Coderre seems to strike again. This time it's Stéphane Dion on the recieving end of Coderre's TLC. Le Devoir has the story:
«Ottawa -- Il n'y a pas que Martin Cauchon dans Outremont qui apprend à la dure que le Parti libéral du Canada essaye de se renouveler au Québec. Quatre députés montréalais déjà en selle, dont l'ancien chef Stéphane Dion, subissent des pressions du lieutenant de Michael Ignatieff pour céder leur siège à des candidats-vedettes.»
What an incendiary article, bouchecl! Coderre is apparently also gunning for Folco, Patry and Zarac besides Dion - 2 of those MPs are women, so it can't be about gender parity. This is a purge by Coderre of the anti-Iggy forces (remember that Cauchon was a big Rae supporter in 2006 and only rallied to Iggy relunctantly on the final ballot against Dion at the Montreal convention) and also to get his ducks in a row for an eventual Coderre leadership run!!! (we can only pray that Denis wins, it would be a total collapse for the Libs nationwide).
The Le Devoir piece has tons of great anonymous Liberal sources and some pretty blunt comments from Folco in particular ("Liberal ridings are safe because the MP works hard, it's not a gift from God! Why take a risk on somebody who doesn't know the riding?"). Iggy is on very dangerous ground here as Cauchon has a direct link to Rae and the Chrétien and "progressive" wing of the LPC (such as it is) and this is sure to stir up more dissension in caucus, esp if the Libs continue to flounder in the polls. I expect Dion to put up a huge fight against any attempt to push him out, and he won't hesitate to go public - he has apparently still not gotten over being bumped from the leadership by Iggy in late 2008.
Watching Libs self-destruct is so much fun 
Warren Kinsella is going to have to work 24/7 to catch all the leakers, 'cause this is going to turn into a flood if Coderre is succesful in bumping off sitting Liberal MPs.
this doesn't seem to me like a real attempt to oust anyone. seriously, if iggy wanted them gone, he'd have no problem. it was more likely a message for the team to close ranks or risk ending up on the outside. pretty ballsy move, martin or chretien-style, really. if dion could have got away with this, he'd likely have given it a shot too.
hmm, that said, funny that a part of team dion's fight back was to go to the press. that's gotta piss coderre off so bad. you have to wonder if he'll be going to dion one of these days to say something like "you're out, or you stay and the other three are out".
Ha!
Igrulney-MulrIggy!I. Told. You. So. The anti-democratic Outremont decision, given Iggy's form, should come as no surprise, sadly. As his hero said, "Ya dance with the lady what brung ya". The only question that remains to be answered is whether he'll "succeed", pace Mulroney, in completely destroying a great Canadian party and ripping the country apart, or whether Liberals, my fellow supposed inheritors of the traditions of Trudeau & Chrétien, not to mention St. Laurent, Pearson, King, Laurier & Mackenzie, will assert themselves and rid themselves of this fool & his foul côterie before he does more damage. The omens are not good. But in honour of his latest foolishness, we do have a new entry into the Canadian almanac of political handles, Igrulney or MulrIggy, as one prefers. I'm torn myself, some days I think he's acting more Igrulneyish, others, more MulrIggyish. Personal preference I suppose. Iggy could only stage his coup de parti thanks to the most dishonourable, nationalist, Coderre-Pablo half of the LPCQ. From day one, they saw him as their meal ticket, used their usual dirty tricks on all others (Dion, Rae, Kennedy, et.al.), never accepted the 2006 membership's decision, until they succeeded in assassinating Dion and imposing Iggy.
http://eugeneforseyliberal.blogspot.com/2009/04/iggy-mulroney-sitting-in...
The rot seems to be coming home to roost from Denmark...
Liberals hurt themselves fighting over Quebec ridings
Voters are not impressed when parties wash their laundry in public
In Toronto Monday, Ignatieff said Cauchon "was an excellent minister, an excellent MP and a good Liberal." Emphasis on the past tense. Case closed.
The interesting aspect of this unedifying spectacle is that both Cauchon and Coderre, for reasons known only to themselves, see themselves as contenders at the next leadership convention. And in the great Liberal tradition of alternating between English and French-speaking leaders, they could both be right, though neither has a hope of winning. The point is, only one of them can be the leading Quebec candidate. Coderre now controls the organization, such as it is, and Cauchon has been cut completely out of the game.
