Could Stéphane Dion be prime minister???
Elvis @ Sat Apr 08, 2006 10:59 am
Since that now stéphane Dion is in the race I'm just wondering what is your opinion on is chance to win the liberal leadership.
there a poll today it at the ?CTV website and he is in the lead!
Which of the Liberal candidates so far to officially enter the leadership race do you consider the most prime ministerial
Your opinion?
VitaminC @ Sat Apr 08, 2006 11:14 am
The person I would most like to see become the leader is John Godfrey...
Who will win? I have no idea....Its the campaign, not the man that wins.
We'll have to wait and see the campaigns.
Rev_Blair @ Sat Apr 08, 2006 11:41 am
I'm really torn on this because I think Dion is just what the Liberal Party needs. On the other hand if they choose torture-maven Iggy, the NDP will do very well in the next election.
Can Dion be the next PM? Yup. He gets it. He figured out that the environment is the key to both continued prosperity and that Canadians are figuring that out all of a sudden. The implications for everything from healthcare costs to trade to agriculture to the economy are staggering and Dion has figured that out. Should the Liberals pick him? Yeah.
Do I want the Liberals to pick him? Nope...they should pick somebody who looks and acts just like Stephen Harper and won't steal the NDP's platform planks.
Scape @ Sat Apr 08, 2006 12:01 pm
Dion won't sell in Quebec because he is hated by the nationalists and he won't do well vs Harper because he is an academic that comes off as the liberal version of Preston in terms of public speaking. He's old blood that needs to be split if the liberals are to renew themselves. Ignatieff has a better chance but he has been in the US in the last 30 years more than Canada and he is very pro-Iraq, something that the liberal party has yet to come to terms with but that won't sell to the party that is drifting left.
Bob Rae is sunk too, he will get some of the left vote but he is fishing in the same pond as Dion for votes and given the choice Dion will get it.
Kennedy and has a real shot at this after going against David McGuinty for 5 rounds in the last leadership bid it was a knock down drag out and Kennedy has shown he can go to the mat on leadership and put up one hell of a fight.
Maurizio Bevilacqua might come up the middle and surprise everyone and is a testament to the infighting between Martin and Jean is still doing damage to the party to this day.
Rev_Blair @ Sat Apr 08, 2006 12:23 pm
Dion will sell to the traditional Liberal vote in Quebec, Scape. He's managed to avoid being seen as part of either the Chretien or Martin camps. His environmental stance is also likely to bring Trudeau's kid onside...Justin has been recruited as part of the renewal effort and put in charge of finding out what the kids want. The kids want liquor and drugs, as all good kids do, but they think they want environmentalism.
Kennedy is unknown outside of Ontario and is a newcomer to the federal scene. He can be a kingmaker, but he is unlikely to make king this time. Hedy is the other kingmaker...her campaigning is almost as formidable as her propensity for drama and stupidity.
The showdown will likely be between Iggy and Stephan in the end though. Kennedy and Hedy are likely to back Dion, I think. More than that, I think Dion can become PM. I don't think Iggy can. The Liberals are likely to figure that out.
Scape @ Sat Apr 08, 2006 12:56 pm
Justin won't play a role in leadership now as a pawn or in the future. He's not keen on it maybe in 15 years or so. All he is now is fluff and he won't gather much of a following on his name alone.
Dion environmental position won't get the liberals in power. If Canadians have to choose between a steady course to nowhere on Afghanistan or Dions environmental reforms Dion will lose.
Kennedy is a fresh face and new blood, that alone will get attention. Top of that he also has the ability to lead and raise a lot of cash. Vital to run a party that is going to try to run the country. He does not have baggage from the last old leaders as he doesn't have a bad name in Quebec.
Hedy = Ashley MacIsaac, I see her as another Parrish. Dion will fold when the chips hit the floor because old blood stinks of death in the Liberals. That taint will force some new blood to the front that can hold the reins and that means someone young that can raise cash. Iggy being in the US for the last 30 years has really put him behind at odds with the rest of the young turks and his Iraq position will ultimately sink him.
