.
I am not promoting Justin, just making an observation. Justin has said himself that he wishes to wait until he has had more experience but it seems you are making it out like Justin Trudeau is wet between the ears. I think if you delved into his background you might discover otherwise. And I think you might be underestimating charisma.
Why not Bruce Dickinson? He's a rock star and his connection to Canada is only slightly less tenuous than Iggy's.
Up the Irons
Bruce along with a lot of brits has a soft spot for a former colony that didn't rebel. I was watching old brit comedies from the 70's Faulty Towers, Are you Being Served Etc and they often mention canada and usually not with derision.
Justin only has to be half as articulate as his dad and a wave of white hairs would desend upon the polls inching up the voter turnout a few points for the nostolgia of the past while ignoring facts on the ground. But yes he would most certainly do better on name olone than the last 3 libs combined. Hell I know my parents would vote for him and I have had them voting NDP for the last 10 years or so. All they would need do is leave a few leftwinged crumbs out and they would puh the NDP down by 4 points the greens by...well almost all of it, and enrage most cons.
Actually the enraging the Cons bit would almost make it worth it now...
Maybe Ignatieff's people are more concerned about Justin than they let on.
Justin Trudeau's office broken into, computer stolen
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/696729
Rahim Jaffer's free...for the moment, and he has the rock star lifestyle thing going. Maybe he'll switch parties.
Getting back to the topic, Justin would need to be very careful if he wants to trade on his father's legacy. He is remembered with great nostalgia by many but despised with passion by many others. A Prime Minister named Trudeau would be a boon for separatists in Quebec, Alberta and quite possibly elsewhere as well.
He seems likeable and charismatic but if he aspires to be party leader, he's going to show substance, not just a name.
I'd love to hear from so many of the public who were fawning over Ignatieff when he first became a member of parlaiment. Many of us from all political stripes were saying that Harper and Layton would thrash him badly...I hate to say I told ya so but...
Back onto the topic at hand. I'd say it's going to be Bob Rae, then it will be Gerrard Kennedy then Justin Trudeau...then, who knows.
Gerrard Kennedy is a light weight - enough said.
Gerrard Kennedy is a light weight - enough said.
Agreed but the Liberals are just smart enough to do this. They all fawned over Ignatieff and Dion right? Look how that's working out. The Liberals need to break that entire party down and rebuild it which they don't seem intersted in doing right now. Probably due to ego I'd imagine. It's hard to imagine that a party that had so much has been reduced to so little. Same thing happened with the Tories. It's the Liberals turn now. Sad.
Bob Rae will be the next leader of the Liberal Party for sure, he's not waiting around the LPC for nothing he wants power. Plus he came second in the leadership race behind Ignatieff and Kennedy has run so many times for the leadership.
I really would like to see John MacCallum or Peter Milliken run for leadership. At least those two have some integrity.
I always found fascinating the hard-on the English media has on Trudeau fils.I can't see him as very popular in the West (National Energy Program, anyone) and especially in Quebec (except for anglo-ethnic Montreal) where his family name is often reviled in even stronger terms than Dion's "clarity" was.
It may be anecdotal but it took three years to replace the MTQ signs to the Dorval airport on highway 20 and still, six years later, quite a few people still deliberately refer to the airport's old name or use the acronym ('pet' in colloquial French means 'fart').
And while Justin seems to be a big ticket item in Toronto or in some parts of the Maritimes, where Trudeau's nostalgia is still present, he was given a very tough riding to run in since it was redistricted after the 2000 election. Let's be charitable and just say that even the (über-partisan) LPC organizers in Quebec know better than to put him in the spotlight in the French media.
Gilles Duceppe must be praying in his sleep for the young Trudeau increased stature.
What is it about human beings that we seem to have this desire for aristocracy and great families, even in so-called mature democracies? Glenn Greenwald recently wrote a post about this tendency in the U.S. but I thought Canadians were somewhat less inclined to dynasties. I think it is a most unseemly behaviour for a society that claims to be an egalitarian meritocracy.
Both the Cons and the Bloc are seriously concerned about Trudeau. The NDP ignores Trudeau at its peril.