For the Liberals, who have been on a very bad roll of late, the latest round of intramural hostilities is more bad news. The voters are generally unimpressed with parties that wash their dirty laundry in public.
It's quite simple. If a party can't run itself, it can't run the country.
http://www2.canada.com/montrealgazette/features/viewpoints/story.html?id...
She does have a point about Justin Trudeau but me thinks Chantal wears her political aspirations for Ignatieff a bit too much on her sleeve. Hebert let it all hang out when she erroneously forecast Ignatieff's victory over Dion when Dion won the leadership. She must be into nobility or something. 
Ambitions at play in candidacy feuds
Allt hast article said to me was that Herbert does not think, the female star candidate will win back Outremount, given the state of affairs in QC, and within the Liberal Party.
And this extends to the longer view, there is no way in hell the Liberals could get even a minority should an election happen this fall. And their actions could well give Harper a majority.
Which actually i do not think Iggy cares about, as long as he gets to live in Stornoway.
So, I have one question - who is the leader of these pathetic Liberals, Michael Ignatieff or is it actually Bob Rae?
Curious minds just want to know.
Outremont feud puts Ignatieff in bind
Privately, many Liberals blame Mr. Coderre for the creating the controversy and are appealing to Mr. Ignatieff to overrule him.
The squabble isn't helpful as Liberals work to recapture Outremont, a longtime Grit fortress that was snagged by New Democrat Thomas Mulcair in a stunning 2007 by-election upset.
Mr. Cauchon was the Chrétien-era justice minister who spearheaded legislation to legalize same-sex marriage and decriminalize marijuana. He is something of a symbol for progressive Liberals who believe their stance on social justice issues is one of the few things that distinguishes their party from Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives.
Given Mr. Cauchon's progressive credentials, MP Bob Rae said "room must be found" for him in the party.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/outremont-feud-puts-ignatie...
What a dumb-ass leader the Liberals have in Ignatieff. How could he be stupid as to create this mess!
Quebec squabble turns up heat on Ignatieff
The squabble isn't helpful as Liberals work to recapture Outremont, a longtime Grit fortress that was snagged by New Democrat Thomas Mulcair in a stunning 2007 by-election upset.
Hurray! We did it again in 2008, and we'll do it again in 20??.
Mr. Cauchon was the Chrétien-era justice minister who spearheaded legislation to legalize same-sex marriage and decriminalize marijuana. He is something of a symbol for progressive Liberals who believe their stance on social justice issues is one of the few things that distinguishes their party from Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives.
Unfortunately, there's a grain of truth there. I would respect Martin Cauchon more than many other contenders. He held Outremont for 11 years with the healthiest percentages since Marc Lalonde's days (when Outremont was different and really a Liberal stomping ground).
How much longer can we count on Count Ignatieff's political folly (like Dion's before him)?
Note this snippet from the bourque website:
"BOURQUE EXCLUSIVE: And so it begins. In Outremont, of all places. The end of the beginning, the beginning of the end. For bookish Harvard Professor Michael Ignatieff's leadership of the once-proud, and united, Liberal Party. A tutelage foisted on the party's membership, seemingly unstoppable, certainly uncontested, increasingly regretted. The brown envelopes have begun to circulate, the sniping is increasing, the knives are being sharpened. "This is worse than Dion", confided one key ground-zero Liberal to this scribbler, "I am hearing attacks on him at dinners etc that are more than brutal." In Montreal, and elsewhere, fingers are being pointed at the "control freaks and bullies" who keep Ignatieff leashed and who refuse the effervescence of renewal in a blind headlong lust for power. One example, according to a Toronto Lib who bleeds red, "the Ontario caucus did not want an early election, but Ignatieff announced Harper's time was up before he even consulted us. Pierre, the Ontario caucus IS the Liberal Party", argued our source. To some, the Iggy era will be remembered as an amiable three hour cruise, yes, a three hour cruise gone wrong. To others, it will be but a footnote in the storied history of a once (and future) great political dynasty of political giants such as Laurier, King, Pearson, Trudeau, and Chretien. Developing ..."
Unionist, I agree. And I think Ignatieff is going to have to reverse his decision. After all Bob Rae has basically said so, and most everyone knows the only reason Bob Rae is not the current leader of the Liberals is that he has NDP roots.