Findlay could be a kingmaker, she is really hamstrung on the finance angle however. McGuinty seems to have that purse string already sown up.
If Dion looks to be the best thus canidate thus far I think Goodale will go for it and he would make mincemeat of Dion. The top two will be Kennedy and McGuinty if Goodale stays clear.
Elvis @ Sat Apr 08, 2006 1:28 pm
[stream]http://www.mononc.com/realaudio/tarterag.ram[/stream] That song is about the time when Stephane Dion recieve a pie in the face 
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linky
Rev_Blair @ Sat Apr 08, 2006 3:41 pm
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Justin won't play a role in leadership now as a pawn or in the future. He's not keen on it maybe in 15 years or so. All he is now is fluff and he won't gather much of a following on his name alone.
His name is Trudeau. They've put him charge of the kids that only know Pierre from from the movie about him. Fluff votes.
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Dion environmental position won't get the liberals in power. If Canadians have to choose between a steady course to nowhere on Afghanistan or Dions environmental reforms Dion will lose.
I think you're missing what's happening. I put off getting my tickets to see Tim Flannery and suddenly had to call in a favour and give beer to man I don't like to get a seat. People are catching on to the environmental thing, and Dion has that locked up because he can show the economic impacts.
The Liberals may well pick somebody else, and I'm hoping they do because of my politics, but it's their funeral.
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Kennedy is a fresh face and new blood, that alone will get attention. Top of that he also has the ability to lead and raise a lot of cash. Vital to run a party that is going to try to run the country. He does not have baggage from the last old leaders as he doesn't have a bad name in Quebec.
We've all had no baggage at some point. We stand at the Air Canada desk and say, "I have no luggage," and they tell us to wait until they can find us some. Now I've loved Air Canada ever since I discovered their waitresses couldn't change a twenty, but I think he Liberals will pick up on that metaphor eventually.
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Hedy = Ashley MacIsaac, I see her as another Parrish.
Yeah, but you seem to think that's a bad thing.
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Dion will fold when the chips hit the floor because old blood stinks of death in the Liberals.
He's not old blood though. That's part of his magic. He's the guy who exchanged bodily fluids and turned out to be immune to the Liberal disease. His agenda, and he's made it really clear that he only wants to deal with issues...issues that people will vote for.
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Findlay could be a kingmaker, she is really hamstrung on the finance angle however.
Finances. In the Liberal Party. They matter less to the leaders than to the kingmakers. She'll have an influence, and she'll be worth keeping an eye on in the future. Not this time though.
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McGuinty seems to have that purse string already sown up.
His bro is in charge of Ontario. Most of us are wary of nepotism. The Conservative Party is in charge of inbreeding. 'nough said.
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If Dion looks to be the best thus canidate thus far I think Goodale will go for it and he would make mincemeat of Dion.
Goodale is a Conservative in a borrowed red dress. Nobody is buying it outside of Whitmore Park, and that's mostly because you have to stay half-drunk to stay there.
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The top two will be Kennedy and McGuinty if Goodale stays clear.
I doubt it. The Liberals know better.
SJ-24 @ Sat Apr 08, 2006 4:35 pm
He's part of the old culture of the Liberals. People won't trust the Liberals unless the entire party is purged of the old guard and new blood comes forward that can be trusted. The sponsorship scandal has done a lot of damage in Quebec and not even Dion can recover the party from this one. Perhaps Sheila Copps wants to try for the leadership...I could use a good laugh.
BluesBud @ Sat Apr 08, 2006 5:12 pm
No I don't think Celine Dion could be PM. For one she has no experience in poli.....Oh!....never mind. 
Rev_Blair @ Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:42 pm
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He's part of the old culture of the Liberals. People won't trust the Liberals unless the entire party is purged of the old guard and new blood comes forward that can be trusted.
He was never really part of that though. He was always a bit of an outsider. I don't know if he can be trusted or not, but he can be shown to be trustworthy by political standards.
SJ-24 @ Sun Apr 09, 2006 12:36 pm
No, he was part of "Mean Jean's" pet projects to control Quebec. If I remember properly he was brought into a portfolio without being elected...In many people's minds he is the old guard. Not even Paul Martin wanted him around... 