Who Stole Justin Trudeau's computer?
Trudeau was the target. At 37 he's already a rising Liberal star. If Michael Ignatieff hasn't delivered the goods by next year, a lot of Liberals will be going to Justin Trudeau.
Adversaries have reason to fear him. He was elected in the last election in Papineau riding in a hard-fought campaign against a worthy Bloc Québécois MP, Vivian Barbot. She's trying to for a comeback. It will be a tough campaign, in a part of town where they don't play softball politics.
Trudeau is so strong that Bloquistes in neighboring Ahuntsic riding worry about spillover influence. The Gilles Duceppe people do not take him lightly. They see him coming like a train locomotive, even if rednecks in Western Canada write him off, derailed by residual hatred for his dad, Pierre.
----------------------------------
The Conservatives are watching Trudeau very closely. In Ottawa, they've been collecting a big file on him going back 10 years.
This past week they began running costly French-language ads trying to discredit him. It's not often you'll find a political party spending good money on a negative message against a rival who is not a party leader. It speaks loudly to their concern about his popularity and appeal.
The ads feature a remark Trudeau made three years ago during the Liberal Leadership campaign when he was supporting Gerard Kennedy.
They have him saying that Michael Ignatieff "may be intelligent, but he doesn't have the wisdom necessary" to lead the Liberals.
http://www.westislandchronicle.com/article-378997-Who-Stole-Justin-Trude...
I don't give a crap about Justin's breakin. He should get better locks. This is not news, just crude the MSM feeds you to keep you asleep.
I don't give a crap about Justin's breakin. He should get better locks. This is not news, just crude the MSM feeds you to keep you asleep.
It is news - anything involving a Member of Parliament, particularly a break-in at an office or a theft, is normal to report. Not sure what your objection to it is based on. Joe Clark had a computer stolen about 5 or 6 years ago too, and it was reported. Famous MP's are even more likely to have these events make the news. When an MP's computer is specifically targeted and stolen and nothing else is taken, it may also have a political motive behind it.
On a more positive note, Pierre Trudeau was among the first inductees recently inducted into the Queer Hall of Fame and Justin expressed his pride about it:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jxCRbtj8Aqk...
Debater - during the last federal election, Jack Layton's campaign office was regularly broken into and computers stolen - not a peep in the press, so spare me - and I would agree that it would politically motivated. Sorry, but everything to do with Trudeau is not reportable.
On a different note, I ate dinner with Trudeau when I was a youngen in Nova Scotia, and sat beside him. It was during the snap election and I was working for Katimavik. He was keenly interested in Katimavik and what we were up too. We did not talk about politics. It was a fund raiser - he enjoyed his meal with his table mates and didn't have to worry about thinking strategically.
The meal was great (and free) and the chat provoking and had nada to do with an election or power politics.
Which Trudeau was that Jan?
Pierre
Justin has big shoes to fill.
It's gonna get interesting after the next election for the Liberals. They could well go the way of the do-do bird, unless Justin gets a kick at the can.
if Justin became the leader of the liberals I still would not consider supporting liberals. The right-leaning neoliberal stink in that party is overwhelming, the dirty tricks, the power brokering - no thanks.
From Daily Kos, an impressive dissection of Ignatieff - "The False Champion of the Canadian Left"
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/9/24/785769/-The-False-Champion-o...
How silly.
Conservatives Are Going After Trudeau
The Harper Conservatives are trying to set up Justin Trudeau against his leader Michael Ignatieff. And they’ve found a way of doing it with taxpayers’ money, without using a penny of their own funds.
They’ve had thousands of partisan pamphlets printed up, and are passing them off in Quebec as MPs newsletters which Canada Post is duty-bound to deliver free of charge.
The U.S.-style attack pamphlets quote Trudeau as saying disparaging things about Ignatieff at the Liberal Party leadership convention back in December 2006.
http://www.westislandchronicle.com/article-431465-Conservatives-Are-Going-After-Trudeau.html
Resurected thread I see - keep it going, you sure like this kid eh NorthR?