Note this snippet from the bourque website:
"BOURQUE EXCLUSIVE: And so it begins. In Outremont, of all places. The end of the beginning, the beginning of the end. For bookish Harvard Professor Michael Ignatieff's leadership of the once-proud, and united, Liberal Party. A tutelage foisted on the party's membership, seemingly unstoppable, certainly uncontested, increasingly regretted. The brown envelopes have begun to circulate, the sniping is increasing, the knives are being sharpened. "This is worse than Dion", confided one key ground-zero Liberal to this scribbler, "I am hearing attacks on him at dinners etc that are more than brutal." In Montreal, and elsewhere, fingers are being pointed at the "control freaks and bullies" who keep Ignatieff leashed and who refuse the effervescence of renewal in a blind headlong lust for power. One example, according to a Toronto Lib who bleeds red, "the Ontario caucus did not want an early election, but Ignatieff announced Harper's time was up before he even consulted us. Pierre, the Ontario caucus IS the Liberal Party", argued our source. To some, the Iggy era will be remembered as an amiable three hour cruise, yes, a three hour cruise gone wrong. To others, it will be but a footnote in the storied history of a once (and future) great political dynasty of political giants such as Laurier, King, Pearson, Trudeau, and Chretien. Developing ..."
Just remember who pays Bourque's bills.
"confided one key ground-zero Liberal to this scribbler"-Ray Heard?
I thought Heard was a big Iggy supporter?
Its funny how those Liberals were making up those phony rumours about dissesnion in the NDP - but it turns out that all the blood's on the Liberal floor
Bourque's for sale to the highest bidder. Who pays Jeffrey Simpson's wages? Or Chantal Hebert's? You can sleep peacefuly knowing it is not the Labour movement.
yeah, chantal hebert phoned in a decent recapitulation of events today, though the bit about trudeau is a bit of a head scratcher this far out.
Unionist, I agree. And I think Ignatieff is going to have to reverse his decision. After all Bob Rae has basically said so, and most everyone knows the only reason Bob Rae is not the current leader of the Liberals is that he has NDP roots.
I don't see how Iggy can totally reverse the decision without losing all credibility and ceding control of the party to the Rae/Chrétien faction. A face-saving compromise is more likely - i.e. getting Cauchon to run elsewhere, maybe in Westmount Ville-Marie if they can send Garneau back into space again I suppose they could move the Iggy-appointed candidate to another riding but that would just compound the problem - knocking off an incumbent MP to install an Iggy/Coderre protegee. Again, the basic issue is that there are very few "safe" Liberal ridings to dangle in front of star candidates.
Iggy has pulled a similar stunt in Jeanne-Le-Ber and Ahuntsic (i.e. overruling local nomination aspirants to drop in hand-picked candidates) so if he flip-flops in Outremont and lets Cauchon run, he will face huge pressure to do the same in the other ridings.
Speaking of the other QC ridings, 2 Liberal activists in Quebec are accusing Coderre and Iggy of going back to the "grande noirceur" of the Duplessis era. Grab your popcorn and get ready for weeks of Liberal infighting - the best show in town!
Its funny how those Liberals were making up those phony rumours about dissesnion in the NDP - but it turns out that all the blood's on the Liberal floor
na, nothing funny, as in unusual, about it, as it was typical Liberal attempts to smokescreen so no one sees their actions. Only now the gig is done. Too many people have their eyes open at least a bit.
Now Ignatieff is offering Cauchon a chance to run in Jeanne LeBer instead of Outremont as a consolation prize (actually I think Cauchon would have a much better chance of winning against the low profile BQ incumbent in Jeanne LeBer than against Mulcair). We'll see if he accepts. I think Ignatieff is going for a Solomonic solution (ie: slice the baby in half). If I were him I would make a decision and stick with it as opposed to trying to please everyone and pleasing no one.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/...
Too bad Cauchon couldn't be brought over to the NDP.
What a dog's breakfast Ignatieff has going in Quebec.
Deux militants libéraux dénoncent des relents de «duplessisme»
Après Martin Cauchon et Comlan Amazou, un autre militant libéral qui s'estime lésé par le processus de sélection de candidats au Parti libéral prend la parole publiquement.
