Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Uncle?

First Manley, then McKenna, now Brian Tobin all have quickly decided not to run for leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Three big names, none of whom are particularly wanting in the area of political smarts.

Does this mean they all smell the same scent of right-wing on the air? If any of them thought they had a decent shot of unseating Harper within two or three years, they'd most certainly have put their hats in the ring, rather than run screaming away from it.

That leaves Martin Cauchon, Stephan Dion, Michael Ignatieff, Anne McClelland, Belinda Stronach, Sheila Copps; perhaps Bob Rae, Roy Romanow, Pierre Pettigrew and Ken Dryden? Clearly the three who have bowed out perceive the next Liberal leader to be a fall guy for a CPC majority mandate.

I don't take much comfort from that.

- 30 -

3 comments:

Wise G said...

I wouldn't read too much into the those three bowing out of the race. Yeah, the leadership position isn't quite the prize it was but for the most part I take their excuse of personal reasons for not running on face value.

Simon said...

I think you're being a bit too gloomy. The Liberal Party needs a leader who isn't tied into the Chretien years. At the very least an almost fresh face.Not just more of the same.At this point I find Ken Dryden a rather attractive prospect. He's really smart, decent, and a cut above most politicians. I don't see many others taking a year off to sit in a high school and try to figure out how we can improve our educational system. You should read his manifesto, it's quite something. And of course he has a glorious past that made him a hero to both French and English. You know as a goalie for that team of ours... The one you predicted you predicted would turnaround their dismal season...ahem.
Seriously though, if the Liberals do get that almost fresh face, the Harperites might have more trouble than you think even holding on to power. Let alone winning a majority. But maybe I'm just the
over optimistic one this time...

DazzlinDino said...

I'm betting a couple of them jump back in when the time comes....