He is from the elite side of the tracks, and I doubt he is going to rock the boat much.
Iggy if Iffy, that is for sure. Funny though, how we get used to his image on TV after a few years in the spotlight, as in "the idle mind wanders to what is most familiar" [sheeple]. Mistake or not, I think the Libs will keep Iffy on for a few more years, one election at least.
I don't know if I can take another 10 years of dinosaurs either, but it looks like that is what will happen in Canada.
... and what was that about PET and the Queer Hall of Fame that Debator mentioned? [the story is "no longer available"] ; new Link?
Why not Bruce Dickinson? He's a rock star and his connection to Canada is only slightly less tenuous than Iggy's.
He is, after all, the one man in the world louder than John Baird …
Rahim Jaffer's free...for the moment, and he has the rock star lifestyle thing going. Maybe he'll switch parties.
That man is politically radioactive. I can't see him being rehabiliated any time soon.
... and what was that about PET and the Queer Hall of Fame that Debator mentioned? [the story is "no longer available"] ; new Link?
Here.
It's the family name that does it. Does anyone seriously think George Bush would have got elected without his father's coattails. Or would Ted Kennedy have become such a prominent senator without his brother having been the president. Not a chance for either of them. It's the samething for the Trudeau clan. For some reason voters like family dynasties.
Why not Bruce Dickinson? He's a rock star and his connection to Canada is only slightly less tenuous than Iggy's.
He is, after all, the one man in the world louder than John Baird …
...and substitute Rob Halford, and you get the one man in the world queerer than John Baird.
(Hey, don't blame me, blame Pam Taylor for the cue
)
It's the family name that does it. Does anyone seriously think George Bush would have got elected without his father's coattails. Or would Ted Kennedy have become such a prominent senator without his brother having been the president. Not a chance for either of them. It's the samething for the Trudeau clan. For some reason voters like family dynasties.
Not quite true because Ted Kennedy was first elected to the Senate in 1962 in a special election to replace JFK. He would not have become a Senator when he did without his brother being elected President, but don't forget they all had a rather influential father, and becoming prominent was largely his own doing (as was the fact that he never became a serious contender for President himself). Which still makes your point that being a part of a dynasty helped him.
Rahim Jaffer's free...for the moment, and he has the rock star lifestyle thing going. Maybe he'll switch parties.
That man is politically radioactive. I can't see him being rehabiliated any time soon.
Exactly. As I said several weeks ago, Rahim Jaffer's political career is over. He will not be allowed to run for the Conservatives again after losing an Alberta seat. The Conservatives have nominated a new candidate for Edmonton-Strathcona. He has a good relationship with the PMO (unlike Jaffer) and is also bilingual.
Ted Kennedy would have become President, that is, if the CIA or whomever didn't do him in first, except for the death of Mary Jo Kopechne. I don't think Justin is any PET, but that won't have a lot of bearing on the issue. Watch for Mulroney's kid to enter politics at some point as well, although he might have a more difficult time than Justin, due to the unpopularity of Brian..
Actually the NDP looks like it is close to having a lock on this seat, and may well get over 50% of the vote in the riding in the next federal election.
NDP election results for the federal riding of Edmonton-Strathcona.
2008 - 43%, Increase of 10%
2006 - 33%, Increase of 9%
2004 - 24%, Increase of 9%
2000 - 15%
Rahim Jaffer's free...for the moment, and he has the rock star lifestyle thing going. Maybe he'll switch parties.
That man is politically radioactive. I can't see him being rehabiliated any time soon.
Exactly. As I said several weeks ago, Rahim Jaffer's political career is over. He will not be allowed to run for the Conservatives again after losing an Alberta seat. The Conservatives have nominated a new candidate for Edmonton-Strathcona. He has a good relationship with the PMO (unlike Jaffer) and is also bilingual.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a rehabilitation of Brian Mulroney attempted as a prime minister of vision - never mind that he was on the take.
Which kid? (Remember that there's more than just Ben out there.)