Dans une lettre publiée aujourd'hui dans les pages Forum de La Presse, les libéraux Jonathan Pednault et John Lennard dénoncent le «duplessisme» qui, selon eux, règne au parti à l'heure actuelle.
M. Pednault, 19 ans, proche des frères Trudeau, souhaitait se présenter dans la circonscription de Longueuil-Pierre-Boucher aux prochaines élections. À l'invitation du président de l'association de circonscription, il a même vendu une centaine de cartes de membre et donné une réception pour lancer sa candidature.
C'était au début de 2009. Vers le milieu de l'année, il a dû freiner ses ardeurs. Joint par une organisatrice du parti, Reine Hébert, il a été encouragé à abandonner ses démarches. Vers le mois de mai, il estime avoir été mis devant le fait accompli: on avait choisi de nommer quelqu'un d'autre et on lui demandait poliment de céder le passage.
«Après nous avoir annoncé en grande pompe, au printemps 2009, que toutes les circonscriptions du Québec, y compris celles tenues par des députés libéraux, pourraient être soumises à une course à l'investiture pour déterminer le candidat du parti, certains se sont mis à jouer à la petite politique pour assurer leur avenir et leurs grandiloquentes ambitions», dénonce M. Pednault dans sa lettre.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/...
Now, more from bourque
Thursday, September 24Lib Ex-MP blasts Iggy Libs
A top Quebec Lib who ran successfully for the Party in the '90's under Chretien has gone online to unleash a torrent of vitriol against the party's leadership incumbents."I am shocked and dismayed by how Martin C. was treated", admits the Lib, "Regrettably long time loyalty and commitment to party and country no longer count for anything in face of selfish and crass personal political interests. No wonder less than 10% of Quebec francophone's support the federal Liberals."
Brutal.
. No wonder less than 10% of Quebec francophone's support the federal Liberals."
Where does that number come from?
With their well-greased contacts in ad agencies, I can't wait for the scarlet billboards campaign...
Now Ignatieff is offering Cauchon a chance to run in Jeanne LeBer instead of Outremont...
Who would get bounced from the slot?
From bourque.com
What's the percentage the Liberals lying about? 
Now Ignatieff is offering Cauchon a chance to run in Jeanne LeBer instead of Outremont...
Who would get bounced from the slot?
Isn't it a Bloc seat?
Here is a rough translation of that cyberpresse.ca article
We deserve better
Jonathan Pedneault and John Lennard
Les auteurs sont de jeunes militants du Parti libéral du Canada. The authors are young activists of the Liberal Party of Canada. M. Pedneault souhaitait être candidat dans Longueuil-Pierre-Boucher. Mr. Pedneault wanted to be a candidate in Longueuil-Pierre-Boucher.
http://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.cyberpress...
M. Ignatieff, il fut un temps où être libéral était un gage de courage, de force de caractère, d'indépendance d'esprit et de respect pour la démocratie. Ignatieff, there was a time when being liberal was a sign of courage, strength of character, independence of mind and respect for democracy.
Force nous est malheureusement de constater qu'en 2009, être membre du Parti libéral fédéral au Québec, c'est savoir se tenir à sa place, obéir sans questionner - et surtout - ne pas questionner les instances en place. Unfortunately we are forced to note that in 2009 a member of the federal Liberal Party in Quebec, is knowing how to keep his place, to obey without question - and especially - do not question the authorities in place.
En tant que membres du PLC, mais surtout en tant qu'ardents défenseurs de la pensée libérale, nous nous voyons forcés, par faute de fâcheux événements, à prendre parole sur la place publique pour vous énoncer notre point de vue. As members of the PLC, but also as strong advocate of liberal thought, we see ourselves forced by lack of unfortunate events, to take call on the public square for you state our point of view. Notre but n'est pas d'embarrasser le parti, mais de le fortifier. Our goal is not to embarrass the party, but to strengthen it. Si nous agissons ainsi, c'est que nous sommes persuadés que nous n'aurions pu faire passer notre message au travers des instances du parti. If we do this is that we are confident that we could get our message through the forums of the party. Des instances qui, comme toutes institutions, ont la fâcheuse habitude de s'opposer au changement et aux idées leur paraissant un peu trop audacieuses. Bodies which, like all institutions, have the annoying habit of opposing the change and their ideas seemed a little too bold. Dans un parti se voulant libéral, cela devrait être perçu comme un grave problème. In the Liberal Party is willing, this should be seen as a serious problem.
