elisheva

Hi all..so, I know this is old news, but I don't have that many people to discuss this with, so I want to see what everyone thinks. Who do you think would make the best Liberal leader? I have major reservations about Ignatieff (some are like my objections to Belinda: you can't just parachute into politics and become PM! especially if you spent the last 30 years in the USA!) but am maybe not totally opposed to him. Rae seemed interesting - I don't like his stance on Afghanistan, though (and I have the same objection to Stephane Dion.)

Anyway, I'll try and write a bit more about this later when I can refresh my memory, but what are everyone's thoughts? I've been thinking about this on and off for the past few months, so if I skip a logic step and rush ahead in one of my posts, just reel me back in.

I hope a bunch of Canadians (and everyone else interested, of course!) will post. Maybe people from other countries could tell us what they've heard, or how our process is different from others?

eta: All 11 candidates!
* Martha Hall Findlay
* Hedy Fry
* Stephane Dion
* Michael Ignatieff
* Maurizio Bevilacqua
* Gerard Kennedy
* Bob Rae
* Scott Brison
* Ken Dryden
* Carolyn Bennett
* Joe Volpe

AlexEvans

Good idea from a thread.

Rae? He was horrible as Ontario Premier. Legislated open contracts, drove down property values in Niagara because of a shortage of housing in Toronto... one fiasco after another. And I don't like his stance on Afghanistan either.

He's horribly unpopular in Ontario, and I'm told former Ontario premiers are automatically distrusted elsewhere (I don't know how much truth that holds). Anyway, with Ontario a major battleground, I don't see him getting the leadership.

I have serious reservations about Ignatieff; he seems to lack consistency, and certainly experience. He might be better than most of the field, though.

As for who I like... I don't know. I wish Manley was running.

Raonaild

There are so many of them, and I've lost track of how the race is going ... when is the Liberal leadership convention anyway?

elisheva

This winter, I think?

thescoobygang

I say no to Bob Rae too. People have long memories here and he has too many ghosts from the past haunting him.

Ken Dryden?! Forget for a moment that he is a hockey legend. Does he know how to lead a country? When he was president of the Leafs organization he did absolutely nothing except sit in a press box and give boring interviews. They finally got rid of him when they restructured the management. And voila! he went into politics. He strikes me as a bit of a career floater. Hockey player, lawyer, writer, tv commentator, sports manager, politician...and now he wants to be PM?

I can't see Gerard Kennedy in a PM role. IMO he is best suited for local politics.

I oppose Michael Ignatieff for the same reasons already mentioned. The guy left Canada in 1978 and just returned in 2005 to become an instant MP. It's so obvious that he was brought in to be the Liberals 'ringer'. But no matter how glossy his credentials are he will never shake the criticism of being 'out of touch' with Canadians. Remember, Harper was born in Toronto but he can't convince Ontarians that he knows anything outside of western Canada. Can you imagine how tough it will be for Ignatieff to do the same?

I don't know about the rest. I'm only slightly familiar with the names Volpe, Brison and Bennett.

Bill Graham isn't running is he? He wasn't really impressive when he led Foreign Affairs and later National Defence. Hard to believe he is leader of the Opposition.

AlexEvans

No, Graham isn't running.

I thought he was horrible in FA, don't recall much of him in Defence. Anyway, he isn't tossing his hat into the ring this time.

I agree on Dryden. He lacks experience and a record. His only advantage is a lack of baggage - I hope the Liberals can do better than someone who "hey, he hasn't done anything really stupid yet!"

Gerard Kennedy is too left-wing for my tastes, but at least he's got experience (even if it's all at the provinical level) and has exhibited a certain degree of energy.

Scott Brison is relatively centrist, but only just became a Liberal (like Rae and Ignatieff, or Stronach).

Some of the others are jokes (Fry) and some I don't know much about.

Lexis

How long will the new leader have to establish himself before you guys elect a new Prime Minister? It's Prime Minister not President in Canada isn't it?

Raonaild

It's a different system here ... we don't directly elect the Prime Minister. We elect Members of Parliament (MPs), and the leader of the party that wins the most seats becomes the Prime Minister (provided that person won the election in their own riding).

Whoever becomes the new leader of the Liberal Party (the leader is chosen by party members at a convention) could become Prime Minister in the next federal election (not sure when that will be), provided the Liberal party wins the most seats.

ETA: The Canadian system of government is very similar to the UK.

Lexis

Yep, sounds like us. Wasn't sure if you guys had a electoral college style thing going on - I still find that system puzzling!

Parliamentary democracy rocks. : )

thescoobygang

That's good. I thought he was horrible in Foreign Affairs too. He didn't have a clue when he had the job which was why he got moved to National Defence and Pettigrew took over FA.

I'm not jazzed about any of the candidates. IMO the whole party needs an image overhaul. Right now, when I think of Liberal party I envision pats-on-the-back, secret dealing, misplaced tax dollars and aimless direction. It's going to take a really enigmatic leader to erase all that.

Raonaild

Enigmatic is mysterious and inexplicable ... did you maybe mean charismatic?

Otherwise, I also have that feeling about the Liberal party right now ... I'm tried of having a government that spends loads of money but cannot get anything done effectively, and right now that's what I think of when I think Liberal. Not that I'm particularly happy with the idea of a Conservative government, but right now the Liberals aren't exactly an inspiring alternative.

AlexEvans

I'm very happy with the idea of continuing the Conservative government, but nonetheless I hope the Liberals find a good leader. It's good for the country to have two strong parties, to avoid the complacency that contributed to some of the problems and corruption under Chretien and Martin.

I'm not sure a charismatic leader is necessary. The Liberals could try running based on policies, after all... okay, so maybe they do need a charismatic leader. I'm not optimistic about any of the current candidates. There's always the potential for someone to surprise us. If Martin failed to live up to expectations, maybe the next Liberal leader will surpass them.

Shera

I'm ashamed to admit that I don't know much about our politicians. However I think this is a great topic. I think I'll lurk for a bit and see if I can get more informed.

thescoobygang

oops. You're right. I meant charismatic.


Same here. I'm open to giving the Tories a shot at governing Canada...for now anyways. I consider myself a Conservative Liberal so I can find things I like/hate in both parties. While I support the current government I also want to see the Liberals make a comeback.

I was among those that had high hopes Paul Martin was going to turn the party around. I absolutely despised Jean Chretien and his cronies. He came across as very arrogant within Canadian politics and buffoonish in world politics. By the time Martin took over the wheels had fallen off the party and it was all bad decisions and scandals. Then Martin made it worse by using money, big promises and scare tactics in a last ditch effort to win support. That all ended up looking very transparent. So whomever becomes the next leader will really need to distance themselves from that old Liberal era of doing business and come up with a new approach.

AlexEvans

Ignatieff

He also proposes

globeandmail.com : Ignatieff criticizes Harper, suggests immediate ceasefire

This is beyond absurd. I considered Ignatieff vastly overhyped, but possibly the best contender in a weak field.

I think that judgement was premature. His expertise on foreign affairs was his main selling point. He's now sacrificed all credibility on the subject.