Speaking of next-political-generation Bens with political potential, there's Ben Peterson (David's son)
I laugh. Michael Ignatieff does indeed have "it". The man is the very definition of the word "charisma". Unfortunately, just for those safely ensconced within the walls of the oy-veyed tower. When Michael says, "everywhere I’ve been this summer, I’ve seen the same enthusiasm—all while apparently remaining completely invisible," most Canadians raise their eyebrows and ask "what?" But not the academos. Nope. They recognize the existentialism that underpins the philosophy articulated by Canada's recently repatriated patriot.
Still, it can't be denied that Michael's intellectualism is no match for Harper's brute stupidity. No amount of gentlemanly indecision and deference will overcome the raw venom of Jason Kenney, nor the seething banality of Peter Kent, nor the understated psychopathy of Jim Prentice. For we gentle and polite Canadians, there's just no contest between the refined sport of cricket and the blood spattered ice of hockey.
Which is why if the Liberals are to recruit a rock star to face off against Stephen Harper and his outlawed bi-curs, then they ought to forgo the political and recruit, instead, a real rock star. And why not Ozzie Osborne?
For one, no one understands what the fuck he's saying so every statement has a built in deniability. He plays as well in the suburbs as the inner-city, as the boondocks. He's a media darling. He's a sure thing winner.
Agreed, he isn't a a Canadian. But neither's Harper nor Michael. The former's a Dick Cheney vomit projectile and the latter's a Kennedy cling-on. At least Ozzie is all Ozzie.
Failing that, I'd also vote for Ron Sexsmith. He's not quite a rock star, but he can sing. Better than Harper, anyway.
I think we ought to vote for WingNut as Prime Minister.
Actually the NDP looks like it is close to having a lock on this seat, and may well get over 50% of the vote in the riding in the next federal election.
NDP election results for the federal riding of Edmonton-Strathcona.
2008 - 43%, Increase of 10%
2006 - 33%, Increase of 9%
2004 - 24%, Increase of 9%
2000 - 15%
Yes, Edmonton Strathcona's anti-Conservative vote has found a home at last. The splits were terrible. That said, I'd remind North Report of Stein's Law: If something cannot go on forever, it won't. A consolidation of anti-CPC vote does not mean the NDP's vote share will go up yet another 10% next time. Linda Duncan's universe of potential support is not all that large, and the federal riding of Edmonton Strathcona, due to its much larger size, is not nearly as much of a progressive enclave as the provincial riding.
And I forget exactly who it was who was complaining about the dynasty/celebrity of Justin Trudeau, but I'd only remind them that Pam Barrett and Rachel Notley would probably say that a family name only gets your lips to the podium, nothing further.
That said, It was good to see Linda Duncan at the prorougal protest, and I hope to see her re-elected.
I think the children of former Prime Ministers can do for politics what David Frum has done for journalism.
T_P, I was waiting for something like that.
I think the children of former Prime Ministers can do for politics what David Frum has done for journalism.
In that they'd challenge the hard core of their party orthodoxy without really owning their own mistakes which contributed to said radicalization?
In that they'd sound a different note on civil liberties?
Or just in that they'd seem insufferably smug?
I mean, it's all well and good to say David Frum is substandard, but he does have his moments of non-suck and flashes of intellectual rigor. He was among the first to speak out against the nomination of Harriet Meyers. Remember her?
Well, there is the thousand David Frum rule, I'll give you that.
But without mummy, and unless marrying astutely is a journalistic skill, there's not much between him and "would you like fries with that?"
maybe they should get someone like Jack Layton.
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/35093/layton_surpasses_harper_in_ca...
Well, there is the thousand David Frum rule, I'll give you that.
But without mummy, and unless marrying astutely is a journalistic skill, there's not much between him and "would you like fries with that?"
Hall of Shame my friend!
nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!
With the Owelympics rated at less than 40% approval in BC, Iggy's quote de jour is to call it's critics"nabobs of negativity". Iggy has to be Harper's strong card.
maybe they should get someone like Jack Layton.
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/35093/layton_surpasses_harper_in_ca...
Babblerwannabe!! Where have you been!? Welcome back, stay a while, please!