Plus problématique encore nous apparaît la propension qu'ont certains personnages de notre parti à s'institutionnaliser de façon à se rendre omniprésents et omnipotents. Even more problematic is how the tendency of some people in our party to be institutionalized so as to make ubiquitous and omnipotent. Cela nous semble particulièrement vrai ces temps-ci, alors que des relents de duplessisme flottent dans l'air quelque peu vicié de l'aile québécoise du PLC. This seems especially true these days, while hints of Duplessis float in the air somewhat tainted by the Quebec wing of the LPC.
Depuis qu'un nouveau lieutenant a été nommé au Québec par vos soins, on n'a eu de cesse de bien vouloir nous faire comprendre l'importance de son rôle. Since a new lieutenant was appointed to Quebec by you, we never stopped to let us do understand the importance of his role. Si bien d'ailleurs qu'avec tout le respect que nous cultivons à votre égard, nous nous demandons qui, de vous ou le lieutenant en question, dirige le parti au Québec. So also with all the respect that we grow with you, we ask that you or the lieutenant in question, leading the party in Quebec. Nous ne remettons nullement en question la qualité de votre leadership au sein du parti, toutefois nous ne pouvons que nous inquiéter de voir certains agir comme s'ils étaient seuls maîtres à bord. We will deliver not question the quality of your leadership within the party, but we can only worry about seeing some act as if they alone were in control.
Après nous avoir annoncé en grande pompe, au printemps 2009, que toutes les circonscriptions du Québec, y compris celles tenues par des députés libéraux, pourraient être soumises à une course à l'investiture pour déterminer le candidat du parti, certains se sont mis à jouer à la petite politique pour assurer leur avenir et leurs grandiloquentes ambitions. After we have announced with great fanfare in spring 2009, all districts of Quebec, including those held by Liberal MPs, could be subject to a nomination contest to determine the party candidate, some began to playing petty politics to ensure their future and their grandiloquent ambitions.
De façon quelque peu sournoise, on s'est mis à imposer des candidats dans plusieurs circonscriptions, outrepassant ainsi le droit sacré que devraient avoir les membres de ce parti, que l'on veut libéral, de choisir celui ou celle qui portera le rouge dans leur circonscription. Somewhat sneaky, they began to impose candidates in several constituencies, thereby exceeding the sacred right that should be members of this party, we want Liberal to choose one who will carry the red their constituency.
Il n'est pas très libéral de refuser des candidatures à l'investiture, sans aucune justification, pour privilégier des gens de son entourage. It is not very liberal to deny applications for the nomination, without justification, to focus people around him. Il n'est pas très libéral de privilégier certains candidats sur d'autres lors d'une course à l'investiture. It is not very liberal favor some other candidate in a nomination contest. Et il n'est pas très libéral de mettre ses intérêts propres (ou malpropres, c'est selon) au-dessus de la démocratie. And it is not very generous to its own interests (or dirty, it depends) over democracy.
Sans équivoque, l'imposante ombre de ces gens qui prennent trop de place plane au-dessus de l'ensemble des rangs libéraux au Québec. Without doubt, the imposing shadow of those people who take too much space hovers above all Liberal ranks in Quebec. Lors de la rédaction même de cette lettre, nous avons reçu maints encouragements de la part de gens qui partageaient notre opinion, sans toutefois être prêts à la cosigner par peur de représailles. During the drafting of that letter, we received much encouragement from people who shared our views, but be prepared to co-sign for fear of reprisals. Est-ce là le parti pour lequel nous souhaitons militer? Is this the party for which we wish to argue? Ce parti doit retrouver ses lettres de noblesse libérales, et s'affranchir de la loi du silence. This party needs to regain its former glory liberal, and flout the law of silence.