BluesBud @ Sun Apr 09, 2006 1:47 pm
Ok. I was kidding around before. M. Dion was beaten up in the streets of montreal durring the last election campaign. The ones that did this were separatist supporters of the BQ. He contiued to campaign, won & now is tring to become the leader of the federal liberal party. Says something about his character don't you think? I will take a persons character in to account before his past political affiliations. Besides it is too early to see who is going to be the best choise. I do think he is a fine choise to make the run for leadership.
Elvis @ Sun Apr 09, 2006 4:01 pm
Bluesbud what are you smoking it was Pierre Pettigrew that was attack in the metro by a mentally ill guy!!!
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Pettigrew mugged in Montreal metro
Last updated Dec 30 2005 03:09 PM EST
CBC News
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew was attacked in a Montreal metro station Wednesday night as a man tried to steal his cellphone.
A 19-year-old bystander jumped in to help Pettigrew fend off his attacker.
Both Pettigrew and his Good Samaritan suffered minor injuries. Pettigrew's cellphone was returned to him after the incident.
Frédérick Estelle, 24, was charged with aggravated theft. He appeared in court, and was denied bail. Instead, he has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. He is due back in court in early January.
Pettigrew's office told French media that it wasn't unusual for the minister to take public transportation without bodyguards.
They said the minister was not targeted, but was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Last updated Dec 30 2005 03:09 PM EST
CBC News
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew was attacked in a Montreal metro station Wednesday night as a man tried to steal his cellphone.
A 19-year-old bystander jumped in to help Pettigrew fend off his attacker.
Both Pettigrew and his Good Samaritan suffered minor injuries. Pettigrew's cellphone was returned to him after the incident.
Frédérick Estelle, 24, was charged with aggravated theft. He appeared in court, and was denied bail. Instead, he has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. He is due back in court in early January.
Pettigrew's office told French media that it wasn't unusual for the minister to take public transportation without bodyguards.
They said the minister was not targeted, but was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
You guy's are ready to believe anything Ho BTW he also lost to Viviane Barbo who is a fine MNA
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Agression de Pierre Pettigrew
Frédérick Estelle se présente devant le juge
L'homme qui a agressé le ministre Pierre Pettigrew dans une station de métro de Montréal doit revenir en cour mardi pour subir son enquête pour remise en liberté.
Frédérick Estelle, 24 ans, a passé dix jours à l'Institut Pinel.
Le juge Claude Leblond en avait fait la demande au moment de la comparution de l'accusé.
Frédérick Estelle, s'était exprimé avec aplomb. Il avait avoué ne pas comprendre ce qu'il lui était arrivé.
Étant donné que le jeune homme ne possédait aucun antécédent judiciaire, le juge avait convenu qu'il devait subir une évaluation psychiatrique en profondeur.
Pierre Pettigrew a été agressé, le 28 décembre dernier, à la station de métro Côte-Vertu, dans l’arrondissement Saint-Laurent
.
Frédérick Estelle se présente devant le juge
L'homme qui a agressé le ministre Pierre Pettigrew dans une station de métro de Montréal doit revenir en cour mardi pour subir son enquête pour remise en liberté.
Frédérick Estelle, 24 ans, a passé dix jours à l'Institut Pinel.
Le juge Claude Leblond en avait fait la demande au moment de la comparution de l'accusé.
Frédérick Estelle, s'était exprimé avec aplomb. Il avait avoué ne pas comprendre ce qu'il lui était arrivé.
Étant donné que le jeune homme ne possédait aucun antécédent judiciaire, le juge avait convenu qu'il devait subir une évaluation psychiatrique en profondeur.
Pierre Pettigrew a été agressé, le 28 décembre dernier, à la station de métro Côte-Vertu, dans l’arrondissement Saint-Laurent
BluesBud @ Sun Apr 09, 2006 4:15 pm
My mistake. You'er right it was Pierre Pettigrew. I goofed. I don't mind admitting a mistake. (unlike a few in these forums) I still think Dion is not a bad contender for the leadership. I don't think he can end up as PM but he is a stong voice for the party.