Posted on 10/23/2008 12:09:54 AM PDT by ari-freedom
Stéphane Dion was expected to step down as leader of Canada's opposition Liberal party last night after less than two years at the helm and within a week of a drubbing at the general election.
The frontrunner to succeed him is Michael Ignatieff, the former Harvard scholar and author, who is the party's deputy leader. However, Mr Ignatieff is sure to face stiff competition for the job.
Mr Dion is only the second Liberal leader in Canada's 141-year history who has not become prime minister.
The Liberals were for years viewed as the natural governing party, but have been on the retreat in recent years. Jeffrey Simpson, a Globe and Mail columnist, yesterday described the party as "beaten, broke, divided and diminished".
(Excerpt) Read more at ft.com ...
Bye bye Steffi! Don’t let the door hit your @$$ on the way out!
about Ignatieff:
On Wednesday 11 October 2006, Ignatieff described Israel’s attack on Qana during its recent military actions in Lebanon as a war crime. Susan Kadis, who had previously been Ignatieff’s campaign co-chair, withdrew her support following the comment. Other Liberal leadership candidates have also criticized Ignatieff’s comments. Ariela Cotler, a Jewish community leader and the wife of prominent Liberal MP Irwin Cotler also left the party following Ignatieff’s comments. Ignatieff later qualified his statement, saying “Whether war crimes were committed in the attack on Qana is for international bodies to determine.
Hope their next leader is Bob Rae, scare Ontario voters who remember his crappy tenure in office, galvanize NPD voters angry that he switched parties, no appeal in Quebec.
Yeah that’s why I want him in. The voters will never trust the man that ran Ontario into the ground. And without a Frenchie in charge I believe they will start to bleed a little Federalist support in Montreal.
it doesn’t really matter who the Liberals pick. They have no base as all the idealistic lefties are either for NDP or BQ. They will be attrited away.
btw nice quote by Harper: ``I don’t believe national regulation alone is sufficient,’’ Harper said. ``There is a crisis in some countries, not Canada, where profits are private and losses are public. Managing a system that way is not acceptable. We have to have better regulation.’’
Harper’s got about 2-3 years to solidify his support and maybe get that majority gov’t.
Sorry for the double-blink up thread, all.
* And international bodies agree with me
Don’t forget the Greens Ari. 3-way left split in English Canada now!
Harper should have a majority now if we are to believe the arts “gaffe” really cost him 20 seats in QB. (what a dumb-a** province). I have doubts that level of support was ever their for the Tories, if it was it was obviously extremely soft and BS master Duceppe (spellcheck asks if I mean “Duckwheat”) would have stolen it away no matter what. I hope Harper is able to gain a majority without a large gain in QB, the less influence they have the better.
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