Maintenant que les élections approchent à grands pas, il nous semble difficile de voir à ce que les membres de ce parti - qui rappelons-le sont à la base même de toute victoire possible - aient leur mot à dire dans la sélection des candidats. Now that elections are fast approaching, it seems difficult to see that members of this party - which we recall are the backbone of any possible victory - have a say in selecting candidates. Toutefois, pour le bien du parti ainsi que pour celui de votre avenir politique, nous croyons que vous devriez vous méfier de ceux qui, par leurs agissements, cherchent par tous les moyens à brimer le courage, la force de caractère, l'indépendance d'esprit et l'âme foncièrement démocrate des membres de ce parti. However, for the good of the party and for that of your political future, we believe that you should beware of those who by their actions, seeking by every means to harass the courage, strength of character, independence of spirit and soul fundamentally Democratic members of the party.
Nous sommes certains que vous comprenez, M. Ignatieff, qu'en tant que membres de ce parti, nous méritons mieux. We are sure that you understand, Mr. Ignatieff, as members of this party, we deserve better
And now it escalates
Maybe the stupid Liberals should have thought twice about not having another leadership race following the Dion debacle. We are now seeing the results of this with the Ignatieff debacle.
Cauchon blasts Liberal's 'lack of democracy'
Looks good on them. No party leader should be given the power to pick and choose candidates. That should be left up to members. If the Liberal Party was all that different from the HarperCons they'd be setting an example.
Former top Liberal blasts party's lack of democracy
Updated Thu. Sep. 24 2009 5:31 PM ET
The Canadian Press
OTTAWA -- The fierce squabble over Martin Cauchon's political comeback is symptomatic of a party that has lost sight of the most basic tenets of democracy, says a former national director of the Liberal party.
"We've turned into one big appointment society," Sheila Gervais told The Canadian Press.
"It's a perfect democratic deficit storm."
The storm has been gathering for more than 25 years but reached its peak this week with Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff's decision to appoint a woman in the prized Montreal riding of Outremont.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090924/que_libs_09...
Strange that the Canadian Press relays unquestioningly the official excuse - "appointing a woman" - rather than say bluntly that the obvious objective was to displace Cauchon and/or get closer to the moneyed business world. Who was it that said that a woman is always found to take the blame when things get hoary for male politicians? CP couldn't get away with this if they situated the Outremont story in context: two female Liberal MPs being also shooed away from safe seats elsewhere in Quebec.
Now Ignatieff is offering Cauchon a chance to run in Jeanne LeBer instead of Outremont...
Who would get bounced from the slot?
Isn't it a Bloc seat?
Yes, by a small margin at the moment.
Perhaps martin meant that 'getting bounced' would mean the person expected to be given the Liberal nomination there would be replaced.
I don't know why Cauchon wouldn't jump at the chance to run in Jeanne LeBer. If there is even the SLIGHTEST Liberal dead cat bounce in Quebec it should be very low hanging fruit, and the BQ MP there is a total unknown. In Outremont, Cauchon MIGHT win, but Mulcair is getting more and more ensconced and has a big personal following.
This whole conflict seems to be an Iggy vs. Rae proxy war.
Perhaps martin meant that 'getting bounced' would mean the person expected to be given the Liberal nomination there would be replaced.
Exactly. I imagine that some Liberal was positioned to run there. (Who did last time around)
But I doubt that Cauchon will still be given a preferential treatment after "blasting the Liberals' lack of democracy". He is probably trying out an orange shirt as we speak...
Apparently Cauchon refuses to run in Jeanne Leber - its "Outremont or nothing" and Coderre says "take it or leave it".
If i were the NDP, I'd put out a press release pointing out that in the NDP ALL candidate selections are made thorugh open nomination meetings and that if M. Cauchon wants to join the NDP, he can come to the NDP nomination meeting in Outremont and try his hand at convincing the local NDP members to make him their candidate rather than Thomas Mulcair!
There is an interesting article in the Star here: http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/700061
Liberal mouthpiece Bob Hepburn is saying Ignatieff is having problems. This means the Liberals are in big trouble.
In Quebec, they are still asking the Liberals "where's the money." (probably referring to the $40 million the LPC got in the sponsorship scandal)
Could this be the beginning of the end of the Liberal Party?
If so, this means good time for the Conservatives and the NDP.
Last night on the At Issue panel, Herbert was very scathing of the Liberals, was kinda shocked. Indeed she stated Outrement was a NDP riding for a reason, after being questioned by Lloyd, on her statement that the Liberal EDA in that riding could fit into a phone booth.
You know, this indicates the emptiness of existing on a brand, as opposed to values and principles built and sustained and actioned from a base.
