Bob Rae steps down, Iggy likely the new Liberal leader
So, it's Ignatieff who will be the new Liberal leader.
The guy who is great on paper, but not so good in person.
Every Iggy supporter I have talked to, has said they are supporting Ignatieff, not because of his leadership, or values - but just because they think he can win.
Now, the Liberals have bypassed the Liberal community completely and simply acclaimed Ignatieff - a battle of attrition to see who had money left over after the last leadership campaign. This should do wonders for Harper's message of the Liberals being undemocratic.
If Stephen Harper ever wanted to cement the mantle of the 'Canadian party' on the Conservatives, running against a guy who spent the last 20 years outside of Canada ought to do it.
The Liberals are clearly turning to the right, and are going into an abyss which they are not going to get out of for the next 20 years.
I'm in the process of figuring out how to support the NDP without getting 20 calls a week from their scattered, inept uncoordinated fundraising committee. Regardless, now is the time for the NDP to step up and claim the title of Canada's left-centre party. The Liberals have abandoned that in pursuit of trying to steal Conservative voters, and gain power.
yup
And yup again.
I'm in the process of figuring out how to support the NDP without getting 20 calls a week from their scattered, inept uncoordinated fundraising committee.
Well that's strange. I thought the incompetent Bob Rae left the NDP along time ago. And you are still getting inept, uncoordinated fundraising calls.
Seems the NDP need to clean up their act while the LPC crown a leader.
Seems the NDP need to clean up their act while the LPC crown a leader.
"Crown" sounds about right with that party. Who needs to vote in a plutocracy, really?
I hope the NDP has some plans to try to get diseffected Liberals to "come over the sunny side of the street" and join the NDP. I don't expect any elected officials to do it - but there have to be a lot of Liberal supporters who are nauseated by the backroom machinations that clinched the leadership for Ignatieff, who will be aghast if Iggy jettisons the coalition and even more aghast if their party supports Harper's budget!
I suggest to all New Democrats that you appriach any progressive Liberals you know and offer to take them under your wing and to make them feel as welcome as possible in the NDP! Bring them bread and salt and give them a shoulder to cry on!
Well you know what they say. Orange sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky in morning, sailors take warning.
I , who will be aghast if Iggy jettisons the coalition and even more aghast if their party supports Harper's budget!
What's in the budget is almost irrelevant. If the Liberals support it - it means many more months (if not years) of Harper remaining our absolute dictator.
It's amazing, when you think about it. The technically Canadian Iggy Thumbscrews leaves his long time home in the United States, gets parachuted into a safe ridding-- against the wishes of many in that ridding, then gets coronated leader of the Liberals-- a post he could not get elected to-- and it could well be that he ends up Prime Minister via the coalition.
Holy snappin' arseholes, batman.
Well that's true. The Harpers' budget was hidden under the sweater for all of the election campaign. And it's still there.
The budget is easy to figure out-- solve our economic problems by further consentrating wealth with the wealthy.
No mystery there.
The budget is easy to figure out-- solve our economic problems by further consentrating wealth with the wealthy.
No mystery there.
Who do you consider wealthy?
Who do you consider wealthy?
Anyone from Alberta (or anywhere else) who loves Stephen Harper.
there have to be a lot of Liberal supporters who are nauseated by the backroom machinations that clinched the leadership for Ignatieff, who will be aghast if Iggy jettisons the coalition and even more aghast if their party supports Harper's budget!
I'd like to think so too, but progressive Liberals must be so accustomed to living with cognitive dissonance by now I'm not holding my breath for a stampede.
You don't know whats in the budget. Why be aghast with the budget before you see it?
Here is all that will be in the budget thanks to the most fiscally irresponsible government in more than a generation. Don't believe, come back and check at the end of January.
- Massive deficit (expect some sleight of hand, but it will be there) Cutting taxes in good times instead of investing in infrastructure and economic renewal and retooling was just bad fiscal planning and dumber than a post.
- Fire sale of public assets – given Flaherty’s past history expect them to go to friends of the government at sweetheart prices
- Minor stimulus- it won’t be enough and it will be in the wrong places. Despite the rhetoric Conservative governments, with a few notable exceptions, have shown time and time again that they do not understand how the real economy works or what to do about it
- Talk of more exports competing against low wage economies and more free trade deals, the very things that have decimated our manufacturing and resource sectors. You can not continue to transfer the wealth generating parts of your economy to other jurisdictions and expect the good times to keep on rolling. Expect the Conservatives to not get this.
- Nothing to create long term, good paying jobs but plenty of talk about doing away with regulations. Of course these will be the very regulations that have kept the Canadian economy more stable than the US, but you can guarantee that lesson will be lost on this government
- Some flashy cut or spending initiative that will be full of sound and fury, but in the end will signify nothing in real terms for Canadians or the economy. Think GST cut that saved you a few pennies on your morning coffee, but has now led to point number 1.
In the end the Liberals might go for it. But make no mistake Canadians will pay dearly if they do.If Harper and the Cons produce an unpopular budget we're headed for a February election.
You don't know whats in the budget. Why be aghast with the budget before you see it?
I know the name of the author and while I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover - I think you can by its author.