Actually the NDP looks like it is close to having a lock on this seat, and may well get over 50% of the vote in the riding in the next federal election.
NDP election results for the federal riding of Edmonton-Strathcona.
2008 - 43%, Increase of 10%
2006 - 33%, Increase of 9%
2004 - 24%, Increase of 9%
2000 - 15%
No one who knows Alberta politics would seriously suggest that, but that's your choice.
As Don Martin and others have pointed out, the reason the NDP vote went up was because of the collapse of the Liberal vote in Alberta where it finished behind the NDP.
Since Ignatieff replaced Dion, the Liberal vote has gone up in Alberta polls, and while they won't be winning any seats in Alberta again for a long time as Stephen Harper said on the night of his election win in January 2006, the Liberal vote will go up in the next election and this could mean a loss for the NDP in the riding.
Or, it could mean a hold, if the IggyLiberal vote comes from the now-incumbent-less Conservatives instead.
Still, count me in with those who're skeptical about the degree of absolute lock Linda Duncan has on this seat. (Then again, I was similarly skeptical about Irene Mathyssen in 2008...)
-_-
The NDP stands a good chance of taking Edmonton East as well in the next federal election, particularly following the doughhead comments of the current MP about Louis Riel.
Calling Louis Riel a 'villain' lands Conservative MPin hot water
'We strongly disapprove,' Prime Minister's Office says of Peter Goldring's characterization of Manitoba founder and Métis hero
2008 election
Cons - 51.3%
NDP - 31.8%, increase of 13.3%
Lib - 10.9%, down by 15.3%
2006 election
Cons - 50.1%
NDP - 18.5%
Libs - 26.2%
In the Liberal Party "alternation" tradition, the leadership would go to a francophone "Apres Iggy".
Since Lil' Justin is three-quarters Scottish(and lived in B.C. for most of his adult life)does he actually COUNT as francophone?
Oui
Keep it up Goldring and your seat is up for grabs by the NDP
Manitobans react negatively to Riel attack by Edmonton MP
http://winnipeg.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100220/wpg_riel_attack...
I wonder if Goldring has threatened to stand as an independent if Harper disowns his slander of Riel?
All he'd have to do is hold slightly less than half his current vote and the NDP would take Edmonton East with no increase in vote share.
Goldring is one of the Conservative M.P.s who complained that incumbents shouldn't have to defend their nominations, while they were stuck in Ottawa doing house duty to keep the government from falling. I believe there were a couple of candidates lined up to run against him.
Oh, my, trouble with the future Liberal king.
Justin Trudeau admits he was in a mood yesterday when he took to the national airwaves to debate Conservative MP Shelly Glover and NDP MP Nathan Cullen.
Mr. Cullen said afterward, "Justin had a triple latte this morning."
Ms. Glover had much stronger words: "Justin is one of the worst examples of lack of decorum and lack of professionalism and lack of maturity that I have ever seen."
She also said that he was "insulting." More than that, she believes that the bad behaviour shown by some MPs "incites" younger people to behave badly.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/justin-trudeaus-exuberance-lands-him-in-trouble/article1515914/[/quote]
bad behaviour like that of Helena and her spouse Rahim?
The hypocrisy of the right never ceases to amaze me.....
having said that, yuk! Can one say privilege load enough?
Just like Harper is seriously underestimated here, so is Justin Trudeau.
Harper had professional success and accomplishments before becoming a party leader.
This is an old quote but I just noticed it. Apples, what professional accomplishments are you referencing? The time Harper spent in the mail room at Imperial Oil? Or his fine work badmouthing Canada at the National Citizens Coalition?
If that's a resume that qualifies you to be Prime Minister, I think most of us are overqualified.
If young Trudeau is romancing the youth of his province what percentage of the vote would he capture? Not enough I'm sure however Iggy has young Trudeau on his team will that is an added bonus especially given his appeal to the youth of the province. It was my understanding Canadians wanted the focus on the economy and not another election.
How that measures up the economy that is will be a strong deciding factor in the next election as sometimes I don't think Its the charisma that does it for a leader to win but just it is their turn to have a kick at the can or Canada for that matter.