If there is no foundation left after years of exploiting, and thus eroding it, it is bound to collapse.
One could say this happened to the PC's already. And the CPC, rising from its ashes, has no real foundation as of yet created either. Hence, their successive minority status.
Thus, it seems given, that the Liberals, after following in the same empty tradition of exploiting and eroding their base, are going to go the same route, albeit slower. But perhaps now they have exposed their empty shell, it could indeed be quicker.
after all this the Liberal nomination will be quite a tarnished prize. I'll bet that now Coderre will get some stalking horse to run against Cauchon for the nomination and he'll get his band of hacks to sign up 100s of instant Liberals in an effort to humiliate Cauchon after Cauchon defied him.
Cauchon would be able to hurt Mulcair in Outremont if it weren't for his leader, Narcissieff.
There won't be a nomination race, Cauchon was just appointed in Outremont, and the women who had been appointed in Outremont, was given the other appointment that Coderre was trying to stick Cauchon in.
Nothing about the Liberals is democratic, at all. Apointment after appointment after appointment, as I noted elsewhere they are to the right of the Cons.
The article cited above says:
"Party insiders say Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has decided to allow an open nomination contest in the prized Montreal riding of Outremont"
But the way this whole thing has played out with ridings being bandied about like musival chairs. Ignatieff come across like some black jack dealer dealing out crads with the names of ridings on them!
If there was going to be an open nomination contest, LeProhon, would not have been moved to another riding. And open nominations in Outremont now, after LeProhon's slotting in and then removal, would be a slap in the face of Couchon.
The use of open nomination is just a rhetorical device IMO.
What I find interesting here this week is how many posters spoke positively about Cauchon and what a progressive Liberal he is once they heard he wouldn't be the nominee. Only a few months ago, I remember several posters here planning to attack him over the legal dispute he was involved in earlier in the year. Now that Cauchon is back in the game, I wonder if he will start to be attacked again?
Meanwhile, once it appeared that LeProhon would be the nominee, several posters began to attack her corporate background and implied that Mulcair's strategy should be to imply she was connected with scandalous behaviour at Hydro-Quebec. Now that it appears she may be running elsewhere, I guess the strategy will have to change again?
Oh, Oh..vapid commentary, is the Liberals new strategy to expend their pawns trying to circumvent what they believe to be the NDP's strategy?
And don't forget people who may think about voting for Cauchon, may feel they are eating their own thrown out leftovers, plus of course his legal troubles will be aired all over agin bringing up the spector of Liberal corruption. I would think for him to be back in the game, it would take a new party affiliation on his part to indicate, he was walking away from the taint.
You are ignoring the point I made about the discussion here - there has been a contradictory and hypocritical approach on the part of certain NDP posters towards the Outremont nomination and towards Martiin Cauchon. They say he is so progressive, should be a member of the NDP etc. but then want to try to find dirt on him.
And who will air his "legal troubles"? I suspect the only people who will focus on that will be the NDP and Mulcair. Most other people won't care because it is not a major issue. If Cauchon had major legal problems, he wouldn't be running.
A ton of Liberals with legal problems and ethical issues ran in 2004. in the Liberal party being involved in shady deals and bribery are considered standard operating procedure.
Interestingly Debator, your big heroine Chantal Hebert wrote a column on Wednesday where she shit all over Cauchon and basically said that Ignatieff was right to stp him from running again since he was deadwood from the Chretien era and represented a brand of Liberalism that causes Quebecers to despise the Liberal party. i hope she's right!
BTW: There is nothing contradictory in anyone's attitude towards Cauchon. As an individual he may be one of the more "progressive" Liberals, but he is running under the leadership of neo-con Michael Ignatieff and so a vote for him is a vote for neo-con Michael Ignatieff (aka: Count Chocula)
You are correct "certain" posters did like 1 or 2. LOL.
Others, in the majority gave a rat's ass about him, and correctly so.
Oh, and the threshhold now is a candidate is okay to the Liberals if they have had only minor legal problems?
One would think after the sponsorship issues, they would be avoiding any further taint at all costs in respect to Cauchon, after all he was their for the scandal.
Personally, I thought that was why Igantieff was refusing his positioning there again. The voters have already indicated how they feel about him.
Not sure many would want to bring their garbage back into their house, once it was thrown away.
